MISCELLANEOUS. 93 



And minister strange music, which cloth seem 



Now near, now distant, now on high, now low, 



Then swelling from all sides, with bliss complete, 



And full fruition filling all the soul. 



Surely such ministry, tho' rare, may sooth 



The steep ascent, and cheat the lassitude 



Of toil ; and but that my fond heart 



Reverts to day-dreams of the summer gone. 



When by clear fountain, or embowered brake, 



I lay a listless muser, prizing far 



Above all other lore, the poet's theme ; 



But for such recollections I could brace 



My stubborn spirit for the arduous path 



Of science unregretting ; eye afar 



Philosophy upon her steepest height. 



And with bold step, and resolute attempt, 



Pursue her to the innermost recess, 



Where thron'd in light she sits, the Queen of Truth. 



LIXES, 



Written Impromptu, on reading the follotving passage in 3fr Capel ! 

 Loft's beautiful and interesting preface to Nathaniel BloomfichVs 

 Fo'ems, just published. 



" It has a mixture ot' the sportive, which deepens the impression of its melan- , 

 choiv close. I could have wished, as I have said in a short note, the conclusion j 

 had "been otherwise. The sours of life less cfleud mv taste than ita sweets de- | 

 light it." 



Go to the raging sea, and say, " Be still," 

 Bid the wild lawless winds obey thy will ; 

 Preach to the storm, and reason with despair. 

 But tell not Misery's son that life is fair ! 

 Thou, who in Plenty's lavished lap hast rolled, 

 And every year with new delight hast told. 

 Thou, who recumbent on the lacquered barge. 

 Hast dropt down joy's gay stream of pleasant marge, 

 Thou mayest extol life's calm, untroubled sea, 

 The storms of misery never burst on thcc ! 



Go to the mat, where squalid want reclines, 

 Go to the shade obscure where merit pines ; 



