Let not your heart, by gaiety misled,
Be rendered callous to the tale of woe,
But clothe the naked, give the hungry bread,
Forbid the tears of wretchedness to flow.

For know, your fortune is the gift of Heav'n:
But not by Heav'n for you alone design'd;
In trust for gen'rous purposes 'twas given,
And proves a blessing to a generous mind.

HUMANITY.

AH me! how little knows the human heart
The pleasing task of soft'ning other's woe;
Stranger to joys that pity can impart,

And tears, sweet sympathy can teach to flow !
Pity the man who hears the moving tale

Unmov'd; to whom the heart-felt glow's unknown; On whom the widow's plaints could ne'er prevail,

Nor make the good man's injur'd cause his own,

The splendid dome, the vaulted roof to rear,

The glare of pride and pomp, be, grandeur, thine; To wipe from misery's eye the falling tear,

And sooth the oppressed orphan's woes, be mine! Be mine the blush of modest worth to spare; To change to smiles afflictions rising sigh; The kindred warmth of charity to share,

Till joy shall sparkle from the tear-fill'd eye.

Can the loud laugh, the mirth-inspiring bowl, The dance or choral song, or jocund glee, Affect the glowing, sympathizing soul,

Or warm the breast, HUMANITY, like thee?

ON CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

SAY, lordly Man, of powers possest,
Beyond what other creatures know;
Say, can the mind with reason blest
A want of feeling show?

To thy domain all beasts belong :
Yet why so merciless thy sway?
Why to the harmless, useful throng,

Such cruelty betray?

There's nought that spreads in air its wings, That crops the grass, or skims the main, But what its accusation brings,

And does of man complain.

The bird laments its plunder'd nest;

Her mate shot breathless at her side: "A pair," she cries," thus fondly blest, "Shall sportive hands divide."

The patient ass, or nobler horse,

Who ne'er to man their aid refuse, Can tyrant man, without remorse, Unfeelingly abuse?

Nor these alone their claims assert;

Each guiltless creature you oppress,
Appeals to every feeling heart
For pity and redress.

Is't not enough, vain mortals, say,
Their lives to feed thee, myriads give;
But must thou, with unfeeling sway,
Distress them while they live?

'Tis not for this the Lord of all,
His creatures to thy pow'r subjects;
For thy revenge, or sport, to fall,
As folly's choice directs.

Let all thy kind compassion share,
Through nature's universal frame;
Whatever breathes thy kindred air,
Or feels the vital flame.

EQUITY.

TURN, turn thy hasty foot aside,
Nor crush that helpless worm;
The frame thy wayward looks deride,
Required a God to form.

The common Lord of all that move,
From whom thy being flow'd,
A portion of his boundless love

On that poor worm bestow'd.

The sun, the moon, the stars He made
To all his creatures free;

And spreads o'er earth the grassy blade
For worms as well as thee.

Let them enjoy their little day,
Their lowly bliss receive:
O, do not lightly take away
The life thou canst not give.

ON HAPPINESS.

OH Happiness! thou great and only end,
To which our wishes aud our labours tend;
How art thou found, or in what distant land?
Can riches buy thee, or can power command ?
No! happiness nought outward can bestow;
But on ourselves depends our bliss or woe.
The like events in life occur to all:

The bad oft flourish, while the virtuous fall.
Yet vice is wretched, e'en while it succeeds,
And virtue still is happy though it bleeds;
Approving conscience yields a secret joy,
Which fortune cannot give, nor yet destroy:
To act thy part aright to thee is given;
Be this thy care; the rest belongs to Heaven.

THE IMPORTANCE OF TRIFLES.

SINCE trifles make the sum of human things,
And half our mis'ry from our foibles springs;
Since life's best joys consist in peace and ease,
And few can save, or serve, but all can please;
Oh! let th' ungentle spirit learn from hence,
A small unkindness is a great offence.
Large bounties to bestow we wish in vain :
But all may shun the guilt of giving pain.
To bless mankind with tides of flowing wealth,
High pow'r to grace them, or to crown with health,
Our little lot denies! but Heav'n decrees

To all the gift of minist'ring to ease;
The gentle offices of patient love,
Beyond all flatt'ry, and all price above.

The mild forbearance of another's fault;

The taunting words suppress'd as soon as thought;
On these Heav'n bade the sweets of life depend,
And crush'd ill fortune, when it made a Friend.
A solitary blessing few can find;

Our joys with those we love are intertwin'd;
And he, whose wakeful tenderness removes

Th' obstructing thorn which wounds the breast he loves,
Smooths not another's rugged path alone,

But scatters roses to perfume his own.