PREFACE. As the occafion of this Poem was real, not fictitious; fo the method pursued in it, was rather impofed, by what fpontaneously arose in the author's mind on that occafion, than meditated, or defigned. Which will appear very probable from the nature of it. For it differs from which is from long narrations to draw fhort morals. Here, on the contrary, the narrative is fhort, and the morality arifing from it makes the bulk of the Poem. The reason of it is, That the facts mentioned did naturally pour thefe moral reflections on the thought of the writer. the common mode of Poetry, THE tetet THE COMPLAINT. NIGHT the FIRST. ON LIFE, DEATH, and IMMORTALITY, To the RIGHT HONOU BLE ARTHUR ONSLOW, Eft SPEAKER of the HOUSE of COMMONS. IR'D Nature's sweet restorer, balmy Sleep! TR He, like the world, his ready visit pays Where Fortune fmiles; the wretched he forfakes; From fhort (as ufual) and difturb'd repofe, I wake: How happy they, who wake no more! I wake, emerging from a fea of dreams Tumultuous; where my wreck'd defponding thought, At random drove, her helm of reafon loft. Night, fable goddefs! from her ebon throne, (That column of true majefty in man) Affift me: I will thank you in the grave; The grave, your kingdom: There this frame fhall fall A victim facred to your dreary fhrine. But what are ye? THOU, who didft put to flight Primeval Silence, when the morning stars, 4 |