He, who had often, and alone, o'erturn'd
Witlings, and fophifts, when his fury burn'd,
Now yields to love the fortress of his foul!
His eyes with vengeance on Arachne roll:

• Curs'd wretch! thou poisonous quinteffence of ill,
Those precious drops, unpunifh'd, fhalt thou fpill?"
He faid; and ftooping, from his foot he drew,
Black as his purpofe, what was once a fhoe :
Now, high in air the fatal heel afcends,
Reafon's laft effort now the ftroke fufpends,

In doubt he stood-when, breath'd from Chloe's breast,
A struggling figh her inward grief express'd.

Fir'd by the found, Die! forcerefs, die!' he cry'd,

And to his arm his utmost strength apply'd:

Crush'd falls the foe, one complicated wound,
And the fmote shelf returns a jarring found.
On Ida's top thus Venus erft prevail'd,
When all the sapience of Minerva fail'd:
Thus to like arts a prey, as poets tell,
By Juno lov'd in vain, great Dido fell.
And thus, for ever, beauty fhall controul,
The faint's, the fage's, and the hero's soul.

But Jove with hate beheld th' atrocious deed,
And vengeance follows with tremendous speed ;
In Philo's mind fhe quench'd the ray that fir'd
With love of science, and with verfe infpir'd ;
Expung'd at once the philofophick theme,
All fages think, and all that poets dream ;
Yields him, thus chang'd, a vaffal to the fair,
And forth fhe leads him with a victor's air:
Drefs'd to her wish, he mixes with the gay,
As much a trifle, and as vain as they ;
To fix their pow'r, and rivet fast the chain,
They lead where pleasure spreads her soft domain;
Where, drown'd in mufick Reafon's hoarfer call,
Love fmiles triumphant-in thy groves, Vauxhall.
H

A FA

A FATHER's ADVICE TO HIS SON.

D

BY JOHN GILBERT COOPER, ESQ

EEP in a grove, by cypress fhaded,

Where mid-day fun had seldom fhone,

Or noise the folemn scene invaded,

Save fome afflicted Mufe's moan;

A fwain tow'rds full-ag'd manhood wending,
Sat forrowing at the close of day;
At whofe fond fide a boy attending,
Lifp'd half his father's cares away.

The father's eyes no object wrested,
But on the fmiling prattler hung;
Till, what his throbbing heart fuggested,
These accents trembled from his tongue.

Some truths, from long experience flowing,
• Worth more than royal grants, receive;
For truths are wealth of Heav'n's bestowing,
• Which kings have feldom power to give.

Be thine the generous heart, that borrows
From other's joys a friendly glow;
And for each hapless neighbour's forrows,
• Throbs with a fympathetick woe.

This is the temper moft endearing:

Tho' wide proud Pomp her banners fpreads, An heavenlier power, good-nature bearing, • Each heart in willing thraldom leads.

Taste not from fame's uncertain fountain, • The peace-destroying ftreams that flow; • Nor from ambition's dangerous mountain, • Look down upon the world below.

• The princely pine on hills exalted, "
• Whofe lofty branches cleave the sky,
By winds long brav'd, at laft affaulted,
Is headlong whirl'd in duft to lie: P

. Whilft the mild rofe, more fafely growing, Low in it's unafpiring vale,

< Amidst retirement's fhelter blowing,

• Wish not for beauty's darling features,!
Moulded by Nature's fondling power;
For fairest forms 'mong human creatures,
Shine but the pageants of an hour. 5'

I faw the pride of all the meadow,
At noon, a gay Narciffus, blow
Upon a river's bank, whofe shadow
• Bloom'd in the filver waves below;

By noon-tide's heat it's youth was wafted,
The waters as they pass'd, complain'd;
At eve it's glories all were blafted,

And not one former tint remain'd.

• Nor let vain wit's deceitful glory -

Lead you from wisdom's path aftray: • What genius lives renown'd in ftory, To happiness who found the way ?

In yonder mead, behold that vapour, • Whose vivid beams illusive play: • Far off, it seems a friendly taper,

To guide the traveller on his way;

But should fome hapless wretch purfuing, • Tread where the treach'rous meteors glow, He'd find, too late his rafhness rueing, • That fatal quickfands lurk below.

In life, fuch bubbles nought admiring,
• Gilt with falfe light, and fill'd with air,
Do you, from pageant crowds retiring,
To peace, in virtue's cot, repair:

There seek the never-wafted treasure,
• Which mutual love and friendship give ;
Domestick comfort, spotless pleasure !

⚫ And blefs'd, and bleffing, you will live,

• If Heav'n with children crowns your dwelling,
As mine it's bounty does with you;
In fondness fatherly excelling,

Th' example you have felt, pursue.'

He paus'd-for, tenderly careffing
The darling of his wounded heart,
Looks had means only of expreffing
Thoughts language never could impart,

Now night her mournful mantle spreading,.
Had rob'd with black th' horizon round,
And dank dews from her treffes fhedding,
With genial moisture bath'd the ground:

When back to city follies flying,

'Midft cuftom's flaves he liv'd refign'd; His face, array'd in fmiles, denying The true complexion of his mind:

For seriously around furveying

Each character in youth and age,
Of fools betray'd, and knaves betraying,
That play'd upon this human stage;

(Peaceful himself, and undefigning)
He loath'd the scenes of guile and strife,
And felt each fecret with inclining
To leave this fretful farce of life.

Yet, to whate'er above was fated,
Obediently he bow'd his foul;

For, what All-bounteous Heav'n created,

He thought Heav'n only should controul.

ELEGY;