What care, what rules your heedlefs charms fhall fave, Lefs heard and lefs, the faint remonstrance falls; Where then shall Hope and Fear their objects find ? Muft helpless man, in ignorance fedate, Roll darkling down the torrent of his fate? Muft no diflike alarm, no wishes rife, No cries attempt the mercies of the kies? Which heav'n may hear, nor deem religion vain. But leave to heav'n the measure and the choice. The fecret ambush of a fpecious pray'r. • Ver. 346366. L 3 Implore Implore his aid, in his decifions reft, Thefe goods for man the laws of heav'n ordain, These goods he grants, who grants the pow'r to gain ; And makes the happinefs fhe does not find. *H***H*FB* *JH*H H*FF*H** THE TEARS of OLD MAY-DAY. ED by the jocund train of vernal hours LE And vernal airs, uprofe the gentle May; Blushing she rose, and blushing rose the flow'rs That sprung spontaneous in the genial ray. Her locks with heav'n's ambrofial dews were bright, The colours fhifted of her rainbow veft. Imperial Imperial enfigns grac'd her fmiling form, A golden key, and golden wand she bore; This charms to peace each fullen eastern storm, And that unlocks the Summer's copious store. Onward in confcious majefty fhe came, The grateful honours of mankind to taste; Vain hope! no more in choral bands unite Sacred to May and Love's mysterious rite, Brush the light dew-drops from the spangled lawn. b To her no more Augufta's wealthy pride Pours the full tribute from Potofi's mine; Nor fresh-blown garlands village maids provide, A purer off'ring, at her rustic shrine. No more the Maypole's verdant height around Wake the loud carol, and the fportive dance. . Alluding to the country custom of gathering May-dew. Sudden in penfive fadness droop'd her head, My maiden honours, whither gone?" she cry❜d. Ah! once to fame and bright dominion born, The firft, the fairest daughter of the skies. Then, when at heav'n's prolific mandate fprung Hail'd the glad dawn, and angels call'd me MAY. Space in her empty regions heard the found, And hills, and dales, and rocks, and vallies rung; The fun exulted in his glorious round, And shouting planets in their courses fung. For ever then I led the conftant year; Saw Youth, and Joy, and Love's enchanting wiles; Saw the mild Graces in my train appear, And infant Beauty brighten in my fmiles. No Winter frown'd. In fweet embrace ally'd, And Spring's retiring foftnefs gently vy'd With Autumn's blush, and Summer's lofty mien. Too Too foon, when man prophan'd the bleffings giv❜n, I fled, and flying faw the Deluge rage: Saw bursting clouds eclipfe the noontide beams, My nectar'd streams, that flow'd on fands of gold. Then vanquish'd many a fea-girt ifle and grove, No longer bloom'd primeval Eden's bow'rs, Nor guardian dragons watch'd the Hefperian steep: With all their fountains, fragrant fruits and flow'rs, Torn from the continent to glut the deep. No more to dwell in fylvan scenes I deign'd, And ev'ry echo caught my raptur'd name, And ev'ry virgin breath'd her am'rous vows, And precious wreaths of rich immortal fame, See Plato. But |