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Others are dragg'd into the crowded room
Between fupporters; and, once seated, sit,
Through downright inability to rife,
Till the ftout bearers lift the corpse again,
These speak a loud memento. Yet even thefe
Themfelves love life, and cling to it; as he
That overhangs a torrent, to a twig.

They love it, and yet luath it; fear to die,
Yet fcorn the purposes for which they live.
Then wherefore not renounce them! No-the
dread,

The flavish dread of folitude, that breeds
Reflection and remorte, the fear of fhame,
And their invet'rate habits-all forbid.

Whom call we gay? That honour has been
The boaft of mere pretenders to the name. [long
The innocent are gay-the lark is gay,
That dries his feathers, faturate with dew,
Beneath the rofy cloud, while yet the beams
Of day-fpring overfhoot his humble nest.
The peafant too, a witnefs of his fong,
Himfelf a fongfter, is as gay as he.
But fave me from the gaiety of those
Whose head-achs nail them to a noon-day bed;
And fave me too from theirs whofe haggard eyes]
Flash desperation, and betray their pangs
For property ftript off by cruel chance;
From gaiety that fills the bones with pain,
The mouth with blafphemy, the heart with woe.

§ 138. Satirical Review of our Trips to France.

COWPER.

No ow hoift the fail, and let the streamers float
Upon the wanton breezes. Strew the deck
With lavender, and sprinkle liquid sweets,
That no rude favour maritime invade
The nofe of nice nobility. Breathe foft
Ye clarionets, and fofter ftill ye flutes,
That winds and waters, lull'd by magic founds,
May bear us fmoothly to the Gallic thore.
True, we have loft an empire-let it pass.
True, we may thank the perfidy of France,
That pick'd the jewel out of England's crown,
With all the cunning of an envious fhrew:
And let that pafs-'twas but a trick of state.
A brave man knows no malice, but at once
Forgets, in peace, the injuries of war,
And gives his diftreft foe a friend's embrace.

With what intent I touch the holy thing).
The Pulpit (when the fat rift has at laft,
Strutting and vap'ring in an empty school,
Spent all his force and made no profelyte)---
I fay the Pulpit (in the fober ufe
Of its legitimate peculiar pow'rs) [ftand
Muft fland acknowledg'd, while the world fhall
The most important and effectual guard,
Support and ornament of virtue's caufe.
There ftands the meffenger of truth; there ftands
The legate of the fkies: his theme divine,
His office facred, his credentials clear.
By him the violated law speaks out
Its thunders; and by him, in strains as fweet
As angels ufe, the Gofpel whispers peace.
He ftablishes the ftrong, reftores the weak,
Reclaims the wand'rer, binds the broken heart,
And, arm'd himself in panoply complete,
Of heavenly temper, furnishes with arms
Bright as his own; and trains, by ev'ry rule
Of holy difcipline, to glorious war,
The facramental hoft of God's elect.

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140. The Petit-Maitre Clergyman. CowPE
VENERATE the man whofe heart is warm,

Whofe hands are pure, whofe doctrine and
Coincident, exhibit lucid proof
[whole life
That he is honeft in the facred cause.
To fuch I render more than mere respect,
Whofe actions fay that they refpect themselves,
But, loofe in morals, and in manners vain,
In converfation frivolous, in dress
Extreme, at once rapacious and profufe;
Frequent in park, with lady at his fide,
Ambling and prattling fcandal as he goes;
But rare at home, and never at his books,
Or with his pen, fave when he fcrawls a card;
Conftant at routs, familiar with a round
Of ladyfhip's, a ftranger to the poor;
Ambitious of preferment, for its gold,
And well prepar'd by ignorance and floth,
By infidelity and love of th' world
To make God's work a finecure: a flave
To his own pleasures, and his patron's pride
From fuch apoftles, O ye mitred heads,
Preferve the church! and lay not careless hands
On fculls that cannot teach, and will not learn.

And, fham'd as we have been, to the very beard § 141. Armine and Elvira, a Legendary Tale.

Brav'd and defied, and in our own fea prov'd
Too weak for thofe decifive blows that once
Infur'd us maft'ry there, we yet retain
Some small pre-eminence: we justly boast
At least fuperior jockeyfhip, and claim
The honours of the turf as all our own.
Go then, well worthy of the praise ye feek,
And fhew the fhame ye might conceal, at home,
In foreign eyes!-be grooms, and win the plate.
Where once your nobler fathers won a crown!

$139. The Pulpit the Engine of Reformation.
COWPER.
TH
HE Pulpit therefore (and I name it, fill'd
With folemn awe, that bids me well beware

PART I.

CARTWRIGHT,

HERMIT on the banks of Trent,
Far from the world's bewildering maze,
To humbler fcenes of calm content
Had fied, from brighter, bufier days.
If haply from his guarded breaft
And Memory, an unbidden guest,
Should steal the unfufpected figh;
With former paffions fill'd his eye:
Then pious hope and duty prais'd
The wisdom of th' unerring fway;
And while his eye to heaven he rais'd,
Its filent waters funk away.

Life's

Life's gayer enfigns once he bore-
Ah! what avails the mournful tale?
Suffice it, when the fcene was o'er,
He fled to the fequester'd vale.
"What tho' the joys I lov'd fo well,
"The charms," he cry'd, "that youth has
"known,

"Fly from the hermit's lonely cell!
"Yet is not Armine ftill my own?
"Yes, Armine, yes, thou valued youth!

Midft every grief thou ftill art mine! "Dear pledge of Winifreda's truth, "And folace of my life's decline. "Tho' from the world and worldly care "My wearied mind I mean to free, "Yet ev'ry hour that heaven can spare, "My Armine, I devote to thee. "And fure that heaven my hopes fhall blefs, "And make thee fam'd for virtues fair, "And happy too, if happiness

"Depend upon a parent's pray'r: "Laft hope of life's departing day,

"In whom its future fcenes I fee! "No truant thought fhall ever ftray "From this lone hermitage and thee." Thus, to his humble fate refign'd,

His breaft each anxious care foregoes;
All but the care of Armine's mind,

The dearest task a parent knows!
And well were all his cares repaid;
In Armine's breast each virtue grew,
In full maturity display'd

To fond Affection's anxious view.
Nor yet neglected were the charms

To polifh'd life that grace impart: Virtue, he knew, but feebly warms Till fcience humanize the heart. And, when he saw the lawless train Of paffions in the youthful breaft, He curb'd them not with rigid rein, But ftrove to footh them into rest. "Think not, my fon, in this," he cry'd, "A father's precept fhall difpleafe; "No-be each paffion gratify'd

"That tends to happiness or ease. "Nor fhall th' ungrateful task be mine "Their native gen'rous warmth to blame, "That warmth if reafon's fuffrage join "To point the object and the aim. "This fuffrage wanting, know, fond boy, "That every pallion proves a foe: "Tho' much it deal in promis'd joy, "It pays, alas! in certain woe. "Complete Ambition's wildest scheme; "In Power's most brilliant robes appear; "Indulge in Fortune's golden dream; "Then ask thy breast if Peace be there. "No: it fhall tell thee, Peace retires

"If once of her lov'd friends depriv'd;

"Contentment calm, fubdu'd defires, "And happiness that's felf-deriv'd." To temper thus the stronger fires

Of youth he strove; for well he knew, Boundless as thought tho' man's defires, The real wants of life were few, And oft revolving in his breast

Th' infatiate luit of wealth or fame, He, with no common care opprest,

To fortune thus would oft exclaim: "O Fortune! at thy crowded fhrine "What wretched worlds of fuppliants bow! "For ever hail'd thy power divine,

"For ever breath'd the serious vow. "With tottering pace and feeble knee, "See age advance in thameless hafte, "The palfy'd hand is ftretch'd to thee "For wealth he wants the power to taste. "See, led by Hope, the youthful train,

"Her fairy dreams their hearts have won; "She points to what they ne'er fhall gain, "Or dearly gain-to be undone. "Muft I too form the votive prayer,

"And wilt thou hear one fuppliant more? "His prayer, O Fortune! deign to hear, "To thee who never pray'd before.

66

"O may one dear, one favour'd youth, May Armine ftill thy power disclaim; "Kneel only at the thrine of truth,

"Count freedom wealth, and virtue fame!" Lo! to his utmost wishes bleft,

The prayer was heard; and freedom's flame, And truth the funfhine of the breast,

Were Armine's wealth, were Armine's fame. His heart no felfish cares confin'd,

He felt for all that feel diftrefs; And, ftill benevolent and kind,

He blefs'd them, or he with'd to bless. For what tho' Fortune's frown deny With wealth to bid the fufferer live, Yet Pity's hand can oft fupply

A balm the never knew to give: Can oft with lenient drops affuage

The wounds no ruder hand can heal, When grief, defpair, distraction, rage, While Death the lips of love fhall feal. Ah then, his anguish to remove,

Depriv'd of all his heart holds dear, How tweet the ftill furviving love

Of Friendinip's fimile, of Pity's tear! This knew the fire: he oft would cry,

"From thefe, my fon, O ne'er depart! "Thefe tender charities that tie

"In mutual league the human heart. "Be thine those feelings of the mind, "That wake at Honour's, Friendship's call: "Benevolence, that unconfin'd

"Extends her liberal hand to all.

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66

By Sympathy's untutor'd voice "Be taught her focial laws to keep; Rejoice if human heart rejoice, "And weep if human eye fhall weep. "The heart that bleeds for others' woes "Shall feel each felfish forrow lefs; "His breaft, who happiness beftows, "Reflected happiness fhall bless. "Each ruder paffion ftill withstood "That breaks o'er virtue's fober line, "The tender, noble, and the good,

"To cherish and indulge be thine. "And yet, my Armine, might I name "One paffion as a dangerous guest, "Well mayst thou wonder when I blame "The tenderett, nobleft, and the best. "Nature, 'tis true, with love defign'd "To fimooth the race our fathers ran; "The favage of the human kind

By love was toften`d into man. "As feels the ore the fearching fire, "Expanding and refining too, "So fairer glow'd each fair defire,

"Each gentle thought fo gentler grew. "How chang'd, alas! thofe happy days!

"A train how different now fucceeds! "While fordid Avarice betrays,

"Or empty Vanity misleads. "Fled from the heart each nobler guest, "Each genuine feeling we forego; "What nature planted in the breast

"The flowers of love, are weeds of woe. "Hence all the pangs the heart must feel "Between contending paffions toft, "Wild Jealoufy's avenging fteel, "And life, and fame, and virtue loft! "Yet falling life, yet fading fame,

"Compar'd to what his heart annoy "Who cherishes a hopeless flame,

"Are terms of happiness and joy. "Ah, then, the foft contagion fly! "And timely fhun th' alluring bait!" The rifing bluth, the downcaft eye, Proclaim'd-the precept was too late.

PART II.

DEEP in the bofom of a wood,
Where art had form'd the moated ifle,
An antique caftle tow'ring food,

In Gothic grandeur rofe the pile.
Here Raymond, long in arms renown'd,
From fcenes of war would oft repair:
His bed an only daughter crown'd,
And fmil'd away a father's care.
By Nature's happiest pencil drawn,
She wore the vernal morning's ray;
The vernal morning's blufhing dawn
Breaks not fo beauteous into day.

Her breaft, impatient of controul,
Scorn'd in its filken chains to lie,
And the foft language of the foul

Flow'd from her never-filent eye.
The bloom that open'd on her face
Well feem'd the emblem of her mind,
Where fnowy innocence we trace
With blushing modefty combin'd.
To thefe refiftlefs grace impart
That look of fweetnefs form'd to please,
That elegance devoid of art,

That dignity that's loft in ease.
What youth fo cold could view unmov'd
The maid that ev'ry beauty shar'd?
Her Armine faw; he faw, he lov'd;

He lov'd-alas! and he defpair'd!
Unhappy youth! he funk oppreft;

For much he labour'd to conceal That gentleft paffion of the breast, Which all can feign, but few can feel. Ingenuous fears fupprefs'd the flame,

Yet ftill he own'd its hidden power; With tranfport dwelling on her name, He footh'd the folitary hour. "How long," he cry'd, "muft I conceal "What yet my heart could with were known." "How long the trueft paffion feel,

"And yet that paffion fear to own? "Ah, might I breathe my humble vow! "Might the too deign to lend an ear! "Elvira's felf fhould then allow

"That Armine was at leaft fincere. "Wild with! to deem the matchless maid "Would listen to a youth like me, "Or that my vows could e'er perfuade, "Sincere and conftant tho' they be! "Ah! what avail my love or truth? "She liftens to no lowly swain; "Her charms muft blefs fome happier youts, "Some youth of Fortune's titled train, "Then go, fallacious Hope! adieu! "The flattering profpect I refign; "And bear from my deluded view "The blifs that never must be mine! "Yet will the youth, whoe'er he be, "In truth or tenderness excel? "Or will he on thy charms like me "With fondness never-dying dwell? "Will he with thine his hopes unite? "With ready zeal thy joys improve? "With fond attention and delight "Each with prevent, each fear remove? Will he, ftill faithful to thy charms, "For conftant love be long rever'd? "Nor quit that heaven within thy arms "By every tender tie endear'd? "What tho' his boastful heart be vain

"Of all that birth or fortune gave, "Yetis not mine, tho' rude and plain, "At least as noble and as brave?

"Then

Then be its gentle fuit preferr'd! "Its tender fighs Elvira hear! "In vain I figh---but figh unheard; "Unpitied falls this lonely tear!" Twice twelve revolving moons had pafs'd, Since firft he caught the fatal view; Unchang'd by time his forrows laft, Unchear'd by hope his paffion grew. That paffion to indulge, he fought

In Raymond's groves the deepest shade; There fancy's haunting fpirit brought The image of his long-lov'd maid. But hark! what more than mortal found Steals on Attention's raptur'd ear? The voice of harmony around

Swells in wild whifpers foft and clear. Can hunian hand a tone fo fine

Sweep from the ftring with touch prophane? Can human lip with breath divine

Pour on the gale fo fweet a ftrain?
Tis the---the fource of Armine's woe---
'Tis the---whence all his joy muft fpring---
From her lov'd lips the numbers flow,

Her magic hand awakes the ftring.
Now, Armine, now thy love proclaim,
Thy inftant fuit the time demands;
Delay not---Tumult fhakes his frame,
And loft in extacy he stands.
What magic chains thee to the ground?
What ftar malignant rules the hour,
That thus in fix'd delirium drown'd
Each fenfe entranc'd hath loft its pow'r?
The trance difpel! awake! arife!

Speak what untutor'd love infpires!
The moment's paft-thy wild furprise
She fees, nor unalarm'd retires.
"Stay, fweet illufion! ftay thy flight!
"Tis gone !---Elvira's form it wore---
"Yet one more glimpfe of fhort delight!
"'Tis gone, to be beheld no more!
"Fly, loitering feet! the charm purfue
"That plays upon my hopes and fears!
"Hah!--no illufion mocks my view!

"Tis the---Elvira's felf appears! "And thall I on her fteps intrude? "Alarm her in thee lonely fhades? "Oftay, fair nymph! no rufian rude "With base intent your walk invades.

"Far gentler thoughts"---his faultering tongue, By humble diffidence reftrain'd, Paos'd in fufpence---but thus ere long,

As love impell'd, its power regain'd: "Far gentler thoughts that form infpires; "With me far gentler paffions dwell; "This heart hides only blameless fires,

"Yet burns with what it fears to tell. "The faultering voice that fears controul, "Blushes that inward fires declare, "Each tender tumult of the foul

"In filence owns Elvira there."

He faid; and as the trembling dove
Sent forth t' explore the watry plain,
Soon fear'd her flight might fatal prove,
And fudden fought her ark again,
His heart recoil'd; as one that rued
What he too hastily confefs'd,
And all the rifing foul fubdued
Sought refuge in his inmoft breast.
The tender ftrife Elvira faw

Diftreft; and as fome parent mild,
When arm'd with words and looks of awe,
Melts o'er the terrors of her child,
Reproof prepar'd and angry fear
In foft fenfations died away;

They felt the force of Armine's tear,
And fled from pity's rifing fway.
"That mournful voice, that modeft air,
"Young ftranger, fpeak the courteous breaft
"Then why to thefe rude fcenes repair,
"Of fhades the folitary gueft?

"And who is fhe whofe fortunes bear
"Elvira's melancholy name?
"O may thofe fortunes prove more fair
"Than hers who fadly owns the fame!"
"Ah gentle maid, in mine furvey

"A heart," he cries, "that's yours alone; "Long has it own'd Elvira's fway,

"Tho' long unnotic'd and unknown. "On Sherwood's old heroic plain "Elvira grac'd the feltal day; "There, foremost of the youthful train, "Her Armine bore the prize away. "There firft that form my eyes furvey'd,

"With future hopes that fill'd my heart; "But ah! beneath that frown they fade"Depart, vain, vanquifh'd hopes! depart!" He faid; and on the ground his eyes Were fix'd abath'd: th' attentive maid, Loft in the tumult of furprife.

The well-remember'd youth furvey'd, The tranfient colour went and came: The ftruggling bofom funk and rofe; The trembling tumults of her frame

The ftrong conflicting foul difclofe.
The time, the fcene fhe faw with dread,
Like Cynthia fetting glanc'd away:
But fcatter'd blushes as the fled,

Bluthes that spoke a brighter day.
A friendly fhepherd's neighbouring fhed
To pafs the live-long night he fought:
And hope, the lover's downy bed

A fweeter charm than flumber brought.
On every thought Flira dwelt,

The tender air, the afpect kind,
The pity that he found the felt,

And all the angel in her mind,
No felf-plum'd vanity was there,
With fancy'd confequence elate;
Unknown to her the haughty air
That means to speak fuperior ftate,
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Her

Her brow no ftern refentments arm,
No fwell of empty pride the knew,
In trivial minds that takes th' alarm,
Should humble Love afpire to fue.
Such Love, by flattering charms betray'd,
Shall yet, indignant, foon rebel,
And, blushing for the choice he made,
Shall fly where gentler virtues dwell.
Tis then the mind, from bondage free,
And all its former weaknefs o'er.
Afferts its native dignity,

And scorns what folly priz'd before.
The fcanty pane the rifing ray

On the plain wall in diamonds threw ;
The lover hail'd the welcome day,

And to his favourite fcene he flew.
There foon Elvira bent her way,
Where long her lonely walks had been;
Nor lefs had the preceeding day,

Nor Armine lefs endear'd the scene.
Oft' as fhe pafs'd, her rifing heart

Its ftronger tenderness confefs'd, And oft the linger'd to impart

To fome foft hade her fecret breast. "How flow the heavy hours advance." She cry'd, "fince that eventful day, "When first I caught the fatal glance

"That stole me from my felf away! "Ah, youth belov'd! tho' low thy birth, "The noble air, the manly grace, "That look that fpeaks fuperior worth, "Can fashion, folly, fear erase? "Yet fure from no ignoble stem

"Thy lineage fprings, tho' now unknown: "The world cenforious may condemn, "But, Armine, I am thine alone. "To fplendour only do we live? "Muft pomp alone our thoughts employ? "All, all that pomp and fplendour give

"Is dearly bought with love and joy! "But oh!---the favour'd youth appears--"In penfive grief he feems to move: "My heart forbodes unnumber'd fears; "Support it Pity, Virtue, Love! "Hither his footsteps feem to bend --"Come, Refolution, to my aid! "My breaft what varying paffions rend! "Averfe to go---to ftay---afraid!" "Dear object of each fond defire

"That throbs tumultuous in my breast! "Why with averted glance retire? "At Armine's prefence why diftrest ? "What tho' he boast no titled name, "No wide extent of rich domain, "Yet muft he feed a hopeless flame, "Muft truth and nature plead in vain ?" "Think not," the faid, "by forms betray'd, "To humbler worth my heart is blind; "For foon shall every splendour fade,

"That beams not from thy gifted mind.

"But firft thy heart explore with care, "With faith its fond emotions prove; "Lurks no unworthy paffion there?

"Prompts not ambition bold to love? "Yes, lovely maid," the youth replies, "A bold ambition prompts my breast, "The towering hope that love fupplies, "The wifh in blessing to be blett. "The meaner prospects I despise

"That wealth, or rank, or power beftow; "Be yours the grovelling blits ye prize, "Ye fordid minds that ftoop fo low! "Be mine the more refin'd delights "Of love that banishes controul, "When the fond heart with heart unites, "And foul's in unifon with foul." Elvira blufh'd the warm reply,

(To love a language not unknown)
The milder glories fill'd her eye,

And there a fofter luftre fhone.
The yielding fmile that's half fuppreft,
The fhort quick breath, the trembling tear,
The fwell tumultuous of the breast,

In Armine's favour all appear.
At each kind glance their fouls unite,

While love's foft fympathy imparts
That tender tranfport of delight

That beats in undivided hearts.
Refpectful to his lips he prefs'd

Her yielded hand; in haste away
Her yielded hand the drew diftreft,
With looks that witnefs'd wild difmay.
"Ah whence, fair excellence, thofe fears!
"What terror unforeseen alarms?"
"See! where a father's frown appears"-

She faid, and funk into his arms. "My daughter! heavens! it cannot be➡ "And yet it must-O dire disgrace! "Elvira have I liv'd to fee

"Clafp'd in a peafant's vile embrace! "This daring guilt let death repay"His vengeful arm the javelin threw, With erring aim it wing'd its way,

And far, by Fate averted, flew. Elvira breathes-her-pulfes beat, Returning life illumes her eye: Trembling a father's view to meet, She fpies a reverend hermit nigh "Your wrath," fhe cries, "let tears affuage"Unheeded must Elvira pray? "O let an injur'd father's rage "This hermit's facred prefence stay! "Yet deem not, loft in guilty love,

"I plead to fave my virgin fame; "My weakness Virtue might approve, "And fmile on nature's holy flame." "O welcome to my hopes again,

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"My fon!" the raptur'd hermit cries; "I fought thee forrowing on the plain,' And all the father fill'd his eyes,

"Art

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