Progreffive ages carol'd forth his fame;

1

Sires, to his praife, attun'd their children's tongue; The hoary druid fed the generous flame,

While in fuch ftrains the reverend vizard fung.
Go forth, my fons !-for what is vital breath,
Your gods expell'd, your liberty refign'd?
Go forth, my fons! for what is instant death
To fouls fecure perennial joys to find ?

For scenes there are, unknown to war or pain,
Where drops the balm that heals a tyrant's wound;
Where patriots, bleft with boundless freedom, reign,
With misletoe's myfterious garlands crown'd.

Such are the names that grace your mystic songs;
Your folemn woods refound their martial fire
To you, my fons, the ritual meed belongs,
If in the cause you vanquish or expire.

Hark! from the facred oak that crowns the groves,
What aweful voice my raptur'd bofom warms;
This is the favour'd moment heaven approves,
Sound the fhrill trump; this inftant, found to
arms."

Theirs was the fcience of a martial race,

To shape the lance, or decorate the shield;
Ev'n the fair virgin ftain'd her native grace,
To give new horrors to the tented field.
Now, for fome cheek where guilty blushes glow,
For fome falfe Florimel's impure disguise,

The lifted youth, nor war's loud fignal know,
Nor virtue's call, nor fame's imperial prize.

Then

Then if foft concord lull'd their fears to fleep,
Inert and filent slept the manly car;

But rush'd horrific o'er the fearful steep,
If freedom's awful clarion breath'd to war.

Now the fleek courtier, indolent, and vain,
Thron'd in the fplendid carriage glides fupine
To taint his virtue with a foreign stain,

Or at a favourite's board his faith refign.
Leave them, O luxury! this happy foil!

Chafe her, Britannia, to fome hoftile fhore ! Or fleece the baneful pest with annual spoil, And let thy virtuous offspring weep no more!

ELEGY

Written in the year

XXII.

when the rights of fepulture were fo frequently violated.

SA

AY, gentle fleep, that loy'ft the gloom of night, Parent of dreams! thou great magician, fay, Whence my late vifion thus indures the light; Thus haunts my fancy through the glare of day. The filent moon had fcal'd the vaulted fkies, And anxious care refign'd my limbs to reft; · A sudden luftre struck my wondering eyes, And Silvia ftood before my couch confeft. Ah! not the nymph fo blooming and fo gay, That led the dance beneath the feftive fhade! But the that, in the morning of her day, Intomb'd beneath the grafs-green fod was laid. * Alludes to a tax upon luxury.

No more her eyes their wonted radiance cast ;
No more her breast inspir'd the lover's flame,
No more her cheek the Pæftan rose surpast;

Yet feem'd her lip's etherial fmile the fame. Nor fuch her hair as deck'd her living face; Nor fuch her voice as charm'd the listening crowd Nor fuch her dress as heighten'd every grace;

Alas! all vanish'd for the mournful shroud!
Yet feem'd her lip's etherial charm the fame;
That dear diftinction every doubt remov'd;
Perish the lover, whose imperfect flame

Forgets one feature of the nymph he lov'd.
"Damon, fhe faid, mine hour allotted flies;
Oh! do not wafte it with a fruitless tear!
Though griev'd to fee thy Silvia's pale difguife,
Sufpend thy forrow, and attentive hear.

So may thy Muse with virtuous fame be blest!
So be thy love with mutual love repaid!
So may thy bones in facred filence rest,

Faft by the reliques of fome happier maid ́!
Thou know'st, how lingering on a distant shore
Disease invidious nipt my flowery prime;
And oh what pangs my tender bofom tore,
To think I ne'er muft view my native clime!

No friend was near to raise my drooping head;
No dear companion wept to fee me die;
Lodge me within my native foil, I faid;
There my fond parents honour'd reliques lie.

Though

Though now debarr'd of each domeftic tear; Unknown, forgot, I meet the fatal blow; There many a friend shall grace my woeful bier,

And many a figh fhall rife, and tear fhall flow. I fpoke, nor fate forbore his trembling spoil; Some vernal mourner lent his careless aid; And foon they bore me to my native foil,

Where my fond parents dear remains were laid. 'Twas then the youths, from every plain and grove, Adorn'd with mournful verfe thy Silvia's bier; 'Twas then the nymphs their votive garlands wove, And ftrew'd the fragrance of the youthful year. But why, alas! the tender fcene display? Could Damon's foot the pious path decline? Ah no! 'twas Damon first attun'd his lay, And fure no fonnet was fo dear as thine. Thus was I bofom'd in the peaceful grave; My placid ghost no longer wept its doom; When favage robbers every fanction brave, And with outrageous guilt defraud the tomb! Shall my poor corfe, from hoftile realms convey'd, Lofe the cheap portion of my native fands? Or, in my kindred's dear embraces laid,

Mourn the vile ravage of barbarian hands? Say, would thy breast no death-like torture feel, To fee my limbs the felon's gripe obey? To see them gash'd beneath the daring steel ? To crowds a spectre, and to dogs a pray?

If Pean's fons thefe horrid.rites require,
If health's fair science be by these refin'd,
Let guilty convicts, for their use, expire;

And let their breathlefs corfe avail mankind.

Yet hard it seems, when guilt's last fine is paid,
To fee the victim's corfe.deny'd repose!
Now, more severe! the poor offenceless maid
Dreads the dire outrage of inhuman foes.
Where is the faith of ancient pagans fled ?
Where the fond care the wandering manes claim?
Nature, inftinctive, cries, Protect the dead,
And facred be their afhes, and their fame :
Arife, dear youth! ev'n now the danger calls;
Ev'n now the villain fnuffs his wonted prey;
See! fee! I lead thee to yon' facred walls-
Oh! fly to chase these human wolves away.”

B

Reflections fuggested by his fituation.

ORN near the fcene for Kenelm's fate renown'd

I take my plaintive reed, and range the grove,
And raife my lay, and bid the rocks refound
The favage force of empire, and of love.

Fat by the centre of yon' various wild,
Where fpreading oaks embower a Gothic fane;
Kendrida's arts a brother's youth beguil'd;
There nature urg'd her tenderest pleas in vain.