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5  JE  M 


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VARIOUS    SUBJECTS, 


RELIGIOUS  AND  MORAL, 


B    Y 


P  H  I  L  L  IS    PFHEJTLEr, 

Negro  Servant  to  Mr.  John  Whiatley,' 
of  Boston,  in  New  England. 


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DEDICATION. 

To  the  Right  Honourable  the 
COUNTESS  OF  HUNTINGDON, 


f 


THE    FOLLOWING 

O  E  MS 

Are  moft  refpeftfully 

Infcribed, 

By  her  much  obliged. 
Very  humble. 
And  devoted  Servant, 

Phillis  Wheatley. 


Bojlon^  June  la. 


PREFACE. 

'TP  H  E  following   Poems  were 

*  written  originally  for  the 
Amufement  of  the  Author,  as  they 
were  the  Proc{u6ls  of  her  leifure  Mo- 
ments. She  had  no  Intention  ever 
Xo  have  pubiifhed  them;  nor  v/ould 
they  now  have  made  their  Appear- 
ance, but  at  the  Importunity  of 
many  of  her  beft,  and  mofl:  gene- 
rous Friends ;  to  whom  fhc  con- 
fiders  herfelf,  as  under  the  greateft 
Obligations. 

As  her  Attempts  in  Poetry  are 
now  fent  into  the  World,  it  is 
hoped  the  Critic  will  not  fevcrcly 
cenfure  their  Defeats  ;  and  we  pre- 
fum^e    they  have    too  much    Merit 

to 


PREFACE.  V 

to   be   cad    aiide    with  Contempt, 
as  worthlefs  and  trilling  EliuHons. 

As  to  the  Difad vantages  flie  has 
laboured  under,  with  Regard  to 
Learning,  nothing  needs  to  be  of- 
fered, as  her  Mauer's  Letter  in  the 
following  Page  wiii  fuHicienti/  ihcw 
the  Difficulties  in  this  Refped:  fhc 
had  to  encounter. 

With  all  their  Imperfedions,  the 
Poems  are  now  humbly  fubmitted 
to  the  Peruial  of  the  Public. 


The 


The  following  is  a  Copy  of  a  Letter  fent  by  the 
Author's  Mafier  to  the  Publilhen 

PHILLIS  was  brought  from  Africa  to  America^ 
in  the  Year  1761,  between  .Seven  and  Eight 
Years  of  Age.  Without  any  Afliitancefrom  School 
Education,  and  by  only  what  fhe  was  taught  in  the 
Family,  Ihe,  in  fixteen  Months  I  ime  from  her  Ar- 
rival, attained  the  Englifh  Language,  to  which  fhe 
v/as  an  utter  Stranger  before,  to  fuch  a  Degree,  as 
to  read  any,  the  moft  difficult  Parts  of  the  Sacred 
Writings,  to  the  great  Aftoniftiment  of  all  who 
heard  her. 

As  to  her  Writing,  her  own  Curiofity  led  her 
to  it ;  and  this  flie  learnt  in  fo  fhort  a  Time,  that  in 
the  Year  1765,  ^wt  wrote  a  Letter  to  the  Rev. 
Mr.  CccoM,  the  iW/^;^  Minifter^  while  m  England. 

She  has  a  great  Inclination  to  learn  the  Latin 
l^onoue,  and  has  made  fome  Prog-refs  in  it.  This 
Relation  is  given  by  her  Mafter  who  bought  her, 
and  with  whoni  Ihe  now  lives. 

JOHN  WHEATLEY. 

Bcjlcn^  Nov,  14,   1772. 


To    the    P  U  B  L  I  C  K, 

As  it  has  been  repeiitcdiy  fuggdlcd  to  the  Puhliflicr,  by  Pci> 
fons,  who  have  feen  the  Manufcnpt,  tlnit  Nunihcrs 
would  be  ready  to  fUijpecl  they  were  not  reaiiy  tlic  VVritings  of 
PHILLIS,  he  has  procured  the  following  Attellation,  trom 
the  moll  reff.cctable  Characters  InBofic?!,  that  nouc  might  have 
the  Icalt  Ground  for  difputing  their  JriginaL 

WE  whofc  Names  are  under-written,  do  afTurc  the  World, 
that  the  Poems  fpecified  in  the  following  Page,  *  were  (as  we 
verily  believe)  wricten  by  Phi ll is,  a  young  Negro  Girl,  who 
was  but  a  few  Years  fmce,  brought  an  uncultivated  Barbarian 
from  Afrkay  and  has  ev«r  fmce  been,  and  now  is,  under  the 
Difadvantage  of  ferving  as  a  Slave  in  a  Family  in  this  Town. 
She  has  been  ex.imincd  by  foxrte  of  the  beii  Judges,  and  is 
thought  qualified  to  write  them. 

His  Excellency  Thomas  Hutchinson,  Qotienwr^ 
^he  Hon  .Andrew  Oliver,  L  icutenant-Go'vernor. 


^he  Hon.  Thomas  Hubbard, 
^he  Hon,  John  Erving, 
^he  Hon,  James  Pitts, 
ne  Hon,  Harrifon  Gray, 
^he  Hon,  James  Bowdoin, 
John  Hancock,  jEy^> 


The  Rev,  Charles  Chauncy,Z>.  9. 
The  Rev,  Mather  Byles,  O,  D. 
The  R ev  E d .  Pern ber  ton ,  D .  D . 
The  P.z^v,  Andrew  Elliot,  /;,Z>. 
The  Rev,  Samuel  Cooper,  D:D, 
The  R^v.  Mr.  .^amuel  Mather, 


Jofeph  Green,  FJq;  The  Rev.  Mr,  John  Moorhead, 

Richard  Carey,  £J^;  j  Mr,  John  Wheatiey,  her  Majlcr, 

N.  B,  The  original  Atteilation,  figned  by  the  above  Gentle- 
men, may  be  feen  by  applying  to  Archibald  Belly  Bookfeller, 
No.  8,  Aldgau-Street, 


*■  The  Words  '^  folk^ing  Rage^^  allude  to  the  Contents  of  ■ 
the  Mamufcript  Copy,  which  are  wrote  at  th^  Back  of  thcj 
above  Atteftation. 


OEM 


O    N 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS. 


To    M  iE  C  E  N  A  S- 

MiE  C  E  N  A  S5  you^  beneath  the  myrtle 
fliade. 
Read  o'er  what  poets  fung,  and  fhepherds  play'd. 
What  felt  thofe  poets  but  you  feel  the  fame  ? 
Does  not  your  foul  pofTefs  the  facred  flame  ? 
Their  noble  {trains  your  equal  genius  fhares         5 
In  fofter  language,  and  diviner  airs. 

While  Homer  paints  lo !  circumfus'd  in  air, 
Celeftial  Gods  in  mortal  forms  appear  ^ 

B  Swift 


10  P     O     E     M     S      ON 

Swift  as  they  move  hear  each  recefs  rebound, 
Heav'n  quakes,  earth  trembles,  and  the  fhores  re- 
found,  lo 
Great  Sire  of  verfe,  before  my  mortal  eyes. 
The  lightnings  blaze  aerofs  the  vaulted  fkies. 
And,  as  the  thunder  fliakcs  the  heavenly  plains, 
A  deep-felt  horror  thrills  through  all  my  vtm^. 
When  gentler  llrains  demand  thy  graceful  fong,  15 
The  lengthening  line  moves  languifliing  along. 
When  great  Patrochs  courts  Achilles^  aid,  ^ 
The  grateful  tribute  of  my  tears  is  paid  ; 
Prone  on  the  fliore  he  feels  the  pangs  of  love, 
Ajad  Hem  Pelidcs  tend'reft  pafTions  move.         '  20 

Great  Maro's  ftrain  in  heav'nly  numbers  flows,  • 
The  JNine  infpire,  and  all  the  bofom  glows. 
O  could  I  rival  thine  and  VirgiVh  page, 
Gr  claim  the  Mufes  with  the  Mantuan  Sage ; 
Soon  the  fame  beauties  ftiould  my  mind  adorn,   25 
And  the  fame  ardors  in  my  foul  Ihould  burn : 
Then  Ihould  my  fong  in  bolder  notes  arife. 
And  all  my  numbers  pleafingly  furprize  > 

But 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS,      ii 

But  here  I  fit,  and  mourn  a  grov'llng  mind. 
That  fain  would  mount,  and  ride  upon  the  wind. 

Not  you,  my  friend,  thefe  plaintive  llrains  be- 
come, 
Not  you,  whofe  bofom  is  the  Mufes  home ; 
When  they  from  tow'ring  Helicon  retire. 
They  fan  in  you  the  bright  immortal  fire, 
But  I  lefs  happy,  cannot  raife  the  fong,  35 

The  fault'ring  mufic  dies  upon  my  tongue. 

The  happier  Terence  *  all  the  choir  infpir'd. 
His  foul  replenilli'd,  and  his  bofom  fir'd ; 

But  fay,  ye  Mufes^  why  this  partial  grace,  ^i^ 

To  one  alone  of  Afric^%  fable  race ;  40 

From  age  to  age  tranfm.itting  thus  his  name 
With  the  firft  glory  in  the  rolls  of  fame  ? 

Thy  virtues,  great  Maecenas !  ftiall  be  fung 
In  praifc  of  him,  from,  whom  thofe  virtues  fprung : 

*  He  was  an  African  by  birth. 

B  2  While 


12  P    O    E    M     S      OT^ 

While   blooming  wreaths  around  thy  temples 
fpread,  45 

I'll  fnatch  a  laurel  from  thine  honoured  head. 
While  you  indulgent  fmile  upon  the  deed. 

.  As  long  as  Thames  in  ftreams  majeftic  flows. 
Or  Nciiads  in  their  oozy  beds  repofe. 
While  PiMbus  reigns  above  the  ftarry  train,       50 
While  bright  Aurora  purples  o'er  the  m.ain. 
So  long,  great  Sir,  the  mufe  thy  praife  Ihall  fmg, 
,  So  long  thy  praife  fhall  make  Parnajfus  ring  : 
Then  grant,  M^cenas^  thy  paternal  rays. 
Hear  me  propitious,  and  defend  my  lays.         ^^ 


Pjf 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.      i§ 


On      virtue. 

OThou  bright  jewel  in  my  aim  I  ftrive 
To  comprehend  thee.     Thine  own  words 
declare 
Wifdom  is  higher  than  a  fool  can  reach. 
I  ceafe  to  wonder,  and  no  more  attempt 
Thine  height  t'  explore,  or  fathom  thy  profound.  5 
But,  O  my  foul,  fink  not  into  defpair. 
Virtue  is  near  thee,  and  with  gentle  hand 
Would  now  embrace  thee,  hovers  o'er  thine  head. 
Fain  would  the  heav'n-born  foul  with  her  converle, 
Then  feek,  then  court  her  for  her  promised  blifs. 

Aufpicious  queen,  thine  heav'nly  pinions  fpread, 
And  lead  celeflial  Chafiity  along  ; 
Lo  !  now  her  facred  retinue  defcends, 
Array'd  in  glory  from  the  orbs  above. 
Attend  me,  Virtue^  thro'  my  youthful  years  !     i^ 
O  leave  me  not  to  the  falfc  joys  of  time  ! 
But  guide  my  fteps  to  ^Xi6k.i%  life  and  blifs. 

Creatnefs^ 


14  P    O    E    M    S     o?j 

Gfeatnefsy  or  Goodnefs^  fay  what  1  fliall  call  the^. 
To  give  an  higher  appellation  ftill, 
Teach  me  a  better  flrain,  a  nobler  lay,  20 

O  thou,  enthroned  with  Cherubs  in  the  realms  of 
day  ! 


To 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.      15 

To  THE   University  of  CAMBRIDGE, 
IN  NEW-ENGLAND. 

WHILE  an  intrinfic  ardor  prompts  to  write, 
The  mufes  promife  to  allifl  my  pen  ^ 
'Twas  not  long  fmce  I  lefc  my  native  ihore 
The  land  of  errors,  and  Egyptian  gloom : 
Father  of  mercy,  'twas  thy  gracious  hand  5 

Brought  me  in  fafety  from  thofe  dark  abodes. 

Students,  to  you  'tis  giv'n  to  fcan  the  heights 
Above,  to  traverle  the  ethereal  fpace, 
And  mark  the  fvftems  of  revolving;  worlds. 
Still  more,  ye  fons  of  fcience  ye  receive  10 

The  blifsful  news  by  melTcngers  from  heaven. 
How  Jefus"  blood  for  your  redemption  flows. 
See  him  with  hands  out-ftretcht  upon  the  crols ; 
Immenfe  compajQion  in  his  bofom  glows  •, 
He  hears  rcvilers,   nor  refents  their  fcorn  :  15 

What  matchlefs  mercy  in  the  Son  of  God  ! 
When  the  whole  human  race  by  fin  had  fall'n. 

He 


\i6  P     O     E     M     S      o  N 

He  deign'd  to  die  that  they  might  rife  again, 

And  fhare  with  him  in  the  fublimefl  fKies, 

Life  without  death,  and  glory  without  end,      2.0 

Improve  your  privileges  while  they  ftay, 
Ye  pupils,  and  each  hour  redeem,   that  bears 
Or  good  or  bad  report  of  you  to  heav*n. 
Let  fm,  that  baneful  evil  to  the  foul, 
Byyou  belliunn'd,  nor  once  remit  your  guards     25 
§uppreis  the  deadly  ferpent  in  its  egg. 
Ye  blooming  plants  of  human  race  divine. 
An  Ethiop  tells  you  'tis  your  greateft  foe  •, 
Its  tranfient  fweetnefs  turns  to  endlefs  pain. 
And  in  immenfe  perdition  finks  the  foul  go 


To 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.      «; 

To    the    KIN  G'§    Moft  Excellent  Maje%. 

%   1768. 

• 

YOUR  fubjefts  hope,  dread  Sire — 
The  crown  upon  your  brows  may  jflouriih 
long. 
And  that  your  arm  may  in  your  God  be  ftrong ! 
O  may  your  fceptre  numerous  nations  fway, 
And  all  with  love  and  readinefs  obey  ! 

But  how  fhall  we  the  Britijh  king  reward  !        5 
Rule  thou  in  peace,  our  father,  and  our  lord  ! 
Midft  the  remembrance  of  thy  favours  paft, 
The  meaneft  peafants  moft  admire  the  laft.  * 
May  GeorgCy  belov'd  by  all  the  nations  JOund>  ' 
Live  with   heav'ns    choiceft    conftant   bleffings 
crown'd!  10 

Great  God,  direft,  and  guard  him  from  on  high^i 
And  from  his  head  let  ev'ry  evil  fly  ! 
And  may  each  clime  with  equal  gladnefs  fee 
A  monarch's  fmile  can  fct  his  fubjefts  free  I 
*  The  Repeal  of  the  Stamp  Aft. 

C  Of 


x$  POEMS 


O  NT 


Ipn  being   brought   from  ^  F  R  I  C  A  to 
AMERICA. 


^'T^  WAS  inercy  brought  me  from  my  Pagan 
"^  -i        land, 


Taught  my  benighted  foul  to  underftand 
That  there's  a  God,  that  there's  a  Saviour  too ; 
Once  I  redemption  neither  fought  nor  knew. 
Some  view  our  fable  race  with  fcornful  eye,         5 
^^'  Their  colour  is  a  diabolic  die. ' 
Remember,  Chrijlians^  NegroSy  black  as  Cain^ 
May  be  lefin'd,  and  join  th'  angelic  train.. 


On 


Various  subjects.      19 


f 


On  the  Death  of  tife  Rev.  Dr.   S  E  W  E  L  L. 

1760.      * 


ER  E  yet  the  morn  its  lovely  bluHies  fprcad. 
See  Sewell  numbered  v/ith  the  happy  dead. 
H^il,  holy  man,  arrived  th'  immortal  fliore^ 
Though  we  fliall  hear  thy  warning,  voice  no  more. 
Come,  let  us  all  behold  with  wifhful  eyes  5 

The  faint  afcending  to  his  native  fkies^ 
From  hence  the  prophet  wing'd  his  rapt'rous  way 
To  the  bleii  manfions  in  eternal  day. 
Then  begging  for  the  Spirit  of  our  God^ 
And  panting  eager  for  the  fame  abode,  10 

Come,  let  us  all  with  the  fame  vigour  rife^ 
And  take  a  profpeft  of  the  blifsful  fkics  ; 
"While  on  our  minds  Chriji^s  image  fs  iriipreft^ 
And  the  dear  Saviour  glows  in  cvVy  bread". 
Thrice  happy  faint !  to  find  thy  heav'n  atlall,    1.5 
What  compenfation  for  the  evils  pad  ! 

C   %  Great 


20  POEMSorf 

Great  God,   incomprehenfible,  unknown 
By  fenfe,  we  bow  at  thine  exAted  throne. 
O,  while  v/e  beg  thine  excellence  to  feel. 
Thy  facred  Spirit  to  our  hearts  reveal,  20 

And  give  us  of  that  mercy  to  partake. 
Which  thou  hall  promised  for  the  Saviour" shk.t\ 

*^  Sewell  is  dead."     Swifc-pinion'd  Fame  thus 
cry'd. 
"  IsiS^'re;^//dead,''  my  trembling  tongue  reply'd, 

0  what  a  blefling  in  his  flight  deny'd  !  25 
How  oft  for  us  the  holy  prophet  pray'd ! 
How  oft  to  us  the  Word  of  Life  convey'd ! 
By  duty  urg'd  my  mournful  verie  to  clofc, 

1  for  his  tomb  this  epitaph  compofe. 

^'  Lo,  here  a  man,  redeemed  by  Jefus*  blood,  30 
"  A  fmner  once,  but  now  a  faint  with  God  j 
"  Behold  ye  rich,  ye  poor,  ye  fools,  ye  wife, 
"  Nor  let  his  monument  your  heart  furprize ; 
"  'Twill  tell  you  what  this  holy  man  has  done, 
*'  Which  gives  him  brighter  luftre  than  the  fun. 

*'  Liften, 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.        21 

^^  Liflen,  ye  happy,  from  your  feats  above. 
"  I  fpeak  fincerely,  while  1  fpeak  and  love, 
"  He  fought  the  paths  of  piety  and  truth, 
"  By  thefe  made  happy  from  his  early  youth  ! 
^'  In  blooming  years  that  grace  divine  he  felt,      40 
^'  Which  refcues  fmners  from  the  chains  of  guile. 
^'  Mourn  him,  ye  indigent,  whom  he  has  fed, 
^'  And  henceforth  fcek,  like  him,  for  living  bread  ; 
"  Ev'n  Chrijl^  the  bread  defcending  from  above, 
*'  And  afk  an  int'reft  in  his  faving  love.  45 

"  Mourn  him,  ye  youth,  to  whom  he  oft  has  told 
*'  God's  gracious  wonders  from  the  times  of  old. 
*^  I,  too  have  caufe  this  mighty  lofs  to  mourn, 
*^  For  he  my  monitor  will  not  return. 
"  O  when  fhall  we  to  his  blell  flare  arrive  ?       50 
*'  When  the  fame  graces  in  our  boforxis  thrive.'* 


Oa 


21  POEMSoN 

On  the  Death  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  GEORGE 
WHITE  FIELD.     1770. 

HAIL,  happy  faint,  on  thine  immortal  throne,- 
PolTeil  of  glory,   life,  and  bllfs  unknown  ; 
We  hear  no  more  the  mufic  of  thy  tongue^ 
Thy  wonted  auditories  ceafe  to  throng. 
Thy  fcrmons  in  unequall'd  accents  flow'd,  § 

And  evVy  bofom  with  devotion  glow'd  ^ 
Thou  didft  in  llrains  of  eloquence  refin'd 
Inflame  the  heart,   and  captivate  the  mind. 
Unhappy  wc  the  fetting  fun  deplore, 
So  glorious  once,  but  ah  !  it  lliines  no  more.     10 

Behold  the  prophet  in  his  towering  flight ! 
He  leaves   the  earth  for  heav'n's   unmeafur'd 

height. 
And  worlds  unknown  receive  him  from  our  fight, 

There  JVhilefieldmngs  with  rapid  courfe  his  way. 

And  fails  to  Zion  through  vafl:  feas  of  day.         15 

Thy  pray'rs,  great  faint,  and  thine  inceflTant  cries 

Have  pierc'd  tlie  bofom  <^f  thy  native  ikies. 

Thou 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.        23 

Thou  moon  haft  feen,  and  all  the  flars  of  light. 
How  he  has  wreftled  with  his  God  by  night. 
He  prayM  that  gt"ace  in  ev'ry  heart  might  dwell,  20 
nHc  long'd  to  fee  America  excel ; 
He  charged  its  youth  that  ev'ry  grace  divine 
Should  with  full  luftre  in  their  conduft  fhine ; 
That  Saviour,  which  his  foul  did  firft  receive. 
The  greateft  gift  that  ev'n  a  God  can  give,        25 
He  freely  offer'd  to  the  numerous  throng. 
That  on  his  lips  with  lift'ning  pleafure  hung. 

^'  Take  him,  ye  wretched,  for  your  only  good, 
^^  Take  him  ye  ftarving  finners,  for  your  food  ; 
"  Ye  thirfty,  come  to  this  life-giving  ftream,     ^o 
^'  Ye  preachers,  take  him  for  your  joyful  theme ; 
"  Take  him  my  dear  Americans^   he  faid, 
^'  Be  your  complaints  on  his  kind  bofom  laid  : 
^'  Take  him,  ye  Africans^  he  longs  for  you, 
^'  Impartial  Saviour  is  his  title  due  :  ^r 

^'  Wafh'd  in  the  fountain  of  redeeming  blood, 
"  Youlhallbe  fons,  and  kings,  and  priefts  to  God.'' 

Great 


U  POEMSoN 

Great  Countefs^  *  we  Americans  revere 
Thy  name,  and  mingle  in  thy  grief  fmcere  ; 
New  England  ditt fly  feels,  the  Orphans  mourn,  40 
Their  more  than  father  will  no  more  return. 

But,  though  arrefted  by  the  hand  of  death, 
Whitefield  no  more  exerts  his  laboring  breath. 
Yet  let  us  view  him  in  th'  eternal  fkies. 
Let  evVy  heart  to  this  bright  vifion  rife ;  45 

"While  the  tomb  fafe  retains  its  facred  trull, 
Till  life  divine  re-animates  his  dull. 

*  The    Countefs   of  Himtingden^    to    whom    Mr.  Whiiefield 

was  Chaplain. 


On 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS,      25 


On  the  Death  of  a  young  Lady  of  Five  Years 

of  Age. 


F 


.ROM  dark  abodes  to  fair  etherial  light 


Th*  enraptur'd  innocent  has  wing'd  her  flight; 
On  the  kind  bofom  of  eternal  love 
She  finds  unknown  beatitude  above. 
This  know,  ye  parents,  nor  her  lofs  deplore,       ^ 
She  feels  the  iron  hand  of  pain  no  more ; 
The  difpenfations  of  unerring  grace, 
Should  turn  your  forrows  into  grateful  praife ; 
Let  then  no  tears  for  her  henceforward  flow. 
No  more  diftrefs'd  in  our  dark  vale  below.  10 

Her  morning  fun,  which  rofe  divinely  bright. 
Was  quickly  mantled  with  the  gloom  of  night ; 
But  hear  in  heav'n's  bleft  bow'rs  your  JSancy  fair. 
And  learn  to  imitate  her  language  there. 
"  Thou,  Lord,  whom  I  behold  with  glory  crown'd, 
^'  By  what  fweet  name,  and  in  what  tuneful  found 

D  "  Wilt 


t6  P     O     E     M     S      QN 

''  Wiit  thou  be  prais'd  ?  Seraphic  pow'rs  are  faint 
''  Infinite  love  and  majefty  to  paint. 
'^  To  thee  let  all  their  grateful  voices  raife, 
''  And    faints   and    angels    join    their  fongs    of 
"  praife."  20 

PcrfecSt  in  blifs  flie  from  her  heav'niy  home 
Looks  down,  and  fmiling  beckons  you  to  come  ; 
Why  then,  fond  parents,  why  thefefruitlefs  groans  ? 
Reilrain  your  tears,  and  ceafe  your  plaintive  moans. 
Freed  from  a  v/orldof  fin,  andfnares,  and  pain,  25 
Why  would  you  wiili  your  daughter  back  again  ? 
No  —  bow  refign'd.     Let  hope  your  grief  control. 
And  check  the  rifing  tumult  of  the  foul. 
Calm  in  the  profperous,  and  adverfe  day. 
Adore  the  God  w^ho  gives  and  takes  away  ;         30 
Eye  him  iii  all,  his  holy  name  revere. 
Upright  your  aftrons,  and  your  hearts  fincere^ 
Till  having  fail'd  through  life's  tempeftuous  fea, 
And  from  its  rocks,  and  boift'rous  billows  free, 
Yourf^lves,  lafe  landed  on  the  blifsful  Ihorc,      J5 
Shall  join  your  happy  babe  to  part  no  more* 

On 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS,      27 


On  the  Death  of  a  young  Gentleman. 

WH  O  taught  thee  conflifl  with  the  pow'rs 
of  night. 
To  vanquiih  Satan  in  the  fields  of  fight  ? 
Who  ftrung  thy  feeble  arms  with  might  unknown^ 
How  great  thy  .conqueft^    and  how  bright  thy 

crown ! 
War  with   each  princedom,    throne^    and  pow'r 

is  o'er,  5 

The  fcene  is  ended  to  return  no  more. 
O  could  my  mufe  thy  feat  on  high  behold. 
How  deckt  with  laurel,  how  enrich'd  with  gold  ! 
O  could  {he  hear  what   praife   thine  harp  ern- 

ploys, 
How  fweet  thine  anthems,  how  divine  thy  joys  !  10 
What  heav'nly  grandeur  Ihould  exalt  her  ftrain! 
What  holy  raptures  in  her  numbers  reign  ! 
To  footh  the  troubles  of  the  mind  to  peace. 
To  ilill  the  tumult  of  life's  toffing  feas, 

D  2  T# 


2?  P     O     E     M     S      OK 

To  eafe  the  anguifli  of  the  parents  heart,  15 

Whdt  fhall  my  fympathizing  verfe  impart  ? 
Where  is  the  bahn  to  heal  fo  deep  a  v/ound  ? 
AVhere  fhall  a  fov'reign  remedy  be  found  ? 
Look,  gracious  Spirit,  from  thine  heav'nly  bovvV, 
And  thy  full  joys  into  their  bofoms  pour  ;  20 

The  raging  tempeft  of  their  grief  control. 
And  fpread  the  dawn  of  glory  through  the  foul, 
To  eye  the  path  the  faint  departed  trod, 
And  t^'ace  hirn  to  the  bofom  of  his  God, 


To 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.      29 


To  a  Lady  on  the  Death  of  her  Hulband. 

A^RIM  monarch  !  fee,  deprived  of  vital  breath, 
^^   A  young  phyfician  in  the  diift  of  death: 
Doft  thou  go  on  incelTant  to  deftroy, 
Our  griefs  to  double,  and  lay  wafte  our  joy  ? 
Enough  thou  never  yet  waft  known  to  fay,  j 

Though  millions  die,  the  vaffals  of  thy  fway  : 
Nor  youth,  nor  fcience,  nor  the  ties  of  love. 
Nor  aught  on  earth  thy  flinty  heart  can  move. 
The  friend,   the  fpoule  from  his  dire  dart  to  fave. 
In  vain  we  afk  the  fovereign  of  the  grave.  la 

Fair  mourner,  there  fee  thy  lov'd  Leonardhxid^ 
And  o'er 'him  fpread  the  deep  impervious  fhade  y 
Clos'd  are  his  eyes,  and  heavy  fetters  keep 
His  fenfes  bound  in  never-waking  fleep. 
Till  time  fhall  ceafe,  till  many  a  ftarry  world     15 
Shall  fall  from  heav'n,  in  dire  confufion  huri'd, 
Till  nature  in  her  final  wreck  Ihall  lie. 
And  her  laft  groan  Ihall  rend  the  azure  Iky  : 

Not 


y>  P     O     E     M     S     01^ 

Not,  not  till  then  his  aflive  foul  fhall  claim 

His  body,  a  divine  immortal  frame.  20 

But  fee  the  foftly-ftealing  tears  apace 
Purfue  each  other  down  the  mourner's  face ; 
But  ceafe  thy  tears,  bid  ev'ry  figh  depart. 
And  caft  the  load  of  anguiih  from  thine  heart : 
From  the  cold  jfhell  of  his  great  foul  arife,  25 

And  look  beyond,  thou  native  of  the  fkies  ; 
There  fix  thy  view,  where  fleeter  than  the  wind 
Thy  Leonard  mounts,  and  leaves  the  earth  behind^ 
Thyfelf  prepare  to  pafs  the  vale  of  night 
To  join  for  ever  on  the  hills  of  light :  30 

To  thine  embrace  his  joyful  Ipirit  moves 
To  thee,  the  partner  of  his  earthly  loves ; 
He  welcomes  thee  to  pleafures  more  refin'd^ 
And  better  fuitcd  to  th'  immortal  mind. 


G  O  L  I. 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.        31 

GOLIATH    OF     GATH. 

I  Sam,  Chap.  xvii. 

YE  martial  pow'rs,  and  all  ye  tuneful  nine, 
Infpire  my  fbng,  and  aid  my  high  defign. 
The  dreadful  fcenes  and  toils  of  war  I  write. 
The  ardent  warriors,  and  the  fields  of  fight : 
You  beft  remember,  and  you  befl  can  fing  5 

The  adls  of  heroes  to  the  vocal  firing : 
Refume  the  lays  with  which  your  facred  lyre. 
Did  then  the  poet  and  the  fage  infpire. 

Now  front  to  front  the  armies  were  difplay^d. 

Here  Ifrael  rang'd,  and  there  the  foes  array'd  ^    10 

The  hods  on  two  oppofing  mountains  flood, 

Thick  as  the  foliage  of  the  waving  wood  ; 

Between  them  an  extenfive  valley  lay. 

O'er  which  the  gleaming  armour  pour'd  the  day. 

When  from  the  camp  of  the  Philljlvie  foes,  15 

Dreadful  to  view,  a  mighty  warrior  rofe  ; 

In  the  dire  deeds  of  bleeding  battle  flcill'd. 

The  monfter  ftalks  the  terror  of  the  field. 

From 


32  POEMSoN 

From  Gath  he  fprung,  Goliath  was  his  name, 

Of  fierce  deportment,  and  gigantic  frame  :        20 

A  brazen  helmet  on  his  head  was  plac'd, 

A  coat  of  mail  his  form  terrific  grac'd. 

The  greaves  his  legs,  the  targe  his  flioulders  preft  : 

Dreadful  in  arms  high-tow'ring  o'er  the  reft 

A  fpear  he  proudly  wav'd,  whofe  iron  head,      25 

Strange  to  relate,  fix  hundred  fnekels  wxigh'd  ; 

He  ftrode  along,  and  fliook  the  ample  field. 

While  Phccbus  blaz'd  refulgent  on  his  fliield  : 

Through  Jacobs  race  a  chilling  horror  ran, 

When  thus  the  huge,  enormous  chief  began :  30 

"  Say,  what  the  caufe  that  in  this  proud  array 
*'  You  fet^our  battle  in  the  face  of  day  ? 
"  One  hero  find  in  all  your  vaunting  train, 
'^  Then  fee  who  lofes,  and  who  wins  the  plain  ; 
*'  For  he  who  Wins,  in  triumph  may  demand    35 
^'  Perpetual  fervice  from  the  vanquilh'd  land : 
"  Your  armies  I  defy,  your  force  defpife, 
"  By  far  inferior  in  Philijiia's  eyes  : 

^^  Produce 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.       33 

^^  Produce  a  man,   and  let  us  try  the  fight, 

*'  Decide  the  conteft,  and  the  viftor's  right."     40 

Thus  challenged  he  :    all  T/r^c"/  flood  amazM, 
And  ev'ry  chief  in  confternation  gaz'd ; 
But  Jejfe's  km  in  youthful:  bloom  appears. 
And  warlike  courage  far  beyond  his  years  : 
He  left  the  folds,  he  left  the  flow'ry  meacis,      45 
And  foft  receffes  of  the  fylVan  fhades. 
Now  IJraePs  monarch,  and  his  troops  arife. 
With  peals  of  fliouts  afcending  to  the  llcies  j 
In  Elab's  vale, the  fcene  of  combat  lies. 

When  the   fair  morning    blufh'd  with  orient 
red,  50 

What  David's  fire  enjoin'd  the  fon  obey'd. 
And  fwlft  of  foot  towards  the  trench  he  came. 
Where  glow'd  each  bofom  v/ith  the  martial  flameo 
He  leaves  his  carriage  to  another's  care. 
And  runs  to  greet  his  brethren  of  the  war.        55 
"\V hile  yet  they  fpake  the  giant-chief  arofe, 
Repeats  the  challenge,  and  infults  his  foes  : 

E  Struck 


3i  P     O     E     M     S      ofT 

Struck  with  the  found,  and  trembling  at  the  view. 
Affrighted  Ifrael  from  its  pofl  withdrew. 
"  Obferve  ye  this  tremendous  foe,  they  cry'd,   60 
''  Who  in  proud  vaunts  our  armies  hath  defy'd.: 
'^  Whoever  lays  him  proftrate  on  the  plain, 
^'  Freedom  in  I/rael  for  his  houfe  fhall  gain  _; 
^'  And  on  him  wealth  unknov/n  the  king  will  pour, 
''  And  give  his  royal  daughter  for  his  do.w'r."    6§ 

Then  Jefe's  youngeft  hope  :    "  My  brethren 
'.^fay, 
"  -What  fhall  be  done  for  him  v/ho  takes  away 
Reproach  from  Jacoi?^  who  deftroys  the  chief. 
And  puts  a  period  to  his  country's  grief. 
^'  He  vaunts  the  honours  of  his  arms  abroad,    70 
^^  And  fcorns  the  armies  of  the  living  God." 

Thus  fpoke  the  youth,  th'  attentive  people  e/d 
The  wond'rous  hero,  and  again  reply'd  : 
"  Such  the  rewards  our  monarch  will  beftow, 
'^  bn  him  who  conquers,  and  deftroys  his  foe/'  75 

Eliak 


a 


(C 


VARIOUS   SUBJECTS.        35 

Eliah  heard,  and  kindled  into  ire 
To  hear  his  fliepherd- brother  thus  inquire. 
And  thus  begun  ?   "  What  errand  brought  thee  ? 

"  iay 
'^  Who  keeps  thy  flock  ?   or  does  it  go  aftray  ? 
^'  I  know  the  bafe  ambition  of  thine  heart,         80 
"  But  back  in  fafety  from  the  field  depart.'' 

Eliah  thus  to  Jejfe's  youngefl  heir, 
Exprcfs'd  his  wrath  in  accents  moft  fevere,' 
When  to  his  brother  mildly  he  reply'd, 
*'  What   have  I  done  ?    or   what   the   caule    to 
'^  chide  ?"  85 

The  words  were  told  before  the  king,  who  fent 
For  the  young  hero  to  his  royal  tent : 
Before  the  monarch  dauntlefs  he  began, 
"  For  this  Philijline  fail  no  heart  of  man  : 
*^  rU  take  the  vale,  and  with  the  giant  fight:     90 
"l^  I  dread  not  all  his  boafts,  nor  all  his  might.'* 

E  2  When 


^^6  P     O     E    M     S     o  N 

When  thus  the  king  :  ^^  Dar'ft  thou  a  ftripling  go, 

"  And  venture  combat  with  fo  great  a  foe  ? 

^'  Who  all  his  days  has  been  inur'd  to  fight, 

"  And  made  its  deeds  his  ftudy  and  delight :     g^ 

*'  Battles  and  bloodfhed  brought  the  monfter  forth, 

^'  And  clouds  and  whirlwinds  uiher'd  in  his  birth/' 

When  David  thus :  "  I  kept  the  fleecy  care, 

*'  And  out  there  rufh'd  a  lion  and  a  bear ; 

"  A  tender  lamb  the  hungry  lion  took,  loo 

"'And  with  no  other  weapon  than  my  crook 

"  Bold  I  purfu'd,  and.chas'd  him  o'er  the  field, 

'^  The  prey  delivered,  and  the  felon  kill'd  : 

"  As  thus  the  lion  and  the  bear  I  flew, 

*'  So  fiiall  Goliath  fall,  and  all  his  crew  :  105 

"  The  God,   who  liiv'd  me  from  thefe  beafis  of 

"  prey, 
''  By  me  this  moniler  in  the  dufc  fliall  lay." 
So  David  fpoke.     The  wond'ring  king  reply'd  ; 
"  Go  thou  with  heaven  and  viftory  on  thy  fide  : 
*'  This  coat  of  mail,    this  fword  gird  on,"    he 

faid,  no 

And  plac'd  a  mighty  helmet  on  his  head ; 

The 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.        37 

The  coat,  the  fword,  the  helm  he  laid  afide, 
Nor  chofe  to  venture  with  thofe  arms  untry'd. 
Then  took   his    ftafF,    and    to    the    neighboring 

brook 
Inftant  he  ran,  and  thence  five  pebbles  took.    115 
Mean  time  defcended  to  Philiftid's  fon 
A  radiant  cherub,  and  he  thus  begun  : 
''  Goliath,  well  thou  know'il  thou  haft  defy'd 
''  Yon  Hebrew  armies,  and  their  God  deny'd  : 
*'  Rebellious    v/retch  I     audacious   worm !     for- 

"  bear,  120 

"  Nor  tempt  the  vengeance  of  their  God  too  far  : 
"  Them,  who  with  his  omnipotence  contend, 
"  No  eye  lliall  pity,  and  no  arm  defend  : 
"  Proud  as  thou  art,  in  fnort  livM  glory  great, 
''  I  come  to  tell  thee  thine  approaching  fate.     125 
^'  Regard  my  v/ords.     The  judge  of  all  the  gods, 
"  Beneath  whoie  fteps  the  tow'ring  mountain  nods, 
.  *^  Will  give  thine  armies  to  the  favage  brood, 
"  That  cut  the  liquid  air,  or  range  the  wood. 
"  Thee  too  a  well-aim'd  pebble  fliall  defbroy,  130 
'^  And  thou.Ilialt  perilli  by  a  beardlcfs  boy  : 

"  Such 


38  POEMS     OH 

"  Such  is  the  mandate  from  the  realms  above,  - 
"  And  Ihould  I  try  the  vengeance  to  remove,  > 
"  Myfelf  a  rebel  to  my  king  would  prove.  ^ 
"  Goliath  fay,  fhall  grace  to  him  be  iliown,  135 
*'  Who  dares  heav'ns  monarch,  and  znfults  his 
^^  throne?" 


"  Your  words  are  loft  on  me,''   the   gianf 
cries. 
While  fear  and  wrath  contended  in  hi^  eyes. 
When  thus  the  meffenger  from  heav'ri  replies  : 
^'  Provoke  no  more  Jehovah's  awful  hand  140 

^'  To  hurl  its  vengeance  on  thy  guilty  land : 
"  He   grafps   the   thunder,    and,    he  Vvangs   the 

"  ftorm, 
**  Servants  their  fov'reign's  orders  to  perform/* 

t 
The  angel  fpoke,  and  turn'd  his  eyes  away. 

Adding  new  radiance  to  the  rifing  day.  145 

Now  Bavid  comes :  the  fatal  ftones  demand 
His  left,  the  ftaff  engag'd  his  better  hand  : 

The 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.        39 

The  giant  mov'd,  and  from  his  tow'ring  height 
Surveyed  the  {tripling,  and  difdain'd  the  fight, 
And  thus  began  :   "  Am  I  a  dog  with  thee  ?    150 
"  Bring'ft'thou  no  armour,  but  a  ftafF  to  me  ? 
"  The  gods  on  thee  their  vollied  curfes  pour, 
'*  And  beads   and   birds  of  prey   thy  flefh  de- 


"  vour.'* 


D^^vi  .undaunted  thus,  "  Thy  fpear  and  iliield 
"  Shall  no  proce6lion  to  thy  body  yield:  155 

"  JebovaJfs  name no  other  arms  I  bear, 

^'  I  ask  no  other  in  this  glorious  war. 
*'  To-day  the  Lord  of  Hofts  to  me  will  give 
"  -Vid'ry,  to-day  thy  doom  thou  flialt  receive  ; 
*'  The   fate    you    threaten    fhall    your   own   be- 

"  come,  160 

"  And  beafts  fliall  be  your  animated  tomb,  - 
"  That  all  the  earth's  inhabitants  may  know 
"  That  there's  a  God,  who  governs  all  below  : 
"  This  great  affembly  too  fhall  witnefs  Hand, 
^'  That  needs  nor  fword,  nor  fpear,  th'  Almighty's 

hand:  165 

''  The 


40  P    O     E     M     S      o  N 

*^  The  battle  his,  tlie  conquell  he  beftows, 
"  And  to  our  pow'r  configns  our  hated  foes.^* 

Thus  David  fpoke  ^   Goliath  heard  and  came 
To  meet  the  hero  in  the  J&eld  of  fame. 
Ah  !   fatal  meeting  to  thy  troops  and  thee,       170 
But  thou  wail  deaf  to  the  divine  decree  j 
Young  David  meets  thee,   meets  thee  not  in  vain; 
^Tis  thine  to  perifh  on  th'  enlanguin'd  plain. 

And  now  the  youth  the  forceful  pebble  fiung, 
Philijiia  trembled  as  it  whizz'd  along  :  '   '^75 

In  h.is  dread  forehead,  where  the  helmet  ends, 
Juft  o'er  the  brows  the  well-aim'd  ftone  defcends. 
It  pierc'd  the  flaill,  and  fhatter'd  all  the  brain, 
Prone  on  his  face  he  tumbled  to  the  plain  : 
'Goliath's  fall  no  fmaller  terror  yields  180 

Than  riving  thunders  in  aerial  fields : 
The  foul  ftill  lingered  in  its  lov'd  abode, 
Till  conq'ring  David  o'er  the  giant  flrode ; 
Goliath's  fword  then  laid  its  mailer  dead. 
And  from  the  body  hew'd  the  ghailly  head^    ^85 

Tlie 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.        4^ 

Tjie  blood  in  gufhing  torrents  drench'd  the  plains, 
The  ibul    found   paffage  through  the   fpouting 
veins. 

And  now  aloud  th'  illuftrious  viftor  faid, 
"  Where  are  your  boaftings  now  your  cham- 

"  pion*s  dead  ?'* 
Scarce  had  he  fpoke,  when  the  Philijlines  fled  : 

But  fled  in  vain  ;    the  conqu'ror  fwift  purfu'd  : 
What  Icenes  of  flaughter !  and  what  feas  of  blood  ! 
There  Saul  thy  thoufands  grafp'd  th*  impurpled 

fand 
In  pangs  of  death  the  conqueft  of  thine  hand ; 
And  David  thtvQ  were  thy  ten  thoufands  laid:  195 
Thus  IfraeVs  damfels  mufically  play'd.- 

Near  Gath  and  Ekron  many  an  hero  la/. 
Breathed  out  their  fouls,  and  cursM  the  tight  of 

day  : 
Their  fury,  queiich'd  by  death,  no  longef  burns^ 
And  Dauid  with  Goliath's  head  returns,  %o^ 

To  Salera  brought,  but  in  his  tent  he  placed 
The  load  of  armour  which  the  giant  grac'd^ 

F  ttis 


41  P     O     E     M     S      ON 

His  monarch  faw  him  coming  from  the  war, 
And  thus  demanded  of  the  foil  of  Ner.        ^ 
*'  Say,  who  is  this  amazing  youth  ?"  he  cry'd,  205 
When  thu3  the  leader  of  the  hoft  reply'd  ; 
•^^  As  lives  thy  foul  I  know  not  whence  he  fprung, 
*'  So  great  in  proweft  though  in  years  fo  young  :'* 
*'  Inquire  whole  fon  is  he,"  the  fov'reignfaid, 
**  Before  whofe  conq'ring  arm  Philijlia  fled."    210 
Before  the  king  behold  the  ftripling  fland, 
GoliatFs  head  depending  from  his  hand  : 
To  him  the  king:  '^  Say  of  what  martial  line 
*'  Art  thou,  young  hero,  and  what  fire  was  thine  ?'* 
,>Ie  humbly  thus^  "  the  fon  of  Jefe  1 :  215 

^"  I  came  the  glories  of  the  field  to  try. 
*'  Small  is  my  tribe,   but  valiant  in  the  fight  •, 
^'  Small  is  my  city,   but  thy  royal  right." 
^'  Then  take  the  promised  gifts,"  the  monarch 

cry'd. 
Conferring  riches  and  the  royal  bride  :  220 

^^  Knit  to  my  foul  for  ever  thou  remain 
*«  With  me,  nor  quit  my  regal  Voof  again." 

Thoughts 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.        43 


Thoughts  on  the  Works  of  Providence, 

A   RISE,  my  foul,   on  wings  enraptured,  rife 
^  ^   To  praife  the  monarch  of  the  earth  and 

flcics, 
Whofe  goodnefs  and  beneficence  appear 
As  round  its  centre  moves  the  rolling  year. 
Or  when  the  morning  glows  with  rofy  charms,    5 
Or  the  fun  flumbers  in  the  ocean's  arms : 
Of  light  divine  be  a  rich  portion  lent 
To  guide  my  foul,  and  favour  my  intent. 
Celeftial  mufe,  my  arduous  flight  fuftain. 
And  raife  my  mind  to  a  feraphic  ftrain  !  10 

Ador'd  for  ever  be  the  God  unfeen, 
Which  round  the  fun  revolves  this  vaft  machine. 
Though  to  his  eye  its  mafs  a  point  appears  : 
Ador'd  the  God  that  whirls  furrounding  fpheres, 
Which    lirft   ordain'd    tliat    mighty    &0I   fhould 
reign  15 

The  peerlefs  monarch  of  th'  ethereal  train  : 

.     F  2  Of 


44  P    O     E    M     S      ON 

Of  miles  twice  forty  millions  is  his  height. 
And  yet  his  radiance  dazzles  mortal  fight 
So  far  beneath — trom  him  th'  extended  earth 
Vigour  derives,   and  evVy  flow'ry  birth  :  2Q 

Vsil  through  her  orb  fhe  moves  with  eafy  grace 
Around  her  Fhcchm  in  unbounded  fpace  ^ 
True  to  her  courfe  th'  impetuous  ftorm  derides^ 
'Triumphant  o'er  the  winds^  and  furging  tides* 

Alniighty,  in  thefe  wond'rous  works  of  thine,  25 
What  Povfr^    what  Ji^ifdcm^    and  what  Coodncfs 

ihine  ? 
And  are  thy  wonders,  Lord,  by  men  explor'd^ 
'■  And  yet  creating  glory  unador'd  I 

Creation  fmiles  in  various  beauty  gay, 
While  day  to  night,  and  night  fucceeds  to  day  :  30 
"That  TFifdom^  which  attends  Jehovah's  ways, 
Shines  moft  confpicuous  in  the  folar  rays  : 
Without  them,  delV.tute  of  heat  and  light. 
This    world    would    be   the    reign   of   endlefs 
night: 

In 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.        45 

In  their  excefs  how  would  our  race  complain,    35 
Abhorring  life  !  how  hate  its  length'iicd  chain  ! 
From  air  aduft  what  numerous  ills  would  rife  ? 
What  dire  contagion  taint  the  burning  flcles  ? 

What  pcililcntial  vapours,  fraught  w^ith  death,  • 
'Would  iik^  and  o/erfpread  the  lands  beneath  ?  40 

Hail,  fmiling  morn,  that  from  tJie  orient  mab 
Afcending  doft  adorn  the  heav'nly  plain  ! 
So  rich,  fo  various  are  thy  beauteous  dIeS| 
That  fpread  through  all  the  circuit  of  the  ficies, 
That,  full  of  thee,  my  foul  in  rapture  foars^      4^ 
And  thy  great  God^  the  caufe  of  all  adores. 

O'er  beings  infinite  his  love  extends, 
His  JVijdom  rules  them,  and  his  Pow'r  defend^. 
When  taflcs  diurnal  tire  the  human  frame, 
The  fpirits  faint,  and  dim  the  vital  flame,  5© 

Then  too  that  ever  acftive  bounty  fliines, 
Which  not  infinity  of  fpace  confines. 
The  (able  veil,  that  Night  in  filence  draws, 
^Conceals  effeds,  but  fhcws  th'  Ai^iighty  Caufe  \ 

Night 


46  P    O     E    M     S     o>r 

Night  feals  in  ilcep  the  wide  creation  fair,  g^ 

And  all  is  peaceful  but  the  brow  of  care. 
Again,  gay  Phccbus^  as  the  day  before, 
Wakes  ev'ry  eye,  but  whut  fiiall  wake  no  more  ; 
Again  the  face  of  nature  is  renew'd. 
Which  ftill  appears  harmonious,  fair,  ^nd  good.  60 
May  grateful  ftrains  falute  the  fmihng  morn, 
Before  its  beams  the  eaftern  hills  adorn  ! 

Shall  day  to  day  and  night  to  night  conipirc 
To  fhow  the  goodnefs  of  the  Almighty  Sire  ? 
This  mental  voice  fball  man  regardlefs  hear,     65 
And  never,  never  raife  the  filial  pray'r  ? 
To-day,  O  hearken,  nor  your  folly  mourn 
For  time  mifpent,  that  never  will  return. 

But  fee  the  fons  of  vegetation  rife, 
And  fpread  their  leafy  banners  to  the  fkies.        70 
All-wife  Almighty  Providence  we  trace 
In  trees,  and  plants,  and  all  the  flow'ry  race  ^ 
As  clear  as  in  the  nobler  frame  of  man^ 
All  lovely  copies  of  the  Maker's  plan. 

The 


VARIOUS   SUBJECTS.        4; 

The  powV  the  fame  that  forms  a  ray  of  light,    75 
That  call'd  creation  from  eternal  night. 
"  Let  there  be  light,"  he  faid  :  from  his  profound 
Old  Chaos  heard,  and  trembled  at  the  found  : 
Swift  as  the  word,  infpir'd  by  powV  divine. 
Behold  the  light  around  its  maker  Ihine,  80 

The  firft  fair  produ6l  of  th'  omnific  God, 
And  now  through  all  his  works  diffused  abroad. 

As  reafon's  pow'rs  by  day  our  God  difclofe. 
So  we  may  trace  him  in  the  night's  repofe : 
Say   what    is    ileep  ?    and   dreams    how    pafling 
ftrange !  Z^ 

Wh^n  aftion  ceafes,  and  ideas  range 
Licentious  and  unbounded  o'er  the  plains. 
Where  Fancfs  queen  in  giddy  triumph  reigns,. 
Hear  in  foft  ftrains  the  dreamino;  lover  fi  i-h 
To  a  kind  fair,  or  rave  in  jealoufy ;  90 

On  pleafure  now,  and  now  on  vengeance  bent,  ^^ 
The  laboring  pafiions  ftruggle  for  a  vent. 
What  pow'r,  O  man  !  thy  reafon  then  reftores, 
So  long  fufpended  in  nodurnal  hours  ? 

What 


48  P     O     E     M     S      o  N 

What  fecret  hand  returns  the  mental  train,        95 
And  gives  improv'd  thine  aftive  pow'rs  again  ? 
From  thee,  O  man,  what  gratitude  fliould  rile  ! 
And^  when  from  bahny  fleep  thou  op'il  thine' 

eyes, 
Let  thy  firft  thoughts  be  praifes  to  the  flcies. 
How  merciful  our  God  who  thus  imparts         100 
O'erflowing  tides  of  joy  to  human  hearts. 
When  wants  and  woes  might  be  our  righteous  lot, 
Our  God  forgetting,  by  our  God  forgot ! 

Among  the  mental  pow'rs  a  queftion  rofe, 
"  What  mod  the  image  of  th'  Eternal  lliows  ?'* 
When  thus  to  Reafon  (fo  let  Fancy  rove) 
Her  great  companion  fpoke  immortal  Love. 

*^  Say,  mighty  pow'r,  how  long  fliall  ftrife  pre- 
vail, 
"  And  with  its   murmurs    load    the   whifpVing 

"  gale  ? 
"  Refer  the  caufe  to  Recolk^f ion's  fhrine,  1 1^ 

^[  Who  loud  proclaims  my  origin  divine, 

«  The 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.      49 

"^^  The  caufe  whence  heav'n  and  earth  began  to  be, 
''  And  is  not  man  immortaliz'd  by  me  ? 
"  Reajon  let  this  moft  caufclefs  ftrife  fubfide." 
Thus   Love  pronounc'd,    and    Reafojt   thus     re- 
plyU  ii5 

"  Thy  birth,  celeftial  queen  !   'tis  mine  to  own^ 
"  In  thee  refplendent  is  the  Godhead  fhown  • 
"  Thy  words  perfuade,  my  foul  enraptur'd  feels 
"  Refiftlefs  beauty  which  thy  fmile  reveals." 
Ardent     iKe     Ipoke,     and,     kindling     at     her 
charms,  120 

She  clafp'd  the  blooming  goddefs  in  her  arms. 

Infinite  Love  where'er  we  turn  our  eyes 
Appears  :   this  evVy  creature's  wants  fupplies  ; 
This  moft  is  heard  in  Nature's  conftant  voice. 
This  makes  the  morn,   and    this    the   eve   re- 
joice; 125 
This  bids  the  foft'ring  rains  and  dews  defcend 
To  nourilh  all,  to  ferve  one  gen'ral  end, 

G  >  The 


ga  POEMSoN 

Th^  good  of  man  :  yet  man  ungrateful  pays 

But  little  homage,  and  but  little  praife. 

To  him,  whofe  works  array'd  with  mercy 
fhine^  130 

What  fongs  fhould  rife,  how  conftant,  how  di- 
vine! 


To 


VARTOtrS    SUBJECTS.        gf 

To  a  Lady  on  the  Death  of  Thrce  Relations. 

\]iT  E  trace  the  pow'r  of  Death  from  tomb  to 
^  ^       tomb. 
And  his  are  all  the  ages  yet  to  comeo 
'Tis  his  to  call  the  planets  from  on  high. 
To  blacken  Phcehus^  and  difTolve  the  (ky  • 
His  too,  when  all  in  his  dark  realms  are  hurl'd,  5 
From  Its  firm  bafe  to  Ihake  the  folid  world  ^ 
His  fatal  fceptre  rules  the  fpacious  whole, 
And  trembling  nature  rocks  from  pole  to  pole. 

Awful  he  moves,  and  wide  his  wings  are  fpread: 
Behold  thy  brother  number'd  with  the  dead  !      iq 
From  bondage  freed,  the  exulting  fpirit  flies 
Beyond  Olympus^  and  thefe  flarry  fides. 
Lofl  in  our  woe  for  thee,  blefl  fhade,  we  mourn 
In  vain ;  to  earth  thou  never  mufl  return. 
Thy  fiflers  too,  fair  mourner,  feel  the  dart        15 
Of  Death,  and  with  frefh  torture  rend  thine  heart. 

G  2  '■  Weep 


51  P    O     E    M    S     ON 

Weep  not  for  them,  who  wiHi  thine  happy  mind 
To  rife  with  them,  and  leave  the  world  behind. 

As  a  young  plant  by  hurricanes  up  torn,       20 
So  near  its  parent  lies  the  newly  born  — 
But  'midfl  the  bright  ethereal  trai-n  behold 
It  fhines  fuperior  on  a  throne  of  gold  : 
Then,  mourner,  ceafe  ;  let  hope  thy  tears  reftrain, 
b^nile  on  the  tomb,  and  footh  the  raging  pain.   25 
On  yon  blefl  regions  fix  thy  longing  view, 
Mindlefs  of  fublunary  fcenes  below  ^ 
Afcend  the  facred  mount,  in  thought  arife. 
And  feek  fubftantial,  and  immortal  joys  j 
Where    hope    receives,     where    faith    to    vifjgn 
fprings,.  30 

And  raptur'd  feraphs  tune  th'  immortal  firings 
To  {trains  extatic.     Thou  the  chorus  join,  ^ 
Aiid  to  thy  father  tune  the  praife  divine. 


Ta 


s** 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.        53 

To-  a  Clergyman  on  the  Death  of  his  Lady. 

'^X7HERE  contemplation  finds    her  lacred 
^  Y       fpring. 
Where  heav'nly  mufic  makes  the  arches  ring. 
Where  virtue  reigns  unfully'd  and  divine. 
Where  wifdom  thron'd,   and  all  the  graces  fhiiie. 
There  fits  thy  fpoufe  amidfl  the  radiant  throng,  5 
While  praife  eternal  warbles  from  her  tongue  ; 
There  choirs  angelic  Ihout  her  welcome  round. 
With  perfect  blifs,  and  peerlefs  glory  crown'd. 

While  thy  dear  mate,  to  flefii  no  more  confined. 
Exults  a  bleft,  an  heav'n-afcended  mind,  iq 

Say  in  thy  breaft  Ihall  floods  of  forrow  rife  ? 
Say  fhall  its  torrents  overwhelm  thine  eyes  ? 
Amid  the  feats  of  heav'n  a  place  is  free, 
And  angels  ope  their  bright  ranks  for  thee  ; 
For  thee  they  v/ait,  and  with  expectant  eye         15 
Thy  fpoufe  leans  downward  from  th'  empyreal 
%: 

^•^  O  come 


54  POEMS      ON 

''  O  come  away,   her  longing  fpirit  cries, 

^'  And  fhare  witli  me  the  raptures  of  the  flcies. 

^^  Our  blifs  divine  to  mortals  is  unknown^ 

"  Immortal  life  and  glory  arc  our  own.  2® 

"  There  too  may  the  dear  pledges  of  our  love 

^'  Arrive,  and  tafle  with  us  the  joys  above  •, 

"  Attune  the  harp  to  more  than  mortal  lays, 

*'  And  join  with  us  the  tribute  of  their  praife 

"  To  him,  wlio  dy'd  ilern  juilice  to  atone,        25 

"  And  make  eternal  glory  ail  our  own. 

^'  He  in  his  death  flew  ours,  and,  as  he  rofe, 

"  He  crufli'd  the  dire  dominion  of  our  foes  ; 

"  Vain  were  their  hopes  to  put  the  God  to  flight, 

*'  Chain  us  to  hell,  and  bar  the  gates  of  light."  30 

Shefpoke,  and  turn'd  from  mortal  fcenes  her  eyes, 
Which  beam'd  celefcial  radiance  o'er  the  fl<:ies. 

Then  ^hou,  dear  man,  no  more  with  grief  re- 
tire. 
Let  grief  no  longer  damp  devotion's  fire, 
But  fife  fublime,   to  equal  blifs  afpire.  s5 

Thy 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.      55 

Thy  fighs  no  more  be  wafted  by  the  wind, 
No  more  complain,  but  be  to  heav'n  refign'd. 
^Twas  thine  t'  unfold  the  oracles  divine. 
To  footh  our  woes  the  tafk  was  aifo  thine ; 
Now  forrow  is  incumbent  on  thy  heart,  40 

Permit  the  mufe  a  cordial  to  impart ; 
Who  can  to  thee  their  tend'reft  aid  refufe  ? 
To  dry  thy  tears  how  longs  the  heav'nly  mufe  ! 


An 


S^.  P/  O    E    M    S      ON 

An  H  Y  M  N  to  the  Morning. 

ATTEND  my  lays,  ye  ever  honoured  nine, 
Aflift  my  labours,  and  my  ftrains  refine ; 
In  fmootheft  numbers  pour  the  notes  along, 
For  bright  Aurora  now  demands  my  fong. 

Aurora  hail,  and  all  the  thoufands  dies,  5 

Which  deck  thy   progrefs  through  the  vaulted 

Ikies  : 
The  morn  awakes,  and  wide  extends  her  rays, 
On  ev'ry  leaf  the  gentle  zephyr  plays ;  ^ 

Harmonious  lays  the  feather'd  race  refume. 
Dart   the    bright  eye,    and   fhake    the   painted 

plume.  10 

Ye  Ihady  groves,  your  verdant  gloom  difplay 
To  fliield  your  poet  from  the  burning  day  : 
Calliope  awake  the  facred  lyre. 
While  thy  fair  lifters  fan  the  pleafing  fire : 

Tli« 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS,        57 

The  bow'rs,  the  gales,  the  variegated  fl<:ies        15 
In  all  their  pleafures  in  my  bolbm  rife. 

See  in  the  eaft  th*  illuftrious  king  of  day  ! 
His  rifing  radiance  drives  the  ihades  away  — 
But  Oh !  I  feel  his  fervid  beams  too  ftrong, 
And  fcarce  begun,  concludes  th'  abortive  fong.  20 


H  An 


58  FOEMSoN 


s 


An  H  y  M  N  to  the  Evening, 


O  O  N  as  the  fun  forfook  the  eaftern  main 
The   pealing    thunder    (hook    the    heav'nly 
plain ; 

Majeflic  grandeur !  From  the  zephyr's  wing. 

Exhales  the  incenfe  of  the  blooming  fpring. 

Soft  purl    the  ftreams,    the   birds    renew    their 
notes,  5 

And  through  the  air  their  mingled  mufic  floats. 


Through  all  the  heav'ns  \yhat  beauteous  dies  are 
fpread ! 
Btit  the  weft  glories  in  the  deepeft  red :    - 
So  may  our  breafts  with  ev'ry  virtue  glow, 
The  living  temples  of  our  God  belo)v !  i  p 

Fill'd  with  the  praife  of  him  who  gives  the 
light, 
And  draws  the  faille  curtains  of  the  night. 

Let 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.      59 

Let  placid  flumbers  footh  each  weary  mind. 
At  morn  to  wake  more  heav'nly,  more  refinM  ; 
So  fliall  the  labours  of  the  day  begin  15 

More  pure,  more  guarded  from  the  fnares  of  fin. 

Night's  kaden  fceptre  feals  my  drowfy  eyes, 
Then  ceafe,  my  fong,  till  fair  Aurora  rife. 


H   %  iSAUM 


6o  POEMSoN 

Isaiah  Ixiii.    i — ^8. 

SAY,  heav'nly  mufe,  what  king,  or  mighty- 
God, 
That  moves  fublime  from  Tdumea'^  road  ? 
In  BozraFs  dies,  with  martial  glories  join'd. 
His  purple  vefture  waves  upon  the  wind. 
Why  thus  enrob'd  delights  he  to  appear  5 

In  the  dread  image  of  the  Pcw'r  of  war  ? 

ComprefsM   in   wrath  the   fwelling  winc-prefs 
groan'd, 
Jc  bled,  and  pour'd  the  gufhing  purple  round. 

^'  Mine  was   the  acl,"  th'  Almighty  Saviour 
faid. 
And  fhook  the  daz7iling  glories  of  his  head,      10 
^^  When  all  forfook  I  trod  the  prefs  alone, 
^'  And  conquered  by  omnipotence  my  own  ; 
<^^  For*  man's  releafe  fullain'd  the  ponderous  load^ 
*'  For  man  the  wrath  of  an  immortal  God  : 
#  ^*  <^  To 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.      6i 

"  To  execute  th'  Eternal's  dread  command        15 
"  My  foul  I  facrific'd  with  willing  hand  ^ 
*'  Sinlefs  I  flood  before  the  avenging  frown, 
'^  Atoning  thus  for  vices  not  my  own/* 

His  eye  the  ample  field  of  battle  round 
Surveyed,  but  no  created  fuccours  found  ^         20 
His  own  omnipotence  fuftainM  the  fight. 
His  vengeance  funk  the  haughty  foes  in  night; 
Beneath  his  feet  the  proflrate  troops  v/ere  fpread. 
And  round  him  lay  the  dying,  and  the  dead. 


Great  God,  what  lightening  flafhes  from  thine 
eyes  ?  25 

What  pow'r  with  (lands  if  thou  indignant  rife? 


Againfl  thy  Zion  though  her  foes  may  rage^ 
And  all  their  cunning,  all  their  ftrength  engage. 
Yet  fhe  ferenely  on  thy  bofom  lies. 
Smiles  at  their  arts,  and  ail  their  force  defies,    30 


Ou 


62  p    o    :£    M    S     o\? 


On  Recollection. 

MNEME  begin.     Infpire,  ye  fac red  nine. 
Your  vent'rous  Jfric  in  her  great  defign. 
Alneme^  immortal  pow'r,  I  trace  thy  fpring  : 
Aflift  my  ftrains,  while  I  thy  glories  fing  : 
The  afts  of  long  departed  years,   by  thee  5 

Recovered,  in  due  order  rang'd  we  fee  : 
Thy  pow'r  the  long-forgotten  calls  from  night. 
That  fweetly  plays  before  iht  fancy's  fight. 

Mneme  in  our  nofturnal  vifions  pours 
The  ample  treafure  of  her  fecret  ftores  ;  10 

Swift  from  above  fhe  wings  her  filent  flight 
Through   Thcche's    realms,    fair    regent   of    th^ 

night ; 
And,  in  her  pomp  of  images  difplay'd, 
To  the  high-raptur'd  poet  gives  her  aid, 
Through  the  unbounded  regions  of  the  mind,    15 
DifFufing  light  celeftial  and  refin'd. 

The 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.        63 

T'he  heav'nly  phantom  paints  the  aftions  done 
By  ev'ry  tribe  beneath  the  rolling  fun. 

Mneme^  enthroned  within  the  human  breaft. 
Has  vice  condemn'd,  and  ev'ry  virtue  bleft.      20 
How  fweet  the  found  when  we  her  plaudit  hear  ? 
Sweeter  than  mufic  to  the  ravifli'd  ear. 
Sweeter  than  Mard's  entertaining  ftrains 
Refounding  through  the  groves,  and  hills,   and 

plains. 
But  how  is  Mneme  dreaded  by  the  race,  25 

Who  fcorn  her  warnings,  and  defpife  her  grace  ? 
By  her  unveiPd  each  horrid  crime  appears. 
Her  awful  hand  a  cup  of  wormwood  bears. 
Days,  years  milpent,  O  what  a  hell  of  woe  ! 
Hers  the  worft  tortures  that  our  fouls  can  know,    j^ 

Now  eighteen  years  their  deftin'd  courfe  have 
run, 
In  fafl  fuccefTion  round  the  central  fun. 
How  did  the  follies  of  that  period  pafs 
Unnoticed,  but  behold  them  writ  in  brafs  ! 

^  In 


64  P    O    E     M     S      ojr 

In  Recolleftion  lee  them  frefh  return,  :^^ 

And  fure  'tis  mine  to  be  afham'd^  and  mourn. 

O  Virtue^  fmlling  in  immortal  green, 
Do  thou  exert  thy  powV,  and  change  the  fcene ; 
Be  thine  employ  to  guide  my  future  days. 
And  mine  to  pay  the  tribute  of  my  praife.         40 

Of  RecolleElton  fuch  the  pow'r  enthroned 
In  ev'ry  breall,  and  thus  her  pow'r  is  own'd. 
The  wretch,  who  dar'd  the  vengeance  of  the  fkies, 
At  laft  awakes  in  horror  and  furprize. 
By  her  alarm'd,  he  {tt%  impending  fate,  45 

He  howls  in  anguifli^  and  repents  too  late. 
But  O  !  what  peace,  what  joys  are  hers  t'  impart 
To  ev'ry  holy,  ev'ry  upright  heart ! 
Thrice  bleft  the  man,  who,  in  her  facred  flirine. 
Feels  himfelf  fhelter'd  from  the  wrath  divine !  50 


Jji 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS,       6^ 


Oh    liM  AG  I  NATION, 


THY  various  works,  imperial  queen,  we  fee, 
How  bright  their  forms !  how  deck'd  with 
pomxp  by  thee ! 
Thy  wond'rous  a6ls  in  beauteous  order  ftand. 
And  all  atteft  how  potent  is  thine  hand. 

From  Helicon's  refulgent  heights  attend,  5 

Ye  facred  choir,  and  my  attempts  befriend  * 
To  tell  her  glories  with  a  faithful  tongue. 
Ye  blooming  graces,  triumph  in  my  fongo 

Now  here,  now  there,  the  roving  Fancy  flies, 
Till   fome    lov'd   objed   ftrikes    her    wand'ring 
eyes,  lO 

Whofe  filken  fetters  all  the  fenfes  bind. 
And  foft  captivity  involves  the  mind. 


66  P    O     E    M     S      ON 

Imagination  !  v/ho  can  fing  thy  force  ? 
Or  who  defcribe  the  fwiftnefs  of  thy  courfe  ? 
Soaring  through  air  to  find  the  bright  abode,     15 
Th'  empyreal  palace  of  the  thund'ring  God, 
We  on  thy  pinions  can  furpafs  the  wind, 
And  leave  the  rolling  univerfe  behind  : 
From  ftar  to  ftar  the  mental  optics  rove, 
Meafure     the     Ikies,     and     range    the     realms 
above.  20 

There  in  one  viev/  we  grafp  the  mighty  whole, 
Or  with  new  worlds  amaze  th'  unbounded  foul. 

I'hough   B'lnter    frowns    to    Fancfs    raptur'd- 
eyes 
The  fields  may  flouriih,  and  gay  fcenes  arife; 
The  frozen  deeps  may  break  their  iron  bands,  25 
And  bid  their  waters  murmur  o'er  the  fands. 
Fair  Flora  may  refume  her  fragrant  reign, 
And  with  her  fiowVy  riches  deck  the  plain  5 
Sylvanus  may  diftufe  his  honours  round, 
And  all  the  forcft  majr  with  leaves  be  crown'd :  30 

4^  Show'rs 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.        €7 

Show'rs  may  defccnd,  and  dews  their  gems  dif- 

clofe, 
And  neclar  fparkle  on  the  blooming  role. 

Such  is  thy  pow'r,  nor  are  thine  orders  vain, 
O  thou  the  leader  of  the  mental  train  : 
In  full  perfeftion  all  thy  works  are  wrought,      35 
And  thine  the  fceptre  o'er  the  realms  of  thought. 
Before  thy  throne  the  fubjeft-paffions  bow. 
Of  fubjeft-paffions  fov'reign  ruler  Thou; 
At  thy  command  joy  ruflies  on  the  lieart. 
And  through  the  glowing  veins  the  fpirits  dart.  40 

Fancy  might  now  her  filken  pinions  try 
To  rife    from  earth,    and  fweep  th'   expanfe  on 

high ; 
From  TithcrCs  bed  now  mnght  Aurora  rife. 
Her  cheeks  all  glowing  with  celeflial  dies. 
While   a    pure   ftream  of   liglit  o'erflov/s    the 

fkies.  45^ 

The  monarch  of  the  day  I  might  behold. 
And  all  the  mountains  tipt  v/ith  radiant  gold, 

I  2  But 


• 


en  POEMSoN 

But  I  reluftant  leave  the  pleafing  views. 
Which  Fancy  drefies  to  delight  the  Mufe  ; 
JVinter  auftere  forbids  me  to  afpire,  5^ 

And  northern  tempefts  damp  the  rifing  fire  -, 
They  chill  the  tides  of  Fancy^s  flowing  fea, 
Ceafe  then,  my  fong,  ceafe  the  unequal  lay. 


A  Fu^ 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.     ^69 


A  Funeral  POEM  on  the  Death  of  C.  E. 
an  Infant  of  Twelve  Months. 

THROUGH  airy  roads  he  wings  his  inflant 
flight 
To  purer  regions  of  celeilial  h'ght ; 
Enlarg'd  he  ices  unnumber'd  fy items  roll. 
Beneath  him  fees  the  univerfal  whole, 
Pi  mets  on  planets  run  their  deftin'd  round,  5 

And  circling  wonders  fill  the  vaft  profound. 
Th'  ethereal  now,  and  now  th'  empyreal  fkies 
With  growing  fplendors  ftrike  his  wond'ring  eyes  : 
The  angels  view  him  \Yith  delight  unknown, 
Prefs  his  foft  hand,  and  feat  him  on  his  throne  j 
Then  fmiling  thus.     "  To  this  divine  abode, 
"  The  feat  of  faints,  of  feraphs,  and  of  God, 
"  Thrice   v/elcome   thou.''     The   raptur'd    babe 

replies, 
"  Thanks  to  my  God,  v/ho  fnatch'd  me  to  the 

"  flvies, 

"  E'er 


70  P    O     E    M     S     ow 

^'  E*er  vice  triumphant  had  pofTcfs'd  my  hearty   15 

"  E'er  yet  tl;ie  tempter  had  beguii'd  my  heart, 

"  E'er  yet  on  fin's  bafe  aftions  I  was  bent, 

*'  E'er  yet  I  knew  temptation's  dire  intent  ; 

*'  E'er  yet  the  lafh  for  horrid  crimes  I  felt, 

cc  £'^j-  vanity  had  led  my  way  to  guilt,  20     - 

"  But,  foon  arriv'd  at  my  celeftial  goal, 

*'  Full  glories  rufli  on  my  expanding  foul." 

Joyful  he  fpoke  :  exalting  cherubs  round 

Clapt  their  glad  wings,  the  heav'nly  vaults  refound. 

Say,  parents,  why  this  unavailing  moan  ?     25 
Why  heave  your  penfive  bofoms  witli  the  groan  ? 
To  Charles^  the  happy  fubjecl  of  my  fong, 
A  brighter  world,  and  nobler  ftrains  belong. 
Say  would  you  tear  him  from  the  realms  above 
By  thoughtlefs  wiflies,  and  prepofl'rous  love  ?    30 
Doth  his  felicity  increafe  your  pain  ? 
Or  could  you  welcome  to  this  world  again 
The  heir  of  blifs  ?  with  a  fuperior  air 
Methinks  he  anfwers  with  a  fmile  fevere, 
J*  Thrones    and    dominions  cannot  tempt    me, 

«  there/'  35' 

But 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.      71 

But  flill  you  cry,  "  Can  we  the  figh  forbear, 
*'  And  ftill  and  ftill  mud  we  not  pour  the  tear  ? 
"  Our  only  hope,  more  dear  than  vital  breath, 
"  Twelve  moons  revolv'd,  becomes  the  prey  of 

*'  death ; 
"  Delightful  infant,  nightly  vifions  give  40 

''  Thee  to  our  arms,  and  we  with  joy  receive, 
"  We  fain  would  clafp  the  Phantom  to  our  breaft, 
*'  The  Phantom  flies,  and  leaves  the  foul  unbleft.'* 

To  yon  bright  regions  let  your  faith  afcend, 
Prepare  to  join  your  deareft:  infant  friend 
In  pleafures  without  meafure,  without  end. 


Ta 


1^ 


POEMS      ON 


To  Captain  H — —  d,  of  the  65th  Regiment. 

S^  A  Y,  mufe  divine,  can  hoflile  fcenes  delight 
'  The  warrior's  bofom  in  the  fields  of  fight  ? 
Lo  !   here  the  chriftian,  and  the  hero  join 
With  mutual  grace  to  form  the  man  divine. 

In  H- D  lee  with  pleafure  and  furprize,  5 

Where  valour  kindles,  and  where  virtue  lies  : 
Go,  hero  brave,  ftill  grace  the  pcft  of  fame, 
And  add  new  glories  to  thine  honoured  name. 
Still  to  the  field,  and  flill  to  virtue  true  : 
Britannia  glories  in  no  fon  like  you.  le 


To 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.        7^ 

To  the  Right  Honourable  WILLIAM,  Earl 

of  Dartmouth,  His  Majefty^s  Principal  Secre- 
tary of  State  for  North  America,  &c. 

HA  I  L,  happy  day^  when,  fmiling  like  the 
morn, 
Fair  Freedom  rofe  New-England  to  adorn  : 
The  northern  clime  beneath  her  genial  ray, 
Dartmouth^  congratulates  thy  blifsful  fway : 
Elate  with  hope  her  race  no  longer  mourns,         5 
Each  foul  expands,  each  grateful  bofom  burns, 
While  in  thine  hand  with  pleafure  we  behold 
The  filken  reinSj  and  Freedom's  charms  unfold. 
Long  loft  to  realms  beneath  the  northern  flcies 
She  ftiines  fupreme,  while  \\^,tt^ifa£Iion  dies  t       lO 
Soon  as  appeared  the  Goddefs  long  defir'd, 
Sick  at  the  view,  fhe  languifti'd  and  expir'd  ; 
Thus  from  the  fplendors  of  the  morning  light 
The  owl  in  fadnefs  feeks  the  caves  of  night. 

K  N# 


74  POEMS 


O  N 


No  more,  America^  in  mournful  ftrain         15 
Of  wrongs,  and  grievance  unredrefs'd  complain, 
No  longer  fliall  thou  dread  the  iron  chain. 
Which  wanton  ^Tyranny  with  lawlefs  hand 
Had  made,  and  with  it  meant  t'  enflave  the  land. 

Should  you,  my   lord,  while  you  perufe  my 
fong,  20 

Wonder  from  whence  my  love  of  Freedom  fprung^ 
Whence  flow  thefc  wifhes  for  the  common  good. 
By  feeling  hearts  alone  beft  underflood, 
I,  young  in  life,   by  feeming  cruel  fate 
Was  fna'tch'd  from  Afric's  fancy 'd  happy  feat :   25 
What  pangs  excruciating  muft  moleft. 
What  forrows  labour  in  my  parent's  breafl  ? 
SteePd  was  that  foul  and  by  no  mifery  mov*d 
That  from  a  father  feiz'd  his  babe  belov'd  : 
Such,    fuch    my   cafe.      And    can   I   then    but 
pray  30 

Others  may  never  feel  tyrannic  fv/ay  ? 


For 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.        75 

For  favours  paft,  great  Sir,  our  thanks  are  due, 
And  thee  we  afls:  thy  favours  to  renew. 
Since  in  thy  pow'r,  as  in  thy  will  before, 
To  footh  the   griefs,  which  thou  did'ft  once  dci- 
plore.  3S 

May  heav'nly  grace  the  facred  fandlion  give 
To  all  thy  works,  and  thou  for  ever  live 
Not  only  on  the  wings  of  fleeting  Fame^ 
Though    praife    immortal    crowns    the    patriot's 

name. 
But  to  conduft  to  heav'ns  refulgent  fane,  40 

May  fiery  courfers  fweep  th*  ethereal  plain, 
And  bear  thee  upwards  to  that  bleft  abode. 
Where,  like  the  prophet,  thou  Ihalt  find  thy  God, 


K  2  ODE 


76  P    O    E    M    S      ON 

O    D     E    TO    NEPTUNE. 

On  Mrs.  W — 's  Voyage  to  England. 

I. 

WHILE  raging  tempcfls  fhake  the  fliore, 
While  JE'liis^  thunders  round  us  roar. 
And  fweep  impetuous  o'er  the  plain 
Be  flill,   O  tyrant  of  the   main  ^ 
Nor  let  thy  brow  contrafted  frowns  betray,         5 
While  my  Sufannah  fkims  the  wat'ry  way. 

II. 

Xhe  Pozv^r  propitious   hears  the  lay, 

The  blue-ey'd  daughters  of  the  fea 

With  fv/eeter  cadence  glide  along. 

And  Thame?  refponfive  joins   the  fong.  10 

Pleas'd  with  their  notes  Sol  fheds  benign  his  ray, 

And  double  radiance  decks  the  face  of  day. 

III.  To 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.       77 

III. 

To  court  thee  to  Brilannia's  arms 
Serene  the  climes  and  mild  the  fi<:)% 

Her  region  boafts  unniimber'd   charms,  15 

Thy  welcome  fmiiles  in  ev'ry  eye. 

Thy  promife,  Neptune  keep,  record  my  pray'r. 

Nor  give  my  wiihes  to  the  empty  air. 

Bojfon^ '  0 richer  10,   1772c 


To 


78  P    O    E    M     S      OK 

To  a  Lady  on  her  comin.^  to  North-America 
with  Iier  Son,  for  the  Recovery  of  her  Health. 


I 


Ndulgent  iTiufe  !   my  grov'ling  mind  infpire. 
And  fill  my  bofom  with  ceicftial  fire. 


See  from  Jcmiaica's  fervid  fliore  (he  moves, 
Like  the  fair  motlier  of  the  blooming  loves. 
When  from  above  the  Gcd.hfs  with  her  hand        5 
Fans  the  foft  breeze,  and  lights  upon  the  land  -, 
Thus  fhe  on  Neptune's  wat'ry  realm  reclined 
Appeard,  and  thus  invites  the  lingering  wind. 

*'  Arife,  ye  winds,  America  explore, 
*'  Waft    m.e,    ye    gales,    from    this    malignant 
''  fhore;  10 

*^  The  Northern  milder  climes  I  long  to  greet, 
"  There  hope  that  health  will  my  arrival  meet.'* 
Soon  as  {he  fpoke  in  my  ideal  view 
The  winds  affented,  and  the  veffcl  flew% 

Mada*, 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.      ^^ 

Madam,  your  fpoufe  bereft  of  wife  and  fon,  15 
In  the  grove's  dark  receffcs  pours  his  moan  ; 
Each  branch,  wide-fprcading  to  the  ambient  fky^ 
Forgets  its  verdure,  and  fubmits  to  die. 

From  thence  I  turn,  and  leave  the  fultry  plain. 
And  fwift  purfue  thy  palTage  o'er  the  main :     20 
The  fhip  arrives  before  the  fav'ring  wind. 
And  makes  the  Philadelphian  port  aflign'd. 
Thence  I  attend  you  to  Boftonia's  arms. 
Where  gen'rous  friendfnip  ev'ry  bofom  warms  : 
Thrice  welcome  hcr^  ^  may  health  revive  again,  2  5 
Bloom  on  thy  cheek,   and  I:>ound  in  ev'ry  vein  ! 
Then  back  return  to  gladden  ev'ry  heart. 
And  give  your  fpoufe  his  foul's  far  dearer  part, 
Receiv'd  apcain  with  what  a  fweet  furorize. 
The  tear  in  tranfport  ftardng  from  his  eyes  !     ^c? 
While  his  attendant  fon  with  blooming  grace 
Sjprings  to  liis  father's  ever  dear  embrace. 
With  ihouts  of  joy  Ja7natcd*s  rocks  refound. 
With  Ihouts  of  joy  the  country  rings  around. 

Ta 


8o  POEMS 


O  N 


To  a  Lady  on   her  remarkable  Prefcrvation 
in  an  Hurricane  in  North-Carolina. 

THOUGH  thou  did'ft  hear  the  tempeft  from 
afar, 
And  felt'fr  the  horrors  of  the  v/at'ry  war. 
To  me  unknown,  yet  on  this  peaceful  fhore 
Methinks  I  hear  the  ftorm  tumultuous  roar, 
And  how  flern  Boreas  with  impetuous  hand         ^ 
Compell'd  the  Nereids  to  ufurp  the  land. 
Reludant  rofe  the  daughters  of  the  main, 
And  flow  afcending  glided  o'er  the  plain. 
Till  ^Eolus  in  his  rapid  chariot  drove 
In  gloomy  grandeur  from  the  vault  above :       lo 
Furious  he  comes.     His  winged  fons  obey 
Their  frantic  fire,  and  madden  all  the  fea. 
The  billows  rave,  the  wind's  fierce  tyrant  roars, 
And  with  his  thund'ring  terrors  fhakes  the  Ihores  : 
Broken  by  waves  the  veflers  frame  is  rent,        15 
And  ftrows  with  planks  the  wat'ry  element. 


But 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.        8i 

But  thee,  Marta^  a  kind  'Nereid's  fhield 
PrefervM  from  finking,  and  thy  form  upheld  : 
And  fure  fome  heav'nly  oracle  defign^d 
At  that  dread  crifis  to  inftruft  thy  mind  20 

Things  of  eternal  confequence  to  weigh. 
And  to  thine  heart  juft  feelings  to  convey 
Of  things  above,  and  of  the  future  doom. 
And  what  the  births  of  the  dread  world  to  come. 

From  tolTing  feas  I  welcome  thee  to  land.       25 
'^  Refign  her,  Nereid^''  'twas  thy  God's  command. 
Thy  fpoufe  late  buried,  as  thy  fears  conceived. 
Again  returns,  thy  fears  are  all  relieved  i 
Thy  daughter  blooming  with  fuperior  grace 
Again  thou  fee'ft,  again  thine  arms  embrace  \    30 
O  come,  and  joyful  fliow  thy  fpoufe  his  heir. 
And  what  the  bleffings  of  maternal  care  ! 


Ta 


82  POEMS 


O  N 


To  a  Lady  and  her  Children,  on  the  Death 
of  her  Son  and  their  Brother. 

/^'Erwhehning  forrow  now  demands  my  fong : 
^"^^  From  death  the  overwhehning  forrow  fprung. 
What  flowing  tears  ?  What  hearts  with  grief  op- 

preft.? 
What  fighs    on   fighs   heave  the  fond  parent's 

breaft  ? 
The  brother  weeps,  the  haplefs  fillers  join  5 

Th'  increafmg  woe,  and  fwell  the  cryftal  brine ; 
The  poor,  who  once  his  gen'rous  bounty  fed. 
Droop,  and  bewail  their  benefa6tor  dead. 
In  death  the  friend,  the  kind  companion  lies. 
And  in  one  death  what  various  comfort  dies  !     IQ 

Th'  unhappy  mother  fees  the  fangufne  rill 
Forget  to  flow,  and  nature's  wheels  Hand  ftill. 
But  fee  from  earth  his  fpirit  far  removed. 
And  know  no  grief  recals  your  bcft-belov'd : 

He, 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.      83 

He,  upon  pinions  fwifter  than  the  wind,  15 

Has  left  mortality's  fad  fcenes  behind 
For  joys  to  this  terreftrial  ftate  unknown, 
And  glories  richer  than  the  monarch's  crown. 
Of  virtue's  fteady  courfe  the  prize  behold  ! 
What  blifsful  wonders  to  his  mind  unfold  !        20 
But  of  celeflial  joys  I  fing  in  vain : 
Attempt  not,  mufe,  the  too  advent'rous  flrain. 

No  more  in  briny  fhow'rs,  ye  friends  around, 
Or  bathe  his  clay,  or  wafle  them  on  the  ground : 
Still  do  you  weep,  ftiirwifli  for  his  return  ?     25 
How  cruel  thus  to  wifh,  and  thus  to  mourn  ? 
No  more  for  him  the  ftreams  of  forrow  pour. 
But  hafte  to  join  him  on  the  heav'nly  Ihore, 
On  harps  of  gold  to  tune  immortal  lays. 
And  to  your  God  immortal  anthems  raife,  30 


L  2  To 


84  PPEMSoN 

To  a  Gentleman  and  Lady  on  the  Death  of 
the  Lady's  Brother  and  Sifter,  and  a  Child 
of  the  Name  Avis^  aged  one  Year. 

/^  N  Death's  domain  intent  I  fix  my  eyes, 
^"^^  Where  human  nature  in  vaft  ruin  lies  : 
With  penfive  mind  I  fcarch  the  drear  abode. 
Where  the  great  conqu'ror  has  his  fpoils  beftow'd  j 
There  there  the  offspring  of  fix  thoufand  years    5 
In  endlefs  numbers  to  my  view  appears  : 
Whole  kingdoms  in  his  gloomy  den  are  thruft. 
And  nations  mix  with  their  primaeval  duft  : 
Infatiate  ftill  he  gluts  the  ample  tomb  ; 
His  is  the  prefent,  his  the  age  to  come.  10 

See  here  a  brother,  here  a  fifter  fpread. 
And  a  fweet  daughter  mingled  with  the  dead. 

But,  Madam^  let  your  grief  be  laid  afide, 
And  let  the  fountain  of  your  tears  be  dry'd, 
In  vain  they  flow  to  wet  the  dufty  plain,  15 

Your  fighs  are  wafted  to  the  Ikies  in  vain, 

Your 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.        85 

Your  pains  they  wltnefs,   but  they  can  no  more. 
While  Death  reigns  tyrant  o'er  this  mortal  Ihore. 

The  glowing  fbars  and  filver  queen  of  light 
At  laft  muft  pcrifrx  in  the  gloom  of  night :        2a 
Refign  thy  friends  to  that  Almighty  hand, 
Which  gave  them  life,  and  bov/  to  his  command; 
Thine  Avis  2:ive  without  a  murrn'ring  Jieart, 
Though  half  thy  foul  be  fated  to  depart. 
To  fliining  guards  confign  thine  infant  care       25 
To  waft  triumphant  through  the  feas  of  air  : 
Her  foul  enlarged  to  heav'nly  pleafure  fprings. 
She  feeds  on  truth  and  uncreated  things. 
Methinks  I  hear  her  in  the  realms  above. 
And  leaning  forward  vv^ith  a  filial  love,  30 

Invite  you  there  to  lliare  immortal  blifs 
Unknown,  untafied  in  a  ftate  like  thi#. 
With  tow'ring  hopes,  and  growing  grace  arife. 
And  feek  beatifude  beyond  the  fkies. 


O21 


85  J^OEMSoN 

On  the  Death  of  Dr.  SAMUEL  MARSHALL. 

1771. 

THROUGH  thickeft    glooms  look  back, 
immortal  fhade. 
On  that  confufion  which  thy  death  has  made  ; 
Or  from  Olympus^  height  look  down,  and  fee 
A  Town  involv'd  in  grief  bereft  of  thee. 
Thy  Lucy  {t^%  thee  mingle  with  the  dead,  5 

And  rends  the  graceful  trcfics  from  her  head. 
Wild  in  her  woe,  with  grief  unknown  oppreft 
Sigh  follows  figh  deep  heaving  from  h.r  bread. 

Too  quickly  fled,  ah  !    v/hither  art  thou  gone  ? 
Ah  !   loft  for  ever  to  thy  wife  and  fon  !  10 

The  haplefs  child,  thine  only  hope  and  heir. 
Clings  round  his  mother's  neck,  and  weeps  his 

forrows  there. 
The  lofs  of  thee  on  "Tykr^s  foul  returns. 
And  Bojion  for  her  dear  phyfician  mourns. 

When 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS,      ij 

When    ficknefs   call'd   for  MarJhaWs   healing 
hand,  ^5 

With  what  compaflion  did  his  foul  expand? 
In  him  we  found  the  father  and  the  friend  : 
In  life  how  lov'd  !   how  honoured  in  his  end  ! 

And  muft  not  then  our  jEfculapius  flay 
To  bring  hi^  lingering  infant  into  day  ?  ag 

The  babe  unborn  in  the  dark  womb  is  toft, 
And  feems  in  anguifh  for  its  father  loft. 

Gone  is  Apollo  from  his  houfe  of  earth. 
But  leaves  the  fweet  m-emorials  of  his  worth  : 
The  common  parent,  whom  we  all  deplore,       25 
From  yonder  world  unfeen  muft  come  no  more. 
Yet  'midft  oxir  v/oes  immortal  hopes  attend 
The  fpoufe,  the  fire,  the  univerfal  friend. 


Tq 


POEMS      ON 


To  a  Gentleman  on  his  Voyage  to  Great-Britain 
for  the  Recovery  of  his  Health. 

\A1  HILE  others  chant  of  gay  Ely/tan  fcenes, 
^  ^     Of  balmy  zephyrs,  and  of  flow'ry  plains, 
My  fong  more  happy  Ipeaks  a  greater  name. 
Feels  higher  motives  and  a  nobler  flame. 
For  thee,  O  R — ,  the  mufe  attunes  her  firings,  5 
And  mounts  fublime  above  inferior  things. 

I  fing  not  now  of  green  embowVing  woods, 
I  fmg  not  now  the  daughters  of  the  floods, 
I  fmg  not  of  the  ftorms  o'er  ocean  driv'n. 
And  how  they  howPd  along  the  wafte  of  heav'n,   10 
But  I  to  R —  would  paint  the  Britijh  fliore, 
An4  vail  Atlantic^  not  untry'd  before  : 
Thy  life  impaired  commands  thee  to  arife. 
Leave  thefe  bleak  regions,  and  inclement  flcies. 
Where  chilling  winds  return  the  winter  pafl:,      15 
And  nature  Ihudders  at  the  furious  blafl. 


thou 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.       89 

O  thou  ftupendous,  earth-enclofing  m:An 
Exert  thy  wonders  to  the  world  again  ! 
If  ere  thy  pow'r  prolong'd  the  fleeting  breath, 
TurnM  back  the  fhafts,   and  mock'd  the  gates  of 
death,  20 

If  ere  thine  air  difpens'd  an  healing  pow'r, 
Or  fnatch'd  the  viftim  from  the  fatal  hour. 
This  equal  cafe  demands  thine  equal  care. 
And  equal  wonders  may  this  patient  fhare. 
But  unavailing,  frantic  is  the  dream  25 

To  hope  thine  aid  without  the  aid  of  him 
Who  gave  thee  birth,  and  taught  thee  where  t4j 

flow. 
And  in  thy  waves  his  various  bleflings  fhow. 

May  R —  return  to  view  his  native  Ihorc 
Replete  with  vigour  not  his  own  before,  30 

Then  Ihall  we  fee  with  pleafure  and  furprize. 
And  own  thy  work,  great  Ruler  of  the  ikies ! 


M  T« 


go  POEMS 


on 


To  the  Rev.  Dr.  THOMAS    AMORY 

on  reading  his  Sermons  on  Daily  Devotion, 
in  which  that  Duty  is  recommended  and  aflifted. 

TO  cultivate  in  evVy  noble  mind 
Habitual  grace,  and  fentiments  refin'd. 
Thus  while  you  ftrive  to  mend  the  human  heart. 
Thus  while  the  heav'nly  precepts  you  impart, 
O  may  each  bofom  catch  the  facred  fire,  5 

And  youthful  minds  to  Virtue's  throne  afpire ! 

When  God's  eternal  ways  you  fet  in  fight, 
And  Virtue  ftiines  in  all  her  native  light. 
In  vain  would  Vice  her  works  in  night  conceal. 
For  Wifdom^s  eye  pervades  the  fable  veiL  i© 

"  Artifls  may  paint  the  fun's  effulgent  rays. 
But  Amorfs  pen  the  brighter  God  difplays  : 
While  his  great  works  in  Amory's  pages  fhine. 
And  while  he  proves  his  effence  all  divine. 

The 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.        91. 

The  Atheift  fure  no  more  can  boaft  aloud  15 

Of  chance^  or  nature,  and  exclude  the  God  ^ 
As  if  the  clay  without  the  potter's  aid 
Should  rife  in  various  forms,  and  fhapes  felf-made^ 
Or  worlds  above  with  orb  o'er  orb  profound 
Self-mov'd  could  run  the  everlafting  round.       20 
It  cannot  be —  unerring  Wijdom  guides 
With  eye  propitious,  and  o'er  all  prefides. 

Still  profper,  Amory  !  Hill  may'ft  thou  receive 
The  warmeft  bleflings  which  a  mufe  can  give. 
And  when  this  tranfitory  ftate  is  o'er,  25 

When  kingdoms  fall,  and  fleeting  Fame's  no  more. 
May  Jmory  triumph  in  immortal  fame, 
A  nobler  title,  and  fuperior  name ! 


M  ?  On 


92  P    O    E     M    S      0  N 


On  the  Death  of  J.  C.  an   Infant. 

^T  O  more  the  fiowVy  fcenes  of  pleafure  rife, 
^    Nor  charming  profpefts  greet  the  mental 
eyes, 
Ko  more  with  joy  we  view  that  lovely  face 
Smiling,  difportive,  flufh'd  with  ev'ry  grace. 

The  tear  of  forrow  flows  from  ev'ry  eye,  5 

Groans  anfwer  groans,   and  fighs  to  fighs  rt^ply  •, 
What  fudden  pangs  fliot  thro'  each  aching  heart, 
When,  Bccth^  thy  meflenger  difpatch'd  his  dart  ? 
Thy  dread  attendants,  all-dellroying  Fow'r^ 
Hurried  the  infant  to  his  mortal  hour.  10 

Could'ft    thou     unpitying     clofe    thofe    radiant 

eves  ? 
Or  faird  his  artlefs  beauties  to  furprize  ? 
Could  not  his  innocence  thy  flroke  controul. 
Thy  purpofe  fhake,  and  foften  all  thy  foul  ? 


The 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.       93 

The  bloomino-  babe,  with  fliacies  of  Death  o'er- 

fpread,  15 

No   more   fliall    fmile,    no    more  fiiall  raifc   its 

head. 
But,  like  a  branch  that  from  the  tree  is  torn, 
Falls  profti*ate,  v/ither'd,  languid,   and  forlorn. 
"  Where  flies  my  James  ?''  'tis  thus  I  feem  to' 

hear 
The  parent  afk,  "  Some  angel  tell  me  where  2Q\ 
"  He  wings  his  paiiage  thro' the  yielding  air  ?" 
Methinks  a  cherub  bending  from  the  (kies 
Obferves  the  queftion,  and  ferene  replies, 
**  In  heav'ns  high  palaces  your  babe  appears  : 
"  Prepare  to  meet  him,  and  difmifs  your  tears.**  25 
Shall  not  th'  intelligence  your  grief  reflrain. 
And  turn  the  miOurnful  to  the  chearful  ftrain  ? 
Ceafe  your  complaints,  fufpcndeach  rifing  figh, 
Ceafe  to  accufe  the  Ruler  of  the  flcy. 
Parents,  no  more  indulge  the  falling  tear:         3® 
Let  Faith  to  heav'n's  refulgent  domes  repair. 
There  fee  your  infant,  like  a  feraph  glow  : 
What  charms  celeftial  in  his  numbers  flow 

Mdodious, 


^4  P    O    E    M    S     ON 

Melodious,  while  the  foul-enchanting  ftrain 
Dwells  on  his  tongue,  and  fills  th'  ethereal  plain  ?  35 
Enough— for  ever  ceafeyourniurm'ring  breath  ^ 
Kot  as  a  foe,  but  friend  converfe  with  Deaths 
Since  to  the  port  of  happinefs  unknown 
He  brought  that  treaiure  which  you  call  your  own. 
The  gift  of  heav'n  intrufced  to  your  hand      40 
Chearful  refign  at  the  divine  command  : 
Not  at  your  bar  mufl  foy'reign  JViJdcm  fland. 


An 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS, 


95 


AnH     Y     M     N      to     Humanity, 
To  S.  P.  G.  Efq-, 

L 

LO  !  for  this  dark  terreftrial  ball 
Forfakes  his  azure-paved  hall 
A  prince  of  heav'nly  birth  ! 
Divine  Htmanity   behold. 

What  wonders  rife,  what  charms  unfold  5 

At  his  defcent  to  earth  ! 

II. 

The  bofoms  of  the  great  and  good 
With  wonder  and  delight  he  view'd. 

And  fix'd  his  empire  there : 
Him,  clofe  comprefTing  to  his  bread,  lo 

The  fire  of  gods  and  men  addrefs'd, 

^*  My  fon,  my  heav'nly  fair  ! 

III.  ''  Defcend 


96  POEMS      ON 

III. 
"  Defcend  to  earth,  there  place  thy  throne ; 
**  To  fuccour  man's  afflicled  ion  ;, 

*^  Each  human  heart  infpire :  •         15 

"  To  a6l  in  bounties  unconfin'd 
"  Enlarge  the  clofe  contrafted  mind, 

"  And  fill  it  with  thy  fire/'  ''\ 


•4# 


IV. 

Quick  as  the  word,  with  fwift  career 

He  wings  his  courfe  from  ftar  to  flar,  20 

And  leaves  the  bright  abode. 
The  Firlue  did  his  charms  impart; 
Their  G y  !  then  thy  raptur'd  heart 

Perceiv'd  the  rufliing  God  : 

V. 

For  when  thy  pitying  eye  did  fee  25 

The  languid  mufe  in  low  degree. 

Then,  then  at  thy  defire 
Defcended  the  celeflial  nine ; 
O'er  me  methought  they  deign'd  to  lliine, 
'  '     And  deign'd  to  firing  my  lyre.  30 

VL  Can 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.        $7 

VL 

Can  Afric^s  mufe  forgetful  prove  ? 
Or  can  fuch  friendfhip  fail  to  move 

A  tender  human  heart  ? 
Immortal  Friend/hip  laurel-crown'd 
The  fmiling  Graces  all  furround  25 

With  cv'ry  heav'nly  Art. 


N  T% 


§8  P    O    E    M    S     ON 

To  the  Honourable  T.  H.  Efqv  on  the  Death 
of  liis  Daughter. 

WHILE   deep   you    mourn    beneath   the 
cyprefs-fliade 
The  hand  of  Death,  and  your  dear  daughter  laid 
In  dull,  whofe  abfence  gives  your  tears  to  flow. 
And  racks  your  bofom  with  inceflant  woe, 
Let  RecoIleSfion  take  a  tender  part,  5 

AfTuage  the  raging  tortures  of  your  heart. 
Still  the  wild  tempeft  of  tumultuous  grief. 
And  pour  the  heav'nly  ne6lar  of  relief : 
Sufpend  the  figh,  dear  Sir,  and  check  the  groan. 
Divinely  bright  your  daughter's  Virtues  flione  :   10 
How  free  from  fcornful  pride  her  gentle  mind. 
Which  ne'er  its  aid  to  indigence  declin'd ! 
Expanding  free,  it  fought  the  means  to  prove 
Unfailing  charity,  unbounded  love  ! 

She  unreluftant  flies  to  fee  no  more  i§ 

Her  dear-lov'd  parents  on  earth's  dufky  Iliore  : 

Impatient 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS,      gg 

Impatient  heavVs  refplendent  goal  to  gain. 
She  with  fwift  progrefs  cuts  the  azure  plain, 
Where  grief  lubfides,  where  changes  are  no  more. 
And  life's  tumultuous  billows  ceafe  to  roar;      20 
She  leaves  her  earthly  manfion  for  the  flcies, 
Where  new  creations  feaft  her  wond'ring  eyes. 

To  heav'n^s  high  mandate  chearfuUy  refign'd 
She  mounts,  and  leaves  the  rolling  globe  behind  ; 
She,  who  late  wifh'd  that  Leonard  might  return,  25 
Has  ceas'd  to  languifli,  and  forgot  to  mourn  ; 
1  o  the  fame  high  empyreal  manfions  come. 
She  joins  her  fpoufe,  and  fmiles  upon  the  tomb : 
And  thus  I  hear  her  from  the  realms  above  : 
"  Lo!  this  the  kingdom  of  ceieftial  love!         30 
"  Could  ye,  fond  parents,  fee  our  prefent  blifs, 
*'  How  foon  would  you  each  figh,  each  fear  dif- 

''  mifs  ? 
*'  Amidft  unutter'd  pleafures  whilfl  I  play 
*'  In  the  fair  funfhine  of  ceieftial  day, 
^'  As  far  as  grief  afFefts  an  happy  foul  ^5 

**  So  far  doth  grief  my  better  mind  controul, 

^2  '^To 


loo  P    O     E    M     S     ON 

"  To  fee  on  earth  my  aged  parents  mourn, 

"  And  fecret  wifh  for  T 1  to  return  : 

"  Let   brighter   fcenes   your   ev'nmg-hours   em- 
^'  ploy  : 
Converfe  with  heav'n,  and  tafte  the  promised 
joy/'  '  40 


cc 

4C 


N  I  O  B  E 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.     i»i 

N  I  O  B  E  in  Diftrcfs  for  her  Children  flain  by 
Apollo,  from  Ovid's  Metamorphofes,  Book  VI. 
and  from  a  view  of  the  Painting  of  Mr,  Richard 

Wilfon. 

AP  O  L  L  O's    wrath  to  man   the   dreadful 
fpring 
Of  ills  innum'rous,   tuneful  goddefs,  fing  ! 
Thou  who  did'ft  firft  th'  ideal  pencil  give. 
And  taught'ft  the  painter  in  his  works  to  live, 
Infpire  with  glov/ing  energy  of  thought,  5 

What  Pf^ilfon  painted,  and  what  Ovid  wrote* 
Mufe !  lend  thy  aid,  nor  let  me  fue  in  vain, 
Tho'  laft  and  meaneft  of  the  rhyming  train  ! 
O  guide  my  pen  in  lofty  flrains  to  fhow 
The  Phrygian  queen,  all  beautiful  in  woe.  10 

''Twas  vvlicre  Mcennia  fpreads  her  wide  domain 
'Niohc  dwelt,  and  held  her  potent  reign  : 
See  in  her  hand  the  regal  fceptre  fliine. 
The  wealthy  heir  of  Tantalus  divine. 

He 


102  P     O    E    M    S     ON 

He  moft  dillinguifn'd  by  Dodonean  Jove^  15 

To  approach  the  tables  of  the  gods  above  : 
Her  grandfire  Atlas^  who  with  mighty  pains 
Th'  ethereal  axis  on  his  neck  fuflains  : 
Her  other  gran  fire  en  the  throne  on  high 
Rolls  the  loud-pe.;iing  thunder  thro'  the  fl<:y.      zo 

Her  fpoufL%  Amphion^  who  from  Jove  too  fprings, 
Divinely  taught  to  fweep  the  founding  ilrings. 

Seven  fprightly  fons  the  royal  bed  adorn, 
Seven  daughters  beauteous  as  the  opening  morn, 
As  when  Aurora  fills  tlie  ravlfh'd  fight,  25 

And  decks  the  orient  realms  with  rofy  light 
From  their  bright  eyes  the  living  fplendors  play. 
Nor  can  beholders  bear  the  flalliin^  rav. 

% 

Wherever,  Niche,  thou  turn'ft  thine  eyes. 
New  beauties  kindle,  and  nev/ joys  arif:^  !  30 

But  thou  had'ft  far  the  happier  mother  prov'd, 
[If  this  fair  offspring  had  been  lefs  belov'd : 

.What 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.       joj 

What  if  their  charms  exceed  Aurora's  teinr. 
No  words  could  tell  them,  and  no  pencil  paint. 
Thy  love  too  vehement  haftens  to  dcftroy  35 

Each  blooming  maid,  and  each  celeltlal  boy. 

Now  Manto  comes,  endu'd  with  mighty  fkill. 
The  paft  to  explore,  the  future  to  reveal. 
Thro'  ^hebes^  wide  ftreets  Tirejia's  daughter  came. 
Divine  Latona's  mandate  to  proclaim  :  40 

The  Theban  maids  to  hear  the  orders  ran. 
When  thus  Mcconia^s  prophetefs  began : 

"  Go,  Ihelans !  great  Latona's  will  obey, 
*'  And  pious  tribute  at  her  altars  pay  : 
''  With  rights  divine,  the  goddefs  be  implor'd,  45 
"  Nor  be  her  facred  offspring  unador'd/' 
Thus  Manto  fpoke.     The  Thehan  maids  obey. 
And  pious  tribute  to  the  goddefs  pay. 
The  rich  perfumes  afcend  in  waving  fpires, 
And  altars  blaze  with  confccrated  fires;  50 

The  fair  afiembly  moves  with  graceful  air, 
And  leaves  of  laurel  bind  the  flowing  hair. 

mole 


i©4  P     O     E     M     S      ON 

Niobe  comes  with  all  her  royal  race, 

With  charms  unnumbcr'd,  and  fuperior  grace  : 

Her  Phrygian  garments  of  delightful  hue,  55 

Inwove  v/ith  gold,   refulgent  to  the  view. 

Beyond  defcription  beautiful  fhe  moves 

Like  heav'niy  Venus^  'midft  her  fmiles  and  loves  : 

She  views  around  the  fupplicating  train, 

And  ihakes  her  graceful   head   with  Hern  dif- 

dain,  60 

Proudly  fhe  turns  around  her  lofty  eyes, 

And  thus  reviles  celellial  deities  : 

*'  What  madnefs  drives  the  Thehan  ladies  fair 

"  To  o;ive  their  incenfe  to  furrounding  air  ? 

"  Say  why  this  new  fprung  deity  preferr'd  ?       65 

"  Why  vainly  fancy  your  petitions  heard  ? 

"  Or  fay  why  Coins''  offspring  is  obey'd, 

"  While  to  my  goddefship  no  tribute's  paid  ? 

"  For  me  no  altars  blaze  with  living  fires^ 

''  No  bullock  bleeds,  no  frankincenfe  tranfpires,  7^ 

«'  Tho'  Cadmm*  palace,  not  unknown  to  fame, 
« 

»'  And  Phrygian  nations  all  revere  my  name. 

*<  Where'er 


(C 


46 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.      105 

"  Where'er  I  turn  my  eyes  vaft  wcnkh  I  find. 
"  Lo  !  here  an  emprefs  with  a  goddcfs  join'd* 
"  What,  lliall  a  Titanefs  be  deify'd,  75 

To  vvhom  the  fpacious  earth  a  couch  deny'd  ? 

Nor  heav'n,  nor  earth,  nor  fea  receiv'd  your 
queen, 

"  'Till  pitying  Belos  took  the  wandVer  in. 
*'  Round  me  what  a  large  progeny  is  fpread  ! 
"  No  frowns  of  fortune  has  my  foul  to  dread.  80 
*'  What  if  indignant  fhe  decreafe  my  train 
'^  More  than  Latond's  nunaber  will  remain  ? 
"  Then  hence,    ye  Theban    dames,    hence   hade 

"  away, 
*^  Nor  longer  off'rings  to  Latona  pay  ? 
"  Regard  the  orders  oi  Amphior^s  Ipoufe,  85 

"  And  take  the  leaves  of  laurel  from  your  brows.** 
Wiohe  fpoke.     The  Theban  maids  obey'd. 
Their  brows  unbound,  and  left  the  rights  un* 
paid. 

The  angry  goddefs  heard,  then  filence  broke 
On  Cynthus'  fummit,  and  indignant  fpoke  ;       90 

O  ''Phcsbusf 


io6  POEMS 


ON 


*'  Phcehus!  behold,  thy  mother  in  difgrace, 

"  Who  to  no  goddefs  yields  the  prior  place 

*'  Except  to  Juno's  felf,  who  reigns  above, 

"  The  fpoufe  and  filler  of  the  thund'ring  Jove. 

"  Niobe  fprung  from  "Tantalus  infpires  g^ 

"  Each  Thehan  bofom  with  rebellious  fires  ^ 

"  No  reafon  her. imperious  temper  quells, 

*'  But  aU  her  father  in  her  tongue  rebels  •, 

^'  Wrap  her  own  fons  for  her  blafpheming  breath, 

"  Apollo  !  wrap  them  in  the  fhades  of  death."  loo 

Lato7ia  ceas'd,  and  ardent  thus  replies. 

The  God,  whofe  glory  decks  th'  expanded  fkies. 

*'  Ceafe  thy.  complaints,  mine  be  the  tafk  af- 

*'  fign'd 

'^  To  punilh  pride,  and  fcourge  the  rebel  mind." 

This  Phcebe  join'd. — They   wing    their    inftant 

flight;  105 

thehes  trembled  as  th'  immortal  pow'rs  alight. 

With    clouds     incompafs'd    glorious   Phcehus 
Hands ; 
The  feather'd  vengeance  quiv'ring  in  his  hands. 

Near 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.      107 

Near  Cadmus'  walls  a  plain  extended  lay. 
Where  T^hcbes'  young  princes  pafs'd  in  fport  the 
day:  no 

There  the  bold  courfers  bounded  o'er  the  plains, 
"While  their  great  mafters  held  the  golden  reins. 
Ifmenus  firft  the  racing  paftime  led. 
And  rul'd  the  fury  of  his  flying  fteed. 
"  Ah    me,"    he    fudden    cries,    with    fhrieking 
breath,  115 

While  in  his  breaft  he  feels  the  fhaft  of  death  ; 
He  drops  the  bridle  on  his  courfer's  mane. 
Before  his  eyes  in  Ihadows  fwims  the  plain. 
He,  the  firft-born  of  great  Amphion's  bed. 
Was   ftruck   the  firfl,    firft   mingled    with    the 
dead.  I20 

Then  didfl  thou,  Sipylus^  the  language  hear 
Of  fate  portentous  whiftling  in  the  air  : 
As  when  th'  impending  ftorm  the  failor  fees 
He  fpreads  his  canvas  to  the  fav'ring  breeze, 

O  2  So 


io8  P    O    E     M     S      ON 

So  to  thine  horfe  thou  gav'il  the  golden  reins,   125 
Gav'ft  him  to  rufh  impetuous  o'er  the  plains : 
But  ah  !  a  fatal  fhaft  from  Phcchus'  hand 
Smites  through  thy  neck,   and  links  thee  on  the 
fand- 

Two  other  brothers  were  at  wrefiling  found, 
And  in  their  paftime  clafpt  each  other  round  :    1 30 
A  ihaft  that  inftant  from  Apollo's  hand 
Transnxt  them   both,  and  ftretcht  them  on  the 

fan.d  : 
Together  they  their  cruel  fate  bemoanM, 
Together  languilh'd,  and  together  groan'd  : 
Together  too  th'  unbodied  fpirits  fled,  135 

And  fought  the  gloomy  manfions  of  the  dead. 

Alphenor  faw,  and  trembling  at  the  view. 
Beat  his  torn  bread,  that  chang'd  its  fnovvy  hue. 
He  flies  to  raife  them  in  a  kind  embrace ; 
A  brother's  fondnefs  triumphs  in  his  face:       14P 
Alphenor  fails  in  this  fraternal  deed, 
A  dart  diipatch'd  him  (fo  the  fates  decreed;) 

,^00A 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.       109 

Soon  as  the  arrow  left  the  deadly  wound. 
His  ifiuing  entrails  Imoak'd  upon  the  ground 

What  woes  on  blooming  Damafichon  wait !     145 
His  fighs  portend  his  near  impending  fate. 
Juft  where  the  well-made  leg  begins  to  be, 
And  the  fofc  fmev/s  form  the  fupple  knee,   " 
The  youth  fore  wounded  by  the  Belian  god 
Attempts  t'  extraft  the  crime-avenging  rod,     15a 
But,  whiltt  he  ftrives  the  will  of  fate  t'  avert. 
Divine  Apollo  fends  a  fecond  dart ; 
Swift  thro'  his  throat  the  feather'd  mifchief  flies. 
Bereft  of  fenfe,  he  drops  his  head,  and  dies. 

Young  Hioneus,  thelaft,  direc5ls  his  pray'r,   155 
And  cries,  "  My  life,  ye  gods  celeftial !  fpare.*' 
Apollo  heard,  and  pity  touch'd  his  heart, 
But  ah  !   too  late,  for  he  had  fent  the  dart : 
Thou  too,  O  Ilioneus^  are  doom'd  to  fall, 
The  fates  refufe  that  arrow  to  recal.  i6c^ 


Gfl 


no  POEMS     ON 

On  the  fwift  wings  of  ever- flying  Fame 
To  Cadmus'  palace  foon  the  tidings  came  : 
Niobe  heard,  and  with  indignant  eyes 
She  thus  exprefs'd  her  anger  and  furprize  : 
"  Why  is  fiTch  privilege  to  them  ailov/M  ?       165 
*^  Why  thus  infulted  by  the  Delian  god  ? 
*^  Dwells  there  fuch  mifchief  in  the  pow'rs  above  ? 
"  Why  fleeps  the  vengeance  of  immortal  Jove  /"' 
For  now  Amphion  too,  with  grief  opprefs'd, 
Had  plung'd  the  deadly  dagger  in  his  bread.   1 70 
Niobe  now,  lefs  haughty  than  before. 
With  lofty  head  directs  her  fteps  no  more. 
She,  who  late  told  her  pedigree  divine. 
And  drove  the  ^^hebans  from  Lat end's  fhrine, 
How    ftrangdy    changed  ! — — yet    beautiful   in 
woe,  175 

She  weeps,  nor  weeps  unpity'd  by  the  foe. 
On  each  pale  corfe  the  wretched  mother  fpread 
Lay  overwhelmed  with  grief,  and  kifs'd  her  dead. 
Then  raised  her  arms,  and  thus,  in  accents  flow, 
>'  Be  fated  cruel  Goddefs !  with  my^  woe  ^  180 

*'If 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS,     us 

"  If  I've  offended,  let  thefe  ftreaming  eyes, 

"  And  let  this  fcv'nfold  funeral  fuffice  : 

"  Ah  !   take  this  wretched  life  you  deign'd  to  fave, 

*'  With  them  I  too  am  carried  to  the  grare. 

"  Rejoice  triumphant,   my  viftorious  foe,        185 

^'  But  fhow  the  caufe  from  whence  your  triumphs 

*'  flow  ? 
"  Tho^  I  unhappy  mourn  thefe  children  flain, 
"  Yet  greater  numbers  to  my  lot  remain." 
She  ceas'd,  the  bow- firing  twang'd  with  awful 

found, 
Which  ftruck  with  terror  all  th'  affembly  round 
Except  the  queen,  who  ftood  unmov'd  alone. 
By  her  diftreffes  more  prefumptuous  grown. 
Near  the  pale  corfes  flood  their  fifters  fair 
In  fable  veflures  and  diflievell'd  hair ; 
One,  while  fnt  draws  the  fatal  iliaft  away,        ipr 
Faints,  falls,  and  fickens  at  the  light  of  day. 
To  footh  her  mother,  lo  !  another  flies. 
And  blames  the  fury  of  inclement  fl<:ies. 
And,  while  her  words  a  filial  pity  fhow. 

Struck    dumb indignant    feeks    the    ihades 

below,  200 

Now 


112  POEMS      ON 

Now  from  the  fatal  place  another  flies. 
Falls  in  her  flight,  and  languiflifs,  and  dies. 
Another  on  her  filter  drops  in  death  ; 
A  fifth  in  trembling  terrors  yields  her  breath ; 
While  the    fixth    feeks    fome   gloomy    cave    in 
vain,  205 

Struck  with  the  refl:,  and  mingl'd  with  the  flain. 

One  only  daughter  lives,  and  flie  the  leafc ; 
The  queen  clofe  clafp'd  the  daughter  to  her  breafl: : 
*^  Ye  heav'nly  pow'rs,  ah  fpare  me  one,"  ftie  cry'd, 
*'  Ah  !  fpare  me  one,"  the  vocal  hills  reply 'd  :  210 
In  vain  flie  begs,   the  Fates  her  fuit  deny. 
In  her  embrace  flie  fees  her  daughter  die. 

*  "  The  queen  of  all  her  famiily  bereft, 
*'  Without  or  huft3and,  fon,  or  daughter  left, 
"  Grew  ft:upid  at  the  fliock.     The  pafllng  air    215 
"  Made  no  impreflfion  on  her  fl:iff 'ning  hain 

*  This  Verfe^to  the  End  is  the  Work  of  another  Hand. 

*»  The 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.      113 

"'  The  blood  forfook  her  face  :  amidft  the  flood 
''  Pour'd  from  her  cheeks,  quite  fix'd  her  eye-balls 

"  flood. 
*^  Her  tongue,   her  palate  both  obdurate  grew, 
**  Her  curdled  veins  no  longer  motion  knev/ ;   220 
''  7^he  ufe  of  neck,  and  arms,  and  feet  was  gone, 
"  And  ev'n  her  bowels  hardened  into  ftone: 
*'  A  marble  fbatue  novv'  the  queen  appears,, 
**  But  from  the  marble  Ileal  the  filent  tears." 


T# 


114  P     O    E     M     S      o^j 

To  S.  M.  a  young  African  Painter,  on  feeing 

his  Works. 

^nr^  O  fliow  the  laboring  bofom's  deep  intent, 
-^    And  thought  in  living  charafters  to  paint. 
When  firft  thy  pencil  did  thofe  beauties  give^ 
And  breathing  figures  learnt  from  thee  to  live. 
How  did  thofe  profpefts  give  my  foul  delight,     5 
A  nev/  creation  rufliing  on  my  fight  ? 
vSlill,  wond'rous  youth  !   each  noble  path  purfue. 
On  deathlefs  glories  fix  thine  ardent  view  : 
Still  may  the  painter's  and  the  poet's  fire 
To  aid  thy  pencil,  and  thy  verfe  confpire  !  101 

And  may  the  charms  of  each  feraphic  themie 
Condud  thy  footfteps  to  immortal  fame  ! 
High  to  the  biifsful  wonders  of  the  fides 
Elate  thy  foul,  and  raife  thy  wifliful  eyes. 
Thrice  happy,  when  exalted  to  lurvey  15 

That  fplendid  city,  crown'd  with  endlefs  day, 
Whofe  twice  fix  gates  on  radiant  hinges  ring : 
Celeftial  Salem  blooms  in  endlefs  fpring- 

Calin 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.     115 

Calm  and  ferene  thy  moments  glide  along, 
And  may  the  mufe  infpire  each  future  fong  !       20 
Still,  with  the  fvveets  of  contemplation  blefs'd. 
May  peace  with  balmy  v/ings  your  foul  invcft  ! 
But  when  thefe  fliades  of  time  are  chas'd  away^ 
And  darknefs  ends  m  everlafting  day. 
On  what  feraphic  pinions  fhall  we  move,  25 

And  view  the  landfcapes  in  the  realms  above  ? 
There  fhall  thy  tongue  in  heav'nly  murmurs  flow. 
And  there  my  mufe  with  heav'nly  tranfport  glow  : 
No  more  to  tell  of  DamorCs  tender  fighs. 
Or  rifing  radiance  of  Aurora's  eyes,  30 

For  nobler  themes  demand  a  nobler  ftrain. 
And  purer  language  on  th'  ethereal  plain. 
Ceafe,  gentle  mufe !  the  folemn  gloom  of  night 
Now  feals  the  fair  creation  from  my  fight. 


P  2  To 


iiS  P    O    E    M    S     ON 

To  His  Hononr  the  Lieutenant-Governor,  on  the 
Death  of  his  Lady.     March  24,  1773. 

AL  L-conquering   Death !     by   thy   refiillefs 
pow'r, 
Hope's  tow'ring  plumage  falls  to  rife  no  more  ! 
Gf  fcenes  terreftrial  how  the  glories  fly, 
Forget  their  fplendors,  and  lubmit  to  die  ! 
Who  ere  efcap'd  thee,  but  the  faint  '•'  of  old        5 
Beyond  the  flood  in  facred  annals  told. 
And  the  great  fage,  -f  whom  fiery  courfes  drew 
To  heav'n's  bright  portals  from  Elijloa^s  viev/  ; 
Wond'ring  he  gaz'd  at  the  refulgent  car. 
Then  fnatch'd  the  mantle  floating  on  die  air.     10 
From  Death  thefc  only  could  exemption  boaft, 
And  without  dying  gain'd  th'  im.mortal  coaft. 
Not  falling  millions  fate  the  tyrant's  mind, 
Nor  can  the  victor's  progrefs  be  confin'd. 
But   ceafc  thy  fl:rife  with    Deaths   fond   N^^Jure^ 
'  ceafc:  15 

S^e  leads  the  virtuous  to  the  realms  of  peace  j 

*  Enoch.         t  Eliiahc 

His 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.       ^ly 

His  to  conduft  to  the  immortal  plains. 

Where  heav'n's  Supreme  in  blifs  and  glory  reigns*. 

There  fits,  illuftrious  Sir,  thy  beauteous  fpoufe; 
A  gem-blaz'd  circle  beaming  on  her  brows.      2^ 
Hail'd  with  acclaim  among  the  heav'nly  choirs. 
Her  foul  new-kindling  with  feraphic  fires. 
To  notes  divine  fhe  tunes  the  vocal  ftrings, 
While  heav'n's  high  concave  v/ith  the  mufie  rings* 
yirttie^s  rewards  can  mortal  pencil  paint  ?  25 

No — all  defcriptive  arts,  and  eloquence  are  faint  ; 
Nor  canft  thou,  Oliver^  aflent  refufe 
To  heav'nly  tidings  from  the  Afric  mufe. 

As  foon  may  change  thy  laws,  eternal /j^^. 
As  the  faint  mifs  the  glories  I  relate;  30 

Or  her  Benevolence  forgotten  lie. 
Which  wip'd  the  trick'iing  tear  from  Mis'rfs  ej©-; 
Whene'er  the  adverfe  winds  were  known  to  blow. 
When  lofs  to  lofs  *  enfu'd,  and  woe  to  woe, 

"^  Three  amiable  Daughters  who  died  when  juft  arrived  te 
,  V/omens  Eitate. 

Calm 


%tt  P    O    E    M    S     ON 

Calm  and  ferenc  beneath  her  father's  hand         35 
She  fat  refign'd  to  the  divine  command. 

No  longer  then,  great  Sir,  her  death  deplore, 
And  let  us  hear  the  mournful  figh  no  more, 
Reftrain  the  forrow  ftrcaming  from  thine  eye, 
Be  all  thy  future  moments  crown'd  with  joy  !    40 
Nor  let  thy  wilhes  be  to  earth  confin'd. 
But  foaring  high  purfue  th'  unbodied  mind. 
Forgive  the  mufe,  forgive  th'  adventurous  lays. 
That  fain  thy  ioul  to  heav'nly  fcenes  would  raife. 


A  Farewei 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.    it9 


A  Farewd  to  A  M  E  R I  C  A.     To  Mrs,  S.  W. 

I. 

ADIEU,  New-England's  fmiling  mead^^ 
Aaicu,  the  flow'ry  plain  : 
I  leave  thine  opening  charms,  O  Ipring^ 
And  tempt  the  roaring  main. 

* 

II. 
In  vain  for  me  the  flow'rets  rife,  J? 

And  boaft  their  gaudy  pride. 
While  here  beneath  the  northern  fkies 
I  mourn  for  heallb  deny'd. 

III. 

Celellial  maid  of  rofy  hue, 

O  let  me  feel  thy  reio;n  !  lo 

I  languifli  till  thy  face  I  view, 

Thy  vanilh'd  joys  regain. 

IV.  Sufannah 


t2e>  P     O     E     M     S      ou 

IV. 

'Sufannah  mourns,  nor  can  I  bear 

To  fee  the  cryftal  fliow'r. 
Or  mark  the  tender  falling  tear  15 

At  fad  departure's  hour ; 

V. 

Not  unregarding  can  I  fee 

Her  foul  v/ith  grief  oppreft  : 
But  let  no  fighs,  no  groans  for  me. 

Steal  from  her  penfive  breaft.  20 

VL 

[  In  vain  the  feather'd  warblers  fmg. 
In  vain  the  garden  blooms. 
And  on  the  bofom  of  the  fpring 

Breathes  out  her  fweet  perfumes,, 

VIL 

While  iox  Britannia's  diftant  fhore  25 

We  fweep  the  liquid  plain,, 

And  with  aftonifh'd  eyes  explore 

Th?  wide-extended  main. 

VIII.  Lo ! 


VAIiiOUS    SUBJECT  So      lii 

VIII. 

Lo  !  Heahh  appears !  celeflial  dame  ! 

Complacent  and  ferene, 
With  Hek's  mantle  o'er  her  Frame^  30 

With  foul-delighting  mein. 

IX. 

To  mark  the  vale  whtrc  London  lies 

With  mifty  vapours  crown'd. 
Which  cloud  Aurora^ s  thoufand  dyes^  35 

And  veil  her  charms  around, 

X. 

Why,  Phc^hus^  moves  thy  car  fo  (low  ? 

So  (low  thy  rifing  ray  ? 
Give  us  the  famous  town  to  vieWj 

Thou  glorious  king  of  day  !  40 

XL 

For  thee,  Britannia^  T  refigli 

New^England' s  fmiling  fields  ; 
To  view  again  her  charms  divine, 

What  joy  the  profpedt  yields ! 

Ct  XII.  But 


122  POEMS 


O  N 


XII. 

But  thou  !  Temptation  hence  away,  45 

With  all  thy  fatal  train 
Nor  once  feduce  my  foul  away. 

By  thine  enchanting  drain. 

XIII. 

Thrice  happy  tliey,  whofe  heav'nly  fhield 
Secures  their  fouls  from  harms,  50 

And  fell  Temptation  on  the  field 
Of  all  its  pow'r  difarms ! 


Boftoity  May  7,  1773. 


A  REBUS. 


VARIOUS    SUBJECTS.     123 

A    REBUS,     by    LB. 

I. 

\BIRD  delicious  to  the  tafte. 
On  which  an  army  once  did  feaft, 
Sent  by  an  hand  unfeen; 
A  creature  of  the  horned  race. 
Which  Britain'' s  royal  ftandards  grace;  5 

A  gem  of  vivid  green; 

II. 

A  town  of  gaiety  and  fport, 

Where  beaux  and  beauteous  nymphs  refort. 

And  gallantry  doth  reign; 
A  Dardan  hero  fam'dof  old  lO 

For  youth  and  beauty,  as  we're  told. 

And  by  a  monarch  flain ; 

III. 

A  peer  of  popular  applaufe. 
Who  doth  our  violated  laws. 

And  grievances  proclaim.  15 

Th'  initials  ihow  a  vanquifh'd  towh, 
That  adds  frelli  glory  and  renown 

To  old  Britannia's  fame, 

0^2  An 


124  P    O    E    M    S     ON 

An  Answer  to  the  Rehus,  by  the  Author  of  thefe 

Poems. 

'T^  H  E  poet  aflcs,  and  Phillis  can^t  refufe 
"*     To  fhew  th'obedience  of  the  Infant  mufe. 
She  knows  the  S^uail  of  moft  inviting  taile 
Fed  Jfraefs  army  in  the  dreary  wafte;  ' 

And  what's  on  BritairCs  royal  ftandard  borne,     5 
But  the  tall,  graceful,  rampant  Unkornt 
The  Emerald  With  a  vivid  verdure  glows 
Among  the  gems  which  regal  crowns  co.mpofe; 
Bojtcn^s  a  town,  polite  and  debonair, 
To  which  the  beaux  and  beauteous  nymphs  repair. 

Each  Helen  ftrikes  the  mind  with  iweet  furprife, 

While  living  lightning  flafties  from  her  eyes. 

See  young  Euphorbus  of  the  Dardan  line 

By  Mendaus*  hand  to  death  refign  :  1 

The  well  known  peer  of  popular  applaufe 

Is  C^-m  zealous  to  fupport  our  laws. 
^cbec  now  vanquifli'd  mu(l  obey. 
She  too  muft  annual  tribute  pay 

i  To  Iritain  of  immortal  fame, 
And  add  new  glory  to  her  name.  Z^ 

FINIS.  ^ 


CONTENTS. 


Pa?e 


C3 


^T^  O  Maecenas  9 

-^     On  Virtue  13 

To  the  Univerfity  of  Cambridge,  in  New- 
England  15 
To  the  King's  Moft  Excellent  Majefty  1 7 
On  being;  brought  from  Africa  1 8 
On  the  Rev.  Dr.  Sewell  19 
On  the  Rev,  Mr.  George  Whitefield  22. 
On  the  Death  of  a  young  Lady  of  five  Years 

of  Age  25 

Pn  the  Death  of  a  young  Gentleman  27 

To  a  Lady  on  the  Death  of  her  Hufband  29 

Goliath  of  Gath  3  r 

Thoughts  on  the  Works  of  Providence  43 

To  a  Lady  on  the  Death  of  three  Relations  51 
To  a  Clergyman  on  the  Death  of  his  Lady  5^ 
An  Hymn  to  the  Morning  56 

An  Hym.n  to  the  Evening  58 

On 


CONTENTS. 

On  liaiah  Ixiii.   i — 8  60 

On  Recolle6tion  62 

On  Imagination  65 

A  Funeral  Poem  on  the  Death  of  an   Infant 

aged  twelve  Months  69 

To  Captain  H.  D.  of  the  65th  Regiment  72 

To  the  Rt.  Hon.  William,  Earl  of  Dartmouth  73 
Ode  to  Neptune  76 

To  a  Lady  on  her   coming  to  North  Am-erica 

with  her  Son,  for  the  Recovery  of  her  Health  78 
To  a  Lady  on  her  remarkable  Prefervation  in 

a  Hurricane  in  North  Carolina  80 

To  a  Lady  and  her  Children  on  the^ Death  of 

her  Son,  and  their  Brother  82 

To  a  Gentleman  and  L.ady  on  the  Death  of  the 
Lady's  Brother  and  Sifter,  and  a  Child  of 
the  Name  of  ^vls^  aged  one  Year  84 

On  the  Death  of  Dr.  Samuel  Marlliall  86 

To  a  Gentleman  on  his  Voyage  to  Great-Britain, 

for  the  Recovery  of  his  Health  8  8 

To  the  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas  Amory  on  reading  his 
Sermons  on  Daily  Devotion,  in  which  that 
Duty  is  recommended  and  affifted  90 

On 


CONTENT    S. 

On  the  Death  of  j .  C.  an  Infant  92 

An  Hyp  r,  ro  Humanity  95 

To  the  Hon.  T.  H.  £%  on  the  Death  of  his 
Daughter         '  '  98 

Niobc  in  Diftrefs  for  her  Children  flain  by 
Apollo,  from  Ovid's  JVietamorphofe.s,  Book 
VI.  and  from  a  View  of  the  Painting  of 
Mr.  liichard  JVilfon  ^  10 1 

To  S.  M»  a  young  African  Painter,  on  feeing 

his  Works  114 

To  his  Honour  the  Lieutenant-Governor,  on 

the  Death  of  his  Lady  116 

A  Farewel  to  America  1 19 

A  Rebus  by  LB.  123 

An  Anfwer  to  ditto,  by  Phillis  Wheatley  124 


Lately  PuhliJIjed  in  2  vols.  Twelves,  {Price  ^^.  fewed^ 

T  PI  E 

MEMOIRS 

O  F 

MissWILLIAMS. 

A 
History      founded      on     Facts. 

B  y     A.    B  *  *  *, 

LONDON:   Printed  for  E.  Johnson,  in  Ave  Mary  Lane  ^ 
and  A.  Bell,  near  the  Saracen's  Head,   ALDGATE. 

Written    hy   the  fame  Author, 
Shortly  will  beptthlified^    (in  a  neat  Pocket  Volume.) 

T*  H  F 

CHURCH-MEMBtR's  DIRECTORY, 
EVERY  CHRIS!  lAN's  COMPANION. 

Defigned   for  the  Ufe  of  fuch  as  have  engaged  in  a  folcmn 
Connedicn  with  Christ's  Vifible  Church. 

v/  H  E  R   E  1  N 

The   Duties  of  that  high   Relation  are  confidered,  both  In  a 
religious  and  moral  Point  of  View. 
Let  e^ery  one  that  nameth  the  name  of  Chriji  depart  from  ini^ 
quity,     2  Tim.  Chap.  ii.  v.  19. 

TOGETHER    WITH 

An  Address  to  thofe  who  have  an  Intention  of  entering  upon 
that  important  Charadler. 
For  ^johich   of  ycu   intending  to  build  a  tcnvcr,  fitteih  not  doivn 
firft  and  couiiteth  the  ccf,  rivhether  he  ha^e  fufHcieiit  to  finifh  it? 
Left  haply  ajter  he   hath  laid  the  fcundaiion,  and  is  not  able  ta 
£nijh  it,  all  that  behold  it,   begin  to  mock  him. 

Saying y  This  man  began  to  builds  and  ^w as  ?ict  able  tofinljh. 

Luke  Chap.  xiv.   Ver.  28,  29,  30. 


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