215 220 A text for Henley, or a glofs for Hearne, 225 VERSES prefented to the Prince of ORANGE, on his vifiting OXFORD, in the Year 1734 R ECEIVE, lov'd prince, the tribute of our praise, At beft, the pomp of fong, the paint of art, The The truly good but wish the verse fincere: Nor deem this verfe from venal art proceeds, But those most wonder, who difcern thee beft. But though thy blood, we know, transmitted springs Oh, born to glad and animate our Isle! For thee, our heavens look pleas'd, our seasons smile. For thee, late object of our tender fears, When thy life droop'd, and Britain was in tears, All All-chearing Health, the goddess rofy-fair, Attended by foft funs, and vernal air, Sought thofe * fam'd fprings, where, each afflictive hour, Hence, to thy cheek, that inftant bloom deriv'd! A life of action, and of praise, be thine. Think what the world may claim, and thou must do: Have fix'd thy choice, and force thee into fame. Ev'n fhe, bright Anna, whom thy worth has won, Infpires thee what to seek and what to fhun : Batli. VERSES Occafioned by Dr. FRAZER's rebuilding Part of the University of ABERDEEN. IN times long paft, ere Wealth was Learning's foe, And dar'd despise the worth he would not know; Ere mitred pride, which arts alone had rais'd, Thofe very arts, in others faw, unprais'd; Friend to mankind, * a prelate, good and great, The Mufes courted to this fafe retreat: Fix'd each fair virgin, decent, in her cell, With learned leifare, and with peace to dwell. The fabric finish'd, to the † fovereign's fame, His own neglecting, he transfer'd his claim. Here, by fucceffive worthies, well was taught Whate'er enlightens, or exalts the thought. With labour planted, and improv'd with care, The various tree of knowledge flourish'd fair: Soft and ferene the kindly feafons roll'd, And Science long enjoy'd her age of gold. Now, dire reverfe! impair'd by lapfe of years, A falling waste the Mufes' feat appears. O'er her gray roofs, with baneful ivy bound, Time, fure destroyer, walks his hostile round: Silent, and flow, and ceafelefs in his toil, He mines each wall, he moulders every pile! Bishop Elphinston. Ruin + Calling it King's College, in compliment to James IV. Ruin hangs hovering o'er the fated place : Beheld the Mufes ftretch the wing to fly; And fix'd on heaven his forrow-streaming eye! From heaven, in that dark hour, commiffion'd came Mild Charity, ev'n there the foremost name. Sweet Pity flew before her, foftly bright; At whofe felt influence, Nature smil'd with light. "Hear, and rejoice!. the gracious Power begun"Already, fir'd by me thy favourite fon, "This ruin'd scene remarks with filial eyes; "And, from its fall, bids fairer fabrics rife. "Ev'n now, behold! where crumbling fragments grey, • In duft deep-bury'd, loft to memory lay, "The column fwells, the well-knit arches bend, "The round dome widens, and the roofs afcend! "Nor ends the bounty thus: by him bestow'd, "Here, Science fhall her richest stores unload. "Whate'er, long-hid, Philosophy has found; "Or the Mufe fung, with living lawrel crown'd "Or History defcry'd, far-looking fage, "In the dark doubtfulness of distant age; "Thefe, thy best wealth, with curious choice combin❜d, "Now treafur'd here, fhall form the studious mind : "To wits unborn the wanted fuccours give, "And fire the Bard, whom Genius means to live. "But, teach thy fons the gentle laws of peace; "Let low Self-love and pedant-Discord ceafe: |