And with that myrtle fhall thy fhrine be crown'd, | With which, alive, thy graceful brows were bound:

Till time fhall bid thy virtues freely bloom,
And raise a temple where it found a tomb.

Then in their feasts thy name fhall Grecians join;

Shall pour the sparkling juice to Jove's and thine.
Thine, us'd in war, fhall raife their native fire;
Thine, us'd in peace, their mutual faith infpire.
Dulnefs perhaps, through want of fight, may
blame,

And fpleen, with odious industry, defame;
And that, the honours given, with wonder view,
And this, in fecret fadnefs, own them due :
Contempt and envy were by fate defign'd
The rival tyrants which divide mankind;
Contempt, which none, but who deferve, can
bear;

While envy's wounds the smiles of fame repair.
For know, the generous thine exploits fhall fire,
Thine every friend it suits thee to require.
Lov'd by the gods, and, till their feats I fhew,
Lov'd by the good their images below."

Ceafe, lovely maid, fair daughter of the skies! My guide my queen, th' extatic youth replies. In thee I trace a form defign'd for fway;

Which chiefs may court, and kings with pride

obey,

And, by thy bright immortal friends I fwear,
Thy fair idea fhall no toils impair.

Lead me! O lead me where whole hofts of foes
Thy form depreciate, and thy friends oppofe !
Welcome all toils th' inequal fates decree,
While toils endear thy faithful charge to thee.
Such be my cares, to bind th' oppreffive hand,
And crush the fetters of an injur'd land;
To fee the monster's noxious life refign'd,
And tyrants quell'd, the monsters of mankind!
Nature fhall fimile to view the vanquilh'd brood,
And none, but envy, riot unfubdued.
In cloister'd ftate let felfifh fages dwell,
Proud that their heart is narrow as their cell!
And boaft their lazy labyrinth of rules,
Far lefs the friends of virtue, than the fools:
Yet fuch in vain thy favouring fmiles pretend;
For he is thine, who proves his country's friend.
Thus when my life well-fpent the good enjoy,
And the mean envious labour to deftroy;
When, ftrongly lur'd by fame's contiguous fhrine,
yet devote my choicer vows to thine;
If all my toils thy promis'd favour claim,
O lead thy favourite through the gates of fame!
He ceas'd his vows, and, with disdainful air,
He turn'd to blast the late exuiting fair.
But vanish'd, fled to fome more friendly fhore,
The confcious phantom's beauty pleas'd no more:
Convinc'd, her fpurious charms of drefs and face
Claim'd a quick conqueft, or a fure difgrace.
Fantastic Power! whofe tranfient charms allur'd,
While error's mist the reasoning mind obfcur'd:
Not fuch the victress, virtue's conftant queen,
Endur'd the test of truth, and dar'd be seen.
Her brightning form and features feem'd to own,
'Twas all her wish, her interest, to be known:

And when his longing view the fair declin'd
Left a full image of her charms behind.

Thus reigns the moon, with furtive splendour crown'd,

While glooms opprefs us, and thick fhades fur

round.

But let the fource of light its beams difplay, Languid and faint the mimic flames decay, And all the fickening fplendor fades away.

The PROGRESS of TASTE.

OR,

The FATE of DELICACY.

A POEM on the Temper and Studies of the AuTHOR; and how great a Misfortune it is, for a Man of fmall Estate to have much TASTE.

P

PART the FIRST.

ERHAPS fome cloud eclips'd the day, When thus I tun'd my pensive lay. The fhip is launch'd-we catch the galeOn life's extended ocean fail:

For happiness our course we bend,

Our ardent cry, our general end!
Yet, ah! the fcenes which tempt our care.
Are like the forms difpers'd in air,
Still dancing near diforder'd eyes;
And weakest his, who beft defcries!
Yet let me not my birth-right barter,
(For withing is the poet's charter ;

All bards have leave to wifh what's wanted,
Though few e'er found their wishes granted;
Extenfive field; where pocts pride them
In finging all that is deny'd them.)

For humble cafe, ye powers! I pray ;
That plain warm fuit for ev'ry day!
And pleasure, and brocade bestow;
To flaunt it-once a month, or fo.
The first for conftant wear we want;
The fir, ye powers! for ever grant ;
But conftant wear the last bespatters,
And turns the tiffue into tatters.

Where'er my vagrant course I hend,
Let me fecure one faithful friend.
Let me, in public scenes, request
A friend of wit and tafte, well drefs'd;
And, if I must not hope füch favour,
A friend of wit and tafte, however.
Alas! that wisdom ever fhuns
To congregate her fcatter'd fons;
Whose nervous forces well combin'd
Would win the field, and fway mankind.
The fool will fqueeze, from morn to night,
To fix his follies full in fight;

The note he strikes, the plume he shows,
Attract whole flights of fops and beaux;
And kindred-fools, who ne'er had known him,
Flock at the fight; carefs, and own him;

But ill-ftarr'd fenfe, nor gay nor loud,
Steals foft on tip-toe through the crowd:
Conveys his meagre form between ;
And flides, like pervious air, unfeen:
Contracts his known tenuity,

As though 'twere ev'n a crime, to be:
Nor ev'n permits his eyes to ftray,
And win acquaintance in their way.

In company, fo mean his air,
You scarce are confcious he is there,
Till from fome nook, like sharpen'd feel,
Occurs his face's thin profile,
Still feeming, from the gazer's eye,
Like Venus, newly bath'd, to fly.
Yet, while reluctant he displays
His real gems before the blaze,
The fool hath, in its centre, plac'd
His tawdry flock of painted pafte,
Difus'd to speak, he tries his fkill;
Speaks coldly, and fucceeds but ill;
His penfive manner, dulnefs deem'd
His modefty, referve efteem'd;
His wit unknown, his learning vain,
He wins not one of all the train,
And those who mutually known,
In friendship's faireft lift had fhone,
Lefs prone, than pebbles, to unite,
Retire to fhades from public fight;
Grow favage, quit their focial nature;
And starve, to study mutual fatire.

But friends, and favourites, to chagrin them, Find counties, countries, feas between them; Meet once a year, then part, and then Retiring, wish to meet again.

Sick of the thought, let me provide,
Some human form to grace my fide;
At hand, where'er, I shape my course;
An useful, pliant, ftalking-horse !

No gefture free from fome grimace;
No feam, without its share of lace;
But, mark'd with gold or filver cither,
Hint where his coat was piec'd together.
His legs be lengthen'd, I advife,
And ftockings roll'd abridge his thighs.
What thou h Vandyck had other rules,
What had Vandyck to do with fools?
Be nothing wanting, but his mind;
Before, a folitaire; behind,
A twisted ribbon, like the track
Which nature gives an ass's back.
Silent as midnight! pity 'twere

His wifdom's flender wealth to share !
And, whilst in flocks our fancies ftray,
To wish the poor man's lamb away."

This form attracting every eye,
I ftroll all unregarded by:
This wards the jokes of every kind,
As an umbrella fun or wind;
Or, like a sponge, abforbs the fallics,
And peftilential fumes of malice;
Or, like a fplendid fhield, is fit
To screen the templar's random wit;
Or what fome gentler cits let fall,
As wool-packs quash the leaden ball..

Allufions thefe of weaker force, And apter ftill the stalking-horse ! ' O let me wander all unfeen, Beneath the fanction of his mien ! As lilies foft, as roses fair! Empty as air-pumps drain'd of air! With steady eye and peace remark The fpeckled flock that haunts the park *; Level my pen with wondrous heed At follies flocking there to feed: And, as my fattire bursts amain, See, feather'd foppery ftrew the plain. But when I feek my rural grove, And share the peaceful haunts I love, Let none of this unhallow'd train My fweet fequefter'd paths profane, Oft may fome polifh'd virtuous friend, To the foft-winding vales defcend; And love with me inglorious things, And scorn with me the pomp of kings, And check me, when my bofom burns For ftatues, paintings, coins, and urns. For I in Damon's prayer could join, And Damon's with might now be mineBut all difpers'd! the with, the prayer, Are driven to mix with common air.

H

PART THE SECOND.

Ow happy once was Damon's lot,
While yet romantic fchenies were not!

Ere yet he fent his weakly eyes,

To plan frail caftles in the skies;
Forfaking pleatures cheap and common,
To court a blaze, ftill flitting from one.

Ah happy Damon! thrice and more,
Had tafte ne'er touch'd thy tranquil fhore!
Oh! days when to a girdle ty'd
The couples jingled at his fide;
And Damon fwore he would not barter
The sportsman's girdle, for a garter!

Whoever came to kill an hour,
Found eafy Damon in their power;
Pure focial nature all his guide,
"Damen had not a grain of pride."

He wish'd not to elude the fares
Which knavery plans, and craft prepares;
But rather wealth to crown their wiles:
And win their univerfal fmiles:

For who are chearful, who at eafe,
But they who cheat us as they please?

He winked at many a grofs design,
The new-fallen calf might countermine :
Thus every fool allow'd his merit;
"Yes! Damon had a generous fpirit!"

A coxcomb's jeft, however vile,,
Was fure, at least, of Damon's fmile :
That coxcomb ne'er denied him sense;
For why, it prov'd his own pretence;
All own'd, were modefty away,
Damon could shine as much as they.
St. James's.

When

When wine and folly came in feafon,
Damon ne'er ftrove to have his reafon ;
Obnoxious to the mad uproar:

A fpy upon a hostile fhore !
'Twas this his company endear'd:
Mirth never came till he appear'd:

His lodgings-every drawer could show them;
The flave was kick'd, who did not know them,
Thus Damon, ftudious of his eafe,
And pleafing all, whom mirth could please;
Defy'd the world, like idle Colley,
To thew a fofter word than folly.
Since wifdom's gorgon-fhield was known
To ftare the gazer into ftone;
He chose to truft in folly's charm,
To keep his breaft alive and warın,

At length grave learning's faber train
Remark'd the trifler with difdain;
The fons of tafte contenan'd his ways,
And rank'd him with the brutes that graze;
While they to nobler heights afpir d.
And grew be ov'd, efteem'd, admir'd.

Hence with our youth, not void of spirit,
His old companions loft their merit :
And every kind well-natur'd fot
Seem'd a dull play, without a plot;
Where every yawning gueft agrees,
The willing creature ftrives to please:
But temper never could amufe;
It barely led us to excuse;
"I'was true, converfing they aver'd,
All they had feen, or felt or heard:
Talents of weight! for wights like thefe,
The law might chufe for witneffs :
But fure th' attesting dry narration
Il fuits a judge of converfation,
***What were their freedoms? mere excufes
To vent ill-manners, blows, and bruifes.
Yet freedom, gallant freedom! hailing,
At form, at form, inceffant railing,
Would they examine each offence,
Its latent caufe, its known pretence,
Punctilio ne'er was known to breed them,
So fure as fond prolific freedom.
Their courage! but a loaded gun;
Machine the wife would wish to fhun;
Its guard unfa e, its lock an ill one,
Where accident might fire and kill one.

In short, difgufted out of measure,

Through much contempt, and flender pleasure,
His fenfe of dignity returns;
His native pride his bofom burns;
He feeks refpect-but how to gain it?
Wit, focial mirth, could ne'er obtain it;
And laughter, where it reigns uncheck'd,
Difcards and diffipates refpect.
The man who bravely bows, enjoy it;
But fkaking hands, at once, deftroy it.
Precarious plant, which, fresh and gay,
Shrinks at the touch, and fades away!

Come then, referve! yet from thy train
Banish contempt, and curft difdain.
Teach me, he cry'd thy magic art,
To act the decent diftant part:
Boisterous mirth.

To hufband well my complaifance,
Nor let ev'n wit too far advance;
But chufe calm reafon for my theme,
In these her royal realms fupreme;
And o'er her charms, with caution shown,
Be fill a graceful umbrage thrown;
And each abrupter period crown'd,
With nods, and winks, and fmiles profound,
Till, refcued from the crowd beneath,
No more with pain to move or breathe,
Ir fe with head elate, to fhare
Salubrious draughts of purer air.
Refpect is won by grave pretence
And filence, furcr ev'n than fenfc-
'Tis hence the facred grandeur springs-
Of Eaftern-and of other kings
Or whence this awe to virtue due,
While virtue's diftant as Peru?
The fheathlefs fword the guard displays,
Which round enits its dazzling rays:
The ftately fort, the turrets tall,
Portcullis'd gate, and battled wall,
Lefs fcreens the body, than controls,
And wards contempt from royal fouls.

The crowns they wear but checks the eye,
Before it fondly pierce too vigh;
That dazzled crouds may be employ'd
Around the furface of-the void.
O! 'tis the statefman s craft profound
To scatter his anrufements round!
To tempt us from the confcious breast,
Where fun-fledg'd crimes enjoy their nest.
Nor awes us every worth reveal'd
So deeply, as each vice conceal'd.

The lordly log, d'fpatch'd of yore,
That the frog people might adore,
With guards to keep them at a distance,
Had reign'd, nor wanted wit's affistance:
Nay-had addreffes from his nation,
In praife of log-adminiftration.

PART THE THIRD,

HE buoyant fires of youth were o'er,
And fame and finery pleas'd no more;
Productive of that general itare,
Which cool reflection ill can bear!
And, crowds commencing mere vexation,
Retirement fent its invitation.

Romantic fcenes of pendant hills,
And verdant vales, and falling rills,
And moffy banks, the fields adorn,
Where Lamon, fimple fwain, was born,

The Dryads rear'd a fhady grove;
Where fuch as think, and fuch as love,
May fafely figh their fummer's day:
Or mufe their filent hours away.

The Oreads lik'd the climate well;
And taught the level plain to fwell.
In verdant mounds, from whence the eye
Might all their larger works defery.

157

The Naiads pour'd their urns around,
From nodding rocks o'er vaics profound.
They form'd their streams to please the view,
And bade them wind, as ferpents do:
And having fhewn them where to stray,
Threw little pebbles in their way.

These Fancy, all-fagacious maid,
Had at their feveral talks furvev'd:
She faw and fmil'd; and oft would lead
Our Damon's foot o'er hil and mead;
There, with deferiptive finger, trace
The genuine beauties of the place;
And when the all its charms had shewn,
Prefcribe improvements of her own.

"See yonder hill, fo green, fo round,
Its brow with ambient beeches crown'd!
"Twould well become thy gentle care
To raise a dome to Venus there :
Pleas'd would the nymph thy zeal furvey;
And Venus, n their arms, repay,
'Twas fuch a fhade, and fuch a nook,
In fuch a vale, near fuch a brook ;
From fuch a rocky fragment fpringing;
That fam'd Apollo chofe, to fi. g in.
There let an altar wrought with art
Engage thy tuneful pa ron's heart

How charming there to muse and warble
Beneath his buft of reathing marble!
With laurel wreath and mimic lyre,
That crown a poet's vaft defire.
Then, near it, fcoop the vaulted cell

Where mufic's charming maids may dwell;
Prone to indulge thy tender paffion,
And make thee many an affignation.
Deep in the grove's obfcure retreat
Be plac'd Minerva's facred feat;
There let her awul turrets rife,
(For wisdom flies from vulgar eyes :)
There her calm dictates fhalt thou hear
Distinctly strike thy liftening ear:
And who would fhun the pleasing labour,
To have Minerva for his neighbour ?"

In short, so charm'd cach wild fuggestion,
Its truth was little call'd in question:
And Damon dreamt he saw the fawns,
And Nymphs, diftinctly, fkim the lawns;
Now trac'd amid the trees, and then
Loft in the circling shades again.
With leer oblique their lover viewing-
And Cupid-panting-and parsuing—
Fancy, enchanting fair, he cry'd,
Be thou my goddess! thou my guide!
For thy bright vifions I defpife
What foes may think, or friends advise,
The feign'd concern, when folks furvey
Expence, time, ftudy, caft away:
The real spleen, with which they fee:
I please myself, and follow thee.

Thus glow'd his breaft by fancy warm'd;
And thus the fairy landskip charm'd.
But most he hop'd his conftant care
Might win the favour of the fair;
And, wandering late through yonder glade,
He thus the fof defign betray'd.
VOL V.I.

* The Mufes.

"Ye doves! for whom I rear'd the grove, With melting lays falute my love! My Delia with your notes detain, Or I have rear'd the grove in vain! Ye flowers! which early fpring fapplies, Difplay at once your brightest dyes! That the your opening charms may fee; Or what were elfe your charms to me? Kind Zephyr! brush each fragrant flower, And fhed its odours round my bower; Or ne'er again, O gentle wind! Shall I, in thee refreshment find. Ye streams, if e er your banks I lov'd, If c'er your native founds improv'd, May each foft murmur foothe my fair; Or, oh, 'twill deepen my defpair! Be fure, ye willows! you be seen Array'd in livelieit robes of green; Or I will tear your flighted boughs, And let them fade around my brows. And thou, my grot! whofe lonely bounds The melancholy pine furrounds! May the admire the peaceful gloom, Or thou shalt prove her lover's tomb." And now the lofty domes were rear d;

Loud laugh'd the 'fquires, the rabble star'd.

See, neighbours, what our Damon's doing?

I think fome folks are fond of ruin!

I faw his fheep at random ftray-
But he has thrown his crook away-
And build fuch huts, as in foul weather,
Are fit for fheep nor thepherd neither."

Whence came the fober fwain mifled?
Why, Phoebus put it in his head.
Phoebus befriends him, we are told;
And Phœbus coins bright tons of gold.
'Twere prudent not to be fo vain on't,
I think he'll never touch a grain on't.
And if, from Phoebus, and his Mufe,
Mere earthly laziness enfues;
'Tis plain, for aught that I can fay,
The Devil infpires, as well as they.
So they-while fools of groffer kind,
Lefs weeting what our bard defign'd,
Impute his fchemes to real evil;
That in thefe haunts he met the Devil.
He own'd, though their advice was vain,
It fuited wights who trod the plain:
For dulnefs-though he might abhor it-
In them he made allowance for it.
Nor wonder'd, if, beholding mottos,
And urns, and domes, and cells, and grottos,
Folks, little dreaming of the Mufes,
Were plagu'd to gucis their proper uies.

But did the Mufes haunt his cell?
Or in his dome did Venus dwell?
Did Palles in his counfels fhare?
The Delian God reward his prayer?
Or did his zeal engage the fair?
When all the structures fhone compleat;
Not much convenient, wondrous neat;
Adorn d with gilding, painting, planting,
And the fair guests alone were wanting;
Ah, me! ('twas Damon's own confeflion) ..
Came poverty and took poffeffion.

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