He cleaves the yielding skies! Cæfar mean while Enrag'd purfues; or at his lonely meal Starves a wide province; tastes, dislikes, and flings But fee along the north the tempest swell And roll before the ftorm in clouds of duft. Bane of elated life, of affluent states, What dreary change, what ruin is not thine? How doft thou lure the fortunate and great! gapes THE BY WILLIAM SHENSTONE, Efq; Audita voces, vagitus & ingens, Infantumque animæ flentes in Limine primo. ADVERTISEMENT. VIRG. What particulars in Spenfer were imagin'd most proper for the Author's imitation on this occafion, are his language, bis fimplicity, his manner of defcription, and a peculiar tenderness of fentiment remarkable throughout his works. I. A how H me! full forely is my heart forlorn, To think how modest worth neglected lies; While partial Fame doth with her blasts adorn Such deeds alone, as pride and pomp disguise; Deeds of ill fort, and mischievous emprize! In ev'ry village mark'd with little spire, For unkempt hair, or task unconn'd, are forely fhent. And all in fight doth rise a birchen tree, Which Learning near Her little dome did stowe; Whilom a twig of small regard to fee, -Tho' now fo wide its waving branches flow; And work the fimple vaffals mickle woe; For not a wind might curl the leaves that blew, But their limbs fhudder'd, and their pulse beat low; And, as they look'd, they found their horror grew, And shap'd it into rods, and tingled at the view. IV. So IV. So have I feen (who has not, may conceive,) May no bold Briton's riper age e'er taste! Ne vifion empty, vain, his native bliss destroy. V. Near to this dome is found a patch fo green, The noises intermix'd, which thence refound, Where fits the dame, disguis'd in look profound, And eyes her fairy-throng, and turns her wheel around. Her cap, far whiter than the driven fnow, And in her hand, for fceptre, fhe does wield Tway birchen sprays; with anxious Fear entwin'd, With dark Diftruft, and fad Repentance fill'd; And ftedfaft Hate, and fharp Affliction join'd, And Fury uncontroul'd, and Chaftifement unkind. VII. Few but have ken'd, in semblance meet pourtray'd, Libs, Notus, Aufter: these in frowns array'd, The cott no more, I ween, were deem'd the cell, Where comely peace of mind, and decent order dwell. VIII. A ruffet ftole was o'er her shoulders thrown; A ruffet kirtle fenc'd the nipping air; "Twas fimple ruffet, but it was her own; And think, no doubt, fhe been the greatest wight on ground. IX. Albeit |