Like to that fober light, which difarray'd Abstracting the rapt thought from vain earth-mufing Beneath this high o'er-arching canopy Of cluft'ring oaks, a filvan colonnade, [themes. Of birds sweet-echoing through the lonely fhade, Difclos'd to fudden view a vale profound, With Nature's artlefs fmiles and tranquil beauties crown'd. LXX. There, on the bafis of an ancient pile, Whose cross furmounted fpire o'erlook'd the wood, A venerable MATRON they ere-while Discover'd have, befide a murm'ring flood Retir'd within her own abstracted breast She feem'd o'er various woes by turns to brood; d The which her changing chear by turns expreft, Now glowing with difdain, with grief now over-keft. LXXI. Her • Over-keft, for over-caft. LXXI. Her thus immers'd in anxious thought profound O deareft drad! he cried, fair island queen! What means that ftormy brow of troublous teen ? With wealth and knowledge, fplendour and renown? Each port how throng'd! how fruitful every plain ! How blithe the country! and how gay the town! While Liberty fecures and heightens every boon! LXXIII. Awaken'd from her trance of pensive woe By these fair flattering words, fhe rais'd her head; And bending on the KNIGHT her frowning brow, Mock'st thou my forrows, Fairy's Son? she said. Sith, fince. Or Or is thy judgment by thy heart misled To deem that certain, which thy hopes fuggeft? Whose cheeks in Hebe's vivid tints are dreft, And with Joy's carelefs mien, and dimpled fmiles impreft? Thy unfufpecting heart how nobly good Against their better knowledge, to maintain How vast his influence! how wide his sway! The throbbings of my heart with speeches bland, f Luftihead, ftrong health, vigour. LXXVI. Peace, Wealth, and Liberty, that noblest boon, To weak and vicious minds their worth unknown, And thence abused but serve to furnish food For riot and debauch, and fire the blood The fymptoms of a foul, difeafed and bloated state. · LXXVII. Ev'n Wit and Genius, with their learned train And stand my fons herein from cenfure clear? D As As well to prove, as to reward the good? The fell leviathan licentious plays, And upon fhip-wreck'd faith, and finking virtue preys? LXXIX. To you, ye Noble, Opulent and Great! The health and ficknefs of the common-weal; The maladies you caufe, yourselves must heal. In vain to the unthinking harden'd crowd Will Truth and Reafon make their juft appeal; And Justice drench in vain her vengeful fword in blood. With You must reformation firft take place: You are the head, the intellectual mind You, for yourselves and them, may drefs the mental foil. LXXXI. Be |