1791 • THE TEMPLE TLUTUS. ' 



Which, while they glitter'd in his bread, 

 Leffen'd the real pains that his torn limbs diftreff'd. 

 But foon more hturible grew all around, 

 IVIore horrid brambles veil the trcach'rous ground; 

 Tremenduous rocks, and craggy fteeps.appcar'd. 

 Wide gating pits, and fiillen caverns frown'd ; 

 Impervious woods their fable tops uprear'd. 

 Nought could the diftnal fcene fupply, 

 To gladden now his hopelefs eye. 

 His golden profpeds f3ed ; 

 And to enhance his woes, 

 A furious ftorm atofe. 

 And night's black fliades coUeded round his head. 



•Beneath no friendly (hade 

 Down the poor fhepherd his tir'd body laid; 

 All night he wept, he groan'd, he figh'd, 

 Whilft the loud tempeft feem'd his forrows to deride. 

 The orient morn at length appear'd, 

 And homeward the lad fhepherd ftser'd 



The other fwain, whom no rafli thoughts impell'd, 

 With untir'd perfeverance held 



The long but eafy road. 

 No finking marfh impeded his plain way. 

 No rugged fleepsor fences cauf'd delay ; 



Nor brake nor brier his body pain'd : 

 Soon the bright temple he attained. 

 And fhar'd the liberal bounties of th€ god. 



The fureft way to Plutus' lov'd abode 

 Is honefty, alas ! now feldom trod ; 

 'I'hofe who with patience that plain path retain, 

 Not often find the journey made in vain ; 

 While thofe who deviate from its facrcd courfev 

 Oft find the temple difficult to gain, 

 Mtift dreadful dangers dare. 

 Feel all thebrambly torments of remorfe. 

 Tempt pits of foul difgrace, and caverns of defpair. 



