BOOK V. Coufifting of Ludicrous Poems, Epigrams, Epitaphs, Odes, Claffical Songs, Ballads Prologues, Epilogues, and various other little Pieces calculated for Recreation. ELEGANT EXTRACTS, IN VERSE. BOOK THE FIRST. SACRED AND An Addrefs to the Deity. THOMSON. ATHER of light and life! Thou GOOD SUPREME! FATHE O teach me what is good. Teach me THYSELF! §2. Another Address to the Deity. YOUNG. THOU great arbiter of life and death! Nature's immortal, immaterial fun! Whofe all-prolific beam late call'd me forth From darkness, teeming darkness, where I lay The worm's inferior, and in rank beneath The duft I tread on, high to bear my brow; To drink the spirit of the golden day; And triumph in exiftence; and couldft know No motive, but my blifs; and haft ordain'd A rife in bleffing! with the Patriarch's joy, Thy call I follow to the land unknown. I trust in Thee, and know in whom I truft; Or life, or death, is equal; neither weighs! All weight in this- let me live to Thee! § 3. Adam and Eve, in a Morning Hymn, call upon all the Parts of the Creation to join with them in extolling their common Maker. MILTON. THESE are thy glorious works, Parent of good, Almighty, thine this univerfal frame, Thus wondrous fair; thyfelf how wondrous then! Unfpeakable, who fitt'ft above these Heavens To us invifible, or dimly feen In thefe thy lowest works; yet thefe declare Thy goodness beyond thought, and pow'r divine. Speak ye who best can tell, ye fons of light, Angels; for ye behold him, and with fongs MORAL. And choral fymphonics, day without night, Moon, that now meet'ft the orient fun, now fly's B Ye Ye that in waters glide, and ye that walk To hill or valley, fountain, or fresh fhade 4. Hymn on Gratitude. ADDISON. O how fhall words with equal warmth That glows within my ravish'd heart? And hung upon the breast. To all my weak complaints and cries Thy tender care bestow'd, From whom thofe comforts flow'd. And led me up to man. Through hidden dangers, toils, and deaths, Reviv'd my foul with grace. Has made my cup run o'er, And in a kind and faithful friend Has doubled all my store. That tastes thofe gifts with joy. Thy goodnets I'll purfue; And after death in diftant worlds The glorious theme renew. When nature fails, and day and night Divide thy works no more, My ever grateful heart, O Lord, Thy mercy fhall adore. Through all eternity to Thee A joyful fong I'll raife, For O! eternity's too fhort To utter all thy praise. § 5. Hymn on Providence. ADDISON. THE Lord my pafture shall prepare, And feed me with a fhepherd's care: 6. Another Hymn, from the beginning of the THE HE spacious firmament on high, With all the blue ethereal fky, And fpangled Heavens, a fhining frame, Their great original proclaim: Th'unwearied fun, from day to day, Does his Creator's pow'r difplay, And publifhes to every land The work of an Almighty hand. Soon as the evening fhades prevail, The moon takes up the wondrous tale, And nightly to the lift'ning earth Repeats the ftory of her birth: Whilft all the stars that round her burn, And all the planets in their turn, Confirm the tidings as they roll, And fpread the truth from pole to pole. What though in folemn filence all Move round the dark terreftrial ball! What tho' nor real voice nor found Amid their radiant orbs be found! In reafon's ear they all rejoice, And utter forth a glorious voice, For ever finging as they fhine, "The hand that made us is Divine." § 7. Another Hymn. Mrs. RowE. THE glorious armies of the sky To thee, Almighty King, Triumphant Triumphant anthems confecrate, And hallelujahs fing. But ftill their moft exalted flights Fall vaftly fhort of thee: Yet how, my God, fhall I refrain, The active lights that shine above, In their eternal dance, Reveal their skilful Maker's praise The blushes of the morn confess That thou art ftill more fair, When in the Eaft its beams revive, Togild the fields of air. The fragrant, the refreshing breeze Of ev'ry flow'ry bloom In balmy whispers own, from Thee Their pleafing odours come. The finging birds, the warbling winds, And water's murm'ring fall, To praise the firft Almighty Caufe With diff'rent voices call, Thy num'rous works exalt thee thus, And fhall I filent be? No; rather let me ceafe to breathe, Than ceafe from praising thee! § 8. Another Hymn. Mrs. Rowe. HOU didit, O mighty God! exist Ere time began its race; Before the ample elements Fill'd up the void of space : Their liquid ftores difplay'd: Ere through the gloom of ancient night Before the high celeftial arch, Or ftarry poles werer car'd: Before the loud melodious spheres Their tuneful round begun; Or prais'd thy wondrous name; And all this vaft and goodly frame Sinks in the mighty wreck; When from her orb the moon shall start, For ever permanent and fix'd, $9. Another Hymn, from Pfalm 148th. OGILVIE. BEGIN, my foul, th' exalted lay! Let each enraptur'd thought obey, To fwell th' infpiring theme. Ye fields of light, celestial plains, Ye fcenes divinely fair! Your Maker's wondrous power proclaim; Ye angels, catch the thrilling found! Let ev'ry lift'ning faint above And touch the sweetest string. The mighty chorus aid : Who call'd yon worlds from night: Ye dragons found his awful name Let every element rejoice: To him, ye graceful cedars, bow; And trembled at his frown. Ye |