The promis'd verse no longer I'll delay With that he rais'd his tuneful voice aloud, } By what degrees this earth's compacted sphere Was harden'd, woods and rocks and towns to bear; How finking waters (the firm land to drain) Fill'd the capacious deep, and form'd the main, While from above, adorn'd with radiant light, A new-born fun furpriz'd the dazzled fight; How vapours turn'd to clouds obfcure the sky, And clouds diffolv'd the thirsty ground supply; How the first foreft rais'd its fhady head, Till when, few wandering beafts on unknown mountains fed. Then Pyrrha's ftony race rose from the ground, He nam'd the nymph (for who but Gods could tell?) Alcides Alcides wept in vain for Hylas loft, Hylas in vain refounds through all the coaft. (Though metamorphos'd in their wild conceit) Ah! wretched queen! while you on mountains stray, By thofe Hefperian baits her lover laid, And the fad fifters who to trees were turn'd, While with the world th' ambitious brother burn'd. All he defcrib'd was prefent to their eyes, And as he rais'd his verse, the poplars feem'd to rise. He taught which Mufe did by Apollo's will The hero's welcome, and their thanks, exprefs'd: To this, the Mufes' gift, join thy harmonious fong; Charm'd Charm'd by these strings, trees starting from the ground, Shall have no equal in Apollo's love. Why fhould I speak of the Megarian maid, Who to those woods directs her mournful course, With laurels crown'd, had been Apollo's theme, And to prevailing fhades the murmuring world refign'd. ODE ODE UPON SOLITUDE. I. HAIL, facred Solitude! from this calm bay, I view the world's tempeftuous sea, All thofe fenfeless vanities: With pity mov'd for others, caft away On rocks of hopes and fears, I fee them tofs'd Unhappy men or adverse Fate, } Sunk deep into the gulphs of an afflicted state. Fly from her kind embracing arms, Deaf to her fondeft call, blind to her greatest charms, And, funk in pleasures and in brutish ease, They in their shipwreck'd state themselves obdurate please. II. Hail, facred Solitude! foul of my foul, It is by thee I truly live, Thou doft a better life and nobler vigour give; Doft each unruly appetite control : Thy conftant quiet fills my peaceful breast, With unmix'd joy, uninterrupted rest. This private folitary shade; And, with fantastic wounds by beauty made, . The The joy has no allay of jealoufy, hope, and fear, Yet I exalted Love admire, Friendship, abhorring fordid gain, And purify'd from Luft's dishonest stain : For I am with my friend alone, As if we were but one; 'Tis the polluted love that multiplies, III. Here in a full and conftant tide doth flow All bleffings man can hope to know; Here in a deep recefs of thought we find Pleafures which entertain, and which exalt the mind; Pleasures which do from friendship and from knowledge rife, Which make us happy, as they make us wife : And, ftopping for a while my breath, THE |