There was, there was a time,
When tho' I fcorn'd thy guardian care,
Nor made a vow, nor faid a pray'r,
I did not rue the crime.
Who then more bleft than I?
When the glad fchool-boy's task was done,
And forth, with jocund-fprite, I run
To freedom, and to joy?
How jovial then the day!
What fince have all my labours found,
Thus climbing life to gaze around,
That can thy lofs repay?
Wert thou, alas! but kind,
Methinks no frown that fortune wears,
Nor leffen'd hopes, nor growing cares,
Whate'er my ftars include;
What other breasts convert to pain,
My tow'ring mind fhould foon difdain,
Should fcorn-Ingratitude!
Repair this mouldering cell,
And bleft with objects found at home,
And envying none their fairer dome,
How pleas'd my foul fhould dwell!
Temperance should 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 scene;
But to preferve them bright or clean,
Is thine, fair queen! alone.
a LADY of QUALITY, Fitting up her LIBRARY. 1738.
AH! what is fcience, what is art,
Or what the pleafure thefe impart ? Ye trophies which the learn'd purfue Through endless fruitlefs toils, adieu!
What can the tedious tomes bestow,
To foothe the miferies they fhew?
What, like the blifs for him decreed,
Who tends his flock, and tunes his reed!
Say, wretched fancy! thus refin'd
From all that glads the fimpleft hind,
How rare that object, which fupplies
A charm for too difcerning eyes!
The polish'd bard, of genius vain,
Endures a deeper sense of pain:
As each invading blast devours
The richeft fruits, the fairest flow'rs.
Sages, with irksome wafte of time,
The fleep afcent of knowledge climb;
Then, from the tow'ring heights they scale,
Behold contentment range-the vale.
Yet why, ASTERIA, tell us why
We fcorn the crowd, when you are nigh;
Why then does reafon feem fo fair,
Why learning then, deferve our care?
Who can unpleas'd your fhelves behold,
While you fo fair a proof unfold
What force the brightest genius draws
From polish'd wisdom's written laws?
Where are our humbler tenets flown?
What ftrange perfection bids us own
That blifs with toilfome fcience dwells,
And happiest he, who most excels?
VISIT to the fame in WINTER. 1748.
ON fair ASTERIA's blissful plains,
Where ever-blooming fancy reigns,
How pleas'd we pass the winter's day;
And charm the dull-ey'd fpleen away!
No linnet, from the leafless bough,
Pours forth her note melodious now;
But all admire ASTERIA's tongue,
Nor with the linnet's vernal fong.
No flow'rs emit their tranfient rays:
Yet fure ASTERIA's wit difplays
More various tints, more glowing lines,
And with perennial beauty fhines.
Tho' rifled groves and fetter'd ftreams
But ill befriend a poet's dreams:
ASTERIA'S prefence wakes the lyre;
And well fupplies poetic fire.
The fields have loft their lovely dye;
No chearful azure decks the sky;
Yet ftill we blefs the louring day;
ASTERIA fmiles-and all is gay..
Hence let the mufe no more prefume
To blame the winter's dreary gloom;
Accufe his loit'ring hours no more;
But ah! their envious hafte deplore!
For foon, from wit and friendship's reign,
The focial hearth, the fprightly vein,
I go-to meet the coming year,
On favage plains, and deferts drear!
I go-to feed on pleasures flown,
Nor find the fpring my lofs attone!
But 'mid the flow'ry fweets of May
With pride recal this winter's day.
Irregular ODE after SICKNESS.
Melius, cum venerit ipfa, canemus.
IMITATION.
His wifh'd-for prefence will improve the fong.
OO long a ftranger to repofe,
At length from pain's abhorred couch I rofe,
And wander'd forth alone;
To court once more the balmy breeze,
And catch the verdure of the trees,
Ere yet their charms were flown,
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