As when a felon whom his country's laws Have justly doom’d for some atrocious cause, Expects in darkness and heart-chilling fears, The shameful close of all his mispent years ; If chance, on heavý pinions Nowly borne, A tempest usher in the dreaded morn, Upon his dungeon walls the lightning play, The thunder seems to fummon him away, The warder at the door his key applies; Shoots back the bolt, and all his courage dies : If then, just then, all thoughts of mercy loft, When Hope, long ling'ring, at last yields the ghost, The sound of pardon pierce his startled ear, He drops at once his fetters and his fear, o A transport glows in all he looks and speaks, And the first thankful tears bedew his cheeks. Joy, far superior joy, that much outweighs The comfort of a few poor added days, Invades, possesses, and o’erwhelms the foul, Of him whom hope has with a touch made whole :: Vol. I, N 'Tis 'Tis heav'n, all heav'n descending on the wings Of the glad legions of the King of Kings ; 'Tis more—'tis God diffus'd through ev'ry part, ?Tis God himself triumphant in his heart. Oh welcome now the sun's once hated light, His noon-day beams were never half so bright, Not kindred minds alone are call’d t employ Their hours, their days, in list’ning to his joy, Unconscious nature, all that he surveys, Rocks, groves, and streams, must join him in his praise. These are thy glorious works, eternal truth, The scoff of wither'd age and beardless youth; These move the censure and illib'ral grin, Of fools that hate thee and delight in fin: But these shall last when night has quench'd the pole, And heav'n is all departed as a scroll: And when, as justice has long since decreed, This earth shall blaze, and a new world succeed, Then these thy glorious works, and they who share, That Hope which can alone exclude despair, Shall Shall live exempt from weakness and decay, CHARITY, C. H A RITY. Qua nihil majus meliufve terris Hor. Lib. iv. Ode II. FAIREST and foremost of the train that wait, On man's most dignified and happiest state, Who Who seeks to praise thee, and to make thee known God, working ever on a social plan, N3 |