And, raptur'd with politic life,
Consigns his children to his wife.
Of household cares amid the round,
For her, too hard the task is found.
At first she struggles, and contends;
Then doubts, desponds, laments, and
bends;

Her sons pursue the sad defeat,
And shout their victory complete;
Rejoicing, see their father roam,
And riot, rake, and reign, at home.
Too late he sees, and sees to mourn,
His race of every hope forlorn,
Abroad, for comfort, turns his eyes,
Bewails his dire mistakes, and dies."

140

"His heir, train'd only to enjoy, Untaught his mind, or hands, t' employ, 150 Conscious of wealth enough for life, With business, care, and worth, at strife, By prudence, conscience, unrestrain'd, And none, but pleasure's habits gain'd, Whirls on the wild career of sense, Nor danger marks, nor heeds expense. Soon ended is the giddy round; And soon the fatal goal is found. His lands secur'd for borrow'd gold, His houses, horses, herds, are sold. And now, no more for wealth respected, He sinks, by all his friends neglected; Friends, who, before, his vices flatter'd, And liv'd upon the loaves he scatter'd. Unacted every worthy part, And pining with a broken heart, To dirtiest company he flies, Whores, gambles, turns a sot, and dies. His children, born to fairer doom, In rags, pursue him to the tomb."

"Apprentic'd then to masters stern, Some real good the orphans learn; Are bred to toil, and hardy fare, And grow to usefulness, and care; And, following their great-grandsire's plan,

Each slow becomes a useful man."

160

170

Here, grateful to heaven, with transport shall bring

Their incense, more fragrant than odors of spring.

Nor less shall thy fair ones to glory ascend, And Genius and Beauty in harmony blend; The of form shall awake pure degraces sire,

And the charms of the soul ever cherish

the fire;

Their sweetness unmingled, their manners refin'd

THE VISION OF COLUMBUS

FROM BOOK VII 1

And lo, descending from the seats of art,

The growing throngs for active scenes depart,

In various garbs they tread the welcome land,

Swords at their side or sceptres in their hand,

With healing powers bid dire diseases

cease,

Or sound the tidings of eternal peace.

In no blest land has fair Religion shone, And fix'd so firm her everlasting throne. 30 Where, o'er the realms those spacious temples shine,

Frequent and full the throng'd assemblies join;

There, fired with virtue's animating flame, The sacred task unnumber'd sages claim; The task, for angels great; in early youth, To lead whole nations in the walks of truth,

Shed the bright beams of knowledge on the mind,

For social compact harmonize mankind,
To life, to happiness, to joys above,
The soften'd soul with ardent zeal to

View the glad throng, the glorious triumph join,

His paths pursue and in his splendor shine;

Purged from your stains in his atoning blood,

Assume his spotless robes and reign beside your God.

Thus heard the hero-while his roving view

Traced other crouds that liberal arts pursue;

When thus the Seraph-Lo, a favourite band,

The torch of science flaming in their hand!

Thro' nature's range their ardent souls aspire,

Or wake to life the canvass and the lyre. Fixt in sublimest thought, behold them rise,