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So fmiles the furface of the treacherous main,

As o'er its waves the peaceful halcyons play; When foon rude winds their wonted rule regain, And sky and ocean mingle in the fray.

But let or air contend, or ocean rave;
Ev'n hope fubfide amid the billows toft;
Hope, ftill emergent, ftill contemns the wave,
And not a feature's wonted fmile is loft.

ELEGY

ELEGY

VI.

To a lady on the language of birds.

SOME then, DIONE, let us range the grove,

CON

The science of the feather'd choirs explore; Hear linnets argue, larks defcant of love, And blame the gloom of folitude no more.

My doubt fubfides-'tis no Italian fong,

Nor fenfelefs ditty, chears the vernal tree:
Ah! who, that hears DIONE's tuneful tongue,
Shall doubt that music may with sense agree?

And come, my mufe! that lov'ft the filvan fhade;
Evolve the mazes, and the mist dispel :
Tranflate the fong; convince my doubting maid,
No folemn dervise can explain fo well.-

Penfive beneath the twilight fhades I fate,

The flave of hopeless vows, and cold disdain! When PHILOMEL addrefs'd his mournful mate, And thus I conftru'd the mellifluent ftrain.

"Sing on, my bird-the liquid notes prolong, At ev'ry note a lover sheds his tear;

Sing on, my bird-'tis DAMON hears thy fong;

Nor doubt to gain applause, when lovers hear.

He

He the fad source of our complaining knows;
A foe to TEREUS, and to lawless love!
He mourns the ftory of our ancient woes;
Ah! cou'd our mufic his complaints remove!

Yon' plains are govern'd by a peerless maid;
And fee, pale CYNTHIA mounts the vaulted fky,
A train of lovers court the checquer'd fhade; -
Sing on, my bird, and hear thy mate's reply.

Ere while no fhepherd to these woods retir'd;
No lover bleft the glow-worm's pallid ray;
But ill-ftar'd birds, that lift'ning not admir'd,
Or lift'ning envy'd our fuperior lay.

Chear'd by the fun, the vaffals of his pow'r,
Let fuch by day unite their jarring strains!
But let us chufe the calm, the filent hour,
Nor want fit audience while DIONE reigns."

ELEGY

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He defcribes his vifion to an acquaintance.
Cætera per terras omnes animalia, &c,

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VIRG.

N diftant heaths, beneath autumnal skies,

Penfive I saw the circling fhades defcend; Weary and faint I heard the ftorm arife,

While the fun vanish'd like a faithlefs friend..

No kind companion led my steps aright;
No friendly planet lent its glim'ring ray;
Ev'n the lone cot refus'd its wonted light,
Where toil in peaceful flumber clos'd the day.

Then the dull bell had giv'n a pleasing found;
The village cur 'twere tranfport then to hear;
In dreadful filence all was hufh'd around,

While the rude ftorm alone distress'd mine ear.

As led by ORWELL'S winding banks I stray'd, Where tow'ring WOLSEY breath'd his native air; A fudden luftre chas'd the flitting fhade,

The founding winds were hufh'd, and all was fair.

Inftant a grateful form appear'd confeft;

White were his locks with aweful fcarlet crown'd,

And livelier far than Tyrian feem'd his vest,

That with the glowing purple ting'd the ground.

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,, Stranger, he said, amid this pealing rain, Benighted, lonesome, whither wou'dft thou stray? Does wealth or pow'r thy weary step constrain? Reveal thy wish, and let me point the way.

For know I trod the trophy'd paths of pow'r;
Felt ev'ry joy that fair ambition brings;
And left the lonely roof of yonder bow'r,
To stand beneath the canopies of kings.

I bade low hinds the tow'ring ardour fhare;
Nor meanly rofe, to bless myself alorie :
I fnatch'd the fhepherd from his fleecy care,
And bade his wholesome dictate guard the throne.

Low at my feet the fuppliant peer I faw;

I faw proud empires my decifion wait;

My will was duty, and my word was law,

My smile was tranfport, and my frown was fate."

Ah me! faid I, nor pow'r I feek, nor gain;
Nor urg'd by hope of fame these toils endure;
A fimple youth, that feels a lover's pain,

And, from his friend's condolance, hopes a cure.

He, the dear youth, to whofe abodes I roam,
Nor can mine honours, nor my fields extend;
Yet for his fake I leave my diftant home,

Which oaks embofom, and which hills defend.

Beneath

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