Meantime, noise kills not. Be it Dapple's bray, And rush those other sounds, that seem by tongues 120 While thus she spake, I fainter heard the peals, For Reynard, close attended at his heels By panting dog, tir'd man, and spatter'd horse, Through mere good fortune took a diff'rent course. The flock grew calm again, and I, the road Much wonder'd, that the silly sheep had found So sweet to huntsman, gentleman, and hound. 130 MORAL. Beware of desp'rate steps. The darkest day, Live till to morrow, will have pass'd away. BOADICEA. AN ODE. WHEN the British warrior queen, Bleeding from the Roman rods, Sought, with an indignant mien, Counsel of her country's gods, Sage beneath the spreading oak Full of rage, and full of grief. Princess! if our aged eyes Weep upon thy matchless wrongs, "Tis because resentment ties All the terrours of our tongues. Rome shall perish-write that word Perish, hopeless and abhorr'd, Rome, for empire far renown'd, Tramples on a thousand states; Soon her pride shall kiss the ground Hark! the Gaul is at her gates! Other Romans shall arise, Heedless of a soldier's name; Sounds, not arms, shall win the prize, 10 20 Then the progeny that springs From the forests of our land, Arm'd with thunder, clad with wings, Regions Cæsar never knew Thy posterity shall sway; 30 Where his eagles never flew, None invincible as they. Such the bard's prophetic words, She, with all a monarch's pride, Dying hurl'd them at the foe. 40 Ruffians, pitiless as proud, Heav'n awards the vengeance due; Empire is on us bestow'd, Shame and ruin wait for you. HEROIS M. THERE was a time when Ætna's silent fire Slept unperceiv'd, the mountain yet entire; A conflagration lab'ring in her womb, 10 |