CHORUS. rich the treasure, sweet the pleasure; sweet is pleasure after pain. Sooth'd with the sound, the king grew vain; fought all his battles o'er again ; [the slain. and thrice be routed all his foes; and thrice he slew The master saw the madness rise; He chose a mournful Muse soft pity to infuse: by too severe a fate; and weltering in his blood; deserted, at his utmost need, by those his former bounty fed: on the bare earth expos’d he lies, with not a friend to close his eyes. With down-cast looks the joyless victor sate revolving in his alter'd soul the various turns of chance below; and now and then, a sigh he stole; and tears began to flow. Revolving in his alter'd soul the various turns of chance below; and, now and then, a sigh he stole; and tears began to flow. No. 77. 11 CHORUS The mighty master smild, to see Softly sweet, in Lydian measures, soon he sooth'd his soul to pleasures: War, he sung, is toil and trouble; honpur but an empty bubble; never ending, still beginning, fighting still, and still destroying: if the world be worth thy winning, think, O think, it worth enjoying: . lovely Thais sits beside thee, take the good the gods provide thee. The many rend the skies with loud applause; so Love was crown'd, but Music won the cause. The prince, unable to conceal his pain, gaz’d on the fair as'd his care sigh'd and look'd, and sigh'd again: at length, with love and wine at once oppressid, the vanquish'd victor sunk upon her breast. The prince unable to conceal his pain, gaz'd on the fair who caus'd his care, and sigh'd and look'd, sigh'd and look'd, sigh'd and look'd, and sigh'd again: at length, with love and wine at once oppressid, the vanquish'd victor sunk upon her breast. Now strike the golden lyre again : a louder yet, and yet a louder strain. Break his bands of sleep asunder, CHORUS. and rouse him, like a rattling peal of thunder. Hark, hark, the horrid sound bas rais'd up his head: as awak'd from the dead, and amaz'd, he stares around. Revenge, revenge, Timotheus cries, see the furies arise: how they biss in their hair, behold a ghastly band, each a torch in his hand; thoseare Grecian ghosts, that in battle-were siain, and unbury'd remain inglorious on the plain: give the vengeance due to the valiant crew, bebold how they toss their torches on higb, how they point to the Persian abodes, and glittering temples of their hostile gods. The princes applaud, with a furious joy; and the king seiz'd a flambeau with zealto destroy; Thais led the way, to light him to his prey, and, like another Helen, fir'd another Troy. And the king seiz'da flambeau with zealto destroy; Thais led the way, prey, Thus, long ago, while orgáns yet weré mute; and sounding lyre, CHORUS could swell the soul to rage, or kindle soft desire. At last divine Cecilia came, inventress of the vocal frame; the sweet, enthusiast, from her sacred store, enlarg’d the former narrow bounds, and added length to solemn sounds, with nature's mother-wit, and arts unknown beLet old Timotheus yield the prize, [fore. or both divide the crowa; GRAND CHORUS. inventress of the vocal frame; enlarg'd the former narrow bounds, and added length to solemn sounds, with nature's mother-wit, and arts unknown beLet old-Timotheus yield the prize, Efore. or both divide the crown; he rais'd a mortal to the skies; she drew an angel down. THE CHARACTER OF A GOOD PARSON. A parish priest was of the pilgrim train; an awful, reverend, and religious man. His eyes diffus’d a venerable grace, and charity itself was in his face. Rich was his soul, tho' his attire was poor (as God hath cloth'd his own ambassador); for such, on earth, his bless'd Redeemer bore. Of sixty years he seem'd; and well might last to sixty more, but that he liv'd too fast; refign'd himself to soul, to curb the sense; and made almost a sin of abstinence. Yet, had his aspect nothing of severe, but such a face as promis'd him sincere. Nothing reserv'd or sullen was to see: but sweet regards, and pleasing sanctity: mild was his accent, and his action free. With eloquence innate bis tongue was arm'd; tho' harsh the precept, yet the people charm’d. For, letting down the golden chain from high, he drew his audience upward to the sky: and oft with holy hymns he charm'd their ears (a music more melodious than the spheres): for David left him, when he went to rest, bis lyre; and after him he sung the best. He bore his great commission in his look: but sweetly temper'd awe; and soften'd all he spoke. He preach'd the joys of heaven, and pains of hell, and warn'd the sinner with becoming zeal; but, on eternal mercy lov'd to dwell. He taught the gospel rather than the law; and forc'd himself to drive; but lov'd to draw, For fear but freezes minds : but love, like heat, exhales the soul sublime, to seek her native seat; to threats the stubborn sinner oft is hard, wrapp'd in his crimes, against the storm prepard, but, when the milder beams of mercy play, be melts, and throws his cumbrous cloak away. Lightning and thunder (heaven's artillery) as harbingers before th' Almighty fly: those but proclaim his style, and disappear; the stiller sound succeeds, and God is there. The tithes, bis parish freely paid, he took; but never sued, or curs'd with bell or book. With patience bearing wrong; bụt offering none; since every man is free to lose his own. |