Then, soon as the swell of the buds Or where it shall please thee to sing: And shouldst thou, compelled by a frost, Come again to my window or door, Doubt not an affectionate host, Only pay as thou pay'dst me before. Thus music must needs be confest, To flow from a fountain above; Else how should it work in the breast Unchangeable friendship and love! And who on the globe can be found, Save your generation and ours, That can be delighted by sound, Or boasts any musical powers? XII. STRADA'S NIGHTINGALE. THE Shepherd touched his reed; sweet Philomel Essayed, and oft assayed to catch the strain, And treasuring, as on her ear they fell, The numbers, echoed note for note again. The peevish youth, who ne'er had found before She dared the task, and rising, as he rose, With all the force, that passion gives, inspired, Returned the sounds awhile, but in the close, Exhausted fell, and at his feet expired. Thus strength, not skill, prevailed. O fatal strife XIII. ODE ON THE DEATH OF A LADY, Who lived one hundred years, and died on her birthday, 1728 ANCIENT dame how wide and vast, To a race like ours appears, All thy multitude of years! We, the herd of human kind, Frailer and of feebler powers; Soon exhaust the sum of ours. Death's delicious banquet-we Perish even from the womb, Swifter than a shadow flee, Nourished but to feed the tomb. Seeds of merciless disease And if life o'erleap the bourn Common to the sons of men; What remains, but that we mourn, Dream, and doat, and drivel then? Fast as moons can wax and wane, Sorrow comes; and while we groan, Pant with anguish and complain, Half our years are fled and gone. If a few, (to few 'tis given) Lingering on this earthly stage, Creep, and halt with steps uneven, To the period of an age. Wherefore live they but to see Cunning, arrogance, and force, Sights lamented much by thee, Holding their accustomed course! Oft was seen, in ages past, All that we with wonder view; Often shall be to the last; Earth produces nothing new. Thee we gratulate; content, XIV. THE CAUSE WON. Trivial the spot, yet such the rage Defendant thus becomes a name, XV. THE SILKWORM. THE beams of April, ere it goes, A worm scarce visible, disclose; All winter long content to dwell 'The tenant of his native shell. The same prolific season gives The sustenance by which he lives, That hour arrived, his work begins, He spins and weaves, and weaves and spins, Careless around him and around, When next we see him wings he wears, XVI. THE INNOCENT THIEF. NOT a flower can be found in the fields, Or the spot that we till for our pleasure, With a diligence truly exact; Her lucrative task she pursues, And pilfers with so much address, That none of their odour they lose, Nor charm by their beauty the less. Not thus inoffensively preys The canker-worm, indwelling foe! His voracity not thus allays The sparrow, the finch, or the crow. The worm, more expensively fed, The pride of the garden devours; And birds pick the seed from the bed, Still less to be spared than the flowers. But she with such delicate skill Her pillage so fits for her use, That the chymist in vain with his still Would labour the like to produce. Then grudge not her temperate meals, XVII. DENNER'S OLD WOMAN. In this mimic form of a matron in years, With locks like the ribbon, with which they are bound; While glossy and smooth, and as soft as the skin Nor a pimple, or freckle, concealed from the view. Many fond of new sights, or who cherish a taste For the labours of art, to the spectacle haste: The youths all agree, that could old age inspire The passion of love, hers would kindle the fire, And the matrons, with pleasure, confess that they see Ridiculous nothing or hideous in thee. The nymphs for themselves scarcely hope a decline, O wonderful woman! as placid as thine. Strange magic of art! which the youth can engage To peruse, half-enamoured, the features of age; And force from the virgin a sigh of despair, That she when as old, shall be equally fair! How great is the glory, that Denner has gained, Since Apelles not more for his Venus obtained! XVIII THE TEARS OF A PAINTER. APELLES, hearing that his boy Thus far is well. But view again, Now, painter, cease! thy task is done, XIX. THE MAZE. FROM right to left, and to and fro Caught in a labyrinth, you go, And turn, and turn, and turn again, To solve the mystery, but in vain ; Stand still and breathe, and take from me A clew that soon shall set you free! Not Ariadne, if you meet her, Herself could serve you with a better. You enter'd easily-find whereAnd make, with ease, your exit there! XX. NO SORROW PECULIAR TO THE SUFFERER.' THE lover, in melodious verses Too deaf to hear, too hard to feel; XXI. THE SNAIL. To grass, or leaf, or fruit, or wall, Together. Within that house secure ne hides, When danger imminent betides Of storm, or other harm besides Of weather THE CONTRITE HEART. THE Lord will happiness divine On contrite hearts bestow; Then tell me, gracious God, is mine A contrite heart or no? I hear, but seem to hear in vain, If aught is felt, 'tis only pain I sometimes think myself inclined My best desires are faint and few, I fain would strive for more; I see thy saints with comfort filled, Oh, make this heart rejoice or ache; THE SHINING LIGHT. My former hopes are dead; THIRSTING FOR GOD. I THIRST, but not as once I did, It was the sight of thy dear cross First weaned my soul from earthly things, And taught me to esteem as dross The mirth of fools and pomp of kings. I want that grace that springs from thee, Dear fountain of delight unknown, A living and life-giving stream. For sure, of all the plants that share |