As lamps, that shed at eve a cheerful ray, And, where the face of nature laughs around, By reason's light, on resolution's wings, She bids each slumbering energy awake, Suspends the' inferior laws, that rule our clay: What wonder, if, to patient valour train'd, They guard with spirit what by strength they gain'd? And while their rocky ramparts round they sec, The rough abode of want and liberty, (As lawless force from confidence will grow) What wonder, in the sultry climes, that spread [The following couplet, which was intended to have been introduced in the poem on the Alliance of Education and Government, is much too beautiful to be lost. MASON.] When love could teach a monarch to be wise, And gospel-light first dawn'd from Bullen's eyes. STANZAS TO MR. BENTLY. Mr. Bently had made a set of designs for Mr. Gray's Poems, particularly a head-piece to the Long Story. The original drawings are in the library at Strawberry Hill. IN silent gaze the tuneful choir among, Half pleased, half blushing, let the Muse While Bently leads her sister art along, The tardy rhymes that used to linger on, To censure cold, and negligent of fame, In swifter measure animated run, And catch a lustre from his genuine flame. Ah! could they catch his strength, his easy grace His quick creation, his unerring line; The energy of Pope they might efface, And Dryden's harmony submit to mine. But not to one in this benighted age Is that diviner inspiration given, That burns in Shakspeare's or in Milton's page, The pomp and prodigality of heaven. As when conspiring in the diamond's blaze, The meaner gems, that singly charm the sight, Together dart their intermingled rays, And dazzle with a luxury of light. Enough for me, if to some feeling breast * SKETCH OF HIS OWN CHARACTER. WRITTEN IN 1761. AND FOUND IN ONE OF HIS POCKET BOOKS. Too poor for a bribe, and too proud to impor tune; He had not the method of making a fortune: Could love, and could hate, so was thought somewhat odd; No very great wit, he believed in a God: But left church and state to Charles Townsend and Squire*. *Squire] At that time Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge, and afterwards Bishop of St. David's. SONG. Written, at the request of Miss Speed, to an old air of Geminiani :-the thought from the French. THYRSIS, when we parted, swore Ere the spring he would return— Idle notes untimely green! |