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SEMICHORUS.

Oh fource of ev'ry social tye,

United wish, and mutual joy!

What various joys on one attend,

As fon, as father, brother, husband, friend?
Whether his hoary fire he spies,

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While thousand grateful thoughts arise;

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Or meets his fpoufe's fonder eye;

Or views his smiling progeny;

What tender paffions take their turns,
What home-felt raptures move?

His heart now melts, now leaps, now burns,
With rev'rence, hope, and love.

CHORUS.

Hence guilty joys, distastes, furmises,
Hence falfe tears, deceits, disguises,
Dangers, doubts, delays, furprises;

Fires that scorch, yet dare not shine :

Pureft love's unwafting treasure,
Conftant faith, fair hope, long leisure,
Days of eafe, and nights of pleasure;
Sacred Hymen! these are thine a

NOTES.

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40

a These two Chorus's are enough to fhew us his great talents for this fpecies of Poetry, and to make us lament he did not profecute his purpose in executing fome plans he had chalked out; but the Character of the Managers of Playhouses at that time, was what (he said) foon determined him to lay afide all thoughts of that nature.

HA

ODE on SOLITUDE.

APPY the man, whose wish and A few paternal acres bound, Content to breathe his native air,

In his own ground.

care

Whofe herds with milk, whofe fields with bread,
Whofe flocks fupply him with attire,
Whose trees in fummer yield him fhade,
In winter fire.

Bleft, who can unconcern'dly find
Hours, days, and years flide soft away,
In health of body, peace of mind,

Quiet by day,

Sound fleep by night; study and ease,
Together mixt; sweet recreation:
And innocence, which moft does please
With meditation.

Thus let me live, unfeen, unknown,
Thus unlamented let me die,

Steal from the world, and not a stone

Tell where I lie.

This was a very early production of our Author, written at about twelve years old. P.

ΑΝ

ESSAY

ON

CRITICIS M.

Written in the year MDCCIX.

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