To beautify the lift. Not that thou want'st
Th' offenfive dart, 'till Satire's quiver fails.
All thefe, and more came flocking ;-but await
The dread commander's voice, and dare no more
Start from their place, than did the Theban ftone,
Ere yet Amphion fung.-From fide to fide
The fedentary chief, in ftudious mood,
And deep revolve, darts his experienc'd eye.
Forth from his prefence hies his aid-de-camp,
A fturdy Cambro-Briton, to survey
The posture of the field; from rank to rank
Pofting fuccinct. He gives the word, which way
The fquadrons to advance, where wheel their course.
Vanguard to right and left." Forthwith the bands,
As at the found of trump, obedient move
In perfect phalanx. Each their station knows
And quarters, as the general's will ordains.
First to its place fpontaneous Verfe repairs,
Knowing the call, and practis'd to obey
His fummons. Peaceful Controversy sheaths
Her claws, contracted to make room for Scot
And Tom. Aquinas, flumb'ring fide by fide;
And Bellarmine, and Luther, heard no more
Than Delphi's fhrine, or Memnon's ftatue dumb.
All, all, in order due and filence, look
A modern convocation. Hift'ry lies
By hift'ry, Hyde and Oldmixon agree.
Which when the marfhal, from his eafy chair
Of callimanco, faw; knit his calm brows
Thoughtful, and thus th' affembled leaves bespoke.
Ye hierarchies, and commonweals, and thrones,
Folios, octavos, and ye minor pow'rs
Of paper, ere to winter-quarters fent,
Hear me, ye lift'ning books. First I direct
Submiffion to your lord and faith entire.
Did I not lift you, and enroll your names
On parchment? See the volume; look at me.
Did I not mark you (as the Prussian late
His fubjects) badge of fervice when requir'd?
'Tis well,-and let me next, ye flimsy peers,
Love brother-like and union recommend :
Live peaceful, as by me together tied
In bands of strictest amity: fhou'd then
Your mafter lend you to fome neighb'ring state
Auxiliaries; remember ye preserve
Your firft allegiance pure, and chearful home
Return, when fummon'd by your natural prince.
Be humble, nor repine, tho' smear'd with ink
And duft inglorious; know your birth and end,
For rags ye were, and muft to rags return.
Yon forest leave awhile, and love to haunt
E nymphs, that from Diana's sport retir'd,
The bord❜ring vallies; faw ye, as they pafs'd,
A chofen pair, the glory of your plains,
Array'd in youth's full bloom, and nature's prime?
Saw ye the glance of beauty, when the fair,
Quiver'd with charms, and by the Graees dress'd,
March'd on: with joy the bridegroom flufh'd, beyond
What liveliest fancy, unpoffefs'd, can dream?
Heard ye the mufic of the groves around
Warbling, while choirs of gratulation rung
From ev'ry spray; and nightingales, soft tun'd,
In notes peculiar thrill'd the nuptial fong!
Such as in neighb'ring Windsor's fav'rite shade
They chaunt; and, if their Handel's ear be true,
No where on filence fteal with lay fo fweet.
Aufpicious omens brood on the fair hour!
Did ever Hymen's look more fresh appear,
Or his bright veft with deeper yellow flow?
The veft that on occasions high and rare
Pontifical he wears, when hearts fincere
Combine; of healthy cheek, and sparkling eye
As in the state of nature, ere his shafts
By gold were blunted. How the blazing torch,
Fann'd by love's pinion, fheds unusual fire!
Lo! by the trail of light, he left behind,
As from the fhrine his jubilee return'd,
The Muse, invited guest, attends her theme
Right to the nuptial bow'r. There ent'ring, thrice
She hemm'd, thrice bleft the threshold with a sneeze,
Prelude of happiness to come. Her lyre
She ftrung,—a friendly, voluntary strain.
"Hail (fhe began) distinguish'd pair! how fit
To join in wedded love, each other's choice!
Bridegroom, thy tafte is elegant indeed,
And fingers nice, that on fome funny bank
In beauty's garden cull'd so fair a flow'r,
To thine tranfplanted from her native soil.
Cherish befure thy blooming charge; keep off
Each blaft unkind, and Zephyr's gale alone
Blow there, and genial funs for ever smile.
Who not applaud thy vow? hereafter who
Difpute thy palate, judging and exact,
Owner of curious blifs?
Repine, nor homeward caft thy longing eye;
'Twas time to fever from the virgin choir.
What joy in loneliness to waste the hours
Unfruitful? fee, hard by, Loddona's stream
Cold and inactive creep along; her face
Shaded with penfive willow,-till anon
Married to jovial Thames, brifkly fhe glides
O'er many a laughing mead. 'Tis nature wills
Such union: bleft fociety! where fouls
Move, as in dance, to melody divine
Fit partners. (How unlike the noisy broils
Of wedded ftrife!) Hence friendship's gen'rous glow
At love's high noon; and hence the fober flame
Steady, as life declines. All comforts henee
Of child and parent, ftrongeft, dearest ties!
Think not the fair original defign'd
To flourish and be loft. The world expects
Some copies to adorn another age..
Thank the kind gods; be happy, live and love.
To a GENTLEMAN, on the Birth-day of
HY fanguine hope compleated in a boy,
Hymen's kind boon, my friend, I give thee joy.
Of fine ftrange things, and miracles to be,
Expect no flatt'ring prophecy from me.
'Tis Time's maturing bus'nefs to call forth
Degen'rate meanness, or tranfmitted worth:
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