The faithlefs vain difturber of mankind, Infulting Gaul, has rous'd the world to war; 1075 When keen, once more, within their bounds to prefs Thofe polifh'd robbers, thofe ambitious flaves, The BRITISH YOUTH would hail thy wife command, Thy temper'd ardour and thy veteran skill. THE western fun withdraws the shortened day; 1080 And humid evening, gliding o'er the sky, In her chill progrefs, to the ground condens'd 1085 The dusky mantled lawn. Mean-while the moon Turn'd to the fun direct, her fpotted disk, Where mountains rife, umbrageous dales defcend, 1090 And caverns deep, as optic tube defcries, A fmaller earth, gives us his blaze again, Void of its flame, and fheds a fofter day. Now thro' the paffing cloud fhe feems to ftoop, Now up the pure cerulean rides fublime. 1095 Wide the pale deluge floats, and streaming mild O'er O'er the sky'd mountain to the shadowy vale, While rocks and floods reflect the quivering gleam, The whole air whitens with a boundless tide Of filver radiance, trembling round the world. I100 BUT when half blotted from the sky her light, And mix, and thwart, extinguifh, and renew, FROM look to look, contagious thro' the crowd, The panic runs, and into wondrous shapes Th' appearance throws: Armies in meet array, 1115 In bleeding fight commixt, the fanguine flood Rolls Rolls a broad flaughter o'er the plains of heaven. Of blood and battle; cities overturn'd; Of peftilence, and every great distress; Empires fubvers'd, when ruling fate has ftruck The unalterable hour: even Nature's felf Is deem'd to totter on the brink of time. 1120 1125 1130 And inspect fage; the waving brightness he Curious furveys, inquifitive to know The causes, and materials, yet unfix'd, 1135 Of this appearance beautiful and new. Now black, and deep, the night begins to fall, A fhade immense. Sunk in the quenching gloom, Order confounded lies; all beauty void; Distinction loft; and gay variety One univerfal blot: fuch the fair power 1140 Of Of light, to kindle and create the whole. Drear is the state of the benighted wretch, Who then, bewilder'd, wanders thro' the dark, Nor vifited by one directive ray, From cottage ftreaming, or from airy hall. 1145 1155 Struck from the root of flimy rushes, blue, 1160 THE lengthened night elaps'd, the morning fhines Serene, in all her dewy beauty bright, Unfold Unfolding fair the last autumnal day. And now the mounting fun dispels the fog; 1165 AH fee where robb'd, and murder'd, in that pit 1170 Sat tending public cares, and planning schemes 1175 And, us'd to milder fcents, the tender race, By thousands, tumble from their honeyed domes, 1180 And was it then for this you roam'd the Spring, Shall |