Nor thefe alone prefer a life reclufe,
Who feek retirement for its proper use,
The love of change that lives in ev'ry breast,
Genius, and temper, and defire of reft,
Difcordant motives in one centre meet,
And each inclines its vot'ry to retreat.
Some minds by nature are averfe to noife,
And hate the tumult half the world enjoys,
The lure of av'rice, or the pompous prize
That courts difplay before ambitious eyes;
The fruits that hang on pleasure's flow'ry ftem,
Whate'er enchants them are no fnares to them.
To them the deep recefs of dufky groves,
Or foreft where the deer fecurely royes,
The fall of waters and the fong of birds,
And hills that echo to the distant herds,
Are luxuries excelling all the glare
The world can boaft, and her chief fav'rites fhare,
With eager step and carelessly array'd,
For fuch a cause the poet feeks the shade,
From all he fees he catches new delight,
Pleas'd fancy claps her pinions at the sight,
The rifing or the fetting orb of day,
The clouds that flit, or flowly float away,
Nature in all the various fhapes fhe wears,
Frowning in ftorms, or breathing gentle airs,
The fnowy robe her wintry state affumes,
Her fummer heats, her fruits, and her perfumes
All, all alike tranfport the glowing bard,
Success in rhyme his glory and reward.
Oh nature! whofe Elyfian fcenes disclose
His bright perfections at whose word they rofe,
Next to that pow'r who form'd thee and sustains,
Be thou the great infpirer of my ftrains.
Still as I touch the lyre, do thou expand
Thy genuine charms, and guide an artless hand,
That I may catch a fire but rarely known,
Give useful light though I should miss renown,
And poring on thy page, whofe ev'ry line
Bears proof of an intelligence divine,
May feel an heart enrich'd by what it pays,
That builds its glory on its Maker's praise.
Woe to the man whofe wit difclaims its ufe,
Glitt❜ring in vain, or only to feduce,
Who ftudies nature with a wanton eye,
Admires the work, but flips the leffon by;
His hours of leisure and recefs employs,
In drawing pictures of forbidden joys,
Retires to blazon his own worthless name,
Or fhoot the careless with a furer aim.
The lover too fhuns business and alarms,
Tender idolater of absent charms.
Saints offer nothing in their warmest pray'rs,
That he devotes not with a zeal like theirs ;
'Tis confecration of his heart, foul, time,
And ev'ry thought that wanders is a crime.
In fighs he worships his fupremely fair,
And weeps a fad libation in defpair,
Adores a creature, and devout in vain,
Wins in return an answer of disdain.
As woodbine weds the plants within her reach,
Rough elm, or fmooth-grain'd afh, or gloffy beech,
In fpiral rings afcends the trunk, and lays
Her golden taffels on the leafy fprays,
But does a mischief while fhe lends a grace,
Strait'ning its growth by fuch a ftrict embrace;
So love that clings around the noblest minds,
Forbids the advancement of the foul he binds,
The fuitor's air indeed he foon improves,
And forms it to the taste of her he loves,
Teaches his eyes a language, and no lefs
Refines his speech and fashions his addrefs;
But farewell prómifes of happier fruits,
Manly defigns, and learning's grave pursuits,
Girt with a chain he cannot wish to break,
His only blifs is forrow for her fake,
Who will may pant for glory and excell,
Her smile his aim, all higher aims farewell!
Thyrfis, Alexis, or whatever name
May leaft offend against so pure a flamé,
Though fage advice of friends the most sincere,
Sounds harshly in so delicate an ear,
And lovers of all creatures, tame or wild,
Can leaft brook management, however mild,
Yet let a poet (poetry difarms
The fierceft animals with magic charms)
Rifque an intrufion on thy penfive mood,
And woo and win thee to thy proper good.
Paftoral images and still retreats,
Umbrageous walks and folitary feats,
Sweet birds in concert with harmonious ftreams,
Soft airs, nocturnal vigils, and day dreams,
Are all enchantments in a cafe like thine,
Conspire against thy peace with one design,
Soothe thee to make thee but a surer prey,
And feed the fire that wastes thy pow'rs away.
Up-God has form'd thee with a wiser view,
Not to be led in chains, but to fubdue,
Calls thee to cope with enemies, and first
Points out a conflict with thyfelf, the worst.
|