The world may dance along the flow'ry plain, 20 But he, who knew what human hearts would prove, To rescue from the ruins of mankind, Call'd for a cloud to darken all their years, And said, "Go spend them in the vale of tears." O balmy gales of soul-reviving air, O salutary streams that murmur there, grace above, These flowing from the fount of Chill blasts of trouble nip their springing joys, 30 An envious world will interpose it's frown Transform'd to blessings, miss their cruel aim; And ev'ry moment's calm, that sooths the breast, Is giv'n in earnest of eternal rest. Ah be not sad, although thy lot be cast 40 So once in Gideon's fleece the dews were found, And drought on all the drooping herbs around. 50 TO THE REV. W. CAWTHORNE UNWIN. UNWIN, I should but ill repay The kindness of a friend, Whose worth deserves as warm a lay Thy name omitted in a page, That would reclaim a vicious age. A union form'd as mine with thee, May be as fervent in degree, And faithful in it's sort, And may as rich in comfort prove, As that of true fraternal love. 10 The bud inserted in the rind, The bud of peach or rose, Adorns, though diff'ring in it's kind, With flow'r as sweet, or fruit as fair, As if produc'd by nature there. Not rich, I render what I may, I seize thy name in haste, And place it in this first essay, Lest this should prove the last. "Tis where it should be-in a plan That holds in view the good of man. The poet's lyre, to fix his fame, Should be the poet's heart; Affection lights a brighter flame 20 |