Where he who thinks, with rapture blind, High on some cliff, to heaven up-pil❜d, 55 Its glooms embrown, its springs unlock, 60 An Eden, like his own, lies spread : 65 I view that oak, the fancied glades among, From Waller's myrtle shades retreating, With many a vow from Hope's aspiring tongue, 70 My trembling feet his guiding steps pursue; In vain-Such bliss to one alone, Of all the sons of soul, was known; And Heaven, and Fancy, kindred powers, Have now o'erturn'd th' inspiring bowers; 75 Or curtain❜d close such scene from every future view. F ODE, WRITTEN IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR 1746. How sleep the brave, who sink to rest, By fairy hands their knell is rung; 5 10 ODE TO MERCY. STROPHE. O THOU, who sit'st a smiling bride Gentlest of sky-born forms, and best ador'd; Who oft with songs, divine to hear, Win'st from his fatal grasp the spear, 5 And hid'st in wreaths of flowers his bloodless sword! Thou who, amidst the deathful field, Oft with thy bosom bare art found, Pleading for him the youth who sinks to ground: 10 See, Mercy, see, with pure and loaded hands, Before thy shrine my country's genius stands, And decks thy altar still, tho' pierc'd with many a wound! ANTISTROPHE. When he whom even our joys provoke, And rush'd in wrath to make our isle his prey; Thy form, from out thy sweet abode, And stopp'd his wheels, and look'd his rage away. 15 I see recoil his sable steeds, That bore him swift to salvage deeds, O maid, for all thy love to Britain shown, To thee we build a roseate bower; 20 25 Thou, thou shalt rule our queen, and share our mon arch's throne! ODE TO LIBERTY. STROPHE. WHO shall awake the Spartan fife, Like vernal hyacinths in sullen hue, At once the breath of fear and virtue shedding, What new Alcaus', fancy-blest, Shall sing the sword, in myrtles drest, 1 Alluding to that beautiful fragment of Alcæus : Ωσπερ Αρμόδιος κ' Αριστογείτων, Τυδέιδην τε φασιν Διομήδεα. Εν μύρτου κλαδὶ τὸ ξίφος φορήσω, Ανδρα τύραννον Ιππαρχον ἐκαινέτην. 5 |