Where drops of light alternate fall away,
And fainting gleams in gradual dies decay;
But thrown together the broad arch displays
One tide of glory! one collected blaze!

Where may those numbers find thee now retired?
What lawn or grove is by the Muse admired?
Dost thou in Stowe's delightful gardens stray,
Or in the glooms of Doddington delay :

There sweet embower'd some favourite author read,
Or breathe the breezes of thy native Tweed;
On her cool border rest reclined a while,
Mindful of Forbes, and of thy own Argyle?
O! thou that only in this garb could'st please,
And bring me over to commend thy lays,
Where rhyme is wanting, but where fancy shines,
And burst like ripen'd ore above the mines:
Enjoy thy genius, glory in thy choice,

Whose Roman freedom has Roscommon's voice.

RICHARD JAGO.

1715-1781.

The friend of Shenstone and Graves, who had courage enough to break through the prejudice which exists at our Universities, against Servitors and Sizers, and to admit him of their Society, on which Jago brought no discredit. He was afterwards protected and cherished by persons of higher rank, and died at his Rectory of Snit. terfield, in Warwickshire, which he owed trithe patronage of the Earl Nugent.

THE GOLDFINCHES,

you, whose

AN ELEGY.

Το
groves protect the feather'd choirs,
Who lend their artless notes a willing ear,
To you, whom pity moves, and taste inspires,

The Dorick strain belongs, O Shenstone, hear.

'Twas gentle Spring, when all the plumy race,

By nature taught, in nuptial league combine! A Goldfinch joy'd to meet the warm embrace, And with her mate in love's delights to join.

All in a garden, on a currant bush,

With wonderous art they build their airy seat; In the next orchard lived a friendly thrush, Nor distant far a woodlark's soft retreat.

Here blest with ease, and in each other blest, With early songs they waked the neighb'ring

groves,

Till time matured their joys, and crown'd their

nest

With infant pledges of their faithful loves.

And now what transport glow'd in either's eye! What equal fondness dealt the allotted food! What joy each others' likenes, to descry,

And future sonnets in the chirping brood!

But ah, what earthly happiness can last!
How does the fairest purpose often fail!
A truant schoolboy's wantonness could blast
Their flattering hopes, and leave them both to
wail.

The most ungentle of his tribe was he,

No generous precept ever touch'd his heart, With concored false, and hideous prosody

He scrawl'd his task, and blunder'd o'er his

part,

On mischief bent, he mark'd, with ravenous eyes, Where wrapt in down the callow songsters lay, Then rushing rudely seized the glittering prize, And bore it in his impious hands away!

But how shall I describe, in numbers rude,
The pangs for poor Chrysomitris decreed,
When from her secret stand aghast she view'd
The cruel spoiler perpetrate the deed?

'O grief of griefs!' with shrieking voice she cried, "What sight is this that I have liv'd to see! "O! that I had in youth's fair season died, "From love's false joys, and bitter sorrows free.

"Was it for this, alas! with weary bill,

"Was it for this I pois'd the unwieldy straw? "For this I bore the moss from yonder hill, "Nor shunn'd the pond'rous stick along to draw?

"Was it for this I peck'd the wool with care,

"Intent with nicer skill our work to crown; "For this, with pain, I bent the stubborn hair,

"And lined our cradle with the thistle's down?

"Was it for this my freedom I resign'd,

"And ceased to rove at large from plain to plain; "For this I sat at home whole days confin'd, To bear the scorching heat, and pelting rain?

Was it for this my watchful eyes grew dim "For this the roses on my cheek turn'd pale? "Pale is my golden plumage, once so trim! "And all my wonted mirth and spirits fail.

O plunderer vile! O more than adders fell!
"More murderous than the cat, with prudish
face!

"Fiercer than kites in whom the furies dwell,

"And thievish as the cuckow's pilfering race!

"May juicy plumbs for thee forbear to grow,

For thee no flower unveil its charming dies, "May birch-trees thrive to work thee sharper woe, "And listening starlings mock thy frantick cries.

"Thus sang the mornful bird her piteous tale,

"The piteous tale her mournful mate return'd, "Then side by side they sought the distant vale,

"And there in secret sadness inly mourn'd."