Yes the fair profpect of furviving praise
Can ev'ry fenfe of prefent joys excel:
For this, great HADRIAN chose laborious days;
Thro' this, expiring, bade a gay farewel.

Shall then our youths, who fame's bright fabric raise,
To life's precarious date confine their care?
O teach them you, to spread the sacred base,
To plan a work, thro' latest ages fair!

Is it small transport, as with curious eye

You trace the story of each Attic fage,
To think your blooming praise shall time defy?
Shall waft like odours thro' the pleafing page

To mark the day, when, thro' the bulky tome,
Around your name the varying style refines?
And readers call their loft attention home,

Led by that index where true genius fhines?

Ah let not BRITONS doubt their focial aim,
Whose ardent bofoms catch this ancient fire!
old intereft melts before the vivid flame,
And patriot ardours, but with life, expire!

?

VOL. I.

C

ELEGY

EL EGY III.

On the untimely death of a certain learned acquaintance.

F proud PYGMALION quit his cumbrous frame, Funereal pomp the fcanty tear fupplies; Whilft heralds loud with venal voice proclaim, Lo! here the brave and the puiffant lies.

When humbler ALCON leaves his drooping friends,
Pageant nor plume diftinguish ALCON's bier;
The faithful mufe with votive fong attends,
And blots the mournful numbers with a tear.

He little knew the fly penurious art;

That odious art which, fortune's fav'rites know; Form'd to beftow, he felt the warmest heart, But envious fate forbade him to beftow.

He little knew to ward the fecret wound;
He little knew that mortals cou'd enfnare;
Virtue he knew; the nobleft joy he found,

To fing her glories, and to paint her fair!

Ill was he skill'd to guide his wand'ring fheep;
And unforeseen difafter thin'd his fold;
Yet, at another's lofs, the fwain would weep;
And, for his friend, his very crook were fold.

Ye

Ye fons of wealth! protect the muse's train;
From winds protect them, and with food fupply;
Ah! helpless they, to ward the threaten'd pain!
The meagre famine, and the wintry sky !

He lov'd a nymph: amidst his flender store,
He dar'd to love; and CYNTHIA was his theme;
He breath'd his plaints along the rocky shore,
They only echo'd o'er the winding ftream.

His nymph was fair; the sweetest bud that blows,
Revives lefs lovely from the recent fhow'r;
So PHILOMEL enamour'd eyes the rofe;

Sweet bird! enamour'd of the sweetest flow'r!

He lov'd the mufe; fhe taught him to complain;
He faw his tim'rous loves on her depend;

He lov'd the muse, altho' fhe taught in vain;
He lov'd the mufe, for fhe was virtue's friend.

She guides the foot that treads on Parian floors;
She wins the ear when formal pleas are vain;
She tempts patricians from the fatal doors
Of vice's brothel, forth to virtue's fane.

He wifh'd for wealth, for much he wifh'd to give ;
He griev'd that virtue might not wealth obtain;
Piteous of woes, and hopelefs to relieve,

The penfive profpect fadden'd all his ftrain.

I faw him faint! I faw him fink to reft!

Like one ordain'd to fwell the vulgar throng; As tho' the virtues had not warm'd his breast, As tho' the mufes not infpir'd his tongue.

I faw his bier ignobly crofs the plain;

Saw peasant hands the pious rite fupply: The generous ruftics mourn'd the friendly fwain, But pow'r and wealth's unvarying cheek was dry!

Such ALCON fell; in meagre want forlorn!

Where were ye then ye powerful patrons, where? Wou'd ye the purple fhou'd your limbs adorn, Go wash the confcious blemish with a tear.

ELEGY

T

ELE GY IV.

OPHELIA's urn. To Mr. G.

HRO' the dim veil of ev'ning's dusky fhade, Near fome lone fane, or yew's funereal green, What dreary forms has magic fear furvey'd! What shrouded spectres fuperftition feen!

But

you fecure fhall pour your fad complaint, Nor dread the meagre phantom's wan array; What none but fear's officious hand can paint, What none, but fuperftition's eye, furvey.

The glim'ring twilight and the doubtful dawn

Shall fee your step to these fad fcenes return: Constant, as crystal dews impearl the lawn,

Shall STREPHON's tear bedew OPHELIA's urn!

Sure nought unhallow'd fhall prefume to ftray Where fleep the reliques of that virtuous maid:

Nor aught unlovely bend its devious way,

Where foft OPHELIA's dear remains are laid.

Haply thy mufe, as with unceasing fighs
She keeps late vigils on her urn reclin❜d,
May fee light groups of pleafing visions rife ;
And phantoms glide, but of celestial kind.