Had one been there, with spirit strong and high, Who could observe, as he prepared to die,

He might have seen of hearts the varying kind,
And traced the movement of each different mind:
He might have seen, that not the gentle maid
Was more than stern and haughty man afraid;
Such, calmly grieving, will their fears suppress,
And silent prayers to Mercy's throne address;
While fiercer minds, impatient, angry, loud,
Force their vain grief on the reluctant crowd:
The party's patron, sorely sighing, cried,
Why would you urge
me? I at first denied."
Fiercely they answer'd, "Why will you complain,
"Who saw no danger, or was warn'd in vain ?"
A few essay'd the troubled soul to calm,
But dread prevail'd, and anguish and alarm.

66

Now rose the water through the lessening sand, And they seem'd sinking while they yet could stand The sun went down, they look'd from side to side Nor aught except the gathering sea descried; Dark and more dark, more wet, more cold it grew And the most lively bade to hope adieu ; Children, by love then lifted from the seas, Felt not the waters at the parents' knees, But wept aloud; the wind increased the sound, And the cold billows as they broke around.

"Once more, yet once again, with all our strength,

Cry to the land

we may be heard at length." Vain hope if yet unseen! but hark! an oar,

That sound of bliss! comes dashing to their shore ;

Still, still the water rises, " Haste!" they cry,
"Oh! hurry, seamen; in delay we die:"
(Seamen were these, who in their ship perceived
The drifted boat, and thus her crew relieved.)
And now the keel just cuts the cover'd sand,
Now to the gunwale stretches every hand:
With trembling pleasure all confused embark,
And kiss the tackling of their welcome ark ;
While the most giddy, as they reach the shore,
Think of their danger, and their God adore.

(1)

THE BOROUGH.

LETTER X.

CLUBS AND SOCIAL MEETINGS.

Non iter lances mensasque nitentes,
Cum stupet insanis acies fulgoribus, et cum
Acclinis falsis animus meliora recusat;

Verum hic impransi mecum disquirite.-HOR. Sat. ii. lib. 2.(1)

O prodiga rerum

Luxuries, nunquam parvo contenta paratu,

Et quæsitorum terrâ pelagoque ciborum

Ambitiosa fames, et lautæ gloria mensæ. -LUCAN. lib. 4. (2)

["Let's talk, my friends, but talk before we dine.

Not when a gilt buffet's reflected pride

Turns you from sound philosophy aside;

Not when from plate to plate your eyeballs roll,

And the brain dances to the mantling bowl."-POPE'S Imit.] ["Behold! ye sons of luxury, behold!

Who scatter in excess your lavish gold;
You who the wealth of frugal ages waste
T' indulge a wanton supercilious taste;
For whom all earth, all ocean are explored,

To spread the various proud voluptuous board."- RowE.]

Desire of Country Gentlemen for Town Associations - Bookclubs - Too much of literary Character expected from them - Literary Conversation prevented: by Feasting: by Cards -Good, notwithstanding, results-Card-club with Eagerness resorted to― Players - Umpires at the Whist Table - Petulances of Temper there discovered — Free-and-easy Club: not perfectly easy or free - Freedom, how interrupted The superior Member - Termination of the EveningDrinking and Smoking Clubs - The Midnight Conversation of the delaying Members- Society of the poorer Inhabitants : its Use: gives Pride and Consequence to the humble Character- - Pleasant Habitations of the frugal Poor- Sailor returning to his Family Freemasons' Club-The Mystery What its Origin Its professed Advantages - Griggs and Gregorians — A Kind of Masons- Reflections on these various Societies.

171

THE BOROUGH.

LETTER X.

CLUBS AND SOCIAL MEETINGS.

You say you envy in your calm retreat
Our social Meetings;-'tis with joy we meet:
In these our parties you are pleased to find
Good sense and wit, with intercourse of mind;
Composed of men, who read, reflect, and write,
Who, when they meet, must yield and share delight:
To you our Book-club has peculiar charm,
For which you sicken in your quiet farm;
Here you suppose us at our leisure placed,
Enjoying freedom, and displaying taste;
With wisdom cheerful, temperately gay,
Pleased to enjoy, and willing to display.

If thus your envy gives your ease its gloom, Give wings to fancy, and among us come. We're now assembled; you may soon attendI'll introduce you "Gentlemen, my friend." "Now are you happy? you have pass'd a night "In gay discourse, and rational delight."