20 so languid. Frequent consideration and II minute scrutiny have at length unravelled From the centre A. at the distance A. B. the cause ; viz. that though Reason is Describe the circle B. C. D. feasted, Imagination is starved ; whilst At the distance B. A. from B. the centre Reason is luxuriating in its proper Para- The round A. C. E. to describe boldly dise, Imagination is wearily travelling on venture. a dreary desert. To assist Reason by (Third postulate see.) the stimulus of Imagination is the design And from the point C. of the following production. In the In which the circles make a pother execution of it much may be objection- Cutting and slashing one another, able. The verse (particularly in the Bid the straight lines a journeying introduction of the ode) may be accused go. of unwarrantable liberties, but they are C. A. C. B. those lines will show. liberties equally homogeneal with the To the points, which by A. B. are exactness of Mathematical disquisition, reckon'd, and the boldness of Pindaric daring. I And postulate the second have three strong champions to defend For Authority ye know. me against the attacks of Criticism : the A. B. C. Novelty, the Difficulty, and the Utility Triumphant shall be of the work. I may justly plume myself An Equilateral Triangle, 30 that I first have drawn the nymph Not Peter Pindar carp, nor Zoilus can Mathesis from the visionary caves of wrangle. abstracted idea, and caused her to unite III with Harmony. The first-born of this Union I now present to you ; with inter- Because the point A. is the centre ested motives indeed—as I expect to Of the circular B. C. D. receive in return the more valuable off- And because the point B. is the centre spring of your Muse. Of the circular A. C. E. A. C. to A. B. and B. C. to B. A. [Christ's HOSPITAL), March 31, 1791. S. T. C. Harmoniously equal for ever must stay ; Then C. A. and B. C. Both extend the kind hand To the basis, A. B. 40 first. Unambitiously join'd in Equality's Band. But to the same powers, when two powers On a given finite line are equal, Which must no way incline : My mind forbodes the sequel ; To describe an equi My mind does some celestial impulse --lateral Tri teach, And equalises each to each. Thus C. A. with B. C. strikes the same sure alliance, Which must no way incline; That C. A. and B. C. had with A. B. The great Mathematician before ; And in mutual affiance None attempting to soar - lateral Tri Above another, The unanimous three C. A. and B. C. and A. B. Thine ever, I IO a With such high transport every moment Where first his infant buds appear ; flies, Or upwards dart with soaring force, I curse Experience that he makes me And tempt some more ambitious course ? wise ; Obedient now to Hope's command, For at his frown the dear deliriums flew, I bid each humble wish expand, And the changed scene now wears And fair and bright Life's prospects seem, gloomy hue. While Hope displays her cheering beam, A hideous hag th' Enchantress Pleasure And Fancy's vivid colourings stream, 11 seems, While Emulation stands me nigh And all her joys appear but feverous The Goddess of the eager eye. dreams. 60 With foot advanced and anxious heart Che vain resolve still broken and still made, Now for the fancied goal I start : Disease and loathing and remorse invade; | Ah! why will Reason intervene Che charm is vanish'd and the bubble's Me and my promised joys between ! broke, She stops my course, she chains my speed, slave to pleasure is a slave to smoke !' While thus her forceful words proceed : Such lays repentant did the Muse "Ah! listen, youth, ere yet too late, 20 supply ; What evils on thy course may wait ! When as the Sun was hastening down To bow the head, to bend the knee, the sky, A minion of Servility, In glittering state twice fifty guineas At low Pride's frequent frowns to sigh, come, And watch the glance in Folly's eye ; His Mother's plate antique had raised To toil intense, yet toil in vain, the sum. And feel with what a hollow pain Forth leap'd Philedon of new life Pale Disappointment hangs her head possest : O'er darling Expectation dead ! 'Twas Brookes's all till two, — 'twas The scene is changed and Fortune's Hackett's all the rest ! 70 30 [Cambridge.] 1791. Shall belly out each prosperous sail. Yet sudden wealth full well I know Did never happiness bestow. That wealth to which we were not born ALL are not born to soar--and ah ! how Dooms us to sorrow or to scorn. few Behold yon flock which long had trod In tracks where Wisdom leads their O'er the short grass of Devon's sod, paths pursue ! To Lincoln's rank rich meads transferr'd, Contagious when to wit or wealth allied, And in their fate thy own be fear'd; Folly and Vice diffuse their venom wide. Through every limb contagions fly, On Folly every fool his talent tries; Deform’d and choked they burst and die. It asks some toil to imitate the wise ; • When Luxury opens wide her arms, Tho' few like Fox can speak—like Pitt And smiling wooes thee to those charms, can think Whose fascination thousands own, Yet all like Fox can game-like Pitt can Shall thy brows wear the stoic frown? drink. ? 1791. And when her goblet she extends Which maddening myriads press around, HAPPINESS What power divine thy soul befriends That thou should'st dash it to the On wide or narrow scale shall Man ground ? Most happily describe life's plan? No, thou shalt drink, and thou shalt know Say shall he bloom and wither there, Her transient bliss, her lasting woe, 51 с с 40 IOO 70 Her maniac joys, that know no measure, Whom (sages say) in days of yore And Hope, if e'er thou 'ginst to sorrow die !” ? 1791. And Fever garb'd in scarlet vest, Consumption driving the quick hearse, And Gout that howls the frequent curse, THE RAVEN With Apoplex of heavy head A CHRISTMAS TALE, TOLD BY A That surely aims his dart of lead. SCHOOL-BOY TO HIS LITTLE BROTHERS • But say Life's joys unmix'd were AND SISTERS given To thee some favourite of Heaven : UNDERNEATH a huge oak tree Within, without, tho' all were health- There was of swine a huge company, Yet what e'en thus are Fame, Power, That grunted as they crunched the mast : Wealth, For that was ripe, and fell full fast. But sounds that variously express, Then they trotted away, for the wind What's thine already--Happiness ! grew high : 'Tis thine the converse deep to hold One acorn they left, and no more might With all the famous sons of old ; you spy. And thine the happy waking dream Next came a Raven, that liked not such While Hope pursues some favourite folly : theme, Ile belonged, they did say, to the witch As oft when Night o'er Heaven is spread, Melancholy ! Round this maternal seat you tread, Blacker was he than blackest jet, Where far from splendour, far from riot, Flew low in the rain, and his feathers In silence wrapt sleeps careless quiet. not wet. 'Tis thine with fancy oft to talk, &o He picked up the acorn and buried it And thine the peaceful evening walk; straight And what to thee the sweetest are- By the side of a river both deep and great. The setting sun, the evening star Where then did the Raven go? The tints, which live along the sky, He went high and low, And Moon that meets thy raptured eye, Over hill, over dale, did the black Raven Where oft the tear shall grateful start, go. Dear silent pleasures of the Heart ! Many Autumns, many Springs Ah! Being blest, for Heaven shall lend Travelled he with wandering To share thy simple joys a friend! wings : Ah ! doubly blest, if Love supply Many Summers, many WintersHis influence to complete thy joy, I can't tell half his adventures. If chance some lovely maid thou find To read thy visage in thy mind. At length he came back, and with him a "One blessing more demands thy She, 20 care : And the acorn was grown to a tall oak Once more to Heaven address the prayer : tree. For humble independence pray They built them a nest in the topmost The guardian genius of thy way; bough, IO 90 ܪ his eyes. And young ones they had, and were A WISH happy enow. But soon came a woodman in leathern WRITTEN IN JESUS WOOD, FEB. 10, guise, 1792 His brow, like a pent-house, hung over Sent, with the two pieces which follow, to He'd an axe in his hand, not a word he Mary Evans, in a letter of that date.] spoke, Lo! through the dusky silence of the But with many a hem! and a sturdy groves, stroke, Thro' vales irriguous, and thro' green At length he brought down the poor retreats, Raven's own oak. With languid murmur creeps the placid His young ones were killed ; for they stream could not depart, And works its secret way. And their mother did die of a broken heart. 30 Awhile meand'ring round its native fields, The boughs from the trunk the woodman It rolls the playful wave and winds its did sever; flight: And they floated it down on the course Then downward flowing with awaken’d of the river. speed They sawed it in planks, and its bark Embosoms in the Deep ! they did strip, And with this tree and others they made Thus thro' its silent tenor may my Life a good ship. Smooth its meek stream by sordid The ship, it was launched ; but in sight wealth unclogg'd, of the land Alike unconscious of forensic storms, Such a storm there did rise as no ship And Glory's blood-stain'd palm ! could withstand. It bulged on a rock, and the waves And when dark Age shall close Life's rush'd in fast : little day, The old Raven flew round and round, Satiate of sport, and weary of its toils, and cawed to the blast. E'en thus may slumbrous Death my decent limbs He heard the last shriek of the perishing Compose with icy hand ! souls MS. See ! see ! o'er the topmast the mad water rolls ! Right glad was the Raven, and off AN ODE IN THE MANNER OF he went fleet, ANACREON And Death riding home on a cloud he did meet, As late in wreaths gay flowers I hound, And he thank'd him again and again for | Beneath some roses Love I found, this treat : | And by his little frolic pinion They had taken his all, and REVENGE | As quick as thought I seiz’d the minion, WAS SWEET! Then in my cup the prisoner threw, [We must not think so; but forget and And drank him in its sparkling dew : forgive, And sure I feel my angry guest And what Heaven gives life to, we'll still Fluttering his wings within my breast ! let it live! ? 1791. MS. 1792. 40 20 A LOVER’S COMPLAINT--THE COMPLAINT OF NINATHÓMA ? 1792. away? With just yet vivid colouring portray'd A LOVER'S COMPLAINT TO HIS What every wife should be, what many MISTRESS are. And sure the Parent of a race so sweet WHO DESERTED HIM IN QUEST OF A With double pleasure on the page shall MORE WEALTHY HUSBAND IN THE dwell, EAST INDIES Each scene with sympathising breast shall meet, The dubious light sad glimmers o'er the While Reason still with smiles delights sky: to tell 'Tis silence all. By lonely anguish Maternal hope, that her loved progeny torn, In all but sorrows shall Amelias be! With wandering feet to gloomy groves I fly, And wakeful Love still tracks my course IMITATED FROM OSSIAN forlorn. THE stream with languid murmur creeps, And will you, cruel Julia ! will you go? In Lumin's flowery vale: And trust you to the Ocean's dark dis- Beneath the dew the Lily weeps may? Slow-waving to the gale. Shall the wide wat'ry world between us flow? *Cease, restless gale!' it seems to say, And winds unpitying snatch my I lopes · Nor wake me with thy sighing ! The honours of my vernal day On rapid wing are flying. Thus could you sport with my too easy heart? "To-morrow shall the Traveller come Yet tremble, lest not unaveng'd I Who late beheld me blooming : grieve ! His searching eye shall vainly roam The winds may learn your own delusive The dreary vale of Lumin.' art, And faithless Ocean smile but to deceive ! With eager gaze and wetted cheek 1792. MS. My wonted haunts along, The Youth of simplest song. But I along the breeze shall roll The voice of feeble power ; VIRTUES and Woes alike too great for And dwell, the Moon-beam of thy soul, man In Slumber's nightly hour. 1793 In the soft tale oft claim the useless sigh ; For vain the attempt to realise the THE COMPLAINT OF NINAplan, THOMA FROM THE SAME play'd Each social duty and each social How long will ye round me be swelling, care ; O ye blue-tumbling waves of the sea ? |