XX.

But foon the pageant fades away!
'Tis Nature only bears perpetual sway.
We pierce the counterfeit delight,
Fatigu'd with splendour's irksome beams,
Fancy again demands the fight

Of native groves, and wonted streams,
Pants for the scenes that charm'd her youthful eyes,
Where Truth maintains her court, and banishes disguise.
XXI.

Then hither oft ye fenators retire,

With Nature here high converse hold;
For who like STAMFORD her delights admire,
Like STAMFORD fhall with fcorn behold
Th' unequal bribes of pageantry and gold;
Beneath the British oak's majestick shade,
Shall fee fair Truth, immortal maid,
Friendship in artless guise array'd,
Honour, and moral Beauty shine

With more attractive charms, with radiance more divine.

XXII.

Yes, here alone did highest Heav'n ordain

The lasting magazine of charms,

Whatever wins, whatever warms,
Whatever fancy feeks to share,
The great, the various, and the fair,
For ever fhould remain !

XXIII. Her

XXIII.

Her impulfe nothing may reftrain

Or whence the joy 'mid columns, tow'rs,
'Midft all the city's artful trim,

To rear fome breathless vapid flow'rs,
Or fhrubs fuliginously grim:
From rooms of filken foliage vain,
To trace the dun far distant grove,
Where fmit with undiffembled pain,
The wood-lark mourns her abfent love
Borne to the dusty town from native air,

To mimick rural life, and foothe fome vapour'd fair.

XXIV.

But how must faithlefs Art prevail,
Should all who tafte our joy fincere,

To virtue, truth or fcience dear,
Forego a court's alluring pale,

For dimpled brook and leafy grove,

For that rich luxury of thought they love!

Ah no, from these the publick sphere requires

Example for it's giddy bands

s;

From these impartial Heav'n demands

To spread the flame itself infpires;

To fift Opinion's mingled mafs,

Imprefs a nation's tafte, and bid the sterling pass.

XXV.

Happy, thrice happy they,

Whofe graceful deeds have exemplary shone

Round the gay precincts of a throne,

With mild effective beams!
Who bands of fair ideas bring,

By folemn grott, or fhady spring,

To join their pleasing dreams!
Theirs is the rural blifs without alloy,

They only that deserve, enjoy.

What tho' nor fabled Dryad haunt their grove,

Nor Naiad near their fountains rove,

Yet all embody'd to the mental fight,
A train of fmiling Virtues bright

Shall there the wife retreat allow,

Shall twine triumphant palms to deck the wanderer's brow.
XXVI.

And though by faithless friends alarm'd,
Art have with Nature wag'd prefumptuous war;

By SEYMOUR'S winning influence charm'd,

In whom their gifts united fhine,

No longer fhall their counfels jar.

'Tis hers to mediate the peace:

Near Percy-lodge, with awe-ftruck mien,
The rebel feeks her lawful Queen,

And havock and contention ceafe.
I fee the rival pow'rs combine,

And aid each other's fair defign;

Nature exalt the mound where Art shall build;

Art shape the gay alcove, while Nature paints the field.

XXVII. Begin,

XXVII.

Begin, ye fongfters of the grove!
O warble forth your nobleft lay;
Where SOMERSET Vouchfafes to rove
Ye leverets freely fport and play.
-Peace to the ftrepent horn!
Let no harsh diffonance difturb the morn,
No founds inelegant and rude
Her facred folitudes profane!
Unless her candour not exclude

The lowly fhepherd's votive ftrain,

Who tunes his reed amift his rural chear,

Fearful, yet not averse, that SOMERSET fhould hear.

*******

Infcription near a Sheep-cote. 1745.

S

By the Same.

Hepherd, would'st thou here obtain

Pleasure unalloy'd with pain?

Joy that fuits the rural sphere?
Gentle fhepherd! lend an ear.

If thou can't no charm disclose
In the fimpleft bud that blows;
Go, forfake thy plain and fold,
Join the crowd, and toil for gold.

Tranquil pleasures never cloy;
Banish each tumultuous joy:
All but love-for love inspires
Fonder wishes, fiercer fires.

Love and all its joys be thine-
Yet, ere thou the reins refign,
Hear what reafon seems to say,
Hear attentive, and obey.

"Crimson leaves the rofe adorn,
"But beneath 'em lurks a thorn:
"Fair and flowery is the brake,
"Yet it hides the vengeful fnake.

"Think not fhe, whofe empty pride
"Dares the fleecy garb deride;
"Think not she who, light and vain,
"Scorns the sheep, can love the swain.

"Artlefs deed and fimple dress,
"Mark the chofen fhepherdess;
"Thoughts by decency controul'd,
"Well conceiv'd, and freely told.

"Senfe