But he whose blossom buds in guilt, For why? That God, the good adore, THE FIRST SIX VERSES OF THE O THOU, the first, the greatest Friend Whose strong right-hand has ever been Before the mountains heav'd their heads Beneath thy forming hand, Before this pond'rous globe itself, Arose at thy command: That Pow'r which rais'd and still upholds This universal frame, From countless, unbeginning time Was ever still the same. Those mighty periods of years Which seem to us so vast, Appear no more before thy sight Thou giv'st the word: thy creature, man, Again, thou sayest, 'Ye sons of men, Thou layest them, with all their cares, As with a flood thou test them off With overwhelming sweep. They flourish like the morning flow'r, A GRACE BEFORE DINNER. O THOU, who kindly dost provide And, if it please thee, heavenly Guide, But whether granted or denied, Lord, bless us with content.-Amen. VERSE Written in Friar's-Carse Hermitage on Nith-side. As youth and love with sprightly dance, Beneath thy morning-star advance, Pleasure, with her syren air, May delude the thoughtless pair; Let prudence bless enjoyment's cup, Then raptur'd sip, and sip it up. As thy day grows warm and high, Life's meridian flaming nigh, Dost thou spurn the humble vale? Life's proud summits wouldst thou scale? Check thy climbing step, elate, Evils lurk in felon wait; Dangers, eagle-pinion'd, bold, As the shades of ev'ning close, On all thou 'st seen, and heard, and wrought; Saws of experience, sage and sound. Say, To be just, and kind, and wise, See 'Grongar Hill,' a Poem by Dyer. WINTER.-A DIRGE. THE wintry west extends his blast, Or the stormy north sends driving forth While tumbling brown, the burn comes down, And bird and beast in covert rest And pass the heartless day. 'The sweeping blast, the sky o'ercast," Let others fear, to me more dear The tempest's howl, it soothes my soul, The leafless trees my fancy please, Their fate resembles mine! Thou, Pow'r Supreme, whose mighty scheme These woes of mine fulfil, Here, firm, I rest, they must be best, Because they are Thy Will! Then all I want (O, do thou grant This one request of mine!) Since to enjoy thou dost deny Assist me to resign. MAN WAS MADE TO MOURN.-A DIRGE. WHEN chill November's surly blast Made fields and forests bare, One ev❜ning, as I wander'd forth I spy'd a man, whose aged step f Dr. Young. 'Young stranger, whither wand'rest thou ? Began the rev'rend sage; 'Does thirst of wealth thy step constrain, Or youthful pleasure's rage! Or, haply, prest with cares and woes, To wander forth, with me to mourn The sun that over-hangs yon moors, That man was made to mourn. Which tenfold force gives Nature's law, 'Look not alone on youthful prime, Man then is useful to his kind, But see him on the edge of life, With cares and sorrows worn, Then age and want, oh! ill-match'd pair! A few seem favourites of Fate, Yet, think not all the rich and great Are likewise truly blest. |