EL EGY X. To fortune, fuggefting his motive for repining at her difpenfations. SK not the caufe, why this rebellious tongue Loads with fresh curfes thy detefted fway; Ask not, thus branded in my softest song, Why ftands the flatter'd name, which all obey? 'Tis not, that in my shed I lurk forlorn, 'Tis not, that on the turf fupinely laid, Not, that my fancy mourns thy ftern command, And, ere the turf is broken, cries, "Forbear. "Forbear, vain youth! be cautious, weigh thy gold; .. Nor let yon rifing column more aspire; Ah! better dwell in ruins, than behold 66 Thy fortunes mould'ring, and thy domes entire. D 3 "HONORIO "HONORIO built, but dar'd my laws defy; "He planted, scornful of my fage commands; "The peach's vernal bud regal'd his eye; "The fruitage ripen'd for more frugal hands.” See the small stream that pours its murm'ring tide O'er fome rough rock that wou'd its wealth display, Difplays it aught but penury and pride? Ah! conftrue wifely what fuch murmurs fay. How wou'd fome flood, with ampler treasures blest, How muft * VELINO shake his reedy crest! Fortune, I yield! and fee, I give the fign; At noon the poor mechanic wanders home; Collects the fquare, the level, and the line, And, with retorted eye, forfakes the dome. Yes, I can patient view the fhadelefs plains; A river in ITALY, that falls an hundred yards perpendicular. Defcend, Descend, ye ftorms! deftroy my rifing pile; To see it scarce furvive a winter's day. Let fome dull dotard bask in thy gay fhrine, That his rude voice, his grating reed's prefer'd? Let him exult, with boundless wealth supply'd, Gods! muft my DELIA, muft my DELIA bear? Muft DELIA's foftnefs, elegance, and ease Submit to MARIAN's drefs? to MARIAN'S gold? Muft MARIAN's robe from diftant INDIA pleafe? The fimple fleece my DELIA's limbs enfold? "Yet fure on DELIA feems the ruffet fair; Ah! what is native worth esteem'd of clowns? 'Tis thy false glare, O fortune! thine they see: 'Tis for my DELIA's fake I dread thy frowns, And my last gafp fhall curfes breathe on thee. ELEGY XI. He complains how foon the pleafing novelty of life is over. To Mr. J A H me, my friend! it will not, will not laft! This fairy-fcene, that cheats our youthful eyes! The charm diffolves; th' aerial mufic's paft The banquet ceases, and the vifion flies. Where are the splendid forms, the rich perfumes, Vain now are books, the fage's wifdom vain! The weaken'd paffions, felf-fubdued, obey. Scarce has the fun fev'n annual courfes roll'd, Since, not the mifer fo carefs'd his gold, As I, for what it gave, was heard to figh, On the world's ftage I wish'd fome sprightly part; And And you, ye works of art! allur'd mine eye, The breathing picture, and the living stone : "Tho' gold, tho' splendour, heav'n and fate deny, "Yet might I call one Titian ftroke my own!" Smit with the charms of fame, whofe lovely spoil, Oft too I pray'd, 'twas nature form'd the pray'r, But now 'tis o'er, the dear delufion's o'er! I scorn the palm, before I reach the goal, O youth! enchanting ftage, profufely bleft! Then glows the breast, as op'ning roses fair; Tender as buds, and lavish as the fpring. Not |