7 
1801.] 
Where they would not be affronted, 
I could gladly {pare them now. 
She—If I knew to whofe protection 
I could give my little darlings, 
Who would take them out a-walking, 
I fhould think myfelf oblig’d. 
He—My worthy Croaker, I at length muf 
now reveal , 
What I fo long have hid, howe’er it trouble 
rou : 
A thamelefs fellow wanders up and down the 
town, 
And cries, ** Ye Citizens, ‘receive the word 
of truth : 
AGivity alone to man is happinefs. 
Tis this creates whate’er is good, and then 
converts 
E’en feeming ills with godlike virtuous 
touch to good. 
Then up betimes to-morrow—aye—and. tho’ 
ye find 
What vefterday ye built, already overturn’d— 
Begin again, like ants, and brifkly clear away 
The rubbifh; lay another plan, try other 
means— 
Thus fhall ye, tho’ the joints, which knit 
the world 
Together, fhould be torn afunder, and itfelf 
Sink inone mighty ruin, build it up again 
‘The wonder and delight of all eternity.” 
Thus {peaks the filly fellow, and ftirs up the 
town, 
Andon the road is heard no voice of mifery, 
And no one creeps into the corners forrowful. 
I know I need not bid you haften ferth to 
ftop, ; 
If potlible, the progrefs of this growing ill. 
[Exit Croaker.} 
“But thou art, I muft own it, honef Ever- 
right, 
More grievoufly attack’d 5 itis not to be borne. 
For liften—in the porches on the market- 
place 
A ftranger propagates this herefy 5 he fwears 
That Ever-right is,forthis reafon, never right, 
Becaufe he ever is, and ever will be right. 
He fays that no one’s right, but he, who knows 
to folve : 
All feeming contradiétions with fagacity ; 
Who underftands another, tho” perhaps he-be 
_ By others nothing lefs than underftood.— 
Thefe het’rodox opinions he difleminates. 
[Ever-right hurries away] 
Thou haften’ft forth !-I recognize old Ever- 
right ! on 
She—Thou haft, as it fhould feem, difmiff’d 
the favages 
For love of me—that has indeed a friendly © ‘ 
‘I value youth, which now for me begins to 
leok-- 
And J too for my part am well inclin’d to- 
fend 
Away thefe little creatures which difpleafe you 
c to, 
Were I but-certain, that they would not be 
~expos’d 
Original Poetry: 
j 235 
| 
To want or danger ’mongft the people here 
alone. 
He—Come hither—-I will give them both a 
‘fafe efcort : 
[ The Children advance from the SanGuary] 
Go forth, my children—yet I charge you to 
fulfill 
This rule of condué& ftri@ly which my pru- 
dence gives: 
Blancbec, avoid old Croaker 3 Saucebox, ever 
fhun 
The ways of Ever-right;—-and thus I think 
we have 
Security for peace in this good town, 
She—leaving the Sanétuary and feating bere 
Self at the Old Man's fide. ~ 
“* Now fafely quitting my retreat 
I can with confidence approach ;—~ 
O! look on me, and tell me true 
Is fuch a change then poffible ! 
Thou feem’ft to me in youthful prime—. 
Thou feem’ft an aftive, vig’rous man, 
This rofy chaplet in my hair, 
Would fure become thy brows.as well, 
He—At fight of thee I feel myfelf 
More vig’rous in my inmoft foul ; 
. And now that thou’rt fo near to me, 
Thou feem’ft to be a modeft, ftaid, 
And lovely being; and forfooth 
The civic crown upon my head 
Entwin’d of plaited oaken leaves, 
I fhould behold with extacy 
Upon thy brows, and in thy hair. 
She-—Thenlet us try it, and exchange 
The chaplets, which, too obftinate, 
We both exclufively have worn: 
See mine already I renounce ! 
' ‘ [ Yaking off the Garland of Rofes} 
He—taking off the Oaken Crown. 
T alfo mine—"twixt us then be, : 
With this myfterious exchange, 
An everlafting covenant 
Concluded, which fhall blefs the town 
| He places it upon ber Head, ] 
She—This oaken chaplet’s dignity 
Shall ever warn me not to {pare 
The glorious pains, with every day 
To merit this fublime reward. 
[ She places the Rofes on his Head.] 
He—This rofy garland’s gaiety 
Shall aye remind me, that, as once 
So now, for me there blofioms. ftill 
In life’s fair garden many a joy. 
I 
She—rifing and advancing. 
I honour age, which has already liv’d for me. 
He—rifing and advancing. 
live. 4) 
She—Wilt thou be patient, if it ripen tardily > 
He—When ripe it will be fweet, tho’now the 
fruit be green. 3 
ShemeMine be the kernel, fweet altho the 
fhell be hard. 
— Hha Eteoasa 
