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No peaceful desert yet unclaim'd by Spain?
Quick let us rise, the happy seats explore, 170
And bear oppression's insolence no more.
This mournful truth is ev'ry where confess'd:
Slow rises worth, by poverty depress'd;
But here more slow, where all are slaves to
gold,

Where looks are merchandise, and smiles are
sold;
175

Where won by bribes, by flatteries implor'd,
The groom retails the favours of his lord.

But hark! th' affrighted crowd's tumultu-
ous cries

Roll through the streets, and thunder to the
skies.

Rais'd from some pleasing dream of wealth and pow'r,

180

Some pompous palace, or some blissful bow'r,
Aghast you start, and scarce with aching sight
Sustain the approaching fire's tremendous
light;

Swift from pursuing horrors take your way,
And leave your little All to flames a prey; 185
Then thro' the world a wretched vagrant
roam,

For where can starving merit find a home?
In vain your mournful narrative disclose,
While all neglect, and most insult your woes.

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And one capitulate, and one resign:
Peace courts his hand, but spreads her charms

in vain ;

"Think nothing gain'd," he cries, "till naught remain,

205

On Moscow's walls till Gothic standards fly,
And all be mine beneath the polar sky."
The march begins in military state,
And nations on his eye suspended wait;
Stern Famine guards the solitary coast,
And Winter barricades the realms of Frost:
He comes; nor want nor cold his course
delay;

Hide, blushing Glory, hide Pultowa's day: 210
The vanquish'd hero leaves his broken bands,
And shows his miseries in distant lands;
Condemn'd a needy supplicant to wait,
While ladies interpose and slaves debate.
But did not Chance at length her error mend?
Did no subverted empire mark his end? 216
Did rival monarchs give the fatal wound?
Or hostile millions press him to the ground?
His fall was destin'd to a barren strand,
A petty fortress, and a dubious hand.

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301

The gen'ral fav'rite as the gen'ral friend:
Such age there is, and who shall wish its end?
Yet ev'n on this her load Misfortune flings,
To press the weary minutes' flagging wings;
New sorrow rises as the day returns,
A sister sickens, or a daughter mourns.
Now kindred Merit fills the sable bier,
Now lacerated Friendship claims a tear.
Year chases year, decay pursues decay,
Still drops some joy from with'ring life away;
New forms arise, and diff'rent views engage,
Superfluous lags the vet'ran on the stage,
Till pitying Nature signs the last release,
And bids afflicted worth retire to peace.

305

310

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355

Safe in his pow'r, whose eyes discern afar
The secret ambush of a specious pray'r.
Implore his aid, in his decisions rest,
Secure, whate'er he gives, he gives the best.
Yet when the sense of sacred presence fires,
And strong devotion to the skies aspires,
Pour forth thy fervours for a healthful
mind,

Obedient passions, and a will resign'd; 360 For love, which scarce collective man can fill;

For patience, sov'reign o'er transmuted ill; For faith, that, panting for a happier seat, Counts death kind Nature's signal of retreat : These goods for man the laws of heav'n ordain; 365 These goods He grants, who grants the pow'r

to gain;

With these celestial Wisdom calms the

mind,

And makes the happiness she does not find.

WILLIAM SHENSTONE

(1714-1763)

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FROM THE SCHOOL-MISTRESS

IN IMITATION OF SPENSER

Ah me! full sorely is my heart forlorn,
To think how modest worth neglected lies;
While partial fame doth with her blasts
adorn

Such deeds alone, as pride and pomp dis-
guise;

Deeds of ill sort, and mischievous emprize:
Lend me thy clarion, goddess! let me try
To sound the praise of merit, ere it dies;
Such as I oft have chaunced to espy,
Lost in the dreary shades of dull obscurity. 9

In ev'ry village mark'd with little spire,
Embow'r'd in trees, and hardly known to
fame,

There dwells, in lowly shed, and mean attire,
A matron old, whom we school-mistress

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Right well she knew each temper to descry; To thwart the proud, and the submiss to raise;

1 mine aunt; cf. nuncle in King Lear, I, iv, 117 2 titles 3 the hen 4 submissive

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