1792. poetry. . 23 



Why mark true rnerU miniaturely fade," 



Uncherifhed, unpio.ek.ced and unknown ; 

 Lose in obscurity's remotest ihaoe, 



The buds uf genius blasted soon a: blown! 

 Why must I see unpitied, unr.-drefs'd, 



The cruel injuries ot wanion pow'r; 

 Forc'd to conceal the anguilh ot my breast. 



Denied to sucfour whom I most deploie! 

 Yet he..ven can witnefs I ne'ei wifh'd tor wealth. 



Nor the gay follies of a foreign land ; 

 Ne'er sacrific'd to pleasure, peace ^nd health, 



Nor indolence preferr'd to useful toil; 

 Mine was the wiih, far from the world to plan 



The moral tale, instructive of my kindj 

 To point the best pursuits of social man, 



And form by steahh the uiicorrupted mindj 

 Unnotic'd to convey the pio.-iipt supply, 



To chear dull poverty's obscure abade; 

 To ri a,, trie language of the grateful eye, 



Catch the warm praise, and point as due to Godj 

 Of youth the kind affections to engge. 



To nuurlh te-nder infancy with bread j 

 With kind compaision cherilh feeble age, 



And give the cordial which I yet may need. 

 Ye- sa) IS hiippinefs to wealth allied, 



Had Hi aven so will'd, it n-: er had been afsign'd. 

 To gratify the wilh of pamper'd pride, 



Or work the purp: se of th' invidious mind. 

 Hence vain complaintsj rience and be hearJ no mord. 



Heaven's wo d'rous plan, to Heav'n is only knowm 

 Perhaps enuowd'd with affluence and pow'r, 



Thai, insolence I hate had been my own ; 

 With pleasure circled, and secure from fear. 



Perhaps a stranger to each softer tie 

 I ne'er had known compafsion's cordial tear. 



The lliou and cordial sw-ets of sympathy. 

 Though wealth by fTovidtuce his been deny'd. 



Fair is my lot, no ;iggard blifs is mine ; 

 For I can heal the wounds of honest pride. 



And teach revenge its pu pose to resignj 

 Can cherilh modest merit with applause, 



With kir.dncfs soothe the apprehensive mind ; 

 Can pleaii with boldnefi virtue's injur'd cause, 



Or hide the frailties of my feeble kind: 

 And oft 'he anguilh of thf bursting heart. 



The gentle voice of friendlhip will restialnj 

 A mite to indigence will joy impart, 



A pitying oigh, some respite give to pain, 

 A cheerful taie deceive the weight of years, 



A d'jubtful hope, the trembling tear s.ispend, 

 A wtlcome louk dispell a lover's f^rs. 



A simple ionnet please a partial friend. 



