Sublim'd by thee, the foul afpires
Beyond the range of low defires,

In nobler views elate:
Unmov'd her deftin'd change furveys,
And, arm'd by faith, intrepid pays

The univerfal debt.

In death's foft flumber lull'd to reft,
She Deeps, by fmiling vifions bleft,

That gently whisper peace :
Till the last morn's fair opening ray
Unfolds the bright eternal day

Of active light and blifs.

27. Written at Midnight in a Thunder
Storm.
CARTER.

LET coward Guilt, with pallid Fear,
To fhelt'ring caverns fly,
And justly dread the vengeful fate
That thunders through the sky.
Protected by that hand, whose law

The threat'ning forms obey,
Intrepid Virtue fimiles fecure,

As in the blaze of day.

In the thick clouds tremendous gloom,
The lightning's lurid glare,
It views the fame all-gracious Pow'r
That breathes the vernal air.
Thro' Nature's ever varying scene,
By different ways purfued,
The one eternal end of Heav'n'
Is universal good,

With like beneficent effect

O'er flaming æther glows,

As when it tunes the linnet's voice,
Or blushes in the rose.

By reafon taught to fcorn those fears
That vulgar minds molest,
Let no fantaitic terrrors break
My dear Narciffa's relt.

Thy life may all the tend'reft care
Of Providence defend;
And delegated angels round
Their guardian wings extend!
When thro' creation's vast expanse
The last dread thunders roll,
Untune the concord of the spheres,
And shake the rifing foul;
Unmov'd may'fthou the final storin
Of jarring worlds furvey,
That ufhers in the glad ferene
Of everlasting day!

Yes; Coventry is dead. Attend the strain,
Daughters of Albion! ye that, light as air,
So oft have tripp'd in her fantaltick train,

With hearts as gay, and faces half as fair:
For flie was fair beyond your brightest bloom
(This envy owns, fince now her bloom is fled);
Fair as the forms that, wove in fancy's loom,
Float in light vifion round the poet's head.
Whene'er with foft ferenity fhe finil'd,

Or caught the orient blush of quick furprize, How fweetly mutable, how brightly wild, The liquid luftre darted from her eyes! Each look, each motion wak'd a new-born grace,

That o'er her form its tranfient glory cast: Some lovelier wonder foon ufurp'd the place, Chas'd by a charm still lovelier than the last. That bell again! It tells us what he is;

On what he was, no more the strain prolong: Lux riant fancy, paufe! an hour like this Demands the tribute of a ferious fong. Maria claims it from that fable bier, [head; Where cold and wan the flumb'rer refts her In till finall whispers to reflection's ear

She breathes the folemn dictates of the dead. O catch the awful notes, and lift them loud! Proclaim the theme by sage,by fool, rever'd; Hear it, ye young, ye vain, ye great, ye proud!

'Tis nature fpeaks, and nature will be heard. Yes; ye fhall hear, and tremble as you hear, While,high with health, your hearts exulting leap;

E'en in the midst of pleasure's mad career,

The mental monitor shall wake and weep!

For fay, than Coventry's propitious star,

What brighter planet on your births arose?
Or gave of fortune's gifts an ampler fhare,
In life to lavish, or by death to lofe?
Early to lose! While, borne on bufy wing,
Ye fip the nectar of each varying bloom;
Nor fear, while basking in the beams of spring,
The wintry form that fweeps you to the tomb.
Think of her fate! revere the heav'nly hand

That led her hence, tho' foon, by fteps fo flow:
Long at her couch Death took his patient stand,
And menac'd oft, and oft withheld the blow:
To give refletion time, with lenient art,
Each fond delufion from her foul to steal;
Teach her from folly peaceably to part,
And wean her from a world the lov'd fo well.
Say, are ye fare his mercy fhall extend

To you fo long a fpan? Alas, ye figh! Make then, while yet ye may, your God your friend,

And learn with equal eafe to fleep or die!
Nor think the Mufe, whofe fober voice ye hear,
Contracts with bigot frown her fullen brow;
Cafts round religion's orb the inifts of fear,
Or hades with horrors what with finiles
fhould glow.

E

No;

No; fhe would warm you with feraphic fire,
Heirs as ye are of heaven's eternal day;
Would bid you boldly to that heav'n afpire,
Not fink and flumber in your cells of clay.
Know, ye were form'd to range yon azure field,
In yon ethereal founts of bliis to lave:
Force then, fecure in faith's protecting fhield,
The fting from death, the vict'ry from the
grave!

Book I.

De l'avenir, cher Keith, jugeons par le paffé Comme avant que je fuffe il n'avoit point penfé; De meme, après ma mort, quand toutes mes Par un meme deftin il ne penfera plus! [vaincu. Par la corruption feront aneanties, [parties It is to this Epistle that the latter part of the Non, rien n'eft plus certain, foyons-en conElegy alludes.

29. Elegy to a young Nobleman leaving the Úniversity. MASON. PE yet, ingenuous youth, thy fteps retire From Cam's fmooth margin and the peaceful vale,

ER

Is this the bigot's rant? Away, ye vain,[fteep;
Your hopes, your fears, in doubt, in dulnefs
Go foothe your fouls, in fick nefs, grief, or pain,
With the fad folace of eternal fleep!
Yet will I praise you, triflers as ye are, [creed,
More than thofe preachers of your fav'rite
Who proudly fwell the brazen throat of war,
Who form the phalanx, bid the battle bleed,
Nor with for more; who conquer but who die. O
Hear, Folly, hear, and triumph in the tale!
Like you they reason, not like you enjoy

The breeze of blifs that fills your filken fail;
On pleafure's glitt'ring ftream ye gayly steer
Your little courfe to cold oblivion's fhore;
They dare the storm, and thro' th' inclement
Stem the rough furge, and brave the torrent's
[roar.
Is it for glory? That juft fate denies;

year

Long muft the warrior moulder in his shroud, Ere from her trump the heav'n-breath'd accents rife,

That lift the hero from the fighting crowd! Is it his grafp of empire to extend ?

To curb the fury of infulting foes? Ambition, ceafe! the idle conteft end: 'Tis but a kingdom thou canst win or lofe. And why must murder'd myriads lofe their all (If life be all); why defolation lour With famifh'd frown on this affrighted ball, That thou may't flame the meteor of an hour?

Go, wiser ye, that flutter life away,

Crown with the mantling juice the goblet [high! Weave the light dance, with feftive freedom gay, And live your moment,fince the next ye die! Yet know, vain fceptics! know th' Almighty Mind,

Who breath'd on man a portion of his fire,
Bade his free foul, by earth nor time confin'd,
To heav'n, to iminortality aspire.
Nor fhall the pile of hope his mercy rear'd
By vain philofophy be e'er destroy'd;
Eternity, by all or wish'd or fear'd,

Shall be by all or fuffer'd or enjoy'd!

NOTE, In a book of French verfes intitled, Oeuvres du Philofophe de Sans Souci,and lately reprinted at Berlin by authority under the title of Poches Diverfes, may be found an Epiftle to Marshal Keith, written professedly against the immortality of the foul. By way of Specimen of the whole, take the following lines:

Where science call'd thee to her studious quire,
let thy friend (and may he boast the name!)
And met thee muling in her cloysters pale ;
Breathe from his artless reed one parting lay;
A lay like this thy early virtues claim,

And this let voluntary friendship pay.
Yet know, the time arrives, the dang`rous time,
Tranfplanted to the world's tempestuous clime,
When all thofe virtues op'ning now so fair,
Must learn each paffion's boift'rous breath to
bear:

There, if ambition, peftilent and pale,

If cold felf-intereft, with her chilling gale,
Or luxury fhould taint the vernal glow;
Should blast th' unfolding blossoms ere they
blow;

If mimick, hues by art or fashion spread, [ply;
Their genuine fimple colouring should fup-
O may with them thefe laureate honours fade,
And with them (if it can) my friendship die!
Then do not blame, if, tho' thyself inspire,

Cautious I ftrike the panegyrick string;
The mufe full oft purfues a meteor fire,
And, vainly vent'rous, foars on waxen wing;
Too actively awake at friendship's voice,

Till fad reflection bla nes the hafty choice,
The poet's bofom pours the fervent strain,

And oft invokes oblivion's aid in vain.
Call we the fhade of Pope from that blefs'd
bow'r,
Where thron'd he fits with many a tuneful
[fage;
Afk, if he ne'er bemoans that hapless hour

WhenSt. John's name illumin'd glory's page.
Afk, if the wretch, who dar'd his memory stain,
Ask, if his country's, his religion's foe,
Deferv'd the meed that Marlbro' fail'd to gain,
The deathlefs meed he only could bestow ;
E'en now, repentant of his erring lays,
The bard will tell thee, the mifguided praife
Clouds the celeftial funfhine of his breaft ;

If Pope thro' friendship fail'd, indignant view,
He heaves a figh amid the realms of reft.
How adulation drops her courtly dew
Yet pity, Dryden-hark, whene'er he sings,

On titled rhymers, and inglorious kings.

See,

$30. The choice of Hercules: from the Greek Oft with a fimile the view'd herself afkance?

'Then will I grant thee all thy foul's defire,
All that may charm thine ear, and please
thy fight;

All that thy thought can frame,or with require,
To steep thy ravish'd fenfes in delight:
The fumptuous fealt, enhanc'd with mufic's
found,

Fittest to tune the melting foul to love; -
Rich odours, breathing choiceft sweets around :
The fragrant bow'r, cool fountain, fhady
grove :

Fresh flow'rs to ftrew thy couch, and crown
thy head:
Joy fhall attend thy steps,and ease shall finooth
[thy bed.
These will 1 freely, conftantly fupply,
Pleasures, not earn'd with toil, nor mix'd
with woe;

Far from thy relt repining want fhall fly,

Nor labour bathe in fweat thy careful brow,
Mature the copious harveft fhall be thine,
Let the laborious hind fubdue the foil;
Leave the rafh foldier poils of war to win,
Won by the foldier,thou shalt fhare the fpoil:
Thefe fofter cares my belt allies employ,
New pleasures to invent, to with, and to enjoy."
Her winning voice the youth attentive caught ;
He gaz'd impatient on the imiling maid
Still gaz'd and liten'd; then her name be-
fought.

[faid:

Wouldst thou engage the gods peculiar' care;
O Hercules, th' immortal powers adore!
With a pure heart, with facrifice and pray'r
Attend their altars, and their aid implore.
Or wouldst thou gain thy country's loud ap-
plaufe,

Lov'd as her father, as her god ador'd?
Be thou the bold afferter of her caufe;

In peace, in war, purfue thy country's good;
Her voice in council, in the fight her sword:
For her bare thy bold breaft, and pour thy
generous blood,

Wouldst thou, to quell the proud and lift thủ
opprelt,

Firt conquer thou thyself to eafe, to rest,
In arts of war and matchlefs ftrength excel?

To each foft thought of pleasure bid fare-
The night alternate, due to fweet repofe [wel.
In watches wafte; in painful march, the day:
Congeal'd amidft the rigorous winter's fnows,
Scorch'd by the fummer's thirft-inflaming

ray.

Thy harden'd limbs fhall boaft fuperior might:
Vigour shall brace thine arm, refiftless in the
fight."

"Hear'st thou what monsters then thou must
engage?
What dangers, gentle youth, the bids thee
[prove ?**
(Abrupt fays Sloth)-"ill fit thy tender age
Tumult and wars, fit age for joy and love.

My name, fair youth, is Happiness," fhe "Well can my friends this envied truth main-Turn, gentle youth, to me, to love, and joy!

Thine eafy courfe, no cares thy peace annoy
To thefe I lead: no moniters here shall stay
I lead to blifs a nearer, finoother way:

tain; They share my blifs, they beft can speak my [praife: Tho' flander call me Sloth (detraction vain ') Heed not what flander, vain detracter, faysShort Slander, ftill prompt true merit to defame, To blot the brightest worth, and blast the faireft name."

By this, arriv'd the fair majestic maid:

(She all the while with the fame modest pace, Compos'd advanc'd) "Know, Hercules," the

faid

[ace;

With manly tone, "thy birth of heav'nly
Thy tender age, that lov'd inftruction's voice,
Promis'd thee generous, patient, brave, and
wife :
When manhood fhould confirm thy glorious
[choice;
Now expectation waits to fee thee rife.
Rife, youth! exalt thyfelf, and me; approve
Thy high defcent from heaven, and dare be
worthy Jove.
[difguife;

But what truth prompts, my tongue fhall not
The steep afcent must be with toil fubdued;
Watching and cares mutt win the lofty prize
Propos'd by Heav'n; true blifs,and real good.
Honour rewards the brave and bold alone;

She fpurns the timorous, indolent and bafe;
Danger and toil stand stern before her throne,
And guard (fo Jove commands) the facred
place;

Who feeks her muft the mighty cost sustain, And pay the price of fame-labour, and care, and pain.

is my way, fair, eafy, fimooth, and plain: Turn, gentle youth-with me eternal pleafures reign."

What pleasures, vain mistaken wretch, are

thine ?

Infenfate; whole foft limbs the toil decline
(Virtue with scorn replied) “ who fleep't in
[eafe
That feafons blifs, and makes enjoyment
Draining the copious bowl ere thirst require,
pleafe:
Feafting ere hunger to the feat invite;
Whofe taitelefs joys anticipate defire,

Whom luxury fupplies with appetite :
Yet nature loaths, and you employ in vain
Variety and art to conquer her difdain.
The fparkling neftar cool'd with fummer
To thee are talteless all! fincere repofe
The dainty board, with choiceft viands
[Spread;
For thou art only tir'd with indolence;
Flies from thy flow'ry couch and downy bed.

fnows;

Th'imperfect fleep, that julls thy languid fenfe
Nor is thy fleep with toil and labour bought,
In dull oblivious interval of thought;
That kindly fteals th' inactive hours away
From the long ling'ing space, that lengthens
From bounteous nature's unexhaufted ftores
out the day.
Flows the pure
fountain of fincere delights:
Aver fe

Averfe to her, you waste the joyless hours;
Sleep drowns thy days, and riot rules thy
Immortal tho' thou art, indignant Jove [nights.
Hurl'd thee from heaven, th' immortals'

blissful place,

For ever banish'd from the realms above, [race:
To dwell on earth with man's degenerate
Fitter abode! on earth alike difgrac'd;
Rejected by the wife, and by the fool embrac'd.
Fond wretch, that vainly weeneft all delight
To gratify the fenfe, referv'd for thee!
Yet the most pleafing object to the fight,

Thine own fair action, never didst thou fee.
Tho' lull'd with fofteft founds thou lieft along,
Soft mufic, warbling voices, melting lays:
Ne'er didit thou hear, more sweet than fweeteft
fong
[praife!
Charming the foul, thou ne'er didit hear thy
No-to thy revels let the fool repair;
To fuch go fmooth thy fpeech; and spread thy
tempting fnare.

Vaft happiness enjoy thy gay allies!

A youth of follies, an old age of cares; Young yet enervate, old yet never wife, [pairs. Vice waftes their vigour, and their mind imVain, idle, delicate, in thoughtlefs ease,

Referving woes for age, their prime they All wretched, hopeless, in the evil days,[fpend; With forrow to the verge of life they tend. Griev'd with the prefent, of the past asham'd, They live and are despised; they die, nor more

are nam'd.

Beaming fweet influence: a milder smile
Soften'd the terrors of her lofty mien.

Lead, goddefs, I anithine,!"transported cried,
Alcides; "O propitious pow'r, thy way
Teach me ! poffefs my foul! be thou my guide:
From thee O never, never let me ftray!"
While ardent thus the youth his vows ad-
dreis'd,
[breast.

With all the goddefs fill'd, already glow'd his
The heav'nly maid with ftrength divine endued

But with the gods, and godlike men, I dwell;"
Me, his fupreme delight, th' Almighty Site
Regards well-pleas'd: whatever works excel,
All, or divine or human, I inspire.
Counie! with ftrength, and industry with art,
In union meet conjoin'd, with me refide :
My dictates arm, inftruct, and mend the heart;
The fureft policy, the wifeft guide.
With me true friendship dwells: fhe deigns
to bind
[join'd.
Thofe generous fouls alone, whom I before have
Nor need my friends the various coftly feaft;
Hunger to them th' effects of art fupplies;
Labour prepares their weary limbs to reft;
Sweet is their fleep; light, cheerful, strong
they rife.
[nown
Thro' health, thro' joy, thro' pleasure, and re-
They tread my paths; and by a foft defcent
At length to age all gently finking down,

Look back with transport on a life well spent;
lo which no hour flew unimprov'd away,
In which fome generous deed diftinguish'd
ev'ry day.

And when, the deftin'd term at length complete,
Their athes reft in peace, eternal fame
Sounds wide their praile: triumphant over fate,
In facred fong for ever lives their name.
This, Hercules, is happiness ! obey

My voice, and live: Let thy celestial birth
Lift and enlarge thy thoughts: behold the way
That leads to fame, and raifes thee from earth

His daring foul; there all her pow'rs comFirm conftancy, undaunted fortitude, [bin'd: Enduring patience, arm'd his mighty mind. Unmoy'd in toils, in dangers undismay'd,

By many a hardy deed and bold emprize, From fierceft monsters thro' her pow'rful aid, He freed the earth; thro' her he gain'd the fkies.

'Twas Virtue plac'd him in the bleft abode: Crown'd with eternal youth, among the gods a god..

FAR in a wild, unknown to public view,

From youth to age a reverend Hermit grew;
The mofs his bed, the cave his humble cell,
His food the fruits, his drink the chryftal well;
Remote from man, with God he pafs'd his days,
Pray'r all his bufinefs, all his pleasure praise.
A life fo facred, fuch ferene repose,
Seem'd heav'n itself, till one fuggeftion rofe---

That