fign'd!

432

Nor where Clitumnus * rolls his gentle To every want, and every woe,
stream,

To guilt iticlf when in distress,
Nor whcrc, through hanging woods,

The balm of piry would impart,
Steep Anio † pours his floods,

And all relief that bounty could bestow!
Nor yet where Meles I or Ilislus g stray.

E'on for the kid or lamb, that pour'd its life
III does it now beteem,

Beneath the bloody knife,
That, of your guardian care bereft,

Her gentle tears would fall;
To dire dilcase and death your dailing should | Tears, from tiveet Virtue's fource, benevolentro all.
be left.

Not only good and kind,
Now wliat avails it, that in early bloom,

But strong and elevated was her mind :
When light fantastic toys

A fpirit that with noble pride
Are all her sex's joys,

Could look superior down
With you the search'd the wit of Greece

On Fortune's Tinile or frown ;.
and Rome;

That could, without regret or pain,
And all that in her latter days,

To Virtue's lowest duty sacrifice
To emulate her ancient praise,

Or Interest or Ambition's highest prize;
Italia's happy genius could produce;

That, injur'd or offended, never tried
Or what the Gallic fire

Its dignity by vengeance to maintain,
Bright fparkling could inspire,

But by magnaniinotis disdain.
By all the Graces temper'd and refin'd;

A wit' that, temperately bright,
Or what, in Britain's ille,

With inoffensive light
Most favour'd with your smile,

All pleasing thone ; nor ever par d
The pow'rs of Reason and of Fancy join'd

Thedecent bounds that Wisdom's 1ober hand, To full perfection have confpir'd to raile?

And sweet Benevolence's mild command, Ah! what is now the use

And bathful modefty, before it can
Of all those treasures that enrich'd her mind,

A prudence undeceiving, undeteisid,
To black. Oblivion's gloom for ever now con- That nor too little nor ioo much believ'd;

That scorn d unjust Suspicion's coward fear,

And, without weakness, knew to be fincere. At least, ye Ninc, her (poclefs maine

Such Lucy was, when in her faireft days,
'Tis yours from death to thre,

Amidst th' acclaim of universal praise.
And in the temple of immortal Fame
With golden characters her worth engrave. Death camne remorielcłson,and funk her to the tomb.

In life's and glory's freshest bloom,
Come then, ye virgin fifters, come,
And strew with chwicest flow'rs her hal-

So, where the silent streams of Liris glide,
low'd tomb;

In the fuft bosom of Campania's vale,
But foremofi thou, in fable vestinent clad, When now the wint'ry tempests ail are fled,
With accents riveet and fad,

And genial summer breathes her gentle gale,
Thou plaintive Mulc, whom o'er his Laura's. The verdant orange lifts its beauicous hvad;
Unhappy. Petrarch call'd to mourn; (urn

. From ev'ry branch the balmy tow'rets rise, O come, and to this fairer Laura pay

On every bough the golden fruits are tecn; A more impassion'd tear, a inore pathetic lay!

"With odours riveet it fills the smiling sies.

The wood nymphs tend it, and th' Idalian Tell how each beauty of her mind and fate

queen : Was brighten'd by some sweet peculiargrace !

But, in the midst of all its blooming pride,
How eloquent in ev'ry look

A fudden blait from Apenninus biows,
Thro' her expressive cyes her soul distinctly.

Cold with perpetual snows;

[and dies.

The tender blighted plane shrinks up its leaves,
Tell how her manners, bv the world refin'd,
Left all the taint of modifi vice behind, Arife, O Petrarch! from th' Elysian bow'rs,
And made each charm of polith'd courts agrec With never-fading nyrtles twin'd,
With candid Truth's fimplicity,

And fragrant with ambrosial How ts,
And uncorrupted Innocence !

Where to thy Laura thou a rain art join'd; Tcil how to more than manly sense

Arise, and hither bring the silver lyrc, She join'd the foft'ning iniluence

Tund by thy skilful hand, Of more than female tendernets :

To the soft notes of elegant defire,
How, in the thoughtless days of wealth and joy,

With which o'cr many a land
Which oft the care of others good destroy, Was spread the fame of thy disastrous love;
Her kindly-melting heart,

To me relign the vocal shell,
# The Clitumnus is a river of Umbria, the residence of Propertius.
+ The Anio runs through Tibur or Tivoli, where Horace had a villa.

# The Meles is a river of lonia, from whence Homer, lupposed to be born on its banks, is called Mellitigenes.

The liflus is a river at Athens.

fpoke!

:

And

1

obey'd.

a

my

more.

And teach my forrows to relate

Yet, O my soul! thy rising murmurs stay;
Their melancholy tale fo well,

Nor dare ch'all-wise Disposer to arraign,
As may e'en things inanimate, [move. Or against his supreme decree
Rough mountain oaks, ang defart rocks, to pity With impious grief complain.

That all thy full-blown joys at once should fade,
What were,alas ! thy woes, compard to mine: Was his most righteous will—and be that will
To thee thy mistress in the blitsfut band

Of Hymen never gave her hand;
The joys of wedded love were never thine.

Would thy fond love his grace to her controul;
In thy domestic care

And, in thcsc low abodes of fin and pain,
She never bore a thare,

Her pure exalted foul,
Nor with endearing art

Unuty, for thy partial good, detain?
Would heal thy wounded hcart

No-sather strive thy grovelling mind to raise
Of every fecret grief that fefter'd there : Up to that unclouded blaze,
Nor did her fond affection on the bed That heavenly radiance of eternal light,
Offickness watch thee, and thy languid head

In which enthron’d the now with pity fees,
Whole nights on her unwearicdarm sustain,

How frail, how insecure, how Night,
And charm away the fenic of pain :

Is every mortal bliss ;
Nor did the crown your mutual flame

Even Love itfelf, if rising by degrees
With pledges dear,and with a father's tendorname. Bevond the bounds of this imperfect state,

Whole fieeting joys fo foon must end,
O best of wives ! O dcarer far to me

It does not to its fovereign good ascend.
Than when thy virgin charms

Rife then, my foul, with hope clate,
Were yielded to my arms;

And seek thote regions of lerene delight,
How can my soul endure the loss of thee? Whose peaceful path, and ever-open gate,
How in the world, to me a dcfart grown, No feet but those of harden'd Guilt thall miss:
Abandon'd and alone,

There Death himself thy Lucy Thalí restore ;
Without fiect
companion can I live?

These yield up all his pow'r nc'er to divide you
Without thy lovely imile,
The dear reward of ercry virtuous toil,
What pleasures now can pall'd Ambition give?
E'en the delightful sense of well-carı'd praise,

4 Winter Piece. ANON.
Unhar'd by thee, no more my lifeléis thoughts IT

T was a winter's evening, and fast came down could raise.

the snow,

[blow, For my distracted mind

And keenly o'er the wide heath the bitter blast did What fuccour can I find ?

When a dainfel all forlorn, quite bewilder'd in her On whom for confolation shall I call?

way, Support me, ev'ry friend;

Press’d her baby to her bosom,and sadly thus did say: Your kind a listance lend,

“Oh! cruel was my father, that shut his door To bear the weight of this oppressive woc.

on me,

[fee ; Alas! cach friend of mine,

And cruel was my mother, that such a sight could My dcar departed love, fo much was thine, And cruel is the wint'ry wind, that chills my heart nene has any comfort to beltow.

with cold,

[for gold! My books, the best relief

But crueller than all, the lad that left my love
In every other grief,
Are now with your idea fadd n'd all:

Hush, hush, my lovely baby, and warm thee in
Each favourite author we together riad

my breast;

(trest! N1y tortur'd memory wounds, and speaks of Lucy For'

, crucl as he is, did he know but how we fare,

Ah, little thinks thy father how sadly we're dif. dead.

He'd thicld us in his arms from this bitter piercing
We were the happiest pair of human kind :

air.
The rolling year its various courte perform’d, Cold, cold, my dearest jewel! thy little life is
And back returnd again ;

gone; Another, and another, imiling came,

Oh let my tears revive thee, so warm that trickla

down: And law our happinets unchang'd remain.

[they fall : Still in her golden chain

My tears that gush so warm, oh thcy freeze before Harmonious Concord did our wishes bind :

Ah wretched, wretched. mother! thou'rt now

bereft of all."
Our studies, pleasures, taste, the fame.
O fatal, fatal stroke!

Then down the sunk despairing upon the drifted
That all this pleasing fabric Love had rais’d

fnow;

[her woe : Of rare felicity,

And, wrung with killing anguish, lamented loud
On which even wanton Viee with envy gaz’d, She kits’d her baby's palc lips, and laid it by hor
And every scheme of bliss our hearts had form’d,
With soothing hope for many a future day,

Then cast her eyes to heaven, then bow'd her
In one fad moment broke

head, and died. FE

a

Triat

side;

Auditae voces, varitus et ingens,

VIRG.

$ 92. The School Mifrefs. In Imitation of Spenser. With dark distrust, and sad repentance fillid,

SHENSIONE. And stedfast hate, and sharp affiiction join'd,

And fury uncontroul'd, and chattisement unkind. lufantumque animae fentet in limine primo,

Few but have kennd, in semblance meet pourAH me! full forely is my heart forlorn,

tray'd, Tothink how modest worth neglectedlies,

The childish faces of old Æol's train, While partial Fame doth with her blasts adorn

Libs, Notus, Aufter ** : these in frowns array'd, Such deeds alone as pride and pomp disguise;

How then would fare or earth, or sky,or main, Deeds of ill fort, and mischievous emprize :

Were the stern god to give his slaves the rein ? Lend me thy clarion, Goddess ! let me try

And were not the rebellious breasts to quell, To found the praise of merit ere it dies;

And were not the her statutes to maintain, Such as I oft have chanced to espy,

The cot no more, 1 ween, were deem'd the cell Lost in the dicary thades of dull obfcurity.

Where comely peace of mind and decent order In ev'ry village, mark'd with little spire, [fame, dwell. Embowerd in trces, and hardly known to

A ruffet stole was o'er her shoulders thrown; There dwells, in lowly Ihade and mean attire,

A rufset kirtle fenc'd the nipping air; A matron old, whom we School-mistress

'Twas simple ruslet, but it was her own, name;

'Twas her own country bred the flock so fair; W'ho boasts unruly brats with birch to tame :

'Twas her own labour did the fleece prepare, They, grieven fore, in pitcous durance pent,

And, footh to say, her pupils, rang'd around, Aw'd by the pow'r of this relentlers dame,

Thro' pious awe did term it palling rare; And oft-times, on vagarics idly bent,

For they in gaping wonderment abound, Forunkempthair, ortaik unconn’d, are forely fhent. And think, no doubt, ihe been the greatest wight And all in fight doth rise a birchen tree,

on ground. Which Learning near her little dome did ftow,

Albeit, ne flatt'ry did corrupt her truth; Whilome a twig of linall regard to fce,

Ne pompous title did debauch her ear; Tho' now so wide its waving branches flow,

Goody, good-woman, gossip, n'aunt, forsouth, And work the simple vassals mickle woe;

Or dame, the fole additions she did hear; For not a wind might curl the lcaves that

Yet thefe the challeng'd, these she held right blow,

[low,

dar: But their limbs shudder'd, and their puife beat Ne would estcem him act as mought bchove, And, as they look 'd, they found their horror Who should not honour'd eld with these revere; grew,

For never title yet so mcan could prove, And thap d it into rods, and tingled at the view. But there was eke a mind which did that title love. So have I seen (who has not, may conceive) One ancient hen she took delight to feed,

A lifeless phantom near a garden plac'd; The plodding pattern of the busy dame, So doth it wanton birds of

peace bereave,

Which ivor and anon, impell’d by necd, Of sport, of tong, of pleature, of repast : Into her school, begirt with chickens, came; They start, they Itare, they wliecl, they look

Such favour did her past deportment claim : aghaft

And if neglect had lavith'd on the ground Sad servitude ! Such comfortless annoy

Fragment of bread, the would collect the same; May no bold Briton's riper age e'er taste !

For well the knew, and quaintly could exNe superstition clog his dance of joy,

pound, Ne vition empty, vain, his native blits destroy. What sin it were to waste the smallest crumb she Near to this dome is found a patch fo green,

found. On which the tribe their gambols do display ; Herbs too she knew, and well of each could And at the door impris'ning board is seen,

speak, Left weakly wightsoffinaller fize should stray, That in her garden sipp'd the filv'ry dew, Eager, perdie, to balk in funny day!

Where no vain flow'r disclos'd a gaudy streak, Ïhe noises intermix'd, u hich thence resound, But herbs for use and physic not a few, Do Learning's little tenement betray;

Of grey renown, within those borders grew; Where fits the dame, disguis'd in look pro- The tufted basil, pun-provoking thyme, found,

[around. Fresh baum, and marygold of cheerful hue, And eyes her Fairy throng, and rurns her wheel The lowly gill, that never dares to climb, Hor cap, far whiter than the driven snow, And more I fain would fing, dildaining here to

Emblem right meet of decency does yield; rhyme.
Her apron dyed in grain, as blue, I trowe, Yet euphrasy may not be left unsung,
As is the harc-bell that adorns the field :

That gives dimeves to wander leagucs around; And in her hand, for sceptre, the docs wield And pungent radish, biting infant's tongue; Tway birchen sprays, with anxious fear en- And plantain ribb’d, that heals the reaper's twin'd,

wound; * The south-west wind, fouth, &c.

And

mete.

a

And marj’ram sweet, in shepherd's posic found; Lo! now with state shc utters the command !

And lavender, whose fpikes of azure bloom Eftfoons the urchins to their tasks repair; Shall be, erewhile, in arid bundles bound, Their books, of ftature small, they take in hand, To lurk amidst the labours of her loom,

Which with pellucid horn fecured are, And crown her kerchiefs clean with mickle rare To save from finger wet the letters fair. perfume.

The work so gay that on their back is seen

St. George's high achievements does declare, And here trim rofcmarine, that whilom crown'd The daintiest garden of the proudeft peer,

On which thilk wight that has ygazing been,

Kens the forth-coming rod; unplcaling fight, I Ere, driven from its envied site, it found

ween! A sacred shelter for its branches here, Where cdg'd with gold its glitt'ring skirts ap

Ah! luckless hc, and born beneath the beam pear.

Of evil ftar! it irks me whilft I write ! O waffel days! O customs meet and well! As erst the bard , by Mulla's silver stream, Ere this was banish'd from its lofty sphere; Oft as he told of deadly dolorous plight,

Simplicity then fought this humble cell, Sigh'd as he sung, and did in tears indite; Nor ever would the more with thane and lordling For, brandishing the rod, she doth begin dwell.

To loose the brogues, the stripling's late de

light! Here oft the dame, on Sabbath's docent eve, Hymned such psalms as Sternhold forth did Fair as the furry coat of whiteit ermilin.

And down they drop; appears his dainty skin, If winter 'twere, she to her hearth did cleave : O ruthful scene! when from a nook obscure

But in her garden found a summer feat : His little fifter doth his peril fce; Sweet melody? to hear her then repeat All playful as the fate, the grows demure,

How Israel's sons, beneath a foreign king, She finds full soon her wonted spirits fice; While taunting foe-men did a song entreat, She meditates a pray’r to fet him frce :

All for the nonce untuning every string, Nor gentle pardon could this dame deny Uphung their useless lyres-small heart had they (If gentle pardon could with dames agrec) to sing

To her lad grief that swells in either eye, For she was just, and friend to virtuous lore, And wrings her 10, that all for pity the could die.

And pass'd much time in truly virtuous deed; No longer can the now her shrieks command; And in those elfins ears would oft deplore

And hardly shc forbcars, thro' awful fcar, The times when Truth by Popish rage did To rushen forth, and, with presumptuous hand, bleed,

To stay harsh justice in its mid career. And tortious death was true Devotion's meed; On thee the calls, on thee, her parent dear!

And simple Faith in iron chains did mourn, (Ah! too remote toward the shameful blow!) That nould on wooden image place her creed; She sees no kind domeftic vilage ncar, And lawny saints in smould'ring flamęs did And foon a flood of tears begius to flow, burn:

[return. And gives a loose at last to unavailing woe. Ah, dearest Lord! forefend thilk days should c'er

But, ah! what pen his piteous plight may trace? In elbow-chair, like that of Scottish Item,

Or what device his loud laments explain : By the sharp tooth of cank'ring Eld defac'd, The form uncouth of his disguised face? In which, when he receives his diadem,

The pallid huc thit dyes his looks amain ? Our sov’reign prince and liefest liege is plac'd,

The plenteous show'r that does hischeck distain? The matron fate: and fome with rank the

When he in abject wise implores the dame, gracid,

Ne hopeth aught of fiveet reprieve to gain ; The fource of children's and of courtier's

Or when from high the levels well her aim, pride!

And, thro’the thatch, his cries cach falling stroke Redress’d affronts (for vile affronts there passid), proclaim.

And warn'd them not the fretful to deride, But love each other dear, whatever them betide.

The other tribe, agliast, with sore dismay

Attend, and conn their talks with mickle care; Right well the knew cach temper to descry, By turns, aftonied, ev'ry twig survey,

Tothwart the proud, and the submiss to raise; And from their fellow's hateful wounds Some with vile copper prize exalt on high,

beivare, And fome entice with pittance finall of praise; Knowing, I wilt, how cach the same may share"; And other fome with baleful sprig lhe 'frays : Till fear has taught them a performance E'en ablent, the the reins of pow'r doth hold,

mect, While with quaint arts the giddy crowd The And to the well-known chest the dame repair, sways;

Whence oft with sugar'd cates the duth 'em Forewarn’d, if little bird their pranks hehold,

greci, 'Twill whisper in her car, and all the scene un- And gingerbread y-rare; now, certes, doully fold.

vect! * Spenfer." Ff2

See,

a

a

See, to their seats they hye with merry glee, And many a poet quit th’Aönian field:
And in beseemly order sitten there,

And, four'd by age, profound he thall appear, All but the wight of bum y-galled; he

As he who now, with 'sdainful fury thrillid, Abhorreth bench, and stool, and form, and Surveys mine work, and levels many a sneer, chair

And furls his wrinkly front, and cries, “What (This hand in mouth y-fix’d,thatrends his hair); stuff is here!' And eke with snubs profound, and heaving breast,

But now Dan Phæbus gains the middle sky,

And Liberty unbars her prison-door;
Convulsions intermitting! does declare

And like a rushing torrent out they tly,
His grievous wrong, bis dame's unjust behest,
And scornsheroffer'd love,and shuns to be careis’d.

And now the grally cirque han cover'd o'er

With boist'rous revel-rout and wild uproar. His face besprent with liquid crystal shines;

A thousand ways in wanton rings they run; His blooming face, that seems a purple fow'r,

Heaven Thield their thort-liv'd pastimes, I imWhich low to carth its drooping head declines,

plore! All smeard and sullied by a vernat show'r. For well may Freedom, erst so dearly won, Oh the hard bofoms of defpotic pow'r!

Appear to British elf more gladsome than the sun. All, all but she, the author of his shame, All, all but the, regret this mournful hour:

Enjoy, poor imps ! enjoy your sportive trade, Yet hence the youth, and hence the flow'r

And chace gay flies,andcullthe fairest flow'rs; Thall claim,

For when my bones in grass-green fods are laid; If so I decm aright, transcending worth and fame.

For never may ye taite more careless hours

In knightly castles or in ladics bow'rs. Behind some door in melancholy thought,

O vain, to feek delight in earthly things ! Mindless of food, he, dreary caitiff! pines; But most in courts, where proud Ambition Ne for his fellows joyaunce careth ought,

tow'rs; But to the wind'ail merriment resigns,

Deluded wight! who weens fair peace can And deems it thame if he to peace inclines;

spring And mary a fullcn look afkaunce is fent, Bencath the pompous dome of kcfar or of king. Which for his damc's annoyance he designs ; And still the more to pleasure him the's bent,

See in each sprite some various bcnt appear! The more doth he, perverle, her 'haviour past

These rudely carol inost incondite lay; refent.

Those faunt'ring on the green, with jocund leer,

Salute the stranger pailing on his way: Ah, me! how much I fear lest pride it be! Some builden fragile tenements of clay ;

But if that pride it be which thus inspires, Some to the standing lake their courses bend, Beware, yc dames ! with nice discernment sec,

With pebbles smooth, at duck and drake to Ye quench not too the parks of nobler tires :

play; Ah! better far than all the Muses' lyres

Thilk to the huxter's sav'ry cottage tend, (All coward arts) is valour's gen 'rous hcat; | In pastry kings and queens th'alloted mite to spend. The firm fix'd breast which fit and right requires,

Here, as each season yields a different store, Like Vernon's patriot soul, more justly great

Ea season's stores in order ranged been ; Than craft that pimps for ill, or flow'ry faliu Apples with cabbage-net y-cover d o’cr, deceit.

Galling fullfore in unmonied wight, are seen;

And goo ebrie, clad in liv'ry red or green : Yet, nurs’d with skill, what dazzling fruits

And here of lovely dye the Cathrine pear; appear! E'en now fagacious foresight points to show

Fine pear! as lovely for thy juice I ween; A little bench of hecdlefs bithops here,

O may no wight c'er pennyless come there. And there a chancellor in embryo,

Leít, linit with ardent losc, he pine with hopeless

care ! Or bard sublime, it bard may e'er be fo; As Milton, Shakespeare, names that ne'er

See cherries here, cre cherries yet abound, Thall die!

With thread to white in tempting posies tied, Tho' now he crawl along the ground fo low; Scatt'ring like blooming maid thcir glances Nor weeting how the Mule Thould foar on

round, high,

With pamper'd look draw little eyes aside, Wisheth poor ítarv'ling clf! his paper kite may fly. And must be bought, tho' penury betide ;

The plum all azure, and the nut all brown; And this perhaps, who, cens'ring the design, And here each seafon do those cakes abide, Low lays the house which that of cards doth Whose honour'd names th' inventive city build,

own, Shall Dernis be, if rigid Fates incline; Rend’ring thro’ Britain's ille Salopia's prailas And inany an epic to his rage shall yield,

known *.

1