NATHANIEL COTTON.

BORN 1707.—Died 1788.

NATHANIEL Cotton was a physician, who paid particular attention to the subject of mental disorders; and kept a receptacle for insane patients at St. Albans. Cowper was for some time under his care,

THE FIRESIDE.

Dear Cloe, while the busy crowd,
The vain, the wealthy, and the proud,

In folly's maze advance;
Though singularity and pride
Be call'd our choice, we'll step aside,

Nor join the giddy dance.

From the gay world we'll oft retire
To our own family and fire,. '

Where love our hours employs ;
No noisy neighbour enters here,
No intermeddling stranger near,

To spoil our heartfelt joys.

If solid happiness we prize,
Within our breast this jewel lies,

And they are fools who roam ;
The world hath nothing to bestow,
From our own selves our bliss must flow,

And that dear hut our home. /

Of rest was Noah's dove bereft,
When with impatient wing she left

That safe retreat, the ark;
Giving her vain excursions o'er,
The disappointed bird once more

Explor'd the sacred bark.

Though fools spurn Hymen's gentle powers,
We, who improve his golden hours,

By sweet experience know,
That marriage, rightly understood,
Gives to the tender and the good

A paradise below.

Our babes shall richest comforts bring;
If tutor'd right they'll prove a spring

Whence pleasures ever rise :
We'll form their minds with studious care,
To all that's manly, good, and fair,

And train them for the skies.

While they our wisest hours engage,
They'll joy our youth, support our age,

And crown our hoary hairs ; They'll grow in virtúe every day, And they our fondest loves repay,

And recompense our cares.

No borrow'd joys! they're all our own, While to the world we live unknown,

Or by the world forgot : Monarchs ! we envy not your state, We look with pity on the great,

And bless our humble lot.

Our portion is not large, indeed,
But then how little do we need,

For nature's calls are few !
In this the art of living lies,
To want no more than may suffice,,

And make that little do.

We'll therefore relish with content,
Whate'er kind Providence has sentga

Nor aim beyond our power; For, if our stock be very small, 'Tis prudence to enjoy it all,

Nor lose the present hour..

To be resign'd when ills betide,
Patient when favours are denied,

And pleas'd with favours given ;

Dear Cloe, this is wisdom's part,
This is that incense of the heart,

Whose fragrance smells to heaven.

We'll ask no long.protracted treat,
Since winter-life is seldom sweet;

But, when our feast is o'er,
Grateful from table we'll arise,
Nor grudge our sons, with envious eyes,

The relics of our store.

Thus hand in hand through life we'll go; Its checker'd paths of joy and woe

With cautious steps we'll tread; Quit its vain scenes without a tear, Without a trouble, or a fear,

And mingle with the dead.

While conscience, like a faithful friend,
Shall through the gloomy vale attend,

And cheer our dying breath;
Shall, when all other comforts cease,
Like a kind angel whisper peace,

And smooth the bed of death.

TIMOTHY DWIGHT.

Or this American poet I am sorry to be able to give the British reader no account. I believe his personal history is as little known as his poetry on this side of the Atlantic..

DEATH OF IRAD, AND LAMENTATION OF SELIMA

OVER HIS BODY.

FROM HIS CONQUEST OF CANAAN, BOOK V.

LOND. REPRINTED 1788. .

Mid countless warriors Irad’s limbs were spread,
Ev'n there distinguish'd from the vulgar dead;
Fair as the spring, and bright as rising day,
His snowy bosom open'd as he lay: :
From the deep wound a little stream of blood
In silence fell, and on the javelin glow'd.
Grim Jabin, frowning o'er his hapless head,
Deep in his bosom plung'd the cruel blade;
Foes ev’n in death his vengeance ne'er forgave,
But hail'd their doom insatiate as the grave:
No worth, no bravery, could his rage disarm,
Nor smiling love could melt, nor beauty warm..

But now th' approaching clarions' dreadful sound, Denounces fight, and shakes the banner'd ground.