He view'd the stars; he view'd the crystal skies ;
And bless'd the POWER All-good, All-great, All-wise.
How lowly now appear'd the purple robe,
The rubied sceptre, and the ivory globe!
How dim the rays that gild the brittle earth!
How vile the brood of Folly, and of Mirth!
When the third morning, clad in mantle gray, Brought in her rosy car her seventieth day, A band of slaves, who rush'd with furious sound, In chains of steel the willing captive bound; From his young head the diadem they tore, And cast his pearly bracelets on the floor; They rent his robe that bore the rose's hue, And o'er his breast a hairy mantle threw ; Then drag'd him to the damp and dreary cave, Drench'd by the gloomy sea's surrounding wave. Meanwhile the voices of a numerous crowd Pierc'd the dun air, as thunder breaks a cloud : The nymphs another hapless youth had found, And then were leading o'er the guilty ground: They hail'd him king, (alas, how short his reign!) And with fresh chaplets strow'd the fatal plain.
The happy exile, monarch now no more, Was roving slowly o'er the lonely shore;
At last the sire's expected voice he knew,
And tow'rd the sound with hasty rapture flew.
The promis'd pinnace just afloat he found,
And the glad sage his fetter'd hands unbound;
But when he saw the foaming billows rave,
And dragons rolling o'er the fiery wave,
He stop'd his guardian caught his lingering hand,
And gently led him o'er the rocky strand;
Soon as he touch'd the bark, the ocean smil'd,
The dragons vanish'd, and the waves were mild.
For many an hour with vigorous arms they row'd, While not a star one friendly sparkle shew'd; At length a glimmering brightness they behold, Like a thin cloud which morning dyes with gold: To that they steer; and now, rejoic'd, they view A shore begirt with cliffs of radiant hue. They land: a train, in shining mantles clad, Hail their approach, and bid the youth be glad ; They led him o'er the lea with easy pace, And floated, as they went, with heavenly grace. A golden fountain soon appear'd in sight, That o'er the border cast a sunny light.
The sage, impatient, scoop'd the lucid wave In a rich vase, which to the youth he gave:
He drank; and straight a bright celestial beam
Before his eyes display'd a dazzling gleam;
Myriads of airy shapes around him gaz'd;
Some prais'd his wisdom, some his courage prais'd;
Then o'er his limbs a starry robe they spread,
And plac'd a crown of diamonds on his head.
His aged guide was gone, and in his place
Stood a fair cherub flush'd with rosy grace;
Who, smiling, spake: Here ever wilt thou rest,
Admir'd, belov'd, our brother and our guest;
So all shall end, whom vice can charm no more
With the gay follies of that perilous shore.
See
yon
immortal towers their gates unfold,
With rubies flaming, and no earthly gold!
There joys, before unknown, thy steps invite;
Bliss without care, and morn without a night.
But now farewell! my duty calls me hence;
Some injur'd mortal asks my just defence.
To yon pernicious island I repair,
Swift as a star.' He speaks, and melts in air.
The youth o'er walks of jasper takes his flight; And bounds and blazes in eternal light.
EXTRACTED FROM FALCONER'S POEM OF
A SHIP from Egypt, o'er the deep impell'd
By guiding winds, her course for Venice held;
Of fam'd Britannia were the gallant crew,
And from that Isle her name the vessel drew.
Thrice had the sun, to rule the varying year,
Across th' equator roll'd his flaming sphere,
Since last the vessel spread her ample sail
From Albion's coast, obsequious to the gale.
She, o'er the spacious flood, from shore to shore,
Unwearying wafted her commercial store;
The richest ports of Afric she had view'd,
Thence to fair Italy her course pursu'd;
Had left behind. Trinacria's burning isle,
And visited the margin of the Nile :
And now, that winter deepens round the pole,
The circling voyage hastens to its goal;
They, blind to Fate's inevitable law,
No dark event to blast their hope foresaw;
But from gay Venice soon expect to steer
For Britain's coast, and dread no perils near;
A thousand tender thoughts their souls employ,
That fondly dance to scenes of future joy.
Thus time elaps'd, while o'er the pathless tide Their ship thro' Grecian seas the pilots guide. Occasion call'd to touch at Candia's shore, Which, blest with favouring winds, they soon explore; The haven enter, borne before the gale, Dispatch their commerce, and prepare to sail.
Eternal powers! what ruins from afar
Mark the fell track of desolating war!
Here arts, and commerce, with auspicious reign,
Once breath'd sweet influence on the happy plain;
While o'er the lawn, with dance and festive song,
Young Pleasure led the jocund hours along :
In gay luxuriance Ceres too was seen
To crown the vallies with eternal green :
For wealth, for valour, courted and revered,
What Albion is, fair Candia then appear'd.
Ah! who the flight of ages can revoke ?
The free-born spirit of her sons is broke;
They bow to Ottoman's imperious yoke :
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