Eternity's unknown expanfe appears
Circling around and limiting his years.
The bufy race examine, and explore
Each creck and cavern of the dang'rous fhore,
With care collect what in their eyes excels,
Some fhining pebbles, and fome weeds and fhells;
Thus laden, dream that they are rich and great,
And happiest he that groans beneath his weight:
The waves o'ertake them in their serious play,
And ev'ry hour fweeps multitudes away;
They fhriek and fink, furvivors ftart and weep,
Pursue their sport, and follow to the deep.
A few forfake the throng; with lifted eyes
Afk wealth of heav'n, and gain a real prize-
Truth, wifdom, grace, and peace like that above,
Seal'd with his fignet whom they ferve and love;
Scorn'd by the reft, with patient hope they wait
A kind release from their imperfect state,
And, unregretted, are foon fnatch'd away
From fcenes of forrow into glorious day.
Nor thefe alone prefer a life recluse,
Who feek retirement for its proper ufe;
The love of change that lives in ev'ry breast,
Genius, and temper, and defire of rest,
Difcordant motives in one centre meet,
And each inclines its vot'ry to retreat.
Some minds by nature are averse to noise,
And hate the tumult half the world enjoys,
The lure of av'rice, or the pompous prize
That courts display before ambitious eyes;
The fruits that hang on pleafure's flow'ry ftem,
Whate'er enchants them, are no fnares to them.
To them the deep recefs of dufky groves,
Or foreft where the deer fecurely roves,
The fall of waters, and the fong of birds,
And hills that echo to the distant herds,
Are luxuries excelling all the glare
The world can boast, and her chief fav'rites fhare. With eager step, and carelessly array'd,
For fuch a cause the poet feeks the fhade,
From all he fees he catches new delight,
Pleas'd fancy claps her pinions at the fight,
The rifing or the setting orb of day,
The clouds that flit, or flowly float away,
Nature in all the various fhapes she wears,
Frowning in ftorms, or breathing gentle airs,
The fnowy robe her wintry state affumes,
Her fummer heats, her fruits, and her perfumes―
All, all alike transport the glowing bard,
Success in rhyme his glory and reward.
Oh nature! whofe Elyfian scenes difclofe
His bright perfections at whose word they rofe, Next to that Pow'r who form'd thee and fuftains,
Be thou the great inspirer of my strains.
Still, as I touch the lyre, do thou expand
Thy genuine charms, and guide an artless hand,
That I may catch a fire but rarely known,
Give useful light though I should miss renown,
And, poring on thy page, whofe ev'ry line
Bears proof of an intelligence divine,
May feel an heart enrich'd by what it pays,
That builds its glory on its Maker's praife.
Woe to the man whose wit disclaims its use,
Glitt'ring in vain, or only to feduce,
Who ftudies nature with a wanton eye,
Admires the work, but flips the leffon by;
His hours of leisure and recefs employs,
In drawing pictures of forbidden joys,
Retires to blazon his own worthlefs name,
Or fhoot the careless with a furer aim.
The lover too fhuns bufinefs and alarms, Tender idolater of abfent charms.
Saints offer nothing in their warmeft pray❜rs,
That he devotes not with a zeal like their's;
"Tis confecration of his heart, foul, time,
And ev'ry thought that wanders is a crime.
In fighs he worships his fupremely fair,
And weeps a fad libation in defpair,
Adores a creature, and, devout in vain,
Wins in return an answer of difdain..
As woodbine weds the plant within her reach,
Rough elm, or smooth-grain'd afh, or gloffy beech,
In fpiral rings afcends the trunk, and lays
Her golden taffels on the leafy sprays,
But does a mischief while fhe lends a grace,
Strait'ning its growth by fuch a ftrict embrace-
So love, that clings around the noblest minds,
Forbids th' advancement of the foul he binds;
The fuitor's air indeed he foon improves,
And forms it to the tafte of her he loves,
Teaches his eyes a language, and no less
Refines his fpeech and fashions his address:
But farewell promifes of happier fruits,
Manly defigns, and learning's grave pursuits;
Girt with a chain he cannot wish to break,
His only blifs is forrow for her fake;
Who will may pant for glory and excel,
Her smile his aim, all higher aims farewell!
Thyrfis, Alexis, or whatever name
May leaft offend against so pure a flame,
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