Galled by affliction's heavy chain, Strange fondness of the human heart, Enamoured of its harm! Strange world, that costs it so much smart, Whence has the world her magic power? The cause is Conscience-Conscience oft Her voice is terrible though soft, Then anxious to be longer spared, "Tis judgment shakes him; there's the fear And must despair to pay. Pay!-follow Christ, and all is paid: 36 ON A SIMILAR OCCASION. FOR THE YEAR 1793. De sacris autem hæc sit una sententia, ut conserventur. Cic. de Leg. But let us all concur in this one sentiment, that things sacred be inviolate. He lives, who lives to God alone, And all are dead beside; For other source than God is none To live to God is to requite But life, within a narrow ring Can life in them deserve the name, For what poor toys they can disclaim Who, much diseased, yet nothing feel, Who deem his house a useless place, Who trample order; and the day, If scorn of God's commands, impressed The better part of man unblessed Such want it, and that want, uncured Sad period to a pleasant course! INSCRIPTION. FOR THE TOMB OF MR. HAMILTON. PAUSE here, and think; a monitory rhyme And many a time, like Hamilton's, aloud EPITAPH ON A HARE. HERE lies, whom hound did ne'er pursue, Old Tiney, surliest of his kind, Though duly from my hand he took And, when he could, would bite. His diet was of wheaten bread, With sand to scour his maw. On twigs of hawthorn he regaled, A Turkey carpet was his lawn, But most before approaching showers, Eight years and five round rolling moons And every night at play. I kept him for his humour's sake, For he would oft beguile My heart of thoughts that made it ache, And force me to a smile. But now beneath his walnut shade He finds his long last home, 1 And waits, in snug concealment laid, He, still more aged, feels the shocks, EPITAPHIUM ALTERUM. Hic etiam jacet, Qui totum novennium vixit Puss. Qui præteriturus es,—— Nec imbres nimii, Confecere: Tamen mortuus est- STANZAS. ON THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF SIR CHARLES GRANDISON, IN 1753. To rescue from the tyrant's sword To cheer the face of wo; From lawless insult to defend An orphan's right- a fallen friend And a forgiven foe; These, these distinguish from the crowd, |