His fteps the youth purfues; the country lay 160 And moves in all the majefty of light. 180 Though loud at firft the pilgrim's paffion grew, Sudden he gaz'd, and wist not what to do; Surprize in fecret chains his words fufpends, And in a calm his fettling temper ends. But filence here the beauteous Angel broke (The voice of mufic ravish'd as he spoke). 185 Thy pray'r, thy praise, thy life to vice unknown,. In fweet memorial rife before the throne: These charms, success in our bright region find, And force an angel down, to calm thy mind. 191 For this, commiffion'd, I forfook the sky, Nay, cease to kneel-Thy fellow servant I. Then know the truth of government divine, And let these scruples be no longer thine. 195 The maker juftly claims that world he made, In this the right of providence is laid; Its facred majesty thro' all depends, On ufing fecond means to work his ends: 'Tis thus, withdrawn in state from human eye, 201 What strange events can strike with more furprize, Than those which lately ftrook thy wond'ring eyes? Yet, taught by thefe, confefs th' almighty juft, And where you can't unriddle, learn to truft! The Great, Vain Man, who far'd on coftly food, Whofe life was too luxurious to be good; Who made his iv'ry stands with goblets shine, And forc'd his guests to morning draughts of wine, Has, with the Cup, the graceless custom loft, And ftill he welcomes, but with lefs of cost. The mean, fufpicious Wretch, whose bolted door Ne'er mov'd in duty to the wand'ring poor; 215 With him I left the cup, to teach his mind 220 Long had our Pious Friend in virtue trod, But now the child half wean'd his heart from God; (Child of his age) for him he liv'd in pain, 226 And measur'd back his fteps to earth again. To what exceffes had his dotage run? 230 But God, to fave the father, took the fon. 235 On founding pinions here the youth withdrew, The Sage flood wond'ring as the Seraph flew. 241 Thus look'd Elisha when, to mount on high, His mafter took the chariot of the sky; The fiery pomp ascending left the view; A FAIRY TALE. IN THE ANCIENT ENGLISH STILE. BY THE SAME. IN Britain's ifle, and Arthur's days, When midnight faeries daunc'd the maze, Edwin, I wis, a gentle youth, Endow'd with courage, fense and truth, 5 3 Though badly fhap'd he been. * The fable of this elegant, but furely immoral, poem is not the invention of Dr. Parnell, who had it, in all probability, from Mores Dialogues. It is a production of the darker ages, and makes the eightyeth chapter of the Gesta Romanorum. His mountain back mote well be faid, Yet, fpite of all that Nature did He felt the force of Edith's eyes, Cou'd ladies look within; But one Sir Topaz dress'd with art, Edwin (if right I read my fong) 'Twas near an old enchaunted court, His heart was drear, his hope was cross'd, 'Twas late, 'twas farr, the path was loft That reach'd the neighbour-town; With weary steps he quits the shades, And drops his limbs adown. 10 15 20 30 |