Whether his faithful hounds in view, At once his hopes and fnares elude.. GOOD to bestow, like Heav'n, is thine, Concurring in one great defign; To cool the fever's burning rage, 55 32 To knit the feeble nerves of age, w okia labo To bid young health, with pleasure crown'd, Una In rofy luftre smile around. My humbler function fhall I name; My fole delight, my highest aim; Infpir'd thro' breezy shades to stray, Where choral nymphs and graces play: Above th' unthinking herd to foar, 65 Nor POLYHYMNIA, darling Mufe! But But, if you rank me with the choir, Who touch with happy hand the lyre; Exulting to the starry frame, Sustain❜d by all the wings of fame, With bays adorn'd I then shall foar, PSALM I. Imitated. WOW bleft the man, how more than bleft! How Whose heart no guilty thoughts employ; God's endless funshine fills his breast, And smiling confcience whispers peace and joy. Fair Rectitude's unerring way His heav'n-conducted steps purfue; While crouds in guilt and error stray, Unftain'd his foul, and undeceiv'd his view. While with unmeaning laughter gay, Scorn, on her throne erected high, Emits a falfe delufive ray, To catch th' aftonifh'd gaze of Folly's eye; Deep in herself his foul retir'd, Unmov'd beholds the meteor blaze, And, with all-perfect Beauty fir'd, Nature, and nature's GoD, intent furveys. Him from high heav'n, her native seat, While he, with purpose fix'd as fate, 5 10 15 Purfues her dictates, and her charms admires. 20 ~ In funshine mild, and temp'rate air, Where fome refreshing fountain flows, So nurs'd by nature's tend'reft care, A lofty tree with autumn's treasure glows. Around Around its boughs the fummer gale With pleasure waves the genial wing; There no unfriendly colds prevail, To chill the vigour of its endless fpring. Amid its hofpitable shade, Heav'n's sweetest warblers tune the lay; Nor fhall its honours ever fade, Nor immature its plenteous fruit decay. By GOD's almighty arm sustain'd, Thus Virtue foon or late fhall rife; Enjoy her conqueft nobly gain'd, And share immortal triumph in the skies. But fools, to facred wifdom blind, A diff'rent fate shall quickly find, 25 30 35 To every roaring ftorm an eafy prey. 40 Thus when the warring winds arise, With all their lawless fury driv'n, Light chaff or duft inceffant flies, Whirl'd in fwift eddies thro' the vault of heav'n. When in tremendous pomp array'd, Descending from the op'ning fky, With full omnipotence difplay'd, Her GOD fhall call on nature to reply: Then Vice, with shame and grief deprefs'd, Transfix'd with horror and despair, Shall feel hell kindling in her breast, 45 50 Nor to her Judge prefer her trembling pray'r: For, with a father's fond regard, To blifs he views fair Virtue tend; While Vice obtains her juft reward, And all her paths in deep perdition end, |