The tempest ceas'd-and all the sober night
Intent our course aërial we pursu'd;
Till as Aurora dawn'd with ruddy light,

An island we perceiv'd that stemm'd the flood; No hills, nor trees adorn'd the level soil, [found; Where bleating flocks a plenteous herbage Low lay the prospect of the bleating isle 8,

With here and there a spot of tillage-ground: By which the humble village stood descry'd, Where never enter'd arts, or luxury, or pride!

O'er many a sea-green holm we wafted went,

Where undisturb'd the feather'd nations lay! Till lighting on the plain with soft descent,

We saw a reverend form advance our way; And now approaching with an easy pace,

The venerable sage before us stands, White were his hairs, and cheerful was his face, At once delights his aspect and commands: I felt all care suspended at his view, Whom better far than I his kindred goddess knew.

Of homespun russet was the garb he bore,
Girt with a velvet seal's divided skin;
Of woollen yarn the mittens which he wore
To keep him from the breath of Boreas thin:
An easy path along the verdant ground

Soon to his hospitable cottage led,
Ere yet instructed I my errour found,

Nor knew the cause my first emotion bred, Till, as into his clean abode we went 9, [Content. Kind Patience whisper'd me our host was call'd

Sweet was his earthen floor with rushes spread, Sweet was each shell-wrought bowl, and wooden dish,

Sweet was the quilt compos'd his healthy bed, Nor wanted he for fowl, or sun-dry'd fish ; And milk of sheep, and turf, a plenteous store, Which lay beneath his comfortable roof; No storms, no accidents, could make him poor, He and his house, I ween, were weather-proof. A batchelor he wonde, devoid of care, Which made him now appear so healthy and so fair.

Long time with Patience fair discourse he held, (Oft had the goddess been his welcome guest,) Nor she the friendly intercourse repell'd,

But the good sire familiarly address'd: Thus were we happily conversant set,

When from the neighb'ring village rose a cry, And drew our hasty steps, where numbers met, Like us, appear'd to know the reason-why? Nor needed answer: on the sea-weed spray, Too visible reply!-the wave-toss'd body lay.

He ceas'd-attentive to the words he said,
In earth the natives place the honour'd clay;
With holy rites they cover up his head,

A spotless "grave, where never mortal lay!
Charm'd with the simple manners of the isle,
I wish'd some further knowledge to receive;
Here could have dwelt with old Content awhile,
And learn'd of him the happiness to live!
When Patience from my side abruptly broke,
And, starting at the loss, I suddenly awoke!
London, Sept. 14, 1741.

10 The inhabitants of all these northern isles observe the custom of singing over the dead. B. " Virgin B..

B.

There spotless lilies rear their sickly heads,
And purple violets creep along the beds;
Here shows the bright jonquil its gilded face,
Join'd with the pale carnation's fairer grace;
The painted tulip and the blushing rose
A blooming wilderness of sweets compose.

In such a scene great Cupid wounded lay, To love and Psyche's charms a glorious prey; Here felt the pleasing pain and thrilling smart, And prov'd too well his own resistless dart.

High in the midst appears a rising ground, With greens and ballustrades enclos'd around: Here a new wonder stops the wand'ring sight, A dome whose walls and roof transmit the light; Here foreign plants and trees exotic thrive, And in the cold unfriendly climate live; For when bleak Winter chills the rolling year, The guarded strangers find their safety here; And, fenc'd from storms and the inclement air, They sweetly flourish ever green and fair; Their lively buds they shoot, and blossoms show, And gaily bloom amidst surrounding snow.

But when the genial Spring all Nature cheers, And Earth renew'd her verdant honours wears; The golden plants their wonted station leave, And in the milder air with freedom breathe: Their tender branches feel th' enlivening ray, Unfold their leaves, and all their pomp display, Around their fragrant flowers the Zephyrs play, And waft the aromatic scents away.

Not far from hence a lofty wood appears, That, spite of age, its verdant honours wears, Here widely spread does ample shade display, Expel the Sun, and form a doubtful day. Here thoughtful Solitude finds spacious room, And reigns through all the wide-extended gloom; Beneath the friendly covert lovers toy, And spend the flying hours in amorous joy; Unmindful of approaching night they sport, While circling pleasures new attention court; Or through the maze forgetfully they stray, Lost in the pleasing sweetly winding way: Or, stretch'd at ease upon the flowery grass, In tales of love the starry night they pass; While the soft nightingale through all the groves His song repeats, and sooths his tender loves; Whose strains harmonious and the silent night Increase the joy, and give complete delight.

A curious terrace stops the wand'ring eye,
Where lovely jasmines fragrant shade supply;
Whose tender branches, in their pride array'd,
Invite the wanderer to the grateful shade:
From hence afar a various prospect lies,
Where artless Nature courts the ravish'd eyes;
The sight at once a thousand charms surveys,
And, pleas'd, o'er villages and forests strays:
Here harvests grow, and lawns appear, and woods,
And gently rising hills,-and distant floods.

Here, Arlington, thy mighty mind disdains
Inferior Earth, and breaks its servile chains,
Aloft on Comtemplation's wings you rise,
Scorn all below, and mingle with the skies;
Where, rais'd by great Philosophy, you soar,
And worlds remote in boundless space explore;
There from your height divine with pity view
The various cares that busy men pursue;
Where each by diff'rent ways aspires to gain
Uncertain happiness with certain pain:

The green-house.

While you, well pleas'd, th' exalted raptures know,
That do from conscious truth and virtue flow;
And, blessing all, by all around you blest,
You take the earnest of eternal rest.

You, who have left the public cares of state,
Another Scipio in retirement great,

Have chang'd your royal master's 3 gentle smiles,
For solitude divine, and rural toils;

In vain the call of Glory sounds to arms;-
In vain Ambition shows her painted charms;
While in the happy walk, or sacred shade,
No anxious cares thy soul serene invade;
Where all the heavenly train thy steps attend,
Soothe every thought, from every ill defend:
Such was the lot th' immortal Roman chose;
Great in his triumphs, greater in repose!

Thus blest with smiling Heaven's indulgent store,
Canst thou in wishes lavish ask for more?
Yet more they give-thy good old age to bless,
And fill the sum of mortal happiness:
Thy only daughter, Britain's boasted grace,
Join'd with a hero of the royal race 4;
And that fair fabric which our wond'ring eyes
So lately saw from humble ruins rise,
And mock the rage of the devouring flame!
A nobler structure, and a fairer frame!
Whose beauties long shall charm succeeding days,
And tell posterity the founder's praise.

When from divine Olympus' towering height, All-beauteous Venus saw the pleasing sight, In dimpled smiles and looks enchanting drest, Thus powerful Jove the charming queen addrest: "Behold the lovely seat, and let thy care Indulgent bless th' united happy pair; Here long their place their happy race assign, By Virtue still distinguish'd may they shine; In the request immortal Pallas joins, (Long has the patriot offer'd at her shrines) With love of arts his godlike bosom glows, And treads those paths by which the goddess rose." The awful father gave the gracious sign, And fix'd the fortunes of the glorious line.

ΤΟ Α

YOUNG LADY ON HER RECOVERY.

AN ODE.

WHILE, fair Selinda! to our eyes
From sickness beautiful you rise;
Your charms put on superior power,
And shine more strongly than before.

So have I seen the heavenly fire
Awhile his radiant beams retire;
Then breaking through the veil of night,
Restore the world to warmth and light.

3 The earl had been lord chamberlain to king Charles the Second, who made him a baron in 1661, and an earl in 1672. He died in 1685. N.

4 Henry Fitzroy the first duke of Grafton married lady Isabella, the earl of Arlington's only child and heir. N.

FROM Earth's low prospects and deceitful aims,
From wealth's allurements, and ambition's dreams,
The lover's raptures, and the hero's views,
All the false joys mistaken man pursues;
The schemes of science, the delights of wine,
Or the more pleasing follies of the Nine!
Recall, fond bard, thy long-enchanted sight
Deluded with the visionary light!

A nobler theme demands thy sacred song,
A theme beyond or man's or angel's tongue!
But oh, alas! unhallow'd and profane,
How shalt thou dare to raise the heav'nly strain?
Do thou, who from the altar's living fire
Isaiah's tuneful lips didst once inspire,
Come to my aid, celestial Wisdom, come;
From my dark mind dispel the doubtful gloom:
My passions, still, my purer breast inflame,
To sing that God from whom existence came;
Till Heav'n and Nature in the concert join,
And own the Author of their birth divine.

ETERNITY.

WHENCE Sprung this glorious frame? or whence arose
The various forms the universe compose?
From what Almighty Cause, what mystic springs
Shall we derive the origin of things?

Sing, heav'nly Guide! whose all-efficient light
Drew dawning planets from the womb of Night!
Since reason, by the sacred dictates taught,
Adores a pow'r beyond the reach of thought.

First Cause of causes! Sire supreme of birth' Sole light of Heav'n! acknowledg'd life of Earth! Whose Word from nothing call'd this beauteous whole,

This wide expanded all from pole to pole!
Who shall prescribe the boundary to thee,
Or fix the era of eternity?

Should we, deceived by Errour's sceptic glass,
Admit the thought absurd-that nothing was!
Thence would this wild, this false conclusion flow,
That nothing rais'd this beauteous all below!
When from disclosing darkness splendour breaks,
Associate atoms move, and matter speaks,
When non-existence bursts its close disguise,
How blind are mortals-not to own the skies!
If one vast void eternal held its place,
Whence started time? or whence expanded space?
What gave the slumb'ring mass to feel a change,
Or bid consenting worlds harmonious range?
Could nothing link the universal chain?
No, 'tis impossible, absurd, and vain!
Here reason its eternal Author finds,
The whole who regulates, unites, and binds,
Enlivens matter, and produces minds!
Inactive Chaos sleeps in dull repose,
Nor knowledge thence, nor free volition flows!
A nobler source those powers ethereal show,
By which we think, design, reflect, and know;
These from a cause superior date their rise,
"Abstract in essence from material ties."
An origin immortal, as supreme,

From whose pure day, celestial rays! they came:
In whom all possible perfections shine,
Eternal, self-existent, and divine!

VOL XIV.

From this great spring of uncreated might! This all-resplendent orb of vital light; Whence all-created beings take their rise, Which beautify the Earth, or paint the skies! Profusely wide the boundless blessings flow, Which Heav'n enrich and gladden worlds below! Which are no less, when properly defin'd, Than emanations of th' Eternal Mind! Hence triumphs truth beyond objection clear, (Let unbelief attend and shrink with fear!) That what for ever was-must surely be Beyond commencement, and from period free; Drawn from himself his native excellence, His date eternal, and his space immense ! And all of whom that man can comprehend, Is, that he ne'er began, nor e'er shall end.

In him from whom existence boundless flows, Let humble faith its sacred trust repose: Assur'd on his eternity depend,

"Eternal Father! and eternal Friend!"
Within that mystic circle safety seek,

No time can lessen, and no force can break;
And, lost in adoration, breathe his praise,
High Rock of ages, ancient Sire of days!

UNITY.

Thus recognis'd, the spring of life and thought!
Eternal, self-deriv'd, and unbegot!
Approach, celestial Muse, th' empyreal throne,
And awfully adore th' exalted One!

In nature pure, in place supremely free,
And happy in essential unity!

Bless'd in himself, had from his forming hand
No creatures sprung to hail his wide command
Bless'd, had the sacred fountain ne'er run o'er,
A boundless sea of bliss that knows no shore!

Nor sense can two prime origins conceive,
Nor reason two eternal gods believe!
Could the wild Manichæan own that guide,
The good would triumph, and the ill subside!
Again would vanquish'd Aramanius bleed,
And darkness from prevailing light recede!
In diff'rent individuals we find
An evident disparity of mind;

Hence ductile thought a thousand changes gains,
And actions vary as the will ordains;
But should two beings, equally supreme,
Divided pow'r and parted empire claim;
How soon would universal order cease!
How soon would discord harmony displace!
Eternal schemes maintain eternal fight,
Nor yield, supported by eternal might;
Where each would uncontroll'd his aim pursue,
The links dissever, or the chain renew!
Matter from motion cross impressions take,
As serv'd each pow'r his rival's pow'r to break,
While neutral Chaos, from his deep recess,
Would view the never-ending strife increase,
And bless the contest that secur'd his peace!
While new creations would opposing rise,
And elemental war deform the skies!
Around wild uproar and confusion hurl'd,
Eclipse the heav'ns, and waste the ruin'd world.
Two independant causes to admit,
Destroys religion, and debases wit;
The first by such an anarchy undone,
The last acknowledges its source but one.

As from the main the mountain rills are drawn,
That wind irriguous through the flow'ry lawn;

Nn