So smiles the surface of the treacherous main, As o'er its waves the peaceful halcyons play ; When soon rude winds their wonted rule regain, And sky and ocean mingle in the fray. But let or air contend, or ocean rave; Ev'n hope subfide amid the billows toft ; Hope, still emergent, still contemns the wave, And not a feature's wonted smile is loft, ELEGY E L EGY VI. To a lady on the language of birds. OME then, Dione, let us range the grove, The science of the feather'd choirs explore; Hear linnets argue, larks descant of love, And blame the gloom of solitude no more. My doubt subsides-m’tis no Italian song, Nor senseless ditty, chears the vernal tree: Ah! who, that hears Dione's tuneful tongue, Shall doubt that music may with sense agree? And come, my muse! that lov'st the filvan shade ; Evolve the mazes, and the mist dispel : Translate the song; convince my doubting maid, No folemn dervise can explain so well. Pensive beneath the twilight shades I fate, The slave of hopeless vows, and cold disdain! When PHILOMEL address’d his mournful mate, And thus I constru'd the mellifluent strain. “ Sing on, my bird—the liquid notes prolong, At ev'ry note a lover sheds his tear ; Hc He the sad source of our complaining knows; A foe to TEREUS, and to lawless love! He mourns the story of our ancient woes ; Ah! cou'd our music his complaints remove ! Yon' plains are govern’d by a peerless maid ; And see, pale Cynthia mounts the vaulted sky, A train of lovers court the checquer'd fhade ; Sing on, my bird, and hear thy mate's reply. Ere while no fhepherd to these woods retird; No lover bleft the glow-worm's pallid ray; But ill-star'd birds, that listning not admir'd, Or lift'ning envy'd our superior lay. Chear'd by the sun, the valíals of his pow'r, Let such by day unite their jarring strains ! But let us chuse the calm, the silent hour, Nor want fit audience while Dione reigns." ELEGY He describes his vision to an acquaintance. Cætera per terras oinnes animalia, &c. VIRG. ON , Pensive I saw the circling shades descend ; Weary and faint I heard the storm arise, While the fun vanish'd like a faithless friend. No kind companion led my steps aright; No friendly planet lent its glim’ring ray ; Ev’n the lone cot refus'd its wonted light, Where toil in peaceful slumber clos’d the day. Then the dull bell had giv'n a pleasing sound; The village cur 'twere transport then to hear ; In dreadful silence all was hush'd around, While the rude storm alone distress'd mine ear. As led by Orwell's winding banks I stray'd, Where tow'ring Wolsey breath'd his native air ; A sudden lustre chas'd the flitting shade, The founding winds were hush'd, and all was fair. Inftant a grateful form appear'd confest; White were his locks with aweful scarleț crown'd, And livelier far than Tyrian seem'd his vest, That with the glowing purple ting’d the ground. 3 “ Stranger . Stranger, he said, amid this pealing rain, Benighted, lonesome, whither wou'dst thou stray ? Does wealth or pow'r thy weary step constrain ? Reveal thy wish, and let me point the way. For know I trod the trophy'd paths of pow'r ; Felt ev'ry joy that fair ambition brings; And left the lonely roof of yonder bow'r, To stand beneath the canopies of kings. I bade low hinds the tow'ring ardour share ; Nor meanly rose, to bless myself alone : I snatch'd the shepherd from his fleecy care, And bade his wholesome dictate guard the throne. Low at my feet the suppliant peer I saw; I saw proud empires my decision wait ; My will was duty, and my word was law, My smile was transport, and my frown was fate." Ah me! said I, nor pow'r I feek, nor gain ; Nor urg'd by hope of fame these toils endure ; A simple youth, that feels a lover's pain, And, from his friend's condolance, hopes a cure. He, the dear youth, to whose abodes I roam, Nor can mine honours, nor my fields extend; Beneath |