The steep ascent of virtue unrelax'd,
Till infinite perfection crown their toil?
Who, confcious of their origin divine,

230

Eternal order, beauty, truth and good,
Perceive, like their great Parent, and admire.

HUSH! then, my heart, with pious cares suppress This tumid pride and impotence of soul : 235 Learn now, why all those multitudes, which croud This fpacious theatre, and gaze on heav'n, Invincibly averse to meet their fate,

240

Avoid each danger: know this facred truth,
All-perfect Wisdom on each living foul,
Engav'd this mandate, "to preserve their frame,
And hold intire the gen'ral orb of being."
Then, with becoming rev'rence let each pow'r,
In deep attention, hear the voice of God
That awful voice, which, fpeaking to the foul, 245
Commands its refignation to his law !

;

For this, has heav'n to virtue's glorious stage Call'd me, and plac'd the garland in my view, The wreath of conqueft; bafely to defert

The

The part affign'd me, and, with daftard fear,
From present pain, the cause of future bliss,
To fhrink into the bofom of the grave?
How, then, is gratitude's vaft debt repaid?
Where all the tender offices of love

Due to fraternal man, in which the heart,
Each bleffing it communicates, enjoys?
How then shall I obey the first

great law Of nature's Legislator, deep impreft

With double fanction; restless fear of death,

250

2.5

260

And fondness ftill to breathe this vital air?
Nor is th' injunction hard: who would not fink
A while in tears and forrow; then emerge
With tenfold luftre; triumph o'er his pain;
And, with unfading glory, fhine in heav'n?

COME then, my little guardian Genius! cloath'd In that familiar form; my PHYLAX, come! 266 Let me caress thee, hug thee to my heart,

Which beats with joy of life preferv'd by thee.

275

Had left this frame; had pafs'd the dreadful bound, Which life from death divides; divides this scene From vaft eternity, whofe deep'ning fhades, Impervious to the fharpeft mortal fight, Elude our keenest search.---But ftill I err. Howe'er thy grateful undefigning heart, In ills foreseen, with promptitude might aid; Yet this, beyond thy utmost reach of thought, Not ev'n remotely diftant could'st thou view. 289 Secure thy steps the fragile board could prefs, Nor feel the least alarm where I had funk : Nor could'ft thou judge the awful depth below, Which, from its watry bottom, to receive My fall, tremendous yawn'd. Thy utmost skill, 285 Thy deepeft penetration here had ftopt Short of its aim; and, in the ftrong embrace Of ruin struggling, left me to expire. No---heav'n's high Sov'reign, provident of all, Thy paffive organs moving, taught thee first 290 To check my heedlefs courfe; and hence I live.

ETERNAL Providence! whofe equal fway Weighs each event; whofe ever-waking care,

Con

Connecting high with low, minute with great,
Attunes the wondrous whole, and bids each part 295
In one unbroken harmony confpire:

Hail! facred Source of happiness and life!v
Substantial Good, bright intellectual Sun !
To whom my foul, by fympathy innate,
Unweary'd tends; and finds, in thee alone, 300
Security, enjoyment, and repose.

By thee, O God! by thy paternal arm,
Through ev'ry period of my infant state,
Suftain'd I live to yield thee praises due,
O! could my lays, with heav'nly raptures warm, 305
High as thy throne, re-echo to the fongs

Of angels, thence, O! could my pray'r obtain
One beam of inspiration, to inflame

And animate

my numbers: heav'n's full choir, In loftier ftrains, th' infpiring God might fing; 310 Yet not more ardent, more fincere, than mine. But tho' my voice, beneath the feraph's note, Muft check its feeble accents, low depreft

By dull mortality; to thee, great Soul

Of heav'n and earth! to thee my hallow'd strain 315 Of gratitude and praise shall still afcend.

Mifs

HILE

WHILE

to the AUTHOR.

LE friendship's gentle pow'rs my bofom
fire,

Damon accept the lays which you inspire:
My long-neglected muse thy worth revives;
And gen'rous ardour from thy flame receives.
Domestic troubles long my mind oppress'd,
And made the muse a stranger to my breast;

5

Not friendship's fofteft charms could roufe my fong,
Till wak'd to life by thy perfuafive tongue.

O Damon, could I boaft thy wond'rous skill,
Were but my genius equal to my will,
Thy praises I unwearied would proclaim;

And place thee with the brightest fons of fame.
Sure, Damon, 'tis fome god thy breast inspires;
And fills thy foul with those celestial fires:
Thy thoughts fo juft, fo noble, fo refin'd;

That elegant, that virtuous turn of mind,
May justly claim the praise of all mankind,

10

WHY