With truth, taste, honour, in a mate,
And much good sense, and some estate.
But now, suppose the' assembly met,
And round the table cordial set,
While in fair order, to their wish,
Plain Neatness sends up every dish,
And Pleasure at the sideboard stands,
A nectar'd goblet in his hands,
libations, in due measure,
As Reason wills when join'd with Pleasure.-
Let these white moments all be gay,
Without one cloud of dim allay;
In every face let joy be seen,
As Truth sincere, as Hope serene ;
Let Friendship, Love, and Wit, combine
To flavour both the meat and wine
With that rich relish to each sense,
Which they, and they alone, dispense;
Let Music, too, their mirth prolong,
With warbled air and festive song ;
Then when at eve the Star of Love
Glows with soft radiance from above,
And each companionable guest
Withdraws replenish'd, not oppress'd,
Let each, well-pleased, at parting say—
My life be such a Wedding-day!'
Addressed to a certain Noble Lord.
The following extract from his Majesty's Speech to both Houses of Parliament, which by every man in his dominions would be thought the noblest introduction to a poem of the first merit, is peculiarly suitable to introduce this; however unequal these verses may be to the subject they attempt to adorn, this singular advantage will be readily allowed them; it will at the same time be the fullest and best explanation of the Author's meaning on a theme so interesting and uncommon. The words are these:
*** In consequence of the act passed in the reign of my late glorious predecessor, King William III. for settling the succession to the crown in my family, the commissions of the judges have been made during their good behaviour; but notwithstanding that wise provision, their offices have determined upon the demise of the crown or at the expiration of six months afterwards, in every instance of that nature which has happened.
'I look upon the independency and uprightness of the judges of the land as essential to the impartial administration of justice, as one of the best securities of the rights and liberties of my loving subjects, and as most conducive to the honour of the crown and I come now to recommend this interesting object to the consideration of Parliament, in order that such farther provision, as shall be most expedient, may be made, for securing the judges in the enjoyment of their offices during their good behaviour, notwithstanding any such demise.'
TO THE AUTHOR OF THE FOLLOWING POEM.
It has no faults, or I no faults can spy:
It is all beauty, or all blindness I.
Imprimatur, meo periculo.
CHESTERFIELD.
ASTREA, eldest born of Jove,
Whom all the gods revere and love,
Was sent, while man deserved their care,
On earth to dwell, and govern there,
Till finding earth by Heaven unawed,
Till sick of violence and fraud,
Abandoning the guilty crew,
Back to her native sky she flew ;
There, station'd in the Virgin-sign,
She long has ceased on Earth to shine ;
Or if at times she deigns a smile,
"Tis chief o'er Britain's favour'd isle.
For there her eye with wonder fix'd,
That wonder too with pleasure mix'd,
She now beheld, in blooming youth,
The patron of all worth and truth;
Not where the Virtues most resort,
On peaceful plains, but in a Court!
Not in a cottage, all-unknown;
She found him seated on a throne!
What fables paint, what poets sing,—
She found, in fact—a patriot-king!
But as a sight so nobly new
Deserved, she thought, a nearer view;
To where, by silver-streaming Thames,
Ascends the palace of St. James,
Swift through surrounding shades of night
The goddess shot her beamy flight ;
She stopp'd; and the revealing ray
Blazed round her favourite where he lay
In sweet repose; o'er all his face
Repose shed softer bloom and grace;
But fearful lest her sun-bright glare
Too soon might wake him into care,
(For splendid toils and weary state
Are every monarch's envied fate)
The stream of circling rays to shroud,
She drew an interposing cloud.
In all the silence of surprise,
She gazed him o'er; she saw arise
(For gods can read the human breast)
Her own idea there impress'd;
And that his plan to bless mankind,
The plan now brightening in his mind,
May story's whitest page adorn,
May shine through nations yet unborn,
She calls Urania to her aid :-
At once the fair etherial maid, Daughter of Memory and Jove, Descending, quits her laurel'd grove; Loose to the gale her azure robe, Borne in her left a starry globe, Where each superior son of Fame Will find inscribed his deathless name; Her right sustains the' immortal lyre, To praise true merit, or inspire.
Behold-(Astrea thus began)The friend of virtue and of man; Calm reason see, in early youth! See in a prince-the soul of truth! With love of justice, tender sense, For suffering worth and innocence, Who means to build his happy reign On this best maxim, wise and plain— Though plain, how seldom understood, That to be great he must be good! His breast is open to your eye; Approach, Urania! mark, and try:
This bosom needs no thought to hide;
This virtue dares our search abide.
The sacred fountains to secure
Of Justice, undisturb'd and pure
From hopes or fears, from fraud or force,
To ruffle or to stain their course;
That these may flow serene and free,
The law must independent be;
Her ministers, as in my sight,
And mine alone, dispensing right;
Of piercing eye, of judgment clear,
As honour just, as truth sincere,
With temper firm, with spirit sage,
The Mansfields of each future age.
And this prime blessing is to spring
From youth in purple! from a king!
Who, true to his imperial trust,
His greatness founds in being just;
Prepares, like yon ascending Sun,
His glorious race with joy to run,
And where his gracious eye appears,
To bless the world he lights and cheers!
'Such worth with equal voice to sing,
Urania! strike thy boldest string;
And Truth, whose voice alone is praise,
That here inspires, shall guide the lays.
Begin! awake his gentle ear
With sounds that monarchs rarely hear:
He merits, let him know our love,
And you record what I approve.'
She ended; and the heaven-born maid
With soft surprise his form survey'd :
She saw what chastity of thought
Within his stainless bosom wrought,
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