Pay contribution to the store he gleans; He travels, and I too. I tread his deck, Oh Winter, ruler of th' inverted year, Thy scatter'd hair with fleet like afhes fill'd, Thy breath congeal'd upon thy lips, thy cheeks Fring'd with a beard made white with other fnows Than those of age, thy forehead wrapt in clouds, A leafless branch thy fceptre, and thy throne A fliding car, indebted to no wheels, But urg'd by ftorms along its flipp'ry way, I love thee, all unlovely as thou seem'st, And dreaded as thou art! Thou hold'ft the fun A pris'ner in the yet undawning east, Short'ning his journey between morn and noon, Down to the rofy weft; but kindly still No ratt'ling wheels ftop fhort before these gates; Of founding an alarm affaults thefe doors Till the street rings; no ftationary steeds Cough their own knell, while, heedlefs of the found, The filent circle fan themselves, and quake: Follow the nimble finger of the fair ; A wreath that cannot fade, of flow'rs that blow Made vocal for th' amufement of the reft; The fprightly lyre, whofe treasure of fweet founds The touch from many a trembling chord shakes out; And the clear voice fymphonious, yet distinct, And in the charming ftrife triumphant still; Beguile the night, and fet a keener edge 1 On female industry: the threaded steel' Flies fwiftly, and, unfelt, the task proceeds. The volume clos'd; the cuftomary rites Of the last meal commence. VOL. II. A Roman meal; L Such as the mistress of the world once found Delicious, when her patriots of high note, While we retrace with mem'ry's pointing wand, The dangers we have 'fcap'd, the broken fnare, The difappointed foe, deliv'rance found Unlook'd for, life preserv'd and peace restor❜dFruits of omnipotent eternal love. Oh ev'nings worthy of the gods! exclaim'd The Sabine bard. Oh ev'nings, I reply, More to be priz'd and coveted than your's, As more illumin'd, and with nobler truths, That I, and mine, and those we love, enjoy. Is winter hideous in a garb like this? Needs he the tragic fur, the fmoke of lamps, The pent-up breath of an unfav'ry throng, To thaw him into feeling; or the smart And snappish dialogue, that flippant wits Call comedy, to prompt him with a smile? The felf-complacent actor, when he views (Stealing a fide-long glance at a full house) The flope of faces, from the floor to th' roof, (As if one master-fpring controul'd them all) Relax'd into an univerfal grin, Sees not a count'nance there that speaks a joy Half fo refin'd or fo fincere as our's. Cards were fuperfl'ous here, with all the tricks |