Rafh, horrid thought! yet now afraid to live, 485 Murderous he ftrikes-may heaven the deed forgive!
Why had he thus falfe fpirit to rebel?
And why not fortitude to fuffer well?
Were his fuccefs, how terrible the blow!
And it recoils on him eternal woe,
Heaven this affliction then for mercy meant,
That a good end might close a life mifpent.
Where no kind lips the hallow'd dirge refound,
Far from the compafs of yon facred ground;
Full in the centre of three meeting ways,
Stak'd through he lies.-Warn'd let the wicked
gaze.
Near yonder fame, where mifery fleeps in peace,
Whofe fpire faft-leffens, as these fhades increase,
Left to the north, whence oft brew'd tempefts roll,
Tempefts, dire emblems, Cofmo, of thy foul! 500
There mark that Cofmo, much for guile renown'd!
His grave by unbid plants of poifon crown'd.
When out of power, though him the public good,
So ftrong his factious tribe, fufpended ftood.
In power, vindictive actions were his aim,
And patriots perifh'd by th' ungenerous flame.
If the best caufe he in the fenate chofe,
Ev'n right in him from fome wrong motive rofe.
The bad he loath'd, and would the weak despise ;
Yet courted for dark ends, and fhunn'd the wite.
When ill his purpose, eloquent his strain ;
His malice had a look, and voice humane.
His fmile, the fignal of fome vile intent,
A private poniard, or empoifon'd fcent;
Proud, yet to popular applaufe a flave;
No friend he honour'd, and no foe forgave.
His boons unfrequent, or unjust to need ;
The hire of guilt, of infamy the meed:
But, if they chanc'd on learned worth to fall,
Bounty in him was oftentation all,
No true benevolence his thought fublimes,
His nobleft actions are illuftrious crimes,
Fine parts, which virtue might have rank'd
fame,
Enhance his guilt, and magnify his fhame.
- When parts and probity in man combine,
In wifdom's eye how charming mult he fhine!
Let him, lefs happy, truth at least impart
And what he wants in genius bear in heart,
Straight heard the Furies, and with envy glar'd,
And to precipitate his fall prepar'd.
First Avarice came. In vain Self-love the prefs'd;
The poor he pity'd ftill, and still redress'd:
Learning was his, and knowledge to commend,
Of arts a patron, and of want a friend.
Next came Revenge: but her effay how vain!
Not hate, nor envy, in his heart remain.
No previous malice could his mind engage,
Malice the mother of vindictive rage.
No-from his life his foes might learn to live; 555
He held it ftill a triumph to forgive.
At length Ambition urg'd his country's weal,
Affuming the fair look of public Zeal;
Still in his breaft fo generous glow'd the flame,
The vice, when there, a virtue half became. 560
His pitying eye faw millions in distress,
He deem'd it godlike to have power to blefs:
Thus, when unguarded, treason stain'd him o'er;
And virtue and content were then no more.
But when to death by rigorous justice doom'd,
His genuine fpirit faint-like ftate refum'd,
Oft from foft penitence diftilf'd a tear;
Oft hope in heavenly mercy lighten'd fear;
Oft would a drop from fruggling nature fall,
And then a fmile of patience brighten all.
He feeks in heaven a friend, nor feeks in vain,
His guardian angel fwift defcends again;
And refolution thus befpeaks a mind,
Not fcorning life, yet all to death refign'd;
-Ye chains, fit only to restrain the will
Of common, defperate veterans in ill,
515 Though rankling on my limbs ye lie, declare,
Did e'er my rifing foul your preffure wear?
No!-free as liberty, and quick as light,
To worlds remote the takes unbounded flight. 580
Ye dungeon glooms, that dim corporeal eyes,
Could ye once biot her prospect of the skies?
No!-from her clearer fight ye fled away,
Like error, pierc'd by truth's refiftlefs ray.
Ye walls, that witness my repentant moan! 585
Ye echoes, that to midnight forrows groan!
Do I, in wrath, to you of fate complain?
Or once betray fear's most inglorious pain?
No!-Hail, twice hail then, ignominious death!
Behold how willing glides my parting breath! 590
Far greater, better far-ay, far indeed!
Like me, have fuffer'd, and like me will bleed.
Apoftles, patriarchs, prophets, martyrs all,
Like me once fell, nor murmur'd at their fall.
Shall 1, whofe days, at beft, no ill defign'd, 595
Whofe virtue fhone not, though I lov'd mankind,
Shall I, now guilty wretch, thall I repine?
Ah, no! to justice let me life refign!
Quick, as a friend, would I embrace my foe!
He taught me patience, who first taught me
Cofmo, as death draws nigh, no more conceals
That form of paffion, which his nature feels: 530
He feels much fear, more anger, and molt pride;
But pride and anger make all fear fubfide.
Dauntlefs he meets at length untimely fate;
A defperate fpirit! rather fierce, than great.
Darkling he glides along the dreary coaft,
A fullen, wandering, felf-tormenting ghost.
Where veiny marble dignifies the ground,
With emblem fair in fculpture rifing round,
Juft where a crofling, lengthening aifle we find,
Full eaft; whence God returns to judge mankind,
Once-lov'd Horatio fleeps, a mind ciate!
Lamented fhade, ambition was thy fate.
Ev'n angels, wondering, oft his worth furvey'd;
Behold a man, like one of us! they faid.
One gripes my hand, one fobs upon my breast!
Ah, who can bear?-it fhocks, it murders reft!
And is it yours, alas! my friends to feel?"
And is it mine to comfort, mine to heal?
Is mine the patience, yours the bosom strife?
Ah! would rath love lure back my thoughts to life?
Adieu, dear, dangerous mourners! swift depart !
Ah, fly me ! fly!-I tear you from my heart.
Ye faints, whom fears of death could
control,
In my laft hour compose, support my foul !
See my blood wash repented fin away!
Receive, receive me to eternal day!
With words like these the deftin'd hero dies, While angels waft his foul to happier skies.
Diftinction now gives way; yet on we talk, Full darkness deepening o'er the formless walk. Night treads not with light step the dewy gale, Nor bright-diftends her ftar-embroider'd veil; Her leaden feet, inclement damps diftil, Clouds fhut her face, black winds her vefture fill; An earth-born meteor lights the fable skies, Eastward it fhoots, and, funk, forgotten dies. So pride, that rofe from duft to guilty power, Glares out in vain; fo duft shall pride devour. 630 Fishers, who yonder brink by torches gain, With teethful tridents strike the scaly train. Like fnakes in eagles' claws, in vain they strive, When heav'd aloft, and quivering yet alive. While here, methought, our time in converfe pafs'd, 635 The moon clouds muffled, and the night wore faft. At prowling wolves was heard the maftiff's bay, And the warn'd master's arms forbad the prey! Thus treafon steels, the patriot thus defcries, [640 Forth fprings the monarch, and the mifchief flies. Pale glow-worms glimmer'd through the depth of night,
Scattering, like hope through fear, a doubtful light.
Lone Philomela tun'd the filent grove,
With penfive pleasure liften'd wakeful Love.
Half-dreaming Fancy form'd an angel's tongue, 645
And Pain forgot to groan, fo fweet fhe fung.
The Night-crone, with the melody alarm'd,
Now paus'd, now liften'd, and awhile was charm'd;
But like the man, whofe frequent ftubborn will
Refifts what kind, feraphic founds inftil,
Her heart the love-infpiring voice repell'd,
Her breaft with agitating mifchief fwell'd;
Which clos'd her er, and tempted to destroy
The tuneful life, that charms with virtuous joy.
Now fast we measure back the tracklefs way;
No friendly ftars directive beams difplay.
But lo!-a thoufand lights fhoot inftant rays;
Yon kindling rock reflects the startling blaze.
I ftand aftonifh'd-thus the hermit cries:
Fear not, but liften with enlarg'd furprize!
Still muft these hours our mutual converfe claim,
And ceafe to echo ftill Olympia's name;
Grots, rivulets, groves, Olympia's name forget,
Olympia now no fighing winds repeat.
Can I be mortal, and thofe hours no more,
Those amorous hours, that plaintive echoes bore?
Am I the fame? Ah no!- Behold a mind,
Unruffled, firm, exalted, and refin'd!
Late months, that made the vernal season gay,
Saw my health languish off in pale decay.
No racking pain yer gave disease a date;
No fad, prefageful thought preluded fate:
Yet number'd were my days-My deftin'd end
Near, and more near--)
-Nay, every fear fufpend!
I pafs'd a weary, lingering, fleepless night:
675
Then rofe, to walk in morning's earliest light:
But few my steps-a faint, and cheerlefs few!
Refreshment from my flagging fpirits flew.
When, low, retir'd beneath a cypress shade,
My limbs upon a flowery bank I laid,
680
Soon by foft-creeping, murmuring winds com-
A lumber prefs'd my languid eyes-They clos'd:
But clos'd not long-Methought Olympia spoke ;
Thrice loud fhe call'd, and thrice the flumber broke.
I wak'd. Forth-gliding from a neighbouring wood,
Full in my view the fhadowy charmer stood. 686
Rapturous I started up to clafp the fhade;
But ftagger'd, fell, and found my vitals iade :
A mantling chillaefs o'er my bosom spread,
As if that inftant number'd with the dead.
Her voice now fent a far, imperfe&t found,
When in a swimming trance my pangs were
drown'd.
Still farther off the call'd-With soft surprize,
1 turn'd-but void of strength, and aid to rife;
Short, fhorter, fhorter yet, my breath I drew: 695
Then up my ftruggling foul unburthen'd flew.
Thus from a ftate, where fin and grief abide,
Heaven fummon'd me to mercy-thus I died.
He faid. Th' astonishment with which I start, Like bolted ice runs fhivering through my heart. Art thou not mortal then? I cried. But lo! His raiment lightens, and his features glow ! In fhady ringlets falls a length of hair; Embloom'd his afpect fhines, enlarg'd his air. Mild from his eyes enlivening glories beam; 705 Mild on his brow fits majesty supreme. Bright plumes of every dye, that round him flow, Veft, robe, and wings, in varied luftre show. He lyoks, and forward fteps with mien divine; A grace celeftial gives him all to fhine: He fpeaks-Nature is ravish'd at the found, The forefts move, and ftreams ftand liftening round!
Thus he. As incorruption I affum'd,
As inftant in immortal youth I bloom'd!
Renew'd, and chang'd, I felt my vital fprings, 715
With different lights difcern'd the form of things;
To earth my paflions fell like mists away,
And reafon open.'d in eternal day.
Swifter than thought from world to world I flew, 660 | Celestial knowledge fhone in every view.
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What once, below, ambition made him mifs, 735
Humility here gain'd, a life of bliss!
Though late, let finners then from fin depart!
Heaven never yet defpis'd the contrite heart.
Laft bone, with fweet, exalted luftre grac'd,
The SERAPH-BARD, in highest order plac'd!
Seers, lovers, legiflators, prelates, kings,
All raptur'd liften, as he raptur'd fings.
Sweetness and ftrength his look and lays employ,
Greet fmiles with fmiles, and every joy with joy:
Charmful he rofe; his ever-charmful tongue 745
Joy to our fecond hymeneals fung;
Still as we pafs'd, the bright, celeftial throng
Hail'd us in focial love, and heavenly fong.
Of that no more! my deathlefs friendship fee!
I come an Angel to the Muse and Thee. 750
Thefe lights, that vibrate, and promifcuous fhine,
Are emanations all of forms divine.
And here the Muse, though melted from thy gaze,
Stands among spirits, mingling rays with rays.
If thou would't peace attain, my words attend,
The laft, fond words of thy departed friend! 756
True joy's a feraph, that to heaven afpires,
Unhurt it triumphs mid' celestial choirs.
But should no cares a mortal state molest,
Life were a state of ignorance at best.
Know then, if ills oblige thee to retire,
Those ills folemnity of thought infpire.
Did not the foul abroad for objects roam,
Whence could fhe learn to call ideas home?
Juftly to know thyself, peruse mankind;
To know thy God, paint nature on thy mind:
Without such science of the worldly scene,
What is retirement?-Fmpty pride or spleen:
But with it wifdom. There fhall cares refine,
Render'a by contemplation half-divine.
Truft not the frantic, or myfterious guide,
Nor stoop a captive to the schoolman's pride.
On nature's wonders fix alone thy zeal!
They dim not reason, when they truth reveal;
So fhall religion in thy heart endure,
From all traditionary falfehood pure;
So life make death familiar to thy eye,
THE BASTARD.
Ngayer hours, when high my fancy ran,
The Mufe, exulting, thus her lay began.
Bleft be the Baftard's birth ! through wondrous
He fhines eccentric like a comet's blaze!
No fickly fruit of faint compliance He!
He! ftampt in nature's mint of ecstacy!
He lives to build, not boast, a generous race:
No tenth transmitter of a foolish face.
His daring hope, no fire's example bounds;
His firft-born lights, no prejudice confounds. 10
He, kindling, from within, requires no flame;
He glories in a Baftard's glowing name.
Born to himself, by no poffeffion led,
In freedom fofter'd, and by fortune fed;
Nor guides, nor rules, his fovereign choice control,
His body independent as his foul;
Loos'd to the world's wide range enjoy'd no aim,
Prefcrib'd no duty, and affign'd no name:
Nature's unbounded fon, he stands alone,
His heart unbiafs'd, and his mind his own.
O Mother, yet no Mother! 'tis to you,
My thanks for fuch distinguish'd claims are due.
You, unenflav'd to Nature's narrow laws,
Warm championefs for freedom's facred cause,
From all the dry devoirs of blood and line,
From ties maternal, moral and divine,
Difcharg'd my grasping foul; push'd me from shore,
And launch'd me into life without an oar.
What had I loft, if, conjugally kind,
By nature hating, yet by vows confin'd,
Untaught the matrimonial bounds to flight,
And coldly conscious of a husband's right,
760 You had faint-drawn me with a form alone,
A lawful lump of life by force your own!
Then, while your backward will retrench'd defire,
And unconcurring fpirits lent no fire,
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I had been born your dull, domestic heir,
Load of your life, and motive of your care;
Perhaps been poorly rich, and meanly great,
The flave of pomp, a cypher in the state;
Lordly neglectful of a worth unknown,
And fumbering in a feat, by chance my own.
Far nobler bleffings wait the Bastard's lot;
Conceiv'd in rapture, and with fire begot!
Strong as necefity, he starts away,
Climbs against wrongs, and brightens into day.
Thus unprophetic, lately misinfpir'd,
fung: Gay fluttering hope, my fancy fir'd;
Inly fecure, through confcious fcorn of ill,
Nor taught by witdom, how to balance will, 50
Rafhly deceiv'd, I faw no pits to fhun,
But thought to purpose and to act were one;
Heedlefs what pointed cares pervert his way,
Whom caution arms not, and whom woes betray;
But now, expos'd, and shrinking from diftrefs, 55
I fly to fhelter, while the tempests prefs;
My Mufe to grief refigns the varying tone,
The raptures languish, and the numbers groan.
O memory! thou foul of joy and pain!
Thou actor of our paflions o'er again!
Why doft thou aggravate the wretch's woe?
Why add continuous fmart to every blow?
Few are my joys; alas! how foon forgot!
On that kind quarter thou invad'ft me not:
While fharp and numberless my forrows fall; 65
Yet thou repeat'ft, and multiply'd them all!
Is chance a guilt? that my disasterous heart,
For mifchief never meant, must ever smart?
Can felf-defence be fin!-Ah, plead no more!
What though no purpos'd malice ftain'd thee
o'er?
Had heaven befriended thy unhappy fide,
Thou hadst not been provok'd-Or thou hadft
Far be the guilt of homeshed blood from all
On whom, unfought, embroiling dangers fall!
Still the pale Dead revives, and lives to me,
To me! through Pity's eye condemn'd to fee.
Remembrance veils his rage, but fwells his fate;
Griev'd I forgive, and am grown cool too late.
Young, and unthoughtful then; who knows, one
day,
What ripening virtues might have made their
way!
80
He might have liv'd till folly died in fhame,
Till kindling wifdom felt a thirst for fame.
He might perhaps his country's friend have
prov'd;
Both happy, generous, candid, and belov'd,
He might have fav'd fome worth, now doom'd
to fall;
85
And 1, perchance, in him, have murder'd all.
O fate of late repentance! always vain :
Thy remedies but lull undying pain.
Where fhall my hope find reft?-No Mother's
Shielded my infant innocence with prayer : No father's guardian hand my youth maintain'd, Call'd forth my virtues, or from vice reftrain'd, Isit not thine to fnatch fome powerful arm, First to advance, then fkreen from future harm? Am I return'd from death, to live in pain? Or would Imperial Pity fave in vain? Diftruft it not-What blame can mercy find, Which gives at once a life, and rears a mind? Mother, miscall'd, farewell-of foul fevere, This fad reflection yet may force one tear: All I was wretched by to you I ow'd, Alone from ftrangers every comfort flow'd! Loft to the life you gave, your fon no more, And now, adopted, who was doom'd before, New-born, I may a nobler Mother claim, But dare not whifper her immortal name; Supremely lovely, and ferenely great! Majeftic Mother of a kneeling State! QUEEN of a People's heart, who ne'er before! Agreed-yet now with one confent adore! One contest yet remains in this defire,
Who most shall give applaufe, where all admire.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LADY
VISCOUNTESS TYRCONNELL'S RECOVERY AT BATH.
HERE Thames with pride beholds Augufta's charms,
And either India pours into her arms; Where Liberty bids honeft arts abound, And pleasures dance in one eternal round; High-thron'd appears the laughter-loving dame, $ Goddefs of mirth! Euphrofyne her name. Her fmile more cheerful than a vernal morn; All life! all bloom! of Youth and Fancy born. Touch'd into joy, what hearts to her fubmit! She looks her Sire, and fpeaks her Mother's wit. IO O'er the gay world the sweet infpirer reigns; Spleen flies, and Elegance her pomp fuftains. Thee, goddefs! thee! the fair and young obey; Wealth, Wit, Love, Mufic, all confefs thy fway. In the bleak wild ev'n Want by thee is blefs'd, 15 And pamper'd Pride without thee pines for reft. The rich grow richer, while in thee they find The matchlefs treasure of a smiling mind. Science by thee flows foft in focial ease, And virtue, lofing rigour, learns to please.
The goddefs fummons each illustrious name, Bids the gay talk, and forms th' amusive game. She, whole fair throne is fix'd in human fouls, From joy to joy her eye delighted rolls. But where (fhe cried) is the, my favourite! fhe 25 Of all my race, the deareft far to me ! Whofe life's the life of each refin'd delight? She faid-But no Tyrconnel glads her fight. Swift funk her laughing eyes in languid fear; Swift 1ofe the fwelling figh, and trembling tear. 30 In kind low murmurs all the lofs deplore! Tyrconnel droops, and pleasure is no more. The goddefs, filent, paus'd in museful air; But Mirth, like Virtue, cannot long despair. Celestial-hinted thoughts gay hope infpir'd, 35 Smiling the rofe, and all with hope were fir'd. Where Bath's afcending turrets meet her eyes; Straight wafted on the tepid breeze the flies, She flies, her eldest fifter Health to find; She finds her on the mountain-brow reclin'd. 40 Around her birds in earlieft concert fing; Her cheek the femblance of the kindling spring; Fresh-tin&tur'd like a fummer-evening sky, And a mild fun fits fmiling in her eye.
Loofe to the wind her verdant veftments flow; 45 Her limbs yet-recent from the fprings below; There oft fhe bathes, then peaceful fits fecure, Where every gale is fragrant fresh and pure;
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Shakes them embalm'd; or, in a gentle kifs,
Breathes the fure earneft of awakening blifs.
Sapphira feels it, with a foft furprize,
Glide through her veins, and quicken in her eyes!
Inftant in her own form the goddess glows,
Where, bubbling warm, the mineral water flows;
Then, plunging, to the flood new virtue gives;
Steeps every charm; and, as the bathes, it lives !9c
As from her locks fhe sheds the vital shower,
'Tis done! (fhe cries) thefe fprings poffefs my power!
Let these immediate to thy darling roll
Health, vigour, life, and gay-returning foul.
Thou fmil'ft Euphrofyne; and conscious fee, 95
Prompt to thy fmile, how Nature joys with thee.
All is green life! all beauty rofy-bright;
Full Harmony, young Love, and dear Delight!
See vernal Hours lead circling Joys along!
All fun, all bloom, all fragrance, and all fong! 100
Receive thy care! Now Mirth and Health
combine.
Fach heart thall gladden, and each virtue shine.
Quick to Augufta bear thy prize away;
There let her smile, and bid a world be gay.
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TILL let low wits, who fenfe nor honour prize, Sneer at all gratitude, all truth disguise; At living worth, because alive, exclaim, Infult the exil'd, and the dead defame! Such paint, what pity veiis in private woes, And what we fee with grief, with mirth expofe; Studious to urge (whom will mean authors (pare?) The chila's, the parent's, and the confort's tear: Unconscious of what pangs the heart may rend, To lose what they have ne'er deferv'd--a friend. 10 Such, ignorant of facts, invent, relate, Expos'd perfift, and anfwer'd ftill debate: Such, but by foils, the cleareft luftre see, And deem afperfing others, praising thee. Far from thefe tracks my honeft lays afpire, And greet a generous heart with generous fire. Truth be my guide! Truth, which thy virtue claims! This, nor the poet, nor the patron shames! When party-minds fhall lofe contracted views, And history queftion the recording Muse; 'Tis this alone to after-times must shine, And ftamp the poet and his theme divine.
Long has my Mufe, from many a mournful caufe, Sung with fmall power, nor fought fublime applause; From that great point the now fhall urge her fcope; On that fair promife reft her future hope; Where policy, from state-illusion clear, Can through an open aspect shine sincere; Where Science, Law, and Liberty depend, And own the patron, patriot, and the friend; 30 (That breaft to feel, that eye on worth to gaze, That fmile to cherish, and that hand to raise !) Whose best of hearts her best of thoughts inflame, Whofe joy is bounty, and whofe gift is fame.
Where, for relief, flies Innocence diftrefs'd? 35 To you, who chace oppreffion from th' opprefs'd: Who, when complaint to you alone belongs, Forgive your own, though not a people's wrongs: Who ftill make public property your care, And thence bid private grief no more despair. 4 Afk they what ftate your fheltering care fhall
"Tis youth, 'tis age, the cottage, and the throne:
Nor can the prifon 'fcape your fearching eye,
Your ear ftill opening to the captive's cry.
Nor lefs was promis'd from thy early skill,
Ere power enforc'd benevolence of will!
To friends refin'd, thy private life adher'd,
By thee improving, ere by thee prefer'd.
Well hadft thou weigh'd what truth fuch friends
afford,
With thee refigning, and with thee reftor'd. 50
Thou taught'ft them all extenfive love to bear,
And now mankind with thee their friendships thare.
As the rich cloud by due degrees expands,
And thowers down plenty thick on fundry lands,
Thy fpreading worth in various bounty fell, 55
Made genius flourish, and made art excell.
|