Adiew, my friend, so dear in vain, adieu,

Till some short days their fleeting courses roll; Soon shall our steps thine earlier fate pursue, Moved in the race and crowding to the goal. Th' approaching hour shall see the sun no more Wheel his long course or spread his golden ray ; Soon the vain dream of mortal life be o'er; The brightness dawning of celestial day. Then join❜d in bliss, as once in friendship join'd, May pitying heaven our purer spirits raise, Each crime atoned, each virtue well refined, Το pass a blest eternity of praise.

BABYLON.

THE DESTRUCTION OF BABYLON:

AN IMITATION

Of sundry passages in the 13th and 14th chapters of Isaiah, and the 18th of the Revelations of St. John.

January 1774.

TWAS

now the sacred day of blest repose,

From realms of darkness when the Saviour rose.

In Patmos' isle, with light divine inspired,
The loved Apostle from the world retired;
Before his eyes eternal wonders roll,
Celestial visions open on his soul,

Unfolding skies the scenes of fate display,
And heaven descending in the beams of day.

He saw with joy the promised Church arise, Famed through the earth and favor'd from the skies. A starry crown* invests her radiant head,

Around her form the solar glories spread;

* Revelations xii. 1. And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.

Her power, her grace, by circling worlds approved,
By angels guarded and by heaven beloved;
Till mystic Babel, with blaspheming pride,
For idol forms th' Almighty arm defied.
Then martyr'd blood the holy offering seal'd,
And persecution dyed the carnaged field,
Religion sunk in superstitious lore,

And hallowed temples swam with sainted gore.
But not in rest, till virtue's sons expire,
Stern justice slumber'd, and avenging ire.
The seer beheld till God's chastising hand
Smote the proud foe and crush'd the guilty land:
Then pious rapture triumph'd on his tongue,
And inspiration breathed th' exulting song.

"What sudden fall hath dimm'd thy boasted ray;
Son of the morn!* bright Phosphor of the day!
How sunk, lost victim of th' unpitying grave,
Thy pride so vaunting and thine arm so brave!
Where now thy haughty boast? "Above the skies,
O'er the starr'd arch, my deathless fame shall rise,

* Isaiah xiv. 12, 13, &c. How art thou fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!.

For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God-I will be like the Most High.