I meet Myrtillo mounting high, Charin I saw, and Fidea there, I saw them help each other's flight, They soar beyond my labouring sight, On heaven, their home, they fix their eyes, With morning incense up they rise Across the road a seraph flew, 66 They break with double vigour through "The dull incumbent air." Charm'd with the pleasure and surprise, My soul adores and sings, "Bless'd be the power that springs their flight, 'That streaks their path with heavenly light, ་་ 66 "That turns their love to sacrifice, "And joins their zeal for wings." TO MESSRS. C. AND S. FLEETWOOD. FLEETWOODS, young generous pair, Tried by a standard, bold and just, Things that the crowd call great and brave, The soul! 'tis of the immortal kind, Outlives the mouldering corpse, and leaves the globe behind. In limbs of clay though she appears, Array'd in rosy skin, and deck'd with ears and eyes, The flesh is but the soul's disguise, There's nothing in her frame 'kin to the dress she wears. From all the laws of matter free, From all we feel, and all we see, She stands eternally distinct, and must forever be. Rise then, my thoughts, on high, Sits the Creator and the Judge of souls, Winds off our threads of life, and brings our periods on. Swift the approach, and solemn is the day, Stripp'd of the body's coarse array, Must be at once consign'd. Think of the sands run down to waste, Nor mourn the blessing gone: TO WILLIAM BLACKBOURN, ESQ. CASIMIR. LIB. II. OD. 2, IMITATED. "Quæ tegit canas modo Bruma valles," &c. MARK how it snows! how fast the valley fills! And the sweet groves the hoary garment wear; Yet the warm sunbeams, bounding from the hills, Shall melt the veil away, and the young green appear. But when old age has on your temples shed Then cold, and winter, and your aged snow, The chase of pleasure is not worth the pains, 'Tis but one youth, and short, that mortals have, The man that has his country's sacred tears Old time and waning moons sweep all the rest away. TRUE MONARCHY. THE rising year beheld the imperious Gaul Stretch his dominion, while a hundred towns Crouch'd to the victor: but a steady soul Stands firm on its own base, and reigns as wide, As absolute; and sways ten thousand slaves, Lusts and wild fancies, with a sovereign hand. We are a little kingdom; but the man That chains his rebel will to reason's throne, Forms it a large one, whilst his royal mind Makes heaven its council, from the rolls above Draws his own statutes, and with joy obeys. |