A nation dwells, not envious of your throne, Studious of peace, their neighbours and their own. The trumpet founds, your legions swarm abroad, Yet man, laborious man, by flow degrees, (Such is his thirst of opulence and ease) Plies Plies all the finews of induftrious toil, Gleans up the refufe of the general spoil, the plain, And the fun gilds the fhining spires again. Increafing commerce and reviving art Renew the quarrel on the conqu❜rors part, What are ye monarchs, laurel'd heroes, fay, A land A land that diftant tyrants hate in vain, In Britain's isle, beneath a George's reign. THE POET, THE OYSTER, AND SENSITIVE PLANT. AN Oyster caft upon the shore Was heard, though never heard before Complaining in a fpeech well worded, And worthy thus to be recorded: 4 Ah hapless wretch! condemned to dwell For ever in my native fhell, Ordain'd to move when others please, Not for my own content or ease, But tofs'd and buffeted about, Now in the water, and now out. "Twere better to be born a stone Of ruder shape and feeling none, Than Than with a tenderness like mine, And fenfibilities fo fine; I envy that unfeeling fhrub, The plant he meant grew not far off, And with afperity replied. When cry the botanifts, and ftare, Did plants call'd sensitive grow there ? To make them grow juft where she chufes. You that are but almost a fish, For many a grave and learned clerk, And many a gay unletter'd fpark, With With curious touch examines me, If I can feel as well as he; And when I bend, retire and shrink, Says, well-'tis more than one would think- In being touch'd, and crying, don't. O'erheard and check'd this idle talk. And your fine fenfe, he faid, and yours, Whatever evil it endures, Deferves not, if fo foon offended, Are all upon your own account. Wherever |