Happy the bard, (if that fair name belong To him that blends no fable with his song) Whose lines, uniting, by an honest art, The faithful monitor's and poet's part, Seek to delight, that they may mend mankind, And, while they captivate, inform the mind: Still happier, if he till a thankful soil, And fruit reward his honourable toil: But happier far, who comfort those that wait To hear plain truth at Judah's hallow'd gate. Their language simple, as their manners meek, No shining ornaments have they to seek; Nor labour they, nor time, nor talents, waste, But, while they speak the wisdom of the skies, Repays their work-the gleaning only mine. CHARITY. Qua nihil majus meliusve terris Fata donavere, boniq; divi, Nec dabunt, quamvis redeant in aurum Tempora priscum. HOR. Lib. IV. Ode 2. FAIREST and foremost of the train, that wait On man's most dignified and happiest state, Or felt but in the soul that heav'n selects; To other hearts, must have thee in his own. Come, prompt me with benevolent desires, And, though disgrac'd and slighted, to redeem God, working ever on a social plan, By various ties attaches man to man: That ev'ry tribe, though plac'd as he sees best, Steer'd Britain's oak into a world unknown, The rights of man were sacred in his view. He spurn'd the wretch that slighted or withstood The tender argument of kindred blood, Nor would endure that any should controul His free-born brethren of the southern pole. In baser souls unnumber'd evils meet, To thwart its influence, and its end defeat. While Cook is lov'd for savage lives he sav'd, Where wast thou then, sweet Charity? where then, Wast thou in monkish cells and nunn'ries found, Their prince, as justly seated on his throne As vain imperial Philip on his own, Trick'd out of all his royalty by art, That stripp'd him bare, and broke his honest heart, For scorning what they taught him to detest. Oh, could their ancient Incas rise again, The robber and the murd'rer weak as we? Thou, that hast wasted earth, and dar'd despise Alike the wrath and mercy of the skies, |