150 
woven with their attendant luxuries, has 
been considered as the origin of the de- 
elension of that city. 
But though this weakness be found with 
men of talents, itis not so with men of 
science: these are born with a patient 
temperament, (the proper soil for know- 
Jedge,) and this is one reason chat ‘gran- 
deur and its appendages have little m- 
fluence over them. There is also another: 
the objects of a philosophic mind are 
sttperior ; reason and truth have a po- 
tent efficacy in bracing every faculty of 
the soul, and, enlarging every power of 
the understanding. Men employed in 
deep researches, whether they’ dive into 
the properties of matter, watch the .re- 
volution of orbs, or study the solution of 
probiems,are not very hkely to be diverted 
Origmal Poetry. | 
[March 1, 
from their pursuits even by social enter- 
tainments, or convivial powers; muclr 
less to be dazzled by the dignity of pe- 
digree, the glitter of pomp, or the ele- 
gances of address. 
Fancy may seek for beauties to dee 
picture, and wit for manners to del. 
neate ; but philosophy has no other aim 
than discoveries to instruct : : 
Principibus placuisse viris non ultima ldus est,* 
Hor. Epist. +7. Lib. 1. 
may be the sentiment of men of taste 3. 
but itis the nature of men.of science, ta 
behold birth, aflluence, and splendor, 
oculo zrretorto, ait 
mete DE 
* ~~ Nor mean the praise, 
These deities of haman-kind to please, 
FRANCIS, 
ORIGINAL POETRY. 
Se ae 
THE OAK. 
arPWAS winter; and except a leaf 
Yet trembling here and there, 
December, icy-handed thief, 
Had stript the forest bare. 
Its tawny foliage strown around, 
And silver’d o’er with sleet} 
Profusely carpeted the ground, 
And rustled to my feet ; 
When ’mid the solitary sceney 
A rustic seat I sought, 
And pensive, yet devoid of spleeny 
Induly’d a moral thought. 
mi | 
- Ain aged oak with ample head, 
And arms extended wide, e 
Part living, shiver’d part, and dead, 
Rose tow’ring by my side. 
A hoary rime its branches grac’d, 
_ Resembling. most a beard 5 
While, clasping its gigantic waist, 4 
‘An ivy green appear’d. 
Its rev’rend aspect fixt my eye 5 
Ifelta pleasingawe; — 
A ruminating reverie, 
Inspir’d by what I saw : 
When Faney, whose creative power 
Can give totreesatongue, 
And furnish from their mystic)lore « 
«¢ A sermon ora song,” 
Employing all her magic here, aN 
Gave language to an oak; } 
Which, thus admovishing my ear, -- 
Tniclligibly spoke:— 
Vain mortal! wherefore dost thou come, 
My nakedness to see ? 
- “Why leave a comfortable home, 
< po? s 
Te moralize on me: her. 
s 
All rified as Fam and torn, 
To taunt me com’st thou here? 
_ Ox dost-thou come, with me to moura 
The exit of the year? 
W hate’er thy motive, mortal, take - 
Instruction from a tree, 
And condescend for once to make 
Comparison with me. ai 
If honour, join’d to length of days, 
Thou fondly wouldst obtain, 
Behold an object that pourtrays 
At once, and proves them vain ! 
For monarch of the woods am I, 
The mightiest of my name 5 
A monarch, not by courtesy, 
- But by a prouder claim. 
Two cent’ries round their circles roll’d, 
Ere Tattained my prime; 
Another, ere I waxed old, 
Was register’d by Time. 
Surviving still, though wounded strong, — 
I brave the wintry blast; 
And many a man in years now young, 
Wiil not behold my last. 
Yet be whose all-destroying stroke 
Lays men and forests low, -- — 
Will level me!———_No more it spoke, 
But ended witha bow. 3 
6¢ Will level me!’ My muse records « 
The language o’er again ; 
6 Will level me!” Emphatic words! = - 
Nor altogether yain. (aehes 
Fer, musing as | homeward turn’d, 
_ Lown it humbled me, 
To think that I might lie inurn’d 
Ere fell this aged tree. 
Chelmsford. . 
/ 
a 
J. Porreng 
