Th' offenfive dart, 'till Satire's quiver fails.
All thefe, and more came flocking; -but await The dread commander's voice, and dare no more Start from their place, than did the Theban stone, Ere yet Amphion fung.-From fide to fide The fedentary chief, in ftudious mood, And deep revolve, darts his experienc'd eye. Forth from his prefence hies his aid-de-camp, A fturdy Cambro-Briton, to furvey
The pofture of the field; from rank to rank Pofting fuccinct. He gives the word, which way The fquadrons to advance, where wheel their course. Vanguard to right and left." Forthwith the bands, As at the found of trump, obedient move In perfect phalanx. Each their station knows And quarters, as the general's will ordains.
First to its place spontaneous Verse repairs, Knowing the call, and practis'd to obey His fummons. Peaceful Controversy sheaths. Her claws, contracted to make room for Scot And Tom. Aquinas, flumb'ring fide by fide; And Bellarmine, and Luther, heard no more Than Delphi's fhrine, or Memnon's ftatue dumb. All, all, in order due and filence, look A modern convocation. Hift'ry lies By hift'ry, Hyde and Oldmixon agree,
Which when the marshal, from his eafy chair Of callimanco, faw; knit his calm brows Thoughtful, and thus th' affembled leaves bespoke.
Ye hierarchies, and commonweals, and thrones, Folios, octavos, and ye minor pow'rs
Of paper, ere to winter-quarters fent,
Hear me, ye lift'ning books. First I direct Submiffion to your lord and faith entire. Did I not lift you, and enroll your names On parchment? See the volume; look at me. Did I not mark you (as the Prufian late His fubjects) badge of service when requir’d? 'Tis well,—and let me next, ye flimfy peers, Love brother-like and union recommend: Live peaceful, as by me together tied In bands of ftricteft amity: fhou'd then Your mafter lend you to fome neighb'ring ftäte Auxiliaries; remember ye preserve
Your first allegiance pure, and chearful home Return, when fummon'd by your natural prince. Be humble, nor repine, tho' fmear'd with ink And duft inglorious; know your birth and end, For rags ye were, and must to rags return.
E nymphs, that from Diana's sport retir'd,
You foreft leave awhile, and love to haunt
The bord'ring vallies; faw ye, as they pafs'd, A chofen pair, the glory of your plains,
Array'd in youth's full bloom, and nature's prime ? Saw ye the glance of beauty, when the fair,
Quiver'd with charms, and by the Graees dress'd, March'd on with joy the bridegroom flush'd, beyond What livelieft fancy, unpoffefs'd, can dream?
Heard ye the mufic of the groves around Warbling, while choirs of gratulation rung From ev'ry fpray; and nightingales, soft tun'd, In notes peculiar thrill'd the nuptial fong! Such as in neighb'ring Windfor's fav'rite shade They chaunt; and, if their Handel's ear be true, No where on filence steal with lay so sweet. Aufpicious omens brood on the fair hour! Did ever Hymen's look more fresh appear, Or his bright veft with deeper yellow flow? The veft that on occafions high and rare
Pontifical he wears, when hearts fincere Combine; of healthy cheek, and fparkling eye As in the state of nature, ere his shafts
By gold were blunted. How the blazing torch, Fann'd by love's pinion, fheds unusual fire! Lo! by the trail of light, he left behind, As from the shrine his jubilee return'd, The Mufe, invited gueft, attends her theme
Right to the nuptial bow'r. There ent'ring, thrice She hemm'd, thrice bleft the threshold with a fneeze, Prelude of happiness to come. Her lyre
She ftrung, a friendly, voluntary ftrain.
"Hail (fhe began) diftinguifh'd pair! how fit, To join in wedded love, each other's choice! Bridegroom, thy tafte is elegant indeed, And fingers nice, that on fome funny bank In beauty's garden cull'd fo fair a flow'r, To thine tranfplanted from her native foil. Cherish befure thy blooming charge; keep off Each blaft unkind, and Zephyr's galè alone Blow there, and genial funs for ever smile. Who not applaud thy vow? hereafter who Difpute thy palate, judging and exact,
Owner of curious blifs ?.
Repine, nor homeward caft thy longing eye; 'Twas time to fever from the virgin choir. What joy in loneliness to waste the hours Unfruitful? fee, hard by, Loddona's ftream
Cold and inactive creep along; her face Shaded with penfive willow, -till anon Married to jovial Thames, brifkly she glides O'er many a laughing mead.'Tis nature wills Such union: bleft fociety! where fouls Move, as in dancę, to melody divine Fit partners. (How unlike the noisy broils
Of wedded ftrife!) Hence friendship's gen'rous glow At love's high noon; and hence the fober flame Steady, as life declines.. -All comforts henee Of child and parent, ftrongeft, dearest ties! Think not the fair original defign'd
To flourish and be loft. The world expects
Some copies to adorn another age.
Thank the kind gods; be happy, live and love,
To a GENTLEMAN, on the Birth-day of his first Son.
THY fanguine hope compleated in a boy,
Hymen's kind boon, my friend, I give thee joy.
Of fine ftrange things, and miracles to be, Expect no flatt'ring prophecy from me. 'Tis Time's maturing bus'nefs to call forth Degen'rate meanness, or transmitted worth
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