I'J^r. POETRY. 2S9 



Tbe Times. 



Hail happy times, when peace fucceeds eacli broil, 



And flowing plenty crowns the laborer's toil : 



When church and ftate unite in focial bands. 



And growing commerce joins the diftant lands : 



When riling p:nius feels no deep dcfpa'r. 



And budding virtue's nurs'd with tender care: 



When dire revenge no more our rights alfail, 



Emmantl'd o'er with feerning pious zeal; ; ■- 



Th' untainted mule oft courrs the glades and ftreams, 



And fp reads lier ftores before enliv'ning Beams ; 



Sometimes exploring the hiltoiic page, 



Reviews the adverfe fcenes offormer age. 



When truth and genius link in f-rvile fear, 



And noblell virtues form'd no fafe barrier: 



Ev'n thou, for whofe unblemifli'd honours rife 



The column. high, thy fame t' inmiortalize. 



Deep felt th' effefts of an ungrateful age ; 



The (ling of envy.tipt with papal rage. 



Let grafping av'rice ftraln with all her might, 



And gnawing envy grudge another's right. 



Tho' vice, with all her fmiling train combin'd, 



Unfurl her blazing flreameis to the wind, 



Firm virtue's pow'rs the nobleft trophies bring. 



And wear the garland of immortal Spring. 



When envious Johnson tow'rd the Scotian round, 



With narrow foul in frozen fetters bound, 



Nor grove, nor tree, nor fertile flow'ry vale, 



Gould pJeafe his optics, or his mind regale. 



A barren defart, which no verdure yields. 



Unlocked paftnres, and uncultur'd fields : 



Bent to detract, inaliciouily defcribes 



A barb'rous language, and ungenerous tribes; 



A coward race, by nature's law confign'd 



To lland uiicypher'd, and to fcience blind. 



Shrunk from himfelf, he dropt his vir'lent quill, 



^^nd own'd thy merit — fore ag/ainft his will. 



Vol. V. Oo i 



