Whofe fkilful hand could almoft life create,
And make us leap the very bounds of fate;
Death, tyrant Death, beholding his decline,
That Boerhaave would his kingdom undermine,
Arm'd with his fureft fhafts attack'd his foe,
Who long eluded the repeated throw,

At length fatigu'd with life, he bravely fell,
And health with Boerhaave bade the world farewell,
Thus till the year recedes, I'd be employ'd,
Eafe, health and friendship happily enjoy'd;
But when the vernal fun revolves its ray,
Melting hoar winter with her rage away.
When vocal groves a gay perfpective yield,
And a new verdure fprings from field to field;
With the firft larks I'd to the plains retire,
For rural pleasures are my chief defire.

Ah doubly bleft! on native verdure laid.
Whofe fields fupport him, and whose arbours shade
In his own hermitage in peace refides.

Fann'd by his breeze, and flumb'ring by his tides;
Who drinks a fragrance from paternal groves,
Nor lives ungrateful for the life he loves.

I'd have a handfome feat not far from town.
The profpect beauteous, and the talle my own
The fabric modern, faultlefs the defign,
Not large, nor yet immoderately fine;
But neat œconomy my manfion boast,
Nor fhould convenience be in beauty loft:

Each

Each part fhould fpeak fuperior fkill and care,
And all the artift be diftinguifh'd there.

On fome fmall elevation fhould it stand,

And a free profpect to the south command ;
Where fafe from damps I'd fnuff the wholefome gale,"
And life and vigour thro' the lungs inhale;

Eaflward my moderate fields fhould wave with grain,
Southward the verdure of a broad champaign;
Where gamefome flocks, and rampant herds might play.
To the warm funshine of the vernal day;
Northward, a garden on a flope fhould lye,

Finely adjusted to the niceft eye;

In midst of this should stand a cherry grove,
A breezy, blooming canopy of love!

Whofe bloffom'd boughs the tuneful.choir fhould cheer
And pour regalement on the eye and ear:
A gay parterre the vivid box fhould bound,
To waft a fragrance thro' the fields around;
Where blushing fruits might tempt another Eve
Without another ferpent to deceive.

Weftward, I'd have a thick-fet foreft grow,
Thro' which the bounded fight fhould scarcely go
Confus'dly rude, the scenery fhould impart,
A view of nature unimprov'd by art.

Rapt in the foft retreat my anxious breaft,
Pants eager fill for fomething unpoffefs'd;
Whence springs this sudden hope, this warm defire ?
To what enjoyment would my foul aspire ?

Tis

Tis love! extends my wishes, and my care, Eden was talleless 'till án Eve was there :: Almighty Love! I own thy powerful fway, Refign my foul, and willingly obey.

Grant me kind Heav'n! the nymph fill form'd to

Impaffionate as infants when at ease ;

Fair as the op'ning rofe; her person small,
Artlefs as parent Eve before her fall;
Courteous as angels, unreferv'dly kind,
Of modeft carriage, and the chafteft mind;
Her temper fweet, her converfation keen,
Nor wildly gay, but foberly ferene ;
Not talkative, nor apt to take offence,
With female foftnefs join'd to manly fenfe
Her drefs and language elegantly plain,
Not fluttish, forward, prodigal or vain ;
Not proud of beauty, nor elate with praife,
Not fond to govern, but by choice obeys ;
True to my arms in body and in soul,
As the touch'd needle to th' attractive Pole.
Caution, oppos'd to charms like these were vain
And man would glory in the filken chain ;
Unlike the fenfual with that burns and flains,
But where the pureft admiration reigns;
Give me, O give me! fuch fuperior love,
Before the nectar of the gods above;
Then time on downy wings would fteal away,
And love ftill be the bufinefs of the day.

[pleafe

While

While fporting flocks in fond rotations court, And to the thicket pair by pair refort;

While tuneful birds in tender murmurings plead,
Chanting their amorous carols thro' the mead ;
́Link'd arm in arm we'd fearch the twilight grove,
Where all infpires with harmony and love:
Ye boughs, your friendly umbrage wide extend!
Guard from rude eyes, and from the fun defend;
Ye wanton gales! pant gently on my fair,.
Thou love-infpiring goddess meet us there!
While foft-invited, and with joy obey'd,
We prefs the herbage, and improve the fhade

But is th' Almighty ever bound to please ?
Rul'd by my wifh, or ftudious of my eafe ?
Shall I determine where his frowns fhall fall
And fence my grotto from the lot of all !
Proftrate, his fovereign wisdom I adore,
Intreat his mercy, but I dare no more:
No conftant joys mortality attend,
But forrows violate, and cares offend ;
Heav'n wifely mixt our pleasures with alloy
And gilds our forrows, with a ray of joy;
Life without forms a ftagnant pool appears,
And
grows offenfive with unruffled
An active state, is virtue's proper fphere

years

To do, and fuffer is our duty here;
Foes to encounter, vices to difdain,
Pleasures to fhun, and paffions to restrain;

Το

To fly temptation's open, flow'ry road,
And labour to be obftinately good.

Then, bleft is he who takes a calm furvey,
Of all th' events that paint the checquer'd day;
Content, that bleffing makes the balance even,
And poizes fortune, by the fcale of Heav'n.
I'll let no future ill my peace deftroy,
Or cloud the aspect of a present joy ;
He who directed and difpenc'd the past.
O'er-rules the prefent, and fhall guide the last ;
If Providence a prefent good has giv'n,
I clafp the boon in gratitude to Heav'n :
May refignation fortify my mind.

He cannot be unhappy that's refign'd.

Guard my repofe thou lord of all within!

An equal temper, and a foul ferene;

O! teach me patience when oppos'd to wrong,
Refrain the madd'ning heart, and curb the tongue;
May prudence govern, piety controul,

All flander, rage and bitterness of foul;
Peace, plenty, Health and innocence be made,
The blissful tenants of my tranquil fhade.
O let me not maliciously comply,
To that curft action that fhall raise a figh;
Or cause the wretched orphan to complain;
Or fee the widows tears, and fee in vain :
From a remorfeless foul O fet me free,
And prompt a pang for every wretch I fee.

Whatever