The lure of av'rice, or the pompous prize,
That courts display before ambitious eyes;
The fruits that hang on pleasure's flow'ry stem,
Whate'er enchants them, are no snares to them,
To them the deep recess of dusky groves,
Or forest, where the deer securely roves,
The fall of waters, and the song of birds,
And hills that echo to the distant herds,
Are luxuries excelling all the glare

The World can boast, and her chief fav'rites share.
With eager step, and carelessly array'd,

For such a cause the poet seeks the shade,
From all he sees he catches new delight,
Pleas'd Fancy claps her pinions at the sight,
The rising or the setting orb of day,
The clouds that flit, or slowly float away,
Nature in all the various shapes she wears,
Frowning in storms, or breathing gentle airs,
The snowy robe her wintry state assumes,
Her summer heats, her fruits, and her perfumes,
All, all alike transport the glowing bard,
Success in rhyme his glory and reward.

O Nature! whose Elysian scenes disclose

His bright perfections, at whose word they rose,

Next to that pow'r, who form'd thee and sustains, Be thou the great inspirer of my strains.

Still, as I touch the lyre, do thou expand

Thy genuine charms, and guide an artless hand,
That I may catch a fire but rarely known,
Give useful light, though I should miss renown,
And, poring on thy page, whose ev'ry line
Bears proof of an intelligence divine,.

May feel a heart enrich'd by what it pays,
That builds it's glory on it's Maker's praise.
Wo to the man, whose wit disclaims it's use,
Glitt❜ring in vain, or only to seduce,

Who studies nature with a wanton eye,
Admires the work, but slips the lesson by;
His hours of leisure and recess employs
In drawing pictures of forbidden joys,
Retires to blazon his own worthless name,

Or shoot the careless with a surer aim.
The lover too shuns business and alarms,
Tender idolater of absent charms.

Saints offer nothing in their warmest pray'rs,
That he devotes not with a zeal like theirs;
'Tis consecration of his heart, soul, time,
And ev'ry thought that wanders is a crime..

In sighs he worships his supremely fair,
And weeps a sad libation in despair;
Adores a creature, and, devout in vain,
Wins in return an answer of disdain.

As woodbine weds the plant within her reach,
Rough elm, or smooth-grain'd ash, or glossy beech,
In spiral rings ascends the trunk, and lays
Her golden tassels on the leafy sprays,
But does a mischief while she lends a grace,
Strait'ning it's growth by such a strict embrace;
So Love, that clings around the noblest minds,
Forbids th' advancement of the soul he binds;
The suitor's air indeed he soon improves,
And forms it to the taste of her he loves,
Teaches his eyes a language, and no less
Refines his speech, and fashions his address;
But farewell promises of happier fruits,
Manly designs, and learning's grave pursuits;
Girt with a chain he cannot wish to break,
His only bliss is sorrow for her sake;

Who will may pant for glory and excel,
Her smile his aim, all higher aims farewell!
Thyrsis, Alexis, or whatever name

May least offend against so pure a flame,

Though sage advice of friends the most sincere
Sounds harshly in so delicate an ear,

And lovers, of all creatures, tame or wild,
Can least brook management, however mild,
Yet let a poet (poetry disarms

The fiercest animals with magic charms)
Risk an intrusion on thy pensive mood,

And woo and win thee to thy proper good.
Pastoral images and still retreats,

Umbrageous walks and solitary seats,

Sweet birds in concert with harmonious streams,
Soft airs, nocturnal vigils, and day dreams,
Are all enchantments in a case like thine,
Conspire against thy peace with one design,
Sooth thee to make thee but a surer prey,
And feed the fire that wastes thy pow'rs away.
Up-God has form'd thee with a wiser view,
Not to be led in chains, but to subdue;

Calls thee to cope with enemies, and first
Points out a conflict with thyself, the worst.
Woman indeed, a gift he would bestow
When he design'd a Paradise below,

The richest earthly boon his hands afford,
Deserves to be belov'd, but not ador'd.

Fost away swiftly to more active scenes,
Collect the scatter'd truths that study gleans,
Mix with the world, but with it's wiser part,.
No longer give an image all thine heart;
It's empire is not her's, nor is it thine,

'Tis God's just claim, prerogative divine.
Virtuous and faithful HEBBRDEN, whose skill.
Attempts no task it cannot well fulfil,
Gives melancholy up to Nature's care,

And sends the patient into purer air.

Look where he comes-in this embow'r'd alcove
Stand close conceal'd, and see a statue move:
Lips busy, and eyes fix'd, foot falling slow,
Arms hanging idly down, hands clasp'd below,
Interpret to the marking eye distress,

Such as it's symptoms can alone express,
That tongue is silent now; that silent tongue
Could argue once, could jest or join the song,
Could give advice, could censure or commend,
Or charm the sorrows of a drooping friend..
Renounc'd alike it's office and it's sport,
It's brisker and it's graver strains fall short;
Both fail beneath a fever's secret sway,
And like a summer-brook are past away.