Still trembling, troubled, the dejected maid
Says, "Sir! my father!" and then stops afraid:
Ev'n his hard heart is soften'd, and he hears
Her voice with pity; he respects her tears;
His stubborn features half admit a smile,
And his tone softens- "Well! I'll wait awhile."
Pity! a man so good, so mild, so meek,
At such an age, should have his bread to seek ;
And all those rude and fierce attacks to dread,
That are more harrowing than the want of bread;
Ah! who shall whisper to that misery peace!
And say that want and insolence shall cease?
"But why not publish?"— those who know too
well,

Dealers in Greek, are fearful 't will not sell ;
Then he himself is timid, troubled, slow,
Nor likes his labours nor his griefs to show;
The hope of fame may in his heart have place,
But he has dread and horror of disgrace;
Nor has he that confiding, easy way,
That might his learning and himself display;
But to his work he from the world retreats,
And frets and glories o'er the favourite sheets.
But see! the Man himself; and sure I trace
Signs of new joy exulting in that face
O'er care that sleeps- we err, or we discern
Life in thy looks- the reason may we learn?

"Yes," he replied, "I'm happy, I confess, "To learn that some are pleased with happiness "Which others feel-there are who now combine "The worthiest natures in the best design, [mine "To aid the letter'd poor, and soothe such ills as

"We who more keenly feel the world's contempt, "And from its miseries are the least exempt ; « Now Hope shall whisper to the wounded breast, * And Grief, in soothing expectation, rest.

"Yes, I am taught that men who think, who feel, "Unite the pains of thoughtful men to heal; 'Not with disdainful pride, whose bounties make “The needy curse the benefits they take; "Not with the idle vanity that knows

Only a selfish joy when it bestows;

"Not with o'erbearing wealth, that, in disdain, "Hurls the superfluous bliss at groaning pain; "But these are men who yield such blest relief, "That with the grievance they destroy the grief; "Their timely aid the needy sufferers find, "Their generous manner soothes the suffering mind ; "There is a gracious bounty, form'd to raise "Him whom it aids; their charity is praise; "A common bounty may relieve distress, "But whom the vulgar succour they oppress; "This though a favour is an honour too, "Though Mercy's duty, yet 'tis Merit's due; "When our relief from such resources rise, "All painful sense of obligation dies; "And grateful feelings in the bosom wake, "For 't is their offerings, not their alms, we take. "Long may these founts of Charity remain, "And never shrink, but to be fill'd again; True! to the Author they are now confined,

"To him who gave the treasure of his mind, "His time, his health,—and thankless found man

kind:

flow

"But there is hope that from these founts may "A side-way stream, and equal good bestow; "Good that may reach us, whom the day's distress

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Keeps from the fame and perils of the Press; "Whom Study beckons from the Ills of Life, "And they from Study; melancholy strife! "Who then can say, but bounty now so free, "And so diffused, may find its way to me?

"Yes! I may see my decent table yet “Cheer'd with the meal that adds not to my debt; May talk of those to whom so much we owe,

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"And guess their names whom yet we may not

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know;

Blest, we shall say, are those who thus can give, "And next who thus upon the bounty live;

"Then shall I close with thanks my humble meal, "And feel so well—Oh, God! how shall I feel !"(1)

(1) The wants and mortifications of a poor clergyman are the subjects of one portion of this Letter; and he being represented as a stranger in the Borough, it may be necessary to make some apology for his appearance in the poem. Previous to a late meeting of a literary society, whose benevolent purpose is well known to the public, I was induced by a friend to compose a few verses, in which, with the general commendation of the design, should be introduced a hint that the bounty might be farther extended these verses, a gentleman did me the honour to recite at the meeting, and they were printed as an extract from the poem, to which, in fact, they may be called an appendage.

[In the beginning of 1809, Dr. Cartwright having expressed a wish that Mr. Crabbe would prepare some verses to be repeated at the ensuing meeting of the Literary Fund, and a portion of the Borough, then in progress, being judged suitable for the occasion, it was accordingly forwarded to the Society, and recited at the anniversary, in April, by Matthew Browne, Esq. In the May following, the council and committee resolved, that a learned and officiating clergyman in distress, or an officiating clergyman, reduced and rendered incapable of duty, by age or infirmity, should be considered as a claimant on the fund.]

THE BOROUGH.

LETTER IV.

SECTS AND PROFESSIONS IN RELIGION.

But cast your eyes again,

And view those errors which new sects maintain,
Or which of old disturb'd the Church's peaceful reign:
And we can point each period of the time
When they began and who begat the crime;
Can calculate how long th' eclipse endured;
Who interposed; what digits were obscured;
Of all which are already pass'd away,

We knew the rise, the progress, and decay.

DRYDEN.-Hind and Panther.

Oh, said the Hind, how many sons have you
Who call you mother, whom you never knew!
But most of them who that relation plead
Are such ungracious youths as wish you dead;
They gape at rich revenues which you hold,
And fain would nibble at your grandame gold.

Hind and Panther,