370

And indigo, which shaded light difplays;
And violet, which in the view decays.
Parental hues, whence others all proceed;
An ever-mingling, changeful, countless breed;
Unravel'd, variegated, lines of light,
When blended, dazzling in promifcuous white.
Oft through thefe bows departed fpirits range, 375
New to the skies, admiring at their change;
Each mind a void, as when first born to earth,
Behold a second blank in fecond birth;
Then, as yon feraph bard fram'd hearts below,
Each fees him here transcendent knowledge fhow,
New faints he tutors into truth refin'd, 381
And tunes to rapturous love the new-form'd mind.
He fwells the lyre, whofe loud, melodious lays
Call high Hofannas from the voice of praise;
Though one bad age fuch poefy could wrong, 385
Now worlds around retentive roll the fong.
Now God's high throne the full-voic'd raptures
gain,

Celestial hofts returning strain for strain.

Thus he, who once knew want without relief,
Sees joys refulting from well-fuffering grief. 390
Hark! while we talk, a diftant pattering rain
Refounds!-See! up the broad ætherial plain
Shoots the bright bow!-The feraph flits away;
The Mufe, the Graces from our view decay.
Behind yon western hill the globe of light 395
Drops fudden; faft-pursued by fhades of night.
Yon graves from winter-fcenes to mind recall
Rebellion's council, and rebellion's fall.
What fiends in fulphurous, car-like clouds up-flew!
What midnight treafon glar'd beneath their
view!
400

And now the traitors rear their Babel-fchemes,
Big, and more big, ftupendous mischief seems;
But Juftice, rouz'd, fuperior ftrength employs,
Their scheme wide shatters, and their hope
destroys.

Discord the wills: the miffile ruin flies;
Sudden, unnatural debates arife,

405

His ftrength of mind, by luxury half diffolv'd,
l brooks the woe, where deep he ftands involv'd.
He weeps, ftamps wild, and to and fro now flies;
Now wrings his hands, and fends unmanly cries, 430
Arraigns his judge, affirms unjust he bleeds,
And now recants, and now for mercy pleads;
Now blames affociates, raves with inward ftrife,
Upbraids himself; then thinks alone on life.
He rolls red fwelling, tearful eyes around, 435
Sore fmites his breast, and finks upon the ground.
He wails, he quite defponds, convulfive lies,
Shrinks from the fancied axe, and thinks he dies;
Revives, with hope enquires, ftops fhort with fear,
Entreats ev'n flattery, nor the worst will hear; 440
The worst, alas, his doom!-What friend replies?
Each speaks with fhaking head, and down-caft eyes.
One filence breaks, then paufes, drops a tear;
Nor hope affords, nor quite confirms his fear;
But what kind friendship part referves unknown 445
Comes thundering in his keeper's furly tone.
Enough ftruck through and through, in ghaftly
ftare,

He ftands transfix'd, the ftatue of despair;
Nor aught of life, nor aught of death he knows,
Till thought returns, and brings return of woes: 450
Now pours a ftorm of grief in gufhing ftreams:
That paft-collected in himself he seems,
And with forc'd fmile retires-His latent thought
Dark, horrid, as the prison's dismal vault.
If with himself at variance ever-wild,
With angry heaven how stands he reconcil'd?
No penitential orifons arise;

455

Nay, he obtefts the juftice of the skies.
Not for his guilt, for fentenc'd life he moans;
His chains rough-clanking to difcordant groans, 460
To bars harfh-grating, heavy-creaking doors,
Hoarfe-echoing walls, and hollow-ringing floors,
To thoughts more diffonant, far, far lefs kind,
One anarchy, one chaos of the mind.
At length, fatigued with grief, on earth he lies: 465
But foon as fleep weighs down th' unwilling eyes,
Glad liberty appears, no damps annoy,

Treafon fucceeds, and all transforms to joy.
Proud palaces their glittering ftores display:
Gain he purfues, and rapine leads the way.
What gold! What gems!-he strains to feize the
prize;

470

Quick from his touch diffolv'd, a cloud it flies.
Confcious he cries-and must I wake to weep?
Ah, yet return, return, delusive sleep!
Sleep comes; but liberty no more:-Unkind, 475
The dungeon-glooms hang heavy on his mind.
Shrill winds are heard, and howling dæmons call;
Wide-flying portals feem unhing'd to fall:
Then close with fudden claps; a dreadful din!
He ftarts, wakes, ftorms, and all is hell within. 480
His genius flies--reflects he now on prayer?
Alas! bad fpirits turn thofe thoughts to air.
What fhall he next? What, straight relinquish

breath,

To bar a public, juft, though shameful death?

Why had he thus false spirit 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 clofe a life mifpent. Where no kind lips the hallow'd dirge refound, Far from the compass of yon facred ground; Full in the centre of three meeting ways, Stak'd through he lies.-Warn'd let the wicked gaze.

495

505

Near yonder fame, where mifery fleeps in peace, Whofe fpire faft-leffens, as these shades increase, Left to the north, whence oft brew'd tempefts roll, Tempefts, dire emblems, Cosmo, 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 stood. In power, vindictive actions were his aim, And patriots perish'd by th' ungenerous flame. If the best cause he in the fenate chose, 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 wise. 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 scent; 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,

511

515

520

No true benevolence his thought fublimes, His nobleft actions are illuftrious crimes, Fine parts, which virtue might have rank'd fame,

with

535

Cofmo, as death draws nigh, no more conceals That storm of paffion, which his nature feels: 530 He feels much fear, more anger, and moft pride; But pride and anger make all fear fubfide. Dauntless he meets at length untimely fate; A defperate spirit! 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 croffing, lengthening aifle we find, Full eaft; whence God returns to judge mankind, Once-lov'd Horatio fleeps, a mind elate! Lamented fhade, ambition was thy fate. Ev'n angels, wondering, oft his worth furvey'd; Behold a man, like one of us! they faid.

541

550

Straight heard the Furies, and with envy glar'd,
And to precipitate his fall prepar'd.
546
First Avarice came. In vain Self-love the prefs'd;
The poor he pity'd still, 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 focs might learn to live; 555
He held it still 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 saw millions in distress,
He deem'd it godlike to have power to bless:
Thus, when unguarded, treason stain'd him o'er;
And virtue and content were then no more.

566

But when to death by rigorous justice doom'd, His genuine fpirit faint-like ftate refum'd, Oft from foft penitence diftill'd a tear; Oft hope in heavenly mercy lighten'd fear; Oft would a drop from struggling nature fall, And then a smile of patience brighten all.

570

He seeks in heaven a friend, nor feeks in vain, His guardian angel swift defcends again; And refolution thus bespeaks a mind, Not fcorning life, yet all to death resign'd; -Ye chains, fit only to restrain the will Of common, defperate veterans in ill, 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,

575

To worlds remote she takes unbounded flight. 580
Ye dungeon glooms, that dim corporeal eyes,
Could ye once blot her profpect of the skies?
No!-from her clearer, fight ye fled away,
Like error, pierc'd by truth's refiftless ray.
Ye walls, that witnefs 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 I, whofe days, at beft, no ill defign'd, 595
Whofe virtue fhone not, though I lov'd mankind,
Shall I, now guilty wretch, fhall I repine ?
Ah, no! to juftice let me life resign !
Quick, as a friend, would I embrace my foe!..
He taught me patience, who first taught me

610

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 bofom ftrife?
Ah! would rafh 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 ne'er
control,
615

In my laft hour compofe, fupport 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.

620

625

Diftin&tion now gives way; yet on we talk, Full darkness deepening o'er the formlefs 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 shoots, and, funk, forgotten dies, So pride, that rofe from duft to guilty power, Glares out in vain, fo duft fhall pride devour. 630 Fishers, who yonder brink by torches gain, With teethful tridents ftrike 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 fast. At prowling wolves was heard the mastiff's bay, And the warn'd master's arms forbad the prey! Thus treafon feels, the patriot thus deferies, [640 Forth springs the monarch, and the mifehief flies. Pale glow-worms glimmer'd through the depth of night,

650

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 the fung.
The Night-crone, with the melody alarm'd,
Now paus'd, now liften'd, and awhile was charm'd;
But like the man, whose frequent stubborn 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 ear, and tempted to destroy
The tuneful life, that charms with virtuous joy.
Now faft we measure back the tracklefs way;
No friendly ftars directive beams difplay.
But lo!-a thousand lights shoot 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 must these hours our mutual converfe claim,
And ceale to echo ftill Olympia's name;
Grots, rivulets, groves, Olympia's name forget,
Olympia now no fighing winds repeat.
Can I be mortal, and those hours no more,
Those amorous hours, that plaintive echoes bore?

656

660

665

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.
670
No racking pain yet 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-

pos'd,

A flumber prefs'd my languid eyes-They clos'd :
But clos'd not long-Methought Olympia spoke ;
Thrice loud fhe call'd, and thrice the slumber broke.
I wak'd. Forth-gliding from a neighbouring wood,
Full in my view the fhadowy charmer flood. 686
Rapturous I started up to clafp the fhade;
But ftagger'd, fell, and found my vitals fade:
A mantling chillnefs o'er my bofom fpread,
As if that inftant number'd with the dead.
Her voice now fent a far, imperfect found,
When in a fwimming trance my pangs were
drown'd.

690

Still farther off fhe 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 struggling foul unburthen'd flew.
Thus from a state, where fin and grief abide,
Heaven fummon'd me to mercy-thus I died.

He faid. Th' aftonishment with which I start,
Like bolted ice runs fhivering through my heart.
Art thou not mortal then? I cried. But lo! 703
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 fupreme.
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 ravifh'd at the found,
The forests move, and ftreams ftand liftening
round!

710

75

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 I, perchance, in him, have murder'd all.
O fate of late repentance! always vain :
Thy remedies but full undying pain.

Where fhall my hope find reft?-No Mother's

care

90

95

Shielded my infant innocence with prayer:
No father's guardian hand my youth maintain'd,
Call'd forth my virtues, or from vice refrain'd,
Is it 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 strangers 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 whisper her immortal name;
Supremely lovely, and ferenely great!
Majestic 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,

100

105

Who most shall give applaufe, where all admire.

VOL. V.

MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.

VERSES OCCASIONED BY

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LADY

VISCOUNTESS TYRCONNELL'S RECOVERY AT BATH.

WH

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, 5 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 submit! She looks her Sire, and speaks her Mother's wit. 10

O'er the gay world the fweet 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 eafe, And virtue, lofing rigour, learns to please.

20

The goddefs fummons each illustrious name, Bids the gay talk, and forms th' amusive game. She, whofe fair throne is fix'd in human fouls, From joy to joy her eye delighted rolls. But where (fhe cried) is fhe, my favourite! fhe 25 Of all my race, the dearest 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 rofe the fwelling figh, and trembling tear. 30 In kind low murmurs all the lofs deplore! Tyrconnel droops, and pleasure is no more.

The goddess, filent, paus'd in museful air; But Mirth, like Virtue, cannot long defpair. 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 fhe flies, She flies, her eldeft fifter Health to find; She finds her on the mountain-brow reclin'd. 40 Around her birds in earliest concert fing; Her cheek the femblance of the kindling spring; Frefh-tinctur'd like a fummer-evening fky, And a mild fun fits fmiling in her eye.

Loofe to the wind her verdant vestments flow; 45 Her limbs yet-recent from the springs below; There oft fhe bathes, then peaceful fits fecure, Where every gale is fragrant fresh and pure;

G g