Imagine now the table clear,

And mirth in every face appear:
The fong, the tale, the jeft went round,
The riddle dark, the trick profound.
Thus each admiring and admir'd,
The hofts and guests at length retir'd;
When Wit thus fpake her fifter train.

"Faith, friends, our errand is but vain-
"Quick let us measure back the sky;
"Thefe nymphs alone may well fupply
"Wit, Innocence, and Harmony.

AN INVITATION TO

THE FEATHERED RACE.

BY THE REV. MR. GRAVES.

AGAIN the balmy Zephyr blows,

Fresh verdure decks the grove, Each bird with vernal rapture glows, And tunes his notes to love.

Ye gentle warblers, hither fly,
And fhun the noontide heat;

My fhrubs a cooling fhade fupply,
My groves a safe retreat.

Here freely hop from spray to spray,
Or weave the moffy neft;

Here rove and fing the live-long day;
At night here sweetly rest.

Amidst this cool translucent rill,
That trickles down the glade,

Here bathe your plumes, here drink your fill,
And revel in the shade.

No fchool-boy rude, to mischief prone,

E'er shows his ruddy face,

Or twangs his bow, or hurls a stone
In this fequefter'd place.

Hither the vocal Thrush repairs,

Secure the Linnet fings,

The Goldfinch dreads no flimy fnares,
To clog her painted wings.

Sad Philomel! ah, quit thy haunt,
Yon diftant woods among,
And round my friendly grotto chant
Thy fweetly-plaintive song.

Let not the harmless Redbreast fear,

Domestic bird, to come

And feek a fure asylum here,

With one that loves his home.

My trees for you, ye artless tribe,
Shall ftore of fruit preferve;

Oh, let me thus your friendship bribe I
Come, feed without reserve.

For you thefe cherries I protect,
To you thefe plums belong :
Sweet is the fruit that you have peck'd,
But fweeter far your fong.

Let then this league betwixt us made,
Our mutual interefts guard,
Mine be the gift of fruit and fhade;
Your fongs be my reward.

ODE TO TRUTH.

ΒΥ MASON.

SAY, will no white-rob'd son of light,
Swift-darting from his heav'nly height,
Here deign to take his hallow'd stand;
Here wave his amber locks; unfold
His pinions cloth'd with downy gold;
Here fmiling ftretch his tutelary wand?

And you, ye hofts of faints! for ye have known
Each dreary path in life's perplexing maze,
Though now ye circle yon eternal throne-
With harpings high of inexpreffive praife,

Will not your train defcend in radiant state,

To break with mercy's beam this gathering cloud of

'Tis filence all. No fon of light
Darts fwiftly from his heav'nly height:
No train of radiant faints defcend.
"Mortals, in vain ye hope to find,
"If guilt, if fraud has ftain'd your mind,

[fate?

"Or faint to hear, or angel to defend." So Truth proclaims. I hear the facred found Burft from the centre of her burning throne: Where aye she fits with star-wreath'd luftre crown'd; A bright fun clasps her adamantine zone. So Truth proclaims: her awful voice I hear; With many a folemn pause it slowly meets my ear.

Attend ye fons of men! attend, and fay, Does not enough of my refulgent ray Break through the veil of your mortality ? Say, does not reason in this form defcry Unnumber'd, nameless glories, that furpass

The angel's floating pomp,the seraph's glowing grace!

Shall then your earth-born daughters vie

With me! fhall fhe, whose brightest eye:

But emulates the diamond's blaze,

Whose cheek but mocks the peaches bloom.
Whose breath the hyacinth's perfume,

Whofe melting voice the warbling woodlark's lays,

Shall fhe be deem'd my rival? fhall a form Of elemental drofs, of mould'ring clay,

Vie with thefe charms imperial? the poor worm Shall prove her contest vain. Life's little day Shall pafs, and fhe is gone: while I appear

Flufh'd with the bloom of youth through heav'n's

[eternal year. Know, mortals! know ere firft ye sprung, E'er first thefe orbs in ether hung, I fhone amid the heavenly throng, Thefe eyes beheld creation's day, This voice began the choral lay,

And taught Archangels their triumphant fong. Pleas'd I furvey'd bright nature's gradual birth, Saw infant light with kindling luftre spread,

Soft vernal fragrance clothe the flow'ring earth: And ocean heave on its extended bed; Saw the tall pine afpiring pierce the sky; The tawny lion stalk; the rapid eagle fly.

Laft, man arofe, erect in youthful grace, Heav'n's hallow'd image ftamp'd upon his face, And, as he arose, the high beheft was giv'n, "That I alone, of all the host of heav'n, "Should reign protectress of the godlike youth :" Thus the Almighty fpake; he spake and call'd me Truth.