1

The glowing orb difplays a blazing train,
And darts bright horror through th' ethereal plain;
*It mounts tempeftuous, and with hideous found
Wheels down the heavens, and thunders o'er the grou
Th' imprifon'd deaths rufh dreadful in a blaze,
And mow a thousand lives, a thousand ways;
+ Earth floats with blood, while fpreading flames ar
From palaces, and domes, and kindle half the skies.

Thus terribly in air the comets roll,

And fhoot malignant gleams from pole to pole;
"Tween worlds and worlds they move, and from their
Shake the blue plague, the peftilence, and war.

'But who is he, who ftern beftrides the plain,
Who drives triumphant o'er huge hills of flain?
Serene, while engines from the hoftile tower
Rain from their brazen mouths an iron fhower?
While turbid fiery fmoke obfcures the day,
Hews through the deathful breach his defperate way
Sure Jove defcending joins the martial toil,
Or is it Marlborough, or the great Argyle?

VARIATIONS.

* Ev'n the ftern fouls of heroes feel dismay;
Proud temples nod, atpiring towers give way,
Dreadful it mounts, tempeftuous in its flight,
It finks, it falls, earth groans beneath its weight.
Th' imprifon'd deaths ruth out in fmoke and fire,
The mighty bleed, heaps crufh'd on heaps expire.

The barriers burst, wide-spreading flames arife.

Thus

Thus when the Grecians, furious to destroy, Level'd the ftructures of imperial Troy ; Here angry Neptune hurl'd his vengeful mace, There Jove o'erturn'd it from its inmost base; Though brave, yet vanquifn'd, fhe confefs'd the odds, Her fons were heroes, but they fought with Gods.

Ah! what new horrors rife? in deep array
The fquadrons form! aloft the standards play!
The captains draw the sword! on every brow
Determin'd valour lours! the trumpets blow!
See the brave Briton delves the cavern'd ground
Through the hard entrails of the ftubborn mound!
"And, undismay'd by death, the foe invades
Through dreadful horrors of infernal shades!
In vain the wall's broad bafe deep-rooted lies,
In vain an hundred turrets threat the fkies!
Lo! while at eafe the bands immur'd repofe,
Nor careless dream of fubterranean foes,

Like the Cadmæan hoft, embattled fwarms
Start from the earth, and clash their founding arms,
And, pouring war and flaughter from beneath,
Wrap towers, walls, men, in fire, in blood, in death.

So fome fam'd torrent dives within the caves
Of opening earth, ingulph'd with all his waves ;
High o'er the latent ftream the fhepherd feeds
His wandering flock, and tunes the fprightly reed:
Till from fome rifted chafm the billows rife,
And foaming burft tumultuous to the skies;

The glowing orb difplays a blazing train,

And darts bright horror through th' ethereal plain;
* It mounts tempeftuous, and with hideous found
Wheels down the heavens, and thunders o'er the ground:
Th' imprifon'd deaths rufh dreadful in a blaze,
And mow a thousand lives, a thousand ways;

+ Earth floats with blood, while fpreading flames arise From palaces, and domes, and kindle half the skies.

Thus terribly in air the comets roll,

And fhoot malignant gleams from pole to pole; 'Tween worlds and worlds they move, and from their hair Shake the blue plague, the peftilence, and war.

But who is he, who ftern beftrides the plain, Who drives triumphant o'er huge hills of flain? Serene, while engines from the hoftile tower Rain from their brazen mouths an iron fitower ? While turbid frery fmoke obfcures the day,' Hews through the deathful breach his defperate way? Sure Jove defcending joins the martial toil, Or is it Marlborough, or the great Argyle?

VARIATIONS.

Ev'n the ftern fouls of heroes feel difmay;
Proud temples nod, atpiring towers give way,
Dreadful it mounts, tempeftuous in its fight,
It finks, it falls, earth groans beneath its weight.
Th' imprifon'd deaths rush out in fmoke and fire,
The mighty bleed, heaps crush'd on heaps expire.
†The barriers burst, wide-spreading flames arife.

Thus

Thus when the Grecians, furious to deftroy,
Level'd the ftructures of imperial Troy;
Here angry Neptune hurl'd his vengeful mace,
There Jove o'erturn'd it from its inmoft bafe;

Though brave, yet vanquifn'd, she confess'd the odds,
Her fons were heroes, but they fought with Gods.

Ah! what new horrors rife? in deep array
The fquadrons form! aloft the standards play!
The captains draw the sword! on every brow
Determin'd valour lours! the trumpets blow!
See! the brave Briton delves the cavern'd ground
Through the hard entrails of the ftubborn mound!
And, undismay'd by death, the foe invades
Through dreadful horrors of infernal fhades!
In vain the wall's broad bafe deep-rooted lies,
In vain an hundred turrets threat the skies!
Lo! while at ease the bands immur'd repose,
Nor careless dream of fubterranean foes,

Like the Cadmæan hoft, embattled fwarms
Start from the earth, and clash their founding arms,
And, pouring war and slaughter from beneath,
Wrap towers, walls, men, in fire, in blood, in death.

So fome fam'd torrent dives within the caves
Of opening earth, ingulph'd with all his waves ;
High o'er the latent stream the shepherd feeds
His wandering flock, and tunes the sprightly reed:
Till from fome rifted chasm the billows rise,
And foaming burst tumultuous to the skies;

54

Ye reftlefs paífions, while I read, be aw'd:
Hail ye mysterious oracles of God!

Here I behold how infant time began,
How the dust mov'd and quicken’d into man ;
Here through the flowery walks of Eden rove,
Court the foft breeze, or range the spicy grove;
There tread on hallow'd ground where angels trod,
And reverend patriarchs' talk'd as friends with God;
Or hear the voice to flumbering prophets given,"
Or gaze on vifions from the throne of heaven.

But nobler yet, far nobler fcenes advance!
Why leap the mountains? why the forefts dance?
Why flathes glory from the golden fpheres ?
Rejoice, O earth, a God, a God appears!
A God, a God, defcending angels fing,
And mighty Seraphs fhout,
Hail virgin-born! lift, lift
Sing O! ye dumb! and O!

Behold your King!

ye blind

your eyes

ye

dead arife!

Tremble ye gates of hell! in nobleft strains
Tell it aloud, ye heavens! the Saviour reigns!

Thus lonely, thoughtful, may I run the race
Of tranfient life, in no unufeful eafe!
Enjoy each hour, nor, as it fleets away,
Think life too fhort, and yet too long the day;
Of right obfervant, while the foul attends
Each duty, and makes heaven and angels friends.
And thou, fair peace, from the wild floods of war
Come dove-like, and thy blooming olive bear;

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