Let a broad ftream with golden fands He's but a wretch with all his lands That wears a narrow foul. II. He fwells amidst his wealthy ftore, He spreads the balance wide to hold And cheats the beam with loads of gold So might the ploughboy climb a tree ΤΟ 15 20 III. Thus mingled ftill with wealth and state 25 His true dimenfions and his weight The mind's the ftandard of the man. 30 32 To Sariffa. An epiftle. BEAR Up, Sariffa, thro' the ruffling storms 20 Farewell ye waxing and ye waning moons That we have watch'd behind the flying clouds On night's dark hill or setting or afcending, Or in meridian height: then filence reign'd O'er half the world, then ye beheld our tears, Ye witness'd our complaints, our kindred groans, (Sad harmony!) while with your beamy horns Or richer orb ye filver'd o'er the green Where trod our feet, and lent a feeble light To mourners. Now ye have fulfill'd Thofe hours are fled. Farewell months that are gone Volume VI. your B round 25 Are gone for ever, and have borne away Each his own load. Our woes and forrows past, Far off. So billows in a ftormy sea, 30 Wave after wave (a long fucceffion) roll Look far aftern till they have lost the storm, 35 40 Awake thy voice, fing how the flender line Of Fate's immortal Now divides the paît From all the future with eternal bars, Forbidding a return. The paft temptations No more fhall vex us; ev'ry grief we feel Shortens the deftin'd number, ev'ry pulfe Beats a fharp moment of the pain away, And the laft ftroke will come. By fwift degrees 45 Time fweeps us off, and we shall foon arrive At life's fweet period. O celeftial point That ends this mortal iory! But if a glimpfe of light with flatt'ring ray Breaks thro' the clouds of life, or wand'ring fire 50 Amidft the fhades invite your Beware the dancing meteor, doubtful feet, faithlefs guide That leads the lonefome pilgrim wide aftray Should vicious Pleasure take an angel form, 55 Treach'rous to wind herself into your heart, To dang'rous fize: if it approach your feet A neft for worms, and haften to our home. 60 65 70 O! there are gardens of th' immortal kind That crown the heav'nly Eden's rifing hills With beauty and with sweets; no lurking mischief Dwells in the fruit, nor ferpent twines the boughs; The branches bend laden with life and bliss, Ripe for the taste, but 't is a steep ascent : Hold faft the golden chain * let down from heav'n, 75 'Twill help your feet and wings: I feel its force Draw upwards; faîten'd to the pearly gate It guides the way unerring; happy clue 'Thro' this dark wild! 'Twas Wisdom's nobleft work All join'd by Pow'r divine, and ev'ry link is love. 80 *The gospel. To Mr. T. Bradbury. Paradife, 1708. I. YOUNG as I am I quit the ftage, Nor will I know th' applaufes of the age: Or agonies or years; I leave my country all in tears, But Heav'n demands me upward, and I dare to go. Amongst ye, friends, divide and share The remnant of my days, If ye have patience, and can bear ΤΟ A long fatigue of life, and drudge thro' all the race. II. Hark! my fair guardian chides my stay And waves his golden rod; 66 Angel, I come, lead on the way." And now by fwift degrees I fail aloft thro' azure feas, Now tread the Milky road. Farewell ye planets in your spheres, And as the stars are loft a brighter sky appears. In hafte for Paradife I ftretch the pinions of a bolder thought; Scarce had I will'd but I was paft 15 20 Deferts of trackless light and all th' ethereal waste, And to the facred borders brought; |