134 Imagine now the table clear, And mirth in every face appear: The fong, the tale, the jest went round, The hofts and guests at length retir'd ; "Faith, friends, our errand is but vain---- AN INVITATION TO THE FEATHERED RACE. BY THE REV. MR GRAVES, AGAIN the balmy Zephyr blows, Fresh verdure decks the grove, Each bird with vernal rapture glows, Ye gentle warblers, hither fly, My fhrubs a cooling shade supply, Here freely hop from fpray to spray, Here rove and fing the live-long day; Amidft this cool translucent rill, Here bathe your plumes, here drink your fil No fchool-boy rude, to mischief prone, Or twangs his bow, or hurls a stone Hither the vocal Thrush repairs, The Goldfinch dreads no flimy fnares, Sad Philomel! ah, quit thy haunt, And round my friendly grotto chant Let not the harmless Redbreast fear, And feek a fure asylum here, With one that loves his home. My trees for you, ye artlefs tribe, Oh, let me thus your friendfhip bribe! For you these cherries I protect, Let then this leagne betwixt us made, ODE TO TRUTH. Br MASO N. SAY, will no white-rob'd fon of light,. Swift-darting from his heav'nly height, Here deign to take his hallow'd stand; Here wave his amber locks; unfold His pinions cloth'd with downy gold; Here fmiling ftretch his tutelary wand? And you, ye hofts of faints! for ye have known Each dreary path in life's perplexing maze, Though now ye circle yon eternal throne With harpings high of inexpreffive praife, Will not your train defcend in radiant state, To break with mercy's beam this gathering cloud of 'Tis filence all. No fon of light Darts fwiftly from his heav'nly height: No train of radiant faints defcend. "Mortals, in vain ye hope to find, "If guilt, if fraud has ftain'd your mind, [fate? "Or faint to hear, or angel to defend." So Truth proclaims. I hear the facred found Burft from the centre of her burning throne: Where aye she fits with star-wreath'd luftre crown'd; A bright fun clafps her adamantine zone. So Truth proclaims: her awful voice I hear; With many a folemn pause it slowly meets my ear. Attend ye fons of men! attend, and fay, Does not enough of my refulgent ray Break through the veil of your mortality? Say, does not reason in this form defcry Unnumber'd, nameless glories, that surpass The angel's floating pomp, the feraph's glowing grace? Shall then your earth-born daughters vie With me! fhall fhe, whofe brightest eye But emulates the diamond's blaze, Whose cheek but mocks the peaches bloom, Whofe melting voice the warbling woodlark's lays, Shall he be deem'd my rival? fhall a form Of elemental drofs, of mould'ring clay, Vie, with thefe charms imperial? the poor worm Shall prove her conteft vain. Life's little day Shall pafs, and the is gone: while I appear Flush'd with the bloom of youth through heav'n's eter [nal year. Know, mortals! know, ere first ye fprung, Ere first thefe orbs in ether hung, I fhone amid the heavenly throng, Thefe eyes beheld creation's day, This voice began the choral lay, And taught Archangels their triumphant fong. Pleas'd I furvey'd bright nature's gradual birth, Saw infant light with kindling luftre fpread, Soft vernal fragrance clothe the flow'ring earth: And ocean heave on its extended bed ; Saw the tall pine afpiring pierce the sky; The tawny lion ftalk; the rapid eagle fly. Laft, man arofe, erect in youthful grace, Heav'n's hallow'd image stamp'd upon his face,. And, as he arose, the high beheft was giv'n, "That I alone, of all the hoft of heav'n, "Should reign protectress of the godlike youth:" Thus the Almightyfpake: he spake and call'd me Truth. |