And ancient towers crown his brow, That caft an awful look below; 'Tis now the raven's bleak abode; A fun-beam in a winter's day, And fee the rivers how they run, To difperfe our cares away. } } Ever charming, ever new, When will the landskip tire the view! The woody vallies, warm and low; The pleasant seat, the ruin'd tow', So we mistake the future's face, Clad in colours of the air, Which to those who journey near, } } 'Tis thus the bufy beat the air; And mifers gather wealth and care. Be full, ye courts, be great who will, Seek her on the marble floor, In vain you fearch, fhe is not there; } Whofe iron fcourge and tort'ring hour, The bad affright, afflict the best! Bound in thy adamantine chain, With pangs unfelt before, unpitied and alone. When first thy fire to fend on earth Virtue, his darling child, defign'd, To thee he gave the heav'nly birth, And bade thee form her infant mind. Stern rugged nurfe! thy rigid lore With patience many a year fhe bore: What forrow was, thou bad'st her know, And from her own fhe learn'd to melt at other's woe. Scared at thy frown terrific, fly Self-pleafing Folly's idle brood, Wild Laughter, Noife, and thoughtless Joy, And leave us leifure to be good. Light they difperfe, and with them go The fummer Friend, the flatt'ring Foe; By vain Profperity receiv'd, To her they vow their truth, and are again believ'd. Wisdom in fable garb array'd, Immers'd in rapt'rous thought profound, And Melancholy, filent maid With leaden eye, that loves the ground, Still on thy folemn steps attend: Warm Charity, the gen'ral friend, With Justice to herself severe, And Pity, dropping foft the fadly-pleafing tear. Oh, Oh, gently on thy fuppliant's head, Dread goddefs, lay thy chaft'ning hand! Nor circled with the vengeful band (As by the impious thou art feen) With thund'ring voice, and threat'ning mien, Thy form benign, oh Goddess, wear Thy milder influence impart, Thy philofophic train be there To foften, not to wound my heart. What others are, to feel, and know myself a man. CHA P. IX. ODE ON A DISTANT PROSPECT Y COLLEGE. E diftant fpires, ye antique towers, Where grateful Science ftill adores And ye, that from the ftately brow GRAY. OF ETON Of WINDSOR's heights th' expanse below Of grove, of lawn, of mead furvey, Whofe turf, whofe fhade, whofe flowers among Wanders the hoary THAMES along His filver-winding way. Ah 1 |