That care-defying sonnet which implies
His debts discharg`d, and he of ha.f-a-crown_140
In full possession, uncontested right
And property! Yet, ah! whoe'er this wight
Admiring view, if such there bé, distrust
The vain pretence, the smiles that harbour grief,
As lurks the serpent deep in flow'rs e wreath'd. 145
Forewarn'd, be frugal, or with prudent rage
Thy pen demolish; choose the trustier Hail,
And bless those labous which the choice inspir'd.
But if thou view'st a vulgar mind, a wight
Of common sense, v ho seeks no brighter name, 150
Him envy, him admire, him, from thy breast,
Prescient of future dignities, salute
Sheriff, or may't, in comfortable furs
Enwiapi, secure; nor yet the laureat's crown
In thought exclude him! he perchance shall rise 155
To nobler heights than foresight can decree.
When fir'd with wrath for his intrigues display'd
In many an idle song, Saturnian Jove
Vow'd sure destruction to the tuneful race, Appeas'd by suppliant Phoebus; Bards," he said, "Henceforth of plenty, wea th and porip debarr'd, "But fed by frugal cares, might wear the bay "Secure of thunder."-Low the Delian bow'd, Nor at th' invidious favour dar'd repine.
THE RUIN'D ABBEY:
OR, THE EFFECTS OF SUPERSTITION.
AT length fair Peace, with olive crown'd, regains
Her lawful throne, and to the sacred haunts
Of wood or fount the frighted Muse returns.
Happy the bard who, from his native hills, Soft musing on a summer's eve, surveys His azure stream, with pens le woods enclos'd, Or o'er the glassy surface with his friend, Or faithful fair, thro' bordʼring willows green Wafts his small frigate. Fearless he of shouts Or taunts, the rhet'nic of the wat❜ry crew That ape confusion from the realms they rule; Fearless of these; who shares the gentler voice Of peace and music; birds of sweetest song Attune from native boughs their various lay, And cheer the forest; birds of brighter plume 15 With busy pinion skim the glittring wave, And tempt the sun, ambitious to display Their several merit, while the vocal Aute Or number'd verse, by female voice endear'd, Crowns his delight, and mollifies the scene.
If solitude his wand'ring steps invite To some more deep recess (for hours there are When gay, when social minds, to Friendship's voice Or Beauty's charm her wild abodes prefer),
How pleas'd he treads her venerable shades,
Her solemn courts! the centre of the grove!
The root-built cave, by far extended rocks
Around embosom'd, how it sooths the soul!
If scoop'd at first by superstitious hands
The rugged cell receiv'd alone the shoals
Of bigot minds, Religion dwells not here,
Yet Virtue pleas'd at intervals, retires :
Yet here may Wisdom, as she walks the maze,
Some serious truths collect, the rules of life,
And serious truths of mightier weight than gold! 35
I ask not wealth; but let me hoard with care,
With frugal cunning, with a niggard's art,
A few fix'd principles, in early life,
Ere indolence impede the search, explor'd;
Then like old Latimer, when age impairs
My judgment's eye, when quibbling schools attack
My grounded hope, or subtler wits deride,
Will I not blush to shun the vain debate,
And this mine answer; "Thus,'twas thus I thought, "My mind yet vigorous, and my soul entire ; 45 "Thus will I think averse to listen more "To intricate discussion, prone to stray. “ Perhaps my reason may but ill defend "My settled faith; my mind, with age impair'd, "Too sure its own infirmities declare.
"But I am arm'd by caution, studious youth, "And early foresight: now the winds may rise,
*The tempest whistle, and the billows roar ;
"My pinnace rides in port, despoil'd and worn,
"Shatter'd by time and storms, but while it shuns
"Th' unequal conflict, and declines the deep, 56
"Sees the strong vessel fluctuate, less secure.'
Thus while he strays, a thousand rural scenes
Suggest instruction, and instr &ting please.
And see betwixt the grove's extended arms
An Abbey's rude remains attract thy view,
Gilt by the mid-day sun: with lingʼring step
Produce thine axe (for, aiming to destroy
Tree, branch, or shade, for never shall thy breast
Too long deliberate), with tim'rous hand
Remove th' obstructive bough; nor yet refuse,
Tho' sighing, to destroy that fav'rite pine,
Rais'd by thine hand, in its luxuriant prime
Of beauty fair, that screens the vast remains.
Aggriev'd, but constant as the Roman sire,
The rigid Manlius, when his conqu'ing son
Bled by a parent's voice, the cruel meed;
Of virtuous ardour timelessly display'd ;
Nor cease till, thro' the gloomy load, the pile
Gleam unobstructed: thither oft thine eye
Shall sweetly wander; thence returning, sooth
With pensive scenes thy philosophic mind.
These were thy haunts, thy opulent abodes,
O Superstition! hence the dire disease
(Balanc'd with which the fam'd Athenian pest 80
Were a short head-ache, were the trivial pain
Of transient indigestion) seiz'd mankind.
Long time she rang'd, and scarce a southern gale Waim'd our chill air, unloaded with the threats Of tyrant Rome; but futile all, till she, Rome's abier legate, magnify'd their pow'r, And in a thousand horrid forms attir'd. Where then was truth to sanctify the page Of British annals? if a foe expir'd, The perjur'd monk suborn'd infernal shrieks And fiends to snatch at the departing soul With hellish emulation: if a friend, High o'er his roof exultant angels tune
Their golden lyres, and waft him to the skies. 94
What then were vows, were oaths, were plighted
The sovereign's just, the subject's loyal pact, [faith?
To cherish mutual good, annull'd and vain,
By Roman magic, grew an idle scroll
Ere the frail sanction of the wax was cold.
With thee, Plantagenet *! from civil broils 100
The land awhile respir'd, and all was peace.
Then Becket rose, and, impotent of mind,
From regal courts with lawless fury march'd
The church's blood-stain'd convicts, and forgave,
Bid murdous priests the sov'reign frown contemn,
And with unhallow'd crosier bruis'd the crown. 166
Yet yielded not supinely tame a prince
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