irma 
 
 Ll
 
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 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 FREDERIC THOMAS BLANCHARD 
 ENDOWMENT FUND
 
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 1173 
 
 SONNET 
 TO MISS SEWARD. 
 
 Will Britain's Muse, who foremoft rufh'd to hail 
 Her Country's Chief j the memory of the Brave 
 Whole tear embalm'd j who, o'er the Hero's grave 
 That dropt untimely, fwell'd with glory's gale 
 
 Her epic ftrain. Will she, who cloth'd Love's Tale 
 In verfe more lovely ; or, by Deva's wave, 
 The deeds of elder Cambria loudly gave 
 Again to fame! Will she with friendmip's veil 
 
 Shield ' rebel-rhyme+,' ev'n while her hands prepare 
 To mew that ftudious art and tafte refin'd, 
 Can make our rugged language graceful wear 
 
 Aufonian chains . Will Seward's loftier mind 
 Thefe lays regard ? Yes : for her liberal care 
 Round Poe'fy's fair fleep hath made them eafier wind. 
 
 764420
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 Th e following mifcellaneous Poems have been compofed 
 as occafion gave them birth, without any higher motive 
 than the indulgence of perfonal feeling, or the gratifica- 
 tion of fome particular friend. By the counfel of Mr. 
 Cowper, they were firft encouraged to folicit public 
 notice. By the comments of Mifs Seward, they have 
 been rendered Iefs unworthy to do fo : though neither 
 the Telamonian Shield of the one, nor the Palladian 
 JEgla of the other, can afford any confident defence 
 againft the Critics' ' arrowy fhower. 1 
 
 Should the encomiums beftowed on living Poets to 
 fome appear profufe ; the Writer can truly fay, that fuch 
 has been his admiration of the Mufes, as to make hi a 
 entertain a partiality for all their Favorites. And if this 
 apology prove inefficient; he begs to ftrengthen it by 
 an aphorifm which he feels to be juft, that ' next to 
 the happinefs of being poffeffed of merit, is to fhew 
 one's approbation of thofe who are.*
 
 - 
 
 SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 Duke of Ancafte 
 
 Duchefs of Ancafter 
 
 Earl of Abingdon 
 
 Bifliop of St. Afaph 
 
 Right Hon. Henry Addington 
 
 Lady Arden 
 
 Mifs Abrams 
 
 Duke of Buccleugh 
 Duchefs of Buccleugh 
 Earl of Befborough 
 Countefs of Befborough 
 Lady Mary Bentinck 
 Lord Bradford 
 Lady Bromley 
 Hon. Mrs. Bofcawen 
 Mrs, Bagot 
 
 Scrope Barnard, Efq. M. P. 
 Mrs. S. Barnard . 
 Edward Boodle, Efq. 
 Mrs, Boodle 
 
 James Bindley, Efq. M.A. 
 John Beardfworth, Efq. 
 Thomas Burne, Efq. 
 Mifs Bentinck 
 Mifs Bellamy 
 Mils Ann Bellamy 
 
 Duchefs Dowager of Chandor 
 Countefs of Carlifle 
 Lord Carrington 
 Right Hon. Lady Curzon 
 Ld. George Cavendifh, 2 copies 
 Lady George Cavendifh, 2 ditto 
 Lady Georgiana Cavendifh 
 Lady Harriet Cavendifh 
 Mifs Cavendifli, 2 copies 
 Lady Catharine Clinton 
 Lady Henrietta Chetwode 
 John Clementfon, Efq. 
 Mrs. Clementfon 
 Mrs. Champneys
 
 SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 Jtobert Cheftcr, Efq. 
 
 Mifs Chefter 
 
 William Cowpcr, Efq. 2 copies 
 
 Rev. James Clarke, M. A. 
 
 Ccrvetto, Efq. 
 
 Duke of Devonfliire 
 Duchefs of Devonfliire 
 Earl of Dartmouth 
 Countefs of Dartmouth 
 Bifliop of Durham 
 Earl of Dalkeith 
 Right Hon. Lady Douglas 
 Lady Charlotte Buncombe 
 , Sir Clement Cottrell Dormer 
 Lady Cottrell Dormer 
 Rev. William Denifon 
 Rev. Robert Denifon 
 Mifs Denifon 
 Mifs Frances Denifon 
 Richard Davenport, Efq. 
 
 Countefs of Elgin 
 
 Lord Eardley 
 
 Hon. Mifs Eardley, 2 copies 
 
 Hon. Mrs. Ariana Egerton 
 
 Lady Elizabeth Fofter 
 Sir Walter Farquhar, Bart. 
 Lady Farquhar 
 Mifs Farquhar 
 
 
 Mifs Ann Farquhar 
 Mifs C. Foulfton 
 Francis Folkes, Efq. 
 James Forfter, Efq. M.A. 
 Henry Forfter, Efq. Calcutta 
 
 Duchefs of Grafton 
 
 Lord Grey de Wilton 
 
 Lord Grey 
 
 Lady Louifa Grey 
 
 Lady Sophia Grey 
 
 Lady Amelia Grey 
 
 Hon. W. B. Grey 
 
 Hon. M^8 Grimfton 
 
 Mrs. Thomas Gore 
 
 Rev. Dr. Goodenough, Ealing 
 
 Rev. John Gutch, M. A. 
 
 Mr. Grant, 2 copies 
 
 Marquis of Harrington 
 Lord Howard de Walden 
 Lady Hefketh 
 
 Rev. Dr. Huntingford, Winto* 
 Richard Helm, Efq. 
 Benjamin Hyett, Efq. 
 Mrs. Hyett 
 Mifs Hinton 
 
 Whitflied Keene, Efq. M.P. 
 Hon. Mrs. Keene 
 Mifs Keene
 
 5LB5CR.IBER9. 
 
 Mrs. Knowlcs 
 
 Mils Knapp 
 
 Mifs Kell 
 
 Rev, Mr. King 
 
 Rev. Henry Kett, M.A. 
 
 Duchcfs of LeecU 
 Couutefs of Lincoln 
 Mrs. Lewis 
 Mifs Ludford 
 
 Vifcount MilOntown 
 Lady Dowager Monfon 
 Hon. Mifs Monfon, a copies 
 Hon. and Rev. Thomas Monfon 
 Mrs. Mills, 2 copies 
 
 Lady Charlotte North 
 
 Mifs Nelthorp 
 
 Mifs France* Nelthorp 
 
 Mrs. Oglander, Oxon 
 
 Duke of Portland, 5 copies 
 Lord Paget, a copies 
 Sir William Parfons 
 Mrs. Pym, % copies 
 Mrs. Parker 
 John Puget, Efq. 
 Mrs. Puget 
 
 Rey. Richard Podmore 
 Mr. Prichard 
 
 Lady William Ruffell 
 Mrs. George Rous 
 William Rowley, M. D. 
 Mr. Rhodes, Jun. 
 
 Earl of Stamford 
 Countefs of Stamford 
 Countcfs Dowager Spencer 
 Lady Stawell 
 Lady Saye and Sele 
 Lady Georgiana Smyth 
 Lady Elizabeth Seymour 
 Lady Hugh Seymour 
 Sir John Shaw, Bart. 
 Hon. Lady Shaw 
 Hon. Mrs. Culling Smith 
 Mrs. George Sumner 
 Mrs. Shakerley 
 John Smyth, Efq. M. P. 
 Richard Stonhewcr, Efq. 
 George Steevens, Efq. 
 Mr. Shrimpton, 2 copies 
 
 Marquis of Tichfield 
 Lady Templetown 
 Lady Twifden, 4 copies 
 Mifs Twifden, 2 copies
 
 SUBSCRIBE**. 
 
 Mifs Trimmer 
 Mifs Elizabeth Trimmer 
 Richard Thompfon, Efq. 
 William Townfcnd, Efq. 
 
 Lady Charlotte Villiers 
 
 Earl of Uxbridge, 2 copies 
 Coumefs of Uxbridge, 2 copies 
 
 Vifcount Wentworth 
 Lady Willoughby de Broke 
 Mrs. Hawkins Whitfhed 
 Martin Wall, M.D. Oxon 
 Mrs. Wall 
 Mrs. Waring 
 Samuel Waring, Efq. 
 Rer. Henry White, M. A. 
 Rev. James Williamfon, B. D.
 
 , CONTENTS. 
 
 SONNETS. 
 
 Page 
 
 I. Addrefs to the Rural Mufe . . i 
 
 II. On a rural Theft 2 
 
 III. Evening Addrefs to the Rocks near Tun- 
 
 bridge- Wells 3 
 
 IV. Written in Mr. Scott's Garden at Amwell . . 4 
 
 V. Written near Bay ham-Abbey, Suflex 5 
 
 VI. To Charlotte Smith 6 
 
 VII. Written in fight of Reculver Church, the two 
 
 Spires of which are called The Sifters.' 7 
 
 VIII. Written at Windfor-Caftle 8 
 
 IX. Tothe Rev. Mr. Benfon 9 
 
 X. On leaving Tunbridge- Wells 10 
 
 XI. To Dr. Thomas, late Bifhop of Rochefter . 1 1 
 
 XII. To Mr. Hayley 12 
 
 XIII. On being cenfurcd for collecting Epitaphs . . 13 
 
 XIV. Written on the Sea-Coaft 14 
 
 XV. To Mrs. P IS 
 
 XVI. Written in an Alcove, where Thomfon 
 
 compofed his Seafons" 16 
 
 XVII. On feeing the Name of Dyer excluded 
 
 from a Lift of Poets defcanted upon in 
 
 ' The Village Curate" j 7
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Page 
 
 XVIII. On framing the Heads of Milton and 
 
 Shakfpeare 1 8 
 
 XIX. Written near a ruinous Manfion at 
 
 Groombridge, Suflex : 19 
 
 XX. Written in a MS. Copy of Mifs Seward's 
 
 Poems 20 
 
 XXI. Written on the Sands below Beachy-head 2 1 
 
 XXII. To the Rev. Mr. Mafon 22 
 
 XXIII. Written near the Sea-fide at Kingfgate . 23 
 
 XXIV. Written in the Spring 24 
 
 XXV. To the River Witham 25 
 
 XXVI. To the Author of the " Talk" 26 
 
 XXVII. On reading Mifs Williams' Elegiac tri- 
 
 bute to Dr. Kippis 27 
 
 XXVIII. The Mifer. By Aleffandro Taffoni ... 28 
 
 XXIX. Glory and Envy. Altered from Zappi . 29 
 
 XXX. 30 
 
 OCCASIONAL VERSES. 
 
 On Haydn 33 
 
 Written at the Garden-feat of a female Academy . . 34 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. H. on their Wedding-day $6 
 
 Written near the late Mr. Scott's Grounds, at Am- 
 
 well-End, Herts . 38 
 
 Written in the Ifle of Thanet 4t 
 
 On leaving a fumroer-refidence at a Cottage 43 
 
 To William Rowley, M. D 44
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 . . Pa i e 
 
 On viewing the Graves of James and Sarah Eafton, 
 
 in Fairlight Church-yard, Suffex 46 
 
 On having vifited Mr. Hay ley's Villa, near Chi- 
 
 chefter, while he was abfent 49 
 
 The Summer-Invitation 51 
 
 INSCRIPTIONS. 
 
 For a Table, formerly ufed as a Writing-deflc, by 
 
 Thomfon the poet 59 
 
 For an antique Root-houfe. In Chaucer's ftyle . . * 60 
 Another. Adapted to the Mrz of Queen Elizabeth 61 
 Infcriptive Anathema, for the Gate of a Shrubbery . 62 
 
 FAMILIAR EPISTLES. 
 
 To a Friend at Trinity-College, Cambridge ..... 6; 
 
 Letter from the Same , 69 
 
 Reply to the preceding , . 74 
 
 EPIGRAMS. 
 
 A Man of Promife 81 
 
 On the fplendid Funeral of a Mifer 
 
 On Avarus _- 
 
 Second-Sight ' 82 
 
 A Man of Punctuality _ 
 
 On a Self-Applauder _ 
 
 Sentimental Charity , 83 
 
 Tempora mutantur 
 
 On a clerical Gamefter 84
 
 VI CONTENTS. 
 
 Page 
 
 A Query 84 
 
 On a female Wafp 85 
 
 An Appeal. Quid pro quo ? . ; . 
 
 La Confolation derniere 
 
 To a Friend 86 
 
 On a drowfy Divine, who preached up " Patience" 
 
 Moral Arithmetic 
 
 EPITAPHS. 
 
 On William Walley, M. D 89 
 
 On a Grave-Stone in Adon Church- Yard 90 
 
 On the Death of an old Family- Acquaintance .... 91 
 
 On a young Lady, who died of a Decline 92 
 
 ELEGIES. 
 
 On Seduction 95 
 
 On the Death of Dame Morris 103 
 
 Written in an Evening Stroll to Twyford Church 107 
 
 Notes and Illustrations 113 
 
 DIRECTIONS TO THE BINDER. 
 
 Plate II to face page 7. 
 
 Ill 29. 
 
 IV 59 . 
 
 V 97- 
 
 VI... 107.
 
 SONNETS.
 
 SONNETS. 
 SONNET I. 
 
 ADDRESS TO THE RURAL MUSE. 
 
 Muse of the Landfcape! that infylvan (hade, 
 With meek Simplicity, thy handmaid, dwells : 
 Oft haft thou led me through fequefter'd dells, 
 O'er airy heights, and down the funny glade 
 
 Where vernant wreaths for thee I fought to braid 
 Of wild-blown rofes, or of azure bells 
 Cull'd by fome limpid fount that fortly wells ; 
 And haft thou no return of kindnefs made ? 
 
 Yes, thou haft footh'd my heart in forrow's hour, 
 And many a wayward paffion oft beguil'd ; 
 Thy charms have won me to Reflection's bow'r, 
 
 When Folly elfe, with vifions falfe and wild, 
 
 Had lur'd my footfteps, by her witching pow'r, 
 
 From thee, enchanting Nature's lovelieft child ! 
 
 B
 
 t SONNETS. 
 
 SONNET II. 
 
 ON A RURAL THEFT. 
 Written at Bur id ike, in KsMu 
 
 Elves, and ye oread train of Belvedere, 
 
 Whofe light fteps nimbly o'er the green mofs play, 
 What time the ftar of evening 'gins to peer, 
 With paly lufbre through the beech-wood grey; 
 
 Slow to your cirque I faw a Plunderer fteer 
 With ftep perfidious, and intent on prey 
 While all your infecl-lamps were gliftening near, 
 He bore a lucid Glow-worm foftaway : 
 
 But ye purfued him with your wilieft art, 
 
 Drew fpinners' webs of film athwart his eyes, 
 With pungent thiftles made his finews fmart, 
 
 And while he ftoop'd to guard them, fnatch'd his prize. 
 So may all fare, who led by Hcfper's ray, ' 
 Ungently pillage from the bower of fay.
 
 SONNETS. 
 
 SONNET III. 
 
 An Evening Addrefs to the Rocks near 
 
 ToNBRIDGt.WtLLS. 
 
 Romantic Guardians of this peaceful vale, 
 
 That o'er yon rafter'd fhed raife high your brow ; 
 Say, does fome wifard up your cleft fide fcale, 
 And like a blighted pollard feem to grow ? 
 
 Wrapt in the mazy windings of the dale, 
 Do elfin-monarchs hold their court below, 
 Or down the devious rill by moonlight fail, 
 Their bark a {hell, a grafly blade their prow ? 
 
 Whate'er your refidents, whate'er their talk, 
 
 To fhield the founding" cliff, or fprings unlock, 
 Whether they now in Hoping fun-beams balk, 
 
 Or doze till midnight in the rifted rock ; 
 
 Still let a ftranger mark their hallow 'd reign, 
 And hear in riling winds their myftic (train. 
 
 B 2
 
 SONNETS. 
 
 SONNET IV. 
 
 Written in Mr. Scott's Gjrdzn, at Ahwill-Es, Iltnrt, 
 ajhort Time after his Deceafe. 
 
 As fome lone mourner, with a pilgrim's love, 
 Roams to the diftant manfions of the dead, 
 Hangs o'er each relic with a joy above 
 What feftal pleafures ever boaft to lhed. 
 
 So, by poetic forrow fondly led, 
 
 Thro' Amwell's widow 'd fcenes I fecret rove, 
 Retrace each path where Theron * us'd to tread, 
 And pierce afrefh each infpirative grove ; 
 
 With lingering fadnefs paufe around the fpot 
 
 Where art and nature drove with tafte to blend, 
 Where Theron delv'd his fubterranean grot, 
 
 Theron, the Mufe's and the Poet's friend! 
 Alas! that it Ihould prove my haplefs lot 
 To fee the cyprefs o'er his pale urn bend.
 
 SONNETS. 
 
 SONNET V. 
 
 WRITTEN NEAR BAYH AM-ABBEY, 
 
 3USS1X. 
 
 In ancient days of fuperftitious dread, 
 
 When lordly abbots kept the world in fear ; 
 When monkifh craft his fecret banquet fpread, 
 Yet feem'd in outward penance mod auftere : 
 Yon cloifter'd pile, by wealthy bigots 3 fed, 
 With fretted roof was wont its porch to rear, 
 Where fmothering ivy now is feen to braid 
 Each beetling fragment with its umbrage drear : 
 Difaftrous change! yet, to the mental view, 
 More pleas'd fuch pomp in ruins I furvey, 
 Than when in fainted guife the prieftly crew 
 To drowfy vefpers drag'd their loitering way ; 
 
 More pleas'd with pious worth's unblazon'd deeds, 
 Than conclaves of grey cowls, or treafuries of beads.
 
 SONNETS. 
 
 SONNET VI. 
 
 TO CHARLOTTE SMITH. 
 
 Too fond Enthufiaft of the twilight bow'r! 
 
 Who lov'ft with lonely Philomel to plain, 
 
 With her, in melting rainftrelfy, to pour 
 
 At once the faddcft and the fweeteft ftrain : 
 Still wont to forrow 'neath the moon-beam pale, 
 
 Thy bofom preffes, fure, no fancied thorn ; 
 
 Elfe thou could'ft never breathe fuch piteous bale, 
 
 Elfe thou could'ft never wear a look fo lorn : 
 Heart-ftricken deeply by fome barbed grief, 
 
 Has fympathy a balm for curelefs woe ? 
 
 Haply this thought may minifter relief, 
 If aught on earth a folace can beftow ; 
 
 That generous Co wper, Britain's tuneful chief! 
 
 With pureft friendlhip gives his foul to glow.
 
 Midland scufyf 
 
 I,ondori.J'uhftj-bfd Afarrib 7'/</7. l>v O.Sc/el. Sfrriritf.
 
 SONNET VII. 
 
 Written in Sight of RtcuLrtR, on the Approach of a 
 Sij-Storm. 
 
 Dark heaves the wave along the lonely ftrand, 
 The cowering fea-mew droops her dufky wing, 
 The plover, circling, feeks a fafer land, 
 While to their rocky cove the fwallows cling : 
 
 Clouds, thickly-driving, veil the face of day; 
 
 And now the gathering tempeft raves more near, 
 High o'er the beach froths up the fpurny fpray, 
 And ev'n at noon the (hades of night appear. 
 
 Yet do thefe horrors with congenial gloom 
 Paint the fad tale yon fifter-fpires record 
 Of two fond fpirits, whofe diftrefsful doom 
 
 Ingenuous Feeling* fweetly hath deplor'd, 
 And to the eye of fympathy reftor'd 
 From dark Tradition's legendary tome.
 
 8 SONNETS. 
 
 SONNET VIII. 
 
 WRITTEN AT WINDSOR-C ASTLK. 
 
 Imperial Dome, whofe turret-crowned heights 
 Catch the prime effluence of Apollo's rays ; 
 Whofe gorgeous bannerols, and ftoried fights 
 In proud achievement fix the wondering gaze. 
 
 Thine is the martial legend that recites 
 
 How Gallia's Monarch in great Edward's days, 
 With Scotia's Champion and his captive knights, 
 Here fwell'd the triumph in their Victor's praife : 
 
 Thine is the trophied hall of Albion's Saint, 
 Whence claffic Eton's hoary-vefted towers 
 With gothic majefty the fcene attire ; 
 
 And thine the boaft from Surrey's love-fick plaint, 
 That round thefe banner'd walls, and crefted bowers, 
 Have harp'd the nobleft Bards pf Britain's quire !'
 
 SONNETS. 9 
 
 SONNET IX. 
 
 To tit Rev A Mr. BiNsotr, Minijler of 
 
 ToSBRlDGl.Wi.LLS. 
 
 Sen son ! in thee there dwells an holy calm 
 Which pure religion can alone infpire; 
 Thy chaften'd manners wear an outward charm 
 That fpeaks a foul fublim'd by virtue's fire, 
 
 And prompts a Stranger warmly to admire j 
 
 One, who would glow to greet thee as his friend, 
 
 And oft thy flcilfitl pilotage require 
 
 To ftiape Life's voyage fmoothly to its end. 
 
 But this is Fancy's vifionary joy : 
 
 My world-bound bark mull courfe an hardier way, 
 
 Mid rocks and flioals that threaten or annoy, 
 
 Near coafts, where error gleams her faithlefs ray, 
 
 * 
 And beacons rarely blaze fo bright as Thee, 
 
 To guide o'er folly's Ihelves, and paffion's troublous 
 
 fca.
 
 IO SONNETS. 
 
 SONNET X. 
 
 On leaving TiwsxJziei-fFiiis. 
 
 Ye fcenes, long courted for falubrious powers, 
 
 "Where Nature with her fhelter'd meads hath blent 
 The breezy upland purpled o'er with flowers, 
 And latent ftream with mineral dew befprent : 
 
 In future feafons may your charms be lent, 
 While leifure leads along my rofeate hours 
 Thro* the fmooth vale, or up the fteep afcent, 
 When fpring looks gay, or autumn wildly lours. 
 
 For fweet, tho' fwift, alas ! the moments fled, 
 As near yon cot I hymn'd my matin lay ; 
 And hallow'd are the paths Peace deigns to tread, 
 
 And dear is every veftige of the way, 
 
 And bleft each fcene which frames the mind to fliare 
 * Divine oblivion of low-though ted care.'
 
 SONNETS. 
 
 
 SONNET XI. 
 
 To Dr. Thomas, lateB'fhop of Rocmsstkk. 
 
 To thee, O Rochester! anhumbleMufe 
 Tenders her offering on an honeft plan, 
 -With due refpecl thy titled grandeur views, 
 But pays her better tribute to the man : 
 
 For mitred brows could yield but futile fame, 
 
 If knowledge bound not there her brighter wreath, 
 And purfled lawn could little homage claim, 
 Did not thebreaft of virtue glow beneath : 
 
 But when external honours fhine with light 
 
 From learning, meeknefs, piety's mild worth 
 Refkfted, like the ftellar gems of night 
 
 From folar glory, that irradiates earth ; 
 
 Then will the Mufe her plaudits breathe around, 
 And teach, as now, her fyrinx to refound.
 
 12 SONNETS. 
 
 SONNET XII. 
 
 TO MR. HAYLEY. 
 
 Accomplish'd Mafter of the charmed fhell, 
 Whole touch can fweetly modulate its tone 
 To melting forrow's elegiac moan, 
 Now the full chord with epic grandeur fwell, 
 
 And now, the fpleenful paffions to repel, 
 
 In dulcet notes each Orphic pow'r make known 
 That draws, with art peculiarly thine own, 
 Round Beauty's magic, Temper's lovelier fpell. 
 
 This votive verfe, which kindling ardors frame 
 That flow from feelings not to thee unknown, 
 Accept, from one who zealous for thy fame, 
 
 May haply feem too heedlefs of his own j 
 
 Norfcorn, tho' rival bards thy triumph raife, 
 The poor ovation I of a minftrel's praifc.
 
 SONNETS. 13 
 
 SONNET XIII. 
 
 On being cenfuredfor eolUUing Epitaphs. 
 
 By marble cenotaph, or grafly mound, 
 The lay funereal ftudious to explore, 
 As flow I traverfe thro' the church-yard's bound, 
 Or mid the chancel's ancient relics pore, 
 
 And add fome frail memorial' to my (tore 
 Ere yet in penfivenefs I quit the ground j 
 Not idle deem the monitory lore, 
 Which from the page of fate I gather round : 
 
 For he who frequent marks Life's final goal, 
 May learn to eftimate its courfe more true, 
 May bid his thought the high career purfue. 
 
 Where years eternal their dread courfes roll, 
 And Truth decrees an amaranthine prize 
 For him who wins on earth to wear amid the ikies.
 
 H 
 
 SONNETS. 
 
 SONNET XIV. 
 
 WRITTEN ON THE SEA-COAST. 
 
 Unfaithful deep, what variance doft thou (how. 
 An emblem of thyfelf thy billows bear, 
 Now glofly green the chequer'd currents flow, 
 Now fkirt the wild horizon dun and drear : 
 
 Unceafing fource of wretchednefs and care 
 
 To thofe who trufi: thy fummer-rippling wave, 
 They little reck what wintry ftorms are near, 
 How oft the buoyant furge conceals a grave. 
 
 Me, thou can'ft never tempt, thou reftlefs flood ! 
 Tho' now foft murmuring rolls thy furfy fwell, 
 To me e'en now each furf appears a fliroud, 
 
 And every foften'd murmur founds a knell ! 
 Me, Love invites mid tranquil joys to live, 
 Such as thy changeful nature cannot give.
 
 SONNETS. 
 
 SONNET XV. 
 
 TO MRS. r. 
 
 'J 
 
 Tor thee, beft treafure of a hufband's heart 
 Whose blifs it is that thou for life art so, 
 That thy fond bofom bears a faithful part, 
 In every cafual change his breaft can know. 
 
 For thee, whom virtuous paffion made his choice, 
 Whom Genius and Affedlion make his pride, 
 Connubial rapture tunes his grateful voice, 
 And hails the mother dearer than the bride : 
 
 And tho' thy worth deferves a brighter palm 
 Than. laureate hands round diadems entwine, 
 Love's jiraple chaplet happily may charm 
 
 With truer, tenderer ecftacy, from mine ! 
 
 -And let me ftill but reign thy r bofom 's lord,' 
 Be fame or wealth their votary's reward.
 
 \6 SONNETS. 
 
 SONNET XVI. 
 
 Written in an Alcove -where Thomson ampofed his Seafuns. 
 
 Aerial Spirits, who for fobk your fky 
 
 To whifper charmed founds in Thomson's car, 
 Or (haded from the ken of grofTer eye, 
 Did to the Bard in holy trance appear ; 
 
 Still guard the facred grove which once was dear, 
 On every leaf enweave a druid-fpell, 
 And fay to the profane, fhould fuch come near, 
 Here did the woodland 6 pilgrim ' form his cell; 
 
 The prieft of Nature here his temple plac'd, 
 And rais'd the incenfe of his fong on high ; 
 With fylvan honours was his altar grae'd, 
 
 His harp was tun'd to heavenly pfalmiftry : 
 
 Here did he pour to Nature's GOD the flrain ! 
 And fhould you fcorn the worlhip, fhun the fane.
 
 SONNETS. 17 
 
 SONNET XVII. 
 
 On feeing the Name of Dyzr excluded from a Lift of Eitgljjk Poets, 
 defcanted upon in the Village Curate.* 
 
 And are thy (trains unheeded, gentle Bard, 
 In this fair mufter-roll of Britifh rhyme ; 
 Could Grongar's beauties vainly claim regard 
 By piftur'd fentiment, or numerous chime ? 
 
 Muft Latium's fall, with fympathetic doom, 
 Whelm in oblivion the Poet's lay; 
 Or every well-fung labour of the 7 Loom 
 Sink, like its patriot-fubjeft, to decay ? 
 
 Yet, virtuous D r e r ! tho* tis ftill thy fate 
 To grafp no guerdon from faftidious fame, 
 Because on truth thy Mufe made fancy wait, 
 
 Far lefs to trifle than to teach her aim ; 
 
 Yet fliall the mind unfway'd by critic- flate, 
 Cherifh thy memory, and refpeft thy name.
 
 l8 SONNETS. 
 
 SONNET XVIII. 
 
 On framing the engraved Heads of MtnoN and SaAKStunt. 
 
 Xhoxj, who on feraph- pinion dauntlefe flew 
 
 From heav'ns bright throne to heir's dominion drear, 
 That thou might'ft bring to onr aftoniftYd \kw, 
 All we now hope with ail we had to fear. 
 
 And thou, fWeet Bard, his only fit compeer, 
 
 Who nature's fcenes in all their changes drew ; 
 Whofe fancy, unconfin'd to one wide fphere, 
 * Exhaufted worlds, and then imagin'd new.' 
 
 Sons of true genius I heirs of deathless fame ! 
 Here fliall your chofen portraitures be placed, 
 By all the graphic fkill of Albion grac'd, 
 
 Albion, that founds through Europe her acclaim, 
 While Europe wafts it o'er th' Atlantic main, 
 And echoing millions catch the boaftful ftrain.
 
 SONNETS. 
 
 '9 
 
 SONNET XIX. 
 
 Written near a ruinous Man/ton at Croombhibge, where Charles Duke 
 o/Obluns was many years a Prifoner of War. 
 
 Heroic Chiefs of tills once-boafled hall, 
 If e'er your fpeclred forms at midnight float 
 O'er the fall'n battlement or half-fill'd moat, 
 Like dubious vapours near fome charnel wall 
 
 Which the belated way-farer appal ; 
 
 Mourn ye thofe antique times of proud approof, 
 When captur'd banners wav'd beneath your roof, 
 To taunt the royal 8 Troubadour of Gaul ? 
 
 Yet, let your modern fons revere the day, 
 Howe'er in fome degenerate changes funk, 
 When hoftile arms to civil arts gave way, 
 
 And moats to rills, and towers to hovels Ihrunk : 
 While the fierce clarion to the ftieep-bell yields, 
 And tented moors to cultivated fields* 
 c 2
 
 20 SONNETS. 
 
 SONNET XX. 
 
 Written in a Manvfcript Copy of Mifs Seitjrd's Poems, after having 
 re/cued it from the Printing-houfe. 
 
 Snatch'd from the tortuous grafp and touch impure 
 Of fpoilers, recklefs whofe creative mind 
 And polifh'd (kill thefe varied (trains combin'd 
 In foul-fubduing verfe, that can allure 
 
 To rapturous ecftacy ; henceforth, be fure 
 Of more fit homage, while ye reft enfhrin'd 
 Beneath my letter'd cope, in union join'd 
 With living Harmonifts, whofe lays fecure 
 
 From Albion grateful wreaths. With afpeft dear 
 To me have ever beam'd the fons of fong ; 
 Seward I honour'd as their genuine peer, 
 
 The Siren-fifter of our Delphic throng I 
 And hence my ardency of zeal fincere 
 To wreft her Sibyl leaves from fenfelefs wrong.
 
 SONNETS. 21 
 
 SONNET XXI. 
 
 Written on the Sands below BzjcuT-ntjD, 
 
 With giant-port high towering o'er the main, 
 Be a c h y , thy cliffs in mafly grandeur rife 
 Like fome cleft caftle, which with calm difdain 
 Still braves the outrage of inclement flcies : 
 The daws that round thy chalky furamit foar 
 Are dimly feen, and feebly heard their cries, 
 While the hoarfe tide that flows with hollow roar, 
 Round many a fallen crag indignant fighs, 
 And fteeps in foam yon fable-vefted chain 
 Of rocky terrors ; England's wide defence 
 Againft her foes ; where oft th* invading Dane 
 Fell a ftern viftim to his bold pretence ; 
 Where proud Iberia's vaft Armada fled, 
 And with its countlefs wrecks th* unfated ocean fed.
 
 21 SONNETS. 
 
 SONNET XXII. 
 
 TO THE REV. MR. MASON. 
 
 Brother of our poetic eagle Gray, 
 
 Thro' whofe twin-foul, with fancy's fplendent fires, 
 Science and virtue blend fo warm a ray, 
 That Envy's felf reluctantly admires. 
 By thee, whofe praife has wak'd far other lyres, 
 Be my wild carol with acceptance crown'd ; 
 Tho' faint the tone, and diflbnant the wires 
 That feek to mix their gratulative found. 
 Tis thus the wren, when Nature's plumy band 
 Hail in refponfive notes the orient day, 
 Beneath fome covert takes her lift'ning Hand, 
 In fond attention to the plaufive lay ; 
 
 And, as each throat with trilling rapture flows, 
 Lifts her weak voice to fwell the choral clofe.
 
 SONNETS. 23 
 
 SONNET XXIII. 
 
 Written near the Sea-fide at Kixcsgjtz. 
 
 In this calm (hade, while fummer's halcyon flty 
 Tints the broad flood with one cerulean hue, 
 Save where a cafiial cloud, foft flitting by, 
 Streaks the bright azure with a darker blue. 
 In this calm (hade, while many an infecl-quire, 
 Blown o'er the thymy turf on vagrant wing, 
 Float gaily round, or fportively retire, 
 And to the pafling gale their defcant fling. 
 Here, let me mark with what impaflion'd force 
 
 The Bard of Wotton 9 breathes his love-lorn tale, 
 Or pours the plaintive fweetnefs of his verfe 
 As Petrarch pour'd it down Valclufa's vale : 
 For in his graceful numbers are combin'd 
 Softnefs of heart with energy of mind.'
 
 24 SONNETS. 
 
 SONNET XXIV. 
 
 WRITTEN IN THE SPRING. 
 
 r air was the face of this illumin'd dawn, 
 With vernal brighrnefs, vernal foftnefs fair, 
 The Sun inceflant woo'd the blulhing Morn, 
 And all the youthful Hours laugh 'd round the pair : 
 
 But ere the evening what a change was there ! 
 Harfh thunders roll, and forked lightnings fly ; 
 Hyemal tempefts brood along the air, 
 Or fall in torrents from an angry Iky. 
 
 Ah ! fcarce lefs mutable is man's brief day; 
 Soon are his early profpe&s clouded o'er, 
 And thofe foft funs that (hot their April-ray 
 
 Acrofs his primrofe pathway, ihine no more : 
 Grief on the prefent drops her tearful fhow'rs, 
 And Apprehenfion o'er the future lours.
 
 SOKNETS, 2f 
 
 SONNET XXV. 
 
 TO THE RIVER WITHAM. 
 
 With am, along whofe willow-crefted more, 
 The idle stream, tho' fluggifh, wanders wide 
 Thro' reedy fens, where mournful bitterns hide, 
 From Lindum's fteep IO to Bofton's lofty tow'r j 
 
 How oft, erewhile, in childhood's happy hour, 
 Have I the angler's patient labour plied 
 Along thy banks, or fnar'd with boyilh pride 
 The wary pike, or grafp'd th' unwieldy oar, 
 
 Or plung'd beneath the wave. Yet memory now, 
 E'en o'er thefe fcenes of former joys can pine, 
 Care with his rugged furrows marks my brow, 
 
 And pad delights, like fpectres, grimly fhinc: 
 So did they erft round penfive Warton gleam, 
 Warton, the laureate boaft of Britain's Academe!
 
 26 SONNETS. 
 
 SONNET XXVI. 
 
 TO TJBB AWTHOR OF THf "TASK." 
 
 Cowper! who now in Wefton's favour'd fhades 
 Serenely feated, doft with vifion clear 
 Scan old IlifFus' haunts, and to the maids 
 Of Phoebus' train, thy name for aye endear 
 
 By claflic fbng. Ah, rather let our ear 
 
 Catch the high rapture of that holier drain. 
 Which Ifrael's prophet had rejoic'd to hear 
 On Horeb's facred mount, or Salem's plain. 
 
 Energic Sage ! thy pious Tajk " refume, 
 
 Let Homer's" verfe no longer thine fufpend; 
 With heav'nly ray our terrene path illume, 
 
 Bid Chriftian with Maeonian ardours blend ; 
 So round thy laurels ftill fhall palms entwine, 
 And future ages hail thee Bard Divine!
 
 SONNETS. 27 
 
 SONNET XXVIL 
 
 On reading Mlfi Wilijjhs* Elegiac Tribute to 
 Dr. KiPFit. 
 
 Nods the dark plume, and drops the fable pall 
 O'er fome lov'd corfe whofe fpirit lately fled; 
 Deep are the fighs that heave at Nature's call, 
 Warm are the gufhing griefs by Friendfhip fhed. 
 
 But when the laft fad fcene is vanish'd all, 
 And with it vaniihes each fclfifh dread ; 
 Too foon, alas, do meaner thoughts enthrall, 
 Too foon forgotten are the virtuous dead! 
 
 Yet are not all : for Helen's radiant tear 
 Gems, with the luftre of Aonian dew, 
 The grave of Kippis ; and, with grateful care, 
 
 Her faireft laurel grafts on funeral yew: 
 So may the Britifh Mufe, of brow auftere, 
 With kindlier glance a truant-exile view.
 
 28 SONNETS. 
 
 SONNET XXVIII. 
 
 THE MISER. 
 By AlissahdroTjssoni. 
 
 This breathing mummy, wbofe exterior chart 
 Nature has copied from a palleboard toy ; 
 This breathing mummy, which the maker's art 
 With hands and feet has fafhioned for employ ; 
 
 This breathing mummy is of that vile band 
 Who never wear a {hoe which is not foal'd, 
 Nor coat nor hat but what is fecond-hand, 
 Yet boaft, at ufury, a plum of gold. 
 
 Look, as he moves what tatter'd rents appear, 
 
 Botch 'd by himfelf with various-color'd thread ; 
 While his dara'd fhirt, unchang'd within the year, 
 
 Owns not of native cloth a (ingle (hred. 
 
 Boil'd bread he eats, with, now and then, ox-cheek, 
 And one poach'd egg in Eafter's annual week.
 
 
 
 
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 7,0ndon.-jt*// f>hsJbrrf Marctb tt707. byG.Sae?. Strand.
 
 SONNETS. 2() 
 
 SONNET XXIX. 
 
 GLORY AND ENVV. 
 Altered from Zappi. 
 
 As o'er Parnaflus' crags I flowly ftride, 
 Glory appears with animating fmile, 
 And in a voice that lightens every toiJ, 
 Proceed (hewhifpers I will be your guide. 
 
 But as we labour up the fteep hill's fide, 
 
 Envy approaches ; and with fmooth-tongued guile, 
 Invites me calmly to repofe, the while 
 Her fearching eye an eafier track defcried. 
 
 Ah ! fhould my falt'ring fteps in languor reft 
 
 On fuch falfe guidance; Glory's ray-girt head 
 Would vainly gild for me the Mountain's crefl; : 
 
 Then, rather by her funny radiance led, 
 
 Right onward let me fcale th' ethereal height, 
 And Envy's form will fhroud beneath Cimmerian 
 night.
 
 30 SONNETS. 
 
 SONNET XXX. 
 
 As the pale phantoms rais'd by Morpheus' pow'r 
 To wilder fancy thro' the drear of night, 
 Sink with our {lumbers to oblivion's bow'r, 
 Unable to endure the teft of light. 
 
 So, in ideal imagery bright, 
 
 / glow with vifions of poetic fire; 
 
 But ere expreffion can arreft their flight, 
 
 In vaporifh fume the ' fhadowy tribes' expire ; 
 
 Into thin air' the dim chimeras fade j 
 While loft in wonder at th' illufive cheat, 
 Or vex'd to chafe the fhadow of a (hade, 
 
 I blame the folly of enthufiaft heat, 
 
 And, flung with difappointment, drop the quill, 
 Yet ftill irrefolute refume it ftill.
 
 OCCASIONAL VERSES.
 
 OCCASIONAL VERSES. 
 
 ON HAYDN. 
 
 irritat, muket, ut magus, Hor. 
 
 When Haydn fweeps the mad'ning (hell, 
 Haydn, the Orpheus of his Art! 
 
 Harfli Difcord, with a fhrilly yell, 
 From deepeft chaos feems to ftart ; 
 
 And mingling in a rage of sound, 
 
 With frantic terror thrills the vaulted bound. 
 
 But when to foft and dulcet notes 
 The fweet Mufician fhifts his key, 
 
 Like zephyr, felf-diflblving, floats 
 The foul of heavenly harmony : 
 
 While Fancy in wild rapture fprings 
 
 O'er his lov'd lute, and kifles all the firings.
 
 34- OCCASIONAL VERSES. 
 
 WRITTEN AT THE 
 
 GARDEN-SEAT of a FEMALE ACADEMY, 
 
 IN WHICH WERE PLACED 
 
 The Buftt of Homer, Virgii, Horace, Milton, and Port. 
 
 Howe'er the Greek, or Mantuan bard, 
 
 May to a claflie taite be dear j 
 Or epic Milton meet regard, 
 
 Or Horace gay, or Pope fevere. 
 
 Yet fure where female charms infpire, 
 Ovid mould grace the proud alcove : 
 
 And foft Tibullus hold the lyre, 
 
 And fofter Hammond * fing of love/ 
 
 But if Athenia this denies, 
 
 (Preceptrefs of the veftal train) 
 Left beauty mould her pow'r defpife, 
 
 Or reafon yield to paflion's reign:
 
 OCCASIONAL VERSES. 35 
 
 Awed by a judgment fo profound, 
 
 Let male to female right fubmit : 
 While thofe fair heroines here are crown 'd 
 
 Who scorn all falique laws of wit. 
 
 Here be the Mufe-rapt Seward feen, 
 
 And give the polilh'd Barbavld place, 
 
 With Attic Carter's fober mien, 
 And tender Mulso's moral grace : 
 
 With fprightly Cowley, penfive Lee, 
 Here let Uranian Trimmer foar ; 
 
 And with/the fmiles of Sill er y, 
 
 Trace the mild form of virtuous More. 
 
 These might to emulation guide, 
 
 Did they this votive region fill; 
 For let our Co w p e r but prefide, . 
 
 'Twould match old Hefiod's Grecian hill. 
 D 2 
 %
 
 36 OCCASIONAL VERSES. 
 
 TO MR. AND MRS. H. 
 
 On the Eighth Annivcrfary of their Wedding-Day 
 
 WHEN fome fond Swain and plighted Fair, 
 
 To Hymen's temple firft repair j 
 
 IdaKan Graces deck the maid, 
 
 By Iris is the youth array'd; 
 
 Loves, Lares, Genii, fport around, 
 
 And Flora ftrews the feftal ground, 
 
 While Fauns, and Nymphs, and Dryads come 
 
 With garfands form'd in Fancy's loom ; 
 
 And every Mufe attunes her lay, 
 
 To gratulate the bridal day! 
 
 But when the day, the year is paft, 
 And clouds of care have overcaft; 
 No more gay Love by Fancy led, 
 With rofes paints each path they tread;
 
 OCCASIONAL VERSES. 37 
 
 No more to Hymen's alter'd home, 
 The Loves, or ev'n the Lares come : 
 ' But cafual flrife, or fettled fpleen, 
 Diflblves the vifionary fcene, 
 And every Mufe forgets to pay 
 Her welcome to the nuptial day. 
 
 Thus, fleering oft by Folly's chart, 
 Indifference wrecks the wedded heart. 
 But if a happier Pair we fee, 
 Who crown fond love with conftancy; 
 Whole paifions fpreading reafon's fail. 
 Let Truth not Fancy catch the gale 
 Which joy wafts on with every year 
 That draws the gordian-knot more near: 
 For fuch a Pair, fhall Friendfhip's lay 
 Still confccrate the nuptial day.
 
 38 OCCASIONAL VERSES. 
 
 WRITTEN BY THE SIDE OF 
 
 THE LATE MR. SCOTT'* GROUNDS, 
 At Ahwill-End. 
 
 How frail, alas, is human hope 
 
 When grafted on the ftock of joy ; 
 What blights untimely make it droop, 
 
 And all our bloom of blifs deftroy ! 
 
 Mufing befide the much-lov'd fpot 
 
 Which Am well's gentle Poet form'd; 
 
 Thus moralis'd my penfive thought, 
 By painful retrofpeftron warm'd. 
 
 For he, whofe utmoft wifh was here 
 (The fimple wi(h that Poets crave) 
 
 To fee, his fludious dwelling near, 
 
 The green walk wind, the green wood ,3 wave.'
 
 OCCASIONAL VERSES. 39 
 
 Ere yet the (hrubby mount was gracM 
 
 With- the full growth which now appears ; 
 
 Ere mantling ivy had embrae'd 
 
 Yon elm, that high his leant top rears, 
 
 The matter of this fair domain, 
 
 Guardian of all its fylvan (late, 
 Was far from this his fav'rite plain, 
 
 Pierc'd by the ruthlefs ftiaft of fate. 
 
 Ere yet his virtuous fame had fpread 
 To thofe, who now that fame revere ; 
 
 Himfelf was mingled with the dead. 
 
 Nor praife could reach his * dull cold ear.' 
 
 And this lov'd grove which Theron train'd, 
 
 And oped to all its friendly door ; 
 A fullen ftranger now has gain'd, 
 
 Who opes the guarded gate no more.
 
 4<> OCCASIONAL VERSES. 
 
 No more the planter's Ikill is prais'd, 
 His tafte can charm no kindred eye ; 
 
 And ev'n the grot which Theron rais'd, 
 No longer guards his memory. 
 
 What then avails the Poet's toil 
 
 To plant the grove, or build the lay ? 
 
 He does but ftdck th' ungrateful foil, 
 Another bears the crop away.
 
 OCCASIONAL VERSES. 4! 
 
 WRITTEN IN THE ISLE OF THANET. 
 
 Auguji 1790. 
 
 Th e bard who paints from rural plains, 
 
 Muft oft himfelf the void fupply 
 Of damfels pure, and artlefs fwains 
 
 Of innocence and induftry. 
 
 For fad experience (hews the heart 
 
 Of human beings much the fame ; 
 Or polifh'd by infidious art, 
 
 Or rude as from the clod it came. 
 
 And he who roams the village round, 
 
 Or ftrays amid the harveft fere, 
 Will hear, as now, too many a found 
 
 Quiet would never wifli to hear.
 
 42 OCCASIONAL VERSES. 
 
 The wrangling ruftic's loud abufe, 
 The coarfe, unfeeling, witlefs jeft ; 
 
 The threat obfcene, tlie oath profufe, 
 And all that cultur'd minds deteft. 
 
 Hence, let thofe Sylvan poets glean, 
 Who pifture life without a flaw ; 
 
 Nature may form a perfeft fcene, 
 But Fancy muft the figures draw.
 
 OCCASIONAL VERSES. 43 
 
 ON LEAVING A SUMMER RESIDENCE 
 
 AT A COTTAGE. 
 
 \Vh ile late we dwelt in fhepherd's cot, 
 Far from the glare of wealth or Hate ; 
 
 Content trac'd out the lowly fpot, 
 
 And came with Peace, her ruftic mate. 
 
 Each morn its fragrance breath'd around, 
 Each eyening brought its focial fweets ; 
 
 And though our board did not abound 
 With coftly wines, or dainty meats : 
 
 Yet Health with all her train was there 
 Of gladfome heart, and fmiling brow; 
 
 Wealth robb'd our cot of nought but care, 
 And Pomp of nought but empty mow
 
 44 OCCASIONAL VERSES. 
 
 WILLIAM ROWLEY, M. D. 
 
 Author ef Schola Medkinx Univcrfalis Now, 
 
 Though Science for her votary's brow 
 The chaplet braids with laurel twine, 
 
 Though Genius grants her fon to glow 
 With the proud tranfports of the Nine ; 
 Though all the healing pow'rs are thine, 
 
 Which on his favorites Paeon can beftow. 
 
 Yet loftier meed may Row let claim 
 Than intellect can e'er impart ; 
 
 Be his, that more ennobling fame 
 Which dignifies the foul's defert ; 
 Since his, the generous, feeling heart, 
 
 Touch'd by Philanthropy's ethereal flame !
 
 OCCASIONAL VERSES. 45. 
 
 Not all the ftores long toil has drain'd 
 
 From modern art, or ancient lore ; 
 Not all the travel'd knowledge gain'd 
 
 Near Seine, or Tiber's claflic fliore. 
 
 Or diftant H Niagara's roar, 
 Or Oronoque, with tale hiftoric ftain'd ' s . 
 
 Not all, with fuch ingenuous joy 
 
 Infpires weak Friendfhip's ardent strain ; 
 
 As that Nepenthean fympathy, 
 
 Which never yet was fought in vain 
 By pining want, or fuffering pain, 
 
 When Rowley could the precious balm fupply. 
 
 Long, may thy aftive virtues fan 
 
 That fpark ,6 within the breaft enfhrin'd; 
 Long may'st thou, felf-complacent, scan 
 
 The labours of thy letter 'd mind.; 
 
 Or, in thy Tufculum reclin'd, 
 New projects meditateof good to man 17 .
 
 4-6 OCCASIONAL VERSES. 
 
 ON VIEWING THE 
 
 GRAVES OF JAMES AND SARAK EASTON, 
 In Fair light Chunk-Yard, Sussex. 
 
 Ye, who beneath this cold earth fleep 
 
 In Nature's fecond womb ; 
 With you my vigils here I keep, 
 
 Befide the turf-rais'd tomb. 
 
 Here mark the hufband, here the wife, 
 
 Beneath the neighb'ring fod ; 
 In death united as in life, 
 
 Still near is their abode. 
 
 And fcanty as this bank of green 
 Which parts their kindred clay, 
 
 So fcanty was the fpace between 
 Their mortal-fetting day.
 
 OCCASIONAL VERSES. 47 
 
 And yet perhaps (for fancy here 
 
 Muft take her dubious flight, 
 Since only dates and ages rear 
 
 Their records to the fight.) 
 
 Perhaps, in tend-'reft truth they dwelt 
 
 For many a circling year, 
 And every foul-bom rapture felt 
 
 That flows from love fincere. 
 
 Each was to each a dearer felf, 
 
 A charm 'gainft worldly care, ' 
 A gem more worth than worldly pelf, 
 
 A treafure far more rare. 
 
 Think then, ye minds of fellow mould, 
 
 The fuffering how fevere, 
 Whenow to fill this clay-bed cold, 
 
 Firft prefs'd a tiraelefs bier.
 
 48 OCCASIONAL VERSES. 
 
 Did not the lonely, widow'd heart, 
 
 Its anguilh here deplore ; 
 And, priz'd thro' life its wedded part, 
 
 Then feem to prize it more ? 
 
 Did it not deem the fatal ihaft 
 
 In tender mercy fped, 
 Which gave the fpirit foon to waft 
 
 Beyond this earthy bed ? 
 
 So reads the Swain, whofe pitying thought 
 
 This lowly grave detain'd ; 
 Whofe breaft, with faithful paflion fraught, 
 Can heave the figh unfeign'd. 
 
 And thus, reviewing human fate 
 In Death's dread mirror fliewn ; 
 
 Would learn more fondly ftill to rate 
 The blifs he boafts his own.
 
 OCCASIONAL VERSES, 49 
 
 LINES 
 
 Sent to Mr. Hatut, on having vifited his Villa, in Sosstx, 
 
 while he was abfent. 
 
 Eartham, thy lovely fcenes I fought, 
 
 Scenes to the Mufes juftly dear; 
 And ardent wifh'd, and idly thought 
 
 To find our Britifh Maro there. 
 
 Vain was the wiih for I could fend 
 
 No herald on the wings of fame. 
 No Poet's title though a friend 
 
 To all that ever bore the name. 
 
 Hence, have I pae'd, with pilgrim feet, 
 Where Amwell's Druid rear'd his groves ; 
 
 And mourn M around his lone retreat 
 That now no wonted fpirit roves. 18 
 
 Have trod, where long the Seafons' Bard 
 
 In Sheen's dull earth unheeded lay; 
 And half the pious labour fhar'd, 
 
 That plac'd a moral o'er his clay.' 9
 
 JO OCCASIONAL VERSES. 
 
 And late where rapt Aruna's * fwain 
 Modul'd his wild harp to the wind, 
 
 Have paus'd to trace alas ! in vain- 
 Some relique, haply, left behind. 
 
 Then, Earth am, let thy Matter know, 
 Tho' lucklefs was the ftranger-gueft, 
 
 His bofom felt no common glow, 
 As thy Arcadian* 1 couch he prefs'd. 
 
 For there with Tafte did Genius blend, 
 There Hay ley once his Cow per join'd; 
 
 And who is Cowper's chofen friend, 
 Muft be the friend of human kind!
 
 OCCASIONAL VERSES. 51 
 
 SUMMER INVITATION. 
 
 TO 4 FRIEND. 
 
 Leave to thofe who doat on Town, 
 Nights of care on beds of down j 
 Leave to thofe whom pelf invites, 
 All the City's coarfe. delights ; 
 And within our fylvan glen, 
 Shun, with me, the haunts of men. 
 
 Come, and near this runnel's fide, 
 Hear the gurgling current glide 
 O'er the roots of yonder thorn, 
 Shaggy patriarch of the lawn ! 
 Hear it murmuring ftcal along, 
 Reeds and pebbly mounds among, 
 Till it gains yon ampler pool, 
 Where, befide the herbage cool, 
 k z
 
 J2 OCCASIONAL VERSES. 
 
 Flags and water lilies fpread 
 
 Spacious leaves for fairies' bed. 
 
 Or within the woody range 
 
 Let us converfe interchange, 
 
 Where the beech, of glofly rind, 
 
 Shrinks from the too-obtrufivre wind, 
 
 Or thickly-matted ivy clings 
 
 Round her elm, whofe broad arm flings 
 
 Thwart the path a fretted bower, 
 
 Thick inwove from fun or (hower. 
 
 Reft we then by fountain-brim, 
 
 Where the poplar tapering Aim 
 
 Befide the willow's droopy bough, 
 
 (Sainted by the "lover's vow) 
 
 And the pale afp ruftling near 
 
 The dark-hued hornbeam, early fere; 
 
 And the chefnut's denfer (hade 
 
 Gives the woodbine thick to braid ; 
 
 While lime-trees, fcatter'd o'er the bound, 
 
 Their lufcious floriage ftrew around.
 
 OCCASIONAL VERSES. CJ 
 
 Next, yon high ridge let us gain, 
 Where the barley's bearded grain 
 (By yellow Autumn yet undy'd) 
 Silvers o'er its Hoping fide : 
 While, ting'd by day's declining beam, 
 The viljage fpire with gilded gleam 
 Its tall lhaft fhoots, and column'd fmoke 
 Curls o'er a grove of fapling oak, 
 Which half conceals behind its fpread, 
 Clufter'd farms, and whiten'd ftied, 
 And dove-cote, round whofe lattic'd rim 
 The plumy flock their pinions trim, 
 Or quit, with momentary fright, 
 By cottage watch-dog put to flight. 
 
 Then by yon copfe, returning, ftray 
 Where the furze blooms idly gay, 
 And the bramble's duflcy green 
 Shoots the bloflbm'd furze between,
 
 54 OCCASIONAL VERSES. 
 
 And the tawny-tin&ur'd fern 
 Peeps from out the flubby thorn ; 
 While at every ftep we ftride 
 Down the flant hill's heathy side, 
 In hollow echoes all around 
 Sighs the genius of the ground. 
 There, as quick the fun retires, 
 Reft of all his gorgeous fires, 
 Lift the throttle's mellow fong 
 The vefpers of the grove prolong ; 
 Lift the ftock -dove's foothing note 
 On the breeze of evening float, 
 And the bleat from wattled fold 
 Down the stilly (hecp-walk roll'd j 
 Paufing oft, at day-light clofe, 
 Where the green mofs thickeft grows, 
 To fee, mid dewy verdure damp, 
 The glow-worm light her tiny lamp ; 
 While the bat with dragon -wing, 
 Sails around in eddied ring,
 
 OCCASIONAL VERSES. 
 
 And the taper's quivering beams 
 Thro' many a cottage-cafement ftreams. 
 
 Then will we wander flowly home, 
 While lucid Hefper gilds the dome, 
 And ftarry myriads, twinkling bright, 
 Spangle the azure veft of night ; 
 There, feated round our decent board 
 With fruits and beverage frefhly ftor'd, 
 Let tuneful fong, or blamelefs jell, 
 Prepare the mind for tranquil reft, 
 With mirth, reftrain'd by reafon's laws, 
 Which * after no repenting draws.'
 
 I
 
 INSCRIPTIONS.
 
 London, fubfcrbed Mar<-6 lf/^/. ty G.Sae/,Jtmnti.
 
 INSCRIPTIONS. 
 
 A TABLE 
 
 Which was formerly ufed as a Writing-Disk 
 by Thomson the Poet." 1 ! 
 
 Ye, who on things of fimpleft kind 
 
 Can ftamp the myllic worth of mind; 
 
 Who prefs the turf where Virgil trod, 
 
 And think, it like no other fod ; 
 
 Or guard each leaf from Shakfpeare's tree 
 
 With druid-like idolatry : 
 
 Ye will this Relic fondly view, 
 
 On which the fylvan Scholialt drew 
 
 With moral fweet, and comment clear, 
 
 His record of the rural year; 
 
 While every Seafon's change he trae'd, 
 
 With Shakfpeare's fancy, Virgil's tafte.
 
 60 INSCRIPTION'S. 
 
 FOR AN 
 
 ANTIQUE ROOT-HOUSE, 
 
 Attempted in the Language of Chjvcer's Time.' 1 * 
 
 The i, fro fimpleffc and fothfaftnefs, 
 Whiche hadde lever feke cherifance 
 In humblehede, wher doublenes 
 To foifon nought maie them avance, 
 Maie happe find here mo trew plefance, 
 Wher mavis flickers with woodwale, 
 Then wher difdeinous lordings praunce 
 To foun of fetife ribible. 
 
 Echone natheles let beknowe, 
 Certes groyning is guerdonles ; 
 Plite ne place graunts wele ne wo, 
 Mcke defyres winne felynefle.
 
 INSCRIPTIONS. 6l 
 
 ANOTHER, 
 
 Adapted to the Jira of Queen Elizjbltu. 
 
 There be which plaineneffe more enioyes, 
 
 Then bowres where falfe fufpett is rife ; 
 
 There be which plowfwaines more do prize, 
 
 Then tiling gaudes of courtlie life; 
 
 Sith courtlie life doth crafte moleft, 
 
 And crafte will furely bring unreft. 
 
 Suche, on this daifie-freckled floore, 
 
 In rufticke arbour ciel'd with mofle, 
 May fitter bide, then in high towre 
 
 Which ftatelinefs mought proudly glofle, 
 For ftatelinefle is aye unbleft, 
 And pride will alwayes biing unreft.
 
 62 INSCRIPTIONS. 
 
 INSCRIPTIVE ANATHEMA, 
 
 For the Entrance to a Shrubbirt. 
 
 If he who through this Coppice fleers, 
 Should harm its native chorifters, 
 Or younglings feize, or nefts deflroy ; 
 May fylvan plagues his peace annoy. 
 Him may the founding hornet fcare 
 With dart and gilded coat of war; 
 Him may the fleet gnat flily fling 
 While dors againft him dafh their wing : 
 Acrofs his path may paddocks fprawl, 
 Around his couch let ear-wigs crawl ; 
 His wells may water-newts infeft, 
 May fcreech-owls break his midnight reft, 
 And Ihould he doze at morning gray, 
 Let his flirill herald be the jay !
 
 FAMILIAR EPISTLES.
 

 
 FAMILIAR EPISTLES. 
 
 A FRIEND, AT TRINITY-COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE. 
 
 Complaining of his not writing. 
 
 F # a, that you would vex a Stoic 
 
 1 fwear, by every oath heroic ; 
 
 By the dank marge of Styx's river, 
 
 Where for whole centuries pale ghofts (hiver ; 
 
 By Cerberus, hell's three-mouth 'd bully, 
 
 By Acheron, alias, Pluto's gully. 
 
 By all the epic threats of Dido, 
 
 When Cotton made her rave as I do ; 
 
 By thofe, iEneas from his hulks, 
 
 Or glum Achilles in his fulks, 
 
 Like Dards and Greeks were heard to bellow ; 
 
 I vow I never knew your fellow I 
 
 F
 
 66 FAMILIAR EPISTLES. 
 
 Was you by Pythagorean dry-beards, 
 Sentenc'd to hold your peace for five years ; 
 Or doom'd, by more fcvere mifhap, 
 To the mum-penance of La Trappe, 
 And, like fome ftatue near an urn, 
 Kept folemn filence fempitern ; 
 It might, indeed, a little foften 
 The hope of hearing from you often; 
 But having bfulh'd thro' terms and fees, 
 And ' college trammels to degrees ;' 
 With nothing further now to do, 
 Than dye your coat, and dock your queue, 
 And get into fome marfhy vicarage, 
 Either by Withybrook or Puckeridge, 
 Or any other fenny vile hole 
 Where you can feaft on mirth and wild fowl, 
 With, oft, aglafsof Cantab-ftingo, 
 To lubricate the wheels of lingo.
 
 FAMILIAR EPISTLES. 67 
 
 Having, I fay, but this one thought 
 To fet your lazy brains about, 
 And knowing, worth and fenfe and knowledge 
 Att/ure to be prefer'd at College, 
 Since venal art, and partial pow'r 
 Ne'er haunt the academic bow'r 
 Where Learning fpreads her ample tree, 
 And fophs in purple plumage 25 flee 
 To pluck the fruit, or cull the bloom 
 Of fcions brought from Greece or Rome, 
 And lounge in otii dignitate 
 Like rural bards beneath a bay-tree. 
 
 Why then, with anfwers ever tardy, 
 Why doft thou vex, and teaze, and gird me ? 
 Have I not fcribbled, for the nonce, 
 Twice (O indignus) to your once ? 
 Did I not make you ftill my debtcr 
 For your laft long-expefted Letter? 
 
 F 2
 
 68 FAMILIAR EPISTLES. 
 
 Did I not write (for I believ'd it) 
 The felf-fame morning I receiv'd it ? 
 Caft off all * trivial faws of books,' 
 Like fome great Dons in Granta's nooks, 
 That 1 might tell you, full and clearly, 
 How well I wifh'd you, how fincerely ? 
 Did I not, after this confeffial, 
 By word of mouth fend meffage fpecial I 
 Did not the * 6 Commodore relate it, 
 Or are you too inert to ftate it B 
 
 By your much-boafted Spanilh * 7 barrel, 
 I think I'm us'd beyond compare ill j 
 And if you do not make my doubt clear, 
 I fwear, by Neptune's ' three-fork'd trout fpear, 1 * 
 I will your Honour's Worfhip worry 
 With an epiftle pifcatory, 
 Shall make you wifh in Lethe's stream 
 You had been diving for dead bream, 
 Or to fome fouth-fea ifle efcorted, 
 Where pens and ink were ne'er imported.
 
 FAMILIAR EPISTLES. 69 
 
 LETTER FROM THE SAME FRIEND. 
 
 Written under a Hawthorn while on a Shooting-Party, and addrejfed t$ 
 his God-Daughter, an Infant. 
 
 From plains o'erfpread with bell-cups blue, 
 
 And golden nobs of yellow hue ; 
 
 From fens where pithy rufhes grow, 
 
 And turbid ftreams in pomp creep flow, 
 
 (Miftaken pride ! with foolifli ftate 
 
 So little folks affeft the great) 
 
 To Catherina, young and fair, 
 
 Whom myftic tows have made my care, 
 
 Oh, wing thy way my gentle dove, 
 
 To friendfliip facred and to love. 
 
 Around thy neck of burnifli'd hue, 
 
 This magic knot of lover true, 
 
 This burden, brac'd with ftring of gold, 
 
 Wherein my tender paflion's told, 
 
 Bear on fleeted pinion bear 
 
 Meafuring fwift th* expanfe of air. 
 
 For thee my fofteft vows I pour, 
 
 For Cath'rine every gift implore I
 
 70 
 
 FAMILIAR EPISTLES. 
 
 Gentle fleep thine eye-lids clofing, 
 On thy mother's breaft repofing, 
 A fcene more fond, more rare I view, 
 Than poets feign or Guido drew*. 
 While mufing on thy face divine, 
 And fcanning each prophetic line, 
 Joys, thrilling joys play round my foul, 
 And in tumultuous rapture roll : 
 For riving virtues, future charms, 
 With all the blaze of beauty's arms, 
 In magic talifman appear. 
 Still rifing with the rifing year, 
 Thy father's fagenefs on thy brow, 
 By the ftar-mark'd pow'rs I know ; 
 And thy mother's many graces 
 Stealing on with gentle paces. 
 Oh ! in thy riper years may'ft be 
 As wife, as chafte, as good as (he ! 
 And would'ft thou know as happy days, 
 As well dcferve the Poet's lays ;
 
 FAMILIAR EPISTLES. >]l 
 
 Follow the model now before thee, 
 Stri&Iy copy her who bore thee ; 
 Or heav'n, averting friend(bip*s pray'r, 
 Inftead of peace will fend defpair. 
 Ancient bards, and tales of old, 
 In fong this moral oft have told ; 
 And well I know the precept true, 
 For late I learn'd this moral too. 
 
 One mifty morn when dew-drops (hone 
 By the faintly-glimmering moon, 
 I to the hazel-coppice hied, 
 With trufty Sancho by my fide; 
 Lur'd by the eager hope of game, 
 With fatal Paragon * 9 I came : 
 (To Paragon a verfe is due. 
 Ah, Paragon, for ever true !) 
 *Twas now the fun with tepid ray 
 Chas'd the thick mill and dew away,
 
 7* 
 
 FAMILIAR EPISTLES. 
 
 The whirring covey leave the wood, 
 And gain the fields in quell of food, 
 Spread their bright plumes, and gladfome play, 
 Beneath the ftrength'ning beams of day. 
 One little wanton, pert and vain, 
 Contemns her mother's fober reign, 
 Rejects advice with haughty air, 
 And wanders o'er the ftubble far; 
 Till keen-nos'd Sancho ranging by, 
 Stands, and foretells a Partridge nigh. 
 Now, by the treacherous gale betray'd, 
 Wifhing, in vain, maternal aid, 
 She ponders o'er her follies paft, 
 And, finner-like, repents at laft. 
 With fated flafh the thunder flies, 
 The bird, without a chirrup, dies! 
 
 Taught by the haplefs fequel, fay, 
 Cath'rine refpe&s a mother's fway.
 
 FAMILIAR EPISTLES. 73 
 
 And then, angelic maiden, hear 
 Thy poet and thy lover fwear, 
 By the many, many blifles 
 Of the many, many kifles 
 Which on thy cheek he longs to pour, 
 Than all the world he'll love thee more, 
 More than riches, more than pleafure, 
 Moie than wit, the poet's treafure.
 
 74 FAMILIAR EPISTLES. 
 
 REPLY TO THE PRECEDING. 
 
 Certe tu Mavors, certe tu magnus Apollo. 
 
 Thou ! who, like Homer's god of battle, 
 
 Can'ft make the welkin roar and rattle j 
 
 Or, by fome hawthorn laid along, 
 
 Can'ft carol like his god of fong. 
 
 And while you range in (hooting-doublet, 
 
 Pierce thro' a copfe, or pen a couplet ; 
 
 Can make each bare and fallow field 
 
 Food for your mufe, or miftrefs yield, 
 
 And at each rivulet you pafs, 
 
 Or fpring a fnipe, or fport a verfe ; 
 
 Pluck willows from each fwampy ditch, 
 
 To form an elegy or fwitch ; 
 
 And at each daify-dappled mead, 
 
 A fonnet crop or poney feed : 
 
 Chafe odes or wild fowl over hills, 
 
 On true pindaric principles; 
 
 And fport from ev'ry hedge-row raife, 
 
 To crown your toil with birds or bays.
 
 FAMILIAR EPISTLES. 75 
 
 While thus you ramble, late and foon, 
 To * fnatch bright honour from the moon,' 
 And brave our infalubrious clime, 
 To gain a (hot or tag a rhyme. 
 Fix'd in my calm, domeftic feat, 
 The felf-fame mafings I repeat, 
 The felf-fame daily talk impofe, 
 To gain the evening's welcome clofe ; 
 The dear connubial converfe kind, 
 The volume that expands the mind, 
 The melting fweets of mingled found, 
 That float in varied cadence round, 
 And, haply, if a friend (hould call, 
 The meal that gives a zeft to all. 
 
 But you this cafual treat deny, 
 You from our gay Sympofium fly ; 
 And all our fcenes of focial peace 
 Which rival'd e'en the boaft of Greece,
 
 76 FAMILIAR EPISTLES. 
 
 Which match'd their mirth, if not their wit ; 
 Thefe, while you praife, you calmly quit, 
 With all the fymptoms apathetic 
 Of an old ftarch Peripatetic. 
 
 No longer does our mantling cup 
 Foam in redundance to the top, 
 And o'er the circling verge afcend 
 To meet the plaudits of my friend. 
 No more the gaily chequer'd board 
 Unfolds its party-colour'd hoard, 
 And prompts thewilh, devoid of mammon, 
 To fport a hit perchance, a gammon. 
 Cribbage no more his pegs expofes, 
 And poor Pope-Joan in cupboard dozes. 
 
 If then your highly plaufive lyre 
 Is not by fiction's hand tun'd higher; 
 If there's one truth, vel verax verbum, 
 In all you fay of us, interdum :
 
 FAMILIAR EPISTLES. 77 
 
 Or thro' your late romantic ramble, 
 Where, by the bye, you frifk and gambol, 
 And talk about our infant Flora, 
 As tho' you talk'd of Petrarch's Laura. 
 If when our praife you fing or fay, 
 We may give credence to the lay. 
 Linger no more mid reeds and rufhes, 
 Nor flay your limbs with briers or buihes, 
 But let tir'd Sancho be our gueft, 
 And give to Paragon a reft. 
 Or rather than be murd'ring pheafants 
 And terrifying harmlefs peafants ; 
 Come, and protect us with your guns 
 Againft our nightly Goths and Huns ; 
 And, if this mania ftill diforders, 
 Level your vengeance at marauders. 
 
 This, if you'll promife foon to do, 
 By all that's jolly, juft, and true,
 
 78 FAMILIAR EPISTLES. 
 
 Then (hall ray brown Ottober bubble 
 From barrels, like your Spanilh, double. 
 Then will we fire a vollied round, 30 
 And uncharg'd goblets fhall refound; 
 While at each ' jocund health and toaft,' 
 Bis, Io Paean, lings your hoft, 
 And all the choral circle hollow- 
 Certe tu Mavors tu Apollo I
 
 EPIGRAMS.
 
 EPIGRAMS. 
 
 A MAN OF PROMISE. 
 When Hal protefts he'll keep his word, 
 
 He fays fo very much about it j 
 From his own warmth may be infer'd 
 
 That there's prodigious caufe to doubt it. 
 
 ON THE SPLENDID FUNERAL OF A MISER. 
 
 Rich Gripe, to gain a liberal name 
 
 Kept open houfe too late ; 
 For that was only once, fays fame, 
 
 And then he lay in ftate. 
 
 Cre/cit amor numml, quantum ipfa pecunia cre/ctU 
 Ten thoufand pounds Avarus had before 
 His father died, and left him twenty more. 
 Till then, a roll and egg he could allow, 
 But eggs grow dear, a roll mud dine him now. 
 c
 
 $2 EPIGRAMS. 
 
 SECOND SIGHT. 
 Scot us, you fay, has loft his Mate, 
 
 Yet bears it with a manly woe : 
 Why he, poor man, forefaw his fate, 
 
 So chofe another months ago. 
 
 A MAN OF PUNCTUALITY. 
 Ha l fent me word he'd dine with me 
 Precifely at the hour of three ; 
 But, meeting with fome tavern-goer, 
 Agreed to join his mefs at four. 
 With which d'ye think he kept his word ? 
 " Perhaps with both." No, friend the third 
 Happen 'd to crofs him on his way, 
 And he with him has pafs'd the day. 
 
 ON A SELF-APPLAUDER. 
 To fpeak in Nimium's praife I'd plan'd, 
 
 But he out-plans me hollow : 
 And he's fo much the abler hand,, 
 
 I can't attempt to follow.
 
 EPIGRAMS. S3 
 
 SENTIMENTAL CHARITY. 
 Such fine-fpun pain does want excite, 
 
 When beggars near Penuria flray ; 
 From fear of fainting at the fight, 
 
 She turns her head another way. 
 
 Her generous notions partial call 
 The hand that grants a penny ; 
 
 So, as (he cannot give to all. 
 She never gives to any. 
 
 TEMPORA MUTANTUR. 
 Seren us and his loving Wife 
 Shar'd all the fweets of tranquil life : 
 One only wi(h compos'd their pray'r, 
 And this was granted in an heir. 
 But fince young Mafter turn'd their quiet 
 To fleeplefs nights, and days of riot ; 
 And fervants growl, and nurfes fcold 'em, 
 Their houfe becomes too hot to hold 'em. 
 o 2
 
 $4 EPICRAMS. 
 
 ON A CLERICAL GAMESTER. 
 What, can he be a teacher of moral regards 
 Who reads us a Sunday-night lecture on cards? 
 Who cites Hoyle on Whift" both in chapter and verfe, 
 With the orthodox chances of filling a purfe ? 
 Tells of eighty odd pounds, in a family way, 
 He won at a fitting by dint of mere play ! 
 Counted thirteen by cards, in revokes and in tricks, 
 And ne'er flinch'd all the evening from feven to fix ; 
 But took odds on each point his opponent could name, 
 And call'd this improvement, 1 think, on the game. 
 O! if fuch be a Prieft whom promotion delights, 
 Ordain him Arch- Deacon of Weltje's and White's. 
 
 A QUERY. 
 
 Ben fays the rude ft, groffeft things, 
 Then fwears he never thought to teazeyou: 
 
 But Ben, was Ralph to kick your fhins, 
 Would you believe he meant to pleafe you ?
 
 EPIGRAMS. 8$ 
 
 ON A FEMALE WASP. 
 
 V esp a has fuch a captious fenfe. 
 At every word (he takes offence ; 
 But what more lamentable makes it, 
 Gives it ftill oft'ner than fhe takes it. 
 
 AN APPEAL. Quid pro quo? 
 
 When laft we met, I heard from Will, 
 That all his friends had us'd him ill : 
 Now by his friends, both great and leffer, 
 I'm told that Will was the aggreflbr. 
 How in this cafe muff judgment run, 
 For many plaintiff's or for one ? 
 
 La Confolation de'rnie're. 
 
 Do you not pityhoneft Ned, 
 Whofe jealous wife ding-dongs him, 
 
 Till every comfort elfe is fled, 
 But knowing t hat (he wrongs him.
 
 %6 EPIGRAMS. 
 
 TO A F&IEND f ON HIS BEING LAMPOONED. 
 
 Why feem furpris'd that ribald Sly 
 
 O'er you his Grub-ftreet bounty fcattcrs ? 
 
 When a full mud-cart paffes by, 
 
 Tis odds that you efcape the fpatters. 
 
 ON A 
 
 DULL DIVINE WHO PREACHED UP " PATIENCE. 
 
 The ufe of" Patience" Somnolus explains 
 In tedious, torpid, fleep-feducing (trains ; 
 And fure his hearers edified muft be, 
 Who learn the pra8 ice with the theory, 
 
 MORAL ARITHMETIC. 
 
 Flam, to my face, is oft' too kind, 
 He over-rates both worth and talents : 
 
 But then he never fails, I find, 
 When we're apart to ftrike the balance.
 
 EPITAPHS.
 
 EPITAPHS. 
 
 ON WILLIAM WALLEY, M. D. 
 Late oJGjHMiLt near Wjxi, Herts. 
 
 Here what was mortal we confign to earth 
 Of wit and learning, amity and worth ; 
 Of wit, to no mean purpofe mifapplied, 
 Of claffic learning, free from pedant pride ; 
 Of amity, that no ' cold medium' knew, 
 Of generous worth, that fcorn'd a fordid view ; 
 Join'd with each praftis'd art, each ftudious flrill, 
 To heal the griefs of medicable ill : 
 Or, if to ftem fome peftilent difeafe, 
 When deadly poifon lurk'd in every breeze, 
 Was Walley fummon'd at high Duty's call. 
 Fear could not check, nor danger could appal, 
 Confol'd by confcience tho' himfelf Ihould fall. 1 *
 
 90 EPITAPHS. 
 
 ON A GRAVE-STONE 
 
 In Actok Cburcb-Yard, Middle/ex. 
 
 Wh e n fome lone youth by kindred grief is led 
 To court the dwellings of the fainted dead ; 
 If filial fondnefs for parental worth, 
 Should guide his footfteps to this hallow'd earth, 
 Here let him gaze ; and from this mournful flone 
 Learn that his forrows are not his alone ; 
 That HE, whofe honour'd duft repofes here, 
 Had every gift to make his being dear, 
 Had all that heav'n of excellence could blend 
 To make the father cherifh'd as the friend ; 
 Had all that earth in anguifti could refign, 
 Yet know, fad forrower, that talk was mine t 
 
 And if fuch fympathy may footh your grief, 
 May give the wounded bofom fhort relief 
 Oh ! let the foul this brighter profpeft cheer, 
 To gain hereafter what it valued here.
 
 EPITAPHS. 91 
 
 ^^ . 
 
 ON THE DEATH OF AN OLD FAMILY ACQUAINTANCE. 
 
 Friend of my father! to thy fpirit peace, 
 Peace to each cruel wrong it calmly bore : 
 
 And fince the grave hath bid thy forrows ceafe, 
 Let the fame grave its ravages reftore. 
 
 May thy lov'd friend, my venerated fire, 
 Who the fame path a little earlier trod ; 
 
 May he array thee in divine attire, 
 
 And lead thee to the manfion of his GOD! 
 
 Methinks I fee ye pierce fome radiant fphere, 
 Where grace and mercy beam celeftial light; 
 
 Methinks I fee ye till an earth-born tear 
 Recalls my fancy from its daring flight. 
 
 Yet, virtuous C , that meeknefs will I praife, 
 Which built its triumphs on '* Saviour's plan*; 
 
 And truft the Power who fearchea human waya, 
 Will grant that recompenfe denied by man.
 
 92 EPITAPHS. 
 
 ON A YOUNG LADY, WHO DIED OF A CONSUMPTION. 
 
 Here paufe ye young, ye aged ponder here, 
 From our affliction yours mould be the gain ; 
 
 Struck by her fate, but fhed one felfifh tear, 
 Nor (he has died, nor you may live in vain. 
 
 Think, in Life's fpring, her opening views how fair, 
 Health, joy, affection, made her breaft their home ; 
 
 Ere fummer came (O ye who breathe, beware) 
 A fickly blight had fadden'd every bloom : 
 
 Prey'd on the heart where gentleft pity grew, 
 
 Sunk the pale cheek which while it wafted, fmil'd; 
 
 For arm'dwith hope, the fting from death (he drew, 
 And of its victory the grave beguil'd. 
 
 Tho' long by languor, or by pain oppreft, 
 
 Calm was her foul, and patient were her fighs: 
 
 Heav'n did but claim a mortal for its gueft, 
 And Earth gave up an angel to the Ikies.
 
 ELEGIES.
 
 ELEGIES. 
 
 ON SEDUCTION. 
 
 1 n this wide wafte of heritable care, 
 
 Where every breathing clod its portion gains ; 
 Let Man contentlefs mourn his partial (hare, 
 
 And, wayward, fwell the burden he fuftains. 
 
 Let him in fombrous colours paint his lot, 
 Darken'd with fraud, and calumny, and flrife, 
 
 The (haft of malice, hard oppreffion's plot, 
 And all the hydra-headed ills of life. 
 
 More cruel far the woes frail Women weep, 
 Befieging ever their unfriended ftate ; 
 
 In whofe foft breaft affliction links more deep, 
 Misfortune prefles with refiftlefs weight.
 
 96 ELEGIES. 
 
 Nor are they only helplefs to fuftain 
 Thofe heavy evils hardier Manhood bears, 
 
 Not only from his wiles with (harper pain 
 Wade but his infults draw their bitter tears. 
 
 He, who was form'd as champion to the fair, 
 To (helter every female as his ward ; 
 
 He, moft perfidious, weaves a ruffian fnare, 
 And robs the treafure he was meant to guard.- 
 
 Where lucid Severn rolls her rapid tide 
 By the near borders of the Cambrian coaft, 
 
 There did the lovely Anna once refide, 
 The village beauty, and the village boaft. 
 
 Long had her father from his well-ftock'd field 
 Serv'd the near mart with vegetable* (tore ; 
 
 And what one corner would of flowerets yield, 
 In pofied wreaths his blooming daughter bore.
 
 Stottard del. 
 
 jbfedland seut 
 
 /.,/>,/,),: 7*!i7>7/.ribrrf Marrb7. >7<?7. frv (r.Jatl, Slrand.
 
 BLEGIES. 97 
 
 And many a penny did fhe homeward bring, 
 And with it many a little dittied tale, 
 
 While round her mother's neck me lov*d to cling, 
 And hear of lovers falfe, and damfels frail. 
 
 For oft the leffons of maternal love 
 
 Had caution'd her man's faithlefs fcx to fhun ; 
 But ere experience could the danger prove, 
 
 Her anxious mother's thread of life was fpun. 
 
 Then pious truths a father's care inflill*d, 
 
 And bleft the heart that ftill thofe truths retain'd; 
 
 A father grateful as the foil he till'd, 
 
 A daughter lovely as the flow'rs (he train'd. 
 
 Too lovely me, too gentle was her fire, 
 In this ungenial clime to flourifh long ; 
 
 A boon companion of the neighb'ring fquire 
 Had oft beheld her in the funday-throng ; 
 
 H
 
 98 ELEGIES. 
 
 Had mark'd her beauties with the lawlefs eye 
 Of latent artifice, and loofe defire : 
 
 And where this fever of the blood runs high, 
 Confcience is feldom call'd to quench the fire. 
 
 But female vigilance and parent-care 
 Had long eluded every fraudful plan; 
 
 Till urg'd by rage, by paffion, by defpair, 
 He dar'd to violate the laws of man : 
 
 Dar'd, by compulfive force, to bear away 
 The fainting viftim from her foftering fhed, 
 
 While her poor father had been forc'd to ftray 
 From his own hamlet in purfuit of bread. 
 
 Nor did a fingle tiding reach his ear 
 
 Where he might turn his trembling arm to fave, 
 Till two fad months of agony fevere 
 
 Brought his c grey hairs with forrow to the grave.'
 
 ELEGIES. qq 
 
 While thou, fair haplefs Anna, flill enthrall'd 
 By the fierce mandate of licentious love, 
 
 (Of brutal luft, oh! rather be it call'd) 
 
 Far from thine orphan home wert made to rove: 
 
 To dwell beneath a ruthleft villain's eye, 
 By threats and promifes alternate fway'd, 
 
 Till on the latter feeming to rely, 
 
 Thy virgin honour was at length betray'd ; 
 
 Thyfelf forfaken, and in want confign'd 
 To grinning infamy, and dire difgrace ; 
 
 Without a friend to footh thy tortur'd mind, 
 Yet fearing to approach thy native place. 
 
 For too too oft, and fatally I fear, 
 
 The alter'd afpecl of a female eye 
 Has check'd pale penitence, with frown fevere, 
 
 And turn'd her joylefs footftep ftill awry.
 
 IOU ELEGIES. 
 
 And tho' I grieve againft thy fex to urge 
 One praclis'd fault that mercy muft deplore, 
 
 Yet is it wrong to wield an earthly fcourge 
 
 Againft that breaft which heav'n has pierc'd before. 
 
 When injur'd beauty heaves the midnight moan, 
 And bathes her pillow in repentant dew ; 
 
 With fweeter flumbers might it crown your own, 
 To dry the tear and calm the mind anew. 
 
 Bleft were the recompenfe yourfelves muft (hare, 
 Who turn to virtue's path the wilder'd way ; 
 
 While ftern contempt, or ridicule's pert ftare, 
 Can only lead the wanderer more aftray. 
 
 Thus on the confines of her native vales, 
 Dreading to enter them, fad Anna ftray'd ; 
 
 But when a father's fate her heart affails, 
 She burns her bafe betrayer to upbraid.
 
 ELEGIES. IOI 
 
 Stung by her wrongs, his hated porch (he gain'd, 
 To fpeak aloud the wildnefs of her woes, 
 
 Believ'd the ftofy of his abfence feign *d, 
 And fled thro' every room with frenzied throes : 
 
 But he had ftol'n from his feduclive haunt, 
 In other fcenes to pra&ife other crimes ; 
 
 While fhe, poor Sufferer, pines in guilty want, 
 And he, calm Villain, flaunts in foreign climes. 
 
 O luft, thou canker of the human heart, 
 When thus indulg'd in all thy lawlefs fway, 
 
 Such wringing woe (hall prove thy juft defert, 
 As fills the murderer's bofom with difmay. 
 
 Ye heirs of manhood! check its baneful rage, 
 And ere your fouls have loft all fenfe of truth ; 
 
 Pity the parent-agonies of age, 
 
 Pity the unavailing pangs of youth.
 
 J02 ELEGIES. 
 
 ~ -~ ^ 
 
 Left other maids like Anna prove unbleft, 
 Tho' form *d with countlefs graces to engage; 
 
 Erewhile the fondling of a father's breaft, 
 The prattling folace of his hoary age. 
 
 Left they, like her, too harihly doom'd to bear 
 The private flander and the public fcorn ; 
 
 In all the maniac wildnefs of defpair, 
 
 Are made to curfe the day themfelves were born. 
 
 While man, the fell defpoiler of their peace, 
 The vaunting author of their lingering marae, 
 
 Bids not e'en here his favage conquefts ceafe, 
 But wades thro' vice as tho' its meed was fame. 

 
 ELEGIES. IO3 
 
 OK THE DEATH OF DAME MORRIS. 31 
 
 Comb Doric Mufe in ruftic ftole, and ling, 
 While I, fad mourner, melancholy ftray 
 Thro' tangled wood-walks to the cryftal fpring, 
 Where arching fycamores obfcure the day, 
 And from the garilh fun admit no ray ; 
 There let me wander, filent and unfeen, 
 There let me fhape my folitary way, 
 Abforb'd in care and penfivenefs, I ween, 
 As e'er was loftier woe-fraught breaft of kefar or of queen. 
 
 Ah ! haplefs theme, it wills me while I write 
 To drop affection's dew from either eye, 
 And, as with grateful reverence I indite, 
 Scapes from my bofom forrow's deep-felt figh : 
 And do you anxious afk the reafon why ? 
 Would you from fympathy the caufe explore ? 
 Tis, that my youth's fond guard, unthank'd mould die, 
 Whofe kindnefs almoft equal'd her's who bore ; 
 Tis, that my fchool-years' village friend, Dame Morris, 
 is no more!
 
 lO-J. ELEGIES. 
 
 But vainly I the piteous tale relate 
 To thofe unconfcious of her modeft worth, 
 For heralds ne'er were fee'd to make her great, 
 She could not boaft a memorable birth, 
 Yet better foul ne'er liv'd or died on earth ; 
 Her charity unbounded bore the fway 
 O'er all her a&ions, and in time of dearth, 
 She dealt with open hand fuch gifts away, 
 That poor folk wifh'd her life might laft for ever and 
 for aye. 
 
 Good-nature too flie had, and many a time 
 
 Of all its ftore right mickle was the need, 
 
 For truant lads would to her fruit-trees climb, 
 - 
 
 Would raze the hedge-row with untoward deed, 
 
 Or in rude fport defpoil the verdant mead ; 
 
 Nay, I have known thefe wicked wights to wait 
 
 For a fnug time when none their bent could heed, 
 
 Then on the garden's wealth have ftol'n ingrate, 
 
 And left but pods upon the hawm where peas had bloom'd 
 
 of late : 
 
 

 
 ELEGIES. lO^ 
 
 Thinking thereby this hoftile crime to hide, 
 By making it appear the fparrows' theft; 
 But evil deeds are foon or late defcried, 
 For watchful Marian, her maiden deft, 
 Shew'd to the wond'ring Dame the peafcods cleft : 
 Yet did no angry threat her voice diftend, 
 " Tis right, (he faid, /claim the portion left, 
 While, fupperlefs to bed, the plunderers wend, 
 
 And feaft upon the pleafant dreams which on deceit 
 
 m 
 
 attend." 
 
 Ever to virtue true, and virtuous deed, 
 Goodnefs fhe honour'd, poverty (he fed ; 
 From all the ills of fordid lucre freed, 
 No bafe-got means her couch difquieted, 
 But glad content hous'd in her humble fhed ; 
 Happy with this alone, (he envied not 
 Imperial courts where luxury is bred, 
 But, with her kin around, prefer'd the fpot 
 Where Providence had long time plac'd herfelf and 
 homely cot.
 
 106 ELEGIES. 
 
 O ! that the world would by her ways improve, 
 Would fhun diflimulation's ferpent-cell, 
 Nor wear the vizor-fmile of feigned love 
 While cank'rous thoughts within the bofom dwell : 
 But let true concord envy's wiles repel ; 
 Then would benevolence unbounded reign, 
 Then would fimplicity be counted well, 
 Serenity of fpirit all would gain, 
 Nor any churlifh cynic treat my Matron with difdain. 
 
 Or, with the preacher, if at length 'tis found 
 That all is vanity we feek below ; 
 Since joy's bright fane is built on fairy ground, 
 Which thofe who longeft live the fureft know : 
 Then, from this nurfery of thick- fown woe, 
 Like her, let us each anarch paflion weed, 
 And in its place teach fairer germs to grow, 
 Teach hope with resignation to fucceed, 
 And fuch as may in heav'nly clime bring forth immortal 
 feed. 
 

 
 Midland ' jcify' 
 
 London. PTzbtisJbtd Afarcb /. ?7</7. fy GJael. Strand.
 
 ELEGIES. 107 
 
 "" " ~ 
 
 WRITTEN I.V AN IV1KINO 8TR0LL TO 
 
 TWYFORD CHURCH. 
 
 " In lonely walks your hippy freedom biers, 
 TU a mcition ind divine reeefs." EI-ICT. ENCHKID. 
 
 B y yon brown copfe, where many a tuneful throat 
 Securely carols thro' the live- long day; 
 
 Soft let me catch the wildly-warbled note, 
 And tune my numbers to the woodland lay. 
 
 Or by the fide of this embowering flope 
 
 Where, feldom prefs'd, the pathway winds along ; 
 
 While folemn filence gives reflection fcope, 
 Here let me rather breathe a ferious fong. 
 
 Here, as the glowing cheek of modeft Eve 
 With blufli purpurean melts to fober gray, 
 
 Pleas'd let me fee her take her graceful leave, 
 And figh to find bow foon (he fades away.
 
 I0 8 ELEGIES. 
 
 Sigh to reflect, fo life's enchantments bloom, 
 So for a tranfient feafon charm the fight, 
 
 Then quick diffolving into fearful gloom, 
 Sink in mortality's fepulchral night. 
 
 Thus wrapt in thought I meditative ftray, 
 
 Crofs the rude ftile, and loitering thro' the lane, 
 
 Paufe to obferve where mid the elm-girt way 
 Gleams the meek roof of Twyford's humble fane. 
 
 Where no arch'd dome, no teffelated floor, 
 On vacant fenfe with fuch attraction glares, 
 
 That curiofity may paufe her hour, 
 
 And for the temple's fake endure the pray'rs. 
 
 No fculptur'd grandeur or pidtorial art 
 Around this altar gives amazement birth ; 
 
 No choral warblings catch the half-wean'd heart, 
 To make it linger on the lures of earth.
 
 ELEGIES. 109 
 
 No papal fplendours deck the pompous {hrine ; 
 
 Yet here devotion bends the grateful knee, 
 Here fuppliant pray'r and foaring praifes join 
 
 To waft their incenfe, bounteous Heav'n, to thee! 
 
 Here too the foul its nobleft talk may learn, 
 With calmnefs to refign this coil of clay; 
 
 May drink inftm&ion from the tear-dew'd urn, 
 And many a record that beftrews the way. 
 
 May fee, however worth or talents grace, 
 
 From death's ftrong grafp no excellence can fly; 
 
 Impetuous wit muft bear the cold embrace, 
 And with infenfate dulnefs mouldering lie. 
 
 And this warm heart, by paft affliction taught 
 To fear the bodings which it can't difpel ; 
 
 Tho' now with many an earthly bleffing fraught, 
 With many that perhaps it loves too well:
 
 IIO ELEGIES. 
 
 This heaving heart muft feel its joys expire, 
 Muft fliortly give them to the fenfelefs mould ; 
 
 Of elfe (O fate more worthy of defire) 
 Muft fink itfelf beneath a cell as cold. 
 
 Tho' e'en fhould ficknefs fpare untimely doom, 
 And life to life's laft limit wearied creep, 
 
 Loft all its ftrength, as faded all its bloom, 
 The tare-fown plains of age we feebly reap : 
 
 Yet, as the fun the wintry landfcape cheers, 
 Let but religion beam on life's decline, 
 
 Let virtue's luftre grace the brow of years, 
 As now they gild a parent's, brighten mine. 
 
 And whether fudden blaft or flow decay 
 Shall bid our human ' bud of being ' ceafe; 
 
 Mercy may beam its renovating ray, 
 
 And faith tranfplant us to perennial peace.
 
 NOTES and ILLUSTRATIONS.
 
 NOTES and ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 DEDICATORY SONNET. 
 
 ^Rebel-rhyme] A term poetically applied, by Mifs 
 Seward, to verfes which aflume the title of Sonnets, 
 without having the eflentials required to rank them pro- 
 perly in that order of compofition. 
 
 \Aufonian chains"] The Italian poets have chiefly em- 
 ployed the Sonnet-meafure, of which Petrarch has here- 
 tofore been confidered as the Inventor. But the learned 
 Dr. Warton informs us, that Guitone d'Arezzo firft ufed 
 it, who flourifhed about the year 1250, many years be- 
 fore Petrarch was born. See Warton's Milton, p. 325. 
 Mr. Rofcoe, in his celebrated Life of Lorenzo de'Me- 
 dici, fuppofes that the form of the Sonnet was moft 
 probably derived from the Provencals. 
 
 note 1. pace 3. 
 The founding-cliff] One particular rock, when (truck 
 forcibly, vibrates fomewhat like a bell ; whence the 
 following lines appear to have been carved on it, near 
 a century ago. 
 
 '* This fcratch I make that you may know 
 On this rock lies the beauteous Bow ; 
 Reader, this rock is the Bow's bell, 
 Strike with thy flick, and ring his knell." 1 702. 
 I
 
 114 NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 NOTE 2. PAGE 4. 
 
 Theron] Scott, that fweet moral Poet,' as Mifs 
 
 Seward jutlly ftyks him, in fome of his Pieces terms 
 
 himfelf Theron. 
 
 note 3. page 5. 
 
 By wealthy bigots fed] Richard, Earl of Clare, granted 
 
 the feeding 25 fwine yearly in the foreft of Tunbridge, 
 
 to the Prcemonftratenfian Canons of Begeham, or 
 
 Bayham. 
 
 Vid. Dugd. Monafticon Anglic. I. 191. 
 
 note 4. page 7. 
 Ingenuous Feeling"] Mr. Keate, in his " Sketches 
 from Nature," has introduced an affecting Story of the 
 two Sifters, Frances and Ifabella, who were wrecked 
 near Reculver Church ; the two lofty Steeples of which 
 ftill preferve their memory. This Story, Mr. K. de- 
 fences himfelf to have recovered from the monaftic 
 memorials of a Dominican Friar of Canterbury, whofe 
 antiquated MSS. he met with, in the Univerfity of 
 Louvain. 
 
 page 8. line 5. 
 
 Martial legend ] Vid. Les Delices de Windfore. 
 
 NOTE 5. PAGE 12. 
 
 Poor ovation] It may not perhaps be improper to re- 
 mark, that the ovation was a far lefs fplendid celebrity 
 among the Romans than the triumph; whence the con- 
 tracted allufion here employed. 
 
 See Plutarch in the Life of Marcellus.
 
 NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS. II5 
 
 NOTE 6. PAGE 16. 
 
 Woodland-pilgrim~\ A title conferred by Collins, in 
 his exquifite Ode on the death of Thomfon. 
 
 NOTE 7. PAGE 17. 
 
 Labour of the Loom] Scott, in the notes to his accu- 
 rately-defcriptive Poem, Amwell; has truly termed 
 " Dyer's Fleece," an excellent, neglefted Poem.' Dr. 
 Johnfon's hypercritical cenfures of it, are difreputable 
 to his character as a Philologill. 
 
 note 8. page 19. 
 Royal Troubadour of Gaul] ** Among the Harleian 
 MSS. in the Mufeum, is a collection of love-poems, 
 roundels, and fongs, made by Charles, Duke of Orleans, 
 while a prifoner in England, in Henry the fifth's time." 
 Ritfon's Diflertation before Ancient Songs, p. xlvii. 
 Page 22, 1. 10, for the orient, read declining. 
 note 9. page 23. 
 Bard of Wotton] S. E. Brydges, Efq. the author of 
 fome very elegant and interefting Poems, and of Mary 
 de Clifford, a pathetic tale. 
 
 NOTE 10. PAGE 25. 
 
 Lindum'sfeep] The hill of Lincoln; below which 
 the River Witham iflues from a large refervoir of water, 
 called the Swan Pool, and purfues a widely-devious 
 courfe to the Town of Bofton, where it mingles with 
 the fea.
 
 Il6 NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 - 
 
 NOTE I I. PAGE 25. 
 
 Penjive Warton\ Some of the fame fenfations, here 
 indulged, feem to pervade Mr. Warton's Sonnet to 
 the river Lodon, which is glanced at on that account. 
 In the twelfth line of this Sonnet, for grimly read paly. 
 
 NOTE 12. PAGE 26. 
 
 Let Homer's <verfe no longer thine fufpend] Mr. Cowper, 
 
 at this time, had nearly done all he intended to the 
 
 Iliad, and was preparing to revife the Odyfley ; after 
 
 which, he had a new Poem of his own in contemplation. 
 
 Line 7, for prophet, read prophets. 
 
 NOTE 13. PAGE 38. 
 
 'The green walk wind, the green wood wave] See 
 Scott's Poems, p. 315. 
 
 NOTE 14. PAGE 4C. 
 
 Niagara] A ftupendous cataraft in North America. 
 
 NOTE 15. PAGE 45. 
 
 Oronoque, with tale hifioric Jlain*d] Sir Walter Ra- 
 leigh, having failed in an expedition up the River 
 Oronoquo in South America, in fearch of a gold mine; 
 was facrificed at his return to gratify the Spanilh Court, 
 by virtue of a fentence pafled upon him 14 years before. 
 See Rapin. Reign of James I. 
 
 " a coward reign 
 
 The Warrior fetter'd, and at laft refign'd, 
 To glut the vengeance of a vsnquiuYd foe." 
 
 Thomfon's Summer.
 
 NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 117 
 
 NOTE 16. PAGE 4J. 
 That /park within the breaji enjhrin'd] See Armflrong's 
 Art of preferving Health. Book IV. 
 
 w There is, they fay, (and I believe there is) 
 A J park 'within us of th' immortal fire, 
 That animates and moulds the grofler frame." 
 
 NOTE 17. PAGE 45. 
 
 New projeBs meditate, 13 c] Dr. Rowley proje&ed 
 feverai plans which have been attended with the hap- 
 pieft praftical efFecls in the Mary-le-bone Infirmary, 
 over which he prefides as Phyfician. 
 
 NOTE l8. PAGE 49. 
 
 AmwelVs Druid] See Sonnet IV. and Occafional 
 Verfes. P. 38. 
 
 NOTE ig. PAGE 49. 
 
 Seafom* "Bard] The Writer procured a Tablet to be 
 placed over Thomfon's grave in 1791, and the ufual 
 fee for erefting Monuments within the Church, to be 
 remitted by the Veftry of Richmond on that occafion. 
 Lord Buchan, with liberal zeal, undertook to defray all 
 attendant expences. 
 
 NOTE 20. PAGE 0. 
 
 Aruna's Swain] Collins; a native of Sufiex, through 
 which the river Arun runs. Mrs. Smith has con- 
 tributed to immortalize this Stream of true poetic boaft.
 
 Jl8 NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS." 
 
 NOTE 21. PAGE 50. 
 
 Arcadian couch] Mr. Hayley has raifed a ruftic couch 
 of roots and mofs, x>n an elevated part of his elegant do- 
 main, and calls it Coivper's Sofa, in remembrance of 
 that Poet's Vifit to Eartham, and in allufion to the pri- 
 mary Subject of his Tajk, 
 
 NOTE 22. PAGE 2. 
 
 Sainted by the Lover's vow] Mr. Sheridan's fweetly- 
 plaintive Verfes, left in a Grotto near Bath, are here 
 alluded to. 
 
 NOTE 23. PAGE 59. 
 
 This old-falhioned Table is placed within an Alcove, 
 which has been preferved inviolate by Mrs. Bofcawen, 
 who poffeffes the Houfe and Garden formerly occupied 
 by Thomfon, in Kew-foot-Lane. The line below the 
 Plate is placed over the entrance, and within the Seat 
 sfre'fixed three Tablets, with appropriate inferiptions. 
 
 NOTE 24. PAGE 60. 
 
 The Author trufts it will not be thought impertinent, 
 to offer a free explanation of the fenfe conveyed in thefe 
 Lines, for the ufe of fuch readers as are ftrangers to the 
 obfolete language of Chaucer. 
 
 They, who from alove offimplicity and truth, dejire tofeek 
 comfort in an humble fate, where duplicity can procure them 
 7io advantage, may here chance to find more true fat isf ac- 
 tion, where the blackbird flutters with the woodpecker,
 
 NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS. ng 
 
 ,^ _ _____ ^ 
 
 than iuhere difdainful lordlings /port to the found of arti- 
 ficial mujic. Of this, however, let all be perfuadcd, that 
 difconient is fur e to prove unprofitable , that happinefs is not 
 attached to mere place or condition ,/ince chafifed defires can 
 alone enfure felicity . 
 
 Laft line, for meke defyres, read defyres meke. 
 note 25. page 6j. 
 Purple plumage] The under-graduates of Trinity 
 College, Cambridge, wear purple gowns. 
 
 note 26. page 68. 
 The Commodore] A fellow- collegian, fo denominated, 
 for the fake of alliteration. 
 
 note 27. page 68. 
 Spanifh barrel] A double-barrel Gun, taken from the 
 Spaniards ; on which, my Friend ufed to fwear his Com- 
 rades, as Hamlet did Horatio upon the Sword. 
 
 note 28. page 68. 
 Neptune's three-fork 'd trout fpear] An afleveration em- 
 ployed by Charles Cotton, in his Scarronides or Virgile 
 
 Traveftie. 
 
 note 29. page 71. 
 
 Paragon] A name given to a favorite fowling-piece. 
 
 NOTE 30. PAGE 78. 
 
 Fire a <vollied round] To fire a round' was a cant 
 phrafe among the Cantabs for drinking a bumper toaft.
 
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