preceding. The reader will scarcely impute this to: overfight; but will allow, that men's opinions as well. as tempers vary; that neither public nor private, active nor fpeculative life, are unexceptionably happy, and confequently that any change of opinion concerning them may afford an additional beauty to poetry, as it gives us a more striking reprefentation of life. If the author has hazarded, throughout, the ufe of English or modern allufions, he hopes it will not be imputed to an entire ignorance, or to the least difefteem, of the ancient learning. He has kept the ancient plan and method in his eye, though he builds his edifice with the materials of his own nation.. In other words, through a fondnefs for his native country, he has made ufe of the flowers it produced, though, in order to exhibit them to the greater advantage, he has endeavoured to weave his garland by the best model he could find with what fuccefs, beyond his own amufement, must be left to judges lefs partial to him than either his acquaintance or his friends.-If any of thofe fhould be fo candid, as to approve the variety of fubjects he has chofen, and the tenderness of fentiment he has endeavoured to imprefs, he begs the metre also may not be too fuddenly condemned. The public ear, habituated of late to a quicker measure, may perhaps confider this as heavy and languid; but an objection of that kind may gradually lofe its force, if this meafare fhould be allowed to fuit the nature of elegy. : If If it fhould happen to be confidered as an object with others, that there is too much of a moral cast diffufed through the whole; it is replied, that he endeavoured to animate the poetry fo far as not to render this objection too obvious; or to rifque excluding the fashionable reader: at the fame time never deviating from a fixed principle, that poetry without morality is but the bloom of a fruit-tree. Poetry is indeed like that species of plants, which may bear at once both fruits and bloffoms; and the tree is by no means in perfection without the former, however it may be embellished by the flowers which furround it.. ELEGIES, E LEGIES. ELE GY I. He arrives at his retirement in the country, and takes occafion to expatiate in praise of fimplicity. To a FRIEND. F OR rural virtues, and for native skies, I bade Augufta's venal fons farewell; Now 'mid the trees, I fee my fmoke arife; Now hear the fountains bubbling round my cell. O may that genius, which fecures my rest, Preferve this villa for a friend that 's dear! Ne'er may my vintage glad the fordid breaft; Ne'er tinge the lip that dares be unfincere! Far from thefe paths, ye faithlefs friends, depart! Fly my plain board, abhor my hostile name! Hence the faint verfe that flows not from the heart, But mourns in labour'd strains, the price of fame! O lov'd fimplicity, be thine the prize! Affiduous art correct her page in vain! His be the palm who, guiltlefs of disguise, Contemns the power, the dull refource to feign! may the mourner, lavish of his tears For lucre's venal meed, invite my scorn! Still may the bard diffembling doubts and fears, For praife, for flattery fighing, figh forlorn! Still Soft She guides the foot that treads on Parian floors Of vice's brothel, forth to virtue's fane. He wish'd for wealth, for much he wifh'd to give; He griev'd that virtue might not wealth obtain ; Piteous of woes, and hopeless to relieve, The penfive profpéct fadden'd all his train. I faw him faint! I faw him fink to reft! Like one ordain'd to fwell the vulgar throng; As though the virtues had not warm'd his breast, As though the Mufes not infpir'd his tongue, I saw his bier ignobly crofs the plain; Saw peafant hands the pious rite supply; The generous ruftics mourn'd the friendly fwain, But power and wealth's unvarying cheek was dry! Such Alcon fell; in meagre want forlorn! Where were ye then, ye powerful patrons, where? Would ye the purple should your limbs adorn, Go wash the confcious blenish with a tear. ÉL EG Y IV. OPHELIA's URN. To Mr. GRAVE s. THROUGH the dim veil of evening's dusky shade, Near fome lone fane, or yew's funereal green, What dreary forms has magic fear furvey'd ! What shrouded spectres fuperftition seen! |