For when within thy shady seat

First from the sultry town he chose,

And the tir'd senate's cares, his wish'd repose, Then wast thou mine; to me a happier home For social leisure: where my welcome feet, Estrang'd from all the' intangling ways In which the restless vulgar strays, Through Nature's simple paths with ancient faith might roam.

And while around his silvan scene

My Dyson led the white-wing'd hours,
Oft from the' Athenian Academic bowers
Their sages came: oft heard our lingering walk
The Mantuan music warbling o'er the green:
And oft did Tully's reverend shade,
Though much for liberty afraid,

With us of letter'd ease or virtuous glory talk.

But other guests were on their way,
And reach'd ere long this favour'd grove;
Even the celestial progeny of Jove,
Bright Venus, with her all-subduing son,
Whose golden shaft most willingly obey
The best and wisest. As they came,
Glad Hymen wav'd his genial flame,

And sang their happy gifts, and prais'd their spotless throne.

I saw when through yon festive gate
He led along his chosen maid,

And to my friend with smiles presenting said;-
"Receive that fairest wealth which heaven

assign'd

To human fortune. Did thy lonely state

One wish, one utmost hope confess? Behold, she comes, to' adorn and bless : Comes, worthy of thy heart, and equal to thy mind."

TO THE AUTHOR OF MEMOIRS

OF THE

HOUSE OF BRANDENBURGH 4.

1751.

THE men renown'd as chiefs of human race,
And born to lead in counsels or in arms,

Have seldom turn'd their feet from Glory's chase
To dwell with books or court the Muse's charms.
Yet, to our eyes if haply Time hath brought
Some genuine transcript of their calmer thought,

4 In the year 1751 appeared a very splendid edition, in quarto, of" Memoires pour servir a l'Histoire de la Maison de Brandebourg, a Berlin & a la Haye;" with a privilege signed Frederic; the same being engraved in imitation of hand-writing. In this edition, among other extraordinary passages, are the two following, to which the third stanza of this ode more particularly refers:

"Il se fit une migration" (the author is speaking of what happened of the revocation of the edict of Nantes)" dont on n'avoit guere vu d'exemples dans l'histoire: un peuple entier sortit du royaume par l'esprit de parti en haine du pape, & pour recevoir sous un autre ciel la communion sous les deux especes: quatre cens mille ames s'expatrierent ainsi & abandonnerent tous leur biens pour detouner dans d'autres temples les vieux pseaumes de Clement Marot." p. 163. "La crainte donna le jour a la credulite, & l'amour propre interessa bientot le ciel au destin des hommes." p. 212.

There still we own the wise, the great, or good;
And Cæsar there and Xenophon are seen,
As clear in spirit and sublime of mien,

As on Pharsalian plains, or by the' Assyrian flood.

Say thou too, Frederic, was not this thy aim? Thy vigils could the student's lamp engage, Except for this? except that future fame Might read thy genius in the faithful page? That if hereafter Envy shall presume With words irreverent to inscribe thy tomb, And baser weeds upon thy palms to fling, That hence posterity may try thy reign, Assert thy treaties, and thy wars explain, And view in native lights the hero and the king.

O evil foresight and pernicious care!
Wilt thou indeed abide by this appeal?
Shall we the lessons of thy pen compare
With private honour or with public zeal?
Whence then at things divine those darts of scorn?
Why are the woes, which virtuous men have borne
For sacred truth, a prey to laughter given?
What fiend, what foe of nature urg'd thy arm
The' Almighty of his sceptre to disarm?

To push this earth adrift, and leave it loose from
Heaven?

Ye godlike shades of legislators old,

Ye who made Rome victorious, Athens wise,
Ye first of mortals with the bless'd inroll'd,
Say did not horror in your bosoms rise,
When thus by impious vanity impell'd
A magistrate, a monarch, ye beheld

Affronting civil order's holiest bands?

Those bands which ye so labour'd to improve? Those hopes and fears of justice from above, Which tam'd the savage world to your divine commands?

THE COMPLAINT.

AWAY! Away!

Tempt me no more, insidious Love:
Thy soothing sway

Long did my youthful bosom prove:
At length thy treason is discern'd,
At length some dear-bought caution earn'd:
Away! nor hope my riper age to move.

I know, I see

Her merit. Needs it now be shown,
Alas, to me?

How often, to myself unknown,

The graceful, gentle, virtuous maid
Have I admir'd! How often said,

What joy to call a heart like her's one's own!

But, flattering god,

O squanderer of content and ease,
In thy abode

Will care's rude lesson learn to please?
O say, deceiver, hast thou won,

Proud Fortune to attend thy throne,

Or plac'd thy friends above her stern decrees?

ON DOMESTIC MANNERS.

A FRAGMENT.

MEEK honour, female shame,

O! whither, sweetest offspring of the sky,
From Albion dost thou fly;

Of Albion's daughters once the favourite fame?
O Beauty's only friend,

Who giv'st her pleasing reverence to inspire;
Who selfish, bold desire

Dost to esteem and dear affection turn;

Alas, of thee forlorn

What joy, what praise, what hope can life pretend?

Behold; our youths in vain
Concerning nuptial happiness inquire;
Our maids no more aspire
The arts of bashful Hymen to attain ;
But with triumphant eyes
And cheeks impassive, as they move along,
Ask homage of the throng.

The lover swears that in a harlot's arms
Are found the self-same charms,

And worthless and deserted lives and dies.

Behold; unbless'd at home,

The father of the cheerless household mourns ;
The night in vain returns,

For love and glad content at distance roam;
While she, in whom his mind

Seeks refuge from the day's dull tasks of cares,
To meet him she prepares,

Through noise and spleen and all the gamester's art,
A listless, harrass'd heart,

Where not one tender thought can welcome find.