O GIBBS, whofe Art the folemn Fane can raife, Where GOD delights to dwell, and Man to praise ; When moulder'd thus the Column falls away, Like fome great Prince, majeftic in Decay; When Ignorance, and Scorn the Ground fhall tread, Where Wisdom tutor'd, and Devotion pray'd; Where fhall thy pompous Work our Wonder claim? What, but the Muse alone, preserve thy Name? The Sun fhines, broken, thro' yon Arch, that rears In Fragments, these the Fall of those forbode, By her are Liberty and Peace careft; She flies the Realms, that own defpotick Kings, An Aqueduct across yon Vale is laid, It's Channel thro' a ruin'd Arch betray'd; 2 Whirl'd Whirl'd down a Steep, it flies with Torrent-Force, Attracted Mists a golden Cloud commence, While thro' high-colour'd Air strîke Rays intense, Betwixt two Points, which yon steep Mountains show, Lies a mild Bay, to which kind Breezes flow. Beneath a Grotto, arch'd for calm Retreat, Leads length'ning in the Rock-Be this my Seat. Heat never enters here; but Coolness reigns O'er Zephyrs, and diftilling, watry Veins. Secluded now I trace th' instructive Page, And live o'er Scenes of many a backward Age; Thro' Days, Months, Years, thro' Time's whole Course I run, And present stand where Time itself begun. Ye mighty Dead of juft, diftinguifh'd Fame, O lov'd Retreat! thy Joys Content bestow, Now Now let me change the Page Here Tully weeps, Wild his Complaint! Nor sweeter Sorrow's Strains, But hark! a fudden Pow'r attunes the Air! Th' inchanting Sound enamour'd Breezes bear; Now low, now high, they fink, or lift the Song, Which the Cave echoes fweet, and fweet the Creeks prolong. I liften'd, gaz'd, when, wondrous to behold! From Ocean fteam'd, a Vapour gath'ring roll❜d : A blue, round Spot on the Mid-roof it came, Spread broad, and redden'd into dazzling Flame. Full-orb'd it fhone, and dimm'd the fwimming Sight, While doubling Objects danc'd with darkling Light. Amaz'd Amaz'd I ftood!-amaz'd I ftill remain ! What earthly Pow'r this Wonder can explain? My Hermit-Friend? "Tis He.-All hail! (he cries) The vanish'd Meteor was Heaven's Meffage meant, Where Trees half check the Light with trembling Clofe in deep Glooms, or open clear in Glades ; Or where surrounding Viftas far descend, THE WANDERER. W A VISIO N. CANTO V. E left the Cave. Be Fear (faid I) defied! Virtue (for thou art Virtue) is my Guide. By time-worn Steps a steep Afcent we gain, Whofe Summit yields a Prospect o'er the Plain. There, bench'd with Turf, an Oak our Seat extends, Whose Top a verdant, branch'd Pavilion bends. Vistas with Leaves diverfify the Scene, Some pale, fome brown, and fome of lively green. Now, from the full-grown Day a beamy Shower Gleams on the Lake, and gilds each gloffy Flower. Gay |