By self the fop in magic colours shown, My port so manly, and so fresh my hue; Oft, as I meet the crowd, they laughing say, See, see Memento Mori cross the way." The ravish'd Proserpine at last, we know, In just vibration thus I always move: This who can view and not be forc'd to love? Hail! charming self! by whose propitious aid My form in all its glory stands display'd: Be present still; with inspiration kind, Let the same faithful colours paint the mind. Like all mankind, with vanity I'm bless'd, Conscious of wit I never yet possess'd. To strong desires my heart an easy prey, Oft feels their force, but never owns their sway. This hour, perhaps, as death I hate my foe; The next I wonder why I should do so. Though poor, the rich I view with careless eye; Scorn a vain oath, and hate a serious lie. I ne'er for satire torture common sense; Nor show my wit at God's nor man's expense. Harmless I live, unknowing and unknown; Wish well to all, and yet do good to none. Unmerited contempt I hate to bear; Yet on my faults, like others, am severe. Dishonest flames my bosom never fire; The bad I pity, and the good admire: Fond of the Muse, to her devote my days, And scribble-not for pudding, but for praise. These careless lines, if any virgin hears, Perhaps, in pity to my joyless years, ele She may consent a gen'rous flame to own; And I no longer sigh the nights alone. But, should the fair, affected, vain, or nice, Scream with the fears inspir'd by frogs or mice; Cry, 66 save us, heav'n! a spectre, not a man!” Her hartshorn snatch, or interpose her fan: If I my tender overture repeat; O! may my vows her kind reception meet! ODE TO AURORA. ON MELISSA'S BIRTH-DAY, Or time and nature eldest born, And chase from Heav'n night's envious shade, And hail Melissa's natal day. Of time and nature eldest born, But as thou lead'st the radiant sphere, 1 Till cloth'd with beams serenely bright, All Heav'n's vast concave flames with light; So, when, through life's protracted day, Melissa still pursues her way, Her virtues with thy splendour vie, Increasing to the mental eye: Though less conspicuous, not less dear, WILLIAM HAYWARD ROBERTS. BORN 1745.-DIED 1791. He was educated at Eton, and from thence was elected to King's college, Cambridge, where he took the degree of master of arts, and of doctor in divinity. From being an under master at Eton he finally rose to be provost of the college, in the year 1781. He was also chaplain to the king, and rector of Farnham Royal, in Buckinghamshire. In 1771 he published, in three parts, " A Poetical Essay on the Attributes and Providence of the Deity." Two years afterwards," A Poetical Epistle to Christopher Anstey, on the English Poets, chiefly those who had written in blank verse;" and in 1774 his poem of "Judah Restored," a work of no common merit. FROM JUDAH RESTORED. BOOK I. The Subject proposed-State of the Jews in captivity-Character of Belshazzar-Feast of Baal-Daniel visited by the Angel Gabriel. THE fall of proud Belshazzar, the return I sing. Spirit of God, who to the eyes Events far distant; thou, who once didst touch The sun full seventy times had pass'd the realm |