He felt his sins, and wonder'd he should feel. Now take me to that heaven I once defied, ON A TRUE FRIEND. HAST thou a friend? Thou hast indeed TO THE REV. MR. NEWTON. ON HIS RETURN FROM RAMSGATE, OCTOBER, 1780. THAT Ocean you have late survey'd, Those rocks I too have seen, But I, afflicted and dismay'd, You, tranquil and serene. You from the flood-controlling steep To me, the waves that ceaseless broke Your sea of troubles you have pass'd ON LATE ACQUIRED WEALTH. POOR in my youth, and in life's later scenes Who nought enjoy'd while young, denied the means, FROM A LETTER TO THE REV. MR NEWTON, LATE RECTOR OF ST MARY, WOOLNOTH. 1782. SAYS the pipe to the snuff-box, I can't understand That you are in fashion all over the land, And I am so much fallen into disgrace. Do but see what a pretty contemplative air I give to the company-pray do but note 'em You would think that the wise men of Greece were all there, Or, at least would suppose them the wise men of Gotham. My breath is as sweet as the breath of blown roses Then lifting his lid in a delicate way, And opening his mouth with a smile quite engaging, The box in reply was heard plainly to say, What a silly dispute is this we are waging! If you have a little of merit to claim, You may thank the sweet-smelling Virginian weed, And I, if I seem to deserve any blame, The before-mentioned drug in apology plead. Thus neither the praise nor the blame is our own, We are vehicles, not of tobacco alone, But of any thing else they may choose to put in us. EPITAPH ON JOHNSON JANUARY, 1785. HERE Johnson lies-a sage by all allow'd, Whose verse may claim-grave, masculine, and strong, Who many a noble gift from heaven possess'd, By fame on earth,-by glory in the skies! THE FOUR AGES. A BRIEF FRAGMENT OF AN EXTENSIVE PROJECTED POEM.-1791. I COULD be well content, allowed the use of fewer errors, on a second proof!" Thus, while grey evening lulled the wind, and called Fresh odours from the shrubbery at my side, Taking my lonely winding walk, I mused, And held accustomed conference with my heart ; When from within it, thus a voice replied: "Couldst thou in truth? and art thou taught at length This wisdom, and but this? from all the past? Is not the pardon of thy long arrear, Time wasted, violated laws, abuse Of talents, judgments, mercies, better far . I heard, and acquiesced: then to and fro By reminiscence to his earliest date ? Deep mysteries both! which schoolmen must have toiled It is an evil incident to man, And of the worst, that unexplored he leaves To search forbidden deeps, where mystery lies THE COLUBRIAD. 1782. CLOSE by the threshold of a door nail'd fast, At the three kittens cast a careless eye; Not much concerning to know what they did there, Not deeming kittens worth a poet's care. But presently a loud and furious hiss Caus'd me to stop, and to exclaim, "What's this? With head erect, and eyes of fiery hue, Forth from his head, his forked tongue he throws, Her whisker'd face, she ask'd him, "Who are you? And turning up the leaves, and shrubs around, |