Whom life hath wearied in its race of hours So often guides thee to my arms at night, Floating, in splendour, through those seas above! Play'd with the ringlets of her Samian's hair." already quoted) adduces the obstinacy of the fathers in this whimsical opinion, as a proof of their repugnance to even truth from the hands of the philosophers. Tins is a strange way of defending the fathers, and attributes much more than they deserve to the philosophers. For an abstract of this work of Baltus, (the opposer of Fontenelle, Van Dale, etc. in the famous oracle controversy) see "Bibliotheque des Auteurs Ecclesiast. du 18. siecle," 1 Part. Tom. ii. 1 There were various opinions among the ancients with respect to their lunar establishment; some make it an elysium, and others a purgatory; while some suppose it to be a kind of entrepot between heaven and earth, where souls which had left their bodies, and those which were on their way to join them, were deposited in the valleys of Hecate, and remained till further orders. Τοις περι σιληνην περι Who, fix'd by love, at length was all her own, Oh Samian sage! whate'er thy glowing thought We met-like thee the youthful vision smil'd; Oh my beloved! how divinely sweet λέγειν αυτάς κατοικείν, και απ' αυτής κάτω χωρειν εἰς THE TENSION very. Stob. lib. 1. Eclog. Physic. 2 The pupil and mistress of Epicurus, who called her his "dear little Leontium" (Asovragiov) as appears by a frag. ment of one of his letters in Laertius. This Leontium was a woman of talent; "she had the impudence (says Cicero) to write against Theophrastus;" and, at the same time Cicero gives her a name which is neither polite nor trans- To pour at Arethusa's crystal feet! lateable, "Meretricula etiam Leontium contra Theophras-Think, when he mingles with his fountain-bride tum scribere ausa est."-De Natur. Deor. She left a What perfect rapture thrills the blended tide! daughter called Danae, who was just as rigid an Epicurean as her mother; something like Wieland's Danae in Agathon. Each melts in each, till one pervading kiss It would sound much better, I think, if the name were Confound their current in a sea of bliss! Leontia, as it occurs the first time in Laertius; but M. Me- "Twas thusnage will not hear of this reading. 3 Pythias was a woman whom Aristotle loved, and to whom after her death he paid divine honours, solemnizing her memory by the same sacrifices which the Athenians offered to the goddess Ceres. For this impious gallantry the philosopher was, of course, censured; it would be well however if some of our modern Stagirites had a little of this superstition about the memory of their mistresses. 4 Socrates; who used to console himself in the society of Aspasia for those "less endearing ties" which he found at home with Xantippe. For an account of this extraordinary creature, Aspasia, and her school of erudite luxury at Athens, see L'Histoire de l'Académie, etc. Tom. xxxi. p. 69. Ségur rather fails on the subject of Aspasia. "Les Femmes." Tom i. p. 122. The author of the "Voyage du Monde de Descartes" has also placed these philosophers in the moon, and has allotted Seigneuries to them, as well as to the astronomers; (2 part. p. 143.) but he ought not to have forgotten their wives and mistresses; "curæ not. ipsà in morte relinquunt." 5 There are some sensible letters extant under the name of this fair Pythagorean. They are addressed to her female friends upon the education of children, the treatment of servants, etc. One, in particular, to Nicostrata, whose husband had given her reasons for jealousy, contains such truly considerate and rational advice, that it ought to be translated for the edification of all married ladies. See Gale's Opuscul. Myth. Phys. p. 741. 6 Pythagoras was remarkable for fine hair, and Doctor Thiers (in his Histoire des Perruques) seems to take it for granted it was all his own, as he has not mentioned him But, Theon, 'tis a weary theme, among those ancients who were obliged to have recourse to the "coma apposititia." L'Hist. des Perruques, Chap I. 1 The river Alpheus; which flowed by Pisa or Olympia, and into which it was customary to throw offerings of dif ferent kinds, during the celebration of the Olympic games. In the pretty romance of Clitophon and Leucippe, the river is supposed to carry these offerings as bridal gifts to the fountain Arethusa. Kai i Thy Agiduσ NT TOP ALO100 νύμφαςτολοι όταν αν η των Ολυμπίων εορτή, κ. τ. λ. Lib THE SENSES. A DREAM. IMBOWER'D in the vernal shades, And circled all by rosy fences, I saw the five luxurious maids, Whom mortals love, and call THE SENSES. Many and blissful were the ways, In which they seem'd to pass their hoursOne wander'd through the garden's maze, Inhaling all the soul of flowers; Like those, who live upon the smell Of roses, by the Ganges' stream,' With perfume from the flowret's bell, She fed her life's ambrosial dream! Another touch'd the silvery lute, To chain a charmed sister's ear, The nymph who thrill'd the warbling wire, As if it pouted with desire Some cooling, nectar'd draught to sip. But, oh! the fairest of the group Was one, who in the sunshine lay, To look upon this lovelier sight. It must be now almost the hour, 1 Circa fontem Gangis Astomorum gentum..... halitu tantum viventum et odore quem naribus trahant. Plin. lib vii. cap 2 "When he illumes her magic urn, And sheds his own enchantments in it, Though but a minute's space it burn, "Tis heaven to breathe it but a minute! "Not all the purest power we boast, Not silken touch, nor vernal dye, Nor music, when it thrills the most, Nor balmy cup, nor perfume's sigh, "Such transport to the soul can give, Though felt till time itself shall wither, As in that one dear moment live, When Love conducts our sister hither!" She ceas'd-the air respir'd of blissA languor slept in every eye; And now the scent of Cupid's kiss Declar'd the melting power was nigh! I saw them come-the nymph and boy, THE STEERSMAN'S SONG. WRITTEN ABOARD THE BOSTON FRIGATE 28th APRIL WHEN freshly blows the northern gale, And under coursers snug we fly; And royals proudly sweep the sky; Port, my boy! port. When calms delay, or breezes blow Thus, my boy! thus But see! the wind draws kindly aft, Some breeze of Fortune thus may spring, 1 I left Bermuda in the Boston, about the middle of April, in company with the Cambrian and Leander, aboard the latter of which was the Admiral, Sir Andrew Mitchell, who divides his year between Halifax and Bermuda, and is the very soul of society and good-fellowship to both. separated in a few days, and the Boston after a short cruise We proceeded to New-York. TO CLOE. IMITATED FROM MARTIAL. I COULD resign that eye of blue, Howe'er it burn, howe'er it thrill me; And, though your lip be rich with dew, To lose it, CLOE, scarce would kill me. That snowy neck I ne'er should miss, However warm I've twin'd about it! And though your bosom beat with bliss, I think my soul could live without it. In short, I've learn'd so well to fast, That, sooth my love, I know not whether I might not bring myself at last, TO THE FIRE-FLY. THIS morning, when the earth and sky Nor thought upon thy gleaming wing. For sparkling o'er the dreary way. Oh! let me hope that thus for me, When life and love shall lose their bloom, Some milder joys may come, like thee, To light, if not to warm, the gloom! THE VASE. THERE was a vase of odour lay For many an hour on Beauty's shrine, And not an eye had ever seen The fragrant charm the vase conceal'd- But Love, like every other boy, Would know the spell that lurks within; But Beauty murmur'd " 'twas a sin!" And look'd as if she wish'd he had it! He stole the key when Virtue slept, (E'en she can sleep, if Love but ask it!) And Beauty sigh'd, and Beauty wept, While silly Love unlock'd the casket. 1 The lively and varying illuminations, with which these fire-flies light up the woods at night, gives quite an idea of enchantment. Puis ces mouches se développant de l'obscurité de ces abres et s'approchant de nous, nous les voyions sur les orangers voisins, qu'ils mettaient tout en feu, nous rendant la vue de leurs beaux fruits dorés que la nuit avait ravie," etc. etc.-See l'Histoire des Antilles, Art. 2. Chap. 4. Liv. 1. Oh dulcet air that vanish'd then! Can Beauty's sigh recall thee ever! Can Love, himself, inhale again A breath so precious? never! never! Go, maiden, weep-the tears of woe By Beauty to repentance given, Though bitterly on earth they flow, Shall turn to fragrant balm in heaven! THE WREATH AND THE CHAIN. I BRING thee, Love, a golden Chain, The flow'rets long shall sweetly breathe Stol'n from Minerva's yellow hair, The sober beam of evening there. Yes, yes, I read that ready eye, Which answers when the tongue is loath, Thou lik'st the form of either tie, And hold'st thy playful hands for both. Ah!-if there were not something wrong, The world would see them blended oft; The Chain would make the Wreath so strong! The Wreath would make the Chain so soft! Then might the gold, the flow'rets be Sweet fetters for my love and me! But, FANNY, so unblest they twine, That (heaven alone can tell the reason) When mingled thus they cease to shine, Or shine but for a transient season! Whether the Chain may press too much, Or that the Wreath is slightly braided, Let but the gold the flow'rets touch, And all their glow, their tints, are faded! Sweet FANNY, what would Rapture do, When all her blooms had lost their grace? Might she not steal a rose or two, From other wreaths, to fill their place?— THE timid girl now hung her head, Gave one of its seducing sighs— That ever look'd in FANNY's eyes! "The Wreath, my life, the Wreath shall be, The tie to bind my soul to thee!" ΤΟ MOORE'S WORKS. AND hast thou mark'd the pensive shade, Oh! 'tis not that I then forget The endearing charms that round me twineThere never throbb'd a bosom yet Could feel their witchery, like mine! When bashful on my bosom hid, And blushing to have felt so blest, Oh! these are minutes all thine own, For I have thought of former hours, Like me was lov'd, like me was blest! For him-yet why the past recall To wither blooms of present bliss! Thou'rt now my own, I clasp thee all, And Heaven can grant no more than this! Forgive me, dearest, oh! forgive; I would be first, be sole to thee; EPISTLE VI. TO LORD VISCOUNT FORBES. FROM THE CITY OF WASHINGTON. ΚΑΙ ΜΗ ΘΑΥΜΑΣΕΙΣ ΜΗΤ' ΕΙ ΜΑΚΡΟΤΕΡΑΝ ΓΕΓΡΑΦΑ ΤΗΝ ΕΠΙΣΤΟΛΗΝ, ΜΗΔ' ΕΙ ΤΙ ΠΕΡΙΕΡΓΟ ΤΕΡΟΝ Η ΠΡΕΣΒΥΤΙΚΩΤΕΡΟΝ ΕΙΡΗΚΑΜΕΝ ΕΑΥΤΗ. Isocrat. Epist. 4. IF former times had never left a trace, Well might the novice hope-the sanguine scheme Oh! nothing but that soul which God has given, Even here, beside the proud Potomac's stream, Belie the monuments of frailty past, And stamp perfection on this world at last! "Here," might they say, "shall power's divided reig Evince that patriots have not bled in vain. Here godlike liberty's herculean youth, Oh golden dream! what soul that loves to scan 1 Thus Morse:-" Here the sciences and the arts of civilized life are to receive their highest improvements; here civil and religious liberty are to flourish, unchecked by the cruel hand of civil or ecclesiastical tyranny; here genius, aided by all the improvements of former ages, is to be exerted in humanizing mankind, in expanding and enriching thei. minds with religious and philosophical knowledge," etc etc. p. 569 EPISTLES, ODES, ETC. Of purer texture than the world has known, But, is it thus? doth even the glorious dream Already has the child of Gallia's school, To show the world, what high perfection springs 1 I trust I shall not be suspected of a wish to justify those arbitrary steps of the English government which the Colonies found it so necessary to resist; my only object here is to expose the selfish motives of some of the leading American demagogues. 2 The most persevering enemy to the interests of this country, among the politicians of the western world, has been a Virginian merchant, who, finding it easier to settle his conscience than his debts, was one of the first to raise the standard against Great Britain, and has ever since endeavoured to revenge upon the whole country the obligations which he lies under to a few of its merchants. selves. 3 See Porcupine's account of the Pennsylvania Insurrection in 1794. In short, see Porcupine's Works throughout for ample corroboration of every sentiment which I have ventured to express. In saying this, I refer less to the com1 "What will be the old age of this government, if it is ments of that writer, than to the occurrences which he has Chus early decrepit!" Such was the remark of Fauchet, related, and the documents which he has preserved. Opithe French minister at Philadelphia, in that famous despatchnion may be suspected of bias, but facts speak for them to his government which was intercepted by one of our cruisers in the year 1794. This curious memorial may be found in Porcupine's Works, vol. i. p. 279. It remains a striking monument of republican intrigue on one side, and republican profligacy on the other; and I would recommend the perusal of it to every honest politician, who may labour under a moment's delusion with respect to the purity of American patriotism. 2" Nous voyons que dans les pays où l'on n'est affecté que de l'esprit de commerce, on trafique de toutes les actions humaines et de toutes les vertus morales" Montesquieu, de "'Esprit des Lois, Liv. 20. Chap. 2. 4 In Virginia the effects of this system begin to be felt rather seriously. While the master raves of liberty, the slave cannot but catch the contagion, and accordingly there seldom elapses a month without some alarm of insurrection emigrations which are expected to take place from the amongst the negroes. The accession of Louisiana, it is feared, will increase this embarrassment; as the numerous southern states to this newly acquired territory, wil considerably diminish the white population, and thus strengthen the proportion of negroes to a degree which must ultimately be ruinous. |