An altar on its bank shall rife, Where oft thy votary fhall be found 3 What time pale autumn lulls the skies, And fickening verdure fades around. Ye bufy race, ye factious train, That haunt ambition's guilty fhrine; No more perplex the world in vain, But offer here your vows with mine. And thou, puiffant queen! be kind : Diffolve in fleep each anxious care; And only let me wake to fhare The fweets of friendship and of love. ODE to HEALTH, 1730. O HEALTH, capricious maid! Why doft thou fhun my peaceful bow'r, Where I had hope to fhare thy pow'r, And bless thy lafting aid? Since thou, alas! art flown, It 'vails not whether muse or grace, Age not forbids thy stay; Thou yet might'ft act the friendly part; Thou yet might'ft raise this languid heart; Thou fcorn'ft the city-air; 1 breathe fresh gales o'er furrow'd ground, I plunge into the wave; Thou wilt not deign to fave. Amid Amid my well-known grove, Where minéral fountains vainly bear Thy boafted name, and titles fair, Why scorns thy foot to rove? Thou hear'ft the sportsman's claim; To drown the mufe's melting voice, Is thought thy foe? adieu Ye midnight lamps! ye curious tomes ! Is it the clime you flee? There was, there was a time, I did not rue the crime. Who then more blest than I? When the glad fchool-boy's tafk was done, To freedom, and to joy? How jovial then the day! What fince have all my labours found, Wert thou, alas! but kind, Methinks no frown that fortune wears, Nor leffen'd hopes, nor growing cares, Could fink my chearful mind. Whate'er my stars include; What other breasts convert to pain, Repair this mouldering cell, Temperance fhould guard the doors; From room to room should memory ftray, And, ranging all in neat array, Enjoy her pleasing stores There let them reft unknown, The types of many a pleafing ftene; Is thine, fair queen! alone. Το To a LADY of QUALITY, Fitting up her LIBRARY, 1738. A H! what is fcience, what is art, Or what the pleasure these impart ? What can the tedious tomes bestow, Say, wretched fancy! thus refin'd The polish'd bard, of genius vain, Sages, with irksome waste of time, |