Fields, that cool Ilissus laves, Or where Mæander's amber waves Murmur'd deep a solemn sound: Alike they scorn the pomp of tyrantpower, And coward Vice, that revels in her chains. When Latium had her lofty spirit lost, They sought, oh Albion! next thy seaencircled coast. III. Far from the Sun and summer-gale, In thy green lap was Nature's darling laid, What time, where lucid Avon stray'd, To him the mighty mother did unveil Her awful face: the dauntless child Stretch'd forth his little arms, and smiled. "This pencil_take,” she said, “whose colours clear Richly paint the vernal year: Thine too these golden keys, immortal boy! This can unlock the gates of Joy; Of Horror that, and thrilling fears, Or ope the sacred source of sympathetic tears." Nor second he, that rode sublime The living throne, the sapphire-blaze, Closed his eyer is endless night. Behold, where Dryden's less presump. tuous car, Wide o'er the field of Glory bear Two coursers of ethereal race, With necks in thunder clothed, and longresounding pace. Hark, his hands the lyre explore! But ah! 'tis heard no more- That the Theban eagle bear, Through the azure deep of air: Yet oft before his infant eyes would run Such forms as glitter in the Muse's ray With orient hues, unborrow'd of the Sun: Yet shall he mount, and keep his distant way Beyond the limits of a vulgar fate, Beneath the good how far!--but far above the great. HYMN TO ADVERSITY. DAUGHTER of Jove, relentless pow'r, Thou tamer of the human breast, Whose iron scourge and tort'ring hour The bad affright, afflict the best! Bound in thy adamantine chain, The proud are taught to taste of pain, And purple tyrants vainly groan With pangs unfelt before, unpitied and alone. When first thy sire to send on earth Virtue, his darling child, design'd, To thee he gave the heav'nly birth, And bade thee form her infant mind. Stern rugged nurse! thy rigid lore With patience many a year she bore: What sorrow was, thou bad'st her know And from her own she learn'd to melt at others' woe. Scared at thy frown terrific, fly And leave us leisure o be good. To her they vow their truth, and are again believed. Wisdom in sable garb array'd, Immersed in rapt'rous thought profound, And Melancholy, silent maid, With leaden eye, that loves the ground, Still on thy solemn steps attend: Warm Charity, the gen'ral friend, With Justice, to herself severe, And Pity, dropping soft the sadly pleasing tear. O, gently on thy suppliant's head, Dread Goddess lay they chast'ning hand! Not in thy Gorgon terrors clad, Nor circled with the vengeful band (As by the impious thou art seen) With thund'ring voice, and threat'ning mien, With screaming Horrour's funeral cry, Despair, and fell Disease, and ghastly Poverty. Thy form benign, O Goddess! wear, Thy milder influence impart, Thy philosophic train be there, To soften, not to wound my heart. The gen'rous spark extinct revive, Teach me to love and to forgive, Exact my own defects to scan, What others are, to feel, and know myself a man. ODE ON A DISTANT PROSPECT YE distant spires, ye antique tow'rs, And ye, that from the stately brow No sense have they of ills to come, No care beyond to-day : Yet see how all around them wait The ministers of human fate, These shall the fury passions tear, Ambition this shall tempt to rise, The stings of Falsehood those shall try, Lo, in the vale of years beneath A grisly troop are seen, The painful family of Death, This racks the joints, this fires the veins, To each his suff'rings: all are men, Yet ah! why should they know then fate Since Sorrow never comes too late, |