Yet sages own that greatness throws For titles here their reverence ends; On Rural Sports. THE sun wakes jocund--- all of life, who breathe But what are ye, who cheer the bay of hounds, Whose levelled thunder frightens morn's repose, Who drag the net, whose hook insidious wounds A writhing reptile, type of mightier woes? I see ye come, and havoc loose the reins, A general groan the general anguish speaks, The stately stag falls butchered on the plains, The dew of death hangs clammy on his cheeks. Ah! see the pheasant fluttering in the brake, Green, azure, gold, but undistinguished gore! Yet spare the tenants of the silver lake! I call in vain,-They gasp upon the shore. ▲ yet ignobler band is guarded round With dogs of war-the spurning bull their prize; And now he bellows, humbled to the ground; And now they sprawl in howlings to the skies. You too must feel their missile weapon's power, Whose clarion charms the midnight's sullen air; Thou the morn's harbinger, must mourn the hour *Vigil to fasts and penitence and prayer ; Must fatal wars of human avarice wage, For milder conflicts, love their palm design'd; Now sheath'd in steel, must rival reason's rage, Deal mutual death, and emulate mankind; Are these your sovereign joys, creations lords? * Shrove Tuesday. Nor plead necessity, thou man of blood! Heaven tempers power with mercy-Heaven revere ! Yet slay the wolf for safety, lamb for food; AH! rather turn, and breathe this evening gale, Uninjur'd, and uninjuring Nature's peace. Come, draw best nectar from the foaming pail, Come, pen the fold, and count the flock's increase! See pasturing heifers with the bull who wields Yet budding horns, and wounds alone the soil! Or see the panting spaniels try the fields While bursting coveys mock his wanton toil! Now feel the steed with youth's elastic force Spontaneous bound, yet bear thy kind controul; Nor mangle all his sinews in the course, And fainting, staggering, lash him to the goal! Now sweetly pensive, bending o'er the stream, Mark the gay, floating myriads, nor molest Their sports, their slumbers, but inglorious dream Of evil fled and all creation blest. Or else, beneath thy porch, in social joy Sit and approve thy infant's virtuous haste, Humanity's sweet tones while all employ, To lure the wing'd domesticks to repast! There smiling see, a fop in swelling state, ; While one with front erect in simple pride Yon bashful songsters with retorted eye Pursue the grain, yet wheel contracted flight, While he, the bolder sparrow, scorns to fly, A son of freedom claiming Nature's right. Liberal to him, yet still the wafted grain, Choicest for those of modest worth, dispense, And blessing heaven that wakes their grateful straia, Let Heaven's best joy be thine, Benevolence! While flocks soft bleatings, echoing high and clear, Yet sounds of woe delight a giant brood: Distinguishes the shepherd, drowns the fold.. But loosen once thy gripe, avenging law! See as they reach ambition's purple fruits, But see him, see the fiend that others stung, |