Leave the rash soldier spoils of war to win, Won by the soldier thou shalt share the spoil: These softer cares my best allies employ, New pleasures to invent, to wish, and to enjoy."
Her winning voice the youth attentive caught: He gaz'd iinpatient on the smiling maid; Stili gaz'd, and listen'd; then her name besought: "My name, fairyouth, is Happiness," she said.. "Well can my friends this envied truth maintain; They share my bliss, the best can speak my praise:
Tho' Slander call me Sloth (detraction vain!), Heed not what Skander, vain detractor, says; Slander, still prompttrue merit to defame. [name." To blot the brightest worth, and blast the fairest By this arriv'd the fair majestic Maid;
She all the while, with the same modest pace, Compos'd advane'd: "Know, Hercules," shesaid With manly tone, "thy birth of heav'nly race: Thy tender age, that lov'd instruction's voice,
Promis'dthee generous, patient, brave, andwise: When manhood should confirm thy glorious Now expectation waits to see thee rise. [choice, Rise, youth! exalt thyself and me; approve Tay high descent from heaven, and dare be [disguise: "But what truth prompts, my tongue shall not The steep ascent must be with toil subdued; Watching and cares must win the lofty prize
Propos'd by Heaven-true bliss and real good. Honor rewards the brave and bold alone;
She spars the timorous, indolent, and base: Danger and toil stand stern before her throne, And guard (soJove commands) the sacred place, Who seeks her, must the mighty cost sustain, And pay the price of fame-labor, and care, and pain.
"Wouldst thou engage the gods peculiar care? O Hercules, th' immortal pow'rs adore! With a pure heart, with sacrifice, and pray'r, Attend their altars, and then aid implore. Or, wonldet thou gain thy country's loud applause, Lov'd as her father, as her god ador'd? Be thou the bold asserter of let cause;
Her voice in council, in the fight her sword: In peace, in war, pursue thy country's good; For her, bare thy bold breast, and pour thy ge- nerous blood.
Wouldst thou, to quell the proudandliftth opprest. In arts of war and matchless strength excel? First conquer thon thyself: to case, to rest, To each soft thought of pleasure, bid farewell. The night alternate, due to sweet repose,
In watches waste; in painful march, the day: Congeal'd amidst the rigorous winter's shows, Scorch'd by the summer's thirst-inflaming ray, Thy harden'd limbs shall boast superior might: Vigor shall brace thine arm, resistless in the tight. "Hear'st thou what monsters then thou must [prova?" What dangers, gentle youth, she bids thee
(Abrupt -ays Sloth) "I'll fit thy tender age Tumult and wars, fit age for joy and love. Turn, gentle youth, to me, to love, and joy! To these I lead: no monsters here shall stay Thine easy course; no cares thy peace annoy;
I lead to bliss a nearer, smoother way: Short is my way, fair, easy, smooth, and plain: Turn, gentle youth-with me eternal pleasures reign.
[thine?" "What pleasures, vain mistaken wretch, are (Virtue with scorn replied) "whosleep'stinease Insensate; whose soft limbs the toil decline That seasons bliss, andmakes enjoyment please: Draining the copious bowl ere thirst require; Feasting ere hunger to the feast invite: Whose tasteless joys anticipate desire,
Whom luxury supplies with appetite: Yet nature loaths, and you emplov in vain Variety and art to conquer her disdaim. "Thesparkling nectar coul'd with summer snows,
The dainty board with choicest viands spread, To thee are tasteless all! sincere repose Flies from thy flow ry couch and downy bed. For thou art only tired with indolence; Nor is thy sleep with toil and labor bought, Th' imperfect sleep, that lulls thy languid sense
In dull oblivious interval of thought; That kindly steals th' inactive hoursaway [theday. From the long ling ring space, that lengthens out
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From bounteous nature's unexhausted stores Flows the pure fountain of sincere delights: Averse to her, you waste the joyless hours; Sleep drowns thy days, and riot rules thy Imunortal thơ' thou art, indignant Jove [nights Hurl'd thee from heav'n, th' immortals blissful place,
For ever banish'd from the realms above,
To dwell on earth with man's degenerate Fitter abode! on earth alike disgrac'd; [race: Rejected by the wise, and by the fool embrse d. "Fond wretch, that vainly weenest all delight
To gratify the sense, reserv'd for thee! Yet the most pleasing object to the sight.
Thine own fair action never didst thou see. Tho' lull'd with softest sounds thou liest along, Soft music, warbling voices, meltinglays, [song Ne'er didst thou hear, more sweet than sweetest Charming the soul, thou ne'er didst hear thy No-to thy revels let the fool repair; [praise! To such go smooth thy speech, and spread thy
tempting snare. "Vast happiness enjoy thy gay allies! A youth of follies, an old age of cares; Young yet enervate, old yet never wise, [pairs. Vice wastes their vigor, and their mind im- Vain, idle, delicate, in thoughtless ease, [spend; Reserving woes for age, their prime they All wretched, hopeless, in the evil days, With sorrow to the verge of life they tend. Griev'd with the present, of the past asham'd, They live and are despis'd; they die, nor more
"But with the gods, and godlike men I dwell; Me, his supreme delight, th' Almighty Sire Regards well pleas'd: whatever works excel, All, or divine or human I inspire. Counsel with strength, and industry with art, In union meet conjoin'd with me reside: Mv dictates arm, instruct, and mend the heart, The surest policy, the wisest guide. [bind With me true friendship dwells: she deigna to Those generous souls alone, whom I before have join'd.
"Nor need my friends the various costly feast, Hunger to them th' effects of art supplies; Labor prepares their weary limbs to rest; Sweet is their sleep; light, cheerful, strong, they rise. [nown Thro' health, thro' joy, thro' pleasure and re- They tread my paths: and by a soft deseent At length to age all gently sinking down,
Look back with transport at a life well spent, In which no hour flew unimprov'd away; [day. In which some gen'rous deed distinguish'd ev'ry "And when the destin'd term at length's com- Their ashes rest in peace, eternal faime [plete, Sounds wide their praise: triumphant o'er fate, In sacred song for ever lives their name. This, Hercules, is happiness! obey
My voice, and live: let thy celestial birth Lift and enlarge thy thoughts: behold the way That leads to fame, and raises thee from earth, Jaumortal! Lo, I guide thy steps, Arise, [skies." Pursue the glorious path and claim thy native
Her words breathe fire celestial, and impart New vigor to his soul, that sudden caught The generous flame: with great intent his heart Swells full, and labors with exalted thought. The mist of errors from his eyes dispell'd, Thro' all her fraudful arts, in clearest light, Sioth in her native forin he now beheld; Unveil'd she stood confest before his sight. False Siren! - All her vaunted charins, that shone So fresh erewhile and fair, now wither'd, pale,
No more the rosy bloom in sweet disguise [grace Masks her dissembled looks; each borrow'd
pale siel Livid and sunk, and passions dim her face. [eyes As when fair Iris has awhile display'd Hor wat'ry arch with gaudy painture gay, While yet we gaze the glorious colors fade, And from our wonder gently steal away; Where shone the beauteous phantom, erst so bright,
Now low'rs the low-hung cloud, all gloomy to the sight.
Teach me! possess my soul! be thou my guide. From thee oh never, never let me stray!" While ardent thus the youth his vows address'd, With all the goddess fill'd, already glow'd his
The heav'nly maid with strength divine endued His daring soul; there all her pow'rs com- Firm constancy, undaunted fortitude, [bin'da Enduring patience, arm'd his mighty mind, Unmov'd in toils, in dangers undismay'd, By many a hardy deed and bold emprize, From fiercest monsters, thro' her powerful aid, He freed the earth! thro'her be gain'd the skies, 'Twas Virtue plae'd him in the blestabode; [god. Crown'd with eternal youth, among the gods a
§78. The Hermit. Parnell. FAR in a wild, unknown to public view, From youth to age a rev'rend Hermit grew; The moss his bed, the cave his humble cell. His food the fruits, his drink the crystal well Remote from man, with God he pass'd his days, Pray'r all his business, all his pleasure praise. A life so sacred, such serene repose, Seem'd hear'n itself till one suggestion rose - That vice should triumph, virtue vice obcy; This sprung some doubt of Providence's sway: His hopes no more a certain prospect boast, And all the tenor of his soul So when a smooth expanse receives imprest Calin nature's image on its wat'ry breast, [grow, Down bend the banks, the trees depending And skies beneath with answering colors
But if a stone the gentle sea divide, [glow: Swift ruffling circies curl on ev'ry side, And glimmering fragments of a broken sun; Banks, trees, and skies in thick disorder.run.
To clear this doubt, to know the world by To find if books or swains repor: it right, [sight, (For yet by swains alone the world he knew, Whose feet caine wand'ring o'er the nightly dew) He quits his cell; the pilgrim staff he bore, And tix'd the scallop in his hat before! Then with the sun a rising journey went,
Sedate to think, and watching each event.
The morn was wasted in the pathless grass, And long and lonesome was the wild to pass; But when the southern sun had warn'd the day, A youth came posting o'er a crossing way; His raiment decent, his complexion fair, And soft in graceful ringlets wav'd his hair: Then near approaching, ng, "Father, hail!" he cried And "Hail, my son!" the rev'rend sire replied. Words followed words, from question answer flow'd,
But Virtue more engaging, all the while frene Disclos'd new charms, more lovely, more se- Beaming sweet influence, a milder smile Soften'd the terrors of her lofty mien. Lead, goddess; thine!" transported oried Thus stands an aged elin in ivy bound,
And talk of various kind deceiv'd the road; Till each with other pleas'd, and loth to part, While in their age they differ, join in heart.
Alcides; "O propitious pow'r, thy way
Thus youthful ivy clasps an elin around.
Now sunk the sun; the closing hour of day Came onward, mantled o'er with sober grey; Nature in silence bid the world repose : When near the road a stately palace rose. [pass, There, by the moon, through ranks of trees they Whose verdure crown'd their sloping sides of It chane'd the noble master of the dome (grass. Stillmadehishousethewand'ring stranger's home; Yet still the kindness, from a thirst of praise, Prov'd the vain flourish of expensive ease. The pair arrive: the liveried servants wait; Their lord receives them at the pompous gate. The table groans with costly piles of food, And all is more than hospitably good. drown, Then, led to rest, the day's long toil they Deepsunk in sleep, and silk, and heaps of down. At length 'tis morn, and at the dawn of day
Along the wide canals the Zephyrs play; Fresh o'er the gay parterres the breezes creep, And shake the neighb'ring wood to banish Uprise the guests obedient to the call; [sleep. An early banquet deck'd the splendid hall; Rich luscious wine a golden goblet grac'd, Which the kind master fore'd the guests to taste, Then pleas'd and thankful, from the porch
And, but the landlord, none had cause of woe: His cup was vanish'd; for in secret guise The younger guest purloin'd the glitt'ring As one who spies a serpent in his way, [prize. Glist'ning and basking in the summer ray, Disorder'd stops to shun the danger near,
Then walks with faintness on, and looks with So seem'd the sire, when far upon the road [fear; The shining spoil his wily partner show'd. He stopp'd with silence, ce, walk'd with trembling
And much he wish'd, but durst not ask, to part: Murm'ring he lifts his eyes, and thinks it hard That gen'rous actions meet a base reward.
While thus they pass, the sun his glory shrouds, The changing skies hang out their sable clouds; A sound in air presag'd approaching rain, And beasts to covert scud across the plain. Warn'd by the signs, the wand'ring pair retreat To seek for shelter at a neighb'ring seat : 'Twas built with turrets on a rising ground, And strong, and large, and unimprov'd around; Its owner's temper, tim'rous and severe, Unkind and griping caus'd a desart there. As near the miser's heavy doors they drew, Fierce rising gusts with sudden fury blew; The nimble lightning mix'd with show'rs began, And o'er their heads loud rolling thunder ran, Here long they knock, but knock or call in vain, Driv'n by the wind and batter'd by the rain. At length some pity warm'd the master's breast ("Twas then his threshold first receiv'd a guest): Slow creaking turns the door with jealous care, And half he welcomes in th' shiv'ring pair; One frugal faggot lights the naked walls, [calls: And nature's fervor through their limbs re- Bread of the coarser sort with neagre wine,
(Each hardly granted) serv'd them both to dine:
And when the tempest first appear'd to cease, A ready warning bid them part in peace.
With still remark the pond'ring Hermitview'd, In one so rich a life so poor and rude; And why should such (within himself he cried) Lock the lost wealth a thousand want beside? But what new marks of wonder soon took place In ev'ry settling feature of his face, When from his vest the young companion bore That cup the gen'rous landlord own'd before. And paid profusely with the precious bowl The stinted kindness of this churlish soul!
But now the clouds in airy tumult fly; The sun emerging opes an azure sky; A fresher green the smelling leaves display, And, glitt'ring as they tremble, cheer the day: The weather courts them from the poor retreat, And the glad master bolts the wary gate.
While hence they walk the Pilgrim's bosom wrought
With all the travail of uncertain thought; His partner's acts without their cause appear; 'Twas there a vice; and seem'd a madness here: Detesting that, and pitying this, he goes, Lost and confounded with the various shows. Nownight's dimshades again involve the sky;? Again the wand'rers want a place to lie: Again they search, and find a lodging nigh. I
The soil improv'd around, the mansion neat, And neither poorly low nor idly great, It seem'd to speak its master's turn of mind, Content, and not for praise but virtue kind.
Ilither the walkers turn, with weary feet, Then bless the mansion, and the master greet. Their greeting fair, bestow'd with modest guise, comteous master hears and thus replies: "Without a vain, without a grudging heart, To him who gives us all, I yield a part; From him you come, for him accept it here, A frank and sober, more than costly cheer." He spoke, and bid the welcome table spread, Then talk'd of virtue till the time of bed; When the grave household round his hall repair, Warn'd by a bell, and close the hours with pray'r.
At length the world renew'd by calm repose, Was strong for toil; the dappled morn arose Before the Pilgrims part, the younger crept, Near the clos'd cradle, where an infant slept, And writh'd his neck: the landlord's little pride, O strange return! grew black, and gasp'd, and Horror of horrors! what! his only son? [died, How look'dour Hermit when the fact was done Not hell, tho' hell's black jaws in sunder part, Andbreathe blue fire, could more assault his heart. Confus'd and struck with silence at the deed, He flies; but, trembling fails to fly with speed, Ilis steps the youth pursues : the country lay Perplex'd with roads; a servant show'd the way: A river cross'd the path; the passage o'er Was nice to find; the servant trod before: Longarmsofoaks an open bridge supplied, [glide. Anddeep the waves beneath the bending branches The youth, who seem'd to watch a time to sin, Approach'd the careless guide, and thrust himin: Plunging
Plunging he falls; and rising lifts his head; Then flashing turns and sinks among the dead. Wild sparkling rage inflames the father's eyes; He bursts the bands of fear, and madly cries, "Detested wretch!"--But scarcehisspeechbegan, When the strange partner seem'd no longer man. Ilis youthful face grew more serenely sweet; His robe turn'd white, and flow'd upon his feet; Fair rounds of radiant points invest his hair; Celestial odors breathe through purpled air; And wings whose colors glitter'd on the day, Wide at his back their gradual plumes display. The form ethereal bursts upon his sight, And moves in all the majesty of light.
Tho' loud at first the Pilgrim's passion grew, Sudken he gaz'd and wist not what to do; Surprise in secret chains his words suspends, And in a calm his settling temper ends. But silence here the beauteous angel broke (The voice of music ravish'd as he spoke): "Thypray'r, thypraise.thylifetoviceurknown, In sweet memorial rise before the throne: These charms success in our bright region find, And force an angel down to calm thy mind; For this commission'd, I forsook the sky- Nay, kneel!-thy fellow-servant I. "Then know the truth of governinent divine, And let these scruples be no longer thine. "The Maker justly claims that world he made, In this the right of Providence is laid;
Its sacred majesty through all depends
On using second means to work his ends;
The poor fond parent, humbled in the dust, Now owns in tears the punishment was just,
"But how had all his fortunes felt a wrack, Had that false servant sped in safety back! This night his treasur'd heaps he meant to steal, And what a fund of charity would fail! Thus Heav'n instructs thy mind: this trial o'er, Depart in peace, resign, and sin no more."
On sounding pinions here the youth withdrew; The sage stood wond'ring as the seraph flew. Thus look'd Elisha, when, to mount on high, His master took the chariot of the sky : The fiery pomp ascending left the view; The prophet gaz'd, and wish'd to follow too.
The bending Hermit here a pray'r begun: Lord! as in Leav'n, on earth thy will be done. Then, gladly turning, sought his antient place, And pass'd a life of piety and peace.
§ 79. The Fire-Side. Cotton.
DEAR Chloe, while the busy crowd, The vain, the wealthy, and the proud, In Folly's maze advance:
Tho' singularity and pride Be call'd our choice, we'll step aside, Nor join the giddy dance. From the gay world we'll oft retire To our own family and fire,
Where love our hours employs;
'Tis thus withdrawn in state from human eye, No noisy neighbour enters here,
The pow'r exerts his attributes on high;
Your actions uses, nor controls your will,
And bids the doubting sons of men be still. [prise, "What strange events can strike with more sur- Then those which latelystruckthywond ringeyes? Yet, taught by these, confess th' Almighty just And, where you can't unriddle, learn to trust. "Thegreat vain man, who far'd on costly food, Whose life was too luxurious to be good;
Who made his iv'ry stands with goblets shine, And fore'd his guests to morning draughts ofwine; Has with the cup, the graceless custom lost, And still he welcomes, but with less of cost. "Themeansuspiciouswretch, whosebolted door Ne'er mov'd in pity to the wand'ring poor, With him I left the cup, to teach his mind That Heaven can bless, if mortals will be kind. Conscious of wanting worth, he views the bowl, And feels compassion touch his grateful soul. Thus artists melt the sullen ore of lead, With heaping coals of fire upon its head; In the kind warmth the metal learns to glow, And loose from dross, the silver runs below.
"Long had our pious frlends in virtue trod, Butnow the child half-wean'd his heart from God; (Child of his age) for him he liv'd in pain, And measur'd back his steps to earth again. To what excesses had his dotage men! But God, to save the father took the son. To all but thee in fits he seem'd to go; And 'twas my ministry to deal the blow.
No intermeddling stranger near, To spoil our heart-felt joys. If solid happiness we prize, Within our breast this jewel lies;
And they are fools who roam: The world has nothing to bestow; From our own selves our joys must flow, And that dear hut, our home.
Of rest was Noah's dove bereft, When with impatient wing she left
That safe retreat, the ark; Giving her vain excursion o'er, The disappointed bird once more Explor'd the sacred bark. Tho fools from Hymen's gentle pow'rs, We, who improve his golden hours,
By sweet experience know, That marriage, rightly understood, Gives to the tender and the good
A paradise below.
Our babes shall richest comforts bring; If tutor'd right, they 'll prove a spring Whence pleasures ever rise: We 'll form their minds, with studious care,
To all that's manly, good and fair, And train them for the skies.
While they our wisest hours engage, They 'll joy our youth, support our age, And crown qur hoary hairs:
They 'll grow in virtue ev'ry day, And thus our fondest loves repay, And recompense our cares.
No borrow'd joys, they 're all our own, While to the world we live unknown,
Or by the world forgot: Monarchs! we envy not your state; We look with pity on the great, And bless our humble lot.
Our portion is not large, indeed; But then how little do we need! For nature's calls are few:
In this the art of living lies, To want no more than may suffice, And make that little do.
We 'll therefore relish, with content, Whate'er kind Providence has sent,
Nor aim beyond our pow'r; For, if our stock be very small, 'Tis prudence to enjoy it all,
Nor lose the present hour. To be resign'd when ills betide, Patient when favors are denied,
And pleas'd with favors given; Dear Chloe, this is wisdom's part; This is that incense of the heart
Whose fragrance smells to heaven. We'll ask no long protracted treat, Since winter life is seldom sweet; But, when our feast is o'er, Grateful, from table we 'll arise, Nor grudge our sons with envious eyes The relics of our store.
Thus, hand in hand, thro' life we 'll go; Its chequer'd paths of joy and woe
With cautious steps we'll tread; Quit its vain scenes without a tear, Without a trouble or a fear,
And mingle with the dead. While conscience, like a faithful friend, Shall thro' the gloomy vale attend, And cheer our dying breath; Shall, when all other comforts cease, Like a kind angel whisper peace,
And smooth the bed of death.
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All my ambition is, I own, To profit and to please unknown; Like streams supplied from springs below, Which scatter blessings as they flow.
Were you diseas'd, or press'd with pain, Straight you 'd apply to Warwick Lane. The thoughtful Doctor feels your pulse (No matter whether Mead or Hulse), Writes-Arabic to you and me- Then signs his hand, and takes his fee. Now, should the sage omit his name, Would not the cure remain the same? Not but physicians sign their bill, Or when they cure, or when they kill.
'Tis often known, the mental race Their fond ambitious sires disgrace. Dar'd I avow a parent's claim, Critics might sneer, and friends might blame. This dang rous secret let me hide, I'll tell you ev'ry thing beside: Not that it boots the world a tittle, Whether the author's big or little; Or whether fair, or black, or brown: No writer's hue concerns the town.
I pass the silent rural hour, No slave to wealth, no tool to pow'r.. My mansion's warm, and very neat; You'd say, A pretty sung retreat!' My rooms no costly paintings grace, The humbler print supplies their place. Behind the house my garden lies, And opens to the southern skies: The distant hills gay prospects yield, And plenty smiles in ev'ry field.
The faithfod mastiff is my guard: The feather'd tribes adorn my yard; Alive my joy, my treat when dead, And their soft plumes improve my bed.
My cow rewards me all she can (Brutes leave ingratitude to man); She daily thankful to her lord, Crowns with nectarious sweets my board: Am I discas'd? the cure is known, Her sweeter juices mend my own.
I love my house, and seldom roam; Few visits please me more than home: I pity that unhappy elf Who loves all company but self; By idle passions borne away To opera, masquerade, or play; Fond of those hives where Folly reigns, And Britain's peers receive her chains; Where the pert virgin slights a name, And scorns to redden into shame. But know, my fair, to whom belong The poet and his artless song, When female cheeks refufe to glow, Farewell to virtue here below! Our sex is lost to ev'ry rule; Our sole distinction, knave or fool "Tis to your innocence we run; Save us, ye fair, or we're undone;
* Though Dr. Cotton is well known to have been the author of these Visions, they have generally been published without prefixing his name. Maintain
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