Wantons on silken wing. And goblins all Shoot to the desert realms of their congenial night II. 1. When first on childhood's eager gaze Life's varied landscape, stretch'd immense around, Starts out of night profound, Thy voice incites to tempt th' untrodden maze. His wingy nerves to climb. II. 2. Pursue thy pleasurable way, Safe in the guidance of thy heavenly guard, And soft-ey'd cherub-forms around thee play- The smile just dimpling on his glowing cheek! 70 Content and Leisure, hand in hand With Innocence and Peace, advance, and sing; And Mirth, in many a mazy ring, Frisks o'er the flowery land. II. 3. Frail man, how various is thy lot below! The thunder's sound Rolls rattling on through heaven's profound, Ye days that balmy influence shed, Ye cherub train, that brought him on his way, But what a weary length of lingering toil remains! III. 1. They shrink, they vanish into air. Now Slander taints with pestilence the gale; The wail of Woe, and groan of grim Despair. To, wizard Envy from his serpent eye Darts quick destruction in each baleful glance; Pride smiling stern, and yellow Jealousy, Frowning Disdain, and haggard Hate advance; Behold, amidst the dire array, Pale wither'd Care his giant-stature rears, And lo, his iron hand prepares To grasp its feeble prey. III. 2. Who now will guard bewilder'd youth Safe from the fierce assault of hostile rage? Such war can Virtue wage, Virtue that bears the sacred shield of Truth? Alas! full oft on Guilt's victorious car The spoils of Virtue are in triumph borne; While the fair captive, mark'd with many a scar, In long obscurity, oppress'd, forlorn, Resigns to tears her angel form. Ill-fated youth, then whither wilt thou fly? No friend, no shelter now is nigh, And onward rolls the storm. III. 3. But whence the sudden beam that shoots along? Why shrink aghast the hostile throng? Lo, from amidst affliction's night Hope bursts all radiant on the sight; Her words the troubled bosom soothe: "Why thus dismay'd? Though foes invade, Hope ne'er is wanting to their aid And with glad visions of to-morrow [heart, When Death's cold touch thrills to the freezing Dreams of heaven's opening glories I impart, Till the freed spirit springs on high In rapture too severe for weak mortality." ODE ON LORD HAY'S BIRTH-DAY. A MUSE unskill'd in venal praise, Thy cradle to adorn. For not on beds of gaudy flowers Thine ancestors reclin'd, Where sloth dissolves, and spleen devours All energy of mind. To hurl the dart, to ride the car, And snatch from fate a sinking land; And from his grasp the dagger wrest, 'Twas this that rais'd th' illustrious line To match the first in fame! A thousand years have seen it shine Have seen thy mighty sires appear They triumph'd but to save. The Muse with joy attends their way There to its lord the village gay Yon castle's glittering towers contain Th' unfriended hail their calm recess, There to the sympathetic heart Life's best delights belong, |