The clammy furface all o'er-ftrown with tribes
Of greedy infects, that with fruitless toil
Flap filmy pennons oft, to extricate
Their feet, in liquid fhackles bound, till death
Bereave them of their worthless fouls: fuch doum
Waits luxury, and lawiefs love of gain!

Howe'er thou may'st forbid external force, Inteftine evils will prevail; damp airs, And rainy winters, to the centre pierce The firmeft fruits, and by unfeen decay The proper relifh vitiate then the grub Oft unebferv'd invades the vital core, Pernicious tenant, and her fecret cave Enlarges hourly, preying on the pulp Ceafelefs; meanwhile the apple's outward form Delectable the witless swain beguiles, Till, with a writhen mouth, and fpattering noise, He taftes the bitter morfel, and rejects Difrelith'd; not with lefs furprise, than when Embattled troops with flowing banners pafs Through flowery meads delighted, nor diftruft The finiling furface; whilft the cavern'd ground, With grain incentive flor'd, by fudden blaze Burfts fatal, and involves the hopes of war, In fiery whirls; full of victorious thoughts, Torn and difmembered, they aloft expire.

Now turn thine eye to view Alcinous' groves, The pride of the Phecian ile, from whence, Sailing the spaces of the boundless deep, To Ariconium precious fruits arriv'd: The Pippin, burnisht o'er with gold, the Moyle Of fweeren honeyed tafte, the fair Permain Temper'd, like comelieft nymph, with red and white.

Salopian acres flourish with a growth Peculiar, ftyl'd the Ottley: be thou first This apple to tranfplant, if to the name Its merit answers, no where shalt thou find A wine more priz'd, or laudable of talle. Nor does the Eliot leaft deferve thy care, Nor John-Apple, whole wither'd rind, intrencht With many a furrow, aptly reprefents Decrepid age, nor that from Harvey nam'd, Quick-relishing: why should we fing the Thrift, Codling, er Pomroy, or of pimpled coat The Rufet, or the Cat's-head's weighty orb, Enormous in its growth, for various ufe Though there are meet, though after full repast Are oft requir'd. and crown the rich deffert ? What, though the Pear-tree rival not the worth Of Ariconian products? yet her freight Is not contemn'd, yet her wide-barnching arms Beft fcreen thy mansion from the fervent Dog Adveríe to life; The wintery hurricanes In vain employ their roar, her trunk unmov'd Breaks the irong onfet, and controuls their rage. Chiefly the Botbury, whofe large increase, Annual, in fumptuous banquets claims applaufe. Thrice acceptable beverage! could but art Subdue the floating lee, Pomona's self [Atrife. Would dread thy praife, and shup the dubious Be it thy choice, when fummer-heats annoy, To fit beneath her leafy canopy, Quafing rich liquids! oh! how fweet t' enjoy, At quee her fruits, and hospitable shade!

But how with equal numbers shall we match The Musk's furpaffing worth; that earliest gives Sure hopes of racy wine, and in its youth, Its tender nonage, loads the fpreading boughs With large and juicy offspring, that defies The vernal nippets, and cold fyderal blasts! Yet let her to the Red-ftreak yield, that once Was of the Sylvan kind, unciviliz’d, Of no regard, till Scudamore's skilful hand Improv'd her, and by courtly discipline Taught her the favage nature to forget: Hence ftyl'd the Scudamorean plant; whofe wise Whoever taftes, let him with grateful heart Refpect that ancient loyal house, and with The nobler peer, that now tranfcends our hopes In early worth, his country's justest pride, Uninterrupted joy, and health entire.

Let every tree in every garden own The Red-freak as fupreme, whofe pulpous fruit With gold irradiate, and vermilion shines Tempting, not fatal, as the birth of that Primeval interdicted plant that won Fond Eve in hapless hour to taste, and die. This, of more bounteous influence, inspires Poetic raptures, and the lowly Muse Kindles to loftier firains; even I perceive Her facred virtue, See! the numbers flow Eafy, whilft, cheer'd with her ne&areous juice, Her's, and my country's praises I exalt. Hail Herefordian plant, that doft d sðain All other fields! Heaven's fweetest blefling, hail Be thou the copious matter of my fong, And thy choice Nectar; on which always wais Laughter, and sport, and care-beguiling wit, And friendship, chief delight of human life. What should we wish for more? or why, in queê Of foreign vintage, infincere, and mixt, Traverse th' extremeft world? why tempt the rage Of the rough ocean? when our native glebe Imparts, from bounteous womb, annual recruits Of wine delectable, that far furmounts Gallic, or Latin grapes, or those that fee The fetting fun, near Galpe's towering height. Nor let the Rhodian, nor the Isbian vines Vaurt their rich Muft, nor let Tokay contend For fovereignty; Phaneus' felf must bow To th' Arconian vales: And fhail we doubt T" improve cur vegetable wealth, or let The foil lie idle, which, with fit manure, With largest ufury repay, alone Empowered to fupply what Nature afks Frugal, or what nice appetite requires? The meadows here, with battering ooze enrich'd, Give spirit to the grafs; three cubits high The jointed herbage shoots; th' unfallow'd glebe Yearly o'ercomes the granarics with ftore Of golden wheat, the ftrength of human life. Low, on auxiliary poles, the H ps Afcending fpiral, rang'd in meet array; Lo, how the arable, with barley-grain Stands thick, o'erfhadow'd, to the thirsty Find Transporting profpe&! thefe, as modern ufc. Ordains, infus'd, an auburn drink compofe, Wholefome, of deathlefs fame. Here, to the fight Apples of price, and plenteous fheavys of corn,

Oft interlac'd occur, and both imbibe
Fitting congenial juice; fo rich the foil,
So much does fructuous moisture o'er-abound!
Nor are the hills unamiable, whofe tops
To heaven afpire, affording profpect sweet
To human ken; or at their feet the vales
Defcending gently, where the lowing herd
Chew verduous pafture; nor the yellow fields
Gaily' interchang'd with rich variety
Pleafing; as when an emerald green, enchas'd
In flamy gold, from the bright mafs acquires
A nobler hue, more delicate to fight.
Next add the Sylvan fhades, and filent groves,
(Haunt of the Druids) whence the earth is fed
With copious fuel; whence the sturdy oak,
A prince's refuge once, th' eternal guard
Of England's throne, by fweating peasants fell'd,
Stems the vast main, and bears tremendous war
To diftant nations, or with fov'reign fway,
Awes the divided world to peace and love.
Why should the Chalybes, or Bilboa boaft
Their harden'd iron; when our mines produce
As perfect martial ore? can Tmolus' head
Vie with our faffron odours? or the fleece
Batic, or finest Tarentine, compare
With Lemfter's filken wool? where fhall we find
Men more undaunted, for their country's weal
More prodigal of life? in ancient days
The Roman legions, and great Cæfar, found
Our fathers no mean foes; and Creffy's plains,
And Agincourt, deep ting'd with blood, confess
What the Silures vigour unwithflood
Could do in rigid fight; and chiefly what
Brydges' wide wafting hand, firft garter'd Knight,
Puiffant author of great Chandos' fem,

High Chandos, that tranfmits paternal worth,
Prudence, and ancient prowess, and renown,
This noble offspring. O thrice happy peer!
That, bleft with hoary vigour, view'st thyself
Fresh blooming in thy generous fon; whofe lips,
Flowing with nervous eloquence exact,
Charm the wife fenate, and attention win
In deepest councils: Ariconium pleas'd,
Him, as her chofen worthy, first falutes.
Him on th' Iberian, on the Gallic fhore,
Him hardy Britons blefs; his faithful hand
Conveys new courage from afar, nor more
The General's condu&, than his care avails.

Thee alfo, glorious branch of Cecil's line,
This country claims, with pride and joy to thee
Thy Altetennis calls; yet the endures
Patient thy abfence, fince thy prudent choice
Has fix'd thee in Mufes' fairest seat *,

Where + Aldrich reigns, and from his endless ftore
Of univerfal knowledge ftill fupplies
His noble care; he generous thoughts inftils
Of true nobility, their country's love,
(Chief end of life) and forms their ductile minds
To human virtues by his genius led,
Thou foon in every art pre-eminent
Shalt grace this ifle, and rife to Burleigh's fame.
Hail high born peer! and thou, great nurfe of
arts,

• Oxford.

Dr. Aldrich, Dean of Christ Church

And men, from whence confpicuous patriots spring,
Hanmer and Bromley; thou, to whom with due
Refpect Wintonia bows, and joyful owns
Thy mitred offspring; be for ever blest
With like examples, and to future times
Proficuous, fuch a race of men produce,
As, in the caufe of virtue firm, may fix
Her throne inviolate. Hear, ye Gods, this vow
From one, the meanest in her numerous train;
Though meaneft, not least studious of her praife.
Mufe, raife thy voice to Beaufort's fpotless

fame.

To Beaufort, in a long defcent derived
From royal ancestry, of kingly rights
Faithful afferters, in him centering meet
Their glorious virtues, high defert from pride
Disjoin'd, unfhaken honour, and contempt
Of strong allurements. O illuftrious prince!
O thou of ancient faith! exulting, thee,
In her fair lift this happy land inrols.
Who can refufe a tributary verse
To Weymouth, firmeft friend of flighted worth
In evil days? whose hofpitable gate,
Unbarr'd to all, invites a numerous train
Of daily guests, whose board, with plenty crown'd,
Revives the feaft-rites old: meanwhile his care
Forgets not the afflicted, but content

In acts of fecret goodness, fhuns the praise,
That fure attends. Permit me, bounteous lord,
To blazon what though hid will beauteous fhine,
And with thy name to dignify my fong.

But who is he, that on the winding stream Of Vaga first drew vital breath, and now Approv'd in Anna's fecret councils fits, Weighing the fum of things, with wife forecast Solicitous of public good? how large

His mind that comprehends whate'er was known
To old, or prefent time; yet not clate,
Not confcious of its skill? what praise deserves
His liberal hand, that gathers but to give,
Preventing fuit? O not unthankful Mufe,
Him lowly reverence, that first deign'd to hear
Thy pipe, and fcreen'd thee from opprobrious
tongues.

Acknowledge thy own Harley, and his name
Infcribe on every bark; the wounded plants
Will faft increase, fafter thy just respect.

Such are our heroes, by their virtues known,
Or skill in peace, or war: of fufter mold
The female fex, with fweet attractive airs
Subdue obdurate hearts. The travellers oft
That view their matchlefs forms with tranfient

glance,

Catch fudden love, and figh for nymphs unknown,
Smit with the magic of their eyes: nor hath
The dodal hand of Nature only pour'd
Her gifts of outward grace; their innocence
Unfeign'd, and virtue moft engaging, free
From pride, or artifice, long joys afford
To th' honeft nuptial bed, and in the wane
Of life, rebate the miferies of age.

And is there found a wretch fo base of mind,
That woman's powerful beauty dares condenin,
Exactest work of Heaven? He ill deferves
Or love, or pity; friendless let him fee
Mm iiij

Uneafy, tedious day, defpis'd, forlorn,
As ftain of human race; but may the man,
That cheerfully recounts the female's praise,
Find equal love, and love's untainted sweets
Enjoy with honour! O, ye Gods! might I
Elect my fate, my happiest choice fhall be
A fair and modest virgin, that invites
With afpect chafte, forbidding loose desire,
Tenderly fmiling; in whofe heavenly eye
Sits pureft love enthron'd; but if the stars
Malignant thefe my better hopes oppie,
May I, at least, the facred pleasures know
Of strictest amity; nor ever want

A friend, with whom I mutually may share
Gladness and anguifh, by kind intercourfe
Of fpeech, and offices. May in my mind,
Indelible, a grateful fenfe remain

Of favours undeferv'd!--O thou! from whom
Gladly both rich and low feek aid; moft wife'
Interpreter of right, whofe gracious voice
Breathes equity, and curbs too rigid law
With mild impartial reason; what returns
Of thanks are due to thy beneficence
Freely vouchfaf'd, when to the gates of death
I tended prone? if thy indulgent care
Had not preven'd, among unbody'd fhades

I now had wander'd; and thefe empty thoughts
Of apples perish'd; but, unprais'd by thee,
I tunc my pipe afresh, each night and day,
Thy unexampled goodness to extol
Defirous; but nor night, nor day, fuffice
For that great tafk; the highly honour'd name
Of Trevor muft employ my willing thoughts
Inceffant, dwell for ever on my tongue.
Let me grateful; but let far from me
Be fawning cringe, and falfe diffembling look,
A fervile flattery, that harbours oft

Some

In courts and gilded roofs. Some loofe the bands
Of ancieut friendship, cancel Nature's laws
For pageantry, and tawdry gewgaws.
Renounce their fires, oppofe paternal right
For rule and power; and others realms invade
With fpacious fhews of love. The traiterous

wretch

Betrays his fovereign. Others, deftitute
Of real zeal, to every altar bend

By lucre fway'd, and act the bafeft things
To be flyl'd honourable: the honcft man,
Simple of heart, prefers inglorious want
To ill-got wealth; rather from door to door,
A jocund pilgrim, though diflrefs'd, he'll rove,
Than break his plighted faith; nor fear, nor hope,
Will fhock his fledfaft foul; rather debarr'd
Each common privilege, cut off from hopes
Öt meancat gain, of prefent goods defpoil'd,
He'll bear the marks of infamy contenin'd,
Unpity'd; yet his mind, of evil pure,
Supports him, and intention free from fraud.

If no retinue with obfervant eyes
Attend him, if he can't with purple flain
Of cumbrous veftments, labour'd o'er with gold,
Dazzle the crowd, and fet them all agape;
Yet clad in homely weeds, from Envy's darts
Remote he lives, nor knows the nightly pangs
Of confcience, nor with fpecters' grily forms,
Dæmons, and injur'd fouls, at close of day
Annoy'd, fad interrupted flumbers finds.
But (as a child, whofe inexperienc'd age
Nor evil purpose fears, nor knows) enjoys
Night's fweet refreshment, humid fleep fincere.
When Chanticleer, with clarion fhrill, recalls
The tardy day, he to his labours hies
Gladfome, intent on fomewhat that may ease
Unhealthy mortals, and with curious fearch
Examines all the properties of herbs,
Fofils, and minerals, that th' embowel'd earth
Displays, if by his industry he can

[rules

Benefit human race or elfe his thoughts
Are exercis'd with fpeculations deep
Of good, and juft, and meet, and th' whlam:
Of temperance, and aught that may improve
The moral life; not fedulous to rail
Nor with envenom'd tongue to blaft the fame
Of harmless men, or fecret whispers spread
'Mong faithful friends, to breed distrust and buzz.
Studious of virtue, he no life observes,
Except his own; his own employs his cares,
Large fubject that he labours to refine
Daily, nor of his little ftock denies
Fit aims to Lazars, merciful and meek.

Thus facred Virgil liv'd, from courtly vice,
And bates of pompous Rome fecure; at court,
Still thoughtful of the rural honest life,
And how t'improve his grounds, and how himfell:
Beft poet! fit examplar for the tribe
Of Phoebus, nor lefs fit Mæonides,
Poor eyelefs pilgrim! and, if after thefe,
If after thele another I may name,
Thus tender Spenfer liv'd, with mean repast
Content, depreis'd by penury, and pine
In foreign realm; yet not debas'd his verfe
By Fortune's frowns. And had that other bard',
Oh, had but he, that first ennobled fong
With holy rapture, like his Abdiel been;
'Mong many faithlefs, ftri&ly faithful found;
Unpity'd, he fhould not have wail'd his orbs,
That roll'd in vain to find the piercing ray,
And found no dawn, by dim fuffufion veil'd!
But he however, let the Muse abstain,
Nor biaft his fame, from whom the learnt to firg
In much inferior ftrains, groveling beneath
Th' Olympian hill, on plains and vales intent,
Mean follower. There let her reft a while,
Pleas'd with the fragrant walks, and cool retreat.

* Milton.

Be cautious next a proper fteed to find,
Whofe prime is paft; the vigorous horse disdains
Such fervile labours, or, if forc'd, forgets
His past atchievements, and victorious palms.
Blind Bayard rather, worn with work and years,
Shall roll th' unwieldy ftone, with fober pace
He'll tread the circling path till dewy eve,
From early day-spring, pleas'd to find his age
Declining not unufeful to his lord.

Some, when the prefs, by utmost vigour fcrew'd,
Has drain'd the pulpous mafs, regale their fwine
With the dry refuse; thou, more wife, fhalt fteep
Thy hufks in water, and again employ
The ponderous engine. Water will imbibe
The fmall remains of fpirit, and acquire
A vinous flavour; this the peasants blithe
Will quaff, and whistle, as thy tinkling team
They drive, and fing of Fusca's radiant eyes,
Pleas'd with the medley draught.

thou now

Nor fhalt

Reject the Apple-cheese, though quite exhaust;
Even now 'twill cherifh, and improve the roots
Of fickly plants; new vigour hence convey'd
Will yield an harvest of unusual growth.
Such profit fprings from hutks difcreetly us'd!
The tender apples, from their parents rent
By formy shocks, must not neglected lie,
The prey of worms: A frugal man I knew,
Rich in one barren acre, which subdued
By endleis culture, with fufficient Muft
His cafks replenish'd yearly; he no more
Defir'd, nor wanted; diligent to learn
The various feasons, and by skill repel
Invading pefts, fuccefsful in his cares,
Till the damp Libyan wind, with tempeft arm'd
Outrageous, blufter'd horrible amidst

His Cider-grove; o'erturn'd by furious blasts,
The fightly ranks fall proftrate, and around
Their fruitage fcatter'd, from the genial boughs
Stript immature: yet did he not repine,
Nor curfe his flars; but prudent, his fallen heaps
Collecting, cherish'd with the tepid wreaths
Of tedded grafs, and the fun's mellowing beams
Rival'd with artful heats, and thence procur'd
A coftly liquor, by improving time,
Equal'd with what the happieft vintage bears.

But this I warn thee, and shall always warn,
No heterogeneous mixtures ufe, as fome
With watery turnips have debas'd their wines,
Too frugal; nor let the crude humours dance
In heated brass, fteaming with fire intense;
Although Devonią much commends the use
Of Arengthening Vulcan; with their native
Brength

Thy wines fufficient, other aid refufe;
And, when th' allotted orb of time's complete,
Are more commended than the labour'd drinks.

Nor let thy avarice tempt thee to withdraw
The priest's appointed fhare; with cheerful heart
The tenth of thy increase bestow, and own
Heaven's bounteous goodnefs, that will fure repay
Thy grateful duty: this neglected, fear
Signal avengeance, fuch as overtook
A mifer, that unjustly, once with-held
The clergy's due; relying on himself,

His fields he tended, with fuccef-ful care,
Early and late, when or unwifh'd-for rain
Defcended, or unseasonable frofts
Curb'd his increasing hopes; or, when around
The clouds dropt fatnefs, in the middle sky
The due fufpended staid, and left unmoist
His execrable glebe: recording this,
Be juft, and wife, and tremble to tranfgrefs.

Learn now the promife of the coming year,
To know, that by no flattering figns abus'd,
Thou wifely may'st provide: the varions moon
Prophetic, and attendant stars, explain
Each rifing dawn; ere icy crufts furmovat
The current stream, the heavenly orbs ferene
Twinkle with trembling rays, and Cynthia gl
With light unfully'd: now the fowler, warn'd
By thefe good omens, with fwift early steps
Treads the crimp carth, ranging through fid
and glades

Offenfive to the birds; fulphurcous death Checks their mid flight, and heedlefs while they ftrain

Their tuneful throats, the towering, heavy ka O'ertakes their speed; they leave their little va Above the clouds, precipitant to earth.

The woodcocks early vifit, and abode Of long continuance in our temperate clime, Foretel a liberal harvest; he oft times Intelligent, the harsh Hyperborean ice Shuns for our equal winters; when out furs Cleave the chill'd foil, he backward wings his wr To Scandinavian frozen fummers, meet For his umb'd blood. But nothing profits men Than frequent flows; O, may'ft thou often fe Thy furrows whiten'd by the woolly rain Nutriceous! fecret nitre lurks within The porous wet, quickening the languid giebe Sometimes thou shalt with fervent vows

plore

A moderate wind; the orchat loves to wave
With winter winds, before the gems exert
Their feeble heads; the loofened routs then drink
Large increment, earneft of happy years.
Nor will it nothing profit to oblerve
The monthly ftars, their powerful influence
O'er planted fields, what vegetables reign
Under each fign. On our account has Jove
Indulgent to all moons fome fucculent plant
Allotted, that poor helpless man will flack
His prefent thirst, and matter find for toil.
Now will the Corinths, now the Rafps, fuppy
Delicious draughts; the Quinces dow, or Plumb
Or Cherries, or the fair Thibeian fruit
Are preft to wines; the Britons fqueeze the was
Of fedulous bees, and mixing odorous herbs
Prepare balfamic cups, to wheezing lungs
Medicinal, and fhort-breath'd, ancient fires

But, if thou'rt indefatigably bent
To toil, and omnifarous drinks would't brew;
Befides the orchat, every hedge and buth
Affords affiftance; ev'n afletive Birch,
Curs'd by unletter'd, idle youth, diftils
A limpid current from her wounded bark,
Profufe of nursing fap. When folar beanis
Parch thirsty human veins, the damask'd nacas,