the full free converse of the friendly heart, improving and improv'd. Now from the world, sacred to sweet retirement, lovers steal, and pour their souls in transport, which the SIRE of love approving hears, and, " calls, it good." Which way, AMANDA, shall we bend our course? the choice perplexes. Wherefore should we choose? all is the same with thee. Say, shall we wind along the streams? or walk the smiling mead? or court the forest-glades? or wander wild among the waving harvests? or ascend, while radiant Summer opens all it's pride, thy hill, delightful Shene? Here let us sweep the boundless landscape: now th' raptur'd eye, exulting swift, to huge AUGUSTA send, now to the Sister hills that skirt her plain, to lofty Harrow now, and now to where majestic Windsor lifts his princely brow. PHILOSOPHY. With thee, serene Philosophy, with thee, and thy bright garland, et me crown my song! effusive source of evidence and truth! a lustre shedding o'er th' ennobled mind, stronger than summer-noon; and pure as that whose mild vibrations sooth the parted soul, new to the dawning of celestial day. Hence through her nourish'd powers, enlarg'd by thee, she springs aloft, with elevated pride, above the tangling mass of low desires, that bind the flutt'ring crow'd; and angel-wing'd, the heights of science and of virtue gains, where all is calm and clear; with Nature round, or in the starry regions, or th' abyss, to Reason's and to Fancy's eye display'd; the first up-tracing, from the dreary void, the chain of causes and effects to HIM, the world-producing ESSENCE, who alone possesses being; while the last receives the whole magnificence of heav'n and earth, and ev'ry beauty, delicate or bold, obvious or more remote, with livelier sense, diffusive painted on the rapid mind. Tutor❜d by thee, hence Poetry exalts her voice to ages; and informs the page with music, image, sentiment and thought, never to die! the treasure of mankind! their highest honour and their truest joy; without thee what were unenlighten'd Man? a savage, roaming thro' the woods and wilds, in quest of prey; and with th' unfashion'd fur rough-clad; devoid of ev'ry finer art, and elegance of life. Nor happiness domestic, mix'd of tenderness and care, nor moral excellence, nor social bliss, nor guardian law were his; nor various skill to turn the furrow, or to guide the tool mechanic; nor the heav'n-conducted prow of navigation bold, that fearless braves the burning line or dares the wintry pole; mother severe of infinite delights! nothing, save rapine, indolence, and guile, and woes on woes, a still-revolving train! whose horrid circle had made human life than non-existence worse: but taught by thee, our's are the plans of policy, and peace: to live like brothers, and conjunctive all embellish life. While thus laborious crowds ply the tough oar, philosophy directs swells out, and bears th' inferior world along. of the SOLE BEING right, who "spoke the word," AUTUMN. LAVINIA. The lovely young LAVINIA once had friends; and fortune smil'd, deceitful, on her birth. For in her helpless years depriv'd of all, of every stay, save Innocence and Heav'n, she with her widow'd mother, feeble, old, and poor, liv'd in a cottage, far retir'd among the windings of a woody vale; by solitude and deep surrounding shades, but more by bashful modesty conceal'd. Together thus they shunn'd the cruel scorn which virtue, sunk to poverty, would meet from giddy passion, and low-minded pride; almost on nature's common bounty fed; like the gay birds that sung them to repose, content, and careless of to-morrow's fare. Her form was fresher than the morning rose, when the dew wets it's leaves; unstain'd, and pure, as is the lily, or the mountain snow. The modest virtues mingled in her eyes, beyond the pomp of dsess; for loveliness and breathes it's balmy fragrance o'er the wild; so flourish'd blooming, and unseen by all, the sweet LAVINIA; till, at length, compell'd by strong necessity's supreme command, with smiling patience in her looks, she went to glean PALEMON's fields. The pride of swains PALEMON was, the generous, and the rich; who led the rural life in all it's joy and elegance, such as Arcadian song transmits from ancient uncorrupted times; when tyrant custom had not shackled man, but free to follow nature was the mode. He then, his fancy with autumnal scenes amusing, chanc'd beside his reaper-train to walk, when poor LAVINIA drew his eye; unconscious of her pow'r, and turning quick with unaffected blushes from his gaze; he saw her charming, but he saw not half the charms her downcast modesty conceal'd. That very moment love and chaste desire sprung in his bosom, to himself unknown ; for still the world prevail'd, and it's dread laugh, which scarce the firm philosopher can scorn, should his heart own a gleaner in the field; and thus in secret to his soul he sigh'd: What pity! that so delicate a form, |