What is this World? a term which men have got To fignify, not one in ten knows what ; A term, which with no more precifion passes Can numbers then change Nature's stated laws? * Vice must be vice, virtue be virtue still, Stedfaft and true to Virtue's facred laws, Let the world talk, my friend; that world, we know, * We may change the names, but shall never be able to alter the nature of virtue or vice, call them by what names we will. Rather Rather ftand up affur'd with confcious pride CHURCHILL SE C T. CXXI. ON THE HAPPINESS OF AN ACTIVE LIFE HAPPY! ye fons of busy life, Who, equal to the bustling ftrife, No other view regard! Ev'n when the wifhed end's deny'd, BURNS. SECT. SE C T. CXXII. AN INSCRIPTION UPON THOMSON'S MONUMENT; AND TUTOR'D by thee, fweet Poetry exalts NO more the Grecian Mufe unrival'd reigns, SE C T. CXXIII." AN ADDRESS TO THE DEITY, IN THE VIEW OF THOU unknown, Almighty Caufe Of all my hope and fear! In whofe dread prefence, ere an hour, If I have wander'd in those paths Of life I ought to shun; As fomething, loudly, in my breast Remonftrates I have done; Thou Thou know'ft that Thou haft formed me Where human weakness has come short, Do Thou, All-Good! for fuch Thou art, Where with intention I have err'd, But Thou art good; and Goodness still BURNS SECT. CXXIV. ON THE INFLUENCE OF GLOOMY AND STORMY WEA THE fweeping blaft, the sky o'ercast, Let others fear, to me more dear Than all the pride of May. The tempeft's howl, it foothes my foul, My griefs it seems to join; The leaflefs trees my fancy pleafe, Their fate resembles mine. Thou Pow'r Supreme, whose mighty scheme These woes of mine fulfil, Here Here firm I reft: they must be best, Then all I want (Oh, do Thou grant This one requeft of mine) Since to enjoy Thou doft deny, Affift me to refign. BURNS DESCRIPTION OF A SCHOOL-BOY PASSING THROUGN A CHURCH-YARD AT NIGHT. FT in the lone church-yard at night I've seen OF By glimpse of moon-fhine, chequ'ring thro' the trees, The school-boy, with his satchel in his hand, Sudden he starts! and hears, or thinks he hears, That walks at dead of night, or takes his stand BLAIR. SECT |