Admir'd Salopia! that with venial pride Eyes her bright form in Severn's ambient wave, Fam'd for her loyal cares in perils try'd, [310 Her daughters lovely, and her ftriplings brave: Ah! midst the reft, may flowers adorn his grave, Whose art did first these dulcet cates display! A motive fair to learning's imps he gave, Who chearless o'er her darkling region stray; Till reafon's morn arife, and light them on their way. INSCRIPTION. ON THE BACK OF A GOTHIC ALCOVE. BY THE SAME. O you that bathe in courtlye blyffe, Of him that bydes contented here. Nor yet difdeigne the ruffet ftoale, Which o'er each careleffe lymbe he flyngs: Nor yet deryde the beechen bowle, In whyche he quaifs the lympid springs. Forgive him, if at eve or dawne, He waste his inoffenfive daye. So may he pardonne fraud and ftrife, For faults there beene in bufye life, From whyche these peaceful glennes are free. 10 15 HAIL facred ftream, whofe waters roll Immortal thro' the claffic page! To Thee the Mufe-devoted foul, Tho' deftin'd to a later age And lefs indulgent clime, to thee, Nor thou difdain, in Runic lays His grateful homage pays. *Born 1715; dyed 1785. From Mantua's reedy lakes with offers crown'd, Taught echo from thy banks with tranfport to refound. Thy banks-alas, is this the boafted fcene, 15 This dreary, wide, uncultivated plain, Where fick'ning Nature wears a fainter green, Is this the fcene where Freedom breath'd, Bade all her rofeate breezes fly, To wake the fons of industry, And make their fields more gay? II. Where is the villa's rural pride, The swelling dome's imperial gleam, That rush'd impatient to the war, And hail'd the paffing car? 25 30 Th' eternal flint by Confuls trod, We mufe, and mark the fad decays 35 Of mighty works, and mighty days! The Flaminian way. For thefe vile waftes, we cry, had Fate decreed That Veii's fons fhould ftrive, for thefe CAMILLUS bleed? Did here, in after-times of Roman pride, The mufing fhepherd from Sorate's height 40 See towns extend where'er thy waters glide, And temples rife, and peopled farms unite? They did. For this deferted plain The hero ftrove, nor ftrove in vain; And here the fhepherd faw Unnumber'd towns and temples fpread, While Rome majestic rear'd her head, gave the nations law. And 45 III. Yes, Thou and Latium once were great. Her fame and thine triumphant fprings. And ftrow the defart earth beneath, Entwine it's fatal wreath, Yet fay, can Rhine or Danube boast Or Nile, with all his myftic lore, Produce from old records of genuine fame 50 55 60 Such heroes, poets, kings, or emulate thy name? |