STROPHE II. When Athens finks by fates unjust, When wild Barbarians fpurn her duft; And Athens rifing near the pole! Till fome new Tyrant lifts his purple hand, ANTISTROPHE II. Ye Gods! what justice rules the ball! Still, when the luft of tyrant power fucceeds, 20 25 30 CHORUS OF YOUTHS AND VIRGINS. SEMICHORUS. OH Tyrant Love! haft thou possest The prudent, learn'd, and virtuous breast? Wisdom and Wit in vain reclaim, And Arts but foften us to feel thy flame. Love, foft intruder, enters here, But entering learns to be fincere. G 2 5 Why, Why, Virtue, doft thou blame defire, CHORUS. Love's purer flames the Gods approve; The Gods and Brutus bend to Love: Brutus for abfent Porcia fighs, And fterner Caffius melts at Junia's eyes. A vapour fed from wild defire, Chafte as cold Cynthia's virgin light, SEMICHORUS. Oh fource of every social tye, United with, and mutual joy! What various joys on one attend, 10 15 20 25 As fon, as father, brother, husband, friend? While thoufand grateful thoughts arise; 30 Or meets his spouse's fonder eye; Or views his fmiling progeny ; What tender paffions take their turns, His heart now melts, now leaps, now burns, 35 CHORUS. CHORUS. Hence guilty joys, diftaftes, furmizes, Fires that fcorch, yet dare not fhine: ODE ON SOLITUDE. 45 Written when the Author was about Twelve Years old. H APPY the man, whofe wifh and care A few paternal acres bound, Content to breathe his native air, In his own ground. Whofe herds with milk, whofe fields with bread, Whofe flocks fupply him with attire, Whofe trees in fummer yield him fhade, In winter fire. Bleft, who can unconcern'dly find Hours, days, and years slide soft away, In health of body, peace of mind, Quiet by day. Sound fleep by night; ftudy and eafe, With meditation. 5 10 15 Thus let me live, unfeen, unknown, Thus unlamented let me die, Steal from the world, and not a stone VITAL fpark of heavenly flame! Oh the pain, the bliss of dying! II. Hark! they whisper; Angels fay, Steals my fenfes, fhuts my fight, The world recedes; it disappears! Heaven 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? 5 10 15 ΑΝ |