tenderness of fentiment he has endeavoured to imprefs, he begs the metre also may not be too fuddenly condemned. The public ear, habituated of late to a quicker measure, may perhaps confider this as heavy and languid; but an objection of that kind may gradually lose its force, if this measure should be allowed to fuit the nature of elegy. If it fhould happen to be confidered as an objection with others, that there is too much of a moral caft diffufed through the whole; it is replied, that he endeavoured to animate the poetry fo far as not to render this objection too obvious; or to rifque excluding the fafhionable reader: at the fame time never deviating from a fixed principle, that poetry without morality is but the bloffom of a fruit-tree. Poetry is indeed like that species of plants, which may bear at once both fruits and bloffoms, and the tree is by no means in perfection without the former, however it may be embellished by the flowers which furround it. 1 ELEGY ELEGY I. He arrives at his retirement in the country, and takes occafion to expatiate in praife of fimplicity. To a friend. OR rural virtues, and for native fkies, FOR I bade AUGUSTA's venal fons farewel; Now, mid the trees, I fee my fmoke arise; Now hear the fountains bubbling round my O may that genius, which fecures my reft, cell. Far from thefe paths, ye faithlefs friends, depart! But mourns in labour'd ftrains, the price of fame! 0 O lov'd fimplicity! be thine the prize! Still may the mourner, lavish of his tears Soft as the line of love-fick HAMMOND flows, 'Twas his fond heart effus'd the melting theme; Ah! never could AONIA's hill difclofe So fair a fountain, or so lov'd a stream. Ye loveless bards! intent with artful pains plains Survey CAMILLA's charms, and grow fincere. But thou, my friend! while in thy youthful foul Pleafing when youth is long expir'd, to trace The forms our pencil, or our pen defign'd! "Such was our youthful air and shape and face! "Such the foft image of our youthful mind! Soft Soft whilft we fleep beneath the rural bow'rs, Curfe the fad fortune that detains thy fair; When hope exalts thee, or when doubt alarms. Where with CENONE thou haft worn the day, The faithful mufe fhall meet thee in the grove. ELEGY ELEGY II. On pofthumous reputation. To a friend. GRIEF of griefs! that envy's frantic ire Should rob the living virtue of its praise! O foolish mufes! that with zeal aspire To deck the cold infenfate fhrine with bays! When the free spirit quits her humble frame, Perhaps ev'n genius pours a flighted lay; Tho' weeping virgins haunt his favour'd urn, The loit'ring fragrance will it reach the skies? No, fhou'd his DELIA Votive wreaths prepare, Yet the dear hope of DELIA's future care Once crown'd his pleafures, and difpell'd his pain. Yes |