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STERN Winter now, by Spring reprefs'd,

Forbears the long continued ftrife;
And Nature, on her naked breast,
Delights to catch the gales of life.

Now o'er the rural kingdom roves
Soft pleasure with her laughing train,.
Love warbles in the vocal groves,

And vegetation plants the plain.

Unhappy! whom to beds of pain,
Arthritic tyranny configns;

*

Whom fimiling nature courts in vain,

Tho' rapture fings and beauty fhines,

Yet tho' my limbs disease invades,
Her wings imagination tries,

And bears me to the peaceful shades
's humble turrets rise.

Where

Here ftop, my foul, thy rapid flight,

Nor from the pleasing groves depart, Where first great nature charm'd my fight, Where wisdom firft inform'd my heart.

*The author being ill of the gout..

Here

Here let me thro' the vales purfue,
A guide-a father-and a friend,
Once more great nature's works renew,
Once more on wisdom's voice attend.

From falfe careffes, caufelefs ftrife,
Wild hope, vain fear, alike remov'd;
Here let me learn the use of life,

When best enjoy’d—when most improv❜d.

Teach me, thou venerable bower,
Cool meditation's quiet feat,
The generous fcorn of venal power,
The filent grandeur of retreat.

When pride by guilt to greatness climbs,
Or raging factions rush to war,
Here let me learn to fhun the crimes
I can't prevent, and will not share.

But left I fall by fubtler foes,

Bright wisdom teach me Curio's art,
The fwelling paffions to compofe,
And quell the rebels of the heart.

THE

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