Pleasure I courted, and obey'd my taste: The banquet smil'd, and smil'd the gay repast. A loathsome carcase was my constant care, And worlds were ransack'd but for me to share. Go on, vain Man! to luxury be firm; Yet know-I feasted but to feast a worm.

Already sure less terrible I seem,

And you, like me, shall own--that life's a dream.
Farewell, remember, nor my words despise,
The only happy are the early wise.

BALLAD.

WHEN Time, who steals our years away,

Shall steal our pleasures too,

The mem❜ry of the past will stay,

And half our joys renew.

Then, Chloe, when thy beauty's flower
Shall feel the wintry air,

Remembrance will recal the hour

When thou alone wert fair.

Ibid.

Then talk no more of future gloom,
Our joys shall always last,

For hope shall brighten days to come,
And mem'ry gild the past!

Come, Chloe, fill the genial bowl,
I drink to love and thee;
Thou never canst decay in soul,
Thou'lt still be young to me.

And as thy lips the tear-drops chase,
Which on my cheek they find,
So hope shall steal away the trace
Which sorrow leaves behind!

Then fill the bowl, away with gloom!
Our joys shall always last,

For hope shall brighten days to come,
And mem'ry gild the past!

But mark, at thought of future years,
When love shall lose its soul,

My Chloe drops her timid tears,
They mingle with my bowl!

How like this bowl of wine, my fair,
Our loving life shall fleet,

Though tears may sometimes mingle there,

The draught will still be sweet!

Then fill the bowl, away with gloom!
Our joys shall always last,

For hope will brighten days to come,
And mem'ry gild the past!

THE RIVAL SISTERS.

ALIKE two sparkling eyes you boast,
Whose lustre oft, in gazing lost,
Enraptur'd we adore!-

The difference is, with endless wiles
One tries their force; the other smiles,
Unconscious of their pow'r!

To win our unsuspecting hearts,

Alike in both love's fatal darts

In ev'ry look are found:

The difference is, on conquest bent,
One throws them round with fell intent;
The other ne'er would wound!

Of melting heart is each possess'd,
Of love susceptible each breast,

With youthful ardour strong:

The difference is, the flame of one
With transient glow would quickly burn;

The other's mild and long!

Alike to charm by nature form'd,
Each is with ev'ry grace adorn'd;
A passion each excites :-

The difference is, the one's design'd
By art to please; the other's mind
By sentiment delights!

Alike with interlectual force

Each can enliven her discourse,
Each gain attentive ear :-

The difference is, with sprightly wit
One shines; to t'other we submit
For reasoning just and clear!

Alike to boundless pow'r you reach ;
A thousand knees alike to each

In captive suit are bent!—

The difference is, one seeks them ALL;
The other would but ONE enthral,
With ONE fond heart content!

Alike you bloom in beauty's prime;
With either blest we pass our time,

And both our praise acquire :—
The difference is, the wise will say,
The one would please us for a DAY;

The other NEVER TIRE!

Poetical Register.

TO MEMORY.

O, MEMORY! celestial maid!

Who glean'st thy flow'rets cropt by time; And suffering not a leaf to fade,

Preserv'st the blossoms of our prime ; Bring, bring those moments to my mind When life was new, and Lesbia kind.

And bring that garland to my sight,
With which my favour'd crook she bound;
And bring that wreath of roses bright
Which then my festive temples crown'd;
And to my raptur'd ear convey
The gentle things she deign'd to say.

And sketch with care the muses bow'r,
Where Isis rolls her silver tide;

Nor yet omit one reed or flow'r

That shines on Cherwell's verdant side; If so thou may'st those hours prolong, When polish'd Lycon join'd my song.

The song it 'vails not to recite,

But sure to sooth our youthful dreams, Those banks and streams appear'd more bright Than other banks, than other streams;

Or, by thy soft'ning pencil shewn,

Assume the beauties not their own.