7 See the small stream, that pours its murmuring tide O'er some rough rock, that would its wealth display; Displays it aught but penury and pride?

Ah! construe wisely what such murmurs say.

8 How would some flood, with ampler treasures blest, Disdainful view the scantling drops distil!

How must Velino 1 shake his reedy crest!
How every cygnet mock the boastive rill!

9 Fortune! I yield; and see, I give the sign;
At noon the poor mechanic wanders home,
Collects the square, the level, and the line,
And, with retorted eye, forsakes the dome.

10 Yes, I can patient view the shadeless plains;
Can unrepining leave the rising wall;

Check the fond love of art that fired my veins,
And my warm hopes, in full pursuit, recall.

11 Descend, ye Storms! destroy my rising pile; Loosed be the Whirlwind's unremitting sway; Contented I, although the gazer smile

To see it scarce survive a winter's day.

12 Let some dull dotard bask in thy gay shrine, As in the sun regales his wanton herd; Guiltless of envy, why should I repine

That his rude voice, his grating reed's, preferr❜d?

13 Let him exult, with boundless wealth supplied,
Mine and the swain's reluctant homage share;
But, ah! his tawdry shepherdess's pride,
Gods! must my Delia, must my Delia, bear?

1 Velino :' a river in Italy, that falls one hundred yards perpendicular.

14 Must Delia's softness, elegance, and ease,
Submit to Marian's dress? to Marian's gold?
Must Marian's robe from distant India please?
The simple fleece my Delia's limbs enfold?

"

15 Yet sure on Delia seems the russet fair;
Ye glittering daughters of Disguise, adieu !"
So talk the wise, who judge of shape and air,
But will the rural thane decide so true?

16 Ah! what is native worth esteem'd of clowns ? 'Tis thy false glare, O Fortune! thine they see: "Tis for my Delia's sake I dread thy frowns, And my last gasp shall curses breathe on thee.

HE COMPLAINS HOW SOON THE PLEASING NOVELTY OF LIFE IS OVER. TO MR JAGO.

1 Ah me, my Friend! it will not, will not last, This fairy scene, that cheats our youthful eyes; The charm dissolves; th' aërial music's past; The banquet ceases, and the vision flies.

2 Where are the splendid forms, the rich perfumes? Where the gay tapers, where the spacious dome? Vanish'd the costly pearls, the crimson plumes, And we, delightless, left to wander home!

3 Vain now are books, the sage's wisdom vain! What has the world to bribe our steps astray? Ere Reason learns by studied laws to reign, The weaken'd passions, self-subdued, obey.

4 Scarce has the sun seven annual courses roll'd,
Scarce shown the whole that Fortune can supply,
Since, not the miser so caress'd his gold,

As I, for what it gave, was heard to sigh.

5 On the world's stage I wish'd some sprightly part,
To deck my native fleece with tawdry lace!
'Twas life, 'twas taste, and-oh! my foolish heart!
Substantial joy was fix'd in power and place.

6 And you, ye works of Art! allured mine eye,

The breathing picture, and the living stone:

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Though gold, though splendour, Heaven and Fate deny, Yet might I call one Titian stroke my own!"

7 Smit with the charms of Fame, whose lovely spoil,
The wreath, the garland, fire the poet's pride,
I trimm'd my lamp, consumed the midnight oil-
But soon the paths of health and fame divide!

8 Oft, too, I pray'd; 'twas Nature form'd the prayer,
To grace my native scenes, my rural home;
To see my trees express their planter's care,
And gay, on Attic models, raise my dome.

9 But now 'tis o'er, the dear delusion's o'er!
A stagnant breezeless air becalms my soul;
A fond aspiring candidate no more,
I scorn the palm before I reach the goal.

10 0 Youth enchanting stage, profusely bless'd!
Bliss even obtrusive courts the frolic mind;
Of health neglectful, yet by health caress'd,
Careless of favour, yet secure to find.

11 Then glows the breast, as opening roses fair;
More free, more vivid, than the linnet's wing;
Honest as light, transparent e'en as air,
Tender as buds, and lavish as the Spring.

12 Not all the force of manhood's active might,
Not all the craft to subtle age assign'd,

Not Science shall extort that dear delight,
Which gay Delusion gave the tender mind.

13 Adieu, soft raptures! transports void of care!
Parent of raptures, dear Deceit, adieu!

And you, her daughters, pining with despair,
Why, why so soon her fleeting steps pursue?

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14 Tedious again to curse the drizzling day!
Again to trace the wintry tracks of snow!
Or, soothed by vernal airs, again survey
The self-same hawthorns bud, and cowslips blow!

15 O Life! how soon of every bliss forlorn!
We start false joys, and urge the devious race;
A tender prey; that cheers our youthful morn,
Then sinks untimely, and defrauds the chase.

ELEGY XII.

HIS RECANTATION.

1 No more the Muse obtrudes her thin disguise,
No more with awkward fallacy complains
How every fervour from my bosom flies,
And Reason in her lonesome palace reigns.

Not.

2 Ere the chill winter of our days arrive,

No more she paints the breast from passion free;
I feel, I feel one loitering wish survive

Ah! need I, Florio, name that wish to thee?

3 The star of Venus ushers in the day,

The first, the loveliest of the train that shine!
The star of Venus lends her brightest ray,
When other stars their friendly beams resign.

4 Still in my breast one soft desire remains,
Pure as that star, from guilt, from interest, free:
Has gentle Delia tripp'd across the plains,
And need I, Florio, name that wish to thee?

5 While, cloy'd to find the scenes of life the same,
I tune with careless hand my languid lays,
Some secret impulse wakes my former flame,
And fires my strain with hopes of brighter days.

6 I slept not long beneath yon rural bowers,

And, lo! my crook with flowers adorn'd I see :
Has gentle Delia bound my crook with flowers,
And need I, Florio, name my hopes to thee?

ELEGY XIII.

TO A FRIEND, ON SOME SLIGHT OCCASION ESTRANGED FROM HIM.

1 Health to my friend, and many a cheerful day!
Around his seat may peaceful shades abide !
Smooth flow the minutes, fraught with smiles, away,
And, till they crown our union, gently glide!