Behind fome door, in melancholy thought, Mindlefs of food, he, dreary caitiff! pines; Ne for his fellow's joyaunce careth aught, But to the wind all merriment refigns; And deems it shame, if he to peace inclines, And many a fullen look afcance is fent, Which for his dame's annoyance he designs; And still the more to pleasure him she's bent, The more doth he, perverse, her haviour past resent. Ah me! how much I fear left pride it be ! But if that pride it be, which thus inspires, Beware, ye dames, with nice discernment see, Ye quench not too the fparks of nobler fires: Ah! better far than all the mufes' lyres, All coward arts, is valour's gen'rous heat The firm fixt breast which fit and right requires, Like VERNON'S patriot foul; more justly great Than craft that pimps for ill, or flow'ry false deceit. Yet nurs'd with fkill, what dazling fruits appear! Or bard fublime, if bard may e'er be so, AS MILTON,SHAKESPEAR, names that ne'er shall dye! Tho' now he crawl along the ground fo low, Nor weeting how the mufe fhou'd foar on high, Wisheth, poor starv'ling elf! his paper-kite may fly. And [ 343 ] And this perhaps, who, cens'ring the defign, And many an epic to his rage fhall yield; But now DAN PHOEBUS gains the middle skie, And liberty unbars her prifon-door; And like a rushing torrent out they fly, And now the graffy cirque han cover'd o'er With boift'rous revel-rout and wild uproar; A thousand ways in wanton rings they run, Heav'n fhield their fhort-liv'd paftimes, I implore! For well may freedom, erft so dearly won, Appear to British elf more gladfome than the fun. Enjoy, poor imps! enjoy your sportive trade; But most in courts where proud ambition tow'rs; Deluded wight! who weens fair peace can spring Beneath the pompous dome of kefar or of king. See in each sprite fome various bent appear! Those fauntʼring on the green, with jocund leer Some builden fragile tenements of clay; Some to the standing lake their courfes bend, With pebbles smooth at duck and drake to play ; Thilk to the huxter's fav'ry cottage tend, In pastry kings and queens th' allotted mite to spend. Here, as each season yields a different store, Each feafon's ftores in order ranged been; Apples with cabbage-net y-cover'd o’er, Galling full fore th' unmoney'd wight, are seen; And goofe-b'rie clad in liv'ry red or green; And here of lovely dye, the cath'rine pear, Fine pear! as lovely for thy juice, I ween: O may no wight e'er pennyless come there, Left fmit with ardent love he pine with hopeless care! See! cherries here, ere cherries yet abound, penury betide. The plumb all azure and the nut all brown, Rend'ring thro' Britain's ifle Salopia's praises known.* SHREWSBURY cakes. [ 345 ] Admir'd SALOPIA! that with venial pride Eyes her bright form in SEVERN's ambient wave, Fam'd for her loyal cares in perils try'd, Her daughters lovely, and her striplings brave : Ah! midst the rest, may flowers adorn his grave, Whose art did first these dulcet cates display! A motive fair to learning's imps he gave, Who chearless o'er her darkling region ftray; 'Till reafon's morn arife, and light them on their way. CON |