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III.

Bu1 hark! that strain was of a graver tone,

On the deep ftrings his hand fome hermit throws; Or he the facred Bard!* who fat alone,

In the drear wafte, and wept his people's wces.

IV.

Such was the fong which Zion's children fung,
When by Euphrates' ftream they made their plaint :

And to fuch fadly folemn notes are ftrung

Angelic harps, to footh a dying faint.

V.

Methinks I hear the full celeftial choir,

Thro' heaven's high dome their aweful anthem raise; Now chanting clear, and now they all conspire To fwell the lofty hymn, from praise to praise.

VI.

Let me, ye wand'ring fpirits of the wind,

Who as wild Fancy prompts you touch the ftring, Smit with your theme, be in your chorus join'd, For 'till you ceafe, my Mufe forgets to fing.

* Feremiah.

On the Report of a WOODEN BRIDGE to be built at Westminster.

By the Same.

Y Rufus' hall, where Thames polluted flows,

BY

Provok'd, the Genius of the river rofe,

And thus exclaim'd—“ Have I, ye British fwains,
"Have I, for ages, lav'd your fertile plains?
"Given herds, and flocks, and villages increase,
"And fed a richer than the Golden Fleece ?
"Have I, ye merchants, with each fwelling tide,
Pour'd Afric's treasure in, and India's pride?
"Lent you the fruit of every nation's toil ? .
"Made every climate your's, and every foil?
"Yet pilfer'd from the poor, by gaming bafe,
"Yet muft a Wooden Bridge my waves difgrace?
"Tell not to foreign ftreams the shameful tale,
"And be it publish'd in no Gallic vale.”
He faid;---and plunging to his crystal dome,
White o'er his head the circling waters foam.

The

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I.

OW had the fon of Jove mature, attain'd

The joyful prime: when youth, élate and gay,

Steps into life; and follows unrestrain'd

Where paffion leads, or prudence points the way.
In the pure mind, at thofe ambiguous years,
Or vice, rank weed, first strikes her pois'nous root;
Or haply virtue's op'ning hud appears

By juft degrees; fair bloom of fairest fruit:

For, if on youth's untainted thought impreft,
The gen'rous purpose ftill fhall warm the manly breast.

II.

As on a day, reflecting on his age

For highest deeds now ripe, Alcides fought
Retirement; nurse of contemplation fage;

Step following step, and thought fucceeding thought:

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Mufing, with fteady pace the youth purfu'd
His walk; and loft in meditation stray'd
Far in a lonely vale, with folitude
Converfing; while intent his mind furvey'di
The dubious path of life: before him lay

Here Virtue's rough afcent, there Pleafure's flow'ry way.

III.

Much did the view divide his wavering mind:
Now glow'd his breaft with generous thirst of fame ;
Now love of eafe to fofter thoughts inclin'd
His yielding foul, and quench'd the rifing flame.
When, lo! far off two female forms he spies;
Direct to him their steps they seem to bear:

Both, large and tall, exceeding human fize;

Both far exceeding human beauty, fair.

Graceful, yet each with different grace, they move: This, ftriking facred awe; that, fofter, winning love.

IV.

The firft, in native dignity furpafs'd;
Artless and unadorn'd she pleas'd the more:

Health, o'er her looks, a genu'ne luftre cast;
A veft, more white than new-fall'n fnow fhe wore.
Auguft fhe trod, yet modeft was her air;

Serene her eye, yet darting heav'nly fire.

Still fhe drew near; and nearer ftill more fair, More mild appear'd: yet fuch as might inspire Pleasure corrected with an aweful fear;

Majestically sweet, and amiably fevere.

V. The

V.

The other dame feem'd ev'n of fairer hue;
But bold her mien; unguarded rov'd her eye:
And her flufh'd cheeks confefs'd at nearer view
The borrow'd blushes of an artful dye.

All foft and delicate, with airy fwim
Lightly she danc'd along; her robe betray'd

Thro' the clear texture ev'ry tender limb,
Height'ning the charms it only feem'd to fhade:
And as it flow'd adown, fo loose and thin,

Her ftature fhew'd more tall; more fnowy-white, her skin.

VI.

Oft with a smile fhe view'd herself askance;
Ev'n on her shade a conscious look she threw;
Then all around her caft a careless glance,
To mark what gazing eyes her beauty drew.
As they came near, before that other maid
Approaching decent, eagerly the press'd
With hafty step; nor of repulse afraid,

With freedom bland the wond'ring youth addrefs'd;
With winning fondness on his neck the hung;
Sweet as the honey-dew flow'd her enchanting tongue.

VII.

"Dear Hercules, whence this unkind delay ?

"Dear youth, what doubts can thus diftra&t thy mind ?

Securely follow, where I lead the way;

66

"And range

thro' wilds of pleasure unconfin'd.

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