Thro' Nature's ever-varying scene, The one eternal end of Heaven With like beneficent effect O'er flaming æther glows, As when it tunes the linnet's voice, By reafon taught to scorn those fears Thy life may all the tend'reft care Of death beats flow! heard ye the note profound? It paufes now; and now, with rifing knell, Flings to the hollow gale its fullen found. Yes-Coventry is dead. Attend the strain, Daughters of Albion! ye that, light as air, So oft have tripp'd in her fantaftic train, With hearts as gay, and faces half as fair: For fhe was fair beyond your brightest bloom (This envy owns, fince now her bloom is fled); Fair as the forms that, wove in Fancy's loom, Float in light vifion round the poet's head. Whene'er with soft serenity the fmil'd, Or caught the orient blush of quick surprise, How fweetly mutable, how brightly wild, The liquid luftre darted from her eyes! Each look, each motion, wak'd a new-born grace, That o'er her form its tranfient glory caft: Some lovelier wonder foon ufurp'd the place, Chas'd by a charm ftill lovelier than the last. That bell again! It tells us what she is; On what the was, no more the strain prolong: Luxuriant fancy, paufe! an hour like this Demands the tribute of a serious fong. Maria claims it from that fable bier, Where cold and wan the flumb'rerrefts her head; In ftill fmall whispers to reflection's ear She breathes the folemn dictates of the dead. O catch the awful notes, and lift them loud! Proclaim the theme by fage, by fool, rever'd; Hear it, ye young, ye vain, ye great, ye proud! Tis Nature fpeaks, and Nature will be heard. Yes; ye fhall hear, and tremble as ye hear, While, high with health, your hearts exulting E'en in the midst of pleasure's mad career, [leap; The mental monitor fhall wake and weep! For fay, than Coventry's propitious ftar, What brighter planet on your births arofe? Or gave of fortune's gifts an ampler share, In life to lavith, or by death to lofe? Early to lofe! While, borne on busy wing, Ye fip the nectar of each varying bloom; Nor fear, while baking in the beams of spring, The wint'ry ftorm that fweeps you to the tomb; Think of her fate! revere the heavenly hand That led her hence, tho' foon, by steps fo flow; Long at her couch Death took his patient ftand, And menac'd oft, and oft withheld the blow: To give reflection time, with lenient art, Each fond delufion from her foul to steal; Teach her from folly peaceably to part, And wean her from a world the lov'd fo well. Say, are ye fure his mercy fhall extend To you so long a fpan? Alas, ye figh! [friend, Make then, while yet ye may, your God your And learn with equal cafe to fleep or die! Nor think the Mufe, whofe fober voice ye hear, Contracts with bigot frown her fullen brow; Cafts round religion's orb the mifts of fear, [glow. Or fhades with horrors what with fmiles fhould No-she would warm you with feraphic fire, Heirs as ye are of heaven's eternal day; Would bid you boldly to that heaven afpire, Not fink and flumber in your cells of clay. Know, ye were form'd to range yon azure field, In yon ethereal founts of blifs to lave: Force then, fecure in faith's protecting shield, The fting from death, the vict'ry from the grave! Is this the bigot's rant? Away, ye vain, Your hopes, your fears, in doubt, in dulnefs fteep; Go foothe your fouls, in ficknefs, grief, or pain, With the fad folace of eternal fleep! Yet will I praise you, triflers as ye are, More than thofe preachers of your fav'rite creed, Who proudly fwell the brazen throat of war, Who form the phalanx, bid the battle bleed, Nor with for more; who conquer but to die, Hear, Folly, hear, and triumph in the tale! Like you they reafon, not like you enjoy The breeze of blifs that fills your filken fail: On pleafure's glitt'ring ftream ye gaily fteer Your little course to cold oblivion's fhore; They dare the ftorm, and thro' th' inclement year Stem the rough furge, and brave the torrent's roar. Is it for glory? That juft Fate denies : Long muft the warrior moulder in his shroud, Ere from her trump the heaven-breath'd accents That lift the hero from the fighting crowd! [rife, Is it his grafp of empire to extend? To curb the fury of infulting foes? Ambition, ceafe! the idle contest end: 'Tis but a kingdom thou canst win or lose. And F 3 And why muft murder'd myriads lose their all Crown with the mantling juice the goblet high! Weave the light dance, with feftive freedom gay, And live your moment, fince the next ye die! Yet know, vain fceptics! know, th' Almighty Mind, Who breath'd on man a portion of his fire, Bade his free foul, by earth nor time confin'd, To heaven, to immortality afpire. Nor fhall the pile of hope his mercy rear'd By vain philofophy be e'er deftroy'd: Eternity, by all or with'd or fear'd,' Shall be by all or fuffer'd or enjoy'd! NOTE. In a book of French verfus, intitled, Oeuvres du Philofophe de Sans Souci, and lately reprinted at Berlin by authority, under the title of Poefies Diverfes, may be found an Ep.ftle to Marthal Keith, written profeffedly against the immortality of the foul. By way of fpecimen of the whole, take the following lines: De l'avenir, cher Keith, jugeons par le paffé: § 108. Elegy to a young Nobleman leaving the Univerfity. MASON. ERE yet, ingenuous youth, thy fteps retire [vale, From Cam's fmooth margin, and the peaceful Whère fcience call'd thee to her ftudious quire, And met thee musing in her cloisters pale; Olet thy friend (and may he boast the name!) Breathe from his artlefs reed one parting lay: A lay like this thy early virtues claim, And this let voluntary friendship pay. Yet know, the time arrives, the dang'rous time, When all thofe virtues, op'ning now fo fair, Tranfplanted to the world's tempeftuous clime, Muft learn each paffion's boift'rous breath to bear; There, if ambition, peftilent and pale, Or luxury fhould taint their vernal glow; If cold felf-intereft, with her chilling gale, Should blaft th'unfolding bloffomsere they blow; If mimic hues, by art or fashion spread, Their genuine fimple colouring fhould fupply; O may with them thefe laureate honours fade, And with them (if it can) my friendship die! Then do not blame, if, tho' thyself inspire, Cautious I ftrike the panegyric ftring; The Mufe full oft purfues a meteor fire, And, vainly vent'rous, foars on waxen wing: Too actively awake at friendship's voice, And oft invokes oblivion's aid in vain. He heaves a figh amid the realms of reft. If Pope thro' friendship fair'd, indignant view, Yet pity, Dryden-hark, whene'er he fings, How adulation drops her courtly dew On titled rhymers and inglorious kings! Sec, from the depths of his exhauftlefs mine, His glitt'ring ftores the tuneful spendthrift throws: Where fear or int'reft bids, behold they fhine; Now grace a Cromwell's,now a Charles's brows. Born with too gen'rous or too mean a heart, Dryden in vain to thee those stores were lent; Thy fweeteft numbers but a trifling art; Thy ftrongeft diction idly eloquent. Was Parnell's modest faine, and may be mine Go then, my friend, nor let thy candid breaft Condemn me, if I check the plaufive string: Go to the wayward world; complete the reft; Be ftill thyfelf: that open path of truth, Which led thee here, let manhood firm pursue; Retain the feet fimplicity of youth; Still fcorn, with confcious pride, the mask of art; Of knaves that plot, and fools that fawn for So, round thy brow when age's honours fpread, When death's cold hand unftrings thy Mafon's When the green turf lies lightly on his head, [lyre, Thy worth fhall fome fuperior bard inspire: He to the ampleft bounds of time's domain On rapture's plume fhall give thy name to fly; For truft, with rev'rence truft, this Sabine ftrain, "The Mufe forbids the virtuous man to die.' $109. The Choice of Hercules: from the Greek of Prodicus. Bp. LowтH. NOW had the fon of Jove, mature, attain'd The joyful prime; when youth, clate and gay, Steps into life, and follows unreftrain'd Where patlion leads, or prudencepoints the way. In the pure mind, at those ambiguous years, By just degrees, fair bloom of faireft fruit! For, if on youth's untainted thought impreft, The gen'rous purpose still fhall warm the manly breaft. As on a day, reflecting on his age For highest deeds now ripe, Alcides fought Mafing, with fteady pace the youth purfued Converting, while intent his mind furvey'd The dubious path of life: before him lay, [way. Here virtue's rough afcent, there pleasures flow'ry Much did the view divide his wav'ring mind: Now glow'd his breaft with gen'rous thirft of Now love of eafe to fofterthoughts inclia'd [fame; His vielding foul, and quench'd the rifing, flame: When, lo! far off two female forms he pics; Direct to him their steps they seem to bear; Both large and tall, exceeding human fize; Both, far exceeding human beauty, fair. Graceful, yet each with different grace they move; This ftriking facred awe; that, fofter winning love. The first in native dignity furpafs'd; Artiefs and unadorn'd the pleas'd the more; Health o'er her looks a genuine luftre caft; A vet more white than new-fallen fhow fhe August she trod, yet modeft was her air; [wore: Serene her eye, yet darting heavenly fire. Still the drew near; and nearer ftill more fair, More mild, appear d: yet fuch as might infpire Pleafure corrected with an awful fear; Majefically fweet, and amiably fevere. The other dame feem'd even of fairer hue; But bold her mien, unguarded rov'd her eye, And her flush'd cheeks confefs'd at nearer view The borrow'd blushes of an artful dye. All foft and delicate, with airy fwim Lightly the danc'd along; her robe betray'd Thro' the clear texture every tender limb, Height'ning the charms it only feem'd to shade : And as it flow'd adown, fo loofe and thin, [ikin. Her ftature fhew'd more tall,more fhowy white her Oft with a fmile fhe view'd her felf afkance; Even on her fhade a confcious look the threw: Then all around her caft a carclets glance, To mark what gazing eyes her beauty drew. As they came near, before that other maid With me retire from noife, and pain, and care, Then will I grant thee all thy foul's defire; [fight; All that may charm thine car, and please thy All that the thought can frame, or with require, To fteep thy ravifh'd fenfes in delight: The fumptuous feaft, enhanc'dwith mufic's found, Fittelt to tune the melting foul to love, Rich odours, breathing choiceft fweets around; The fragrant bow'r, cool fountain, thady grove; Freth flow'rs to ftrew thy couch, and crown thy head: [thy bed, Joy fhall attend thy steps, and cafe fhall fimooth Thefe will I freely, conftantly fupply, Pleatures not earn'd with toil, nor mix'd with Far from thy reft repiaing want fhall fly, [woe; Nor labour bathe in fweat thy careful brow. Mature the copious harveft fhall be thine, Let the laborious hind fubdue the foil; Leave the rath foldier fpoils of war to win, Won by the foldier thou shalt fhare the spoil: Thefe foffer cares my beft allies employ, New pleafures to invent, to wifh, and to enjoy." Her winning voice the youth attentive caught: He gaz'd impatient on the fmiling maid; Still gaz'd, and liften'd; then her name befought: My name, fair youth, is Happinefs," the faid: "Well can my friends this envied truth maintain; They share myblifs,they beft can fpeak my praise; Tho' Slander call me Sloth (detraction vain!) 'Heed not what Slander, vain detracter, fays; Slander, ftill prompt true merit to defame, [name." To blot the brightest worth, and blaft the fairest By this arriv'd the fair majeftic maid; She all the while, with the fame modeft pace, With manly tone, "thy birth of heavenly race: She fpurns the timorous, indolent, and base: ad-Danger and toil stand stern before her throne, Approaching decent, eagerly fhe prefs'd With hafty ftep; nor of repulfe afraid, [drefs'd; With freedom bland the wond'ring youth With winning fondnefs on his neck the hung; Sweet as the honey-dew flow'd her enchanting tongue : "Dear Hercules, whence this unkind delay? Dear youth, what doubts can thus diftract thy Securely follow where I lead the way, [mind? And range thro' wilds of pleafure unconfin'd. And guard (fo Jove commands) the facred place: Whofecks her muft the mighty cost fustaia, [pain. And pay the price of fame-labour, and care, an Would't thou engage the gods peculiar care? O Hercules, th' immortal pow's adore! With a pure heart, with facrince, and pray'r Attend their altars, and their aid implore. Or, wouldst thou gain thy country's loud applaufe, | Tho' lull'd with fofteft founds thou lieft along, Her voice in council, in the fight her sword: In peace, in war, purfue thy country's good; For her bare thy bold breast, and pour thy generous blood. Wouldst thou,to quell the proud and lift th'oppreft, In arts of war and matchless strength excel? First conquer thou thyfelf: to cafe, to reft, To each foft thought of pleasure, bid farewel. The night alternate, due to sweet repose, In watches wafte; in painful march, the day: Congeal'd amidst the rigorous winter's fnows, Scorch'd by the fummer's thirst-inflaming ray. Thy harden'd limbs fhall boaft fuperior might: Vigour fhall brace thine arm, refiftlefs in the fight." "Hear'ft thou what monfters then thou must engage? [prove?" What dangers, gentle youth, fhe bids thee (Abrupt fays Sloth)" Ill fit thy tender age Tumult and wars, fit age for joy and love. Turn, gentle youth, to me, to love, and joy! To thefe I lead: no monsters here shall stay Thine cafy courfe; no cares thy peace annoy; I lead to blifs a nearer, fmoother way: Short is my way, fair, eafy, fmooth, and plain: Turn, gentle youth-with me eternal pleafures reign." "What pleasures,vain mistaken wretch, are thine?" (Virtue with fcorn replied) "who fleep'ft in cafe Infenfate; whofe foft limbs the toil decline That feafons blifs, and makes enjoyment please: Draining the copious bowl ere thirst require; Feafting ere hunger to the feaft invite; Whofe taftelels joys anticipate defire, Whom luxury fupplics with appetite: Yet nature loaths, and you employ in vain Variety and art to conquer her disdain. The fparkling nectar, cool'd with summer fnows, The dainty board with choicest viands fpread, To thee are taftelefs all! fincere repofe Flies from thy flow'ry couch and downy bed. For thou art only tir'd with indolence; Nor is thy fleep with toil and labour bought, Th' imperfect fleep, that lulls thy languid fenfe In dull oblivious interval of thought; That kindly fteals th inactive hours away [the day. From the long ling ring fpace, that lengthens out From bountcous nature's unexhausted stores Flows the pure fountain of fincere delights: Averfe to her, you wafte the joy lefs hours; Sleep drowns thy days,and riot rules thy nights. Immortal tho' thou art, indignant Jove [place, Hurl'd thee from heaven, th' immortals blifsful For ever banish'd from the realms above, To dwell on earth with man's degenerate race: Fitter abode on earth alike difgrac'd; Rejected by the wife, and by the fool embrac'd. Fond wretch, that vainly weeneft all delight To gratify the fenfe, referv'd for thee! Yet the most pleasing object to the fight, Thine own fair action, never didst thou fee. Soft mufic, warbling voices, melting lays; Ne'er didft thou hear, more sweet than sweetest fong Charming the foul,thou ne'er didft hearthy praife! No to thy revels let the fool repair; To fuch go fmooth thy fpeech, and spread thỵ tempting fnare. Vaft happiness enjoy thy gay allies! A youth of follies, an old age of cares; Young yet enervate, old yet never wife, Vice wastes their vigour, and their mind impairs. Vain, idle, delicate, in thoughtless cafe, Referving woes for age, their prime they spend; All wretched, hopeless, in the evil days, With forrow to the verge of life they tend. Griev'd with the prefent, of the paft asham'd, They live and are defpis'd; they die, nor more are nam'd. But with the gods, and godlike men, I dwell; Sweet is their fleep; light, cheerful, ftrong, they Thro' health, thro' joy, thro' pleafure, and renown They tread my paths; and by a foft defcent At length to age all gently finking down, Look back with tranfport on a life well spent; In which no hour flew unimprov'd away; Inwhich fome gen'rous deed diftinguish'dev'ry day, And when, the deftin'd term at lengths complete, Their afhes reft in peace, eternal fame Sounds wide their praise : triumphant over fate, In facred fong for ever lives their name. This, Hercules, is happinefs! obey My voice, and live: let thy celeftial birth Lift and enlarge thy thoughts: behold the way That leads to fame, and raifes thee from earth Immortal! Lo, I guide thy fteps. Arife, Purfue the glorious path,and claim thy native skies." Her words breathe fire celeftial, and impart New vigour to his foul, that fudden caught The generous flame: with great intent his heart Swells full, and labours with exalted thought. The mift of error from his eyes difpell'd, Thro' all her fraudful arts, in cleareft light, Sloth in her native form he now beheld; Unveil'd she stood confefs'd before his fight: False Siren!—All her vaunted charms, that thone So fresh erewhile and fair, now wither'd, pale, and gone. No more the rofy bloom in fweet difguife Masks her diffembled looks; each borrow'd grace Leaves her wan cheek; pale fickness clouds her eyes Livid and funk, and paffions dim her face. As As when fair Iris has awhile difplay'd But Virtue, more engaging, all the while breaft. The heavenly maid with ftrength divine endued Enduring patience, arm'd his mighty mind. By many a hardy deed and bold emprize, From fierceft monsters, thro' her pow'rful aid, He freed the earth! thro' her he gain'd the fkies. 'Twas virtue plac'd him in the bleft abode; Crown'd with eternal youth, among the gods a god. FAR § 110. The Hermit. PARNELL. Á life fo facred, fuch ferene repofe, The morn was wafted in the pathlefs grafs, His raiment decent, his complexion fair, And talk of various kind deceiv'd the road; Now funk the fun; the clofing hour of day At length 'tis morn, and at the dawn of day And, but the landlord, none had caufe of woe: While thus they pafs, the fun his glory fhrouds, |