But whither would the devious Muse pursue
The pleafing theme, and my past joys renew?
Another labour now demands thy fong,

Stretch'd in two ranks, behold th' expecting throng,
As Nimrod pois❜d the sphere: his arm he drew
Back like an arrow in the Parthian yew, [flew:
Then launch'd the whirling globe, and full as swift it
Bowls dash'd on bowls confounded all the plain,
Safe ftood the foe, well-cover'd by his train.
Affaulted tyrants thus their guard defends,
Efcaping by the ruin of their friends.

But now, he stands expos'd, their order broke,
And feems to dread the next decisive stroke.
So at fome bloody fiege, the ponderous ball
Batters with ceaseless rage the crumbling wall,
(A breach once made) foon-galls the naked town,
Riots in blood, and heaps on heaps are thrown.

Each avenue thus clear'd, with aching heart
Griper beheld, exerting all his art;

Once more refolves to check his furious foe,
Block up the paffage, and elude the blow.
With cautious hand, and with lefs force, he threw
The well-pois'd fphere, that gently circling flew,
But ftopping fhort, cover'd the mark from view.
So little Teucer on the well-fought field,
Securely fkulk'd behind his brother's fhield.

Nimrod, in dangers bold, whose heart elate,
Nor courted fortune's fmiles, nor fear'd her hate;
Perplex'd, but not discourag'd, walk'd around,
With curious eye examin'd all the ground;
Not the least opening in the front was found.

Sideway

Sideway he leans, declining to the right,
And marks his way, and moderates his might.
Smooth-gliding o'er the plain, th' obedient fphere
Held on its dubious road, while hope and fear
Alternate ebb'd and flow'd in every breast:
Now rolling nearer to the mark it prefs'd;
Then chang'd its courfe, by the ftrong biafs rein'd,
And on the foe difcharg'd the force that
yet remain'd..
Smart was the stroke, away the rival fled,
The bold intruder triumph'd in his stead.
Victorious Nimrod feiz'd the glittering prize,
Shouts of outrageous joy invade the skies;
Hands, tongues, and caps, exalt the victor's fame,
Sabrina's banks return him loud acclaim.

The LAMENTATION of DAVID over SAUL and JONATHAN.

PR

ROSTRATE on earth the bleeding warrior lies,
And Ifrael's beauty on the mountains dies;
How are the mighty fallen!

Hufh'd be my forrows, gently fall my tears,
Left my fad tale fhould reach the aliens ears:
Bid Fame be dumb, and tremble to proclaim
In heathen Gath, or Afcalon, our fhame;
Left proud Philiftia, left our haughty foe,
With impious fcorn infult our folemn woe.
O Gilboa ye hills afpiring high,
The laft fad fcene of Ifrael's tragedy:

No

No fattening dews be on thy lawns diftill'd,
No kindly showers refresh the thirsty field;
No hallow'd fruits thy barren foil shall raise,
No fpotlefs kids, that on our altars blaze;
Lonesome and wild fhall thy bleak fummits rife,
Accurs'd by men, and hateful to the skies.
On thee the fhields of mighty warriors lay,
The thield of Saul was vilely caft away;
The Lord's anointed Saul! his facred blood
Diftain'd thy brow, and fwell'd the common flood.
How are the mighty fallen!

Wheree'er their bands the royal heroes led,
The combat thicken'd, and the mighty bled;
The flaughter'd hofts beneath their falchions die,
And wing'd with death unerring arrows fly;
Unknowing to return, ftill urge the foe,
As fate infatiate, and as fure the blow.

The fon, who next his conquering father fought,
Repeats the wonders his example taught:
Eager his fire's illuftrious steps to trace,
And by heroic deeds affert his race.

The royal eagle thus her ripening brood
Trains to the quarry, and directs to blood:
His darling thus,' the forest monarch rears,
A firm affociate for his future wars;
In union terrible, they feize the prey,
The mountains tremble, and the woods obey.
In peace united, as in war combin'd,
Were Jonathan's and Saul's affections join'd,

Paternal

Paternal grace with filial duty vy'd,
And love the knot of nature clofer ty'd.
Ev'n fate relents, reveres the facred band,
And undivided bids their friendship stand,
From earth to heaven enlarg'd, their joys improve,
Still fairer, brighter ftill they fhine above,
Bleft in a long eternity of love.

Daughters of Ifrael, o'er the royal urn

Wail and lament; the king, the father, mourn.
Oh! now at least indulge a pious woe,

'Tis all the dead receive, the living can beftow.
Caft off your rich attire and proud array,

Let undiffembled forrows cloud the day:
Thofe ornaments victorious Saul beftow'd,
With gold your necks, your robes with purple glow'd:
Quit crowns, and garlands, for the fable weed,
To fongs of triumph let dumb grief fucceed

Let all our grateful hearts for our dead patron bleed.
How are the mighty fallen!

Though thus diftrefs'd, though thus o'erwhelm'd with Light is the burthen that admits relief;

My labouring foul fuperior woes oppress,
Nor rolling time can heal, nor fate redrefs.
Another Saul your forrows can remove,
No fecond Jonathan fhall blefs my love.

[grief,

O Jonathan my friend, my brother dear! Eyes, ftream afresh, and call forth every tear : Swell, my fad heart, each faultering pulse beat low, Down fink my head beneath this weight of woe:

Hear

Hear my laments, ye hills! ye woods, return
My ceafelefs groans; with me, ye turtles, mourn!
How pleasant haft thou been! each lovely grace,
Each youthful charm, fate blooming on thy face:
Joy from thine eyes in radiant glories sprung,
And manna dropt from thy perfuafive tongue.
Witnefs, great heaven! (from you thofe ardours came)
How wonderful his love! the kindest dame
Lov'd not like him, nor felt fo warm a flame.
No earthly paffion to fuch height aspires,
And feraphs only burn with purer fires.
In vain, while honour calls to glorious arms,
And Ifrael's caufe the pious patriot warms :
In vain, while deaths promifcuous fly below,
Nor youth can bribe, nor virtue ward the blow.

}

To a YOUNG LADY, with the ILIAD of HOMER tranflated.

O, happy volume, to the fair impart

Go

The fecret wifhes of a wounded heart:
Kind advocate! exert thy utmost zeal,
Defcribe my paffion, and my woes reveal.
Oft fhalt thou kifs that hand where rofes bloom,
And the white lily breathes its rich perfume;
On thee her eyes fhall fhine, thy leaves employ
Each faculty, and footh her foul with joy.
Watch the foft hour, when peaceful filence reigns,
And Philomel alone like me complains:

When