Soft as the line of love-fick Hammond flows,, 'Twas his fond heart effus'd the melting theme; Ah! never could Aonia's hill difclofe So fair a fountain, or fo lov'd a stream. Ye lovelefs bards! intent with artful pains To form a figh, or to contrive a tear! Forego your Pindus, and on · plains Survey Camilla's charms, and grow fincere. But thou, my friend! while in thy youthful foul Love's gentle tyrant feats his aweful throne, Write from thy bosom―let not art controul The ready pen, that makes his edicts known. Pleafing, when youth is long expir'd, to trace, The forms our pencil, or our pen defign'd! "Such was our youthful air, and shape, and face! "Such the fcft image of our youthful mind! Soft whilft we fleep beneath the rural bowers, And where the turf diffus'd its pomp Praise the foft hours that gave thee to her arms; Paint thy proud fcorn of every vulgar care, When Hope exalts thee, or when Doubt alarms. Where with Oenone thou haft worn the day, If in the grove Oenone lov'd to ftray, The faithful Mufe fhall meet thee in the grove. ELEGY II. On pofthumous reputation. To a FRIEND. GRIEF of griefs! that envy's frantic ite Should rob the living virtue of its praise; O foolish Mufes! that with zeal inspire To deck the cold infenfate fhrine with bays! When the free fpirit quits her humble frame, To tread the skies with radiant garlands crown'd, Say, will the hear the diftant voice of fame? Orphearing, fancy fweetnefs in the found? Perhaps ev'n genius pours a flighted lay; Perhaps ev'n friendship sheds a fruitless tear'; Ev'n Lyttelton but vainly trims the bay, And fondly grace's Hammond's mournful bier. Though weeping virgins haunt his favour'd urn, Renew their chaplets, and repeat, their fighs; Though near his tomb, Sabæan odours burn, The loitering fragrance will it reach the skies? No, fhould his Delia votive wreaths prepare, Delia might place the votive wreaths in vain: Yet the dear hope of Delia's future care Once crown'd his pleasures, and difpell'd his pain. Yes-the fair profpect of furviving praise Can every fenfe of prefent joys excel: For this, great Hadrian chofe laborious days; Through this, expiring, bade a gay farewel. Shall Shall then our youths, who fame's bright fabric raife, To life's precarious date confine their care? O teach them you, to spread the facred base, . To plan a work, through latest ages fair! Is it finall transport, as with curious eye You trace the ftory of each Attic fage, Shall waft like odours through the pleasing page? Led by that index where true genius fhines ? E LE GY III. On the untimely death of a certain learned acquaintance. IF F proud Pygmalion quit his cumbrous frame, Whilft heralds loud with venal voice proclaim, He He little knew the fly penurious art; That odious art which fortune's favourites know; Form'd to beftow, he felt the warmest heart, But envious Fate forbade him to bestow. He little knew to ward the fecret wound; He little knew that mortals could enfnare; Virtue he knew; the nobleft joy he found, To fing her glories, and to paint her fair! Ill was he fkill'd to guide his wandering sheep; And unforeseen difafter thinn'd his fold; Yet at another's lofs the fwain would weep; And, for his friend, his very crook were fold. Ye fons of wealth! protect the Mufe's train; From winds protect them, and with food supply; Ah! helpless they, to ward the threaten'd pain!` The meagre famine, and the wintery sky? He lov❜d a nymph: amidst his slender store, He dar'd to love; and Cynthia was his theme; He breath'd his plaints along the rocky shore, They only echo'd o'er the winding stream; His nymph was fair! the sweetest bud that blows Revives lefs lovely from the recent shower; So Philomel enamour'd eyes the rofe; Sweet bird! enamour'd of the sweetest flower! He lov'd the Mufe; fhe taught him to complain; He faw his timorous loves on her depend; He lov'd the Muse; although she taught in vain; He lov'd the Mufe, for fhe was virtue's friend. She guides the foot that treads on Parian floors; She wins the ear when formal pleas are vain; She tempts patricians from the fatal doors Of vice's brothel, forth to virtue's fane. He wish'd for wealth, for much he wifh'd to give; He griev'd that virtue might not wealth obtain ; Piteous of woes, and hopeless to relieve, The penfive profpect fadden'd all his strain. I faw him faint! I faw him fink to reft! Like one ordain'd to fwell the vulgar throng; As though the virtues had not warm'd his breast, As though the Mufes not infpir'd his tongue. I faw his bier ignobly crofs the plain; Saw peafant hands the pious rite supply: The generous ruftics mourn'd the friendly fwain, But power and wealth's unvarying cheek was dry! Such Alcon fell; in meagre want.forlorn! Where were ye then, ye powerful patrons, where? Would ye the purple should your limbs adorn, Go wash the confcious blemish with a tear. E LEGY IV. OPHELIA'S URN. To Mr. GRAVES. THROUGH the dim veil of evening's dufky fhade, I But |