XV. "As on high Algidus the sturdy oak, Whofe fpreading boughs the axe's sharpness feel, Improves by lofs, and, thriving with the stroke, "Draws health and vigour from the wounding steel. XVI. Not Hydra fprouting 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 ftrength, and foils the wondering foe. XVIII. No more of victory the joyful fame Shall from my camp to haughty Carthage fly; Loft, loft, 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 fteers through all the dangerous ftorm, Through all the rocks and fhoals of doubtful war ?" 66 VIRTUE VIRTUE AND FAME. TO THE COUNTESS OF EGREMONT. VIRTUE and Fame, the other day, Happen'd to crofs 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 feldom fee: "The Paphian queen employs your trumpet, "And bids it praise fome handsome strumpet; "Or, thundering through the ranks of war, "Ambition ties you to her car. Saith Fame," Dear madam, I proteft, "As when I humbly wait behind you! Is lively chearful innocence; "Whofe "Whose heart nor envy knows, nor spite, "Whofe duty is her fole delight; "Nor rul`d by whim, nor flave to fashion, "Her parents' joy, her husband's paffion.” Fame fimil'd, and and anfwer'd, "On my life, This is fome country parfon's wife, "Who never faw the court nor town, "Whose face is homely as her gown; Who banquets upon eggs and bacon-" "No, madam, no-you're much mistaken— "I beg you'll let me fet you right""Tis one with every beauty bright; "Adorn'd with every polifh'd art "That rank or fortune can impart; "'Tis the most celebrated toaft "That Britain's fpacious ifle can boast; 'Tis princely Petworth's noble dame; 'Tis Egrement-Go, tell it, Fame.” ADDITION, EXTEMPORE, BY EARL HARDWICKE. AME heard with pleasure-ftrait replied, F4 Firit on my roll stands Wyndham's bride; "My trumpet oft I 've rais'd, to found A friend of yours-'tis Lyttelton." LET LETTER TO EARL HARD WICKE: OCCASIONED BY THE FOREGOING VERSES. MY LORD, A Thousand thanks to your Lordship for your ad dition to my verfes. If you can write fuch extempore, it is well for other poets, that you chofe to be Lord Chancellor, rather than a Laureat. They explain to me a vifion I had the night before. Methought I faw before my feet, "Long had I loft you from my bower, G "But "But now, to my forfaken track, Fair Egremont has brought you back: "Nor blush, by her and Virtue led, "That foft, that pleafing path, to tread; "For there, beneath to-morrow's ray, "Ev'n Wisdom's felf fhall deign to play. Lo! to my flowery groves and fprings "Her favourite fon the goddefs brings, The council's and the fenate'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 praife, nor envy Pitt His fame with burgefs or with cit; "For fure one line from fuch a Bard, "Virtue would think her beft reward." HYMN TO ELIZ A. MADAM, before your feet I lay The first indeed I ever made, And |