The thirty plain. The fainting fwain would drop His lifelefs limbs; the world of water stand
Stagnant and putrid; and the fell-eyed Plague (Like that which walks o'er Afia's fultry fields) Would raise an arm of terror, waste the earth, Tremendous in his course; and from the globe Sweep half its people as he roam'd along.
Hence heav'n's great Father fends the rushing winds Abroad, and bids the fwelling tempest roar Wide o'er the howling wilderness. Afar The tower all naked, where the fhrieking owl Broods o'er her young, fuftains the fierce affault That fhakes its dome. The mother fear'd within, Oft as the shock'd wall totters, ftarting, leaves Her nest, and oft returning, as the voice Of parent love perfuades, fhe fits alone, And fcreams, wild-wailing to the wafteful winds. Oft from the caverns of the hollow'd earth Bursts the rude storm, or from the breezy lake Shapes its broad circuit, gathering as it rolls Collected force. Oft from the jarring clouds Dafhing in dizzy whirl, tempeftuous rolls The deep-mouth'd thunder thro' the darkfome vault Of heaven the winds attend it, and the fkies From their wide fluices pour a torrent down, Rafhing impetuous.
Oft too the whirlwind's rapid wheel involves Th' incumber'd foreft in its round; the trees Rent from the cliff precipitating, load
The wings of air; the harmless flock that roam
Secure, nor dream the fudden death so near, Give to the eddying whirl their fhiver'd limbs. The city feels it, and the tottering domes Rock from their inmoft bafe; or loose, affright The pale inhabitant, that skulks within, Panting, and fhudders as the roaring winds Around him bellow; left the cracking beam Should burst, and o'er him the broad roof defcend.
A PANEGYRIC UPON BRITAIN.
ET not o'er nature spread the general traits Of imperfection. On fome happier climes. The hand of Heav'n hath fhower'd its richest spoils, Profufe of bounty. Though the juicy grape Tempts not the lip of luxury, the pine
Feels not the scorching fun, nor on the bough Hangs cloth'd in mantling gold, and ripe to tafte, The mellow orange; yet their plains can boast A nobler produce. In Britain's blissful ifle Gay plenty reigns!
Britannia hail! O! from the world disjoin'd, As nature's hand had form'd the foft retreat Of happiness and love! no fevering sun Blasts thy gay meads: no deep volcano boils With inward fire; nor thro' the cave beneath Walks the dire earthquake. The tremendous fhock,
That from their loose bafe heaves the works of man, Juft vibrates on thy bofom; as the voice
Of distant thunder moves the trembling ground, And murmurs in the air. Thy fields rejoice With cheerful Plenty. On yon waving plain, I fee the goddess walk! her loosen'd robe Floats on the gale redundant; on her cheek, In full luxuriance, fwells the blushing fpring,
And scents her breath with myrrh. Mark how she
Her horn aloft, and liberal o'er the field
Pours all her treafures. Man's enliven'd foul And all the groves are transport. Hark the voice Of mufic warbles from the bough! the hind Feels his heart leaping as he looks around, And joy's bright ray bursts o'er the kindling mind. These are the bleffing's Heaven's all bounteous hand Showers on her favourite isle. Thrice happy they, Who know their worth, and, kindling at the view With love, with gratitude, adore the Power, Who fhap'd this wondrous frame, and wrought its parts To fuch perfection. Nor less beauteous form'd His moral plan. But this to trace at large, Requires a fitter feafon. The flow fun Already finks behind yon crimfon'd cloud, And gives the world to night.
A DESCRIPTION OF EGYPT, AND THE INUNDATION
[IGH o'er broad lawns with broider'd vesture gay, Where Nature's liberal hand had fhower'd pro fufe
Her richest treasures, and the young-eyed Spring Walk'd in loose luxury; we mark'd fublime A fpacious theatre, whose round inclos'd Proud fanes, the boast of science; obelisks That touch'd the blue horizon; towering domes Piled in rude grandeur; and the dizzy height Of sky-topt pyramids, whofe fteepy fpires O'erlook'd a wafte of empire. "Twas in all A mighty city; round whofe ample skirts A circling terras ran, broad, firm, and ftrong, To ftand the dash of torrents. From the brow Of a steep hill, we view'd the scattering throngs That roam'd at large. Some from the terras' height Breath'd the cool breeze, whofe lily-fcented wing Perfum'd the ambient air. Some o'er the mead Wanton'd in easy indolence, and cull'd The sports of fummer; while a few retir'd Sat on a tower's proud top, emboss'd around With myftic figures; and in thought elate Mark'd the declining fun; describ'd the course Of planetary orbs; and when the ray Of thy Aurora ting'd the glowing east, Eyed the first beam that gilds the morning ftar, And view'd its courfe along the bright'ning fkies. E
Not far a river, o'er its pebbled bed Roll'd a majestic ftream; along its bank Bloom'd the fair herbage of the mantling lawn, Whofe living hues illum'd th' unbounded scenes With rich variety. Spontaneous glow'd, In gay affemblage, all the blushing tribe Whofe forms still varying crown the smiling year. Charm'd as I look'd, bewilder'd thought survey'd This scene of wonders bursting on its view, Perplex'd; nor knew to clear th' entangling maze. Chief on the figures dwelt my dubious fearch In deep suspense, and scann'd their mystic shapes; Their parts incongruous, where the wither'd hand Of bent deformity had caft the moulds,
And wildly freak'd with beauty. Strow'd o'er all, These forms unfeemly rouz'd th' inquiring mind, And couch'd fome truth myfterious. The fhort glance Of mist-eyed reason darken'd as it view'd; Nor fancy's lightning-beam could pierce the veil. While thus wild pastime o'er the inviting fcenes Amufive roam'd;-lo, from his fecret cell, Up rofe the River Genius! In his hand A trident wav'd, and o'er his form fublime Floated the mantling azure. On a car Of pearl, inlaid with fhells, whofe polish shone Refplendent to the fun; led by the train Of sporting Naiads, fat the godlike power ; His blue locks waving to the fluttering breeze That wanton'd as he came. Gay Plenty near Shook her bright wings, and eyed the laughing mead With fmiles afkance, and o'er the landskip held
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