The Arminian Magazine

686

Ah! glorious Drake! far other lot was thine,
Fate gave to thee to quell the hoftile pride;
To feize the treasures of Potofis mine,

And fail triumphant o'er la Plata's tide,

But Providence, on fecret wonders bent,

Conceals its purposes from mortal view;
And Heaven no doubt with fome all-wife intent,
Denied to numbers what it gave to few.

An ELEGY on the USE of POETRY.
[Infcribed to the Rev. Randle Darwall, M. A.]

AIL! gentle Evening, clad in fober grey,

HA

Mild mother, thou, of Fancy's airy train:
How fweet to fly the vain pursuits of day,
And range with thee the folitary plain !

Far from the dome, where fplendid Anguish weeps,
Where Guilt, or Envy, blaft the midnight hour;
Lead me, where poppy-crowned Contentment fleeps,
To the light breefe, that fans the dew-bathéd flower,

Slow winding near yon Ofier-fringed ftream,

On whose green marge foft Silence loves to ftray,
O modelt Eve! indulge my mufe-rape dream,

That breathes no light-tuned air, or wanton lay.

At this fill hour oft through the high-arched grove,
Where dwells fage Contemplation, let me roam,
Where heaven-born Truth, and keen-eyed Genius rove,
Where Peace refides in Freedom's mofs-roofed dome.

Thefe Heaven ordained the guardian of the Muse;
Beneath their facred influence unconfinéd

She foars, fuperior to terreftrial views,

To harmonize, inftru&t, and charm mankind.

Her

Her pleafing task, through Nature's varied plan,
To trace the goodnefs of Almighty Power;
To vindicate the ways of God to man;

Soothe Care's deep gloom, and cheer the lonely hour.

Nor fcornéd fhe mild, to fing of fwains and flocks,"

In fimple elegance to haunt the plain;
In dorian mood beneath impending rocks
To breathe the rural reed to fofter ftrains.

To paint the scenes, which sportive Fancy drew,
To Love and Truth attune the tender lyre,
While her chafte fleps fair Virtue's paths purfue,
Scorning each fordid wifh and low defire.

Shame to the hand, that firft her power abused,
And with licentious freedom ftained the page,
Whofe wit infectious poifon wide diffuféd,
Or facrificed to gold the noble rage.

When Vice would taint the Morals of mankind,
When Pride or Envy would debase a name,
When Flattery has her venal chaplet twined,
Shall thefe degrade the Mufe's facred flame?

When Beauty from the chafte-robed graces flies,
To hold bright converfe with the cyprean Queen;
While blushing Modefty with down-caft eyes,

Gives place to Mirth's loud laugh, or Jeer obfcene.
Shall these a place in Fame's fair records gain,
Who ftrew pierian flowers on Vice's fhrine:
No, let oblivion fhrowd each guilty ftrain,
Though wit and learning all their powers combine.

For one, the meaneft of the tuneful throng,
If e'er to themes like these my voice I raise;

If venal flattéry e'er debase my song,

Or ought but Merit gain my honeft praise:

Perish the blooms, which from the vernal field,

This hand has culled fair Friendship's brows to wreathe; No pleasure may the humble offering yield,

No grateful odours, or sweet fragrance breathe.

To Gratitude and Friendship flows this ftrain;
Accept, O Darwall! what thy Verse inspired,
Elfe have I waked my rural reed in vain,

Elfe has the Muse in vain my bofom fired.

But should thy eye with wonted candour view,

This well-meant lay, by truth and freedom planned;
Should these fair ftrokes, which fimple nature drew,
Pass unreproved beneath thy judging hand;

I ask no more; happy, with this poor bough,
This tributary ftrain of artless youth,
If gracious thou fhalt deign to bind thy brow,
O! Friend to Virtue, Piety and Truth!

A REFLECTION on fome Lines of HORACE, which feem to reprefent Life only as a Scene of Luxury.

[Extracted from a late Author.]

ELUDED fouls! that facrifice

Eternal hopes above the skies,
And pour their lives out all in waste,
To the vile idol of their tafte!
The highest heaven of their pursuit
Is to live equal with the brute :
Happy, if they could die as well,
Without a judgment or a hell.

END OF VOL. VI.

m

CONTENTS

O F

1

VOLUME VI.

THE Calvinist Cabinet Unlocked: in an Apology for

Tilenus, against a Vindication of the Synod of Dort

The fame, continued

Page

3

57