Mufe mount with eafy flight the afpiring dome,
And let thy eyes o'er the wide profpect roam;
See how the Thames with dimpling motion fmiles,
And from all climes prefents Augusta spoils:
Eastward behold! a thousand veffels ride,
Which like a floating city crowd her tide;
See the ftrong bridge connect the diftant fhores,
The flood beneath through ftrait'ning arches roars.
Still farther eaft, large as a town is feen
The Tower, a ftrong and copious magazine;
There in becoming order rang'd, remain
Arms of victorious on the hoftile plain,
Drums, cannon, fwords, and bombs inactive fleep,
And thunders brood which Britain's foes fhall weep,
Look all around! and note the bustling throng,
How through each ftreet, like waves, they prefs along!
There ftands the Exchange, 'tis now the bufy time,
Refert of merchants drawn from every clime!
Far weft, remark our Monarch's regal feat,
See there the dome where powerful fenates meet;
There Rufus' ancient hall refounds with law;
And there the Abbey itrikes religious awe!—
Thus LONDON fhines in fame the first and beft;
May all who labour for HER peace-be bleft.
ON THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN BURGESS, OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIP THE ARDENT,
OCTOBER II, 1797.
"Multis ille bonis flebilis occidit,
"Nulli filebilior quam mihi."
HEE, gallant Burgefs! thee Britannia rank'd
THEE, the ran
Calmly to brave the fiery ftorm of war,
Thy country's rights defend, and add fresh luftre
To virtuous George's reign.-But heaven decreed,,
That thou fhouldít fall" in glory's bofom" fall-
On that illuftrious day, when British tars,
By Duncan led, o'er the Batavian foe
Obtain❜d a conqueft hiftory will record
To ages yet unborn.-
Couldst thou have known
The iffue of the combat, ere thy foul
This earthly fphere had left, more joyfully
Thy breath hadft thou refign'd, like Wolfe exclaiming, What mortal can refift
The will fupreme of heav'n's puiffant King?
He gave the word.-The whizzing bullet flew,
And wing'd thee to eternity- -Farewel
Thou brave commander! ne'er couldst thou have died
More honour'd, more refpected, more belov'd;
For thee the tear each feaman's cheek bedews,
And patriot thousands o'er thy afhes mourn.
Lynn, July, 1798.
SCENE-CANADA IN NORTH AMERICA.
OL, enthron'd in clouds cerulean,
Sting'd the welt with purple hue,
And the white bird fweetly finging
Bade retiring day adieu.
On a bank, befide whose margin
Fam'd Ontario's waters roll,
Ellen, beauteous maid, reclining,
Sought to cafe her troubled foul.
Loosely flow'd her auburn treffes,
Sporting with the balmy gales,
Whilft her tender lover's abfence
Thus the fecretly bewails :—
"Dearest lord of my affections!
"Ceafe, Oneyo, cease to roam;
σε O
yc calm pellucid waters!
"Bring the gallant chieftain home,
"When will his canoe, Ontario,
"Scud along thy filvery tide?
"When wilt thou, belov'd Oneyo!
"In thy native foil refide?
"Long hath mighty Areskoui*
"Made thy breaft with anger fwell,
"And Quintuno's fnow-capt mountains
"Echoed with thy warlike yell.
"Can it glad me, when the English
"Fall beneath thy quivering fpear?-
"I myself was born a Briton,
"And the English name revere.
"Sweet to me is yon Savannah,
"With perennial flowers array'd;
"Sweet my grot, where pendant branches
"Form an intermingling fhade.
"Sweet yon wood, whence plumy songsters,
"Liquid notes at distance fwell;
"Sweet my cottage, where contentment,
"Gentle goddefs, loves to dwell.
"But not c'en yon wide Savannah,
"Nor my grotto, cool retreat,
"Verdant wood, nor tranquil cottage,
"Are without thy prefence fweet.
"Deareft lord of my affections!
"Ceafe, Oneyo, cease to roam;
"O ye calm pellucid waters!
"Bring the gallant chieftain home."
WEET plaintive minstrel! welcome to my how'r,
Come dwell with me my cyprefs groves among,
When I retire opprefs'd by grief's stern pow'r,
In ftrains pathetic pour the foul of fong.
* Areskoui, or the god of war, is revered as the great God of
When care, with cank'ring tooth, my breast invades,
'Tis thine the turbid paffion to disarm;
Come then, fweet warbler, to my peaceful fhades,
And lull my bofom to a heav'nly calm.
E'en now I hear thy lucid note divine,
Which to mine ear a gentle zephyr brings,
And thro' the vale melodious mufic flings;
Hail then thou fav'rite of the tuneful nine!
With thee I'll join, and fend my voice above,
Where all is harmony, where all is love!
FAMILIAR EPISTLE TO A GENTLEMAN,
OCCASIONED BY THE FOLLOWING CLAUSE IN ONE OF HIS POETICAL LETTERS TO A LADY:
"For husbands their voices refound.”
OU will excufe the length of time*
Which pafs'd fince we receiv'd your rhyme,
Before that any did effay
To answer you in your own way.
I own, I read your letter o'er,
And might as well have writ before,
But thought myself was unconcern’d;
So filent was, until I learn'd
That some of our young female friends,
Defir'd you should be made amends,
For all the pains you had been at,
And I could not deny them that.
I therefore took my pen in hand,
And give you now to understand,
That whate'er might be your aim,
You little have incur'd but blame.
*About two months, or nearly.
'Tis not your measure* gives offence,
But this they deem impertinence,
That you should tell them quite fo plain,
They husbands fo much wish to gain;
"Muft we," say they, "fuch infults bear?
"So grating to our cars to hear!
"Injurious man! your proof produce,
"Or load us not with fuch abuse;
"'Gainft us a paltry charge you've brought,
"Of what we ne'er conceiv'd in thought."
Sir, had these thoughts occur'd to you,
And when your piece you did review,
Had you left out that faulty clause,
You might have met with more applause;
At least if you had not been prais'd,
You would have no refentment rais'd;
All other faults might be look'd by,
Or fcan'd not with a critic's cye,
But this alone appears fo vile,
That 'twould the best production spoil.
Now, Sir, I've finish'd my defign,
Have told the truth in every line,
I hope no part will you offend,
Think not that I could fo intend;
My only aim was those to pleafe,
Wham what you faid, did fo much teaze,
And if I can accomplish this,
My time may not be spent amifs;
I know full well my parts are small,
Nor fuited to this end at all,
Yet trufting none will this condemn,
Submit it now to you and them.
*The Gentleman had apologised for having paid no regard
|