Black murder breeds, to level at his head,
Who boasts so fair a partner of his bed,
Nor long must he possess those envied charms,
The fingle treasure of his house and arms :
Giving by this thy fall, cause to blaspheme
To all the heathen the ALMIGHTY NAME :
For which the swORD Thall ftill thy race pursue,
And, in revolted ISRAEL's scornful view,
Thy captiv'd wives shall be in triumph led
Unto a bold ufurper's shameful bed;
Who, from thy bowels sprung, shall seize thy throne,
And scourge thee by a sin beyond thy own.
Thou hast thy fault in secret darkness done;
But this shall be before the noon-day's sun." (plies,

“Enough!" the KING, “Enough!" the saintreAnd pours his swift repentance from his eyes : Falls on the ground, and tears the nuptial vest, By which his crime's completion was express'd: Then, with a sigh, blasting to carnal love, Drawn deep as hell, and piercing heav'n above, « Let me, he cries, let me, attend his rod, “ For I have finn'd, for I have lost my GOD!”

“ Hold ! says the prophet, of that speech beware, God ne'er was lost, unless by man's despair : The wound that thus is willingly reveal'd, Th' ALMIGHTY is as willing should be heal'd: Thus wash'd in tears, thy soul as fair does show, As the first fleece, which on the lamb does grow Or on the mountain's top the Aaky snow.

}

Yet,

( 126 )
Yet, to the world that justice may appear
Acting her part impartial and fevere,
The offspring of thy fin shall foon resign
That life, for which thou must not once repine ;
But with submissive grief his fate deplore,
And bless the hand that does infliet no more.”

“Shall I then pay but part, and owe the whole?
My body's fruit for my offending foul ?
Shall I no more endure, the king demands,
And 'scape thus lightly his offended hands?
Oh! let him all resume, my crown, my fame,
Reduce me to the nothing whence I came ;
Call back his favours faster than he gave,
And, if but pardon'd, strip me to my grave.
Since, tho' he seem'd to LOSE, he surely WINS,
Who gives but earthly comforts for his fins.”

È É I G R A M

ON THE FALSE REPORT OF MRS. KY'S DEATH.

N wings of wind his journey rumor sped,

Proclaiming wide illustrious K-y dead :
Suspended tears stood big in every eye,
Till truth's fair aspect chas'd the recent lie:
Slow mov'd the tears to forrow's sad employ,
But gush'd a torrent in the cause of joy.

THOUGHTS

1

THOUGHTS ON PSALM cxix, xx.

FROM HUGO.

MY SOUL BREAKETH OUT FOR THE VERY FERVENT DESIRE

THAT. IT HATH ALWAYS UNTO THY JUDGMENTS.

WH

HILE heaven and earth folicit me to love,

My doubtfulchoice is puzzldwhich t'approve: Heaven cries, OBEY, while earth proclaims, be FREE, Heaven urges DUTY, earth pleads LIBERTY. Call’d hence by heaven, by earth I'm call'd again, Toft, like a vessel on the restless main : These diff'rent loves a doubtful combat wage, And thus obstruct the choice they would engage. Ah! 'tis enough; let my long-harrass'd mind In the best choice a peaceful haven find! O my dear GOD! let not my soul incline To any love, or let that love be thine ! True, it is pleasant to be free to chuse, And when we will, accept; when not, refuse. Freedom of choice endures restraint but ill, 'Tis usurpation on the unbounded will. The neighing steed thus loos’d from bit and rein, To his lov'd pasture runs in hafte again. So the glad ox, from his plough-burthen freed, Runs lowing on to wanton in the mead: And when the hind their freedom would revoke, THAT fcorns his harness, this defies the yoke. Freedom in choice we fondly count a bliss; Eager to chuse, tho' oft we chuse amiss.

So the young PRODIGAL, impatient grown
To manage his entire estate alone,
Takes from his prudent father's frugal care
His stock, by that improv'd and thriving there :
But his own steward made, with eager hafte
He does the slow-gain’d patrimony waste;
Till starv'd by riot, and with want opprest,
He feeds with swine, himself the greater beast.
Thus in destruction often we rejoice,
l'leas'd with our RUIN, since it was our CHOICE.
How do we weary heaven with diff'rent prayers !
The medly, sure, absurd and vain appears.
This begs a WIFE, nor thinks a greater bliss;
And THAT's as earnest to be rid of his :
This prays for children; THAT O'er-stock'd, repines
At the too fruitful issue of his loins.
This asks his father's days may be prolong'd;
That, if his father lives, complains he's wrongd:
Youth prays for good old age, and aged men
Would cast their skins, and fain grow young again.
Scarce in ten thousand two alike agree;
Nay, some dislike what they just wish'd to be.
None know this minute what will suit them beft,
Since that which follows brings some new request.

Oh! why, like fueh, grown restless with desire,
Do my vain thoughts to unknown joys aspire?
Be gone false hopes, vain withes, anxious fears!
Hence, ye disturbers of my peaceful years!
O my dear cod! let not my soul incline
To any love, or let that love be thine! ,

THOUGHTS THOUGHTS ON PSALM cxix. v.

FROM THE SAME.

O THAT MY WAYS WERE MADE 30 DIRECT, THAT I MIGHT

KEEP THY STATUTES!

IN

N what a maze of error here I stray,

Where various paths confound my doubtful way! This, to the right; THAT to the left-hand lies : Here,vales descend; THERE swelling mountains rise: This has an easy, THAT a rugged way; The treach'ry This conceals, THAT does betray. But whither these fo diff'rent courses go, Their wand'ring paths forbid, till try'd, to know. Here thwarting difficulties stay my feet, And on each road I threat'ning dangers meet. But, more to heighten and increase my dread, Darkness involves each doubtful step I tread : No friendly tracts my wand'ring footsteps guide, Nor other feet th' untrodden ground have try'd.

Oh! who will help a wretch thus gone astray ! What friendly star direct my dubious way? A glorious cloud conducted ISRAEL's Alight, By day their cov'ring, as their guide by night. The eastern kings found Bethlehem too from far, Led by the conduct of a twinkling star.

Nor be thou less propitious, Lord, to me, Sinee all my business is to worship thee.