Ye fons of wealth! protect the muse's train; He lov❜d a nymph: amidst his slender store, His nymph was fair; the sweetest bud that blows, Revives less lovely from the recent show'r; So PHILOMEL enamour'd eyes the rofe; Sweet bird! enamour'd of the sweetest flow'r! He lov'd the mufe; fhe taught him to complain; He lov'd the mufe, altho' fhe taught in vain; She guides the foot that treads on Parian floors; Of vice's brothel, forth to virtue's fane. He wish'd for wealth, for much he wifh'd to give; The penfive prospect fadden'd'all his strain. I faw him faint! I faw him fink to reft! Like one ordain'd to fwell the vulgar throng; As tho' the virtues had not warm'd his breast, As tho' the mufes not inspir'd his tongue. I faw his bier ignobly cross the plain; Saw peasant hands the pious rite fupply: The generous rustics mourn'd the friendly fwain, But pow'r and wealth's unvarying cheek was dry! Such ALCON fell; in meagre want forlorn! ELEGY T EL EGY IV. OPHELIA's urn. To Mr. G HRO' the dim veil of ev'ning's dufky fhade, Near fome lone fane, or yew's funereal green, What dreary forms has magic fear furvey'd ! What shrouded fpectres fuperftition feen! But fecure fhall pour your you pour your fad complaint, Nor dread the meagre phantom's wan array; What none but fear's officious hand can paint, What none, but fuperftition's eye, furvey. The glim'ring twilight and the doubtful dawn Shall STREPHON's tear bedew OPHELIA's urn! Sure nought unhallow'd fhall prefume to ftray Where fleep the reliques of that virtuous maid: Nor aught unlovely bend its devious way, Where foft OPHELIA's dear remains are laid, Haply thy mufe, as with unceafing fighs Then fame, her clarion pendent at her side, Then young fimplicity, averfe to feign, Then elegance with coy judicious hand, And fancy then with wild ungovern'd woe, And afk fweet folace of the muse in vain! Ah gentle forms expect no fond relief; Too much the facred nine their lofs deplore : Well may ye grieve, nor find an end of grief— Your best, your brightest fav'rite is no more, ELEGY EL EGY V. He compares the turbulence of love with the tranquillity of friendship. To MELISSA bis friend. FR ROM love, from angry love's inclement reign I pass awhile to friendship's equal skies; Thou, gen'rous maid, reliev❜ft my partial pain, And chear'ft the victim of another's eyes. 'Tis thou, MELISSA, thou deferv'st my care: Ah dear MELISSA! pleas'd with thee to rove, Love is a pleasing, but a various clime! So fmiles immortal MARO's fav'rite fhore, Oh blisful regions! oh unrival'd plains! |