hsr ROBERT B. DIXON II. MEMORIAL, OOLITE CTIOX MAHYLANDIAXA ( J I P O E MS O N SEVERAL OCCASIONS. ii, POEMS WRITTEN BETWEEN THB YEARS 1768 & 1794, B v PHILIP FRENEAU, O F NEW J E R S E Y;, < A NEW EDITION, REVISED and CORRECTED by the AUTHOR ; Including a confiderable number of PUCES nevtr before PUBLISHED. * # * r" # * * -# * * * * * . Jludax Inde cphors ftellii t pluribus unum amidal tolfot ad ajtra cafut. 43.5. t jftr o > N M o u r r H PRINTED At the Prefs of the AUTHOR, at MOUNT-PLEASANT, neaj kil0LETOVSrN-P6lNT ; MDCC.XCV: and, of AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE TABLE o P CONTENTS. A HE Poetical kiftory of the prophet Jonah pagg I The Village Merchant ' 9 Epiftolary lines on the death of a. Fiddler 1 5 On American Antiquity 17 A Batavian PicJure 1 8 Farmer, Dobbins's Complaint 19 The Pyramids of Egypt ; a Dialogue 20 The Banijhed Man 23 Columbus to Ferdinand, king of Spain 24 The Deferted Farnt-Houfe 26 The Debtor's Soliloquy 2.7 The New-England Sabbatb-day-Cbact 28 The Monument of Pbacn 30 Ode to Fancy 3 I The Prayer of Grpleus 32 The Citizen's Refol've 33 The Fair Buckle Thief 35 The Rijtng Glory of America 36 The Wijh of Diogenes ^ 46 Epitaph on a man killed by a preter.ded Phyfician jj/j Epitaph on the celebrated Abelard (from the Latin) 50 The Dying Elm 5 I The Dijlreji Orator 5 I Advice to Ladies, not to neglecJ the Dentift 52 Elegiac Lines on a young American Lady t that died foot after her arrival in London 53 Humanity and Ingratitude 54 The Dejolate Academy 5 6 Advice to a Friend 57 The Vernal Ague 5$ The Market Girl 58 The Dying Indian 59 TheJugofR*n . 6 1 Elegiac Stanzas 62 'The Piflures cf Columbus 6 5 The Indian Student 80 Th Orator of the Woods 8^ Pal O/; //7:J!e t if the Randolph I4^> O j < /^t' ^?c<9,( entitled, Unitarian "Theology 149 y/6^ Jeiyijb Lament at to. i zi the river Euphrates 150 The Sca-man^i Invitation I -"2 King George the tiird's Soliloquy I 3- -^ Dialogue bet-win Gtc,- asid Rurgoyne zi^ On the Royal Jlcop of War, Monk 215 On a Debarkation of Hejians, Waldcckers, &c. 215 The Northern Soldier 216 Truth Anticipated 2 1 6 On Sir Htnry Clinton's Recall to Britain 2ib ) Sir Guy Car I stones Addrsfs to the Americans 221 Modern Idolatry ; or, Englijh Quixotifm 222; The Projeflcrs (or, Land -'Jobbing) 224 On General Robertfon's Proclamation - 2? v ^' On General Arnold's Departure from America 326 Philofopbical View of t he times (1782) ** 22$ Prince William Henry's Soliloquy on tke Rej citings in Philadelphia for the hirth cf a Dauphin of France ' 229 Beelzebub's Remon ft ranee 231 American Refugees* Petition to Jir Guy Carhion Sir Gufs Anfwer - 233 Prophecy of the Indian king, Tammany 233 James Ri-vington's Reflections 235 Political Biography : or, Life cfH. Gaine 2^9 &*tbe Departure of the Beitife forces from Cbarlejioa 24.7 Hermit's Valley 248 A Newf man's Addrefs 249 On the Eritijh king' s Speech t recommending peact "with the American States (1783) 250 Manhattan City (or, a Picture f New-York in 1783^ 252 A Renegado Epiftlc 253 Confejjions, by James Rivington 255 The American Siberia 261 On General Wajhington's retirement from public life, after having, with a Patriotic army, eftablijhed the Independence of the United States cf America 3.62 A Nevjs-man's Addrefs 265 The Triumphal Arch (occajioned by rejoicings in Philadelphia. on the acknowledgement of the National Independence} 266 Tranjlation of part of an ancient Scandinavian War-Song 268 Mars and Venus 269 Pewter-Platter Alky (in Philadelphia) 269 The Hurricane 270 On the death of the patriotic general, and flat efman, Jofepb Reed, formerly Governor of the State of Pennjylvania 271 The Five Ages 272 A Renegado Epiftle to the Independent Americans 273 On the Emigration to America i and peopling the Wgjlern Country 276 On the New-Years' Feftiva.1 277 4 News -carrier's Petition 278 On the Vicijjitudes cf 'things 279 Devaftations in a Eookj'elhr' s Library 280 Sketches cf North American Hi/lory 283 Op the firft American jhip that explored the rout to the Eaft- Indies y after the Revolution 29 1 Alcina's Enchanted Ijland (a translation} 292 An Old Soldier's Sutfcriptien Prayer 292 The Mourning Nun (a fragment) 293 Elegiac Stanzas 293 On the death of ccJonel LAURENS, of South Carolina 294 Written at Port RcysJ, in "Jamaica 295 9~0 Lydia: a young Quaker lady 297 Argonauta ; or, tkt Icj} advextursr . 299 A News-Mans AdJrcfs 303 On the Prohibition cf re-printing Dr. David Ramfay's Hiftory of the Revolution of South Carolina, in London 304. Literary Importation 305 The Englijlj man's Co*iplaint 306 Elegy on the late Mr. Rell 5p6 Terra I'ulpina 37 Haiteras 3^8 The Newfmonger 3>IO Charity A -la-made JU The WnftrtVs Complaint 313 The Wintry Prsjpetf 3 1 4 Female Caprice 3*6 The/;W/W 317 I'he Drunken Soldier 3*7 Caribbean a 3 *** Lyfander's Retreat 3* The ProceJJion to Syhania Sangrado's Expedition On the Prcjpea of a Revolution in France 323 Epiftle to the Patriotic Farmer 3M Sufannah's Revival ' 3 2 4 An Author > on Authorjhip 3*6 Philander: or, the Emigrant 3 2 8 Infcription under the Portrait of Martha Ray 330 Palamon ; or, the Skaiter 3 3 l To a Student of Dead Languages 334 To a gay Young Woman married to a doating Old Clergyman - 334* To a Defponding Seaman 335 A News -Man' 's AddreJ's 336 Sender's Journey 338 The Diftreft Theatre (formerly of Charlejlon) 3^1 The Menace 35* The Prudent Philofopher 353 The Wanderer 354 Maryland '355 The Happy profpeS 357 The Origin of wars 357 St. Catharine's IJland 358 Mar cell a in a Consumption 359 Stanzas written in a fe 281 7"* , , 7 J J Jc.de ra> -'.'ail ^84 r * ' ^'e.m'-ii-:: ; a 're fb'.ind Politician 385 A; '- t the Heights near Sa-dy-llook} 386 IpZoilus iji. .' critic 387 1 -S 7. r;;, ^ /(vV<& minded court writer 380 T " // " '7 r 1 <2/: ./y;-.'cry /t'^7/. ; j|y O To My 1,0^ ^go To Sir Toby a J a/naica Sugar-planter j^l I'O Shy/ock ap .'/ - '/./>/ ^^2 To <7 t'grfccii- 1 Pfoifa&pfar 701 rr* o i -3s 3 o S^/sr/C- Ap-$fankin 393 To M' xj'^/t 3^^. To /yf'tf Public ^ $95 To R.pu}lican, with Mr. Paine* s Rights cf Man 396 To jQc-j+enn 397 To Cr-aco-cius Puff/Jus 3^8 To Mejfiew Fungus, froth, fcf Co. 399 To A.A- /^^ r^xke, a title hunter 400 j^ Matrimoniat Dialogues humbly tnfcril fd to my Lord Snake 401 To -^ A(7/^ Politician 402 To Shy lock Ab-Sbenkiri 403 To //^ Grand Mufti 403 To S'&ylock Ap-$benkin 404 To Shy lock Ap-Sbenkin 4^)5 To Shy lock Ap-Shenkw 406 To Mi-fc-rtHne -40^ Shddracb and Pompofo : a Tale 408 &9 fpvtr& ancient Skeletons, dug up in Fort George fN. Y.) 409 Or? ^ C*/v Corporation Latwfcr cutting down trees &f. 410 Ox t& Demolition cf Frt George (N?Y.) 412 Nanty, the Pbiiaaelpbia Houfekeeper to Nabby, her friend in N. ^414 Kably* tbf **g~n-York Heufekttper to Nanny, her friend in ^Philadelphia 4'5 On a State La~j.>? pr r J:lc}:ing the ufe of ft rang Liquors in certain Jails 4 1 6 On the Death of Do or Franklin 417 Epiftle fuhpofed to be written from Dotftr Franklin deceafed r in anjkver to certain filly ejfu/fau of poetical panegyrics 417 The Bergen Planter 418 On the departure of the Grand Sanhedrim 419 T.^e Country Printer 421 Jkitetttcen .iin-lred and Ninety One 425 To a Political S.brifnp ; or, Fly ubon the' wheel 425 To fylyiuf, o.t the Fuiiy of writing Poetrv 4 2 ^ { XV ] To Mr. Churchman, OK tie failure, of Us Petition, &?r. 426 On Peft -Eli-Halt a Speculator in Public Securities 428 The theological Scrip-Monger, or. Speculating Parfon 430 A Warning to America 430 On the Fourteenth of July. &c. 431 On the Ffench Republicans 432 On the Portraits of the kin? and queen of France, in tht Federal Senate Chamber, at Philadelphia 433 To Sylvius, on his preparing to leave the town 433 On the Death of a Republican Printer 434 The Pyramid of the Fifteen American States 435 Highland-Sawney ,cr, the Emigrant Beau 436 On the approaching Dffitittton of Tranfailantic Jurlfdifiion it .America 437 On the Annlverfary of the Storming of the Baft He y at Paris, July i^th, 1789 438 Lyric Ode to Liberty 439 Ode on the fame fiiljetf 445 To Mr. Blanchard, the celebrated Aeronaut, &c. ,. 446 Ott-DocJor San^r ado's flight from Philadelphia 448 Thoughts m the European War-SyJlsm, by a News-Printer 449 Elegy on the Jeath of a Black-fmith , that died of ibe Yellow Fever, in Philadelphia, \ 793 449 On the memorable Naval Engagement between the French Republican Frigate, I'Ambufcade, captain Bompard ; and the Britijb Royal Frigate Bofton, captain Courtney ; ojf the coaft of New-Jerfey, 1793 453 On the Demolition of the French Monarchy, and the fuccefsts of the Republican Armies in Flandtrs and Germany 453 Brratum Page 451, Line 3^for cafe4dves tvaa Cafe-Knive! THE POETICAL HISTORY or THE PROPHET JONAH. CANTO I. J[N af^paft, when fmit with warmth fublime, Their bards foretold the dark events or" time, And piercing forward through the myilic ihade, Kings yet to come, and chiefs unborn furvey'd, Amittai's fon perceiv'd, among the reft, The mighty flame ufurp his labouring, breafl : For thus, in dreams, the voice unerring came Of HIM, who iives through every age the lame: "ARISE! and o'er the intervening wafte, " To Nineveh's imperial turrets h.ifte; *' That mighty town to ruin I decree, " Proclaim detraction, and proclaim from me; /Too long it Hands, to GOD and man a foe, "Without one virtue left to fhield the blow; *' Guilt, black as night, their fpeedy ruin brings. " And hotteft vengeance from the KING OP KIN The prophet heard but dar'd to difobey, (Weak as he was) and fled a different \vay; In Joppa's port a trading {hip he found Far o'er the main to diltant Tarlhiih bound; The price of paffage to her chief he paid, And there concealed with ruffian failors ilay'd, His purpofc fixt, at once perverfe and blind, To leave his country, and his GOD behind. BUT HE who fpread the ocean's va.it expanfe. And viftws all nature with a fmgle glance, A * POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, Forth from its prifon bade the tempeft fly The tempeft fwell'd the ocean to the iky; The trembling barque, as the fierce billow knocks* Scarce bears the fury of repeated fhocks; Her crew diftreft, aftoniih'd and afraid, Eich to his various god in anguifh pray'd, Nor truft alone to penitence and prayer, They clear the decks, and for the worft prepare. The coftly hiding to the deep they throw, That lighter o'er the billows (he may go, Nor with regret the wealthy cargo fpar'd, For wealth is nothing, when with life compar'd. BUT to the ihip's remoteft chambers fled There penfjve Jonah droop'd his languid head, And-, new to all the dangers of the deep, Had funk, dejected, in the arms of fleep *'Twas then the mafter broke the prophet's reft, And as he cry'd, he fmote his frantic breaft ~ ts O fleeper, from thy ftupid llumbers rife, " At fuc:i an hour can fleep invade thine eyes? **' If ever thou to heaven didft fend a prayer, " Novv fend thy warmeft fupplications there, " Perhaps thy God may pity our diftrefs, * f And fave us, foundering in this dark abyfs." THUS warn'd, the feer ^is vows repentant paid-* Meantime, the feamen to their fellows faid: * No common waves our fhatter'd vcffel rend, " Tuere muft be one for whom thefe ftorms impend, " Some wretch we bear, for whom thefe billows rife* Ci F >e to the gods, and hated by the fkies; f < Conie, fines the billows all our arts defy, "Come, let the lot decide for whom we die." INSTANT the lots amid the vale they threw, And the mirkt lot dejected Jonah drew! THEN thas their chief the guilty man addrefs'd,* " Say, for what crime of thine are we diftreft* ' What is thy country, what thy calling, fay, * ( Whence doit thou come, what potentate obey? 1 " Unfold it all, nor be the truth deny'd." The mailer fooke and Jonah thus reply'd:^ " A HEBREW I, from neighbouring regions came, "A Jewifh prophet, not unknown to fame; " That God I fear who fpread this raging fea, " Who fixt the fliores by his fupreme decree, *' And reigns throughout immeafurable fpace, His footftool earth- the heaven his dwelling plac\ f( But I, regardi(fs of his high command, " His mandate flighting, fled my native land, " Fool that I was, from Joppa's port to fly, " Who thought to fhun his all pervading eye! POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, st For this the temped rends each tatter'd fail, "For tais, your velfel fcarce fupports the gale '" THE feamen heard, diftra&ed and difmay'd; When thus again their trembling captain laid: *" How couid.it thou thus, ungenerous as thou art, "Affront thy patron, and with us depart; " Loi for thy crimes, and not our own, we die; " Mark, how the v/ild waves threaten from on highj, " Oar fails in fragments flit before the biaft, " Scarce to its flation we confine the mail ; " What mail we do, unhappy man, declare, " How ihall we act, or how direct our prayer, " That angry Neptune may his rage reftrain, " And huih once more thcfe tumults of the main?" THE feer reply 'd, "The means are in your powej; "To ftili the tempeil in this dreadful hour: - " High on the fea-beat prow will I afcend, " And let the boldeil of your crew attend *' To plunge me headlong fr,om that g'ddy ftecp "Down to the bofom of the unfathom'a deep; " So mall the ocean from its raging ccafe,, " And the fierce tempeit foon be huih'd to peace: " 'Tis for my crime this angry ocean raves, " 'Tis for my fin^ we plough thefe fearful waves ; " Diflodge me foon the ftorm Ihall then decay, *' Which flill grows louder while on board I Hay. 1 * THUS hebut they, to. five their vagrant gueit RefuPd as yet to grant his ftrange requeit, And though aloft on mountain waves they ride, .And the toft galley reels from fide to fide, Vet to their breafts they drew the fweepy oar, And vainly ftrove to gain the diftani more; The ruffian winds refufe that wifh'd retreat, And fiercer o'er the decks the billows beat. THEN to the fkies the chief his prayer addref'-., " Thou JOVE fupreme, the greateft and the bed! " Becaufe thy fovereign pleafure doth require "That death alone muft fatisfy thine ire/ *' O fpare us for thy dying prophet's fake, *'Nor let us perim for the life we take; !*' If we are wrong, his lot was thy decree, '"And thou nail done as it feern'd beft to thce." THEN from the fummit of the wafhy prow, They plung'd the prophet to the depths 'below, And flraight the winds, and iiraight the billo\vt c e;u"t, And every threatening farge Lay huih 'd in peac-. ^ The trembling ,crew adore the Power Suprcry-Q Who kindly thus from ruin refc-ued them ; Their vows they fend to his imperial thrc"-, victims offer ;o this God unkrnv, n. POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. CANTO II. w. HEN from the prow's intimidating height They phmg'd the prophet to the realms of night, Not long he langiriili'd in the briny deep, .In death's cold arms not yet decreed to fleep. - . JEHOVAH law him, from the abodes of blifs, Sunk to the bottom of the vail abyfs, And bade a whale, the mightieft of the kind, His prophet in thefe diimal manfions find The holtile form, approaching through the wave, Receiv'd him living to a living grave, Where three long days in dark diftrefs he lay, And oft repenting, to his God did pray The power benign, propitious to his prayer, Bade the huge filh to .neighbouring fhores repair Inilant the whale obey'd the high command, And caft him fafe on Paleftina's ftrand. THE prophet then hi paft tranfgreffions mourn'd. And grateful, thus to heaven his thanks return'di " Afflicted from the depths of hell I pray'd, "The -dark abyfs of everlafting made; " My Go D in mercy heard the earneft prayer, " And dying Jonah felt thy prefence there. f < Becaufe I dar'd thy mandate difobey, "Far didft thpu plunge me from the face of day: <( In the vail ocean, where no land is found, "The mighty waters clof'd thy prophet round; " On me the waves their utmoft fury ipent, ''And ail thy billows o'er my body went, " Yet then, furrounded by the difmal made, "Thus to my MAKER from the depths I faid: "-Though hid beneath the caverns of the main, " To thy bleft temple will I look again, " Though from thy fight to utter darknpfs thrown, " Still will I truft, and truft on thee alone " With anguim deep I felt the billows roll, "Scarce in her manfion ftay'd my frighted foul; " About my head were wrapt the weeds of night, " And darknefs, mingled wirh no ray of light; " I faw tjfae caves the briny ocean fills, " I faw the bafes of the 'infernal hills, " Earth, with her bars, encompafs'd me around, " Yet, from the. bottom of that dark profound "Where life no more thefwellingvein fupplies, " And death repofes, didft thou bid me rife. " When fainting nature bow'd to thy decree, tf find the lone fpirit had prepar'd to flee, " Then from my prifon I xemember'd thee, 3 POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, " My prayer towards thy heavenly temple camey "The temple facred to JEHOVAH'S name. " Uuhappy they, who vanities purfue, " And lies believing, their own fouls undo " But to thine ear my grateful fong mall rife, " For thee mail fmoke the joyous facrifice, " My vows I'll pay at thy imperial throne, " Since my falvation was from thee alone." CANTO III. o. 'NCE more the voice to humbled Jonah came Of HIM, who lives through every age the fame: " Arife! and o'er the intervening wafce " To Nineveh's exalted turrets hafte, ** And what to thee my SPIRIT mail reveal . < f That preach nor dare the facred truth conceal " To defolation I that town decree; "Proclaim deftraclion, and proclaim from me." Obedient to JEHOVAH'S high command, The prophet rofe, and left Judea's land, And now he near the fpiry city drew, (Euphrates pafs'd, and rapid Tigris too:) So vaft the bulk of this prodigious place, Three days were fcant its lengthy ftreets to trace; But as he enter'd, on the firft fad day, Thus he began his tidings of difmay : " O NINEVEH ! to Heaven's decree attend! " Yet forty days, and all thy glories end ; " Yet forty days, the fkies protracl thy fall, ** And defolation then mall bury all, " Thy proudeft towers their utter ruin mourn, "And domes and temples unextinguiih'd burn! " O Nineveh! the GOD of armies dooms, " Thy thoufand ftreets to never-ending glooms: te Through mouldering fanes, the hollow winds \\ii\\ ro " And vultures fcream where monarchs lodg'd before! " Thy guilty fons fhall bow beneath the fword, " Thy captive matrons own a foreign lord. " Such is the vengeance th.it the heavens decree, " Such is the ruin that mull bury tliee!" THE people heard, and fmit with infcant fear, Believ'd the fatal warnings of the fcer: ^ Thi-j fudden ruin fo their fouls diflreit, That ,each with fackcloth did his limbs inveil, From him that glitter'd on the regal throne, .To him vhat did beneath the burthen g-roan . 6 POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS Soon to thdr monarch came this voice of fate, Who k'lt iiis throne and coftly robes of (late, And o'er his limbs a veil of fackcloth drew, And. fate in afncs, forro^ful to view-^ His lords and nobles-, now repentant grown, With cqu-1 grief their various fins bemoan, And through the city fent this loud decree, With threatening back'd, and dreadful penalty: " YE Ninevitcs, your wonted food refrain, '''Nor touch, ye beafts., the herbage of the plain, " Let all that live be humbled to the duft, " Nor tafte the waters, though ye die of thirft: " Let men and beafts the garb of forrow wear, ** And beg yon' fkies thefe guilty walls to fpare: tf Let all repent the evil they t purfue, *' And curie the mifchief that their hands would do " Perhaps that GOD, who leans to mercy ftill, "And fent a prophet -to declare his will, * ! May yet the vengeance, he defigns, adjourn^ ** And, ere we perilh, from his anger turn." JEHOVAH heard, and pleas'd beheld at laft Tfyeir deep repentance for tranfgreffions pair, "With pity mov'd, he heard the earneft prayer Of this vaft city, humbled in defpair; Though juftly due, his anger dies away, He bids the angel of deftruflion Itay : THE obedient angei hears the high command, And fheatHes the fword, he drew to fmite the land. B CANTO IV. UT anger fwelPd the haughty prophet's breaftj jL\,a^e burn'd within, and robb'd his foul of reft; Such was his pride, be wifh'd they all in flame Might rather perim than belie bis fame, And Goo's own bolts the tottering towers affail> And millions perim, than bis word mould fail. Then to the heavens he fent this peevifh prayer (Vain, impious man to fend fuch pinings there): " WHILE yet within my native land, I ftay'd, " This would at laft reward my toil, I faid, " Dcftruftion through the Afiyrian flreets to cry, " And then the event my mifTion falfify; " For this I ftrove to fhun thy fight before, " And fought repofe upon a foreign more ; '* I knew thou wert fo gracious and fo kind, Such mercy fways thy all creating mind, " Averfe thy bolts of vengeance to employ, A nd ftill relenting when thou fhouldft deftroy^ Pt)EMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, * That when I had declar'd thy facred will, Thou wouldft not what I prophefy'd fulfil, " But leave me thus to fcorn, contempt, and fhame, " A lying prophet, blafted in my fame " And now, I pray thee, grant my laft requeft, " O take my life, fo wretch-id .ind unbleil! " If Jiere I (lay, 'tis bat to grieve and figh; "Then take my !ife - 'tis better far to die." " Is it thy place to fwell with rage an i pride, f (Thus to his pining prophet, God repiy'd) ** Say is it juft thy heart mould burn with ire * Becaufe that city is not wrapt in fire? " What if I choofe its ruin to delay, c ' And feni deftruclion on fome future day, "Muft thou, for that, with wafting anguun fig'n, "And, hoftile to my pleafure, with to d'.c?" THEN Jonah parted from the mourning town, And near its eaftern limits fate him down, A booth he builded with affiduous care, (Form'd of the cyprefs boughs that fkmriih'd there) And anxious now beneath their madow lay,. Waiting the iflue of the fortieth day As yet uncertain if the Power Divine Or would to mercy, or to wrath incline < Meantime, the leaves that roofd his arbour o'er, Shrunk up and faded, flickered him no more; But GOD ordain'd a thrifty gourd to rife, To fcreen his prophet from the fcorching ikies ; High o'er his head afpir'd the fpreading leaf, Too fondly meant to mitigate his grief, So clofe a foliage o'er his head was made, That not a beam could pierce the happy made: The wondering feer perceiv'd the branches grow And blefs'd the madow that reliev'd his v/oe ; But when the next bright morn began to mine (So GOD ordain'd) a worm attacked the vine, Beneath his bite its goodly leaves decay, And wafting, withering, die before the day I Then as the lamp of heaver* ftill higher role From eaftern fides a fultry tempeft blows, The vertic fun as fiercely pour d his ray, And beam'd around infuffcrable day, How beat thofe beams on Jonah's fainting head! How oft he wifa'd a place among the dead! All he could do, was now to grieve and figh, His life deleft, and beg of God to die. AGAIN, JEHOVAH to his prophet faid, " Art thou fo angry for thy vanifh'd fliade 3 rf< For a mere madow doft thou well to grieve, v For this poor lofs wouldft thou thy being leave?'* ji POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. "Mr rap,e is.juft, (the frantic prophet cry'd), " MY lad, my only comfort is deny'd '* The fpreading vine that form'd my leafy bower; " Behold it vaniih'J in tlie needful hour ! " To heating winds and fultry funs a prey, " My fainting fpirit droops and dies away " Give me a maniion in my native dud, " For though I die with rage, my rage is juft." ONCE more the ALMIGHTY deign'd to make reply ~ " Does this loft gourd thy forrow fwelr fo high, " r/kofe friendly lhade not to thy toil was due, " Alone it fp routed, and alone it grew; " A night beheld its branches waving high, " And the next fun beheld thole branches die; " And mould not pity move the LORD of all " To fpdre the vail Aflyrian capital, "Within whofe walls uncounted myriads flray, " Their Father I, my finful offspring they? " Should they not move the great creating mind " With fix {"core thoufand of the infant kind, " And herds untold, that graze the fpacious field, t( For whom yon' meads their ftores of fragrance yield; "Should I this royal city wrap in flame, " And flaughter millions to fupport thy fame, " When now-repentant to their GOD they turn, 4 -f And their part follies, low in afhes, mourn? t Vain thoughtlefs wretch, recall thy weak requeft, " Death never came to man a welcome gueft; " Why wifh to die what madnefs prompts thy mind, "Too long the days of darknefs thou malt find; " Life was a blelTmg by thy Maker meant, " Dole thou delpife the bleflings he has lent 7 " Enjoy my gifts while yet the feafons run ff True to iheir months, and focial with the fun; "V/hen to the dufb my mandate bids thee fall, tc Al. thefe are loft, for death conceals them all *' No more the fun illumes the fprightly day, <( The feafons vanifli, and the ftars decay : "'The trees, the flowers, no more thy fenfe delight, 4 < Death {hades them all in ever-during night. fc< Then think not long the little fpace I lent " Of thy own ffns, like Nineveh, repent;' "' Rejoice at lail the mighty charge to fee, "And bear with them as I have borne With thee." [DONE in 1768.] POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VILLAGE MERCHANT. S PRUNG from a race, that long had till'd the foil, And firtt difrob'd it of its native trees, He w'flvd to heir their lands, but not their toil, And thought the ploughmen's life no life of eife: "'Tis wrong (find he) thefe pretty hands to wound " With felling oaks, or- delving in the ground: " I, who, at leaft, have forty pounds in calh " And in a country ftore might cut a dafli, " Why mould I till thefe barren fields (he faid) " I who have learnt to cypher, write, and read, " Thefe fields that mrubs, and weeds, and brambles bear, " That pay me not, and only bring me care !" Some thoughts had he, long while, to quit the fod In fea-port towns to try his luck in trade, But, then, their ways of living feem'd moil odd For dufty flreets to leave his native made, From graffy plats to pebbled walk* remov'd The more he thought of them, the Isfs he lov'd: ' The city fprings he could not drink, and, ftill Preferred the fountain near fome bufhy hill : And yet, no fpl'endid objects there were feen* No diftant fcenes, in gaudy colours clad, Look where you would, the profpeft flill was mean, . Scrub-oaks, aud fcatter'd pines, and willows fad Banks of a mallow river, ftain'd with mud; A ftream, where never fwelPd the tide of flood, No lofty fliip her topfails did unlofe, Nor failor fail'd, except in log canoes. It would have puzzled Fauftus, to have told, What did attach him -to this paltry fpot; Where even the houfe he heir'd, was very old, And all its outworks hardly worth a groat: Yet fo it was, the fancy took his brain A country mop might here fome cuftom gain: Whi/key. he knew, would always be in vogue, While there are country fquires to take a cogue, Laces and lawns would dra-v each rural maid. And one muft have her^-W, ano one her/W? HARD by the road a pigmy building flood, Thatch'd' was its roof, and earthen were its floon ; So fmall its fize, that, in a jetting mood, It might be cill'd a houfe turn'd'out of doors - Yet here, adjacent to an aged oak, full fifty years old dad his hams did frroke, B, K> POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS Nor ceas'd the trade, 'till worn with years and fpent, To Pluto's fmoke-houfe he, himfelf, was fcnv. Hither our merchant turn'd his curious eye, And mus'd awhile upon this fable ihell; " Here father fmok'd his hogs (he faid) and why " In truth, may not our garret do as well?" - So, down he took his haras and bacon flitches, Refalv'd to fill the place with other riches; From every hole and cranny brufh'd ihe foot, And fixt up fhelves throughout the crazy hut: A counter, too, moft cunningly was plann'd, Behind whofe breaft-work none but he might (land, Excepting now and then, by fpccial grace, Some brother merchant from fome other place. Ncv, mufter'd up his cam, and faid his prayers, In Sunday fnit he rigs himfelf for town, Two raw-bon'd needs (defign'd for great affairs) /\rc to the waggon hhch'd, old Bay and Br&wn? Who ne'er had been before a league from home But now are doom'd full many a mile to roam, Like merchant-fliips, a various freight to bring. Of ribbon; y lawns, and many a tawdry thing. Molaffes too, blefl fweet, was not forgot, And iiland Rum, that every tafte delights, And teas, for maid and matron muft be bought, Rnfln and catgut firings for fiddling wights But why mould I his invoice here repeat ? 'Twoul'd be like counting grains in pecks of wheat;* Half Europe's toil was on his invoice found, And all was to be bought with FORTY POUND! Soon as the early dawn proclaimed the day, He cock'd his hat with pins and comb'd his hair; Curious it was, and laughable to fee The village-merchant mounted in his chair: Shelves, pil'd with lawns and linens, in his head, Coatings and fluffs, and cloths, and/carlcts red All that would fuit man, woman, girl, or boy ; Muflins and muflinets, jeans, grograms, corduroy. Alack! faid I, he little, little, dreams That all the cafh he guards with ftudious care His cam', the mother of a thoufand fchemes, Will hardly buy 2. load of earthen ware! But why mould I excite the hidden tear By whifpering truths ungrateful to his ear; Still let him travel on, with fcheming pate., As difappciinment never comes too late. POEMS ON SEVERL OCCASIONS. 1 1 THROUGH woods obfcure and dull perplexing way 4 Slow and alone, he urg'd the clumfy wheel; Now flopping mort, to let his horfes gra^e, $bw treating them with ftraw and Indian meal ; At length a Lfty Jleeple caught his eye, "Higher (thought he) than ever kite did fly: But 5) it is, thefe churchmen are fo proud They ever will be climbing to a cloud; Bound on a fcy blue cruife, they always rig The longeft fteeple, and the largeft wig." w Now lafe arrived upon the pebb'.ed wiy, Where well-born fteeds the rattling coaches trail, Where mops on fhops are feen and ladies gay Walk with their curtains foms, and Tome their veil; Where fons of art their various labours (how And one cries fjh! and one cries muffins ho! Amaz'd, alike, the merchant, and his pair Of fcare-cmw fteeds, did nothing elfe but ftare; So new was all the fcene, that, fmit with awe, They ormn'd, and gaz'd, and gap'd at all they faw, And often ftopp'd, to aflc at every door, *' Sirs, can you tell us where"* 's the cheapeft /tore!" " The cheapejl ftore ! (ajly retailer f aid) " Cheaper than cheap, guid faith, I have to fell ; f< Here are fame coloured cloths that never fade: *' No other /hop can fer-ve you balffo well; t Wanting fame money now, to pay my rent, ff r II fell them at a lofs of one per cent. tf Hnm-hums are here and muflins- what you pleafe- f( Bandanas, baftas, pullcats t India teas; t( Improved by age, and novj grown 'very old, *' And given away, you may depend; not fold! }> Lur'd by the bait the wily Ihopman laid, He gave his fteeds their mefs of ftraw and meal, Then gazing round the fhop, thus, cautious fait!, Well, if you fell fo cheap, I think we'll deal; " But pray remember, 'tis for goods I'm come, ' For, as to polecats, we've enough at home ft Full forty pounds I have, and that in gold *' (Enough to make a trading man look bold) *' Unrig your {helves, and let ms take a peep; * f 'Tis odds I leave them bare, you fell fo cheap." The city merchant ftood, with lengthened jaws*. And ftar'd awhile, then made this fhort reply-*- " You clear my fhelves! (he faid) this fheif of giua; " Is more than all your forty pounds can buy: " On yonder board, whofe burthen fcenis fo fmaH * c That one man's pocket might contain it all, *' More value lies, than you and all your race ** From Adam downj could purchafe or p^T-f./' 12 POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. Convinced, he turn'd him tp another ftreet, Where humbler (hopmen from the crowd retreat ; Here caught his eye coarfe callicoes and crape, Pipes ar.d tobacco, ticklenburghs and tape, Pitchers and pots, of value net fo high But he might fell, and FORTY POUNDS would buy. Some jugs, fome pots, fome fifty ells of tape, A keg of wine, a cafk of low proof rum, Bung'd clofe for fear the fpirit fliould efcape That many a fot was wailing for at home; A grofs of pipes, a cafe of home made gin, Tea, powder, mot fmall parcels he laid in; Molailes, too, for fwickell* -loving wights, (Siviebell, that wings Sangrado's boldeft flights, When buriUng forth, the wild ideas roll, Flafh'd from that farthing-candle, call'd his foul:) All the'fe he bought, and would have purchas'd more, To furnifh out his Lilliputian ftore; But cam fell fnort and they who fmil'd while yet The cafh remain'd, now took a ferious fit : No more the mop-girl could his talk endure, But, like her cat, fat fallen and demure The dull retailer found no more to fay, But (hook his head, and wilh'd to fneak away, Leaving his houfe-dog, now, to make reply, And watch the counter with a lynx's eye . Our merchant took the hint, and off he went, Refolv'd to fell at twenty foe per cent. RETURNING far o'er many a hill and {lone And much in dread his earthen-ware would break, Thoughtful he rode, And uttering many a groan Left at fome worm-hole vent his cafk mould leak His calk, that held the joys of rural fquire Which even, 'twas faid, the parfon did admire, And valued more than all the duily pages That Calvin penn'd, and fifty other fages Once high in fame beprais'd in verfe and profe, But now unthumb'd, enjoy a fafe repofe. At duik of eve he reach'd his old abode, Around him quick his anxious townfmen came, One afk'd what luck had happ'd him on the road, And one ungear Yi the mud-befpatter'd team. While on his ca.'jk each glanc'd a loving eye, Patient, to all he gave a brifk reply Told all that had befall'n him on his way, What wonders in the towr detain'd his ftay * MohiTcs and Mvter :' A beverage much u(*i in the Eafern POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 13 ft Houfes as high as yonder white-oak tree t{ And boats ofmonftrousjize that go to fea, " Streets throng* d with bufy folk, like f warming tf 'The lord knows hovj they all contrive to live " No ploughs I faw, no hoes, no care, no charge, ( In f aft, they all are gentlemen at largt, tf And goods Jo thick on every window lie, " They all feem born to fell and none to buy" ALACK-a-day I on life's uncertain road How many plagues, what evils muft befall; Jove has on none unmingled blifs beftow'd, But difappointment is (he lot of all: Thieves rob our ftores, in fpite of locks and keys, Cats fteal our cream, and rats infeft our cheefe, The gayeft coat a greafe-fpot may aflail, Or Sufan pin a dilh-clout to its tail. -_ Our village merchant (truft me) had his mare Of vile mis -haps for now, the goods, unpackt, Difcover'd, what might make a deacon fwear Jugs, cream-pots, pipes, and grog-bowls fadly crackt A general groan throughout' the crowd was heard; Moft pitied him, and {ome his ruin fear'd; Poor wight ! 'twas fad to fee him fret and chafe, While each enquir'd, " Sir, is the rum-cafifafi?" Alas! even that fome mifchief had endur'd ; One rafcal hoop had ftarted near the chine! Then curioufly the bung-hole they explor'd, With ftem of pipe, the leakage to define Five gallons muft be charged to lofs and gain! '* Five gallons! (crfd the, merchant , writh y d with pain}- " Now may the cooper never fee fall ft ajk, <( But ft ill be driving at an empty cajk tf Five gallons might have mellow* d down the 'Jquire f< And made the captain ft rut a full inch higher ; '$** or dram; "No cafo of mine you'll get (faid pouting Kate) " While gauze is valued at fo dear a rate." Thus things dragg'd on lor many a tedic-us day; No cuftom came; and nought but difcontent Gloom'd through the (hop " Well, let them have thsir way.) (The merchant faid) I'll fell at cent per cent, *' By which, 'tis plain, I fcarce myfelf can fa~je> "For cent per cent is juji the price 1 ga-JS " "Now! (cry'd the 'fquire, who ftitl had kept his pence) " Ntw,jfr f you reafon like a man offenje! 9< Cuftom 'will nc^iu from every quarter come ; " In joyous Jlreams jhall faONS of the earth, for plodding genius .m'd, ta'uia long her earthborn natives claim'd; Begot from induftry, and not from lo^e, Swarming at length, to theie fkir ciimes they move. n Still in t&efe c imes their numerous race farvive, And, born to labour, i'tiil are fourd to thrive; Thro' rain and funfhine toijing f r their heirs They hold no nation on this earth like theirs. Fond of themfelves, no generous motives bind, To thoie that fpeak their gibberim, o,->ly kind:- Yet ftill fome virtues, candor mult confefs, And truth (hall own., fome virtues they poflefs; Where'er they iix, all nature fmiles around Groves bend with fruit and plenty cloathes the ground; No barren trees to made their domes are feen, Trees muft be fertile, and their dwellings clean, No idle fancy dares its whims apply, Or hope attention from the mailer's eye, All tends to fomething that muft pelf produ e, All for fome end, and every thing its uie. Eternal fcoweiings keep their floors afloat Heat as the outfide of the Sunday 'coat; The hoe, the loom, the female band employ, Thefe all their pleafure, thefe their darling joy;^-* The ftrong-ribb'd lafs no idle paflions move, No frail ideas of romantic love; He to her heart the readieft path can find Who comes with g^ld, 'nd coa:ls ner to be kind, She heeds not valour, learning, wit, or birth, Minds not the fwain bat afks him what he's worth. No female fears in her firm bread prevail, The helm me handles and me trims the fail, In fome fmail barque the way to market finds, Hauls aft the meet, or veers it to the wind's, While plac'd a-head, fubiervient to her will, Hans fmokes his pipe, and wonders at her (kill. Health to their toils thus may they {till go on - Curfe on my pen! Whit virtues have I drawn! Is this the general tafte? No (Truth replies)* If fond of beauty, guiUiefs of duguife, POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 19 See (where, the focial circle meant to grace) The fair Cefarean lhades her lovely face, She, early held to happier tafks at home, Prefers the labours that her fex become, Remote from view, direfls fome favourite art, And leaves to hardier man the ruder part. FARMER DOBBINS's COMPLAINT, T, HREE daughters I have, and as prettily made, As handfome as aiw you'll fee, And lovers they ^p*nt but ftill Pm afraid They always will hang upon me. In writing of letters, and talking of love They are foolifhly fpending their time; One gives them a ribbon, and one a new glove. And thus they are paffing their prime. With idle romances my book-cafe is ftor'd That teach not to ;_>raife or to pray, And the Bible itfelf is difcharg'd from the board, Where, once, with Jack Bunyan it lay. Thefe bucks of the town, with their elegant coats I'm fick of their horfes and chairs : They plunder my hay, and they pilfer my oats- Am I keeping a tavern, my dears? Thefe fuitors and Iwcrs, that never can love, Content with a fqueeze of the hand; Tho' often the fubjeft of Hymen I move, ,'Tis a fubjeft they can't underfland. This courting and courting, and never concluding Is nonfenfe I'm forry to lay: Your killing and playing is rather intruding Unlefsyou will take th-(m away / c POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE PYRAMIDS OF EGYPT, A DIALOGUE. Scene. EGYPT. Perfoas. TRAVELLER, GENIUS, TIMB. Traveller. HERE are thofe far-fam'd piles of hjiplan grandeur, Thofe fphinxes, pyramids, and Po npey's pillar, That bid defiance to the arm of TIME Teil me, dear GENIUS, for I long to fee them. Genius. AT Alexandria rifes Pompey's pillar, W'hofe date is but of yeftercLiy, compar'd With thofe prodigious fabrieks that you fee O'er yonder diflant plain upon whofe breaft Old Nile hath never roll'd his fwelling ftream, The omy plain fo privileg'd in Egypt; Thefe pyramids may well excite your wonder, They are of moil remote antiquity, AlmoH; co-eval with thofe cloud -crown'd hills That weft ward from them rife long ere the ago That faw old Babel's tower afpiring high, Then firft the fage Egyptian architects Thefe ancient turrets to the heaven rais'd; But Babel's tower is gone, and thefe remain I Traveller. Old Rome I thought unrival'd in i er years, At leaft the remnants trat we find at Rome, Deep are they funk in dark antiquity ; But thefe, you tell me, are of older date. Genius. Talk not of Rome! before they :opt a bum From the .even hills where Rome, earth's emprefs, flood, Thefe pyramids were old their birth-day is Beyond tradition's reach, or hiftory. Traveller. Then let us hafle toward thofe piles of wonder That fcorn to bend beneath this weight- of years Lo! to try view, the aweful manfions rife The pride of art, the fleeping place of death! Are thefe the four prodigious monuments That fo afloniih every generatioi POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 2 I Let us examine this, the firft and greateft A fecret horror, chills my breaft, dear Genius, To touch thefe monuments that are fo ancient, The fearful property of ghofts and death ! And of fuch mighty bulk, that I prefume A race of giants were the architects. Since thefe proud fabricks to the heavens were rais'd How many generations have decay'd, How many monarchies to ruin pafs'd! How many empires had their rife and fall! While thefe remain and promife to remain ^ As long as yonder fun, that gLds their fummits, Or moon or ilars their wonted circuits run. Genius, '' * The time will come Wnen thefe ftupendous piles you deem immortal, Worn out with age, ihall moulder on their bafes, And down, down, low to endlefs ruin verging, O'erwnelm'd by duft, be feen and known no more!' Ages ago, in dark oblivion's lap Had they been fhrouded, but the atmofpbere In thefe parch'd climates, hofote to decay, Is oregnant with no rain, that by its moilture Might wafte their bulk in fuch excefs of time, And prove them merely mortal. 'Twas on this plain the ancient Memphis flood, . Her walls encircled thefe tall pyramids - Bat where is Phiraoh's palace, wh~re the domes Of Egypt's haughty lords? all, all are gone, And like the phantom fnows of a Miy morning, Left not a veftige to remember them ! How mall I reach the vertex of this pile How mail I clamber up its {helving fides? I fcarce endure to glance towards the fummit, It feems among the clouds - When was't thou raised O work of more than mortal majefty Was this produc'd by perfevering man, Or did the gods erecl; this pyramid? Geniufl Nor gods, nor giants rais'd this pyramid- It was the toil of mortals like yourfelf, That fwelPd it to the fkies - Seeft thou yon' little door? Through tKit they pafs'd^ Who rais'd fo high this aggregate of wonders I . What cannot tyrants do, When they have fubjeft nations at their will, And the world's wealth to. grati'y ambition! Millions of (laves beneath their Ubours fainted j.2 POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. Who here were doom'd to toil mceflantly, And years elaps'd while groaning myriads ftrovff To raife this mighty tomb and^but to hide The worthlefs bones of an Egyptian king. O wretch, might not a humbler tomb have done* Could nothing but a pyramid inter thee? Traveller. Perhaps old Jacob's race, when here opprefs'd, Rais'd, in their years of bondage, this dread pile. Genius. Before the Jewifh patriarchs faw the light, While yet the globe was in its infancy Thefe were erefted to the pride of man Six thoufand years have run their tedious round Since thefe fmooth ftones were on each other laid, Six thoufand more may run as dull a round Ere Egypt ees her pyramids decay'd. Traveller. But faffer me to enter, and behold The interior wonders of this edifice. Genius. 'Tis darknefs all, with hateful filence join'd Here drowfy bats enjoy a dull repofe, And marble coffins, vacant of their bones, Show where the royal dead in ruin lay ! By every pyramid a temple rofe Where oft, in concert, thofe of ancient time Sung to their goddefs Is is hymns of praife; But thef

All vanim'd! crumbled into mother duft, And nothing of antiquity remains But thefe huge pyramids, and yonder hills. Time. Old Babel's tower hath felt my potent arm, I ruin'd Eclat an and Babylon , Thy huge Coloflus, Rhodes, I tumbled down, And onthefe pyramids I fmote my fcythe; But they refift its edge then let them Hand. * But I can boaft a greater feat than this, I long ago have fhrouded thofe in death POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 23 Who made thefe ftru^lures rebels to my power Bat, O return . Thefe piles are no; immortal! Th s earth, with all i:s beits of hills and mountains, S uil periih b/ my hand then how can thefe, Tiefe hoary-heacUd pyramids of Egypt, That are but dwindled warts upon her body, That on a little, little fpot of ground Extinguifh the dall radiance of the fun, Be prjo "to death and ma ? Traveller return There's nought bat GOD Immortal HE alone Exiils fecure, when Genius, Mn, and fine, (Ti-ae not immortal, btrt a viewlcfs point In the vaft c'rcle of e'e-nity) Are fwallow'd up, and, 1'ke th* pyramids. Leave not an atom fir tlisir moaameatl [Anno 1769.] The BANISHED MAN. CE Mm may every region claim, A il Nature i , m all, the fane, Aaa we a p irt of her w d2 puin, Tell me, wh.it makes THE BANISH'D MAN? The favourite fpot, that give us birth, We foidiy call, our mother earth; And hence oar vain diftin5lions grow, And man to man becomes a f^e. Th;.t friendfhip to all nations due, A ad taught by reafon to purfu-ey Taat love, which mould the world combing. To Country why do we coniine! The G.-ecian fage (old Hones fay) When queition'd where his-cjuntry lay, Infpir'd by heaven, made no reply, But rats' 4 his finger to the Jky., No region has, on earth, been known B.ut iome, of choice, have made their own; * Vour tears are not from Reafon's fource If choice can tak^ the path of 'force. " Alas! (you cry) that is not all: " My former friendfhips I recall, . " My houfe, my farm, my days, my nights, " Scenes vanifh'd now., and pail 24 POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. Diftance for defence you miftake Here, days and nigh r s their circuits make: Here, Nature walks her beauteous round, And friendmip may perhaps be found. If times grow dark, or wealth retires, Let Reafon check your proud defires: Virtue the humbleil: garb can wear, And lofs of wealth is lofs of care. Thus, half unwilling, half relign'd, Defponding, why, the generous mind? Think right, nor be the hour delayed That flies the fun, to feek the made. Though injur'd, exil'd, or alone, Nobly prefume the world your own, Con vine 'd that, fmce the world began, Time, only, makes The Banijh'd Man. COLUMBUS TO FERDINAND. Columbus was a confiderable number of years engaged in foliating the Court of Spain to fit him out, in order to difcover a new Continent, which he imagined to cxift fome. here in the weftern parts of the ocean. During his negociations* he is here fuppofed to addrefs king Ferdinand in the following ftanzas. ILLUSTRIOUS Monarch of Iberia's foil, Too long I wait permiflion to depart ; Sick of delays, I beg thy liftening ear- Shine forth the patron and the prince of art. While yet Columbus breathes the vital air, Grant his requeft to pafs the weftern main: Referve this glory for thy native foil, And what mufl pleafe thee more for thy own reign* Of this huge globe, how fmall a part we know- Does heaven their worlds to weftern funs deny? How difproportion'd to the mighty deep The lands that yet in human profpecl lie! Does Cynthia, when to weftern fides arriv'd, Spend her fweet beam upon the barren main 'And ne'er illume with midnight fplendor, me, The natives dancing on the lightfome green ? Should the vaft circuit of the world contain Such waftes of ocean, and fuch fcanty land? 'Tis reafon's voice that bids me think not fo ; I think more nobly of the Almighty hand. POEMS ON'SEVERAL OCCASIONS. Does yon* fair lamp trace half the circle round To light the waves and mongers of the leas ? No- be there muft, beyond the billowy wafte, I/lands, and men, and animals, and trees. An unremitting flame my breaft infpires To feek new lands amidlt the barren waves, Wher? fal ing low, the fource of day defcends, And the blue fea his evening vifage laves. Hear, in his tragic lay, Cordova's fage : * 'The time . . . . . Seneca. Mcd. Act HI. V. 375. 26 POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE DESERT ED FARM-HOUSE. T, HIS antique dome the infatiate tooth of time Now level with the daft has almoil laid ; : Yet ere 'tis gone, i feize rry humble tneme Prom thefeiow ruins, that his years have made. Behold the unfocial hearth! where once the fires Blaz'd high, and footh'd the wintry traveller's wues; See the weak roof, that abler props requires, Admits the winds, and fwift descending fnows. Here, to forget the labours of the day, No more the fwains at evening hours repair, But wandering flocks aflume :he well known way 1 o fhun the rigours of the midnight air. In yonder chamber, half to ruin gone, Once ftood th ^ ancient houfewife's curtain'd bed- Timely the prudent matron has witndrawn, And each domestic comfort with her fled. The trees, the flowers that her own hands had rear'd, The plants, the vines, that were fo verd-int feen,-"- The trees, the flowers, the vines have difappear'd, And every 'plant has vaniih'd from the green. So fits in tears on wide Campania's plain Rome, once the miftrefs of a world enllav'd; That triumph'd o'er the land, fabdued the main, And Time himlelf, in her wild tranfports, brav'd. So fits in tears on Paleftina's fhore The Hebrew town* of fplendor once divine Her kings, her lords, her triumphs are no more; SUin are her prieiis, and ruin'd every fhrine. Once, in the bounds of this deferted room, P^rhips fome fwain no&urnal courtihip made, Perhaps fome Sherlock mus'd amidft the gloom; Since Love and Death forever feek the made. Perhaps fome mifer, doom'd to difcontent, Here counted o'er the heaps acquir'd with pain: He to the dull his go.d, on traffick fent, Shall ne'er difgrace thefe mouldering walls again* Nor mall the glow-worm fopling, funmine bred, * Seek, at the evening hour, this wOiited dome*. POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 27 Time has reduc'd the fabrick to a fhed, Scarce fit to be the wandering beggar's home. And none but I its difmal doom lament None, none but I o'er its cold afhes mourn, Sent by the mufe (the time perhaps rnis-fpent' ) To write dull ftanzas on this dome forlorn. l*#.X.%%XX*%:%-1t '* **#######**'*** THE DEBTOR'S SOLILO QJJ y. jf\LLUR'D by truft, from (hop to mop I ran, Gaz'd at the windows deck'd with, gaudy gear Muilins, and lawns, and laces ; papers, books, And cloths, the fineft from Britannia's looms ; Too tempting to the eye! Much did I talk With that thrice happy wight, who conftant ftands Muling behind the counter all his aim To catch the pence of lady or of fquire, Moft things I bought, but always figh'd for more. I bought, indeed but not one ounce of wit; Mark that, and mark it down to my confufton O credit, credit, what a cheat art thou ! J paid no cam 'twas noted for a crime By that recording hand, which WASTE-BOOK keeps. Nor that alone; but cruelly transfers To Journal, Ledger and the lord knows what. Away I went; my buy ings fafely ftow'd, Whether on negro's head, or dray no matter- Soft pafs'd the joyous months that interven'd, While yet the bufy hours ran fweetly on, While yet no 'prentice boys approach'd my door With lectures fhort, but ferious as the grave, Preaching up mournful truths from beardlefs chin ! But PAY-DAY came at lafc and with it brought Unnumber'd plagues and cares, and doubts, and fears, And grunts, and growls, and grumblings without end, And quirks, and quibbles, lies and fubterfuges, Billets and notes with compliments cut fliort; Ay fuch as fcarcely, faid, Tour bumble fervent ! Whene'er I walk'd the ftreets, I found no reft And rather would have met (horn'd, tail'd, and hooPd,) Old Satan's felf, than fac'd. one creditor The knocker had no interval of paufe, And every man that came, came with a dun, And faucy looks, and ftifF impertinence, 28 POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. And heavy lowering brow, that fpoke no good! Tofs'd to and fro' upon a fea of debt Each day beheld me more and more diitrefs'd ; A paper-kite amidit the raging ftorms, A fchool boy's boat upon the Atlantic wave ! What could I more ? 1 bundled up my duds, PuL'd to the door, that flood upon a jar, Beneath the thremold laid the landlord's key, And at the hour when ghofts are faid to walk March' d off, and left even Mafter Snip, unpaid! Blame me, ye men of cold philofophy, That fear no fheriffs, conftables, or writs Blame me who will I relilh not a jail, And, be my trotters in what plight they may, (Even tho' my ponfcr out jack-boot^ were unfoai'd) Still mould they bear me from thofe dull retreats Where want of fpirit keeps the prifoner fill, And wretches pine, and harpies turn the key. <-^=r ^:^ wi* - ^i :^=<^-> r - i^^r:-^" -, ^-> = ^9->-^ ^QT ^ T- <&*~~ * '-^T* THE SABBAT H-D AY C H A C E. O f N A fine Sunday morning I mounted my {leed And fouthward from HARTFORD had meant to proceed; My baggage was ftow'd in a cart, very fnug, Which RANGER, the gelding, was fated to lug; With his harnefs and buckles, he loom'd very grand, And was drove by young DARBY, a lad of the land - On land, or on water, morr handy was he, A jockey on Pnore, and a failor at Tea, He knew all the roads, he was fo very keen, And the Bible by heart, at the age of fifteen. As thus I jogg'd on, to my faddle confin'd, With Ranger and Darby a diihmce behind; At laft in full view of a ireeple we came With a cock on the fpire (I fuppofe he was game; A dove in the pulpit may fuit your grave people, But always remember a cock on the fteepie) Cries Darby " Dear mafter, I beg you to ftay; Believe me, there's danger in driving this way; Our deacons on Sundays have power, to arreft And lead us to church if your honour thinks belt Tho' Mill I muft do them the juftice to tell, They would choofe you faould pay them the fine full as well/' The fine (faid I) Darby, how much may it be < A {billing or iixpence? why now, let me fee., * POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 2 Three millings a e all the fmali pence that remain, And to ciu .ge a half joe would be rather profane. Is it more tnan three millings, the fine that you fpeak on; Wnat lay yoa good Darby will thit ferve the deacon? " Three ihiiiings (cried Darby) why mailer you're jeftlng!- Let us luff' while we can and make fure of our weft ing Forty failings , excufe me, is to > much pay It would take my month's wages that's all I've to fay! By taking this road that inclines to the right The fquire and the fexton may bid us good night, If once to old Ranger I give up the rein The parfon himfeif may purfue us in vain." " Not I, my good Darby (I anfwer'd the lad) Leave the church on the left! they would think we were mad; I would fooner rely on the heels of my Heed, And pafs by them all, like a Js&u indeed; As long as I'm able to lead in the race Oid Ranger, the gelding, will go a good pace, .As the deacon purfues, he will Ay like a (Wallow, And you in the cart muft, undoubtedly, follow," Then approaching the church, as we pafs'd by the door The fexton peep'd out, with a faint or two more, A deacon came forward and wav'd us his hat, A fignal to drop him fome money mind that! " Now, Darby (I whifper'd) be ready to fkip, Eafe off the curb bridle give Ranger the whip; While you have the rear, and myfeif lead the way, No doilor or deacon ihall catch us to day." By this time the deacon had mounted his poney And chac'd for the fake of our fouls, and our money The faint, as he follow'd, cried f Stop them, halloo 1" As fwift as he follow'd, as fwiftly we flew " Ah mafter! (faid Darby) I very much fear We muft drop him fome money to check his career* He is gaining upon us, and waves with his hat There's nothing, dear mafter, will flop him but that* Remember the Beaver (you well know the fable) Who flying the hunters as long as. he's able, When he finds that his efforts can nothing avail* But death and the puppies are clofe at his tail, , Inftead of defponding at fuch a dead lift He bites off their cbjetf, and makes a free gift- Since fortune al! hope of efcaping denies Better give them a little, than lofe thlfwhole prize." But fcarce had he fpoke, wheri we came to a place Whofe muddy condition concluded the chace, Down fettled the cart and old Ranger iluck faft Aba! (faid the Saint) have I catch' dye tit loft? POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS; THE MONUMENT OF PHAON Pbaon, the aumirer of Sappho, both of the ifle of Lefbos, privately forfook this firft object of his affection., and fat out to vifit foreign countries. Sappho, after having long mourned his abfence (which is the fubject of one of Ovid's fine A epiftles) is here fuppofed to fall into the company of Ifmenius, a travel ler, who informs her that he faw the tomb of a certain Phaon in Sicily, creeled to his r emory by a lady of the ifland, and gives her the infcription, hinting to her that, in all probability, it belonged to the fame perfon flie bemoans, She thereupon, in a fit of rage and defpair, throws herfelf ftom the famous JLeucadian rocx., and perifhes in the gulph below.- Sappho* JLN O more I ling by yonder fhaded ftream, ^ Where once intianc'd I fondly pafs'd the day/ Supremely blefl, when Phaon was my theme, : < r But wretched now, when Phaon is away! Of all the youths that grac'd our Lefbian ifle He, only he, my heart propitious found, So foft his language, and fo fweet his fmile, Heaven was my own, when Phaon clafp'd me round! But foon, too foon, the faithlefs lover fled, To" wander on fome diflant barbarous more Who knows if Phaon is alive or dead, Or wretched Sappho mall behold him more. Ifmenius. As late in fair Sicilians groves I flray'd, Charm'd with the beauties of the vernal fcene I fate me down amid the yew tree's made, Flowers blooming round, with herbage frelh and green, Not diftant far a monument arofe Among the trees, and form'd of Parian ftone, And, as if there fome (hanger did repofe, It flood negiefted, and it flood alone. Along its fides dependent ivy crept, The cyprefs bough, Plutonian green, was near, A fculptured Venus on the fummit wept, A penfive Cupid dropt the parting tear: Strains deep engrav'd on every fide I read, How Phaon died upon. that foreign ihore Sappho, I think your Phaon muft be dead: Sad were the ftrains that did his fate deplore; POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 3 1 Sappho. , AH faithleft Phaon, thus from me to rove, And blefs my rival in a foreign grove! Could Sicily more charming forefts (how Than thofe that in thy native Lefbos grow Dd fairer fruits adorn the bending tree Than thofe that Lelbos did prefent to thee! Or didft thou find through all the changing fair One beauty that with Sappho could compare ! So foft, fo fweet, fo charming and fo kind, A face fo fair, fuch beauties of the mind I'll go! and from the high Leucadian fleep Take my laft farewell in the lover's leap, I charge thee Phaon, by this deed of woe, To meet me in the Elyilan (hades below, No rival beauty ihall pretend a mare, Sappho alone mall walk with Phaon there. SHE fpoke, and downward from the mountain's height PlungM in the plafhy wave to everlafting night. ODE to FANCY. VV AKEFUL, vagrant, reftlefs thing, Ever wandering on ihe wing, Who thy wondrous fource can find, FANCY, regent of the mind; A fpark from Jove's refplendent throne But thy nature all unknown. ^ THIS fpark of bright, celeiHal flame. From Jove's feraphic altar came* And hence mankind in man may trace, Refemblance to the immortal race. AH ! what is all this mighty WHOLE, Thefe funs and flars that round us roll ! What are they all where'er they mine, But Fancies of the Power Divine ! What is this Me, thefe /ands, znd/eaf, And beat, and cold, and flowers, and trees, And life, and death, and bea.fi, and man, And time *th^t with the/** bsgan-<- But thoughts on reafon's fcale combined, Ideas of the Almighty mind! FANCY, thou the mufes* pride, In thy painted realms refide Endlefs images of things, Fluttering each on golden wings, Ideal objeas, fuch a ftore, The univerfe could hold no more; 3* POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. Fancy, to thy power I owe Half my happinefs below; By riee Elyfian groves were made, Thine were the notes that Orpheus playM; By thee was Piuto charm'd fo well While rapture feiz'd the fons of hell Come, O come perceiv'd by none, You and I will walk alone. THE PRAYER OF ORPHEUS. OA.D monarch of the world below, Stern guardian of this drowfy made, Through thefe unlovely realms I go Te feek a captive thou haft made. O'er Stygian waters have I pafs'd, Contemning Jove's unjuft decree, And reach'd thy fable court at laft To find my loft Eurydice. OF all the nymphs, fo deckt and dreft Like Venus of the ftarry train, She was the lovelielt and the beft, The pride and glory of the plain. O free from thy defpotic fway This nymph of heaven-defcended charms, Too foon me came this dufky way Reftore thy captive to my arms. As by a ftream's fair verdant iide In myrtle fhades (he rov'd along, A ferpent ftung my blooming bride, This brighteft of the female throng The venom haftening thro' her veins Forbade the freezing blood to flow. And thus me left the Thracian plains For thefe deje&ed groves below. Even thou may'ft pity my fad pain, Since Love, as ancient ftories fay, Forc'd thee to leave thy native reign, And in Sicilian meadows ftray: Bright Proferpine thy bofom fir'd, For her you fought unwelcome light, Madnefs and love in you confpir'd To feize her to the fludes of night. P6EMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 33 BUT if, averfe to my reque, The vaniih'd nymph, for whom I mourn, Muil in Plutonian chambers rsft, And never to my arms returr* Take Orpheus toe- nis warm 'Till by the winds afluag'd, again they fell, And all their ragged b?d exposM to view. PERHAPS, far wandering towirl the northern pole The ftreights of Zembia, and the frozen zone, And where the eaitern Greenland aimoU joins America's north point, the h.irdy tribes Of batiim'd Jews, Siberians, Tartars wild Came over icy mountains, or o;i floats j8 POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. Firft reach'd thefe coafts, hid from the world befide.< And yet another argument more ftrange, Referv'd for men of deeper thought, and late, Prefents itfelf to view: In P cleg's* days, (So fays the Hebrew feer's unerring pen) This mighty mafs of earth, this foiid globe ff'as cleft in twain,