Imágenes de página
PDF
ePub

Where at each step the stranger fears to wake
The rattling terrors of the vengeful fnake;
Where crouching tigers wait their hapless prey,
And favage men more murd'rous still than they;
While oft in whirls the mad tornado flies,
Mingling the ravag'd landscape with the skies.
Far different thefe from every former fcene,
The cooling brook, the graffy vested green,
The breezy covert of the warbling grove,
That only shelter'd thefts of harmless love.

Good Heaven! what forrows gloom'd that parting day, That call'd them from their native walks away; When the poor exiles, every pleasure past,

Hung round the bowers, and fondly look'd their laft,
And took a long farewel, and wifh'd in vain
For feats like these beyond the western main;
And shudd'ring ftill to face the distant deep,
Return'd and wept, and ftill return'd to weep.
The good old fire, the first prepar❜d to go
To new-found worlds, and wept for other's woe;
But for himself, in confcious virtue brave,
He only wish'd for worlds beyond the grave,
His lovely daughter, lovelier in her tears,
The fond companion of his helpless years,
Silent went next, neglectful of her charms,
And left a lover's for a father's arms.
With louder plaints the mother spoke her woes,
And bleft the cot where every pleasure rofe;

And

And kift her thoughtless babes with many a tear,
And clafpt them clofe, in forrow doubly dear;
Whilft her fond husband ftrove to lend relief
In all the filent manliness of grief.

O, luxury thou curft by heaven's decree,
How ill exchang'd are things like these for thee!
How do thy potions with infidious joy,
Diffuse their pleafures only to deftroy!
Kingdoms by thee, to fickly greatness grown,
Boast of a florid vigour not their own.

At every draught more large and large they grow,
A bloated mass of rank unwieldy woe;

Till fapp'd their strength, and every part unfound,
Down, down they fink, and spread a ruin round.

Even now the devastation is begun,

And half the business of deftruction done;
Even now, methinks, as pond'ring here I stand,
I fee the rural virtues leave the land.

Down where yon anchoring veffel fpreads the fail
That idly waiting flaps with every gale,
Downward they move, a melancholy band,
Pafs from the fhore, and darken all the strand.
Contented toil, and hofpitable care,
And kind connubial tendernefs, are there;
And piety with wishes plac'd above,
And fteady loyalty, and faithful love.
And thou, sweet Poetry, thou loveliest maid,
Still firft to fly where fenfual joys invade;

Unfit

Unfit in these degen'rate times of fhame,
To catch the heart, or ftrike for honeft fame;
Dear charming nymph, neglected and decry'd,
My fhame in crouds, my folitary pride.

Thou fource of all my blifs, and all my woe,
That found'ft me poor at first, and keep'ft me so;
Thou guide, by which the nobler arts excel,
Thou nurse of every virtue, fare thee well,
Farewel, and O! where'er thy voice be try'd,
On Torno's cliffs, or Pambamarca's fide,
Whether where equinoctial fervours glow,
Or winter wraps the polar world in fnow,
Still let thy voice, prevailing over time,
Redress the rigours of th' inclement clime;
Aid flighted truth, with thy persuasive strain ;
Teach erring man to fpurn the rage of gain;
Teach him, that states of native strength poffeft,
Though very poor, may ftill be very bleft;
That trade's proud empire haftes to fwift decay,
As ocean fweeps the labour'd mole away;
While felf-dependent power can time defy,
As rocks refift the billows and the sky.

THE

[blocks in formation]

SAY, cruel Iris, pretty rake,

Dear mercenary beauty,
What annual off'ring fhall I make
Expreffive of my duty?

[blocks in formation]

Şay, would the angry fair-one prize
The gift, who flights the giver?

A bill, a jewel, watch, or toy,
My rivals give-and let 'em.
If gems, or gold, import a joy,
I'll give them-when I get 'em.

I'll give-but not the full-blown rose,
Or rofe-bud more in fashion;
Such short-liv'd off'rings but difclofe
A tranfitory paffion.

I'll give thee something yet unpaid,
Not lefs fincere, than civil:

I'll give thee-ah! too charming maid,
I'll give thee to the devil.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]
« AnteriorContinuar »