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Bright plumes of every dye, that round him flow,
Veft, robe, and wings, in varied luftre show.
He looks, and forward fteps with mien divine;
A grace celestial gives him all to shine.

He speaks Nature is ravish'd at the found,

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The forests move, and streams stand listening round! Thus he. As incorruption I affum'd,

As inftant in immortal youth I bloom'd!

Renew'd, and chang'd, I felt my vital fprings, 715
With different lights difcern'd the form of things;
To earth my paffions fell like mifts away,
And reafon open'd in eternal day.

Swifter than thought from world to world I flew,
Celestial knowledge fhone in every view.

My food was truth—what transport could I miss?
My profpect, all infinitude of blifs.

Olympia met me first, and, fmiling gay,
Onward to mercy led the fhining way;
As far tranfcendant to her wonted air,
As her dear wonted felf to many a fair!

In voice, and form, beauty more beauteous fhows,
And harmony ftill more harmonious grows.

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She points out fouls, who taught me friendship's charms,
They gaze, they glow, they fpring into my arms!
Well pleas'd, high ancestors my view command
Patrons and patriots all; a glorious band!
Horatio too, by well-born fate refin'd,

Shone out white-rob'd with saints, a spotless mind!
What once, below, ambition made him miss,
Humility here gain'd, a life of bliss!

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Though

Though late, let finners then from sin depart!
Heaven never yet defpis'd the contrite heart.
Laft fhone, with sweet, exalted luftre grac'd,
The SERAPH-BARD, in highest order plac'd!
Seers, lovers, legislators, prelates, kings,
All raptur'd liften, as he raptur'd fings.
Sweetness and ftrength his look and lays employ,
Greet fmiles with fmiles, and every joy with joy :
Charmful he rofe; his ever-charmful tongue
Joy to our fecond hymeneals fung;

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Still as we pafs'd, the bright, celestial throng
Hail'd us in focial love, and heavenly fong.
Of that no more! my deathless friendship see!
I come an Angel to the Muse and Thee.
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These lights, that vibrate, and promifcuous fhine,
Are emanations all of forms divine.
And here the Mufe, though melted from thy gaze,
Stands among fpirits, mingling rays with rays.
If thou would't peace attain, my words attend,
The laft, fond words of thy departed friend!
True joy's a feraph, that to heaven aspires,
Unhurt it triumphs mid' celeftial choirs.
But fhould no cares a mortal state moleft,
Life were a state of ignorance at best,

Know then, if ills oblige thee to retire,
Thofe ills folemnity of thought inspire.
Did not the foul abroad for objects roam,
Whence could fhe learn to call ideas home?
Juftly to know thyself, perufe mankind;
To know thy God, paint nature on thy mind:

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Without

Without fuch fcience of the worldly scene,
What is retirement?-Empty pride or spleen :
But with it wisdom. There fhall cares refine,
Render'd by contemplation half-divine.
Truft not the frantic, or myfterious guide,
Nor stoop a captive to the schoolman's pride.
On nature's wonders fix alone thy zeal!
They dim not reafon, when they truth reveal;
So fhall religion in thy heart endure,
From all traditionary falfehood pure;
So life make death familiar to thy eye,

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So fhalt thou live, as thou may't learn to die;
And, though thou view'ft thy worst oppreffor thrive,
From tranfient woe, immortal blifs derive.

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Farewell Nay, stop the parting tear!-I go!
But leave the Mufe thy comforter below.
He faid. Instant his pinions upward foar,
He leffening as they rife, till feen no more.
While Contemplation weigh'd the mystic view, 785
The lights all vanifi'd, and the vision flew.

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THE

BASTAR D:

INSCRIBED WITH ALL DUE REVERENCE TO

MRS. BRETT,

ONCE COUNTESS OF MACCLESFIELD.

"Decet hæc dare dona Novercam."

Ov. Met.

PREFACE.

ΤΗ

HE reader will eafily perceive these verses were begun, when my heart was gayer than it has been of late; and finished in hours of the deepest melancholy.

I hope the world will do me the justice to believe, that no part of this flows from any real anger against the Lady, to whom it is inscribed. Whatever undeferved feverities I may have received at her hands, would the deal fo candidly as acknowledge truth, fhe very well knows, by an experience of many years, that I have ever behaved myself towards her, like one who thought it his duty to fupport with patience all afflictions from that quarter. Indeed, if I had not been capable of forgiving a Mother, I must have blushed to receive pardon myself at the hands of my Sovereign.

Neither,

Neither, to say the truth, were the manner of my birth all, fhould I have any reason for complaintWhen I am a little disposed to a gay turn of thinking, I confider, as I was a Derelict from my cradle, I have the honour of a lawful claim to the beft protection in Europe. For being a spot of earth, to which nobody pretends a title, I devolve naturally upon the King, as one of the rights of his Royalty.

While I prefume to name his Majesty, I look back, with confusion, upon the mercy I have lately experienced; because it is impoffible to remember it, but with fomething I would fain forget, for the fake of future peace, and alleviation of my past misfortune. I owe my life to the Royal Pity, if a wretch can, with propriety, be faid to live, whofe days are fewer than his forrows; and to whom death had been but a redemption from mifery.

my

But I will fuffer my pardon as my punishment, till that life, which has fo graciously been given me, shall become confiderable enough not to be useless in his fervice to whom it was forfeited. Under influence of thefe fentiments, with which His Majefty's great goodnefs has infpired me, I confider my lofs of fortune and dignity as my happinefs; to which, as I am born without ambition, I am thrown from them without repining-Poffeffing thofe advantages, my care had been, perhaps, how to enjoy life; by the want of them I am taught this nobler leffon, to study how to deferve it.

RICHARD SAVAGE,

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