1811] 
“ Here let us hide from scorching noon, 
€ Thro’ groves for food or pleasure runy 
© And slumber in the shade 5 
¢ Here with our little fry repair, 
# To teach them oft our daily prayer: 
*¢ Heaven’s blessings on thy head.” 
§ May disappointment never thwart, 
¢ The wishes of thy generous heart, 
© Thy house > good and great 5 
But should Afflict scorching heat, 
€ On you or them intensely beat, ! 
€ Your’s be the saie retreat! 
© The sheltering bower, the cool recess, 
« The approving mind, the home of bliss, 
¢ The smile of Heaven’s great King; 
«Who reigns with universal sway, 
¢ Whom men and fishes must obey, 
‘Whom men and angels sing! 
if on’s 
Banks of the Esk. ITIEKLAD, 
IN AFFLICTION. 
ROLL on, roll on, ye heavy hours, 
And set this heart at rest, 
Yet let no selfish thought, ye Pow’rs, 
Find place within this breast. 
Nopatient let me bear the ills, 
By crue] men designed; 
Nor let their malice triumph o’er 
My firm unshaken mind. 
My pallid cheek and hollow eye, 
Tothem would pleasure give, 
But all their malice Pil defy, 
Determined still to live. 
When these proud men shall have their turn, 
And humbled be in mind, 
Then thou poor foolish throbl bing heart, 
The tri@mph shall be thine: 
Then wilt thou verify the poet’s line, 
*¢ Toerr is human—to forgive divine.” 
TUG oe 
Ee 
THOUGHTS ON LIFE. 
IN IRREGULAR VERSE.—=PART I. 
QOH ! what is life ? a scene of toil and care, 
A few short months of sad vicissitude, 
A wilderness beset with many a snare, 
An ocean with unnumber’d wrecks be- 
strew'd. 
Toss’d by conflicting hope ti fear, 
The sport of adverse passions wild ; 
O*er this rough sea my course I steer, 
_ By Fancy’s syren voice too oft beguiled. 
She gives the word, and visions fair 
Transport the ravish’d mind, 
_. And tempt its swelling powers to dare 
_ The scorn or envy of mankind. 
ler voice would fain arouse’ the soul 
To brave the frowning steep that leads to 
*) “fame, 
‘To burst through every strong controul, 
And seize some laurel’d name! 
Ah, vain illusion of the mind ! 
As Reason fe-assumes her sway, 
These tow ering projects melt away, 
And leave the aspiring soul in chains confined. 
Montury Mas. No. 207. 
Original Rociry. 
539 
In life’s bright morning, childhood’s tranguil 
days, 
Fancy first tried her young unpractised ” 
i art; 
And pouring on my ear the breath of praise, 
By Hope caress’d, allur’d, and gain’d my 
heart. 
Oh most deceitful, most enchanting pair! 
Of all mast faithless, and of all most fair ! 
So.oft deluded by your artful wiles, 
Why do I call you to my arms? 
A dupe so oft to your bewitching smiles, _ 
Why am I stiil enamour’d of your charms 
Past are the scenes that once deceived ! 
_(Those scenes no more shall 1 behold, 
When my fond youthful heart believed 
The tales that Hope and Fancy told. 
Oh! what is life ? how little to be loved, 
Denied the purest, sweetest, bliss om 
earth! © int 
* Allow’d to feel, forbidden to be moved 
By all the charms of beauty, sense, and 
worth, 
Yet more to aggravate the pain 
That keenly wounds the troubled breast, 
Led‘ where domestic pleasures reign, 
Where social peace resides a constan¢ 
fuest. 
Deeply the spirit sighs thos se joys to see 3 
Unenvious sighs—Such ] joy is not for met 
Now o’er the rugged path of life, 
Slowly Ltrace my solitary way 5 
While boding fears ‘provoke a hateful strife, 
' And hopes deferr’d emit a sickly ray. 
Yet, why was placid Sorrow drest 
In charms that captivate the mind ; 
And pour into the tranquil breast 
A joy that mirth could never find ? 
Tired with perplexing trifles through the 
day, 
Full-oft I feel this fascinating power, © 
Possess my thoughtiul bosom while I stray 
Alone, at evening’s sweetly solemn ier 
Oh ! what is life ? and wherefore was it given 
To this frail form, to earth and worms. 
allied ? 
‘Child of the dust! why soar my thoughts te 
heaven ? 
Vex’d with the low pursuits of worldly 
pride ? 
Why was aspark of heavenly fire . 
Within this mortal frame confined ? 
And why should many a vain desire 
Torment my restless mind? 
ell me, oh love of virtnous fame | 
Wherefore was thy seal imprest 
Glowing on this youthful breast, 
That loves a Hanway’ s, or a Howard's 
name ? 
Why, to mock my feeble powers, 
Dost thou raise my wishes high, 
While vain imagination towers 
On eagle wings to reach the sky? ? 
Ah! well thou know’st, I scorns the praise 
That Folly’ s sons to worthless grandeur 
raise, ; 
3Z Much 
