Poems on Several Occasions 9780231888219

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POEMS ON S E V E R A L OCCASIONS PUBLICATION OF FACSIMILE

NO.

49

THE TEXT

SOCIETY

POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS By Mather Byles REPRODUCED F R O M T H E E D I T I O N OF 1 7 4 4 W I T H AN I N T R O D U C T I O N BY C. LENNART CARLSON

"Published for THE

FACSIMILE

TEXT

SOCIETY

C O L U M B I A U N I V E R S I T Y PRESS NEW

YORK :

MCMXL

COPYRIGHT COLUMBIA

UNIVERSITY

1940 PRESS,

NEW

YORK

Foreign agents: OXFORD U N I V E R S I T Y P R E S S , Humphrey Milford, Amen House, London, E.C. 4, England, AND B. I. Building, Nicol Road, Bombay, India-, M A R U Z E N C O M P A N Y , L T D . , 6 Nihonbashi, Tori-Nichome, Tokyo, JafonManufactured in the United States of America

I N T R O D U C T I O N T H E PUBLICATION of Mather Byles's Poems on Several Occasions and of the anonymous Poems by Several Hands, which contains numerous poems by him, was, two centuries ago, a major literary event. 1 Although neither of these volumes has substantial or independent importance in the history of the development of the theory and technique of American poetry, both have an interest that is more than purely antiquarian. First, their appearance marks the culmination of a period in the lifetime of one of the best-known and most widely recognized writers in colonial New England. Secondly, the verse which 1

Both volumes bear the date 1744 on the title page. It seems likely that Poems on Several Occasions was printed in 1744, but I have been unable to substantiate the date of publication by newspaper advertisements. Poems by Several Hands, however, was not published until early in 1745. The Boston Weekly News-Letter, No. 2 1 2 8 , Thursday, January 10, 1745, announced that the book was to be published that afternoon. The next issue of the same newspaper announced that it was "Just Published."

vi

INTRODUCTION

they contain shows with unusual cogency the extent to which eighteenth-century English poetical standards influenced writers in one of the acknowledged centers of colonial culture. That Byles was inclined to look on the publication of Poems on Several Occasions as a culminating point in his literary career appears clear from his statement in the Preface that: The Poems collected in these Pages, were for the most Part written as the Amusements of looser Hours, while the Author belonged to the College, and was unbending his Mind from severer Studies, in the Entertainments of the Classicks. Most of them have been several Times reprinted here, at London, and elsewhere, either seperately [sic] or in Miscellanies: And the Author has now drawn them into a Volume. Thus he gives up at once these lighter Productions, and bids adieu to the airy Muse. In the light of these remarks the comment is justified that after 1 7 4 4 Byles wrote no verse of any importance

2

and was content to let his bid for fame

2 1 have been unable to locate any important poetical publications by him after that date. I am assuming that the Eclogue Sacred to the Memory of the Rev. Dr. Jonathan Mayhe forbear diy hardy Lays,

Kur urge the Thunder on thy guilty Bays, How

i6

POEMS

on

Mow durft thou thus dcbafc the

SAVIOUR'S

Blood, And raifc a Mortal o'er the Throne of G O D : Mclodiouily-Profane, prefer his Name, A n d , gay in Eloquence, thy Judge blafpheme ? O'er the black Lines remain perpetual Gloom, And Flames, and deep Oblivion be the Doom. Round the dire Rant ihall fudden Lightnings rage, And kindlingVengeance blaft the impious Page. So when th' Arch-Angel left his heav'nlySong, And mock'd hisMakerwith aScraph'sTongue, MESSIAH,

terrible in Wrath ! arofe.

And hurl'd him down to Hell's tremendous Woes, Where Seas of Fire with roaringStorms refound, And endlefeDarknefi fpreads its broodingHorrors round.

HTMN

feueral Occqfiom. HTMN

j7

to C H R I S T for our Regeneration and Refurre&ion.

I. O Thee, my L o R D, I lift the Sohg, Awake, my tuneful Pow'is : In conftant Praife my grateful Tongue Shall fill my foil'wing Hours.

T

II. Guilty, condemn'd, undone I flood I bid my GOD depart: He took my Sins, and pud his Blood, And turn'd this wand'ring Heart. III. Death, the grim Tyrant, feiz'd my Frainr, Vile, loathfome and accurft : His Breath renews the vital Flame, And Glories change the Duft, IV. Now, SAVIOUR, fMI' thy Praife commence I My Soul by Thee brought Home, And ev'ry Member, ev'ry Senfc, Recover'd from the Tomb. n V. T o

18

POEMS

on V.

To Thee my Rcafon I fubmit, My Love, my Mem'ry, L o r d , My Eyes to read, my Hands to write, My Lips to preach thy Word. #4nmmmmmmmmmm&MM-' GO LI Airs

Defeat.

In the Manner of Lucan. "IT 7 H E N the proud Philiftines for War tic ** clar'd, And IfraeTs Sons for Battle had prepar'd. Before the Heathen Camp a Monftcr flalk'd. And awful-frowning, in the Valley walk'd. With hideousStrides he travers'd all tlieGrounJ. And o'er the Hills the Country view'd around His brawny Fleih, and his prodigious Bones, Befpoke him one of Anal?s mighty Sons. Death and Defiance fat upon his Brow, Revenge and Hell his glaring Eye-balls fliow. Then

fivtral

Occafions.

U

j

Then his dire Hand uplifted to the- Skies, Thunder his Voice, and Lightning in his Eyes, He cry'd aloud with fuch a dreadful Sound, As fhook the Heav'ns, and rent the trembling Ground. " Attend, ye Armies li

T/rael, hear ; 'tis I

Defpife yourPow'r, and all your Hofts defy*

" What! not a Man among you dares attempt " The gloriousFight,or urge the knownEvent ? " His defpicable Flefh fliall make a Fcaft, " For rav'nous Fowl, and each

voracious

Bead. Behold, Concern and dire Amaze appear ^ Thro' all theHoft, when they his Accents hear, r Shudd'ring Anxiety, and black Defpair. Pale are their Faces, in their Hearts is dread, And panick Terror o'er the Field is lpread. Ghattly Confufion reigns, and not a Knighc Dares undertake to think upon the Fight. Now

20

POEMS

on

Now a youngShephcrd,D On

fiveral Oeeajtons.

23

On Iiis broad Front it ftrook the Wariour fuii, And Death drove furious thro' his cralhing Scull. Down fell the mighty Bulk; Hills, Fields and all, Shook when he fell, and echo'd to the Fall. In Duft and Blood awhile his Members roll, Then Night eternal ruih'd upon his Soul. A Length enormous in the Plains he ihow'd. ' Like a vail Ifland in a Sea of Blood.'

0 D £, for Palatine Tune.

H

I.

Eav'nly Love, our Bofbms frize ! Ye foft feraphick Pow'rs, Come, join your Songs with ours; Gently as the dying Breeze W h i f p m o*er the Midnight-Seas, Or breathes along the Shores. II. Let

«4

POEMS

en n.

Let the tender Echoes round The facred Song improve, And fweetly onward move : Loft in Extaiy of Sound, Let the feather'd Choirs refound Thro* all the tuneful Grove. ni. J e s u s , 'tis to Thee we Hng, Thou, the celeftial Fair, Soft to our Breafts repair ; Elfe we break each joyful String, With lad Notes the Vales ihall ring Abaftdon'd to Dcfpair. IV. Oh ! thy Love our Pafllon warms! Come bleis our longing Sight. Come, over-pow'r us quite : Put on all thy woodrou» Charms, Come and fili our riviih'd Arms, And Heav'n is left Delight.

Wriitm

feveral Written M

H

Oecafuns.

M U T O N ' S

PARADISE

23 LOST.

AD I, O had I all the tuneful Arts Of lofty Verfe ; did ev'ry Mufe infpire

My flowing Numbers, and adorn my Song 1 Did

MILTON'S

Fire flaih furious in my Soul;

Could I command the Harmony, the Force, The glitt'ring Language, and the true Sublime Whole mingledBeauties grace his glowing Lay?, Then Ihould my Lines glide languifhingly flow, Or thundring roar, and rattle as they fleet, Or, lovdy-fmiling, bud immortal Bloom, As various as the Subje&s they defcribe, And imitate the Beauties which they mark. Thus with ambitious Hand, I'd boldly fnatch A fpreading Branch from his immortal Laurels. Bat, O my Mufe, where (hall thy Song begin ? Or where conclude ? ten thoufand Glories charm M y raviih'd Heart, and dance before my Sight. O M I L T O H ! I'm tranfported at thy Name I My Soul takes Wing at once j or ihoots away, Born eager by a Tyde of Thought along. E Some-

26

POEMS

on

Sometimes big Fury fwclls thy awful Verie, And rolling Thunder burfts along thy Lines. Now Hell is open'd, and I fee the Flames Wide-waving,blazing high,and flutt'ring dance: Now clanking Chains amaze my liil'ning Ears, And hideous Spe&res fkim before my Sight. Or in my wild Imagination ftare. Here Satan rears his mighty Bulk on high, And tow'rs amid th' infernal Legions fill'd WithPride,and direRevenge j daring hisLooks; Rage heaves his lab'ring Bread, and all around His fiery Eye-balls formidably roll, And dart deftniftive Flames ; with dreadful Blaze The niddy Ligh'ning rapid runs along, And guilds the gloomy Regions of Deipair, With Streaks tremendous. Here aflaults my Sight The grelsly Monfter Death, He onward italks IVitb horrid Strides, Hell trendies as be treads On

fiveral Occafins.

27

On his fierce Front a bold defiance lowers ; Bent is his Brow, in his right Hand he fliakes His quiv'ring Lance. How fel) the Fiend appears In ev'ry Profpeft, wrathful or ferene ? Pkas'd, horrible he grins a gaftly Smile; And Erebus grows blacker as he Frowns. But tell, immortal Mufe, O Goddefs! tell The joyfiil Dread, the terrible Delight, Which fill my Mind, when I behold theRanks, Th' embatt'led Ranks of mighty Cherubim, IndreadfulQuadrate croud thePlains of Heav'n. I hear, I hear the Trumpets loud Alarms The keen Vibration cuts the yielding Air, And the lhril Clangors ring around the Sky. I fee the bold intrepid Cohorts move 4 From ev'ry Scabbard flies a flaming Sword, Wav'd by the mighty Combatants on high, Soflashingradiant from a gloomy Cloud, Long Lightnings flouriih with a livid Glare. Now on at once th* immoml Hero's nifli, F, ; An'?

POEMS

25

on

And with a fudden Onfet ihake the Field. I lark ! how confus'd Sounds thicken in theAir, Mingling, tumultous,and perplex'd, and rough, Of Shouts, and Groans, and grating Clang of Arms, The twanging Bow, the Jav'lins deadly H i is, Loud-claihing Swords, and Spears encountring Spears. Helms found on Helms, on Bucklers Bucklers ting, Vaft waving Wings high in the Air are heard, Wbilft loud-relounding Feet beat thick the Ground, And all the jarring Sounds of War unite, In direful Difcord, and outragious Roar. Behold, my Mufe, where Micbatf bends his Courfe, Starts his fwift Car, and bounds impetuous on, With rapid Rage it rattles thro' the Ranks, Smokes o'er theField,and drives the War along. But

fiveral

Occafions.

29

But who can tell the Raptures which I feel, When fix'd in deep Aftoniihment, my Eyes Behold M E S S I A H , dread M E S S I A H ! arm'd With all the dire Artillery of GOD ? Unnumber'd Seraphim around him throng, Clap their expanded Wings, and ihout aloud; Heav'ns mighty Concave echo's to their Voice, The everlafting Hills return the Sound. Oh ! how I feel the noble Ardor warm My beating Bread, and thrill along myVeins! My charging Spirits pour around my Heart; My Eyes bright-iparkling with immortal Fires. His flying Chariot ihakes the tott'ring Sky, Swift all the vaft Expanie behind him rolls, Refiftlefi Thunders rattle from his Hand, Devouring Lightnings (hoot beneath his Feet, Ten thoufand Terrors thicken where he bends. What Havock! What Confufion Iprcads the Plain ! What Myriads fall by his defcending Bolts, Daih'd to the Ground, and crufli'd beneath his Wheels ? Tumult

jo

POEMS

on

Tumulc and Ruin, Horror, Rage and Death, Play round hit Sword, and fluke their ihaggy Wings : Hell flames before him, wild Defpair (talks on, And purple Vi&'iy hovers o'er his Head. GreatGOD! whatVengeancekindledm thy Eyes' WhatThunders bellow'd! and what Lightnings blaz'd! When S«ian, daring Chief of all thy Foes ! Was feiz'd, as trembling and agaft he ftood, Seiz'd by thy miglity Hand, and rais'd aloft, Then headlong hurl'd down the high Steep of Heav'n ? At the dire Sight his bold compeers amaz'd, Confounded, fhiver ev'n amidft the Flames, Forget to Fight, drop all their idle Arms, Swift from thy Fury fly away, and down Down from the tow'ring Battlements diey rofli Precipitant, into the Dark profound, Whilft Chaos loud rebellows to the Fall. No more— my fainting Mufe folds up hei Wings, Unable to loftain fo ftrong a Flight—

Tie

fivtHtl Onajbmj.

j,

The Battle only R a f t e d ihould relate, Or M I L T O N in ftjch Strains as Rsphaelfags. Let fefter Subjeds now command my Mule, Let loiter Numbers fmoothly flow along. And bloom, and blofiom as the Ever-greens, That dcck the flow'ry Face of Paradife. 0

MILTON,

Eden opens by thy Art,

And with redoubl'd Beauty wanton (miles. I'm charm'd, I'm ravilh*d,all my Souldiffolves, 1 loofe my Life amid the heav'nly Scenes; That in gay Order from thy Pencil flow. O beauteous Garden! O delightful Walks! In you forever, ever will I dray, Glide o'er thy flow'ry Valcs,climb thy fair Hills, And thro' thy fragrantLawns tranfported tread I'd trace the mazy Windings of thy Bow'rs, And in the Gloom of thy furrouoding Groves Ask the cool Shadow, and the fanning Breeze Here rifing Perfume Ihould regale my Smell, And heav'nly Harmony tranfport my Ears; Whtlr

32

P O E M S

OH

While all the Trees around, to court a look, Flouriih luxuriant with unfading Charms. Rofes, and Violets, and Daffodils, And gaudy Tulips of a thoufand Dyes, Shall fpring profufely round ; the Lilly too, Ambitious, offer its unfullied White, T o grace a Garland for fair Innocence. Y e feather'd Songfters of the Spring, arife, Diiplay your fpangledPlumes, where twinkling Gems, With blended Beauties, caft a doubtful Blaze, And, keenly-flafhing, ftrike the Gazer's Sight. Let your fweet Voices warble thro* the Grove, While in concording Harmony I hear The purling Murmurs of the bubbling Brooks Mean time die embroider'd Banks on either Hand Shall open all their everlafting Sweets, Their verdant Honours, and their flow'ryPride, As the pure floating Volumes wind along. Here the fir ft Pair, divinely reign'd fupream, And funk reclining on the flow'ry TurfF.

Hail,

Jeveral Oceajiotts,

33

Hail, happy Adam, Hcav'n adorns thy Soul, Full blcls'd. And thou,iininorulMotliu-,t (ail! O heav'nly-fair, divinely-beauteous Eve ! Thee to adorn what endlcfs Charms confpire ? Carleftial Coral blufhes on thy Lips, No op'ning Rofe glows with fo bright a Bloom. Thy Breath abroad diffufive Odor fpreads, A gay Carnation purples o'er thy Checks, While thy fairEyes roll round their radiantOrbs, With winning Majefty, and nat'ral Art. Thy waving Trefics on thy Shoulders play, Flow loofely down, and wanton in the Wind. You, am'rous Zephires, kifs her fnowy Brcaft, Flit foftly by, and gently lift her Locks. Forgive, fair Mother, O forgive thy Son, Forgive his vain Redundance of Exprefllon, Fir'd by thy Beauty, and by M I L T O N ' S Song. Here could the raviih'd Fancy rove perpetual, Amid the Raptures, the tranfporting Bliis, That in ibft Mcafures move for ever round.— F

Bur*

P O E M S tH

H

But, O myMufe, (hake off thefc idle Dreams, Imaginary Tranccs! vain Illufions ! Count the gay Stars, and number all the Sands, And ev'ry Drop that in the Ocean floats : But never hope to fum th' unnumber'dCharms, That fwim before thy ever-raviih'd Eyes, When they on thee, O M i

I.TOW,

give a glance.

In vain thou ftriv'ft to lifp his lofty Praife ; Imperfedt Accents flutter round thy Tongue, And on thy Lips unfinifh'd,

MILTON

dies.

Mis mighty Numbers tow'r above thy Sight, Mock thy low Mufick, and elude thy Strains.

To the Memory of a young Commander Jlain in « Battle with the Indians, 1724

D

Eicend, immortal Mufe, infpire my Song, Let mournftilNumbers gently flow along

And thou, my Lyre, in (blcmn Notes complain, And in fad Acccnts foftfy fpeak thy Paii> » Let melting Mufick tremble on thy Strings, While in coflcording Sounds theGoddcft lings; Sing»

fivervl Qccqjions.

35

Sings haplcfs Alpeui in die gloomy (¿rave, Aiptus the Gay, the Beauteous anil the Brave ; Alpeus* who with the Tlurft of Glory fir'd, Couragious in his Country's Caufe expir'd. At the dear Name a forrowful Delight, Recalls the Youth back to my longing Sight. Ah,lovely Youth ! once flulh'd with ev'ryGrace, A thoufand Charms adorn'd thy fmilingFacc ; A lilly White was on thy Forehead fprcad, And in thy Cheeks caeleftial roley Red ; O'er all thy Features no Defett was found, But blooming Beauty ever hover'd round And, whilit without, unnumber'd Charms com. bin'd, Unnumber'd Graces deck'd thy manly Mind. Thus JJpeuSy wert thou once by all beheM, Like fome fair Flow'r, the Glory of the Field: But now, alas ! ftop'd is thy fcatter'd Breath, T h y Beauties rifled in the Arms of Deadi ; From thy pale Cheeks the fading Colour flies, And leaden Slumbers feal thy heavy Eyes. 5 a

S»

,6

POEMS

en

SD ionic bright Bird repeats his i.nys of I/)ve, And fings melodious in a golden (¡rove When ilrait a Bullet, with a tluind'ring Sound, Furihthro' the Air,and gives the deadly Wound; Then, infiant from the blooming Bough impell'd. H e falls, and feebly flutters on the Field. But, O rnyMuie,forbear thefe Strains,and tell H o w great he fought, and how divine he fell. Say, how intrepid he maintain'd his Ground, And with what Vigour fcattcr'd Deaths around. Now on the Waves in the fmall Bark he flood, And ting'd the Billows with th'OppofersBIood j Now, daring, on the thickcft War he bore, Broke thro' the Hanks, and gain'd the diftant Shore. His Sword,likeLight'ning,glitter'd from above, When dreadful on, th* undaunted Hero drove, And with fuchSounds deftru&ivcThunder roars, As his fwift Lead impetuous onward pours. Now on the Left he bent, now to the Right T h e youthful Warriour led along the Fight. You

flveral Oceaftons.

yy

You Pagan Troops,could fcarce hisRage fuftain, Tho* your dire Numbers blacken'dall thePlain. Till feeling in his Breaft the fiery Wound, The finking Youth drop'd fainting to the Ground In quick (hort pants ebb'd out his quiv'ring Breath, While o'er his Eye-lids hung the Shades of Death. Thrice happy Youth, fleep in thy filent Bed, While blifsful Vifions dance around thy Head; Let living Verdure flouriih o'er thy Tomb, And let unfading Flow'rs for ever bloom. Mean time the Mufe thy Story lhall relate, And inatch thy A&ions from the Jaws of Fate, Declare th' unrival'd Wonders of thy Youth, Nor cloud with Fable the refulgent Tnith t So coming Ages ihall thy Deeds admire, And late Pofterity thy Praile confpire. Ix>ng as the Morning paints the blulhingSkies» Or Nature in the Spring cenew'd ihall rife i YThilft

P O £ M S on Whilft the gay Sun pour« down in radiar.r Streams, The golden Glory of his blazing Beams; So Ioog, O Alpens, (hall thy envy'd Name Glow in the Records of immortal Fame : There ftand confcls'd among the meaner Fires, As Syritu fhines amid the lefler Start.

Written in Dr.

Poems given to a young Lady.

WATT'S

I. T X 7 HILE rofcy Cheeks theirBloom confcfc, » » And Youth thy Boiom warms, Let Vertue, and let Knowledge drefs, Thy Mind in brighter Charm». II. Daily on fome fine Page to look Lay meaner Sporta afide -, And let che Needle, and the Book, Thy u&fal Hours divide. III. Let

fcvtral Otcafioni.

^

III. Let I Icav'nly Love frojn W A T T I ' S Infpire thy youthful Blood i Nor let a mortal Rival feize That Heart ordain'd*- for God.

LAYS,

An

E L E G Y addre/s'd to His Excellency Governour B E L . C H E R : On the D C A T F ) of bisBrotbtrin-bxwjbtHonourabU D A N I £ L O L I VE R , £ / $ J

P

Enfive,o'ercome, the Mule hung down her Head, And heard the fatalNews,- "The Friend is dead. Dumb, fixt in Sorfow, (he forgot her Song, 1'hc Tune forfook her Lyre, the Voicc her Tongue, 'Till, B E L C H E R , Y O U command her Strains to rife, You ask, flie lings; You dictate, (he replies » That well-known Voice awakes her dying Firev And infant, at your Gal), die I W r indues.

Then

4o

P O E M S on

Then let our Grid's in mingling Streams delccnd, You mourn the Brother, and I weep theFriendHe's dead O vaft unutterable Woe ! Gone, gone for ever from thefe Scats below : No more his gracious Lips ourSouls (hall move, And lift us to the holy Joys above ; No more the Church his facredTranfports feel, His ftrong Devotion, and his fervent Zeal N o more his Face ihines with the confcious Calms, Of Faith, and Pray'rs, and gen'rous Deeds,and Alms : Ah! fainting, pa]e,ebbs outhisquiv'ringBreath, And O L I V E R the good defcends to Death. Thus while the Friends their private Lois deplore, Lament unpity'd, unreliev'd, ye Poor. Who, round hisGates,your daily Bldfings paid* Warm by his Cloaths, or trom his Table fed. Profufe, his lib'ral Hand their Pray'r prevents» (So ihower'd the andsntMwws round theTents)

Wiuwfc

ftvtral

Oeeajioni.

^,

Witnefi, ye confcious Nights, whofc Shades he chote, Unknown, to ice, and fuccour Humane Woes : Invifiblc, he trod the homely Cott, The Hungry eat, th' Opprefs'd to groan Forgot, The Sick pcrceiv'd the fudden Cordial lave, Allblefs'd the Gift, nor faw theHand that gave. From Men, with Art and facred Caution hid, TheMule,fromHeav'n inl'pir'd,reveals theDeed. You painted Roofs, and pompous Rooms of State, Where, in the Senate, the grave Patriot fate, Say, how hisfteady Condu£t grae'd your Board ; Juftwere hisThoughts,and prudent ev'ry Word j Serene, delib'rate, undifguis'd by Art, His Tongue was faithful, and fincere his Heart. Statefmen, th* unblemifh'd Counfcllor bemoan, And from his fair Example form your own. So muft your Greatncfs fink, your Glories fade, And, blended, in the common Duft be laid. Nor Wealth,norTitlcs.norFame'sgentleCharms, Can bribe your L i f e fromFate's G

rdentlelsArms:

VIR1UE

p O /•: M S on

Al

I'Hi TVE, fair < ¡.KUC-I* ' only can allow Conquers o'er l)t\uh, and crown the Victor's Brow. Mindleis of Grandieur,from theCrowd he ficd, Sought green Retirements, and the filentShade. Ye bow'ry Trees, which round his Manfioh bloom, Oft ye conceal'd him in your hallow'd Gloom: Oft he enjoy'ii, in your fublime Abode, His Books, his Innocence, his Friend, hUGOD Now, fad, I wander o'er the lofty S^ar, And trace the Mazes of the foft Retreat. View the fair Piofpe&s, round. theGardens rave, Bend up the Hill, and fearch the lonelyGrove ; But ah ! no more his Voice falutes my lr.ar, Nor in his Hands the bluflung Fruits appeiir : Yet is his Image in each Scene convey'd. And bufy Fancy forms his gliding Shade, I feem to meet him in the flow'ry Walks, And,thro* theBoughs,his whifperingSpirit talks. Eager I call, the dear Dclufion flics, Grief feals my Lips, andTcars fuffufc my Eyes. O

fevcral Occafuns.

^j

O far, far off", above the Ken of thefe. T h e rifing Mountain, and th' afpiring Trees, In the gay Bow'rs that crown th* Eternal I lills, His fpotlefs Soul, in deathlefs Plcafure, dwells; Tuneful replies, while Choral Seraphs play, And in bl ight Villous fmiles the Hours away. H e vifits now no more this dull Abode, But talks with Angels, and beholds his G O D . N o w ccafe, the flowing Tears, the Fun'ral Strains. Let joyful Sounds revive the vocal Plains. W h a t tho' the Bo-Jy in the T o m b be laid, Ghaftly and brcathlcfs, in the awful Sliade ? T h o ' by our F.yes, his Form no more confefs'd. Pleas'dby thcFricnd,nri:l by thcChriftian blels'd? W e view the blight Ueverfion in the Skies, W h e n the dead Saint, wak'd to new Life, fn.ill rife. Mean time,thehcav'nlyMule embalms hi>Nanu\ And gives him up confign'd to ciullcl's Fame ; T h e f c faithful Lines thy Abfcncc (liii u m o a n . And this Infcription grac e thy mouklVn^Stonu G 2

Hire,

p o E M S on

44

« Here, Paflenger, confin'd,rcduc*d toDuft, Lies what was once, religious,wife, and juft. " Steady and warm in Liberty's Defence, " True to his Country, loyal to his Prince: »' In Friendihip faithful, gen'rous to Defert, " A Head enlightn'd, and a glowing Heart.

To a Friend, on the Death of a Relative. H I L E Death his awfulTriumphs fpreads around. And crowded Nations fill die vaulted Ground "While ev'ry Rank,and State, and Sex, and Age, Feel his keen Shafts, and fink beneath hisRage. Mortals, prepare to try the doubtful State, T o yield the Battle, and rcfign to Fate. l a t e has the Monarch, witli defpotick fway, Refiftlcfs fnatch'd thy favourite Fair away. Gone, gone for ever from thy fond Carcfs, No more her much-hv'd Form thy Eyes IhaH blcft.

Her

feveral Occaftons.

4.5

Her Abfencc ftill thy rifing Sighs deplore. Anil in her Converfe you delight no more ; Touch'd by your Woe, the Mufe her Tribute brings And with graveAirs,in foothingNumbers,fings. But facred is the Mufe ; by Heav'n (he's led T ' inftruft the Living, not to blanch the Dead. Y e Living, hear her tuneful Lips rehearfe N o trifling Themes, nor in ignoble Verle. And chief,be wife,ye bloomingYoungandFair, See your fad Pifture, and your Period here. H o w loon the Beauties vanilh from yourForms, Fall into Duil, and mingle with the Worms! Beneath the Honours of a lonely Tomb, In peniive Silence and a iblemn Gloom, Sleeps that fair Form in Death's relentlefsArms, Whofe living Facc once bluih'd with endlels Charms. But, A h ! N o more her Cheeks the Rofes wear, Nor on her lovely Lips the Smiles appear ; Fix'd are thofc Eyes which oncc divinely roll'd, The Limbs all iliffen'd, and the Veins all cold ; H1.1t

C

PO E M a en

4

That Voice is fled which charm'd Mankind before, A n d that foft fnowy Breaft muft pant no more, So from your Lips the tranficnt Breath Ihall fly, Pale the freih Cheek, and fix'd the rolling E y e ; T h e charming Faccand bcauteousShapcbe laid, A l l Pale and Breathlefs in the awful Shade. T o deck your Grave the Turff fliall bloom around, And the green Grafs enamel all the Ground : And itill the fiow'ry Emblem ihall difplay, Tlic youthful Flouriih and the fwift Decay. A h , truft no more, ye Fair, your fading Face, L e t bright Religion court your warm Embrace, T o her ibft Beauties be your Love indin'd. T h e deathleis Beauties of th* immortal Mind. So to new Charms your waking Dud ihall rife. And gay in Glory glitter up the Skies, In heav'nly Tunes,with frefliDelighrs.ihall fing. A n d bloom and bloiTom in eternal S pring. But thou, fond Mourner, gi ve thy Tears away, See the Gloom end in cvcrlafling Day

See

fmral

Ocrofions.

4y

See the fair Sen! on Wings of Angels rife, Above the ftarry Concave of the Skies : Now here,now there fhe rolls her dazz'led Sight; Struck at the Profpeft with immenfe Delight. H e r down-caft Eyes the fulged Streets behold. And view a Pavement rich with gleemy Gold: Aloftjthe Roof,fram'd by th'almighty Hands, Glorious, on Adamantine Pillars (lands. Here fplendid Thrones confound the aching Sight, And pour abroad unfuffcrable Light •, There in high Crowns a beamy Luftre plays, And twinkling Jewels ihoot a trunblingBlaze, T h e flowing Robes wave on like lambent Flames, And flaih and Iparkle with celeilial Gems. Abroad, the Fields difplay their flow'ry Pride, In whofe fair Bofoms living Waters glide. Here the glad Saint in mazy Rapture roves Through Bow'rs of Büß, and gay immortal Groves.

Here

4»

P O E M Son

Here J E S U S ihines unutterably bright, And Storms of Glory beat upon the Sight j T o thefe highSccnes thy raviih'dVicws be giv'n And bow contenting to the Will of Heav'n.

Hymn at Sea.

G

I.

Reat GOD, thy Works our Wonder raife, T o thee our fwclling Notes belong; While Skies, and Winds, and Rocks, and Seas, Around ihall echo to our Song. II. Thy Pow'r produe'd this mighty Frame, Aloud to thee the Tempefts rore, Or fofter Breezes tune thy Name Gently along the ihelly Shore. III. Round thee the fcaly Nation roves, Thy op'ning Hands their Joys beftow, Thro* all the bluihing coral Groves, Thcfe fdent, gay Retreats below.

IV. See

fiveral Occafiotu.

^

IV. See the broad Sun forfakc the Skies, Glow on die Waves, and downward (lide! Anon, Hcav'n opens all its Eyes, And Star-Beams tremble o'er the Tyde : V. Each various Scene, or Day or Night, LOR D, points to thee our raviih'd Soul Thy Glories fix our whole Delight: So the touch'd Needle courts the Pole.

7o an ingenious young Gentleman, on bis dedicating a Pom to the Author.

T

O you.dearyonth,whom all theMufesown, And great Apollo {peaks his darling Son, T o you the Mufc direds her grateful Lays, And brings the Tribute which you merit,Praife.

What various Vertues in your Pcrion join, Tho' great yet humble, modeft tho' divine ; Tho* num'rous Graces glitter thro* your Song, And heav'nly Accents dance around your Tongue v

H

Strong

5o

PO E M S on

Strong in your Mind while big Ideas roll, And yourvaft Subjeft fills your Jab'ring Soul. Yet, from your Heights, how kind you condcfcend, Forget your Greatnefs, anil afiume the Friend ? Your Friend, you fond approve, commend, admire, Bit-Is with the Criticks Light, and Poets Fire, T o crown yourFriend,your gen'rousHand allows A Branch of Bays from your o'erihaded Brows; Unfading \Vreaths,around my Temples fpread, By you unmik'd, adorn my joyful Head. So your bright Father Phoebus, o'er the Skies Profufcly liratters Light's eternal Dyes, Unnumber'd Worlds from him receive their Days, Yet ftill he ihines with undiminifti'd Rays. Each Time I view this Produft of your Art Two diff'rent Paflions druggie in my Heart, Which, like the ebbing, or the flowing Tyde, Contrails with Envy, or dilates with Pride; Now

feverul Oceafions. Now (hrunk with Spiglu, now with Ambition fwell'd, IVOIKJ

at your I'raifc, env'ous to be exccll'J

:

And as I meditate the doubtful Theme, My clafhing Paffions ftrike a fudden Mamc ; The Mufe takes Fire — Thoughts thick upon her throng. Start the quick Words, and rapid run along. So when in wat'ry Clouds hot Sulphur pent, Runs here and there, and labours for a Vent. Till kindling to a Blaze at the rough Jar«, Water with Tin-, and Fire with Water wars; Then burfting forth, thick-flafliing Lightning flies, And ready Thunder rolls along die Skits. Ah! how can I the happy Title claim, And of your Tutor boaft th' immortal Name, When in yourBreafltenThoufand Raptures livv, And glow fupcriour to the Sparks I give ? In vain you iay I form'd your Infant Strains, '['aught you on ftubbornThoughts to fling your Chains, H z

Smooth'd

5l

P O E M S en

Smooth'd your harih Voice ,& bid yourNumbcrs glide Like gcr.tlc Rills a-down a Mountains Side; Pnin'd youryoungWings,inftru£ted you toikim The level Lawn, or daring Soar fublime ; In vain all thefe, when ev'ry Judge will find ^ You fly aloft, unfetter'd, unconfin'd, And fee my diftant Mufe, ihort-panting, lag behind. So the low Hen the Eagles Egg may hatch, And feed the callow Care, and o'er him watch, But when thick Feathers on his Back unite, H e fprcads hisPlumes,& takes a tow'ringFlight, Negle&s hisNurfe, & claims his heav'nly Birth, While lhe,with flutt'ring Wings,hovers,— and drops to Earth. But Oh ! forbear, thy laviih Tongue be t.imc, Nor H-iih my Features with a conlcious Flame, Juttics demands that I th* Applaufe refiife: Net I, but mighty P 0 P f i infpir'd thy Mufe. He

fivera! Occafions.

53

! Ie, wondrous Bard ! whofc Numbers reach our Shore, Tho* Oceans roll between, and Tempcfts roar: Huih'd are theStorms,& fmooth the Waters lie, As his fweet Mufick glides harmonious by ; Kaviih'd, my Ear receives the hcav'nly Gueft, My Heart high-leaping,beats my pantingBrcail: Thro' all my Mind inceflant Rapture reigns, And Joys immortal revel in my Veins. So the loft SrRENS warbled o'er the Main, And fo ULISSES* Soul took Wing to meet tbe Strtin. O P o p E ! thy Fame is fpread around the Sky, Far as the Waves can flow, far as the Winds can fly! Hail! Bard triumphant,fill'd with hallow'dRage, Sent from highHeav'n to grace the happy Age: For thee a thouiand Garlands ihall be wove, And ev'ry Clime projeft a laurel Grove ; Thy Name be heard in ev'ry artful Song, And thy loudPraifc employ each tunefulTongue. Ev'n

54.

P O E M S

OH

Ev'n my young Mufe the nobfc Theme would take, And lifp imperfcA what (he cannot (peak. 'Tis P O P E , my Friend, that guilds our gloomy Night, And if I fhine 'tis his reflettcd Light: So the pale Moon, bright with her borrow'd Beams, » Thro* the darkHorrors (hoots her filverGleams. P O P E ' S are the Rules which yon, my Friend, receive, From him I gather what to you I give. When 1 attend to his immortal Lyre, I kindle inftant with a (acred Fire ; Now here, now there, my Soul purfues his Song, Hurried impetuous by his Pow'r along : MyPulfe beats thick,urg'd by my drivingBlood, And on my Bread I feel the ruihing G O D . But when to you I would the Flames convey. In my cold Hands die holy Fires decay. As when your Hand the Convex-Glads difplays, It clofc collctts Ibrne fcatter'd folar Rays; Tho*

fiveral

Occafims.

5-

T h o ' 1 0 ! J the GLifs, where'er its Focus aims, ThcObjcft fmoki-s, it reddens, and it flames: So Pop e, thro* mc, iliines full upon your Mufe; So cold my Brcall

and lo your Boforn glows.

Go on, fxvcct Poet, charm our Jiil'ning Ears, Inluic new J o y , and fcatter all our Cares. ( ) let no Trifle tempt your noble Uage, No morul Theme your mighty Muie engage; But when harmonious to her Lyre (he fings, Ami with lwitt Fingers ilrikes the trembling Strings. I .ct facred Subjc&s fill the Air around, AndAngds waft tol Ieav'n theExtacy of Sound. Write for ETERNITl'!

— whatPlcafures thrill

Thro* all my Veins and urge my flying Quill A s that I name p whatTranfports fire my Mind, When I behold its wond'rous Scenes combin'd ? Here,the lad Trumpet (hakes the founding Air, There, gloomy glow the Regions of Defpair : Now, on this Earth devouring Flames incrcaii*, And bellowing Burnings boyl the hifllng Seas : Then

56

P O K M S on

Then, melting Joys my fwiming Eyes confcfs, And Saints diflolve away in cndlcfs Blifs : While hymningChenibs try their tuneful Strains, And charm, with Notes like yours, the heav'nly Plains ; Exalted high, the

SAVIOUR-GOD

is known,

And dazling Glory blazes round his Throne; Around his Head a beamy Luftre plays, Where glittering Jewels blend their trembling Rays; Eternal Day breaks from his radicnt Eyes, And flames divinely o'er the fliining Skies: Thus fits the GOD, with awful Honours crown'd While everlafting Ages wheel their mighty Round! But, paufe myMuie; ceafe my unartfulSong : The Beauties which I ftrive to praife I wrong. The Scenes fo faft upon my Fancy flow, Convinced, 1 own E T E R N I T Y a NOW. Thus let your pious Mufe employ herFlame, Then, lading as yourTheme,(hall beyourFame: Thus

fiveral Occasions.

¡y

Thus let your Poefy refine, improve. And match the Mufick of the Choirs above ; StiJI from your Lip« let fuch foft Notes arife, And Songs of Seraphs found beneath the Skies; Till, as your Mule, your Soul expands her Wings, And to their bright Abodes, exulting, fprings: There, there your Voice ihall deathlefc Strains rclbund, And be amid th' immortal Chorus drown'd. So fume full Spring a trickling Kill bellows. That makes melodious Murmur as it flows It widens as it wanders on its Courfe, And as it glides it gathers greater Force ; Still on it runs, and nought itsStream controu'% It now a Riv'let, now a River rolls. Now its ftrong Tyde, with unrefiftcd Sway Rufhes impetuous down and foams away ; It pours along, and all its Banks out-braves Till the vaft Sea abforbs iu undiftingurfli'd Waves.

I

53

P O E M S on

Ibe

BLOOM

ef

L I F E , fading in a bappy Death.

I. Reat G O D , how frail a T h i n g is Man !

G

Flow fwift his Minutes pais !

His A g e contrails within a Span ; H e blooms and dies like Grafs. II. Now in his Bread frefli Spirits dart, And vital Vigour reigns : His Blood pours rapid from his Heart, And leaps along his Veins. III. His Eyes their fparkling Pleafure fpeak, Joy flutters round his Head ; While Health (till blofloms on his Cheek, A n d adds the rofcy Red. IV. T h u s the fond Youth fecurely

ftands,

N o r dreams of a Decay At once he feels Death's Iron Hands, H i s Soul is fnatch'd away.

V. Dow*

fevtral Octafiom. V. Down to the Earth the Body drops, Whcnce it was fram'd at firft. Forget« its former flau'ring Hopes And hailens to its Duft. VI. No more \vc view the wonted Grace The F.ye-Ralls roll no more : A livid Horror fpreads the Facc Where Beauty blaz'd before. VII. So the young Springs with annual Green, Renews the waving Grove And R'v'lets thro* the flow'ry Scene In Silver Mazes rove. VIII. By tuneful Birds of ev'ry Wing, Melodious Strains are play'd , From Tree to Tree their Accents ring. Soft-warbling thro' the Shade. I 2

IX. The

6o

P O E M S on

IX. The painted Meads, and fragrant Fields, A fudden Smile bellow : A golden Gleam each Valley guilds, Where numerous Beauties blow. X. A Thoufand gaudy Colours flufh Each od'rous Mountain's Side : LiUies turn fair, and Rofes bluih, And Tulips ipread their Pride. XL Thus flourifhes the wanton Year, In rich Confufion gay, Till Autumn bids the BJoom retire, The Verdure fade away. XII. Succeeding Cold withers the Woods, While hoary Winter reigns, In Fctrers binds the frozen Floods, And ihiveis o'er the Plains, XIII, And

feveral Occaficns.

gi

XIII. And mud my Moments thus dccline ? And muil I fink to Death ? To Thee my Spirit I refign, Thou S O V ' R E I G N of my Breath.

xrv.

JESUS my Life hasdy'd, has rofe : I burn to meet his Charms! Welcome the Pangs, the dying Throes, That give me to his Arms.

A Poem on the Death cf King G E O R G E I. jind Accejfion of King G E O R G E II.

S

AY, mournfulMufe.dcclare thy rifingWoe, What heaves thy Heart and whence thy Sorrows flow ? Why in thy Face fuch anxious Grief appears t And o'er thyEye-balls fwim the ipeakingTears: O G I O R G E , thy Death my flowing Numbers mourn, Thy iacrcd Aihcs, and diftinguilh'd Urn: Thee,

62

POEMS

on

Thee, ev'ry Mufc, and every Grace deplores, From Thames's Banks, to thcfc JtlantickShart*, Each Bard his Grief in gliding Accents ihews. And faireft Eyes diftill their cryftal Dews. O ' were my Bread flufh'd with an equal Fire, Vail as my Theme, and ftrong as my Defirc ' Then, mighty GEORGE, then ihould my Notes arife, And fpreading Mufick echo round the Skies ; Thy Name, in tuneful Meafures led along, Should dance, harmonious, through my flowing Song; The raptur'd Mule thy awful Form reveal, Defcribe thy Counfels, and thy Anions tell; Bid dying Sounds thy raviih'd Life bemoan, Or ihouting Nations hail thee to thy Throne ; Each various Scene, with varying Numbers crown'u, Should Earth, and Sea, and Air, and Heav'n refound.

Long

frueral Qccaficns. Long ere his Albion triumph'd in his Reign His Sword giar'd dreadful o'er th* Hungarian Plain, Witnels, ye Troops, thro* whofc wide Ranks he ran, Rowz'd the fierce War, an J call theTumult o n : Say, how divinely then his Afpect (how'd, What Conduit Ihone ! what dauntlefs Courage glow'd ! When Man to Man, and Smoke eppos'd to Smoke, Flames flalh'd at Flames, at ThunderThunder broke, When Death indignant, drove his Iron Car, Thro* the dire Havock of the raging War j Say, Goddcfs, how th' intrepid Hero flies, T o meet the Monfter with undaunted Eyes ; 'Till fmiiing Vi&'ry, and immortal Peace, H u n g o'er his Head, and bid the Battel ceafe! Record, O heavenlyMufc, the illuftriousDay, When joyful Briiain own'd his fov'rcign Sway.

Conceal'd

64

P 0 E M S o*

Cooocal'd for ever, He the A d s which (lain The bit black Months, the Shades of ANNA's Reign i When fecret Tieafon work'd, whenjuftke fled, And loud Deftruftion threatned o'er our Head, 'Twas then,byHeav'n ordain'd, his happyHand From Ruin rclcu'd the devoted Land, The Storm was huih,the clam'rousFa&ions laid, And peaceful Olive fpread its wealthy Shade. So when darkClouds hang heavy o'er theMain, And bellying down, diftend withFloods of Rain, T o pufh them on, the Winds their Forces try, While they, flow-failing, labour up the Sky The thickning Volumes fpread the heavenly Doom, And as they pafs, project a folemn Gloom : Diflblving now, a drilling Dew diftill?, Dampens the Vales,and fprinkles round thcHills; Still gathering Strength, the airy Sluces low'r, And on the Fields defcends a copious Show'r, Lail, furious grown, down ruih die rapidRains, And pour impetuous, fpatt'ring on the Plains.

fcvtral Occafions.

(¡^

If then the Sun breaks out, the Shadows fly, And the gay Rainbow arches o'er the Sky. Hail! happy Albion, Heav'ns peculiar Care, See thy Deliv'rer to thy Shores repair! Flouriih, ye Fields ye Groves.exalt yourHeads» WhereTAtfaif's Currant murmurs o'er theMeads! And thou, Augujla, fparkling in my Eyes, Let thy tall Tow'rs, and ihining Turrets rife } Where Riches glitter, Mirth for ever fings, And fmiling Plenty fpreads her golden Wings: For thee, Peru her beamy Face difplays, For thee the orient Stores of Ganges blaze ; A thoufand Pleafurcs crown thy ftow'ry Plains, While G E O R G E divinely o'er thy Kingdom reigns. But, O h ! at once the heav'nly Scenes decay, And all the gaudy Vifion fades away. He dies —myMufe,the difmal Sound forbear: In ev'ry Eye debates the falling Tear ; A thouiand Paflions o'er my Bofom roll, Swell in my Heart, and ihock my inmoft Soul. K

H
T h e dancing Billows leap along the Main, Proud of th'ExtentofGEORGE'shappyReign t Applauding Thunders ihake the Air around, Waves ihouc to Waves, and Rocks to Rocks reiound; Each humane Bread glows with refiftlefs Fire, And cv'ry Angel (hikes his founding Lyre. K 2

O

63

P O E M S on

O live, aufpicious Princc; live,radiant Qi*een, Long let your Influence guild the glorious Scene: And you, fair Offspring, form'd for high Command, Flourifh, ye blooming Honours of the Land: So when from the dim Courts below you fly T o the bright Regions of the upper Sky ; Where Trees of Life by living Riv'lets team. Wave their tall Heads, and paint the running Stream, May round your Heads Crowns flafb, celcftialbright, And regal Purple change for Robes of Light Tafte Charms (till new,and Joys withoutDecay, While cndleis Years in Raptures roll away.

SI Nil Excellency Gevemeur B u r n e t , on bis Arrival at Bofton.

W

Hile rifingShoutsa gen'ral Joy proclaim, And ev'ry Tongue, O B u r n e t , lifps thy Name ; To

fivtral

OccafioHs.

69

T o view thy Facr, while crowding Armies run, Whofe waving Banners blaze againft the Sun, And deep-mouth'd Cannon, with a thund'ring Roar, Sound thy Commifllon ftretch'd from Shore to Shore; Accept the tuneful Labours of the Mufe, T o bend freih Laurels round your ihaclcd Brows, W i t h your Delerts, to raife the facreil Fire, A n d in your Praifes ftnng her joyful Lyre. L o n g have we wifli'd the goldenHours to rife, And with diilinguifVd Purple pdint the Skies, W h e n , thro* our wondring Towns, in Raptures g^y. T h e pompous March (hould fhape it's Alining Way W h i l e breathingTrumpets try their filverStrainc, A n d whirling Chariots fcour along the Plains W h e n the glad City (hould unfold it's Gates, A n d the longTriumph grace theglowingStreets, O B U R N E T ! h o w w e b a d t h e Minutes run, .

U r g ' d the flowHours,and chid theling'ringSun! Impatient,

70

r O E M S on

Impatient, met cadi I'ofl, and calJ'd aloud, " When will his Wheels fmokc rattling o'er the " Road ? " When ihall we lay, UK'S COME! Delight,

with big

" And with his Afpc«fl fcaft our longing Sight ? Welcome, great Man, to our defiring Eyes, Thou Earth! proclaim it; and relbund, ye Skies! Voice anfw'ring Voice, in joyful Confort meet, T h e Hilis all echo, and the Rocks repeat: And thou, Rcjlonia, Miftrefs of the Towns, Whom the plt-as'd Bay, with am'rous Arms, furrounds, Let thy warmTranlports blaze in num'rousFires, And beamy Glories glitter on thy Spires ; Let Rockets, dreaming, up the Ether glare, And flaming Serpents hiis along the Air j Sublime, thy Joys thro' the high Heav'ns be ihown, In foreign Lights, and Stars before unknown : While rival Splendors deck the Earth below, And o'er theStreets the daz'lingWindows glowBut

fiveral Oceajioms.

71

But You, O Cambridge, how can you forbear In gliding Lays to charm each liftningEar ? You, where the Youth puritie th* illuftrioiis Toil» Where the Arts flourifh, and the Graces fmile, MakeBuRNRT'sName in JaftingNumbers ihine, Ye fult Recefles of the tuneful Nine! Sj>eak the glad Day, with ev'ry warbling String, When firft you blels'd th* Indulgence of his Wing; Say,how prophetickRapture fciz'd yourTongue, When you, on Fire, your future Glories fung. " By him prote&ed, by his Pattern led, " Each fmilingArt ihall lift herbeautiousHead. " Divinity, in op'ning Volumes, lies, " 0 WiggUfwortby to tliy enlightned Eyes; 44 And Newton t, Hand with wond'rous Skill " difplays " Nature unveil'd, and (hews her lovely Face: " Long (hall the noble Sciences declare " Thy Bounties, Ho L LIS : and a BURNET's Care. In

72

P O E M S on

In B U R N E T ' S Face our future Fame appears, And Arts and Graces lead his flowing Years. For him, ye Mules, tune immortal Verfr, And mighty Themes, in lofty Lays, rehearfe, Proud in his Praifes, wind your golden Strings, And in high Raptures clap your waving Wings. Thou Sun, for Iiim, (halt each fair Year adorn, Bid die Spring btoiTom, and the Summer burn, Teach rip'ning Fruits to paint autumnal Scenes, Andfmileand bluih amidft the living Greens. Ev'n the rough Winter feigns a youthful Tread; And, in low Homage, bows his rev'rendHead j The Northern Tempcfts lhall forget to roar, And gentle Waves, foft-murmuring, kiis the Shore. Now Aftronomic Tubes aloft fljall rife, Shake off their Duft, and level at the Skies, Defcry new Glories in the ihining Spheres, And B U R N E T ' S Name be read on future Stars. The Pencil now, in wondrous Lines ihall flow, And, warm with Life, bid the touch'd Canvas, glow, Mil fide,

feveral Occqfitms.

73

Mufick, fwret Daughter of the Choirs above, Shall, foft-defcending, down the Ether move j With hravenly Aire the breathing Flute infpire, The Viol firing, and bend the warbling Wyrc. But chief, Ye Pages, open to the Light, Where wond'ring Angels roll their raviih'd Sight; Ye facred Pa0e«, eafy to his Soul, Spread the dark Mazes of your * myftic Roll. No more You deep, hid in an awful Gloom, Your Shades all fcatter, and yourBeauties bloom; Years yet unborn, your op'ning Scenes unfold. Ant' all your dawning Clouds are edg'd with Gold. So when the Sbekinab, myfterious ftood High o'er Arabia's divided Flood, ( When down the Sands below the Prophet led, And the Waves foam'd fublime above hisHead) Whilft Clouds and Darknefc Egypt's Hoft amaz'd,

Thro' I/rath Ranks immortal Glory blaz'd. L And • Bit flfa rn ifa tnHfm,

7+

P OEMS

m

Ami Thou, my Mule, afiimie a joyful A»r, Recall his Candor, and forbid thy Fear ; Tell him You come before the Fount l Day, And from the Pow'r of i .ight, demand a Kay : Gracious, i Ie'll grant the Favour thou halt pray'd, And fling the Blaze of Glocies from his Head. As on the fragrant Windings of the Shore Where Perfta glitters with her golden Ore, U p the high Hills the early People rife, / And to the Had turn their defiring Eyes, ^ Till beamy Pbcsbus guilds the rofey Skies, ) Then, all at once, their founding Shouts unite, Hail the bright Car, and blefc the lovelyLight r Pleas'd with theirPrayer,he pafles o'er the Land, And fcatters Bleflings with a laviih Hand ; The Fields all brighten, as he onward moves, And his fairGIories flufh the gladden'd Groves; 0*er all the Earth the flaming Splendor flows, And, like a Ruby, all the Ocean glows: T Q B U R N E T thus I fue, He thus complies, And thus his foft Indulgence fooths my Eyes.

To

feverat Occaficns.

75

To His l . x c E L L E N C V the GOVKRNOUR. SIR, J ^ W K X C I L L B N C Y has long bcmoured me with a particular bnmdjkip, Gratitude demands that I attemptycttr i'^SSte» Service: And asyou are vow in Mourning from the Stroke of Heaven, the greatejl Refpeti I ean pay you, is, to afftfl your Improvement under the Hand of GOD. In order to ibis, tbe Alufe has once more refumed ber Lyre: And her Averfion to Flattery you will receive as ber beft Complement. Inftead of copious Panegyrick upon tbe Dead, 1 bave cbofcu rather, in folemn Language, to admonifh the U* ving ; And when otbtrs, perhaps, would have embraced fo fair an Opportunity for an Encomium ou your E X C E L L E N C Y , I bave only taken the Freedom of an Exhortation. I know you will be pleafed to obferve, that while I employ the Numbers of tbe Poet, I never forget tbe Character of tbe Divine. I am, May it pleaie your E X C E L L E N C Y , Your Excellency's affe&ionate Nephew, and moil humble Servant, Mtfitn, (hfobtr

J

*

M.

BTLES.

y$

PO

E M S cn

Hit EXCELLENCY Govemour

en the Death of His

BELCHER,

LADY.

B

ELCHER, once more permit the Mufe you lov'd, By honour, and by lacred Friendihip mov'd, Wak'd by your woe, her numbers to prolong, And pay her tribute in a Funeral fong.

From you, great Heav'n with undifputed voice, Has fnatch'd the Partner of your youthful joys. Her beauties, ere flow He&ick fires confum'd, Her eyes (honechearful, and her rofes bloom'd: Long Jing'ring fickneis, broke the lovely form, Shock after fhock, and ftorm fucceeding ftorm» Till Death, relentleis, fiez'd the wailing clay, Stopt the faint voice, and catch'd the Soul away. No more in Converie fprightly, (he appears, With nice decorum, and obliging airs : Ye Poor, no more expelling round her (land, Where ioft companion ilretch'd her bounteous hand ; Her

feveral

Qccafiaiu.

77

Her Houfc her happy (kill no more lhall boaftj " Be all things plentiful, but nothing loft. Cold to the tomb fee the pale corpfe convey*d, Wrapt up in filence, and the difmal (hade. A h ! what avail the (able velvet fpread, And golden ornaments amidft the dead ? No beam (miles there, no eye can there diicern The vulgar coffin from the marble urn : The coftly honours, preaching, feem to fay, Magnificence mud mingle with the clay. Learn here, ye Fair, the frailty of your face, Raviih'd by death, or nature's flow decays: Ye Great, muft fo refign your tranfient pow'r, Heroes of duft, and monarchs of an hour • So muft each pleating air, each gentle fire, And all that's (oft, and all that's fweet expire. But you O BELCHER,mourn the abfentFair,

Feel the keen pang, and drop the tender tear: The GOD approves that nature do her part, A panting bofom, and a bleeding heart.

7>

P O E M S * »

Ye bafcr arts oi flattery, away ! The Virtuous Mufe Dull moralize her Jay. T o you, o Fa*'rite Man, the Pow'r fupream Gives wealth, and titles, and extent of fame • Joys from beneath, and bit flings from above Thy Monarch'« plaudit and thy people's love : The lame high Pow'r, unbounded, and alone, Rcfumrs his gifts, and puts your mourning on. His E d i d ifiucs, and his Vafial, Death, Requites your Confort's, or Y o u r flying breath. Still be your glory at his feet to bend, Kifs thou the SON, and own his Sov'reiga hand ; For his high honours all thy pow'rs exert, The gifts of Nature, and the charms of A r t : So over Death the conquelt (hall be giv'n, Your Name (hail live on earth, your Soul in hcav'n. Mean

fivet.il Occafimt.

79

Mem time my Name to thine ally'd fhall ft and, Still our warm Friendlhip, mutual fiamcs extend i T h e Mufe (hall fo furvive from age to age, And B E L C H E R ' S name protett his Byles's page.

To Poilio, OH bis preparing for the Prefs a Treatife againft the Romiih Church.

L

Ong had the Romijh Darknels mock'd the

F.yes AndSmoke and Locufts hover'd round the Skies; I .ike fome dire Plague th* infeftious Errors run, They ftalk'd thro* Midnight, and devour'd at Noon. Confederate Schools fecur'd die dark Retreats, With facred Lies, and confecrated Cheats; Amazing Change ! Obedient to the Prieft, Bread leaps to Flefh and omniprefent Pafte! T o fill their Coffere all their Fancies team > Ev'n Purgatory proves a golden Dream ; All

So

POEMS

en

All Merchantife thro' their wide Market rolls. From rotten Carcafies, to humane Souls. 'Tis thine, O Pellio, in juft Rage to rife, And from the Monfter (natch the thin Difguife, With skilful Hand the fraudful Schemes difplay, And all the bold Impofture open lay. How ftrong thy Pages are in mafiy Senfe, VaftHoardsof Thought, and manly Eloquence! Extenfive Learning, and in Reafning cool, And, like thy Convcrfation, rich and full! Thy Converfation ! — here the Mufe could ftay. And in big Pleafures fmile the Hours away. The Mule familiar, ihall the State forget. The Schools, the Court, and fccret Cabinet, But milder Numbers ihall in Thee commend The gende, and the condeicending Friend. If, in grave Words, you lacredThoughts beftow, A deep Attention fets on ev'ry Brow ; If thro* the Sciences your Fancy itrays, With Joy we follow duo' the flow'iy Maze i Or

feveral Occafions. Or if you Mirth» and hom'rous Airs a flume, An umverfel Laughter ihakes the "Room. Each comes with Pleafurr ; while he ftays admires; Goes with Regret, nor unimprov'd retires. Forgive me, Poi'.io, if the forward Mule, Forgets her Rank, and too familiar grows : Forgive, if ihe ambitious fliould relate, How free you talk, how intimate I fet; O let my Name with thine together (land, And let me boaft the Honours of thy Friend, My Name, by Thee ihall laft to future Days, And PoUios Pageproteft hisByles's Lays.

OH the Deatl)

of the Q U E E N .

Ye His Excellency Governour

W

B E I C H E R .

Hile from each Soul the Sorrows copious flow, And weeping Nations heave with mighty Woe-, M Whilft

82

POEMS

on

"Whilil ev'ry Lyre to mournful Notes is ftrung, And C A R O L I N A flutters on each Tongue : The mourning Mule, to Confolatiun deaf, Swelb the lad Confort with melodious Grief. Ten flow'ry Springs on golden Plumes have flown, Since (he,triumphant, hail'd thee on thyThrone. Oh C A R O L I N E ! Oh Princefs now no more ! Each Heart bleeds inward, and all Eyes deplore. Stretch'd pale in Death thy lovely Limbs arc laid, Thy Beauty, Albion, and thy Joys are fled ! T o Thee, our Tears their filial Torrents bring» And ev*ry Paflion opens ev'ry Spring : Loft to Defpair, in wild Laments we moan, And diftant Regions echo Groan for Groan. 'Twas ihe, adorn'd by Virtue's heav'nly Charms, In roiey Beauty bleis'd her Prince's Arms ; Her Lover with a pious Eye ihe view'd, And C^SAR at her Feet fucceislels fu'd : Imperial

¡rccr.il Occqfions.

83

Imperial Purple her calm l;.yes difdain, A nil Roman Fagles wav'd their Wings in vain ; InfpirM, Religion's Di&ates to difcharge, She gave Iicr felf to Britain, and to GtORcr.. Say, rais'd Britannia, how her gentle Air Adorn'd the Palace, and improv'd the Fair, Difcord, aiul Party-Rage grew tame, to gaze, And noify Factions clamour'd in her Praife. Domrftick Life th* illuftrious Pattern grae'd On royal Milk the royal Infants feaft : Korm'd by her Hands die Monarch-Race were fl*en, The rip'ning Hero, and the future Queen, f ar from vain Courts her iilent Footfteps roam, Where chofcnVolumesdeck'd the facredDome : Still loud Applaufes of the joyful A g e , Purfu'd her thro' the lonely Hermitage. Here, in high Raptures, her immortal Mind, O'er Ntvaliu*s Orbs expatiates, unconfin'd ; Familiar Gueft ! (he vifits all the Skies, From World toWorld.from Sun to Sun toe flics ! M 2

Thence

b'+

POEMS

on

Thence fmiles at mimickCrowns which Sultans wear In the mock Empires of this little Star. Such was the Queen! Hie was-— but is no more! Wide wounds the Woe, and fprcads fromShorc to Shore ; Groans the hoarie Ocean as the Tydings fly, Wave roars to Wave, and Kocks toRocks reply, She «'as, but is no more — loft all Relief! Now all her Graces greatcn all our Grief. Kv'n our far Land it's Anguiih loud proclaims, W e felt her Influence,and we ble&'d herBeams. But, BELCHER,firft inGrief asinCommand ; With early Zeal you kils'd her beauteousHand i Your Honours to the deilin'd Queen you paid, Ere theCrown flalh'd, far-beaming,on her Head. The Mufe relu&ant, by your Order fings, Elfe had (he filent wept, and broke her Strings. What Fame to us reports, by you were feen, The Glance attraftive, the majeftick Mem, The

feveral Occajwns.

8

TIK? Angcl-I'urm each milder Feature wears, That Loo!: obliging, thofe defending Airs. CoJlclted in her Innocence /he flood, Devout to Mcav'n, to Men divinely Good, You faw—-now fee the fated End of all: I low the- Fair fades, and how the Mighty fall Sec the Pale Cheek its faded Bluih refign, The dying Eyes with traniient Luftre Ihines Hoarfb the funk Voice, the Bread no longer warm, And Death gains fail o'er ev'ry mortal Charm. O V I R T U E ! now tby Joys are allfinceref Th* exulting Queen demands the final Pray'r, (Eternal Glories op'ning to her ViewJ Waves her gay Hand, and bids theGlobe adieu. See, in the regal Vaults, the (hatter'd Lead, Whole gaping Seams diiclofc the royal Dead. Were thefe, O Mule, triumphant Sovereigns once I This Skin allftiriYel'd1 and thefe naked Btaes ! No more reientful, great E L I Z A , reft, Support in Peace the StoUijb Mary's Cheft I Whilft

86

POEMS

on

Whilftfaaby WiLLiAM'sandMARiA'sSlmi.r, W e placc the Duft of hcav'nJy CAROLINE. Ye living, hear what mould'ring Monarch', fay ! " For endltfs Joys give mortal Dreams away. To the Reverend Dr. W A T T S , on bis Divine ro EMS. I. AY, fmiling Mufe, what heav'nly Strain Forbids the Waves to roar ; Comes gently gliding o'er the Main, And charms our liil'ning Shore '

S

II. What Angel (hikes the trembling Strings And whence die golden Sound ! Or isit WATTS ORGAHRIEL fings From yon celeftial Ground ?

III. 'Tis Thou, Seraphick WATTS, thy Lyre Pbys (oft along the Floods ; Thy Notes, the anf'wring Hills infpire,

And bend the waving Woods.

feveral Occaftm.

gy

IV. The Meads, with dying Mufick fill'd, Their fmiling Honours ihow, While, whifp'ring o'er each fragrant Field, The tuneful Breezes blow. V. The Rapture founds in ev'ry Trace, F.v'n the rougii Rocks regale, Frefh flow'ry Joys flame o'er the Face Of ev'ry laughing Vale. VI. And Thou, my Soul, the Tranfport own, Fir'd with immortal H e a t ; While dancing Pulfes driving on, About thy Body beat. VII. 1 ,ong as the Sun ihali rear his Head, And chafe the Hying Glooms, As bluihmg from lus nuptial Bed The gallant Bridegroom comes :

VIII. Long

P O E M S

04

VIII. Long » the dufky Ev'ning flics And fheds a doubtful Light, While (widen rufh along the Skies The (able Shades of Night: IX. thy iacred Lays fo long Shall ev'ry Bofom fire And ev'ry Mufe, and ev'ry Tongue T o fpeak thy Praife confpire.

O WATTS,

X. When thy fair Soul ihall on the Wings Of ihouting Seraphs rife, And with fuperior Sweetnefs Tings Amid thy native Skies XI. Still Hull thy lofty Numbers flow, Melodious and divine ; And Choirs above, and Saints below, A deathlefs Chorus ! join.

XII.

fivtral Oceafiom.

89

To our far Shores the Sound (ball roil, (So Pbilnula fung) And Eaft to Weft, and Pole to Pole Th' eternal Tune prolong.

iiCT0H0,M

tbt Sight of bis Pictures.

A

GES our Land a barbarous DcCirt ftood, And&vageNations howl'd in ev'ryWood; No laurel'd Art o'er the rode Region fmil'd. Nor bleft'd Religion dawn'd amidft the Wild » Dulneis and Tyranny confederate rcign'd, And Ignorance her gloomy State maintain'd. An hundred Joumies now the Earth has run, In annual Circles, round the central Sun, Since the firft Ship the unpoliih'd Letters bore Thro* die wide Ocean to the barb'rous Shore. Then Infant-Science made it's early Proof, Honeft,fincere,tho' unadorn'd, and rough t Still duo* a Cloud the ragged Stranger ihon^ Politends, and the kfter Am unknown: N No

90

P O E M S on

No heavenly Pencil the free Stroke could give, Nor the warm Canvafs felt its Colours live. No moving Rhet'rick rais'd the raviih'd Soul, Flourifh'd in Flames, or heard it'sThunder rcll; Rough borridVerie.harih, grated thro* the Ear, And jarring Difcords tore the tortur'd Air Solid, and grave, and plain the Country ftood, Inelegant, and rigoroufly good. Each Year.fucceeding, the rudcRufl devours, And lofter A m lead on the following Houra i The tuneful Nine begin to touch the Lyre, And flowing Pencils light the living Fire » In the fair Page new Beauties Jearn to lhine, ThcThoughts to brighten, and the Style refine, Till the greatYear the finiih'd Period brought j PICTOKIO painted, and M A E C E N A S wrote. ThyFame.PicTOR io,(haII the Mufe rehearfe, And ling her Sifter-Art in fofter Verfc : •Tis your*!» great Mafter, in juft Lines to trace The fifing Profpeft, or the lovely Face. In

faicrai Otcufiom. In the fair Round to iwdl the glowing Cheek, Give Thought to Siudeiund teach thcPaintsto fptik. Touch'd by thy Hand, how Sylvias Charm« engage ! And Flmua's Features fmile thro' ev'ry Age. In Q»V5 Face, th' attentive Gazer fpies Mintrva's reaioning Brow, and azure Eyes, Thy Bluih, Belinda, future Hearts (hall warm, And C*ti* fhine in Gtberea's Form. In hoary Majefty, fee C A T O here » Fix'd ftrongin Thought,thereNEWTOit*s Linei appear j Here in full Beauty blooms the charmingMaid; Here Roman Ruins nod their awful Head ; Here gbtingMonks their am'rousRights debate, The IUUMM Mafter fits in eafy State, V A N D I K B and R U B Z K S ftow their rivalForms, And C C S A R flalhes in die Blaze of Arms. But ceat.fondMufc^or the rudeLays prolong, A thouland Wonders muft remain unfung ; N 2 Crowds

gt

POEMS

on

Crowds of newBeings lift their wond'ringHeads, In confcious Forms, and animated Shades. What Sounds can (peak, to ev'ry Figure juft, The breathing Statue, and the living Buft ? Landlkips how gay ! arife in ev'ry Light, And frelh Creations ruih upon the Sight t Thro* fairy Scenes the roving Fancy ft rays, Loft in the endkft, vifionary Maze. Still, wondrous Artift, let thy Pencil flow. Still, warm withLife, thy blendedColours glow, Raifc the ripe Bluih, bid the quick Eye-balls roll And call forth every Paifion of the Soul. Let thy loft Shades in mimick Figures play. Steal on the Heart, and catch the Mind away. Yet Printer, on the kindred Muic attend, The Poet ever proves the Painter's Friend. In the fame Studies Nature we purfue, I the Delcription touch, the Picture you; The lame gayScenes our beauteousWorks adorn* The purple Ev'ning, or the flamy Morn: Now,

fevtral Occefitns.

93

Now, with bold Hand, we (hike the ltrong Pefign Mature in Thought, now foften every Line ; Now, unreilrain'd, in freer Airs furprize. And fuddcn, at our Word, new World's arile. In gen'rous Pafficm let our Breads confpire. As is the Fancy's, be the Friendfhip's Fire ; Alike our LaLxxir, and alike our Flame .* *Tis thine to raife the Shape v 'tis mine to fix the Name.

EPITAPH. Eneath, the P R O P H E T lays his rev'rend Head, Amid, thefc awfiil Manfions of the Dead. No more the P A T R I O T (hall aflert the Laws, Nor in the Senate plead his Country's Caufe: Around the C H U R C H , no more the lift'ning Throng, Gaze on his Eyes, and hang upon his Tongue: No more his btaling Hand ihall Health reftore, Elude the Grave, and baffle Death no more. In

B

P O E MS OH I0 Eton's flow'ry Vales the Spirit roves, Where Screams of Life roll thro* immortal Grove»: Fix'D in deep SlutnberSjhere the D U S T is GIV'N^ 'Tin ibelaftTnimpet lhake theFramc oft leav'n: Then fr«fh 10 Life the waking Samt (ball rife, And in new Triumphs glitter up the Skies With failing Joys» god heav'nJy Honours crown'd, Bid endleis Ages wheel their mighty Round.

EPITAPH.

S

O jades the F A I R , the tranfient Roles fled, (So Charms but Virtue bloom around the Dead; The Pstriet fo forgets his Land's Defence, His fine A D D R E S S , and flowing E L O Q U E N C E : M Ye LIVING,learn \YoaxGracesfo confume, * B I I V T R and G E N I U S mingle in the Tomb. EPITAPH.

fiveral Octaflons.

gg

E P I T A P H .

R

Eider, fucb as T h o u or/, fiich oqqt She flood,

A s foft, ingenious, Beautiful and good ; Such as She it T h a o quickly muft became Stiff,lenfclelsjoathfome* mould*ring in a T o m b . Yet ihall Thcfe Limbs with Charms rcaew'd afcend, Bright from the D u d , and by the Grave refin'd; 44 L i k e Her be Pirlima, You like Her ihall " Ihine ** Young, fair, gay, a.

I.

The GOD of Tempeji. p. The Complaint and the Confolation. p 8. The altogether Lovely. p. 10. The Comparifon, the Choice, and the Enjoyment. p. i j . Ott a very profane Compliment in a noble and devout Poem. p. 15. HTMN to C H R I S T for our Regeneration and Rrfurredtion. p. 1 7 . GO LI AH* s Defeat. p. 18. ODE, for Palatine Tune. p. a 3 . Written in M I L T O N ' S PAR AD IS E LOST. p. 25. To the Memory of a young Commander Jlain in a Battel with the lndianst 1724. t>.

The

C O N T E N T S .

Wri/ren in Dr. " W A T T S'S Poems \ given to a young lady. p. 3S. An F.LEO Y addre/s'd to His Excellency Governour B L C H E R : On the iDeatf) °f bis Brother in Lmw, the Honourable

D A N I E L O L I V E R , A/j;

p. 3 9 .

To a Friend, on the Death of a Relative, p. 44. Hymn at Sea, p. 4 b'. To an ingenious young Gentleman, on bis dedicating a Poem to the Author. p. 49. The BLOOM of L I F E , fading in a happy DEATH.

p. 5 8 .

A Poem on tbeDeath of KirrgGEORC.Z I. and Acceffion of King GEORGE 11. p. 6 1 . To His Excellency Governour B U R N E T , on his Arrival at Bo (Ion. p. 68. TttliuExcellencyGovcrnourBELCHER, on the Death of his LADT. p. 76. To Pollio, on his preparing for the Prefs a Treattfe againfl the Komifh Church, p. 79. On the IDEATF) of the Q U E E N .

p. S 1 .

To the Reverend Dr. W A T T S , on his Divine POEMS. p. S6. T9 PICTORIO, on tbeSigbi of hisPiilures p. 89, Epitaphs. p 93, 94, 95. To a youngLady- Written with a Silver Pen, prefented by her to the Author. 1725. p. 96. Written in tbe Blank Leaf of a POEM mt.j p. 08.

The C O N T E N T S . An Epigramjvritten upon aPtie of Building, trcfttil in Pai is by I.ouis xivch

after the Peace ivitb iì^ucen

The

CON-FI. A C R A T ION.

ETERNI

T }'.

ANNE.

p. 98. p. 1 0 0 . . p. 106.

ERRATA. Omitting a very few lefler Typographical Errors, thofe which tend mure to diftuib theSenfe, are thus corrected.

P

Age 23. Verfe 7. read plain. p 26. v. 5. from Bottom, r. Lightning. p. 64. v. 8. from Bottom, r. Dome.

p. 74. v. 6. r. Glories.

p. 103. v. 5. from Bottom, r. Cryftal. p . 10Ó. v. 4. from Bottom, r. Lights.