Progreffive ages carol'd forth his fame; Sires, to his praise, attun'd their children's tongue; The hoary druid fed the generous flame, While, in such strains, the reverend wizard fung. "Go forth, my fons !-for what is vital breath, For scenes there are, unknown to war or pain, Where drops the balm that heals a tyrant's wound; Where patriots, bleft with boundless freedom, reign, With misletoe's mysterious garlands crown'd. Such are the names that grace your myftic fongs; Hark! from the facred oak that crowns the groves What aweful voice my raptur'd bofom warms! This is the favour'd moment heav'n approves, Sound the fhrill trump; this inftant, found, to arms. Theirs was the fcience of a martial race, To shape the lance, or decorate the shield; Ev'n the fair virgin ftain'd her native grace, To give new horrors to the tented field. Now, Now, for fome cheek where guilty blushes glow, Then if foft concord lull'd their fears to fleep, If freedom's aweful clarion breath'd to war.. Now the fleek courtier, indolent and vain, Leave then, O luxury! this happy foil! • Alludes to a tax upon luxury, then in debate. ELEGY ELEGY Written in the year S XXII. when the rights of fepulture were fo frequently violated. AY, gentle fleep, that lov'ft the gloom of night, Parent of dreams! thou great magician, say, Whence my late vifion thus endures the light; Thus haunts my fancy thro' the glare of day. The filent moon had fcal'd the vaulted fkies, Ah! not the nymph fo blooming and so gay, Intomb'd beneath the grafs-green fod was laid. No more her eyes their wonted radiance caft; Nor fuch her hair as deck'd her living face; Nor fuch her voice as charm'd the list'ning crowd; Nor fuch her drefs as heighten'd ev'ry grace; Alas! all vanish'd for the mournful fhroud! VOL. I. G Yet Yet feem'd her lip's etherial charm the fame; Forgets one feature of the nymph he lov❜d. "DAMON, she said, mine hour allotted flies, So may thy mufe with virtuous fame be bleft! Faft by the reliques of fome happier maid! Thou know'ft, how ling'ring on a distant shore No friend was near to raise my drooping head; There my fond parents honour'd reliques lie. Tho' now debarr'd of each domestic tear; I spoke, I fpoke, nor fate forbore his trembling spoil; Some venal mourner lent his careless aid; And foon they bore me to my native foil, Where my fond parents dear remains were laid. 'Twas then the youths, from ev'ry plain and grove, Adorn'd with mournful verfe thy SILVIA's bier; 'Twas then the nymphs their votive garlands wove, And strew'd the fragrance of the youthful year. But why alas! the tender scene difplay? Cou'd DAMON's foot the pious path decline? Ah no! 'twas DAMON firft attun'd his lay, And fure no fonnet was fo dear as thine. Thus was I bofom'd in the peaceful grave; My placid ghost no longer wept its doom; When favage robbers every sanction brave, And with outrageous guilt defraud the tomb! Shall my poor corfe, from hoftile realms convey'd, Or, in my kindred's dear embraces laid, Say, wou'd thy breast no death-like torture feel, To see them gafh'd beneath the daring steel? |