Can virtue, careless of her pupil's meed,

Forget how *

* sustains the shepherd's cause Content in fhades to tune a lonely reed, Nor join the founding pean of applause?

For public haunts, impell'd by BRITAIN'S weal,
See GRENVILLE quit the mufe's fav'rite ease;
And shall not fwains admire his noble zeal ?
Admiring praise, admiring strive to please?

Life, fays the fage, affords no bliss fincere ;
And courts, and cells in vain our hopes renew:
But ah! where GRENVILLE charms the lift'ning ear,
'Tis hard to think the chearless maxim true.

The groves may smile; the rivers gently glide;
Soft thro' the vale refound the lonesome lay;
Ev'n thickets yield delight, if tafte prefide,
But can they please. when LYTTELTON's away?

Pure as the fwain's the breaft of * *

glows,

Ah! were the fhepherd's phrase, like his, refin'd! But, how improv'd the generous dictate flows Thro' the clear medium of a polifh'd mind!

Happy the youths who warm with BRITAIN's love,
Her inmost wish in *** periods hear!
Happy that in the radiant circle inove,

Attendant orbs, where LONSDALE gilds the fphere!

While

While rural faith, and every polish'd art,

Each friendly charm, in * * * confpire, From public scenes all pensive must you part; All joyless to the greeneft fields retire!

Go, plaintive youth! no more by fount or stream,
Like fome lone halcyon, focial pleasure shun;
Go dare the light, enjoy its chearful beam,
And hail the bright proceffion of the fun.

Then cover'd by thy ripen'd shades, resume
The filent walk; no more by paffion toft:
Then seek thy ruftic haunts; the dreary gloom,
Where ev'ry art that colours life, is loft."-

In vain! the lift'ning muse attends in vain !
Restraints in hoftile bands her motions wait-
Yet will I grieve, and fadden all my strain,
When injur'd beauty mourns the muse's fate.

ELEGY

To DELIA, with fome flowers; complaining how much bis benevolence Suffers on account of his bumble fortune.

WH

Hate'er could fculpture's curious art employ, Whate'er the lavifh hand of wealth can fhow'r, Thefe would I give-and every gift enjoy

That pleas'd my fair-but fate denies the pow'r.

Bleft were my lot, to feed the focial fires!
To learn the latent wishes of a friend!

To give the boon his native tafte admires,
And, for my transport, on his fmile depend!

Bleft too is he, whofe ev'ning ramble strays
Where droop the fons of indigence and care!
His little gifts their gladden'd eyes amaze,
And win, at small expence, their fondest pray'r!

And oh the joy! to fhun the conscious light,

To fpare the modeft blush; to give unseen! Like show'rs that fall behind the veil of night, Yet deeply tinge the fmiling vales with green.

But

But happieft they, who drooping realms relieve!
Whofe virtues in our cultur'd vales appear!
For whofe fad fate a thoufand fhepherds grieve,
And fading fields allow the grief fincere.

To call loft worth from its oppreffive fhade;
To fix its equal sphere, and fee it shine;
To hear it grateful own the generous aid;
This, this is transport-but muft ne'er be mine.

Faint is my bounded blifs; nor I refuse

To range where daizies open, rivers roll; While profe or fong the languid hours amufe,

And foothe the fond impatience of my foul.

Awhile I'll weave the roofs of jasmin bow'rs,

urge

And with trivial cares the loit'ring year; Awhile I'll prune my grove, protect my flow'rs, Then, unlamented, prefs an early bier!

Of those lov'd flow'rs the lifelefs corfe may fhare;
Some hireling hand a fading wreath bestow;
The reft will breathe as fweet, will glow as fair,
As when their master smil'd to see them glow.

The fequent morn fhall wake the filvan quire;
The kid again fhall wanton ere 'tis noon;
Nature will fmile, will wear her best attire;
O! let not gentle DELIA smile so soon!

While the rude hearfe conveys me flow away,
And careless eyes my vulgar fate proclaim,
Let thy kind tear my utmoft worth o'erpay;
And, foftly fighing, vindicate my fame.-

O DELIA! chear'd by thy fuperior praise,
I bless the filent path the fates decree ;
Pleas'd, from the lift of my inglorious days,
To raze the moments crown'd with blifs, and thee.

ELEGY