Mean let me shrink, or fpread sweet fhade o'er all, Low as the fhrub, or as the cedar tall! 'Twas vain! 'twas wild!-I fought the middle state, And found the good, and found the truly great. 25 Though verfe can never give my foul her aim; Though action only claims fubftantial fame; Though fate denies what my proud wants require, Yet grant me, heaven, by knowledge to afpire: Thus to enquiry let me prompt the mind; Thus clear dimm'd truth, and bid her blefs mankind; 30 From the pierc'd orphan thus draw shafts of grief, Arm want with patience, and teach wealth relief! To ferve lov'd liberty infpire my breath! Or, if my life be ufelefs, grant me death; For he, who useless is in life furvey'd, Burthens that world, his duty bids him aid. Say, what have honours to allure the mind, Which he gains moft, who leaft has ferv'd mankind? Titles, when worn by fools, I dare defpife; 35 Yet they claim homage, when they crown the wife. 40 When high diftin&tion marks deferving heirs, Defert ftill dignifies the mark it wears. But, who to birth alone would honours owe? 50 Nor Nor view an Equal's hope with jealous eyes; 55 In wealth and want true minds preferve their weight; Meek, though exalted; though difgrac'd, elate; 60 Generous and grateful, wrong'd or help'd, they live; Grateful to ferve, and generous to forgive. 65 This may they learn, who close thy life attend; Which, dear in memory, ftill inftructs thy friend. Though cruel distance bars my groffer eye, My foul, clear-fighted, draws thy virtue nigh; Through her deep woe that quickening comfort gleams, And lights up Fortitude with Friendship's beams. VER SE S OCCASIONED BY THE VICE-PRINCIPAL of St MARY-HALL, OXFORD, Being prefented by the Honourable Mrs. KNIGHT, to the Living of GOSFIELD in ESSEX. W HILE by mean arts and meaner patrons rife Priefts, whom the learned and the good defpife; This fees fair Knight, in whose transcendent mind, Are wifdom, purity, and truth enfhrin'd. A modeft merit now fhe plans to lift, Thy living, Godsfield! falls her instant gift. 5 10 15 She fought, the found, and, Hart! the prize was thine. L FUL VI A. A PO E M. ET Fulvia's wifdom be a flave to will, Her darling paffions, fcandal and quadrille; On friends and foes her tongue a fatire known, Her deeds a fatire on herself alone. On her poor kindred deigns the word or look ? Worfe when good-natur'd, than when most severe ; ΤΟ The 5 The fates, my nearest kindred, foes decree: Oft I object-but fix'd is Fulvia's will- 15 20 The verfe now flows, the manufcript the claims. 25 'Tis fam'd-The fame, each curious fair enflames: The wild-fire runs; from copy, copy grows: The Brets, alarm'd, a separate peace propose. 'Tis ratified-How alter'd Fulvia's look! My wit 's degraded, and my cause forfook. Thus the What's poetry but to amuse? : 30 Might I advise-there are more folid views. I start, I ftare, ftand fix'd, then pause awhile; M 3 35 40 Ma Madam-a penfion loft-and where's amends? Let Fulvia's friendship whirl with every whim! For fouls, fo form'd alike, were form'd to blend. 45 50 EP IT A PH ON A YOUNG LADY. LOS'D are those eyes, that beam'd seraphic fire; CL Cold is that breaft, which gave the world defire; Mute is the voice where winning softness warm'd, Where music melted, and where wisdom charm'd, And lively wit, which, decently confin'd, No prude e'er thought impure, no friend unkind. Could modeft knowledge, fair untrifling youth, Perfuafive reafon and endearing truth, 5 Could |