VOLTAIRE, speaking of the English Poets, gives them the preference in moral pieces to those of any other nation; and, indeed, no Poets have better settled the bounds of Duty, or more precisely determined the rules for Conduct in Life than ours. In this little Collection the Reader, therefore, may find the most exquisite pleasure, while he is at the same time learning the duties of life; and while he courts only Entertainment, be deceived into Wisdom. In a word, it is the peculiar property of POETRY to do good by stealth; to hide the thorny path of Instruction by covering it with flowers; and the veriest Infidel in polite Learning must be something more than abandoned, if he will not visit the Temple of Instruction when Pleasure leads the way to it. E. T. 16 Ibid. Page v Blessiah: a Sacred Eclogue ... Pope ...... 1 An Enquiry after Happiness. ....Carter . . 38 Written at Midnight, in a Thunder Storm.. Ibid 40 W A Father's Advice to his Son. Cooper. 54 The Passions: an Ode.... ... Collins. "Ode on a distant Prospect of Eton College. Gray. 63 The Friar of Orders Gray . Percy.. 72 Invitation to the Feathered Race.. Graves. 79 Elegy written in a Country Church-yard.. Gray. 91 VA Prayer for Indifference. Greville.... 99 The Fairy's Answer . Margravine of Anspach. 102 V Elegy to the Memory of an Unfortunute Lady Pope 120 .... . ... 207 On the Departure of a Nightingale Ibid. 212 To the Memory of Gurrick. Anstie. V A Contemplation on Night. Gay. May Eve, or Kate of Aberdeen. ..Cunningham. 235 To his Friend inclined to Marry.. Pomfret.... 238 The Funeral Procession.. Blair Elegiac Stanzus on the tolling of a Bell. . Rivers. 240 The Naturalist's Summer Evening's Walk. White. 243 On the Death of a favourite Child. Moir. 245 Trunslation of the 40th Ode of Anacreon Cheetham 246 Sonnet to the River Tweed, Bowles. .... 247 a SELECT POEMS. MESSIAH A SACRED ECLOGUE. BY POPE. Ys Nymphs of Solyma! begin the song: Rapt into future times, the Bard begun : B a All crimes shall cease, and ancient fraud shall |