POETRY. 923 



My fancy riots in successive scenes 



Ot bliss and pleasures : plans and schemes are laid 



How best the fleeting moments to improve, 



Nor lose one portion of so rare a boon. 



But soon, too soon, these glorious scenes arc fled ; 



Scarce one short moon enjoy'd, (oh ! transient state 



Of sublunary bliss ! ) by bitter change ; 



And other scenes succeeded, what hcrce pangs 



Then rack my soul ; what ceaseless floods of grief 



Rush down my cheeks, while strong convulsive throbs 



Heave all my frame, and choke the power of speech . 



p'orlorn I sigh ; nor heed the gentle voice 



Of friend or stranger, who with soothing words, 



And slender gift, would fain beguile my woes ! 



In vain ; for what can ought avail to soothe 



Such raging anguish ! Oft with sudden glance, 



Before my eyes, in all its horrors, glares 



That well-known form, and oft I seem to hear 



The thund'ring scourge !— Ah me ! e'en now I feal 



Its deadly venom, raging as the pangs 

 That tore Alcides, when the burning vest 



Prcy'd on his wasted sides.— At length return'd 



Within these hated walls, again I mourn, 



A sullen prisoner, till the wish'd approach 



Of joyous holiday, or festive play, 



Releases me : ah 1 freedom that must end 



With Ihee, declining Sol. All hail, ye saints ! 



Ye deathless martyrs ! whose recorded names 



Adorn the annual chronologic page 



Of fVing OT Partridge: oft, when sore oppress'd 



With dire calamities, the glad return 



Of your triumphant festivals, hath checr'd 



My drooping soul. Nor be thy name forgot, 



Illustrious George, for much to thee I owe 



Of heart-felt rapture, as with loyal zeal 



Glowing, 1 pile the crackling bonfire high, 



Or hurl the mounting rocket thro' the air, 



Or fiery whizzing serpent ; thus thy name 



Shall still behonor'd,as thro' future years, 



The circling seasons roll their festive round. 



Sometimes, by dire compulsive hunger press'd, 

 I spring the neigh'bring fence, and scale the trunk 

 Of apple-trees ; or, wide o'er flow'ry lawns. 

 By hedge or thicket, bend my hasty steps, 

 Intent, with secret ambush, to surprise 

 The straw-built nest, and unsuspecting brood 

 Of thrush or bullfinch ; oft, with watchful ken, .^^ 



