Though late, let finners then from fin depart!
Heaven never yet defpis'd the contrite heart.
Laft fhone, with fweet, exalted luftre grac'd,
The SERAPH-BARD, in highest order plac'd!
Seers, lovers, legislators, prelates, kings,
All raptur'd liften, as he raptur'd fings.
Sweetness and ftrength his look and lays employ,
Greet fmiles with fmiles, and every joy with joy:
Charmful he rofe; his ever-charmful tongue
Joy to our fecond hymeneals fung;

Still as we pafs'd, the bright, celestial throng
Hail'd us in focial love, and heavenly fong.
Of that no more! my deathlefs friendship fee!
I come an Angel to the Mufe and Thee.
These lights, that vibrate, and promifcuous shine,
Are emanations all of forms divine.

And here the Mufe, though melted from thy gaze,
Stands among fpirits, mingling rays with rays.
If thou would't peace attain, my words attend,
The last, fond words of thy departed friend!
True joy's a feraph, that to heaven aspires,
Unhurt it triumphs mid' celeftial choirs.
But fhould no cares a mortal state moleft,
Life were a state of ignorance at best,

Know then, if ills oblige thee to retire,
Thofe ills folemnity of thought inspire.
Did not the foul abroad for objects roam,
Whence could fhe learn to call ideas home?
Juftly to know thyfeif, perufe mankind;
To know thy God, paint nature on thy mind:

740

745

750

755

760

765

Without

Without fuch fcience of the worldly fcene,
What is retirement?-Empty pride or spleen :
But with it wifdom. There fhall cares refine,

Render'd by contemplation half-divine.
Trust not the frantic, or myfterious guide,
Nor ftoop a captive to the schoolman's pride.
On nature's wonders fix alone thy zeal!
They dim not reafon, when they truth reveal;
So fhall religion in thy heart endure,
From all traditionary falfehood pure;
So life make death familiar to thy eye,

770

775

So fhalt thou live, as thou may'ft learn to die;
And, though thou view'ft thy worft oppreffor thrive,
From tranfient woe, immortal blifs derive.
Farewell Nay, ftop the parting tear!-I go!

780

But leave the Mufe thy comforter below.
He faid. Inftant his pinions upward foar,
He leffening as they rife, till feen no more.
While Contemplation weigh'd the myftic view, 785
The lights all vanish'd, and the vifion flew.

[82]

THE

BASTARD:

INSCRIBED WITH ALL DUE REVERENCE TO

MRS. BRETT,

ONCE COUNTESS OF MACCLESFIELD.

"Decet hæc dare dona Novercam."

Ov. Met.

PRE FAC E.

HE reader will easily perceive these verses were begun, when my heart was gayer than it has been of late; and finished in hours of the deepest melancholy.

I hope the world will do me the justice to believe, that no part of this flows from any real anger against the Lady, to whom it is infcribed. Whatever undeferved feverities I may have received at her hands, would the deal fo candidly as acknowledge truth, the very well knows, by an experience of many years, that I have ever behaved myself towards her, like one who thought it his duty to fupport with patience all afflictions from that quarter. Indeed, if I had not been capable of forgiving a Mother, I must have blushed to receive pardon myfelf at the hands of my Sovereign.

Neither,

Neither, to fay the truth, were the manner of my birth all, fhould I have any reafon for complaintWhen I am a little difpofed to a gay turn of thinking, I confider, as I was a Dereli& from my cradle, I have the honour of a lawful claim to the beft protection in Europe. For being a spot of earth, to which nobody pretends a title, I devolve naturally upon the King, as one of the rights of his Royalty.

While I prefume to name his Majesty, I look back, with confufion, upon the mercy I have lately experienced; because it is impoffible to remember it, but with fomething I would fain forget, for the fake of my future peace, and alleviation of my paft misfortune.

I owe my life to the Royal Pity, if a wretch can, with propriety, be faid to live, whofe days are fewer than his forrows; and to whom death had been but a redemption from mifery.

But I will fuffer my pardon as my punishment, till that life, which has fo graciously been given me, fhall become confiderable enough not to be ufelefs in his fervice to whom it was forfeited. Under influence of thefe fentiments, with which His Majesty's great goodnefs has infpired me, I confider my lofs of fortune and dignity as my happinefs; to which, as I am born without ambition, I am thrown from them without repining-Poffeffling thofe advantages, my care had been, perhaps, how to enjoy life; by the want of them I am taught this nobler lesion, to ftudy how to

deserve it.

RICHARD

G 2

SAVAGE,

THE

BASTAR D..

IN gayer hours, when high my fancy ran,
The Mufe, exulting, thus her lay began.
Bleft be the Baftard's birth! through wondrous ways,
He fhines eccentric like a comet's blaze!
No fickly fruit of faint compliance He!
He! ftampt in nature's mint of ecstacy!

He lives to build, not boaft, a generous race :
No tenth tranfmitter of a foolish face.

His daring hope, no fire's example bounds;
His first-born lights, no prejudice confounds.
He, kindling from within, requires no flame;
He glories in a Baftard's glowing name.

Born to himself, by no poffeffion led,
In freedom fofter'd, and by fortune fed;

5

10

Nor guides, nor rules, his fovereign choice control, 15
His body independent as his foul;

Loos'd to the world's wide range-enjoy'd no aim,
Prefcrib'd no duty, and affign'd no name:
Nature's unbounded fon, he ftands alone,
His heart unbiafs'd, and his mind his own.
O Mother, yet no Mother! 'tis to you,
My thanks for fuch distinguish'd claims are due..
You, unenflav'd to Nature's narrow laws,
Warm championefs for freedom's facred caufe,
From all the dry devoirs of blood and line,
From ties maternal, moral and divine,

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