He first fair Learning's and Britannia's cause
Adorn'd with manners, and advanc'd with laws ;
He hade relent the Briton's favage heart,
And form'd his foul to focial fcenes of art,
Wifeft and best of kings !-----with ravish'd gaze
Elate the long proceffion he furveys :
Joyful he fmiles to find, that not in vain
He plan'd the rudiments of Learning's reign:
Himself he marks in each ingenuous breast,
With all the founder in the race expreft:
With rapture views, fair Freedom still survive
In yon bright domes (ill-fated fugitive)
(Such feen, as when the goddess pour'd the beam
Unfullied on his ancient diadem)
Well-pleas'd that in his own Pierian feat
She plumes her wings, and refts her weary feet; That here at last she takes her fav'rite stand, "Here deigns to linger, ere fhe leave the land.”
ET others boaft their heaps of fhining gold,
Land view their fields with waving plenty crown'd,
Whom neigb'ring foes in conftant terror hold,
And trumpets break their flumbers, never found.
While calmly poor, I trifle life away,
Enjoy sweet leisure by my chearful fire,
No wanton hope my quiet fhall betray,
But cheaply blefs'd, I'll fcorn each vain defire.
III.
With timely care I'll fow my little field,
And plant my orchard with it's mafter's hand,
Nor blush to spread the hay, the hook to wield,
Or range the sheaves along the funny land.
If late at dusk, while carelessly I-roam,
I meet a strolling kid, or bleating lamb,
Under my arm I'll bring the wand'rer home,
And not a little chide it's thoughtless dam.
V.
What joy to hear the tempest howl in vain,
And clasp a fearful mistress to my breaft?
Or lull'd to flumber by the beating rain,
Secure and happy fink at last to rest.
Or if the fun in flaming Leo ride,
By fhady rivers indolently stray,
And with my DELIA walking fide by fide,
Hear how they murmur, as they glide away.
What joy to wind along the cool retreat,
To stop and gaze on DELIA as I go!
To mingle sweet difcourfe with kiffes fweet,
And teach my lovely scholar all I know!
Thus pleas'd at heart, and not with fancy's dream,
In filent happiness I reft unknown;
Content with what I am, not what I feem,
I live for DELIA, and myfelf alone.
Ah foolish man! who thus of her poffeft,
Could float and wander with ambition's wind,
And if his outward trappings fpoke him bleft,
Not heed the fickness of his confcious mind.
With her I fcorn the idle breath of praife,
Nor trust to happiness that's not our own,
The fmile of fortune might fufpicion raise,
But here, I know, that I am lov'd alone.
STANHOPE, in wisdom, as in wit divine,
May rife, and plead Britannia's glorious caufe,
With steady rein his eager wit confine,
While manly sense the deep attention draws :
Let STANHOPE fpeak his lift'ning country's wrong,
My humble voice fhall please one partial maid,
For her alone, I pen my tender fong,
Securely fitting in his friendly fhade.
STANHOPE fhall come, and grace his rural friend,
DELIA fhall wonder at her noble guest,
With blushing awe the riper fruit commend,
And for her husband's Patron cull the best.
Her's be the care of all my little train,
While I with tender Indolence am bleft,
The favourite fubject of her gentle reign,
By love alone diftinguish'd from the reft.
For her I'll yoke my oxen to the plow,
In gloomy forests tend my lonely flock,
For her a goat-herd climb the mountain's brow,
And fleep extended on the naked rock.
Ah! what avails to prefs the stately bed,
And far from her 'midst tastelefs grandeur weep,
By marble fountains lay the penfive head,
And, while they murmur, ftrive in vain to fleep.
DELIA alone can please, and never tire,
Exceed the paint of thought in true delight,
With her, enjoyment wakens new defire,
And equal rapture glows thro' every night.
Beauty and worth, alone in her, contend
To charm the fancy, and to fix the mind:
In her, my wife, my mistress, and my friend,
I tafte the joys of fenfe and reafon join'd.
|