In profpect leffen'd! - Now new rocks, rear'd,
high,
135
Stretch a cross-ridge, and bar the curious eye;
There lies obfcur'd the ripening diamond's ray,
And thence red branching coral 's rent away.
In conic form there gelid crystal grows;
Thro' fuch the palace-lamp, gay luftre throws! 140
Luftre, which, through dim night, as various plays,
As play from yonder fnows the changeful rays!
For nobler ufe the cryftal's worth may rise,
If tubes perspective hem the spotlefs prize;
Thro' thefe the beams of the far-lengthen'd eye 145
Measure known ftars, and new remoter spy.
Hence Commerce many a shorten'd voyage fteers,
Shorten'd to months, the hazard once of years;
Hence Halley's foul etherial flight effays;
Inftructive there from orb to orb she strays; 150
Sees, round new countless funs, new fyftems roll!
Sees God in all! and magnifies the whole !
Yon rocky fide enrich'd the fummer fcene,
And pealants fearch for herbs of healthful green;
Now naked, pale, and comfortless it lies, 155
Like youth extended cold in death's difguife.
There, while without the founding tempeft fwells,
Incav'd fecure th' exulting eagle dwells;
And there, when Nature owns prolific spring,
Spreads o'er her young a fondling mother's wing.
Swains on the coaft the far-fam'd fish defcry,
That gives the fleecy robe the Tyrian dye;
While fheils, a fcatter'd ornament bestow,
The tinctur'd rivals of the showery bow.
Yon limelefs fands, loose-driving with the wind,
In future cauldrons useful texture find, [165
Till, on the furnace thrown, the glowing mass
Brightens, and brightening hardens into glass.
When winter halcyons, flickering on the wave,
Tune their complaints, yon fea forgets to rave; 170
Though lash'd by ftorms, which naval pride o'er-
The foaming deep in sparkles feems to burn,
Thick on this top o'ergrown for walks are seen 195
Grey leaflefs wood, and winter-greens between!
The reddening berry, deep-ting'd holly fhows,
And matted mifletoe, the white, bestows!
Though loft the banquet of autumnal fruits,
Tho' on broad oaks no vernal umbrage shoots! 200
Thefe boughs, the filenc'd fhivering fongfters feek!
Thefe foodful berries fill the hungry beak.
Beneath appears a place, all outward bare,
Inward the dreary manfion of Despair!
The water of the mountain-road, half-stray'd, 205
Breaks o'er it wild, and falls a brown cascade.
Has Nature this rough, naked piece design'd,
To hold inhabitants of mortal kind?
She has. Approach'd, appears a deep descent,
Which opens in a rock a large extent !
And hark!—its hollow entrance reach'd, 1 hear
A trampling found of footsteps hastening near!
A death-like chillnefs thwarts my panting breafte
Soft! the wifh'd object ftands at length confeft!
Of youth his form!-But why with anguish bent?
Why pin'd with fallow marks of difcontent? [216
Yet Patience, labouring to beguile his care,
Seems to raise hope, and smiles away despair.
Compaffion, in his eye, furveys my grief,
And in his voice invites me to relief.
Preventive of thy call, behold my hafte,
[160|(He fays,) nor let warm thanks thy fpirits wafte!
All fear forget-Each portal I poffefs,
Duty wide-opens to receive diftrefs.
Oblig'd, I follow, by his guidance led;
The vaulted roof re-echoing to our tread!
And now, in squar'd divifions, I furvey
Chambers fequefter'd from the glare of day;
Yet needful lights are taught to intervene,
Through rifts; each forming a perspective scene.
In front a parlour meets my entering view; [230
Oppos'd, a room to fweet refection due.
Here my chill'd veins are warm'd by chippy fires,
Through the bor'd rock above, the fmoke ex-
pires;
Loud winds turn zephyrs to enlarge their notes,
And each fafe neft on a calm furface floats.
Neat, o'er a homely board, a napkin 's spread, 235
Now veers the wind full eaft; and keen, and fore, Crown'd with a heapy canister of bread.
Its cutting influence aches in every pore!
A maple cup is next difpatch'd to bring
How weak thy fabric, Man !—A puff, thus blown,The comfort of the falutary spring :
Staggers thy ftrength, and echoes to thy groan.
A tooth's minuteft nerve let anguifh feize,
Swift kindred fibres catch! fo frail our cafe!) 180
Pinch'd, pierc'd, and torn, enflam'd, and unaffuag'd,
They fmart,and fwell, and throb, and thoot enrag'd!
From nerve to nerve fierce flies th' exulting pain!
-And are we of this mighty fabric vain? [glides!
Now my blood chills! fcarce through my veins it
Sure on each blast a shivering ague rides!
Wr'd let me this bleak eminence forfake,
And to the vale a different winding take!
Hafi defcend: my fpirits faft decay;
A terrace now relieves my weary way.
Clofe with his ftage a precipice combines;
Whence fill the fpacious country far declines!
The herds item infects in the diftant glades,
And men diminish'd, as, at noon, their fhades!
Nor mourn we abfent bleffings of the vine,
Here laughs a frugal bowl of rofy wine;
And favoury cates, upon clear embers caft,
Lie hifling, till fnatch'd off; a rich repaft!
Soon leap my fpirits with enliven'd power,
And in gay converfe glides the feaitful hour. [245
The Hermit, thus; Thou wonder'st at thy fare :
On me, yon city, kind, bestows her care:
Meat for keen famine, and the generous juice,
That warms chill'd life, her charities produce:
Accept without reward; unafk'd 'twas mine; [250
Here what tay health requires, as free be thine.
Hence learn that GoD, (who, in the time of need,
In frozen deferts can the raven feed)
Well-fought, will delegate fome pitying breaft,
His fecond means, to fuccour man diftreft.
He paus'd. Deep thought upon his afpect gloom'd; 255
Then he, with fmile humane, his voice refum'd.
I'm just inform'd, (and laugh me not to scorn)
By one unfeen by thee, thou'rt English-born.
Of England I-To me the British state
Rifes, in dear memorial, ever great!
Here ftand we conscious:-Diffidence suspend !
Free flow our words!-Did ne'er thy Mufe extend
To grots, where Contemplation fmiles ferene,
Where angels vifit, and where joys convene?
To groves, where more than mortal voices rife, 265
Catch the rapt foul, and waft it to the skies?
This cave!-Yon walks!-But, ere I more unfold,
What artful scenes thy eyes fhall here behold,
Think fubjects of my toil: nor wondering gaze!
What cannot Industry completely raise ?
Be the whole earth in one great landscape found,
By Industry is all with beauty crown'd!
He, he alone, explores the mine for gain,
Hewes the hard rock, or harrows up the plain; [275
He forms the fword to fmite; he fheaths the fteel,
Draws health from herbs, and thews the balm to heal;
Or with loom'd wool the native robe fupplies;
Or bids young plants in future forefts rife ;
Or fells the monarch oak, which, borne away,
Shall, with new grace, the distant ocean fway; 280
Hence golden Commerce views her wealth encrease,
The blisful child of Liberty and Peace.
He scoops the stubborn Alps, and, ftill employ'd,
Fills, with foft fertile mould, the steril void; [285
Slop'd up white rocks, fmall, yellow harvests grow,
And, green on terrac'd stages, vineyards blow!
By him fall mountains to a level space,
An isthmus finks, and funder'd seas embrace!
He founds a city on the naked fhore,
And defolation ftarves the tract no more.
From the wild waves he won the Belgic land;
Where wide they foam'd, her towns and traffics
stand;
He clear'd, manur'd, enlarg'd, the furtive ground,
And firms the conquest with his fenceful mound.
Ev'n mid the watery world his Venice rofe,
Each fabric there, as Pleafure's feat he shows!
There marts, fports, councils, are for action fought,
Landscapes for health, and folitude for thought.
What wonder then I, by his potent aid,
A mansion in a barren mountain made?
Part thou hast view'd !-If further we explore,
Let Industry deserve applause the more.
No frowning care yon bleft apartment fees, There Sleep retires, and finds a couch of eafe. [335 Kind dreams, that fly remorse, and pamper'd wealth, There shed the smiles of innocence and health.
Mark! Here defcends a grot, delightful feat! Which warms e'en winter, tempers fummer heat! See!-Gurgling from a top, a fpring iftils! In mournful measures wind the dripping rills; 310 Soft coos of diftant doves, receiv'd around, In foothing mixture, fwell the watery found; And hence the freamlets feek the terrace' fhade, Within, without, alike to all convey'd,
Pafs on-New fcenes, by my creative power, 315 Invite Reflection's fweet and folemn hour.
We enter'd, where, in well-rang'd order, flood Th' inftructive volumes of the wife and good. Thefe friends (faid he) though I defert mankind, Good angels never would permit behind. 320 Each genius, youth conceals, or time difplays, I know; each work fome seraph here conveys, Retirement thus prefents my fearchful thought, What heaven infpir'd, and what the Mufe has taught;
What Young fatiric and sublime has writ,
Whofe life is virtue, and whofe Muse is wit.
Rapt I forefee thy Mallet's early aim
Shine in full worth, and fhoot at length to fame.
Sweet fancy's bloom in Fenton's lay appears,
And the ripe judgment of inftrutive years.
In Hill is all that generous fouls revere,
To Virtue and the Mufe for ever dear :
And Thomfon, in this praife, thy merit fee,
The tongue, that praifes merit, praifes thee. [335
Thefe fcorn (faid 1) the verfe-wright of their age,
Vain of a labour'd, languid, useless page;
To whofe dim faculty the meaning fong
Is glaring, or obfcure, when clear, and strong;
Who, in cant phrafes, gives a work difgrace;
His wit, and oddness of his tone and face;
Let the weak malice, nurs'd to an essay,
In fome low libel a mean heart display;
Thefe, who once prais'd, now undeceiv'd, defpife,
It lives contemn'd a day, then harmlefs dies.
Or fhould fome nobler bard, their worth, unpraife,
Deferting morals, that adorn his lays, [345
Alas! too oft each science fhews the fame,
The great grow jealous of a greater name:
Ye bards, the frailty mourn, yet brave the fhock;
Has not a Stillingfleet oppos'd a Locke?
350
Oh, ftill proceed, with facred rapture fir'd!
Unenvy'd had he liv'd, if unadmir'd.
Let Envy, he replied, all ireful rise,
Envy purfues alone the brave and wife;
Maro and Socrates infpire her pain,
And Fope, the monarch of the tuneful train!
To whom be Nature's, and Britannia's praife!
All their bright honours ruth into his lays!
And all that glorious warmth his lays reveal,
Which only poets, kings, and patriots feel! 360
Though gay as mirth, as curious thought sedate,
As elegance polite, as power elate;
Profound as reafon, and as juftice clear;
Soft as compaffion, yet as truth fevere;
As bounty copious, as perfuafion sweet,
Like nature various, and like art complete;
So fine her morals, fo fublime her views,
His life is almoft equal'd by his Muse.
O Pope! Since Envy is decreed by fate,
Since the purfues alone the wife and great;
In one fmall, emblematic landscape fee,
How vaft a distance 'twixt thy foe and thee!
Truth from an eminence furveys our scene
(A hill, where all is clear, and all ferene).
* He had then juf written TuE EXCURSION.
And wandering mifts roll, blackening far below;
Dark, and debas'd, like them, is Envy's aim,
And clear, and eminent, like Truth, thy fame.
Thus I. From what dire caufe can envy fpring?
why embofom we a viper's fting?
is Envy ftings our darling paffion, pride.
das! (the man of mighty foul replied)
Thy choose we miferies? Moft derive their birth
tom one bad fource-we dread fuperior worth;
refer'd, it seems a fatire on our own;
hen heedlefs to excel we meanly moan:
hen we abstract our views, and envy show,
Meek martyrs fmile in flames! gor'd champions groan!
And muse-like cherubs tune their harps in stone'!
Next fhadow'd light a rounding force bestows,
Swells into life, and fpeaking action grows!
Here pleafing, melancholy subjects find,
To calm, amufe, exalt the penfive mind!
This figure tender grief, like mine, implies,
And femblant thoughts, that earthly pomp despise.
Such penitential Magdalene reveals;
25
Loofe-veil'd, in negligence of charms fhe kneels.
Though drefs, near-ftor'd, its vanity supplies,
The vanity of drefs unheeded lies.
The finful world'in forrowing eye she keeps,
Thence fprings the mifery, pride is doom'd to As o'er Jerufalem Meffiah weeps.
bus folly pain creates: By wifdom's power,
Je hun the weight of many a reftless hour-390
⚫! I meet wrong; perhaps the wrong I feel
unds, by the fcheme of things, to public weal.
of the whole, am part-the joy men fee,
luft circulate, and fo revolve to me.
hy fhould I then of private lofs complain?
flofs, that proves, perchance, a brother's gain?
he wind, that binds one bark within the bay,
lay waft a richer freight its with'd-for way.
rains redundant food the abject ground,
fountains are but fupplied, when vales are
drown'd;
with foft moisture fwell'd, the vale looks gay, he verdure of the mountain fades away. all clouds, but at my welfare's call defcend? rill gravity for me her laws fufpend?
or me fhall funs their noon-tide courfe forbear?
I motion not fubfift to influence air?
et the means vary, be they froft, or flame,
hy end, O Nature! ftill remains the fame!
this the motive of a wife nran's care,-
o fun deferving ills, and learn to bear.
One hand her bofom fmites; in one appears
The lifted lawn, that drinks her falling tears.
Since evil outweighs good, and fway's mankind,
True fortitude affumes the patient mind:
[35
Such prov'd Meffiah's, though to fuffering born,
To penury, repulfe, reproach, and scorn.
Here, by the pencil, mark his flight defign'd;
The weary'd virgin by a stream reclin'd,
Who feeds the child. Her looks a chaim express,
A modeft charm, that dignifies diftrefs.
Boughs o'er their heads with blushing fruits de-
pend,
Which angels to her bufied confort bend.
Hence by the fmiling infant feems difcern'd,
Trifles, concerning Him, all heaven concern'd.
Here the transfigur'd Son from earth retires: 45 See the white form in a bright cloud afpires! Full on his followers bursts a flood of rays, Proftrate they fall beneath th' o'erwhelming blaze! Like noon-tide fummer-funs the rays appear, Unfufferable, magnificent, and near !
What scene of agony the garden brings;
The cup of gall; the fuppliant King of kings!
The crown of thorns; the crofs, that felt him die;
Thefe, languid in the sketch, unfinish'd lie.
There, from the dead, centurions fee him rife, 55
See! but ftruck down with horrible furprize!
As the first glory feem'd a fun at noon,
This cafts the filver fplendor of the moon.
Here peopled day, th' afcending God furveys!
The glory varies, as the myriads gaze!
Now foften'd, like a fun at diftance feen,
HILE thus a mind humane, and wife, he When through a cloud bright-glancing, yet ferene!
Now faft encreafing to the crowd amaz'd,
Like fome vaft meteor high in æther rais'd!
My labour, yon high-vaulted altar ftains
With dies, that emulate ætherial plains.
The convex glafs, which in that opening glows,
Mid circling rays a pictur'd Saviour shows!
Bright it collects the beams, which, trembling all,
Back from the God, a fhowery radiance fall. 70
Latening the feene beneath! a fcene divine!
where fait, clouds, feraphs, intermingled fhine!
Here water-falls, that play melodious round,
Like a fweet organ, fwell a lofty found!
The 1 lemn notes bid earthly paffions fly,
Lul all my cares, and lift my foul on high!
This monumental marble-this I rear
To one-Oh! ever mourn'd-Oh! ever dear!
He ftopt-pathetic fighs the pause supply,
And the prompt tear starts, quivering, on his eye! 20
I look'd-two columns near the wall were seen, An imag'd beauty stretch'd at length between. Near the wept fair, her harp Cecilia ftrung; Leaning, from high, a liftening angel hung! Friendship, whofe figure at the feet remains, A phoenix, with irradiate creft, fuftains: This grac'd one palm, while one extends t' impart Two foreign hands, that clafp a burning heart. A pendent veil two hovering feraphs raise, Which opening heaven upon the roof difplays! 90 And two, benevolent, lefs-diftant, hed A vafe, collective of perfumes uproll'd! Thefe from the heart, by Friendship held, arife, Odorous as incenfe gathering in the skies. In the fond pelican is love expreft, Who opens to her young her tender breast. Two mated turtles hovering hang in air, One by a faulcon ftruck!-in wild despair, The hermit cries-So death, alas! deftroys The tender confort of my cares and joys! Again foft tears upon his eye-lid hung, Again check'd founds dy'd, fluttering, on his tongue. Too well his pining inmost thought I know! Too well ev'n filence tells the ftory'd woe! To his my fighs, to his my tears reply! I ftray o'er all the tomb a watery eye!
Next, on the wall, her scenes of life I gaz'd, The form back-leaning, by a globe half-rais'd! Cherubs a proffer'd crown of glory fhow, Ey'd wistful by th' admiring fair below. In action eloquent difpos'd her hands, One shows her breast, in rapture one expands! This the fond hermit seiz'd!-o'er all his foul, The foft, wild, wailing, amorous paffion stole! In ftedfaft gaze his eyes her aspect keep, Then turn away, a while dejected weep; Then he reverts them; but reverts in vain, Dimm'd with the swelling grief that streams again. Where now is my philofophy? (he cries) My joy, hope, reafon, my Olympia dies! Why did I e'er that prime of bleflings know? Was it, ye cruel fates, t' embitter woe? Why would your bolts not level first my head? Why must I live to weep Olympia dead? —Sir, I had once a wife! Fair bloom'd her youth, 125 Her form was beauty, and her fout was truth! Oh, she was dear! How dear, what words can say? She dies! my heaven at once is fnatch'd away! Ah! what avails, that, by a father's care, I rofe a wealthy and illuftrious heir? That early in my youth I learn'd to prove Th' inftructive, pleafing, academic grove? That in the fenate eloquence was mine? That valour gave me in the field to thine? That love shower'd bleflings too-far more than all 135
| Patience, or pride, to this, relief supplies! But a loft wife!-there!-there distraction lies!
Now three fad years I yield me all to grief, 145 And fly the hated comfort of relief!
Though rich, great, young, I leave a pompous feat,
(My brother's now) to feek fome dark retreat:
Mid cloister'd folitary tombs I stray,
Despair and horror lead the cheerless way!
My forrow grows to fuch a wild excefs,
Life, injur'd life, muft wish the paffion lefs!
Olympia!-my Olympia's loft! (I cry)
Olympia 's loft, the hollow vaults reply!
Louder I make my lamentable moan;
The fwelling echoes learn like me to groan;
The ghosts to fcream, as through lone aifles they
The fhrines to fhudder, and the faints to weep!
Now grief and rage, by gathering fighs fuppreft,
Swell my full heart, and heave my labouring
breast!
160
With ftruggling ftarts, each vital string they strain,
And ftrike the tottering fabric of my brain!
O'er my funk spirits frowns a vapoury scene,
Woe's dark retreat! the madding maze of spleen !
A deep damp gloom o'erfpreads the murky
166
Here pining thoughts and fecret terrors dwell!
Here learn the Great unreal wants to feign!
Unpleafing truths here mortify the vain!
Here learning, blinded first, and then beguil'd,
Looks dark as Ignorance, as Frenzy wild!
Here firft Credulity on Reason won!
And here falfe Zeal mysterious rants begun!
Here Love impearls each moment with a tear,
And Superftition owes to Spleen her fear!
Fantastic lightnings, through the dreary way, 175 In fwift fhort fignals flash the bursting day! Above, beneath, across, around, they fly! A dire deception strikes the mental eye! By the blue fires, pale phantoms grin severe! Shrill, fancy'd echoes wound th' affrighted ear! 180 Air-banifh'd fpirits flag in fogs profound, And, all obfcene, fbed baneful damps around! Now whispers, trembling in some feeble wind, Sigh out prophetic fears, and freeze the mind! Loud laughs the hag!-She mocks complaint
Unroofs the den, and lets-in more than day. Swarms of wild fancies, wing'd in various flight, 130 Seck emblematic fhades, and mystic light!
High-rapt ambition e'er could happy call?
Ah-What are thefe, which ev'n the wife adore?
Loft is my pride!-Olympia is no more!
Had I, ye perfecuting powers! been born
The world's cold pity, or, at beft, its fcorn; 140
Of wealth, of rank, of kindred warmth bereft;
To want, to shame, to ruthless cenfure left!
Some drive with rapid fteeds the thining car! These nod from thrones! Thofe thunder in the war! 199 Till, tir'd, they turn from the delufive fhow, Start from wild joy, and fix in ftupid woe.
Here the lone hour a blank of life displays, Till now bad thoughts a fiend more active raise; A fiend in evil moments ever nigh! 195 Death in her hand, and frenzy in her eye! Her eye all red, and funk!-A robe fhe wore, With life's calamities embroider'd o'er. A mirror in one hand collective shows, Vary'd and multiply'd, that group of woes. 200
This endless foe to generous toil and pain
Lolls on a couch for cafe; but lolls in vain;
She mufes o'er her woe-embroider'd veft,
And self-abhorrence heightens in her breast.
To fhun her care, the force of fleep she tries, 205
Still wakes her mind, though flumbers doze her eyes:
She dreams, ftarts, rifes, stalks from place to place,
With reftlefs, thoughtful, interrupted pace;
Now eyes the fun, and curfes every ray,
Now the green ground, where colour fades away. 210
Dim fpectres dance. Again her eye she rears;
Then from the blood-fhot ball wipes purpled tears;
Then preffes hard her brow, with mifchief fraught,
Her brow half bursts with agony of thought!
From me (the cries) pale wretch, thy comfort
claim,
215
Born of Defpair, and Suicide my name'!
Why should thy life a moment's pain endure !
Here every object proffers grief a cure.
She points where leaves of hemlock blackening fhoot!
Fear not! pluck!eat (said she) the sovereign root! 220
Then Death, revers'd, shall bear his ebon lance!
Soft o'er thy fight shall swim the shadowy trance!
Or leap yon rock, poffefs a watery grave,
And leave wild forrow to the wind and wave!
Or mark-this poniard thus from mifery frees! 225
She wounds her breast!-the guilty fteel I feize!
Straight, where she struck, a smoaking fpring of
gore
Wells from the wound,and floats the crimfon'd floor, She faints! the fades!-Calm thoughts the deed revolve,
And now, unflartling, fix the dire refolve;
Death drops his terrors, and with charming wiles,
Winning, and kind, like my Olympia fimiles!
He points the passage to the feats divine,
Where poets, heroes, fainted lovers shine!
!come, Olympia !-my rear'd arm extends; 235
Half to my breaft the threatening point defcends;
Straight thunder rocks the land! new lightnings play!
When, lo! a voice refounds-Arife! away!
Away! nor murmur at th' afflictive rod!
Nor tempt the vengeance of an angry God!
Fly't thou from Providence for vain relief?
Such ill-fought ease shall draw avenging grief.
Honour, the more obftructed, stronger fhines,
And zeal by perfecution's rage refines.
By woe, the foul to daring action fwells;
By woe, in paintless patience it excels;
From patient, prudent dear experience springs,
And traces knowledge through the courfe of things!
Thence hope is form'd, thence fortitude, fuccefs,
Renown: whate'er men covet and carefs.
The vanish'd fiend thus fent a hollow voice. Would't thou be happy? ftraight be death thy choice.
How mean are thofe, who paffively complain;
While active fouls, more free, their fetters ftrain!
Though knowledge thine, hope, fortitude, fuccefs,
Renown: whate'er men covet and carefs; 256
On earth fuccefs muft in its turn give way,
And ev❜n perfection introduce decay.
Never the world of fpirits thus-their reft
Untouch'd! entire!-once happy, ever bleft! 260
Earnest the heavenly voice responsive cries,
Oh, liften not to fubtilty unwife!
Thy guardian faint, who mourns thy hapless fate,
Heaven grants to prop thy virtue, ere too late.
Know, if thou wilt thy dear-lov'd wife deplore, 265
Olympia waits thee on a foreign fhore;
There in a cell thy laft remains be spent ;
Away! deceive Defpair, and find Content!
I heard, obey'd; nor more of Fate complain'd;
Long feas I meafur'd, and this mountain gain'd. 270
Soon to a yawning rift, chance turn'd my way;
A den it prov'd, where a huge ferpent lay!
Flame-ey'd he lay!-he rages now for food,
Meets my first glance, and meditates my blood!
His bulk, in many a gather'd orb uproll'd,
275
Rears fpire on fpire! His fcales, be-dropt with gold,
Shine burnish'd in the fun! fuch height they gain,
They dart green luftre on the diftant main!
Now writh'd in dreadful flope, he stoops his creft,
Furious to fix on my unfhielded breast! 280
Just as he springs, my fabre fmites the foe!
Headlefs he falls beneath th' unerring blow!
Wrath yet remains, though strength his fabric leaves,
And the meant hifs the gasping mouth deceives;
The lengthening trunk flow-loofens every fold, 285
Lingers in life: then stretches ftiff, and cold.
Juft as th' inveterate son of mischief ends,
Comes a white dove, and near the spot descends:
I hail this omen! all bad paffions ceafe,
Like the flain fnake, and all within is peace. 290
Next, to religion, this plain roof I raise!
In duteous rites my hallow'd tapers blaze;
I bid due incense on my altars smoke!
Then, at this tomb, my promis'd love invoke!
She hears! fhe comes!-My heart what raptures
warm?
All my Olympia fparkles in the form!
No pale, wan, livid mark of death fhe bears!
Each rofeate look a quickening transport wears!
A robe of light, high-wrought, her fhape invefts;
Unzon'd the fwelling beauty of her breafts! 300
Her auburn hair each flowing ring refumes,
In her fair hand, Love's branch of myrtle blooms!
Silent, awhile, each well-known charm I trace;
Then, thus, (while nearer the avoids th' embrace)
Thou dear deceit !-muft I a fhade purfue?
Dazzled I gaze!-thou fwimm'ft before my view!
Dipt in etherial dews, her bough divine
Sprinkles my eyes, which, ftrengthen'd, bear the
shine:
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