"There feek the never wafted treasure,. "Which mutual love and friendship give,"Domestic comfort, spotless pleasure, "And bleft and bleffing you will live. "If Heav'n with children crowns your dwelling "As mine its bounty does with you, "In fondness fatherly excelling, "Th' example you have felt purfue." He paus'd-----for tenderly careffing Now night her mournful mantle fpreading, When back to city follies flying, 'Midft cuftom's flaves he liv'd refign'd, His face, array'd in fmiles, denying The true complexion of his mind. For seriously around furveying Each character, in youth and age, (Peaceful himself and undefigning) He loath'd the scenes of guile and strife, And felt each secret with inclining To leave this fretful farce of life. Yet to whate'er above was fated, For, what all-bounteous Heaven created, O D E. ON A DISTANT PROSPECT OF ETON COLLEGE. BY GRAY YE diftant fpires, ye antique towers, That crown the watery glade Where grateful Science ftill adores Her Henry's holy shade; And ye, that from the stately brow Of Windfor's heights th' expanse below Of grove, of lawn, of mead furvey, Whofe turf, whose shade, whofe flowers among Wanders the hoary Thames along His filver-winding way. Ah happy hills! ah pleasing shade! Where once my careless childhood stray'd, A stranger yet to pain! I feel the gales that from ye blow, A momentary bliss bestow, As waving fresh their gladsome wing, Say, father Thames, (for thou haft feen To chafe the rolling circle's speed,. While fome on earnest business bent Their murm'ring labours ply 'Gainft graver hours, that bring constraint To fweeten liberty: Some bold adventurers difdain The limits of their little reign, And unknown regions dare defcry: Still as they run they look behind, They hear a voice in every wind, And fnatch a fearful joy. Gay hope is theirs by fancy fed, And lively cheer of vigour born; Alas, regardless of their doom, No fenfe have they of ills to come, No care beyond to-day: Yet fee how all around them wait, The minifters of human fate, And black misfortune's baleful train! Ah, fhew them where in ambush stand To feize their prey the murd'rous band! Ah, tell them, they are men These shall the fury paffions tear, The vultures of the mind, Difdainful anger, pallid fear, And fhame that fculks behind; Ambition this shall tempt to rife, And grinning infamy. The ftings of falfehood thofe fhall try, That mocks the tear it forc'd to flow, And keen remorfe, with blood defil'd, And moody madness laughing wild Amid fevereft woe. Lo, in the vale of years beneath A grifly troop are seen, The painful family of death, More hideous than their queen: This racks the joints, this fires the veins That every labouring finew strains; Those in the deeper vitals rage: Lo, poverty, to fill the band, |