846 



THE TRAVELLER. 



Where shading elms along the margin grew, 

 And, freshened from the wave, the zephyr flew ; 

 And Imply, though my harsh touch faltering still, 

 But mocked all tune, and marred the dancers' skill, 

 Yet would the village praise my wonderous power, 

 And dance, forgetful of the noon-tide hour ! 

 Mike all ages. Dames of ancient days 

 Slave led their children through the mirthful maze ; 

 And the gay grandsire, skilled in gestic lore, 

 Has frisked beneatli the burden of threescore. 



So blessed a life these thoughtless realms display, 

 Thus idly busy rolls their world away: 

 Theirs are those arts that mind to mind endear, 

 For honour forms the social temper here. 

 Honour, that praise which real merit gains, 

 Or e'en imaginary worth obtains, 

 Here passes current ; paid from hand to hand,. 

 It shifts in splendid traffic round the land ; 

 From courts to camps, to cottages it strays, 

 And all are taught an avarice of praise; 

 They please, are pleased, they give to get esteem, 

 Till seeming blessed, they grow to what they seem. 



But while this softer art their bliss supplies, 

 It gives their follies also room to rise; 

 For praise too dearly loved, or warmly sought, 

 Enfeebles all internal strength of thought; 

 And the weak soul, within itself unblessed, 

 Leans for all pleasure on another's breast. 

 Hence ostentation here with tawdry art, 

 Pants for the vulgar praise which fools impart t 

 Here vanity assumes her pert .grimace, 

 And trims her robes of frieze with copper lace ; 

 Here beggar-pride defrauds her daily cheer, 

 To boast one splendid banquet once a year ; 

 The mind still turns where shifting fashion draws, 

 Nor weighs the solid worth of self-applause. 



To men of other minds my fancy flies, 

 Embosomed in the deep where Holland lies. , 



Methinks her patient sons before me stand, 

 Where the broad ocean leans against the land: 

 And sedulous to stop the coming tide, 

 Lift the tall rampire's artificial pride. 

 Onward, nit-thinks, and diligently slow, 

 The firm connected bulwark seems to grow ; 

 Spreads its long arms amidst the watery roar, 

 Scoops out an empire, and usurps the shore, 



While the pent ocean, rising o'er the pile, 



Sees an amphibious world beneath him smile ; 



The slow canal, the yellow-blossomed vale, 



The willow-tufted bank, ihe gliding sail, 



The crowded mart, the cultivated plain ; 



A new creation rescued from his reigji. 



Thus while around the wave-subjected soil 



Impels the native to repeated toil, 



Industrious h;ibits in each bosom reign, 



And industry begets a love of gain. 



Hence all the good from opulence that springs, 



With all those ills superfluous treasure brings 



Are here displayed. Their much-loved wealth imparts- 



Convenience, plenty, elegance, and arts ; 



But view them closer, craft and fraud appear, 



E'en liberty itself is bartered here. 



At gold's superior charms all freedom flies, 



The needy sell it, and the rich man buys ; 



A land of tyrants, and a den of slaves, 



Here wretches seek dishonourable graves, 



And calmly bent, to servitude conform, 



Dull as their lakes that slumber in the storm. 



Heavens ! how unlike their Belgic sires of old ! 

 Rough, poor, content, ungovernably bold ; 

 War in each breast, and freedom on each brow ;. 

 How much unlike the sons of Britain now ! 



Fired at the sound, my genius spreads her wing, 

 And flies where Britain courts the western spring ; 

 Where lawns extend that scorn Arcadian pride, 

 And brighter streams than famed Hydaspis glide. 

 There all around the gentlest breezes stray, 

 There gentle music melts on every spray ; 

 Creation's mildest charms are there combined ; 

 Extremes are only in the master's mind ! 

 Stern o'er each bosom, reason holds her state, 

 With daring aims irregularly great : 

 Pride in their port, defiance in their eye, 

 I see the lords of human-kind pass by ; 

 Intent on high designs, a thoughtful band, 

 By forms unfashioned fresh from nature's hand; 

 Fierce in their native hardiness of soul, 

 True to imagined right, above control, 

 While e'en the peasant boasts these rights to scan, 

 And learns to venerate himself as man. 



Thine, Freedom, thine tire blessings pictured here, 

 Thine are those charms that dazzle and endear -. 



