Deeds of ill fort, and mif.hievous emprize : Lend me thy clarion, goddess! let me try To found the praise of merit, ere it dies; Such as I oft have chaunced to efpy, Loft in the dreary fhades of dull obscurity. In every village mark'd with little spire, Embower'd in trees, and hardly known to fame,

There dwells, in lowly fhed, and mean a tire, A matron old, whom we school-miftrefs name; Who boasts unruly brats with birch to tame; They grieven fore, in piteous durance pent, Aw'd by the power of this relentless dame; And oft-times, on vagaries idly bent, For unkempt hair, or tafk unconn'd, are forely fhent.

And all in fight doth rife a birchen tree,
Which learning near her little dome did ftowe;
Whilom a twig of fmall regard to fee,
Though now fo wide its waving branches flow:
And work the fimple vaffals mickle woe;
For not a wind might curl the leaves that b'ew,
But their limbs fhudder'd, and their pulse
beat low;

And as they look'd they found their horror grew,

And fhap'd it into rods, and tingled at the view.

So have I feen (who has not, may conceive,)
A lifeless phantom near a garden plac d;
So doth it wanton birds of peace bereave,
Of fport, of fong, of pleafure, of repast;
They start, they ftare, they wheel, they look
aghaft;

Sad fervitude fuch comfortless annoy
May no bold Briton's riper age e'er taste!
Ne fuperftition clog his dance of joy,
Ne vifion empty, vain, his native blifs deftroy.
Near to this dome is found a patch fo green,
On which the tribe their gamboles do difplay;
And at the door imprisoning board is feen,
Left weakly wights of fmaller fize should stray;
Eager, perdie, to bask in funny day!
The noifes intermix'd which thence refound,
Do learning's little tenement betray:
Where fits the dame, difguis'd in look pro-
found,

And eyes her fairy throng, and turns her wheel around.

Her cap, far wither than the driven fnow,
Emblem right meet of decency does yield:
Her apron dy'd in grain, as blue, I trowe,
As is the hair-bell that adorns the field:
And in her hand, for fcepter, he does wield
Tway birchen fprays; with anxious fear en-
twin'd,

With dark diftruft, and fad repentance fill'd; And ftedfat hate, and fharp affliction join'd, And fury uncontroul'd, and chaftifement unkind Few but have ken'd, in femblance meet pourtray'd,

The childish faces of old Eol's train;

Libs, Notus, Aufter thefe in frowns array'd, How then would fare or earth, or fky • main,

A ruffet ftole was o'er her fhoulders thrown;
A ruffet kirtle fenc'd the nipping air;

'I'was fimple ruffet, but it was her own; 'Twas her own country bred the flock so fair! 'Twas her own labour did the fleece prepare ; And, footh to fay, he pupils, rang'd around, Through pious awe, did term it paffing rare; For they in gaping wonderment abound, And think, no doubt, the been the greatest wight on ground.

Albeit ne flattery did corrupt her truth,
Ne pompous title did debauch her ear;
Goody, good-woman, goflip, n’aunt, forsooth,
Or dame, the fole additions fhe did hear;
Yet thefe fhe challeng'd, these she held right
dear:

Ne would efteem him act as mought behove,
Who fhould not honour'd eld with thefe revere:
For never title yet fo mean could prove,
But there was eke a mind which did that title
love.

One ancient hen he took delight to feed, The plodding pattern of the busy dame; Which, ever and anon, impell d by need, Into her school, begirt with chickens, came; Such favour did her palt deportment claim: And, if negle&t had lavish'd on the ground Fragment of bread, he did collect the fame; For well fhe knew, and quaintly could expound, What fin it were to wafte the mallèft crumb the found.

Herbs too fhe knew, and well of each could
fpeak

That in her garden fip'd the filvery dew;
Where no vain flower difclos’d a gawdy streak
But herbs for ufe, and phyfic, not a few,
Of grey renown, within those borders grew:
The tufted bail, pun-provoking hyme,

Fresh baum, and mary-gold of chearful hue;
The lowly gill, that never dares to climb;
And more I fain would fing, difdaining here to
rhyme.

Yet euphrafy may not be left unfung,

That gives dim eyes to wander leagues around;
And pungent radish, biting infants tongue;
And plantain ribb'd, that heals the reaper's
wound;

And marjoram fweet, in fhepherd's pofie
found;

And lavender, whofe fpikes of azure bloom Shall be, ere-while, in arid bundies bound, To lurk amidft the labours of her loom, And crown her kerchiefs clean, with mickle rare perfume. And

And here trim rofemarine, that whilom crown'd

The daintiest garden of the proudest peer;
Ere, driven from its envy'd fite, it found
A facred thelter for its branches here;'
Where edg'd with gold its glittering skirts ap-

pear.

burn:

Ah deareft lord, forefend, thilk days fhould e'er

return.

In elbow-chair, like that of Scottish stem
By the fharp tooth of cankering eld defac'd,
In which, when he receives his diadem,
Our fovereign prince and liefest liege is plac'd,
The matron fate; and fome with rank fhe
grac'd,

(The fource of children's and of courtiers pride!)

Redress'd affronts, for vile affronts there pafs'd; And warn'd them not the fretful to deride, But love each other dear, whatever them betide. Right well the knew each temper to defcry; To thwart the proud, and the fubmifs to raise; Some with vile copper-prize exalt on high, And fome entice with pittance fmall of praife; And other fome with baleful fprig fhe frays: Ev'n abfent, fhe the reins of power doth hold, While with quaint arts the giddy crowd fhe fways;

Forewarn'd, if little bird their pranks behold, Twill whisper in her ear, and all the scene usfold.

Lo now with ftate fhe utters the command!
Eftfoons the urchins to their talks repair;
Their books of ftature fmall they take in hand,
Which with pellucid horn fècured are;
To fave from fingers wer the letters fair:
The work fo gay, that on their back is seen,
St. George's high atchievments does declare;

On which thilk-wight, that has y-gazing been, Kens the forth-coming rod, unpleafing fight, I

ween!

Ah lucklefs he, and born beneath the beam
Of evil ftar! it irks me whilft I write !
As erft the bard by, Mulla's filver stream,
Oft, as he told of deadly dolorous plight,
Sigh'd as he fung, and did in tears indite.
For brandifhing the rod, fhe doth begin
To loose the brogues, the ftripling's late de-
light!

And down they drop, appears his dainty fkin,
Fair as the furry-coat of whiteft ermilin.

O ruthful scene! when from a nook obfcure, His little fifter doth his peril fee: All playful as the fate, the grows demure; She finds full foon her wonted fpirits flee; She mediates a prayer to fet him free: Nor gentle pardon could this danie deny (If gentle pardon could with dames agree) And wings her fo that all for pity fhe could dye. To her fad grief that fwells in either eye,

No longer can fhe now her fkricks command; And hardly the forbears, through awful fear, To rushen forth, and with prefumptuous hand, To ftay harsh justice in its mid career. On thee the calls, on thee her parent dear! (Ah! too remote to ward the fhameful blow!), She fees no kind domestic visage near, And foon a flood of tears begins to flow; And gives a loose at last to unavailing woe. But ah! what pen his piteous plight may trace? Or what device his loud laments explain? The form uncouth of his disguised face? The pallid hue that dyes his looks amain? The plenteous fhower that does his cheek difftain?

When he, in abject wife, implores the dame, Ne hopeth ought of fweet reprieve to gain ; And, through the thatch, his cries cach falling Or when from high fhe levels well her aint, ftroke proclaim.

The other tribe, aghaft, with fore difmay,
Attend, and conn their tasks with mickle care:
By turns, aftony'd, every twig furvey,
And, from their fellow's hateful wounds, be-

(This hand in mouth y-fix'd, that rends his hair :)

And eke with fnubs profound, and heaving breaft,

Convulfions intermitting! does declare

His grievous wrong; his dame's unjust beheft ; And fcorns her offer'd love, and shuns to be carefs'd.

His face befprent with liquid crystal fhines,
His blooming face that feems a purple flower,
Which low to earth its drooping head declines,
All fmear'd and fully'd by a vernal shower.
O the hard bofoms of depotic power!
All, all but she, the author of his fhame,
All, all, but fhe, regret this mournful hour:
Yet, hence the youth, and hence the flower,
fhall claim,

If fo I deem aright, transcending worth and fame.
Behind fome door, in melancholy thought,
Mindlefs of food, he, dreary caitiff! pines;
Ne for his fellows joyaunce careth aught,
But to the wind all merriment refigns;
And deems it fhame, if he to peace inclines:
And many a fullen look afcance is fent,
Which for his dame's annoyance he designs;
And ftill the more to pleasure him fhe's bent,
The more doth he, perverfe, her 'haviour past
refent.

Ah me! how much I fear left pride it be ! But if that pride it be, which thus infpires, Beware, ye dames, with nice difcernment fee, Ye quench not too the sparks of nobler fires Ah! better far than all the Mules' lyres, All coward arts, is valour's generous heat; The firm fixt breast which fit and right acquires, Like Vernon's patriot foul; more juftly great Than craft that pimps for ill, or flowery false deceit.

Yet, nurs'd with skill, what dazzling fruits appear!

Ev'n now fagacious forefight points to show
A little bench of heedlefs bishops here,
And there a chancellour in embryo,
Or bard fublime, if bard may e'er be so,
As Milton, Shakespeare, names that ne'er shall
dye!

Though now he crawl along the ground fo low, Nor weeting how the Mufe fhould foar on high, [fly. Wifheth, poor ftarveling elf! his paper kite may And this perhaps, who, cenfuring the defign, Low lays the house which that of cards doth build,

Shall Dennis be! if rigid fate incline,
And many an epic to his rage fhall yield;
And many a poet quit th' Aonian field;
And, four'd by age, profound he fhall appear,
As he who now with 'fdainful fury thrill'd
Surveys mine work; and levels many a fincer,
And furls his wrinkly front, and cries, "What
"ftuff is here?"

But now Dan Phoebus gains the middle skie,
And liberty unbars her prifon-door:

VOL. Vil.

Deluded wight! who weens fair peace can fpring;

Beneath the pompous dome of kefar or of king.

See in each sprite fome various bent appear!
Thefe rudely carol molt incondite lay;
Thofe fauntering on the green, with jocund leer
Salute the stranger paffing on his way:
Some builden fragile tenements of clay;
Some to the standing lake their courses bend,
With pebbles fmooth at duck and drake to
play;

Thilk to the huxter's favory cottage tend, In paftry kings and queens th' allotted mite to fpend.

Here, as each feafon yields a different store, Each feafon's ftores in order ranged been; Apples with cabbage-net y-cover'd o'er Galling full fore th' unmoney'd wight, are feen;

And goofe-b'rie clad in livery red or green; And here of lovely dye, the catharine pear, Fine pear as lovely for thy juice, I ween; O may no wight e'er pennylefs come there, Left fmit with ardent love he pine with hopelefs care!

See! cherries here, ere cherries yet abound, With thread fo white in tempting pofies ty'd, Scattering like blooming maid their glances, round,

With pamper'd look draw little eyes afide; And must be bought, though penury betide, The plumb all azure and the nut all brown, And here each feafon do thofe cakes abide, Whofe honour'd names *th' inventive city

III. To Mr. DODSLEY.

Ah! 'midft the reft may flowers adorn his grave,
Whofe art did first thefe dulcet cates difplay!
A motive fair to learning's imps he gave,
Who chear lefs o'er her darkling region stray;
Till reafon's morn arife, and light them on their
way.

H

EPITAPH. *

ERE, here the lies, a budding rose,
Blafted before its bloom,

Whofe innocence did fweets difclofe

Beyond that flower's perfume,

To those who for her death are greiv'd,
This confolation's given;

She's from the forms of life reliev'd
To them more bright in Heaven.

INSCRIPTIONS.

1. On a Tablet against a Root-Houfe.

H

ERE, in cool grot and moffy cell,

We rural fays and faeries dwell;
Though rarely feen by mortal eye,
When the pale moon, afcending high,
Darts through yon lines her quivering beams,
We frifk it near thefe cryftal fireams.
Her beams, reflected from the wave,
Afford the light our revel crave;

The turf, with dailies broider'd o'er
Exceeds, we wot, the Parian floor;
Not yet for artful ftrains we call,
But liften to the water's fall.

Would you then tafte our tranquil scene,
Be fure your bofoms be ferene;
Devoid of hate, devoid of strife,
Devoid of all that poifons life:
And much it 'vails you in their place,
To graft the love of human race.

And tread with awe thefe favour'd bowers

Nor wound the fhrubs, nor bruife the flowers;
So may your path with fweets abound;
So may your couch with reft be crown'd!
But harm betide the wayward fwain,
Who dares our hallow'd haunts profane!

HEPHERD, would't thou here obtain
Pleafure unalloy'd with pain?

Joy that fuits the rural fphere?
Gentle Shepherd, lend an ear.
Learn to relish calm delight,
Verdant vales and fountains bright;
Trees that nod on floping hills,
Cáves that echo tinkling rills.

If thou canst no charm difclofe
In the fimpleft bud that blows;
Go, forfake thy plain and fold,
Join the crowd, and toil for gold.
Tranquil pleasures never cloy;
Banish each tumultuous joy:
All but love-for love infpires
Fonder wishes, warmer fires.
Love and all its joys be thine-
Yet, ere thou the reins refign,
Hear what Reason seems to say,
Hear attentive, and obey.
"Crimson leaves the role adorn,

But beneath them lurks a thorn; "Fair and flowery is the brake, "Yet it hides the vengeful fnake. "Think not the, whofe empty pride "Dares the fleecy garb deride. "Think not fhe, who, light and vain, "Scorns the fheep, can love the swain. "Artlefs deed and fimple dress, "Mark the chofen fhepherdefs;

::

Thoughts by decency control'd "Well conceiv'd, and freely told.

"Senfe, that fhuns each conscious air,
"Wit, that falls ere well aware;,
"Generous pity, prone to figh
"If her kid or lambkin die.

"Let not lucre, let not pride,

"Draw thee, from fuch charms afide, "Have not those their proper fphere ? "Gentler paflions triumph here.

"See, to fweeten thy repofe,

"The bloffom buds, the fountain flows; "Lo! to crown thy healthful board,

"All that milk and fruits afford.

"Seek no more--the reft is vain ;
"Pleasure ending foon in pain:
"Anguish lightly, gilded o'er :
"Clofe thy wifh, and feek no`more."

V. OR

V. On the back of a Gothic Alcove.

You that bathe in courtly blyffe,

Or toyle in fortune's giddy fpheare;

Do not too rafhly deem amyffe

Of him that bydes contented here. Nor yet difdeigne the ruffet ftoale,

Which o'er each carcleffe lymbe he flyngs: Nor yet deryde the breechen bowle,

In whyche he quaffs the lympid fprings.
Forgive him, if at eve or dawne,
Devoid of worldlye cark he fray:
Or all befide fome flowerye lawne,
He waste his inoffenfive daye.
So may he pardonne fraud and ftrife,
If fuch in courtlye haunt he fee;
For faults there beene in bufye life,

From whyche thefe peaceful glennes are free.

X. On a Seat.

CELEBERRIMO POETAR

1ACOBO THOMSON

PROPE FONTES ILLI NON FASTIDITOS

G. S.

SEDEM HANC ORNAVIT.

Quæ tibi, quæ tali reddam pro carmine dona ? Nam neque me tantum venientis fibilus auftri, Nec percuffa juvant fluctu tam litora, nec quæ Saxofas inter decurrunt flumina valles.

XI. On a Seat at the Bottom of a large
Root, on the Side of a Slope.

Let me haunt this peaceful fhade;
Nor let Ambition e'er invade

The tenants of this leafy bower
That fhun her paths, and flight her power!
Hither the peaceful Halcyon flies
From focial meads and open fkies;
Pleas'd by the rill her courfe to fteer,
And hide her fapphire plumage here.
The trout, bedropt with crimson ftains,
Forfakes the river's proud domains;
Forfakes the fun's unwelcome gleam,
To lurk within this humble ftream.
And fure I hear the Naiad fay,
Flow, flow, my ftream, this devions way,
Though lovely feft thy murmurs are,
Thy waters lovely cool and fair.

Flow gentle fream, nor let the vain

Thy fmali unfully'd ftores difdain:

Nor let the penfive fage repice,

Whose latent courfe refembles thine,..