XV.

"As on high Algidus the sturdy oak,

"Whose spreading boughs the axe's sharpness feel, " Improves by loss, and, thriving with the stroke, "Draws health and vigour from the wounding steel.

XVI.

"Not Hydra sprouting from her mangled head
"So tir'd the baffled force of Hercules;
Nor Thebes, nor Colchis, fuch a monster bred,
" Pregnant of ills, and fam'd for prodigies.

XVII.

" Plunge her in ocean, like the morning fun, " Brighter the rifes from the depths below:

"To earth with unavailing ruin thrown,

" Recruits her strength, and foils the wondering foe.

XVIII.

No more of victory the joyful fame

" Shall from my camp to haughty Carthage fly; "Lost, lost, are all the glories of her name!

" With Afdrubal her hopes and fortune die !

XIX.

"What shall the Claudian valour not perform,

"Which Power Divine guards with propitious care, "Which Wisdom steers through all the dangerous storm, "Through all the rocks and shoals of doubtful war?"

:

VIRTUE

VIRTUE AND FAME.

TO THE COUNTESS OF EGREMONT.

VIRTUE and Fame, the other day,

Happen'd to cross each other's way; "Said Virtue, "Hark ye! madam Fame, "Your ladyship is much to blame;

Jove bids you always wait on me, "And yet your face I seldom fee: "The Paphian queen employs your trumpet, " And bids it praise some handsome strumpet; "Or, thundering through the ranks of war, "Ambition ties you to her car." Saith Fame, "Dear madam, I protest, " I never find myself so bleft " As when I humbly wait behind you ! "But 'tis so mighty hard to find you ! In such obfcure retreats you lurk ! To feek you, is an endless work." "Well," anfwer'd Virtue, “ I allow "Your plea. But hear, and mark me now. "I know (without offence to others) " I know the best of wives and mothers; " Who never pass'd an useless day " In scandal, goffiping, or play: "Whose modest wit, chastis'd by sense, ***Is lively chearful innocence;

" Whofe

"Whose heart nor envy knows, nor spite, "Whose duty is her fole delight; "Nor rul'd by whim, nor flave to fashion, " Her parents' joy, her husband's paffion." • Fame fmil'd, and and answer'd, " On my life, "This is some country parson's wife, "Who never faw the court nor town, "Whese face is homely as her gown; "Whobanquets upon eggs and bacon-"

"No, madam, no-you're much mistakenI beg you'll let me set you right"'Tis one with every beauty bright; "Adorn'd with every polish'd art "That rank or fortune can impart; "'Tis the most celebrated toaft

"That Britain's spacious ifle can boaft; "'Tis princely Petworth's noble dame; "'Tis Egrement Go, tell it, Fame."

ADDITION, EXTEMPORE,

BY EARL HARDWICKE.

F
AME heard with pleasure-ftrait replied,
****First on my roll stands Wyndham's bride;

"My trumpet oft I 've rais'd, to found
"Her modeft praise the world around!
"But notes were wanting-Canst thou find
"A Muse to fing her face, her mind?

"Believe me, I can name but one,

"A friend of yours-'tis Lyttelton."

LET

A
Thousand thanks to your Lordship for your ad-
dition to my verses. If you can write such ex-
tempore, it is well for other poets, that you chose to be
Lord Chancellor, rather than a Laureat. They explain
to ime a vifion I had the night before.

Methought I faw before my feet,
With countenance ferene and sweet,
The Muse, who, in my youthful days,
Had oft inspir'd my careless lays.

She finil'd, and faid, "Once more I fee

My fugitive returns to me;

Long had I loft you from my bower,
You scorn'd to own my gentle power;
With me no more your genius sported,
"The grave historic Muse you courted;

Or, rais'd from earth, with straining eyes;
Pursued Urania through the skies;

"But now, to my forsaken track,
"Fair Egremont has brought you back:
"Nor blush, by her and Virtue led,
"That soft, that pleasing path, to tread;
"For there, beneath to-morrow's ray,
"Ev'n Wisdom's self shall deign to play.

Lo! to my flowery groves and springs
"Her favourite fon the goddess brings,
"The council's and the senate's guide,
"Law's oracle, the nation's pride:
"He comes, he joys with thee to join,
" In finging Wyndham's charms divine:
"To thine he adds his nobler lays;
"Ev'n thee, my friend, he deigns to praise.
Enjoy that praise, nor envy Pitt
"His fame with burgess or with cit;
" For sure one line from such a Bard,
"Virtue would think her best reward."

HYMN TO ELIZA.

MADAM, before your feet I lay

This ode upon your wedding-day,

The first indeed I ever made,
For writing Odes is not my trade,
My head is full of houshold cares,
And necessary dull affairs;
Befides that sometimes jealous frumps
Will put me into doleful dumps.

And