ODE TO INNOCENCE.

BY JOHN OGILVIE, D.D.

WAS when the flow declining ray

Had ting'd the cloud with evening gold;
No warbler pour'd the melting lay,
No found disturb'd the fleeping fold;

When by a murmuring rill reclin'd,

Sat wrapt in thought a wandering swain ; Calm peace compos'd his mufing mind; And thus he rais'd the flowing ftrain:

"Hail, Innocence! celeftial maid!

"What joys thy blufting charms reveal! "Sweet as the arbour's cooling fhade, "And milder than the vernal gale.

"On thee attends a radiant quire,

"Soft fmiling Peace, and downy Reft, "With Love that prompts the warbling lyre, "And Hope that foothes the throbbing breast.

"O, fent from heav'n to haunt the grove,
"Where fquint-ey'd Envy ne'er can come ;
"Nor pines the cheek with luckless love,

"Nor anguish chills the living bloom;

But fpotlefs Beauty, rob'd in white, "Sits on yon mofs-grown hill reclin'd; << Serene as heav'n's unfully'd light, "And pure as Delia's gentle mind:

"Grant, heav'nly Power! thy peaceful sway 5 May ftill my ruder thoughts controul; "Thy hand to point my dubious way, "Thy voice to footh the melting foul!

"Far in the fhady sweet retreat

"Let thought beguile the lingering hour; Let quiet court the moffy feat,

"And twining olives form the bower.

"Let dove-ey'd Peace her wreath bestow, "And oft fit liftening in the dale,

While night's fweet warbler from the bough "Tells to the grove her plaintive tale.

Soft, as in Delia's fnowy breast,

"Let each confenting paffion move,

"Let angels watch its filent rest,

"And all its blifsful dreams be love."

CUPID BENIGHTED.

ANACREON.

THE fable night had fpread around

This nether world a gloom profound;
No filver moon nor ftars appear
The lonely traveller to cheer :
The race of man, with toils oppreft,
Enjoy'd the balmy fweets of reft!
When from the heav'nly court of Jove
Defcended fwift the God of Love,
(Ah me! I tremble to relate)

And loudly thunder'd at my gate.

"Who's there?" I cried, "who breaks my door,

"At this unfeasonable hour?"

The God, with well-diffenibled fighs,

And moan infidious, thus replies:
"Pray ope the door, dear Sir-'tis I,
"A harmless, miferable boy:
"Benumb'd with cold and rain, I ftray

"A long, uncomfortable way—

"The winds with bluft'ring horror roar"'Tis difmal dark-pray ope the door.” Quite unfufpicious of a foe,

I liften'd to the tale of woe,

Compaffion touch'd my breast, and strait
I ftruck a light, unbarr'd the gate;
When lo! a winged boy I fpy'd,
With bow and quiver at his fide:
I wonder'd at his ftrange attire;
Then friendly plac'd him near the fire.
My heart was bounteous and benign,
I warm'd his little hands in mine,
Cheer'd him with kind affiduous care,
And wrung the water from his hair.
Soon as the fraudful youth was warm,
"Let's try," fays he, " if any harm
"Has chanc'd my bow this ftormy night;
"I fear the wet has fpoil'd it quite."
With that he bent the fatal yew,

And to the head an arrow drew;

Loud twang'd the founding ftring, the dart
Pierc'd through my bosom to my heart:
Then laugh'd amain the wanton boy,
And "Friend," he cried, "I wish thee joy
"Undamag'd is my bow, I fee,

But what a wretch I've made of thee."

How

ow chearful along the gay mead, The daify and cowflip appear, The flocks as they carelessly feed,

Rejoice in the fpring of the year ;

The myrtles that shade the gay bow'rs,

The herbage that springs from the fod, Trees, plants, cooling fruits, and sweet flow'rs, All rife to the praise of my God.

Shall man, the great mafter of all,
The only infenfible prove ?
Forbid it, fair Gratitude's call,

Forbid it, Devotion and Love:

The Lord who fuch wonders could raise,
And ftill can destroy with a nod,

My lips fhall inceffantly praife,

My foul fhall be wrapt in my God!

THE END.

1