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THE MORALIZER CORRECTED.

In hope to bask a little yet,

Just reach'd it when the fun was set.

Your hermit, young and jovial firs!
Learns fomething from whate'er occurs-
And hence, he faid, my mind computes
The real worth of man's pursuits.

His object chofen, wealth or fame,
Or other fublunary game,
Imagination to his view

Prefents it deck'd with ev'ry hue
That can feduce him not to spare
His pow'rs of beft exertion there,
But youth, health, vigour, to expend
On fo defirable an end.

Ere long, approach life's evening fhades,
The glow that fancy gave it fades;

And, earn'd too late, it wants the grace
Which firft engag'd him in the chase.
True, anfwer'd an angelic guide,.
Attendant at the fenior's fide-

But whether all the time it cost

To urge the fruitless chafe be loft,
Must be decided by the worth

Of that which call'd his ardour forth.
Trifles purfu'd, whate'er th' event,
Muft caufe him fhame or difcontent

A vicious object still is worse,
Successful there, he wins a curfe;
But he, whom ev'n in life's last stage
Endeavours laudable engage,
Is paid, at least in peace of mind,
And fenfe of having well defign'd;
And if, ere he attain his end,
His fun precipitate defcend,

A brighter prize than that he meant
Shall recompenfe his mere intent.
No virtuous with can bear a date-
Either too early or too late.

THE FAITHFUL FRIEND.

THE green-houfe is my fummer feat;
My shrubs difplac'd from that retreat
Enjoy'd the open air;

Two goldfinches, whofe fprightly fong
Had been their mutual folace long,
Liv'd happy pris'ners there.

They fang, as blithe as finches fing
That flutter loose on golden wing,
And frolic where they lift;

Strangers to liberty, 'tis true,
But that delight they never knew,
And, therefore, never miss'd.

But nature works in ev'ry breast;
Instinct is never quite fupprefs'd;

And Dick felt fome defires,
Which, after many an effort vain,
Inftructed him at length to gain

A pafs between his wires.

The open windows feem'd to invite
The freeman to a farewell flight;

But Tom was still confin'd;

And Dick, although his way was clear,
Was much too gen'rous and fincere
To leave his friend behind.

For, fettling on his grated roof,

He chirp'd and kiss'd him, giving proof That he defir'd no more ;

Nor would forfake his cage at laft, 'Till gently feiz'd, I shut him fast, A pris'ner as before.

Oh ye, who never knew the joys
Of Friendship, fatisfied with hoife,
Fandango, ball, and rout!

Blush, when I tell you how a bird,
A prison, with a friend, preferr'd
To liberty without.

THE FAITHFUL FRIEND.

THE green-houfe is my fummer feat;
My thrubs difplac'd from that retreat
Enjoy'd the open air;

Two goldfinches, whofe fprightly fong
Had been their mutual folace long,
Liv'd happy pris'ners there.

They fang, as blithe as finches fing
That flutter loofe on golden wing,
And frolic where they lift;

Strangers to liberty, 'tis true,
But that delight they never knew,
And, therefore, never miss'd.

But nature works in ev'ry breast;
Instinct is never quite fupprefs'd;

And Dick felt fome defires,
Which, after many an effort vain,
Inftructed him at length to gain

A pass between his wires.

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