Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

the existence of a magnetic fluid; for we can scarcely suppose that the magnet produces this effect by its merely attracting or repel ling the particles of iron which are in the blood. But this seems to be put beyond all doubt by

observing, that the magnet does not act upon the particles of blood until they have been cal cined; and therefore can have no influence on the animal body merely by its attractive power."

ROETRY.

2

[ocr errors]

POETRY.

ODE FOR THE NEW YEAR.

By HENRY JAMES PYE, Esq. POET-LAUREAT.

I.

THEN, at the Despot's dread command,
Bridg'd Hellespont his myriads bore
From servile Asia's peopled strand

To Græcia's and to Freedom's shore-
While hostile fleets, terrific, sweep,
With threat'ning oar, th' Ionian deep,
Clear Dirce's bending reeds among,
The Theban Swan no longer sung:
No more, by Isthmus' wave-worn glade,
Or Nemæa's rocks, or Delphi's shade,
Or Pisa's olive-rooted grove,
The temple of Olympian Jove,
The Muses twin'd the sacred bough,

To crown th' athletic victor's brow;
Till on the roughÆgean main,
Till on Platea's trophied plain,

Was crush'd the Persian tyrant's boast,
O'erwhelm'd his fleet, o'erthrown his host;

Then the bold Theban seiz'd again the lyre,
And struck the chords with renovated fire:
"On human life's delusive state,

"Tho' woes unseen, uncertain, wait,

"Heal'd in the gen'rous breast is every pain, "With undiminish'd force, if Freedom's rights remain.”

II.

Not so the British muse-
e-Tho' rude

Her voice, to Græcia's tuneful choir,
By dread, by danger unsubdu'd,

Dauntless she wakes the lyric wire:
So when the awful thunder roars,
When round the livid lightnings play,
The imperial eagle proudly scars,
And wings aloft her daring way.

And,

And, hark! with animating note,
Aloud her strains exulting float,

While, pointing to th' inveterate host

Who threat destruction to this envied coast:

"Go forth, my sons As nobler rights ye claim, "Than ever fann'd the Grecian patriot's flame;

"So let your breasts a fiercer ardour feel,

"Led by your Patriot King, to guard your country's weal.”

III.

Her voice is heard-from wood, from vale, from down,
The thatch-roof'd village, and the busy town,

Eager th' indignant country swarms,
And pours a people, clad in arms,
Num'rous as those which Xerxes led
To crush devoted Freedom's head,

Firm as the band for Freedom's cause who stood,
And stain'd Thermopyle with Spartan blood:
Hear o'er their heads the exulting goddess sing-
"These are my favourite sons, and mine their warrior KING!"

IV.

Thro' Albion's plains while wide and far
Swells the tumultuous din of war;
While, from the loom, the forge, the flail,
From Labour's plough, from Commerce' sail,
All ranks to martial impulse yield,
And grasp the spear, and brave the field;
Do weeds our plains uncultur'd hide?
Does drooping Commerce quit the tide?
Do languid Art and Industry
Their useful cares no longer ply?—

Never did Agriculture's toil

With richer harvests clothe the soil;

Ne'er were our barks more amply fraught;

Ne'er were with happier skill our ores, our fleeces, wrought

V.

While the proud foe, to swell Invasion's host,

His bleeding country's countless millions drains,
And GALLIA mourns, thro' her embattl❜d coast,
Unpeopled cities, and unlabour'd plains;

To guard and to avenge this favour'd land,
Tho' gleams the sword in ev'ry Briton's hand,
Still o'er our fields waves Concord's silken wing,
Still the Arts flourish, and the Muses sing;
While, moral truth and Faith's celestial ray,

Adorn, illume, and bless, a GEORGE's prosp'rous sway.

Та

To MARY

[By Mr. CowPER, from Mr. HAYLEY'S LIFE of him.]

[blocks in formation]
[merged small][ocr errors][merged small]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
« ПредишнаНапред »