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Dangers, doubts, delays, furprizes;

Fires that scorch, yet dare not fhine: 40

Pureft love's unwafting treasure,

Constant faith, fair hope, long leisure,

Days of eafe, and nights of pleasure;

Sacred Hymen! these are thine.

REMARK S.

a These two Chorus's are enough to fhew us his great talents for this fpecies of Poetry, and to make us lament he did not profecute his purpose in executing fome plans he had chalked out; but the Character of the Managers of Playhouses was what (he faid) foon determined him to lay aside all thoughts of this

nature.

+ I z

ODE on SOLITUDE.

APPY the man, whose wish and care

HA

A few paternal acres bound,

Content to breathe his native air,

In his own ground.

Whose herds with milk, whose fields with bread,
Whose flocks fupply him with attire,
Whose trees in fummer yield him shade,
In winter fire.

Bleft, who can unconcern'dly find

Hours, days, and

years flide foft away, In health of body, peace of mind,

Quiet by day,

Sound fleep by night; ftudy and ease,
Together mixt; fweet recreation;

And innocence, which moft does please

With meditation.

Thus let me live, unfeen, unknown,

Thus unlamented let me die,

Steal from the world, and not a stone

Tell where I lie.

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This was a very early production of our Author, written at

about twelve years old. P.

The dying Christian to his SOUL.

OD E.

I.

VITA

ITAL fpark of heav'nly flame!
Quit, oh quit this mortal frame:
Trembling, hoping, ling'ring, flying,

Oh the pain, the blifs of dying!
Ceafe, fond Nature, ceafe thy ftrife,
And let me languish into life.

II.

Hark! they whisper; Angels fay,

Sifter Spirit, come away.

What is this absorbs me quite?

Steals my fenfes, shuts my fight, Drowns

my fpirits, draws my breath?

Tell me, my Soul, can this be Death?

REMARKS.

5

This ode was written in imitation of the famous fonnet of Hadrian to his departing foul; but as much fuperior in sense and fublimity to his original, as the Chriftian Religion is to the Pagan.

III.

The world recedes; it disappears!

Heav'n opens on my eyes! my ears
With founds feraphic ring:

Lend, lend your wings! I mount! I fly!
O Grave! where is thy Victory?

O Death! where is thy Sting?

A N

ESSAY

O N

CRITICISM.

Written in the Year MDCC IX,

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