If such a one you find, let truth prevail :
Till when your weights will in the balance fail:
A church unprincipled kicks up the scale.
But if you cannot think (nor fure
you can
Suppofe in God what were unjust in man)
That he, the fountain of eternal grace,
Should fuffer falfhood, for fo long a space,
To banish truth, and to ufurp her place:
That seven fucceffive ages fhould be loft,
And preach damnation at their proper cost;
That all your erring ancestors fhould die,
Drown'd in the abyss of deep idolatry :
If piety forbid fuch thoughts to rise,
Awake, and open your unwilling eyes:
God hath left nothing for each age undone,
From this to that wherein he sent his fon :
Then think but well of him, and half your work
is done.
See how his church, adorn'd with every grace,
With open arms, a kind forgiving face,
Stands ready to prevent her long-loft fon's em-
brace.
Not more did Jofeph o'er his brethren weep,
Nor lefs himself could from difcovery keep,
When in the crowd of fuppliants they were seen,
And in their crew his beft-beloved Benjamin.
That pious Jofeph in the church behold,
To feed your famine, and refuse your gold;
The Jofeph you exil'd, the Jofeph whom you
fold.
Thus, while with heavenly charity fhe spoke, A ftreaming blaze the filent shadows broke Shot from the skies; a chearful azure light : The birds obfcene to forefts wing'd their flight, And gaping graves receiv'd the wand'ring guilty fpright.
Such were the pleasing triumphs of the sky,
For James his late nocturnal victory;
The pledge of his almighty Patron's love,
The fireworks which his angels made above.
I faw myself the lambent eafy light
Gild the brown horror, and difpel the night:
The meffenger with speed the tidings bore;
News, which three laboring nations did restore
But heaven's own Nuntius was arriv'd before.
By this, the Hind had reach'd her lonely cell,
And vapors rofe, and dews unwholfom fell.
When she, by frequent obfervation wife,
As one who long on heaven had fix'd her eyes,
Difcern'd a change of weather in the fkies.
The western borders were with crimson spread,
The moon descending look'd all-flaming red;
She thought good manners bound her to invite
The stranger dame to be her guest that night.
'Tis true, coarse diet, and a short repast,
(She faid) were weak inducements to the taste
Of one fo nicely bred, and fo unus'd to faft:
But what plain fare her cottage could afford,
A hearty welcome at a homely board,
Was freely hers; and, to supply the reft,
An honeft meaning, and an open breast:
Laft, with content of mind, the
poor man's wealth,
A grace-cup to their common patron's health.
This she defir'd her to accept, and stay,
For fear fhe might be wilder'd in her way,
Because she wanted an unerring guide,
And then the dew-drops on her filken hide
Her tender conftitution did declare,
Too lady-like a long fatigue to bear,
And rough inclemencies of raw nocturnal air.
But most she fear'd that, travelling fo late,
Some evil-minded beafts might lie in wait,
And without witness wreak their hidden hate.
The Panther, though the lent a listening ear,
Had more of lion in her than to fear:
Yet wifely weighing, fince fhe had to deal
With many foes, their numbers might prevail,
Return'd her all the thanks fhe could afford;
And took her friendly hostess at her word:
Who entering firft her lowly roof, a shed
With hoary mofs, and winding ivy spread,
Honeft enough to hide an humble hermit's head,
Thus graciously bespoke her welcome guest:
So might these walls, with your fair presence bleft,
Become your dwelling-place of everlasting reft;)
Not for a night, or quick revolving year,
Welcome an owner, not a fojourner.
This peaceful feat my poverty fecures ;
War feldom enters but where wealth allures:
Nor yet despise it; for this poor abode
Has oft receiv'd, and yet receives a God;
A God victorious of a Stygian race
Here laid his facred limbs, and fanctify'd the place.
This mean retreat did mighty Pan contain:
Be emulous of him, and pomp disdain,
And dare not to debafe your foul to gain.
The filent stranger stood amaz'd to fee
Contempt of wealth, and wilful poverty:
And, tho ill habits are not foon controul'd,
Awhile fufpended her defire of gold.
But civilly drew in her sharpen'd paws,
Not violating hofpitable laws,
And pacify'd her tail, and lick'd her frothy jaws.
The Hind did first her country cates provide;
Then couch'd herself securely by her fide.
UCH malice mingled with a little wit,
Perhaps, may cenfure this mysterious writ:
Because the muse has peopled Caledon
With Panthers, Bears, and Wolves, and beasts unknown,
As if we were not ftock'd with monfters of our
Let Æfop answer, who has fet to view
Such kinds as Greece and Phrygia never knew And mother Hubbard, in her homely drefs, Has fharply blam'd a British Lioness ;
That queen, whose feast the factious rabble keep,
Expos'd obfcenely naked and asleep.
Led by those great examples, may not I
The wanted organs of their words fupply?
If men tranfact like brutes, 'tis equal then
For brutes to claim the privilege of men.
|