Stedfaft, as when around this nether sphere,
She winds the purple year.

Tells what time the fnow-drop cold
Its maiden whitenefs may unfold,
When the golden harvest bend,
Then bids pale Winter wake to pour
The pearly hail's translucent show'r,
When the ruddy fruits defcend.
To caft his filv'ry mantle o'er the woods,
And bind in crystal chains the slumb'ring floods.

III.

The foul, which fhe infpires, has pow'r to climb
To all the heights fublime

Of Virtue's tow'ring hill.

That hill, at whofe low foot weak-warb'ling strays The fcanty ftream of human praise,

A fhallow trickling rill.

While on the fummits hov'ring angels fhed,
From their bleft pinions, the nectareous dews
Of rich immortal Fame: from these the mufe.
Oft fteals fome precious drops, and blends with art
With those the lower ftreams impart;

Then show'rs it all on fome high-favor'd head.
But thou, ELFRIDA, claim'ft the genuine dew
Thy worth demands it all,

Pure, and unmixt on thee the facred drops fhall fall.

CHORUS IV.

ATHELWOLD SUSPECTS THE CONSTANCY OF ELFRIDA.

I.

Say, will no white-rob'd fon of light, Swift-darting from his heav'nly height, Here deign to take his hallow'd stand; Here wave his amber locks, unfold His pinions cloath'd with downy gold; Here fmiling stretch his tutelary wand? And you, ye hoft of faints, for ye have known Each dreary path in life's perplexing maze, Tho' now ye circle yon eternal throne With harpings high of inexpreffive praise, Will not your train descend in radiant state, To break with Mercy's beam this gathering cloud of fate?

II.

"Tis filence all. No fon of light
Darts fwiftly from his heav'nly height,
No train of radiant faints defcend.

"Mortals, in vain ye hope to find, "If guilt, if fraud have stain'd your mind, "Or faint to hear, or angel to defend."

P

So Truth proclaims. I hear the facred found Burft from the centre of the burning throne. Where aye fhe fits with ftar-wreath'd luftre crown'd,

A bright fun clafps her adamantine zone.

So Truth proclaims: her awful voice I hear, With many a folemn pause it slowly meets my ear..

III.

"Attend, ye fons of men; attend, and fay,"
Does not enough of my refulgent ray
Break thro' the veil of your mortality!

Say, does not Reason in this form descry Unnumber'd, nameless glories, that surpass The Angel's floating pomp, the Seraph's glowing grace?

IV.

Shall then your earth-born daughters vie
With me? Shall she, whose brightest eye
But emulates the diamond's blaze,
Whose bosom mocks the fleecy fnow,
Whose cheek the rofe's damask glow,

Whose melting voice the warbling woodlark's lays;
Shall she be deem'd my rival? * Shall a form
Of elemental drofs, of mould'ring clay,

Vie with these charms imperial? The poor worm Shall prove her contest vain. Life's little day

* ATHELWOLD had been guilty of a lye, that he might poffefs ELFRIDA.

Shall pafs, and fhe is gone: while I appear, Flush'd with the bloom of youth thro' heav'n's

eternal year.

V.

Know, mortals, know; ere first ye sprung,
Ere first these orbs in æther hung,

I fhone amid the heav'nly throng.
These eyes beheld Creation's day,
This voice began the choral lay,

And taught Archangels their triumphant fong.
Pleas'd I furvey'd bright Nature's gradual birth,
Saw infant light with kindling luftre spread,
Soft vernal fragrance clothe the flow'ring earth,
And Ocean heave on his extended bed;

Saw the tall oak afpiring pierce the sky,
The tawny Lion stalk, the rapid eagle fly.

VI.

Laft, Man arofe, erect in youthful grace,
Heav'n's hallow'd image ftampt upon his face,
And, as he rofe, the high beheft was giv'n,
"That I alone of all the hoft of heav'n,
"Should reign Protectress of the godlike
youth."

Thus the Almighty spake: he spake and call'd

me TRUTH.

O DE

ON THE

DEATH OF MR. THOMSON.

BY MR COLLIN S.

THE

SCENE OF THE FOLLOWING STANZAS IS SUPPOSED ΤΟ LIE ON THE

THAMES, NEAR

I.

RICHMOND.

N yonder grave a Druid lies

I where flowly winds the stealing wave!

The year's beft fweets fhall duteous rife
To deck it's Poet's fylvan grave!

II.

In yon deep bed of whisp'ring reeds
His airy harp * fhall now be laid,
'That he, whose heart in forrow bleeds,
May love thro' life the foothing fhade.

*The harp of AEOLUS, of which fee a defcription in the CASTLE OF INDOLENCE.