Expands it's felf-pois'd.concave; as the gate
Ample, and broad, and pillar'd maffy-proof,
Of fome unfolding temple: on it's height
Is heard the tread of daily-climbing flocks,

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That o'er the green roof fpread, their fragrant food
Untended crop. As thro' this cavern'd path,

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Involv'd in penfive thought, Aurelius pafs'd,
Struck with fad echoes from the founding vault
Remurmur'd fhrill, he stopp'd, he rais'd his head,
And faw th' affembled natives in a ring,
With wonder and with pity bending o'er

A fhipwreck'd man. All motionless on earth

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He lay the living luftre from his eye,

The vermil hue extinguish'd from his cheek,

And in their place, on each chill feature spread,
The fhadowy cloud and ghaftliness of death
With pale fuffufion fate.
So faintly wan, thro' hov'ring mists at eve,

So looks the moon,

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Grey autumn's train. Faft from his hairs diftill'd

The briny wave, and clofe within his grasp

Was clench'd a broken oar, as one who long

Had ftemm'd the flood with agonizing breast,
And ftruggled ftrong for life. Of youthful prime
He feem'd, and built by Nature's nobleft hand,
Where bold proportion and where foft'ning grace
Mix'd in each limb, and harmoniz'd his frame.
Aurelius from the breathlefs clay his eye

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To Heav'n, imploring, rais'd; then, for he knew
That life, within her central cell retir'd,

May lurk unfeen, diminish'd but not quench'd,

He bid transport it speedy thro' the vale

To his poor cell, that lonely ftood and low,

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Safe from the north, beneath a floping hill;

An antique frame, orbicular, and rais'd

On columns rude; it's roof with rev'rend mofs
Light-fhaded o'er; it's front in ivy hid,

That

Stothard del.

Heath foul.

Plate III.

Published as the Act-directs, by Harrison & C Feb,1,1781.

Page 226, line 200

That mantling crept aloft. With pious hand

They turn'd, they chaf'd his frozen limbs, and fum'd
The vap'ry air with aromatick fmells;

Then drops of fov'reign efficacy, drawn

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From mountain plants, within his lips infus'd.

Slow from the mortal trance, as men from dreams

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Of direful vision, shudd'ring he awakes,
While life to scarce-felt motion faintly lifts

His flutt'ring pulfe, and gradual o'er his cheek
The rofy current wins it's refluent way.
Recov'ring to new pain, his eyes he turn'd
Severe on heav'n, on the surrounding hills
With twilight dim, and on the crowd unknown,
Diffolv'd in tears around, then clos'd again,

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As loathing light and life. At length, in founds
Broken and eager, from his heaving breast
Distraction spoke Down, down with ev'ry fail!
Mercy, fweet Heav'n!-Ha! now whole ocean fweeps
In tempeft o'er our heads-My foul's laft hope!
• We will not part-Help! help! yon wave, behold!
• That fwells betwixt, has borne her from my fight!
O for a fun to light this black abyss!

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• Gone-loft-for ever loft! He ceas'd. Amaze And trembling on the pale affiftants fell;

Whom now with greeting and the words of peace
Aurelius bid depart. A paufe enfu'd,

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Mute, mournful, folemn. On the stranger's face

Obfervant, anxious, hung his fix'd regard;

Watchful, his ear each murmur, ev'ry breath,

Attentive feiz'd; now eager to begin

Confoling speech, now doubtful to invade

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The facred filence due to grief fupreme;

Then thus at laft: O, from devouring feas
By miracle efcap'd! if, with thy life,

Thy fenfe, return'd, can yet difcern the Hand, • All-wonderful, that thro' yon raging fea,

Ffa

320 < Yon

Yon whirling weft of tempeft, led thee fafe,
That Hand divine with grateful awe confefs,
With proftrate thanks adore! When thou, alas!
Waft number'd with the dead, and clos'd within

• Th' unfathom'd gulph; when human hope was fled,
And human help in vain-th' Almighty Voice
Then bade Destruction fpare, and bade the deep

6

Yield up it's prey; that by his mercy fav'd,

That mercy, thy fair life's remaining race,

↑ A monument of wonder as of love,

May juftify to all the fons of men,

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Thy brethren, ever prefent in their need!
Such praife delights him moft-

He hears me not.

Some fecret anguish, fome tranfcendent woe,

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Sits heavy on his heart, and from his eyes,

Thro' the clos'd lids, now rolls in bitter stream!

Yet fpeak thy foul, afflicted as thou art!

For know, by mournful privilege, 'tis mine,

Myself moft wretched, and in forrow's ways
Severely train'd, to fhare in ev'ry pang

The wretched feel, to soothe the fad of heart,
To number tear for tear, and groan for groan,
With ev'ry fon and daughter of diftrefs.
Speak then, and give thy lab'ring bosom vent:
My pity is, my friendship shall be, thine,
To calm thy pain, and guide thy virtue back,
Thro' reafon's paths, to happiness and heav'n l'.
The Hermit thus: and, after fome fad paufe

Of mufing wonder, thus the man unknown.

• What have I heard!-On this untravell'd thore,

Nature's laft limit, hemm'd with oceans round

Howling and harbourlefs, beyond all faith.

A comforter to find, whofe language wears
The garb of civil life; a friend whose breast
The gracious meltings of fweet pity move!

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• Amaze