Page images
PDF
EPUB

Ten thousand thousand precious gifts

My daily thanks employ,

Nor is the least a cheerful heart,

That tastes those gifts with joy.

Through every period of my life
Thy goodness I'll pursue;
And after death, in distant worlds,
The glorious theme renew.

When nature fails, and day and night
Divide thy works no more,

My ever-grateful heart, O'Lord!
Thy mercy shall adore.

Through all eternity to thee,
A joyful song I'll raise,
But, oh! eternity's too short
To utter all thy praise.

CREATION.

BY THE SAME.

THE lofty pillars of the sky,

And spacious concave rais'd on high, Spangled with stars, a shining frame, Their great original proclaim;

Th' unwearied sun, from day to day,
Pours knowledge on his golden ray,
And publishes to every land
The work of an Almighty hand.
Soon as the evening shades prevail,
The moon takes up the wondrous tale,
And nightly to the list'ning earth
Repeats the story of her birth:

Whilst all the stars that round her burn,
And all the planets in their turn,
Confirm the tidings as they roll,

And spread the truth from pole to pole.
What though in solemn silence all
Move round the dark terrestrial ball?
What though nor real voice nor sound
Amid their radiant orbs be found?
In reason's ear they all rejoice,
And utter forth a glorious voice,

For ever singing as they shine,
"The hand that made us is divine."

THE WISH.

BY MERRICK.

How short is life's uncertain space'

Alas! how quickly done!

How swift the wild precarious chace!

And yet how difficult the race,

How very hard to run!

Youth stops at first its wilful ears
To wisdom's prudent voice;
Till now arriv'd to riper years,

Experienc'd age, worn out with cares,
Repents its earlier choice.

What though its prospects now appear
So pleasing and refin'd;

Yet groundless hope, and anxious fear,
By turns the busy moments share,
And prey upon the mind.

Since then false joys our fancy cheat With hopes of real bliss;

Ye guardian pow'rs that rule my fate,

The only wish that I create,

Is all compris'd in this:

May I through life's uncertain tide,
Be still from pain exempt;
May all my wants be still supply'd,
My state too low t' admit of pride,
And yet above contempt.

But should your providence divine
A greater bliss intend;

May all those blessings you design,
(If e'er those blessings shall be mine)
Be centr'd in a friend.

SONNETS.

BY CHARLOTTE SMITH.

TO THE MOON.

QUEEN of the silver bow!-by thy pale beam,
Alone and pensive, I delight to stray,
And watch thy shadow trembling in the stream,
Or mark the floating clouds that cross thy way..
And while I gaze, thy mild and placid light

Sheds a soft calm upon my troubled breast;
And oft I think,-fair planet of the night,
That in thy orb the wretched may have rest:
The sufferers of the earth perhaps may go,
Releas'd by death-to thy benignant sphere;
And the sad children of despair and woe

Forget, in thee, their cup of sorrow here. Oh! that I soon may reach thy world serene, Poor wearied pilgrim-in this toiling scene!

ON THE

DEPARTURE OF THE NIGHTINGALE.

SWEET poet of the woods—a fong adieu!
Farewell, soft minstrel of the early year!
Ah! 'twill be long ere thou shalt sing anew,
And pour thy music on the night's dull ear.'

Whether on spring thy wandering flights await,
Or whether silent in our groves you dwell,
The pensive muse shall own thee for her mate,
And still protect the song she loves so well.
With cautious step, the love-lorn youth shall glide
Through the lone brake that shades thy mossy nest;
And shepherd girls from eyes profane shall hide
The gentle bird, who sings of pity best:

For still thy voice shall soft affections move,
And still be dear to sorrow, and to love!

ODE TO INNOCENCE..

BY JOHN OGLVIE, D. D.

'Twas when the slow declining ray
Had ting'd the cloud with evening gold;
No warbler pour'd the melting lay,

No sound disturb'd the sleeping fold;

When by a murmuring rill reclin'd,

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

"Hail, Innocence! celestial maid!

What joys thy blushing charms reveal!
Sweet as the arbour's cooling shade,

And milder than the vernal gale.

« ՆախորդըՇարունակել »