Or, wouldnt thou gain thy country's loud applause, | Tho' lull'd with softest sounds thou lieft along, Lov'd as her father, as her god ador'd ?

Soft music, warbling voices, melting lays; Be thou the bold afferter of her cause;

Ne'er didst thou hear, inore sweet than sweetest fong Her voice in council, in the night her sword: Charming the foul,thou ne'erdidft hearthy praise In peace, in war, pursue thy country's good; Norto thy revels let the fool repair; For her bare thy bold breast, and pour ihy gene- | To such go smooth thy speech, and spread thy rous blood.

tempting înare.
Wouldit thou,to quellthe proudand liftth'opprest, Vast happiness enjoy thy gay allies!

In arts of war and matchless strength excel? A youth of follies, an old age of cares;
First conquer thou thyself: to case, to reft, Young yet enervate, old yet never wise,

To each soft thought of pleasure, bid farewel. Vice waftes their vigour, and their mind impairs.
The night alternate, due to sweet repose, Vain, idle, delicate, in thoughtless case,

In watches waste ; in painful march, the day: Reserving wocs for age, their prime they spend; Congeal'd amidst the rigorous winter's snows, All wretched, hopeless, in the evil days,

Scorch'd by the summer's thirst-inflaming ray. With sorrow to the verge of life they tend. Thy harden'd limbs shall boat superior might: Griev'd with the present, of the past alham’d, Vigour shall brace thine arm, refiftlels in the light."| They live and are despis d; they die, nor more “ Hear'st thou what monsters then thou must are nam'd. engage?

[prove !" But with the gods, and godlike men, I dwell; What dangers, gentle youth, she bids thee Me, his supreme delight, th’Almighty Sire (Abrupt says Sloth) —"Ill fit thy tender age Regards well pleas'd: whatever works excel, Tumult and wars,

fit

age for joy and love. All, or divine or human, I inspire. Turn, gentle youth, to me, to love, and joy! Counsel with strength, and industry with art,

To these I lead: no monsters here ihall stay In union meet conjoin'd, with me reside: Thinc cały course; no cares thy peace annoy ; My dictates arm, instruct, and mend the heart, I lead to bliss a nearer, smoother way:

The furest policy, the wifeft guide. Short is iny way, fair, easy, smooth, and plain : With me true friendship dwells: the deigns to bind Turn, gentle youth-with me eternal plealurcs Thole generous fouls alone, whom I before have reign.

Nor need my friends the various costly feaft; (join d. “What pleasures,vain mistaken wretch, are thine” Hunger to them th' effects of art supplies ; (Virtue with scorn replied) “who fecp'st in case Labour prepares their weary limbs to rest

; [rise. Infonsate; where foft limbs the tcii decline

Sweet is their sleep; light, cheerful, strong, they That seasons bliss, and makes enjoyment please: Thro' health, thro' joy, thro' pleasure, and renown Draining the copious bowl ere thinit require ; They tread my paths; and by a soft descent

Featting ere hunger to the feast invite; At length to age all gently sinking down, Whose tasteless joys anticipate desire,

Look back with transport on a life well spent ; Whom luxury lupplies with appetite : In which no hour flew unimprov'd away; Yer nature loaths, and you einploy in vain Inwhich sone gen'rous deed distinguish'd ev'ry day, Variety and art to conquer her disdain.

And when, the destin'd term at lengths complete, The spırkling nectar, cool'd with summer snows, Their alhes rest in peace, eternal fame

Tiedainty board with choicest viands spread, Sounds wide their praise : triumphant over fate, To thee are tasteless all! sincere repose

In facrcd song for ever lives their name. Flies from thy flow'ry couch and downy bed. This, Hercules, is happiness! obcy For thou art only tir'd with indolence;

My voice, and live : let thy celestial birth Nor is thy Neep with toil and labour bought, Lift and enlarge thy thoughts : bchold the way Th'imperfeet deep, that lulls thy languid sense That leads to fame, and raises thec from earth In dull oblivious interval of thought;

Immortal! 1.o, I guide thy steps. Arile, Thatkindly stealsın'inactivehours away (the day. Pursuetheglorious path,and claim thy native skics." From the long ling ring space, that lengthens out Her words breathe fire celestial, and impart From bountcous nature's unexhausted stores

New vigour to his soul, thra: sudden caught Fows the pure fountain of sincere delights: The generous Aame :

: with great intent his hcart Averse to her, you waste the joyless hours; Swells full, and labours with exalted thought.

Sleep drowns thy days, and riot rules thy nights. The mist of error from his eyes dispellid, Immortal tho'thou art, indignant Jove [place, Thro' all her fraudful arts, in cleareft light,

Hurl'd thee from heaven, th’immortals blissful Sloth in her native form he now beheld; For ever banith'd from the realms above,

Unveil'd the food confess'd before his fight: To dwell on carth with man's degenerate race: False Siren! - All her vaunted charms, that ihone Fitter abode! on earth alike difgrac'd;

So freth erewhile and fair, now wither'd, pale, and Rejected by the wife, and by the fool embrac'd.

gone. Fond wretch, that vainly wecncst all delight No more the rosy bloom in sweet disguise To gratify the sense, referv'd for thee!

Masks her diffembled looks; cach borrow'd grace Yet the most pleasing objcēt to the sight, Leaves her wancheek; palc sickness clouds hereyes Thine own fair action, ncver didit thou see. Livid and funk, and pallions dimn her face.

As As when fair Iris has awhile display'd

His raiment decent, his complexion fair, Her wat’ry arch, with gaudy painture gay, And soft in graceful ringlets wav'd his hair: While yet we gaze the glorious colours fade, Then near approaching, "Father, hail!” he cried;

And from our wonder gently steal away: And “Hail, my fon!' the rev’rend fire rcplicd: Where thone the beauteous phantom erst so bright, Words follow'd words, from question answer Now low'rs the low-hung cloud, all gloomy to flow'd, the fight.

And talk of various kin deceiv'd the road; But Virtue, more engaging, all the while

Till each with other plcas'd, and loth to part, Disclos d new charms, more lovely, more serene, While in their age they differ, join in hcart. Beaming liveet influence: a milder smile

Thus ftands an aged elm in ivy bound, Sorten'd the terrors of her lofty mien.

Thus youthful ivy clasps an elm around. * Lezd, goddess; I am thine !" transported cried

Now funk the fun; the closing hour of day Alcides; “ O propitious pow'r, thy way

Came onward, inantled o'er with sober

grey; Teach me! poffels my soul! be thou my guide: Nature in silence bid the world repose: From thee oh nerer, never let me stray !"

When near the road a stately palace rose. [pass, While ardent thus the youth his vows address’d, There, by the moon, through ranks of trees they With all the goddess hird, already glow'd his Whole verdure crown’d their floping sides of grass. breaft.

It chanc'd the noble master of the dome

Still made his house the wand'ringstranger's home; The heavenly maid with strength divinc endued Yet still the kindness, from a thirtt of praise,

His daring soul; there all her pow'rs combin’d: Prov'd the vain flourish of expenfive eale. Firm conftancy, undaunted fortitude,

The pair arrive: the livericd tervants wait; Enduring patience, arm’d his mighty mind. Their lord receives them at the pompous gate. Unmov'd in foils, in dangers undismay'd, The table groans with costly piles of food,

By many a hardy deed and bold emprize, And all is more than hospitably good. From fiercest monsters, thro' her pow'rful aid,

Then, led to reli, the day's long toil thcy drown, He freed the earth! thro' her he gain'd the skies. Deep funk in Neep, and filk, and heaps of down. 'Twas virtue plac'd him in the bleft abode;

At length 'tis morn, and at the dawn of day Crown'd with eternal youth, among the gods a god. Along the wide canals the Zephyrs play;

Freth o'er the gay parterres the breezes creep,

And shake the neighbouring wood to banith sleep. $ 110. The Hermit. PARNELL.

Up rise the gueits, obedient to the call; FAR in a wild, unknown to public view, An carly banquet deck'd the splendid hall;

From youth to age a rev'rend Hermit grew; Rich luscious wine a golden goblet grac'd, The moss his bed, the cave his humble cell, Which the kind master forc'd the gucsts to taste. His food the fruits, his drink the crystal well: Then, picas'd and thankful, from the porch thcy Remote from man, with God he pass’d his days, go; Pray's all his business, all his pleasure praife. And, but the landlord, none had cause of woe: Á life so facred, luch ferene repose,

His cup was vanish'd; for in secret guise Scem'd heaven itself, till one suggestion role The younger gueft purloin'd the glitt'ring prize. That vice thould triumph, virtue vice obcy; As one who spies a serpent in his way, This sprung some doubt of Providence's lway: Glift'ning and balking in the summer ray, His hopes no more a certain prospect boast, Disorder'd stops to Thun thu danger near, And all the tenour of his soul is loft.

Then walks with faintness and looks with fear; So when a smooth expanfe receives impreft So seem's the fire, when far upon the road Calm nature's image on its wat’ry breast, The shining spoil his wily partner show'd. [heart, Down bend the banks, the trees depending grow, He stopp'd with silence, walk'd with trembling And skies bencath with answ'ring colours glow: And much he with’d, but durft not ask, to part: But if a stone the gentle sea divide, а

Murm'ring he lifts his eyes, and thinks it hard Swift rufling circles curl on ev'ry side, That gen'rous actions meet a base reward. And glimm'ring fragments of a broken sun; While thus thuy pafs, the sun his glory fırouds, Bankz, trees, and skics, in thick disorder run. The changing ikies hang out their lab.c clouds;

To clear this doubt,to know the world by sight, A found in air prefag'd approaching rain, To find if books or swains report it right And beasts to covert fcud acrots the plain. (For yet by swains alone the world he knew, Warn’d by the signs, the wind’ring pair retreat Whofe fect came wand'ring o'er the nightly dew), To seek for thelter at a reighb'rizg icat: He quits his cell; the pilgrim-staff he bore, 'Twas built with turrets on a rifing ground, And fix'd the scallop in his hat before;

And strong, and large, and unimprov'd around; Then with the fun a rising journey went, Its owner's temper, tim'rous and severe, Scdate to think, and watching cach event. Unkind and griping, caus'd a defert there.

The morn was wasted in the pathless grass, As ncar the mier's lieavy doors they diew, And long and lonesome was the wild to pass : Fierce rising guits with ludden fury blow; But when the fouthern fun had warmd the day, The nimble lightning mix'd with show'rs began, A youth camne posting o'er a crossing way; And o’cr their heads loud rolling thunder ra

on,

a

Here long they knock, but knock or call in vain, | His steps the youth pursues; the country lay
Driv'n by the wind, and batter'd by the rain. Perplex'd with roads; a servant shew'd the way:
At length some pity warm'd the master's breast A river crois d the path; the passage o'er
('Twas then his threshold first receiv'd a guest): | Was nice to tind; the servant crod before:
Slow creaking turns the door with jealous care, Long arms of oaks an open bridge iupplied, [glide.
And half he welcomes in the thiv’ring pair; And deep the waves beneath the bending branches
Onc frugal faggot lights the naked walls, The youth, who seem'd to watch a time to fin,
And nature's fervour through their limbs recals: Approach d the careless guide, and thrust him in :
Bread of the coarfest fort, with meager wine, Plunging he falls, and rising lifts his head;
(Each hardly granted) ferv'd them both to dine; Then naming turns, and finks among the dea:d.
And when the tempest first appear'd to cease, Wild sparkling rage inflames the father's cres;
A ready warning bid them part in peace. Hc bursts the bands of fear, and madly cries,

With still remark the pond'ring Hermit view'd, “ Detefted wretch!"-But scarce his speech began, In one fo rich, a life to poor and rudc;

When the strange partner seem'd no longer man: And why should fuch (within himself he cried) His youthful face grew more ferenely tweet; Lock the lost wealth a thoufand want beside ? His rcbe turn d white, and flow'd upon his feet; But what new marks of wonder foon take place Fair rounds of radiant points inveft his hair; In ev'ry settling feature of his face,

Celestial odours breaihe through purpled air; When from his veft the young companion bore And wirgs, whole colours glitter'd on the day, That cup the gen'rous landlord own'd before, Wide at his back their gradual plumes display And paid profusely with the precious bowl The form ethereal bursts upon his fight, The Itinted kindness of this churlish foul! And moves in all the majeity of light. But now the clouds in airy tumult fiy;

Tho' loud at first the Pilgrim's paifion grew, The sun emerging opes an azure sky;

Sudden hc gaz'd, and wist not what to do; A fresher green the imelling leaves display, Surprize in tecret chains his words fufpends, And, glitt’ring as they tremble, chcer the day: And in a calm his settling temper ends. The wearher courts them from the poor retreat, But silence here the beauteous angel broke And the glad master bolts the wary gate. [wrought (The voice of music ravith'd as he spoke):

While hence they walk, the Pilgrim's bojom *Thy pray’r,thy praise,thy life to rice unknown, With all the travail of uncertain thought; In fwect memorial risc before the throne : His partner's acts without their cauíc appear; There charms success in our bright region sind, 'Twas there a vice, and seem'd a inadncís here: And force an angel down to calm thy mind; Detesting that, and pitying this, he goes, For this comunition'd, I forlook the iky— Loft and confounded with the various shows. Nay, cease to kneel!-thy fellow-ferrant I.

Now night'sdim fhades again involve the sky; Then know the truth of government Divine, Again the wand rers want a place to lic; And let these scruples be no longer thine. Again they search, and find a lodging nigh. The Maker jutily claims that world he made, The foil improv'd around, the marfion neat, In this the right of Providence is laid; And neither poorly low, nor idly great,

Its facred majesty through all depends It seem'd to speak its master's turn of mind, On using second means to work his ends ; Content, and not for praise but virtue kind. 'Tis thus, withdrawn in ftate from human eye,

Hither the walkers turn with weary feet, The Pow'r exerts his attributes on high; Then bless the mansion, and the master greet. Your aétions utes, nor controuls your will, Their greeting fair, bestow'd with modest guise, And bids the doubting fons of men be still. The courteous mafter hears, and thus replies : What strange events can strike with more sur“ Without a vain, without a grudging heart,

prize, To him who gives us all I yield a part;

Than those which lately struck thy wond'ring eyes? From him you come, for him accept it here, Yet, taught by these, confess th' Almighty juit; A frank and fober, more than coitly chcer." And, where you can't unriddlc, Icarn to trust. He spoke, and bid the welcome table spread, The great, vain man, who far'd on costly food, Then talk'd of virtue till the time of bed; Whole life was too luxurious to be good; When the grave household round his hall repair, Who made his iv'ry stands with goblets Thinc, Warn’d by a bell, and close the hours with pray’r. And forc'd his guests to morning draughts of wine;

At length the world, renew'd by calın repose, Has, with the cup, the gracelcís custom loft, Was strong for toil; the dappled morn arose; And still he welcomes, but with less of cost. Before the pilgrims part, the younger crept The mean suspicious wretch, whose bolted door Near the clos'd cradle, where an infant fiept, Ne’er mov'd in pity to the wand ring poor, And writh'd his neck: the landlord's little pride, With him I left the cup, to teach his mind O strange return! grew black, and gasp'd, and died. That heaven can blcfs, if mortals will be kind. Horror of horrors? what! his only fon?

Conscious of wanting worth, he views the bowl, How look'd our Hermit when the fact was done ? And feels compassion touch his grateful foul. Not hell, rho' hell's black jaws in sunder part, Thus artists melt the fullen ore of lead, And breathe blue fire, could more assault his heart. With hcaping coals of fire upon its head;

Confus’d and struck with filence at the deed, In the kind warmth the metal learns to glow, Lie fiics; bui, trembling, fails to fly with speed. And, looke from drog, the fiver tuos biciow.

}

Long had our pious friend in virtue trod, Whence pleasure's eve rise: But now the child half wcan'd his hcart from God; / We'll form their minds, with itvdious carço (Child of lai, ) for him he liv'd in pain, To ali inat wakily, we ar fair, Anime rigtick his steps to earth again.

And train the cor the inics.
T. whit excuses had his dotace run:

While they our wícit ho'it's clype,
B.- GXl, to late the father, took the fon. They li joy our youth, support our ages
Tiine thee in tits he seem'd to go,

And crown our huury hairs :
And **?s iny muritry to deal the blow. They'll grow in virtue ev ry day,
Trop. ci fon: piruni, humbled in the dust, And thus our fond ft loves repay,
Bå intils in tears the punishment was just.

And recompenie our cares. B: how had all his fortunes felt a wrack,

No borrow'd joys, they're ali our own, Wrnat talle fervant fped in safety back !

While to the world we live unknowina
T! is night his trcalur d heaps he want to steal,

Or by the worid forgot:
Allhat a fund of charity would fail!
This Heaven initructs thy mind: this trial v'er, We look with piy on the great,

Monarchs! weensy not your stares
D.part in peace, refign, and lin no more.”

And blets our humbler lot.
Or founding pinions here the youth withdrew;
The lage fieod wond'ring as the ferah Hew.

Our portion is not large, indeed;
Thus kok'à Elisha, when to mount on high,

But then how little do we need!

For nature's calls are few :
His matter took the chariot of the sky:
The fiery pomp ascending left the view;

In this the art of living lics,
The prophet gazi, and with d to follow too.

To want no more than may fuffice,

And inake that little do.
The tending Hermit here a pray'r begun:
Lord! as in heaven, on earth ihy will be done.

Wc'll therefore relish, with content,
Then, gladly turning, fought his ancient place, Whate'er kind Providence has fent,
And pais d a life of piety and peace.

Nor aim beyond our pow'r;

For, if our stock be very sinall,
. The Fire-Side. Cotton. 'Tis prudence to enjoy it all,

Nor lote the present hour,
DEA
EAR Chloe, while the bu'y crowd,
The rain, the wealthy, and the proud,

To bc refignd when ills betide,

Patient when favours are denied, in Fully's maze advance ; Tho' fingularity and pride

And pleas d with favours givens

Dear Chloe, this is wildom's part; Be cai d our choice, we'll step aside,

This is that incense of the heart Nur juin the giddly dance.

Whose fragrance smells to heavena From the gay world we'll oft retire

We'll ask no long protrafted treat, To our cwn family and fire,

Since winter life is itidom sweet; Where love our hours employs;

But, when our feuit is o'er,
No noily neighbour enters here,

Grateful from table we'll arise,
No intermedling stranger ncar,
To fpoii our heart-feit joys.

Nor grudge our fons with envious eyes

The relics of our store.
If folid happiness we prize,
Within our brcast this jewel lies;

Thus, hand in hand, thro’ life we'll go;
And they are fools who roam :

Its chequer'd paths of joy and woe The world his nothing to beftow;

With cautious steps we'll tread; Froin our own fekes our joys must flow,

Quit its vain scenes without a tear,

Without a trouble or a fear, And that dear hut, our home.

And mingle with the dead. Of rest was Noah's dove bereft,

While conscience, like a faithful friend, When with impatient wing sne left

Shall thro' the gloomy vale attend, That safe retreat, the ark;

And chcer our dying breath; Giving her vain excursion o’er,

Shall, when all other comforts ocale, Tlic disappointed bird once more

Like a kind angel whisper peace,
Explor'd the sacred bark.

And smooth the bed of death.
Tho' fcols spurn Hymen's gentle pow'rs,
We, who improve his golden hours,
By sweet experience know,

§ 112. Visions for the Entertainnıent and InfirucThat marriage, rightly understood,

tion of younger Minds. COTTON. Gives to the tender and the good

Virginibus puerisque canto. Hor. A paradise below. Our babes shall richest comforts bring;

A If tutor'd right, they'll prove a spring

UTHORS, you know, of greatest famc,

Thro' modesty suppress their name*; * Though Dr. Cotton is well known to bave been the author of shese Visions, they have generally been published without prefixing his name.

a

a

TO THE READER.

m

And would you with me to reveal

'Tis to your innocence we run; What these superior wits conceal?

Save us, ye fair, or we ’rc undone; Forego the search, my curious friend,

Maintain your inodesty and station, And husband time to better end.

So women thall preserve the nation. All ambition is, I own,

Mothers, 'tis said, in days of old, To profit and to please unknown;

Esteem'd their girls more choice than gold;
Like urcams supplied from springs below, Too well a daughter's worth they knew,
Which scatter bleffings as they flow.

To make her cheap by public view :
Wire you diseas'd, or prefs'd with pain, Few, who their diamonds' value weigh,
Straight you'd apply to Warwick Lane. Expose thoft diamonds ev'ry day.
The thoughtful Doctor feels your pulse Then, if Sir Plume drew near, and smild,
(No matter whether Mead or Hulle)

The parent trembled for her child :
Writes-Arabic to you and me

The first advance alarm d her breast; Then figns his hand, and takes his foc.

And fancy pictur'd all the rest. Now, shuuid the fage omit his name,

But now no mother fears a foe; Would not the curc remain the same!

No daughter thudders at a beau. Not but phyficians fign their bill,

Pleasure is all the reigning theme; Or when they cure, or when they kill.

Our noon-day thought, our midnight dream, 'Tis often known, the mental race

In folly's chace our youths engage, Their fond ambitious fires disgrace.

And shameless crowds of tott'ring age. Dar'd I avow a parent's claim,

The die, the dance, th’intemp’rate bowl, Criti s might Meer, and friends might blame. With various charms engrofs the soul. This dang rous secret let me hide,

Are gold, fame, health, the terms of vice? I'll cl you ev'ry thing beside :

The frantic tribes Thall pay the price. Not that it boots the world a tittle,

But tho’to ruin poft they run, Whether the author's big or little;

They'll think it hard to be undone. Or whether fair, or black, or brown;

Do not arraign my want of taste, No writer's hue concerns the town.

Or light, to kon where joys are plac'd. I pars the filent rural hour,

They widely err who think me blind; No llave to wealth, no tool to pow'r:

And I ditclaim a stoic's mind. My mansion's warm, and very neat;

Like yours are my sensations quite ; You'd say, ' A pretty fnug retreat!'

I only strive to feel aright. My rooms no costly paintings grace,

My joys, like streams, glide gently by; The humbler print fupplics their place. Tho'small their channel, never dry; Behind the house my garden lies,

Keep a still, even, fruitful wave, And opens to the southern skies:

And bless the neighb'ring meads they lave, The distant hills gay prospects yield,

My fortune (for I'll mention all, And plenty smiles in ev field.

And more than you dare tell) is small; Tlie faithful inaftiff is my guard :

Yet ev'ry friend partakes my store, The fưat er'd tribes adorn my yard;

And want goes smiling from my door, Alive my joy, my treat when dead,

Will forty thillings warm the brealt And their luft pium umes improve my bed.

Of worth or industry distress' My cow rewards me all the can

This sum I cheerfully impart, (Brutes leave ingratitude to inan);

'Tis fourscore pleasures to my hcart; She, daily thankful to her lord,

And you may make, by means like these,
Crowns with nectareous sweets my board : Five ialents ten, whene'er you please.
Ain I disca 'dthe cure is known,

'Tis true, my little purse grows light; Her sweeter juices mend my own.

But then I sleep so sweet at night! I love my house, and fe:dom roam;

This grand specific will prevail Few visits pltate me more than home :

When all the doctor's opiates fail. I pity that unhappy elf

You ask what party 1 pursue; Who loves al company but self;

Perhaps you mean, · Whofe fool are you?' By ide paifions borne away

The names of party I detest;
To ope. a, masquerade, or play;

Badges of flavery at beft:
Fond":f those hives where Filly reigns, I've too much grace to play the knave,
And Britain's peers receive her chains;

And too much pride to turn a tlave.
Where the peri virgin flights a name,

I love my country from my foul, And scorns to redden into shame.

And grieve when knaves or fools controul : But know, my fair, o whom belong

I'm pleas'd when vice and folly smart, The poet and his artless song,

Or at the gibbet or the cart : When female chceks refuse to glow,

Yet alway pity where I can; Farewel to virtue bcie below!

Abhor the guilt, but mourn the man. Our sex is lost o ev'ry rule;

Now the religion of your poet Our folc diftinétion, knave or fool.

Docs not this little preface how it?

My

ev'ry