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 Ex Libris | 
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 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 POEM S, 
 
 MORAL AND DESCRIPTIVE, 
 
 BY THE LATE 
 
 RICHARD JAGO, A.M. 
 
 (PREPARED FOR THE PRESS, AND IMPROVED BY THE 
 AUTHOR, BEFORE HIS DEATH.) 
 
 TO WH ICH IS ADDED, 
 
 SOME ACCOUNT OF THE 
 
 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF MR. JAGO. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR J. DODSLEY, IN PALL-MALL- 
 
 MDCCLXXXIV.
 
 Jifr'/H'T 
 ?V 
 
 THE CONTENTS. 
 
 Page 
 
 POME Account of the Life and Writ- 
 ings of Mr. JAGO vii 
 
 Hints for a Preface for any Author, or 
 
 any Book - ~ xxiii 
 
 Edge- Hilt \ a Poem, in four Books *- i 
 
 Labour and Genius, a Fable - 141 
 
 Ardenna, a P aft oral Eclogue 159 
 
 The Scavengers, a Town Eclogue 166 
 
 Abfence 171 
 
 To a Lady 171 
 
 To a Lady 'working a Pair of Ruffies 173 
 
 Female Empire, a true Hi/lory . 174. 
 
 On Mr. Samuel Cookes Poems, 1749 177 
 
 The Miftake, on Captain Bluff, 1750 179 
 
 To a Lady 'with a Bajket of Fruit *- 1 80 
 
 PeytoesGhoJl 181 
 
 A To
 
 vi THE CONTENTS. 
 
 Page 
 T'o a Lady furnifhing her Library at 
 
 ***, in Warwickfiire 184 
 70 William Shenftone, Efq. on receiving a 
 
 gilt Pocket-Book, 1751 186 
 
 An Elegy on Man, 1752 189 
 
 On receiving an Ivory Box from a Lady 194 
 
 Valentine 's Day 196 
 
 Hamlet's Soliloquy, imitated 197 
 Roundelay for the Jubilee at Stratford upon 
 
 Avon, 1769 199 
 
 Blackbirds, an Elegy 202 
 
 Goldfinches, an Elegy 207 
 
 I'&e Swallows, an Elegy in two Parts 211 
 
 Adam, an Oratorio - 217 
 
 SOME
 
 SOME ACCOUNT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 LIFE AND WRITINGS 
 
 O F 
 
 MR. J A G O. 
 
 * I ^HE life of a country-clergyman, 
 conftantly engaged in the duties 
 of his profeffion, and the practice of 
 the domeftic virtues, however refpecta 
 ble fuch a charader may be, can afford 
 but {lender materials to the biographer. 
 But Mr. JAGO being here exhibited to 
 the Public as an Author poffefled of a 
 A 4 con-
 
 viii LIFE AND WRITINGS 
 confiderable fhare of poetical merit, 
 fome account of him may be expected, 
 and cannot be uninterefting to thofe, 
 who, it is prefumed, will be pleafed 
 with his writings. 
 
 The Family of Mr. JAGO was of 
 Cornifh extradion : but his father, 
 the Rev. RICHARD JAGO, was reclor 
 of Beaudefert, in Warwickfhire. He 
 married MARGARET, the daughter of 
 WILLIAM PARKER, Gent, of Henly in 
 Arden, 1711, by whom he had feveral 
 children. RICHARD JAGO, the author 
 of thefe Poems, was his third fon, and 
 born the ift of Oclober 1715. He 
 received a good claffical education un- 
 der
 
 OF M* J A G O. ix 
 
 der the Rev. Mr. CRUMPTON, an ex- 
 cellent country fchool-mafter, at So- 
 lihull, in Warwickfhire ; where he 
 formed an acquaintance with feveral 
 gentlemen who were his fchool-fel- 
 lows ; amongft others, with the late 
 WILLIAM SHENSTONE, Efq; with whom 
 he correfponded * on the moft friendly 
 terms during life. From fchool he was 
 entered of Univerlity College, Oxford, 
 where he took his degree of Mafter of 
 Arts, gth July 1738, having taken 
 orders the year before, and ferved the 
 curacy of Snitterfield, near Stratford- 
 upon-Avon. In 1744. he married 
 
 * See SHENSTONE'S Works, Vol. Ill, 
 
 DOROTHEA
 
 x LIFE AND WRITINGS 
 
 DOROTHEA SUSANNA FANCOURT, a 
 daughter of the Rev. Mr. FANCOURT, 
 of Kilmcote in Leicefterfliire ; to which 
 living Mr. JAGO was fome years after- 
 wards prefented. 
 
 For feveral years after his marriage 
 he refided at Harbury, to which living 
 he was inftituted 1746. At a fmall 
 diftance lay Chefterton, given him 
 much about the fame time by Lord 
 WILLOUGHBY BE BROKE ; the two toge- 
 ther amounting to about icol. a year. 
 Before his removal from that place, he 
 had the misfortune to lofe his amiable 
 companion, who died 1751, leaving 
 him a numerous family of fmall chil- 
 dren $
 
 OF M* J A G O. xi 
 
 dren ; and, from fuch a lofs, the moft 
 inconfolable widower. 
 
 In 1754, Lord CLARE, (now Earl 
 NUGENT,) who had a great regard for 
 him, by his intereft with Dr. MADOX, 
 Bifhop of Worcefter, procured him the 
 vicarage of Snitterfield, where he had 
 formerly been curate ; worth about 
 140 1. a year : whither he removed, and 
 where he refided the remainder of his 
 life. 
 
 In 1759 he married a fecond wife, 
 MARGARET, the daughter of JAMES UN- 
 DERWOOD, Efq. of Rudgely, in Stafford- 
 fhire ; who furvived him. 
 
 Mr.
 
 xii LIFE AND WRITINGS 
 Mr. JAGO was prefented in 1771, by 
 
 Lord WlLLOUGHBY DE BROKE, to tllC 
 
 living of Kilmcote, before mentioned ; 
 worth near 300 1. a year, and refigned 
 the vicarage of Harbury. During the 
 latter part of his life, as the infirmities 
 of age came upon him, he feldom went 
 far from home. He amufed himfelf 
 at his leifure, in improving his vicarage - 
 houfe, and ornamenting his grounds, 
 which were agreeably fituated, and had 
 many natural beauties. 
 
 Mr. JAGO, in his perfon, was about 
 the middle ftature. In his manner, 
 like moft people of fenfibility, he ap- 
 peared
 
 OF M* J A G O. xiii 
 
 peared referved amongft ftrangers : 
 amongft his friends he was free and 
 eafy ; and his converfation fprightly 
 and entertaining. In domeftic life, he 
 was the affectionate hufband, the ten- 
 der parent, the kind matter, the hof- 
 pitable neighbour, and fincere friend ; 
 and both by his do&rine and example, 
 a faithful and worthy minifter of the 
 parifh over which he prefided. After 
 a fhort illnefs, he died on the 8th of 
 May 1781, aged 65 years, and was 
 buried, according to his defire, in a 
 vault which he had made for his fami- 
 ly in the church at Snitterfield. He 
 had children only by his firft wife ; 
 three fons, who died before him, and 
 
 four
 
 xiv LIFE AND WRITINGS 
 four daughters, three of whom are now 
 living. 
 
 To do juftice to Mr. JAGO'S charac- 
 ter as a poet, would require the pen of 
 a more able writer, than the compiler 
 of thefe memoirs. It may fafely be af- 
 ferted, however, on the authority of 
 the public approbation, which they 
 have already met with, that the pieces 
 on which we reft Mr. JAGO'S poetical 
 fame, viz. his Poem of Edge-Hill , his 
 Fable of Labour and Genius ; and his 
 Elegies^ on the Blackbirds, &c. are all 
 excellent in their kind. 
 
 The poem of Edge-Hill, though the 
 
 fubjecT: 
 
 10
 
 OF M* J A G O. xv 
 
 fubject is local, and chiefly defcriptive, 
 yet Mr. JAGO has contrived to make 
 it generally interefting by his hiftori- 
 cal narrations, and digreffive epifodes ; 
 and by his philosophical difquifitions 
 or moral reflections, particularly the 
 philofophical account of the Origin 
 of Mountains, which is equally curious 
 and poetical. His defcription of the 
 Earl of LEICESTER'S Entertainment of 
 Queen ELIZABETH, at Kenelworth- 
 caflle, which is truly characteriftic of 
 that pedantic age : as the moral reflec- 
 tions on the ruins and departed gran- 
 deur of that fuperb ftructure, is in the 
 beft manner of YOUNG, in his Night- 
 Thoughts. . 
 
 The
 
 xvi LIFE AND WRITINGS 
 
 The ftoiy of the Youth reftored to 
 Sight, from the Tatler, is told with fo 
 many natural and affe&ing circum- 
 ftances, as makes Mr. JAGO'S poetical^ 
 much fuperior to Sir RICHARD STEELE'S 
 frofe narration. 
 
 The hiftorical account of the im- 
 portant Battle of Kineton, or Edge- 
 Hill, contains fome curious facts, not 
 generally known, as well as very fuita- 
 ble reflections, religious and moral, on 
 the fatal effects of civil difcord. 
 
 The Fable of Labour and Genius^ 
 the fubject: of which was fuggefted by 
 Mr. SHENSTONE, is told with fome hu- 
 mour,
 
 OF M* J A G O. xvii 
 
 tnoiir, and great clearnefs and precifion; 
 with a very ufeful moral forcibly in- 
 culcated* 
 
 As for the Elegy on the Blackbirds^ 
 We need no other proof of its meritj 
 than the violent inclination which fome 
 perfons have difcovered, unjuftly to ap- 
 propriate to themfelves the credit of 
 that performance. 
 
 When it firft appeared, with Mr. 
 JAGO'S name to it, in DODS LEY'S Mif- 
 cellanies, a manager of the Bath theatre, 
 with unparalleled effrontery, boafted in 
 the circle of his acquaintance, that he 
 was the author of it 5 and that JAGO 
 b was
 
 xviii LIFE AND WRITINGS 
 was a fictitious name which he had 
 adopted, from the celebrated tragedy 
 of OTHELLO. 
 
 But I was more afloniflied to find 
 lately, that the excellent Biographer of 
 our Englifh Poets, in his life of GIL- 
 BERT WEST, fhould leave this affair ftill 
 dubious ; when it is demonftrable from 
 the very letters of Mr. SHENSTONE, to 
 which Dr. JOHNSON refers, that Mr. 
 JAGO was the real author. 
 
 The cafe feems to have been thus. 
 As Mr. SHENSTONE was fond of com- 
 municating any poetical productions of 
 his friends, which he thought would 
 
 do
 
 OF M? J A G O. xix 
 
 do them credit, he probably gave a 
 copy of Mr. JAGO'S Elegy to the LYT- 
 TELTON family at Hagley, where Mr. 
 WEST frequently vifited. And as Mr. 
 WEST thought it worthy to appear in 
 Dr. HAWKSWORTH'S Adventurerj he 
 might fend it to him without men- 
 tioning Mr. JAGO'S name, which was 
 then very little known in the world. 
 So that Dr. HAWKSWORTH might well 
 imagine, that Mr. WEST liimfelf was 
 the author of it, as Dr. JOHNSON has 
 hinted. However this may be, there 
 is happily a living evidence, who is able 
 and ready to fupport indifputably Mr. 
 JAGO'S claim to this beautiful elegy 5 
 as well as to the others of the Swal* 
 b 2 lows,
 
 xx LIFE AND WRITINGS 
 lows, and Goldfinches ; in all which 
 Mr. JAGO'S original genius appears, 
 and in which, as THOMSON fays, he 
 has 
 
 "touch'd 
 
 " A theme unknown to Fame, the pafiion of the 
 " Groves." 
 
 The poem of Edge-Hill, &c. are 
 here re-printed, as they were corrected, 
 improved, and enlarged by the Author 
 a fliort time before his death, with fome 
 additional pieces which now make their 
 firft appearance, in particular the Roun- 
 delay written for the Stratford Jubilee, 
 which is beautifully expreffive and cha*- 
 radteriftic of SHAKESPEARE'S verfatile ge- 
 nius.
 
 OF M* J A G O. xxi 
 
 nius, and multifarious excellence All 
 which are fubmitted to the candour of 
 the Public, by their obedient 
 
 Humble fervant, 
 
 THE EDITOR. 
 
 b 3 HINTS
 
 HINTS 
 
 FOR A 
 
 PREFACE 
 
 FOR ANY AUTHOR, 
 
 AND 
 
 FOR ANY BOOK. 
 
 rTT~"1 H E following {heets were fairly tran- 
 -^- fcribed, the title page was adjufted, and 
 every thing, as the writer thought, in readi- 
 nefs for the prefs, when, upon catting his 
 eyes over them for the laft time, with more 
 than ufual attention, fomething feemed want- 
 ing, which after a fhort paufe, he perceived 
 b 4 to
 
 xxiv HINTS FOR 
 
 to be the Preface. Now it is fit the reader 5 
 mould know, as an apology for this feeming 
 Inattention, that he had formerly rejected 
 this article under a notion of its being 
 fuperfluous, and uninterefting to the reader j 
 but now when matters were come to a crifis, 
 and it was almoft too late, he changed his 
 mind, and thought a preface as eflential to 
 the figure of a book, as a portico is to that 
 of a building. 
 
 Not that the author would irifinuate by 
 this comparifon, that his paper edifice was 
 entitled to any thing fuperb and pompous 
 of this fort; but nly that it wanted fome- 
 thing plain, am} decent, between the beg- 
 garly ftyle of Quarles, or Ogilby, and the 
 magnificence of the profufe Dryden. Far be 
 it from him, by calling this fmall appendage 
 to his work by the name of a portico, or 
 an antichamber, or a veftibule, or tte like s 
 
 to
 
 A PREFACE. xxv 
 
 to raife the reader's expectations, or to en- 
 courage any ideas but thofe of the moft 
 fimple kind, as introductory to his fubfe- 
 quent entertainment : neither would he, like 
 fome undertakers in literary architecture, 
 beftow as much expence on the entrance* 
 as prudently managed, might furnim the 
 lofty town apartments, or paftoral villa of 
 a modern poet. On the contrary, he referves 
 ,*!! his finery of carving and gilding, as well 
 as his pictures, and cabinets for their pro- 
 per places within. 
 
 But for the further illuftration of his 
 meaning he chufes to have recourfe to allu- 
 lions more nearly related to his fubject, fuch 
 as the prelude to a fbng, or the prologue to 
 a play, there being evidently a great affinity 
 between rhiming and fidling, writing verfes, 
 -and playing the fool. 
 
 Another confideration which greatly ini- 
 
 fluenced
 
 xxvi HINTS FOR 
 
 fluenced the author in this point, was, the 
 refpeft which he bears to the Public. For 
 conceiving himfelf now in the very act of 
 making his appearance before every circle of 
 the polite, and learned world, he was {truck 
 with awe, and felt as if he had been guilty 
 of fome indecorum, like a perfon abruptly 
 breaking into good company with his hat 
 on, or without making a bow. For though 
 by his fituation in life he is happily reliev'd 
 from any perfonal embarraflment of this 
 kind, yet he confiders his book as his proxy, 
 and he would by no means have his proxy 
 guilty of fuch an impropriety as to keep 
 his hat on before all the learned men of 
 Europe, or to omit making his bow upon 
 being admitted to an audience, or prefented 
 in the drawing-room. 
 
 Great is the force of this little article of 
 
 gefticulation, from the lowefl clafs of ora- 
 
 7 tors
 
 A PREFACE. 
 
 XXVll 
 
 .tors in the ftreet, to thofe in the higheft de- 
 partments in life ; infomuch that it has been 
 thought, a prudent, attentive, and fkilful 
 manager, either on the flage, or at the bar, 
 as well as the bowing Dean in his walk, may 
 acquire as much fuccefs, amongft polite, and 
 .well-bred people, and particularly the ladies, 
 who are the heft judges, by the magic of 
 bis bow, as by any other part of his aclion, 
 or oratory. 
 
 Yet, notwithflanding all that the author 
 has faid concerning this external mark of 
 reverence, he is fenlible that there is a fet 
 of cynical philofophers, who are fo far from 
 
 paying it due regard, that they count it no 
 
 > 
 
 better than a refined fpecies of idolatry, and 
 an abomination utterly unbecoming fo noble 
 and erect a creature as man. Upon thefe gen- 
 tlemen it is not to be expected that the beft 
 bow which the -author, or his book could 
 
 make,
 
 xxviii HINTS FOR 
 
 make, would have any effect ; and therefore 
 he mall decline that ceremony with them, 
 to take them by the hand in a friendly man- 
 ner, hoping that they will make fome allow- 
 ance for his having been taught againft his 
 own confent to dance, and fcribble from his 
 infancy. 
 
 He is aware likewife that there is 
 another feet of philofophers, whom his in- 
 genious friend Mr. G. author of the Spiri- 
 tual Quixote, diftinguifhes by the name of 
 cenforious Chrijlians t (( who," as he exprefles 
 it, " will not fuffer a man to nod in his 
 elbow-chair, or to talk nonfenfe without 
 contradicting or ridiculing him." But as 
 the writer of this admirable work has fhewn 
 himfelf fo able, and fuccefsful a cafuift in a 
 fimilar inftance of a petulant, and over offi- 
 cious zeal, he hopes thefe gentlemen will, in 
 imitation of Mr. Wildgoofe, for the fu- 
 2 ture
 
 A PREFACE. xxix 
 
 ture refrain from a practice fo injurious to 
 their neighbours repofe, and fo contrary to 
 all the laws of civility and good manners. 
 
 It is true, fome of thefe literati may be 
 confidered under a. more formidable charac- 
 ter, from their cuftom of holding a. monthly 
 meeting, or office for arraigning the conduit 
 of all whom they fufpedt of maintaining 
 heretical opinions contrary to their jurifdic- 
 tion. In this view thefe good fathers fcru- 
 ple not to put an author upon the rack 
 for the flighteft offence, and not content 
 with their claims of infpiration and infalli- 
 bility, will torture his own words to pro^ 
 his guilt. In the execution of this office 
 they judge all men by their own ftandard, 
 and like the tyrant PROCRUSTES, regardlefs 
 of the acute pain they inflid at every ftroke, 
 will lop off a foot, or any other portion of 
 an author's matter, or lengthen it out, as 
 
 beft
 
 HINTS FOR 
 
 beft fuits their purpofe, to bring him to their 
 meafure. 
 
 But to the inexpreffible comfort of him- 
 felf, and of every free-born Engtifh writer* 
 the author reflects that the competence of 
 fuch a court cannot be admitted in a pro- 
 teflant country ; and to fpeak the truth, from 
 experience, its power; as exercifed amongft 
 us, though ftill very tremendous, is tem- 
 pered with a gentlenefs, and moderation un- 
 known to thofe of Spain and Portugal. 
 
 But though the author is not without 
 hopeSj by his complaifance, and conde- 
 Hrenfion, to conciliate the affections of all 
 thofe various fects of the learned in every 
 part of the world, yet his principal depen- 
 dance is upon the gentle, and humane, whofe 
 minds are always open to the feelings of 
 others, as well as to the gratification of 
 their own refined tafte, and fentiments > and 
 
 fo
 
 A PREFACE. xxxi 
 
 to thefe he makes his appeal, which he 
 hopes they will accept as a tribute due to 
 their fuperior merit, and a teftimony of the 
 profound refpect, with which he is their 
 
 Moft obedient, 
 
 Humble Servant, 
 
 The AUTHOR, 
 
 EDGE 1 -
 
 E D G E - H I L L 
 
 POEM. 
 
 In FOUR BOOKS. 
 
 THE SECOND EDITION, CORRECTED AND ENLARGED. 
 
 " Salve, magna parens frugum, Saturnia tcllus, 
 " Magna virum ! tibi rss antique laudis, et artes 
 " Ingredior, fanflos aufus recludere fontes." 
 
 VIRC. 
 
 B
 
 " Our Sight is the mOft perfect, and moft delightful of 
 " all our fenfes. It fills the mind with the largeft variety 
 *' of ideas, converfes with its objets at the greateft diftance, 
 " and continues the longeft in a&ion without being tired, 
 '* or fatiated with its proper enjoyment." 
 
 SPECT. N4ii, On the Plei- 
 fures of Imagination.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 f I A H E following Poem takes its name 
 from a ridge of hills, which is the 
 boundary between the counties of Oxford 
 and Warwick, and remarkable for its beau- 
 tiful and extenfive profpect, of which the 
 latter forms a confiderable part. This cir- 
 cumftance afforded the writer an opportu- 
 nity, very agreeable to him, of paying a tri- 
 bute to his native country, by exhibiting its 
 beauties to the public in a poetical delineation ; 
 divided, by an imaginary line, into a number 
 of diftin6t fcenes, correfponding with the 
 different times of the day, each forming an 
 entire pidlure, and containing its due propor- 
 tion of objects arid colouring. 
 
 B % In 

 
 4 PREFACE. 
 
 In the execution of this defign, he endea- 
 voured to "make it as extenfively interefting 
 as he could, by the frequent introduction of 
 general reflections, hiftorical, philofophical, 
 and moral ; and to enliven the defcription by 
 digrefliohs and epifodes, naturally arifing 
 from the fubiecl:. 
 
 EDGE-
 
 E D G E - H I L L. 
 
 BOOK I. 
 
 MORNING.
 
 ARGUMENT TO BOOK THE FIRST. 
 
 e SubjeR proposed. Addrefs. Afcent to the ///'//. 
 General View. Comparison. Philofcphical Account 
 ff the Origin and Formation of Mountains^ 6JV- 
 Morning View, comprehending the South-Weft Part 
 ef the Scene, interfperfd with Elements and Examples 
 cf rural fojle ', jhewing^ at the fame Time, its Connexion 
 with, and Dependance upon Civil Government ; and 
 toncluding with an Hijicrical Epifode of the
 
 EDGE-HILL. 
 
 BOOK I. 
 
 MORNING. 
 
 BRITANNIA'S rural charms, and tranquil fcenes, 
 Far from the circling ocean, where her fleets, 
 Like * Eden's nightly guards, majeftic ride, 
 I fmg ; O may the theme and kindred foil 
 Propitious prove, and to th' appointed hill 
 Invite the Mufes from their cloifter'd (hades, 
 With me to rove, and harmonize the ftrain ! 
 
 * MILTON. Paradife Loft, Book iy. 
 
 B 4 Nor
 
 8 E D G E - H I L L. BOOK I. 
 
 Nor Ihall they, for a time, regret the lofs 
 Of their lov'd Isjs, and fair CHERWEL'S flream, 
 While to the north of their own beauteous fields 
 The piftur'd fcene they view, where AVON fhapes 
 His Winding way, enlarging as it flows, 
 Nor heftes to join SABRINA'S prouder wave. 
 Like a tall rampart ! here the mountain rears 
 Its verdant edge j and, if the tuneful Maids 
 Their prefcnce deign, mail with PARNASSUS vie. 
 Level, and fmooth the track, which thither leads ! 
 Of champaign bold and fair ! Its adverfe fide 
 Abrupt, and fteep ! Thanks, MILLER *! to thy paths, 
 That eafe our winding fteps ! Thanks to the fount, 
 The trees, the flovv'rs, imparting to the fenfe 
 Fragrance or dulcet found of murm'ring rill. 
 And {tilling ev'ry tumult in the breaft ! 
 And oft the {lately tow'rs, that overtop 
 The rifing wood, and oft the broken arch, 
 Or mould'ring wall, well taught to counterfeit 
 The wafte of time, to folemn thought excite, 
 crown with graceful pomp the Ihaggy hill. 
 
 * SANDERSON MILLER, Efquire, of Radway. 
 
 So
 
 BOOK I. E D G E - H I L L. 5 
 
 * So Virtue paints the fteep afcent to fame : 
 So her aerial refidence difplays. 
 
 Still let thy friendmip, which prepar'd the way, 
 Attend, and guide me, as my ravifh'd fight 
 O'er the bleak hill, or fhelter'd valley roves. 
 Teach me with juft obfervance to remark 
 Their various charms, their floried fame record, 
 And to the vifual join the mental fearch. 
 
 The fu mm it's gain'd ! and, from its airy height, 
 The late-trod plain looks like an inland fea, 
 View'd from fome promontory's hoary head, 
 With diftant mores environ'd ; not with face 
 daffy, and uniform, but when its waves 
 Are gently ruffled by the fouthern gale, 
 And the tall mafts like waving forefts rife. 
 
 Such is the fcene ! that, from the terrac'd hill, 
 Difplays its graces j intermixture fvvect 
 Of lawns and groves, of open and retir'd. 
 Vales, farms, towns, villas, caftles, diftant fpires, 
 And hills on hills, with ambient clouds enrob'd, 
 
 f See Lord SHAFTSBURY'S Judgment of Hercules. 
 
 In
 
 io EDGE-HILL. BOOK I. 
 
 In long fucceflion court the lab'ring fight, 
 Loft in the bright confufion. Thus the youth, 
 Efcap'd from painful drudgery of words, 
 Views the fair fields of fcience wide difplay'd ; 
 Where PHOEBUS dwells, and all the tuneful Nine j 
 Perplext awhile he (lands, and now to this, 
 Now that bleft feat of harmony divine 
 Explores his way, with giddy rapture tir'd : 
 Till fome fage MENTOR, whofe experienc'd feet 
 Have trod the mazy path, directs his fearch, 
 And leads him wond'ring to their bright abodes. 
 Come then, my Friend ! guide thou th' advent'rous 
 
 Mufc, 
 
 And, with thy counfel> regulate her flight. 
 Yet, ere the fweet excurfion fhe begins, 
 O ! liften, while, from facred records drawn, 
 My daring fong unfolds the caufe, whence rofe 
 This various face of things of high, and low 
 Of rough, and fmooth. For with its parent earth 
 Coeval not prevail'd what now appears 
 Of hill and dale , nor was its new-form'd fliape, 
 Like a fmooth, poiifh'd orb, a furface plain, 
 
 Wanting
 
 BOOK I. E D G E-H ILL. t? 
 
 Wanting the fweet variety of change, 
 
 Concave, convex, the deep, and the fublime : 
 
 Nor, from old Ocean's watry bed, were fcoop'd 
 
 Its neighb'ring Ihores ; nor were they now deprefs'd, 
 
 Now rais'd by fudden fhocks ; but faftiion'd all 
 
 In perfect harmony, by * laws divine, 
 
 On pafiive matter, at its birth imprefs'd. 
 
 WHEN now two days, as mortals count their 
 
 time, 
 
 Th' ALMIGHTY had employ'd on man's abode ; 
 To motion rous'd the dead, inactive mafs, 
 The dark illumin'd, and the parts terrene 
 Impelling each to each, the circle form'd, 
 
 * Amongft the many fanciful conceits of writers on the fub 
 je&, a learned Divine, in his Confutation of Dr. BURNETT'S 
 Theory, fuppofes that hills and mountains might be occa-. 
 fioned by fermentation, after the manner of leaven in doughy 
 while others have attributed their production to the feveral 
 different caufes mentioned above. 
 
 The following folution, by the defcent of water from tho 
 furface of the earth to the center, feem'd moft eafy, and 
 natural to the author, and is therefore adopted. Vid. WAR.-* 
 KEN'S Geologic, 1698. 
 
 Compact,
 
 12 EDGE-HILL. BOCK I. 
 
 Compact, and firm, of earth's flupendous orb, 
 With boundlefs feas, as with a garment cloath'd, 
 On the third morn he bade the waters flow 
 Down to their place, and let dry land appear ; 
 And it was fc. Strait to their deftin'd bed, 
 From every part, th' obedient waters ran, 
 Shaping their downward courfe, and, as they found 
 RefiHance varying with the varying foil, 
 In. their retreat they form'd the gentle (lope, 
 Or headlong precipice, or deep-worn dale, 
 Or valley, ftretching far its winding maze, 
 As farther full their humid train they led, 
 By Keav'n directed to the * realms below. 
 
 Now firfi was fcen the variegated face 
 Cf earth's fair orb fhap'd by the plaflic flood : 
 Now fmooth and level like its liquid plains, 
 "Now, like its ruffled waves, fweet interchange 
 Cf hill and dale, and now a rougher fcene, 
 Mountains on mountains lifted to the iky. 
 
 * Called in fcripture, the deep, the great deep, the deep 
 thatlieth under, or beneath the earth the Tartarus or Ere- 
 bus of the Heathens, 
 
 ' Such
 
 BOOK I. E D G E - H I L L. tj 
 
 Such was her infant form, yet unadorn'd ! 
 
 And in the naked foil the fubtle * ftream 
 
 Fretted its winding track. So He ordain'd ! 
 
 Who form'd the fluid mafs of atoms fmall, 
 
 The principles of things ! who moifl from dry, 
 
 From heavy feyer'd light, compacting clofe 
 
 The folid glebe, flratum of rock, or ere, 
 
 Or crumbly marl, or clofe tenacious clay, 
 
 Or what befide, in wond'rous order rang'd, 
 
 Orb within orb, earth's fecret depths contains. 
 
 So was the lhapely fphere, on ev'ry fide, 
 With equal prefllire of furrounding air 
 Suftain'd, of fea and land harmonious form'd. 
 Nor beauteous cov'ring was withheld, for ftrait, 
 At the divine command, the verd'rous grafs 
 Upfprang unfown, with ev'ry feedful herb, 
 
 * * " So the watry throng 
 
 With ferpent error wand'ring found their way, 
 And on the wafhy ooze deep channels wore. 
 Eafy ! ere GOD had bid the ground be dry, 
 All but within thofe banks, where rivers now 
 Stream, and perpetual draw their humid train. 
 
 MILTON. Paradife Loft, Book vii. 
 
 Fruit,
 
 14 EDGE-HILL* BOOK L 
 
 Fruit, plant, or tree, pregnant with future (lore; 
 GOD faw the whole And lo ! 'twas very goocL 
 But man, ungrateful man ! to deadly ill 
 Soon turn'd the good beftow'd, with horrid crimes 
 Polluting earth's fair feat, his Maker's gift! 
 Till mercy cou'd no more with juftice ftrive. 
 
 Then wrath divine unbarr'd HeavVs watry gates* 
 And loos'd the fountains of the great abyfs. 
 Again the waters o'er the earth prevail'd. 
 Hills rear'd their heads in vain. Full forty days 
 The flood increas'd, nor, till fev'n moons had wan'd, 
 Appear'd the mountain- tops. Peri(h'd all flem, 
 One family except ! and all the works 
 Of Art were fwept into th* oblivious pool. 
 In that dread time what change th* avenging fiood 
 Might caufc in earth's devoted fabric, who 
 Of morul birth can tell ? Whether again 
 'Twas to its firlt chaotic * mafs reduc'd, 
 To be reform'd anew ? or, in its orb, 
 \Vhat violence, what ~[ difruptions it endur'd ? 
 
 * According to Mr. HUTCHINSON and his followers. 
 f According to Dr. BURNETT'S Theory. 
 
 What
 
 Book i. EDGE-HILL. j 
 
 What ancient mountains flood the furious fhock ? 
 What new arofe ? For doubdefs new there are, 
 If all are not ; flrong proof exhibiting 
 Of later rife, and their once fluid ftate, 
 By nranger-foffils, in their inmoft bed 
 Of loofer mould, or marble rock entomb'd, 
 Or (hell marine, incorporate with themfelves : 
 Nor lefs the * conic hill, with ample bafe, 
 Or fcarry *flope by rufning billows torn, 
 Or * nffure deep, in the late deltig'd foil 
 Cleft by fucceeding drought, fide anfwering fide, 
 And curve to adverfe curve exact oppos'd, 
 Confeis the watry pow'r ; while fcatter'd trains, 
 Or rocky fragments, wafh*d from broken hills, 
 Take up the tale, and fpread it round the globe. 
 Then, as the flood retir'd, another face 
 Of things appear'd, another, and the fame ! 
 
 * There are fome remarkable traces of the great event hdre 
 treated of, in each of thefe kinds, at Welcombe, near Strat- 
 ford upon Avon, formerly a feat of the COMBE family, the 
 whole fcene bearing the ftrongeft marks of fome violent con- 
 flift of Nature, and particularly of the agency of water. 
 
 Q Taurus,
 
 16 EDGE-HILL. BOOK I. 
 
 Taurus, and Libanus, and Atlas feign'd 
 
 To prop the ikies ! and that fam'd Alpine ridge, 
 
 Or Appenine, or (how-clad Caucafus, 
 
 Or Ararat on whofe emergent top 
 
 Firft moor'd that precious barque, whofe chofen crew 
 
 Again o'erfpread earth's univerfal orb*. 
 
 For ROW, as at the firft, from ev'ry fide 
 
 Halted the waters to their ancient bounds* 
 
 The vafl abyfs ! perhaps from thence afcend, 
 
 tlrg'd by th* incumbent air, thro' mazy clefts 
 
 Beneath the deep, or rife in vapours warm, 
 
 Piercing the vaulted earth, anon condens'd 
 
 Within the lofty mountains' fecret cells, 
 
 Ere they their fummit gain, down their deep fides 
 
 To trickle in a never- ceafing * round. 
 
 So 
 
 * May not the ebbing and flowing of the fea, to whatever 
 caufe it is owing, tend to aflift this operation, as the pulfa- 
 tion of the heart accelerates the circulation of the blood in 
 animal bodies ? 
 
 The reader may fee this hypothefis very ably fupported by 
 Mr. CATCOT, in his E flay on the Deluge, ad edit, toge- 
 ther with many refpec~rable names, ancient and modern, 
 by whom it is patronized. The following paflage from 
 
 LVCRETJUS
 
 BOOK I. E D G E - H I L L: 
 
 So up the porous ftone, or cryftal tube 
 The philofophic eye with wonder views 
 The tinclur'd fluid rife ; fo tepid dews 
 From chymic founts in copious ftreams diftil. 
 
 Such is the ftructure, fuch the wave-worn face 
 Of Earth's huge fabric! beauteous to the fight, 
 * And ftor'd with wonders, to th* attentive mind 
 Confirming, with perfuafive eloquence 
 Drawn from the rocky mount, or watry fen, 
 Thofe facred pages, which record the paft, 
 And awfully predict its future doom. 
 
 LUCRETIUS is quoted by him, as well expreffing their 
 
 general meaning. 
 
 Partim quod fubter per terras diditur omnes. 
 Percolatur enim virus, retroque remanat 
 Materies humoris, et ad caput amnibus omnis 
 Convenit, unde fuper terras fliiit agmine dulci, 
 Qua via feta femel liquido pede detulit undas. 
 
 * Trees of a very large fize, torn up by the roots, and other 
 vegetable and animal bodies, the fpoils of the deluge, are 
 found in every part of the earth, but chiefly in fens, or 
 bogs, or amongft peat-earth, which is an aflemblage of de- 
 cayed vegetables. 
 
 See WOODWARD'S Nat. Hift. of the Earth, &c. 
 
 C Now,
 
 i8 E D G E - H I L L. BOOK I. 
 
 Now, while the fun its heav'nly radiance (beds 
 Acrofs the vale, difclofing all its charms, 
 Emblem of that fair Light, at whofe approach 
 The Gentile darknefs fled ! ye nymphs, and fwains ! 
 Come hafte with me, while now 'tis early morn, 
 Thro* UPTON'S * airy fields, to where yon* point 
 Projecting hides NORTHAMPTON'S ancient feat -f- 
 Retir'd, and hid amidft furrounding fhades : 
 Counting a length of honourable years, 
 And folid worth; while painted BELVIDERES, 
 Naked, aloft, and built but to be feen, 
 Shrink at the fun, and totter to the wind. 
 
 So fober Senfe oft fhuns the public view, 
 In privacy conceal'd, while the pert fons 
 Of Folly flutter in the glare of day. 
 
 Hence, o'er the plain, where flrip'd with alleys- 
 
 green, 
 The golden harveft nods, let me your view 
 
 * UPTON, the feat of ROBERT CHILD, Efq, 
 
 ? 
 1 
 
 Progrefilve 
 
 t CoMpToN-WiNYATE, a feat of the Right Hon. the 
 Earl of NORTHAMPTON, at the foot of EDGE-HILL.
 
 Book L EDGE-HILL. 19 
 
 Progreflive lead to * VERNEY'S filter walls, 
 
 Alike in honour, as in name allied ! 
 
 Alike her walls a noble mailer own, 
 
 Studious of elegance. At his command, 
 
 New pillars grace the dome with Grecian pomp 
 
 Of Corinth's gay defign. At his command, 
 
 On hill, or plain, new culture cloaths the fcene 
 
 With verdant grafs, or variegated grove *, 
 
 And bubbling rills in fweeter notes difcharge 
 
 Their liquid {lores. Along the winding vale, 
 
 At his command, obfervant of the more, 
 
 The glitt'ring dream, with correfpondent grace, 
 
 Its courfe purfues, and o'er th* exulting wave 
 
 The (lately bridge a beauteous form difplays. 
 
 On either fide, rich as th f embroider'd floor 
 
 From Perfia's gaudy looms, and firm as fair, 
 
 The chequer'd lawns with count'nance blithe proclaim 
 
 The Graces reign. Plains, hills, and woods reply 
 
 The Graces reign, and Nature fmiles applaufe. 
 
 Smile on, fair fource of beauty, fource of blifs ! 
 
 * COMPTON-VERNEY, a feat of the Right Hon. Lord 
 WILLOUGHBY DE BROKE. 
 
 C 2 JQ
 
 20 EDGE-HILL. BOOK I. 
 
 To crown the matter's coft, and deck her path 
 Who mares his joy, of gentleft manners join'd 
 With manly fenfe, train'd to the love refm'd 
 Of Nature's charms in * WROXTON'S beauteous groves. 
 
 Thy neighb'ring villa's ever open gate, 
 And feftive board, O f WALTON ! next invite 
 The pleafing toil. Unwilling who can pay 
 To thee the votive ftrain ? For Science here, 
 And Candour dwell, prepar'd alike to chear 
 The ftranger-gueft, or for the nation's weal 
 To pour the flores mature of vvifdom forth, 
 In fenatorial councils often prov'd, 
 And, by the public voice attefted Jong, 
 Long may it be ! with well-delerv'd applaufe. 
 And fee, beneath the made of full-grown elm, 
 Or near the border of the winding brook, 
 Skirting the grafly lawn, her polifh'd train 
 Walks forth to tafte the fragrance of the grove, 
 
 * WROXTON, the feat of the Right Hon. the Earl of 
 GUILFORD, father of Lady WILLOUGHBY DE BROKE. 
 
 f WALTON, the feat of Sir CHARLES MORDAUKT, Bart, 
 many years a Member of Parliament for the county of 
 WARWICK. 
 
 Woodbine,
 
 BOOK I. E D G E-H I L L. 21 
 
 Woodbine, or rofe, or to the upland fcene 
 Of wildly-planted hill, or trickling ftream 
 From the pure rock, or mofs-lin'd grottos cool, 
 The Naiads' humid cell ! protract the way 
 With learned converfe, or ingenuous fong. 
 The fearch purfue to * CHARLECOTE'S fair domain, 
 Where AVON'S fportive ftream delighted ftrays 
 Thro' the gay fmiling meads, and to his bed, 
 HELE'S gentle current wooes, by LUCY'S hand 
 In ev'ry graceful ornament attir'd, 
 And worthier, fuch, to (hare his liquid realms ! 
 Near, nor unmindful of th' increafing flood, 
 STRATFORD her fpacious magazines unfolds, 
 And hails th' unwieldly barge from weftern fhores, 
 With foreign dainties fraught, or native ore 
 Of pitchy hue, to pile the fewell'd grate 
 In woolly flores, or hufky grain repay'd. 
 To fpeed her wealth, lo ! the proud Bridge^ extends 
 
 * CHARLECOTE, the feat of GEORGE Lucy, Efq. 
 
 f This Bridge was built in the reign of K. HENRY VII. 
 at the fole coft and charge of Sir HUGH CLOPTON, Knt. 
 Lord Mayor of the City of LONDON, and a native of this 
 place. 
 
 C 3 His
 
 22 E D G E - H I L L. BOOK f 
 
 His num'rous arches, (lately monument 
 
 Of old munificence, and pious love 
 
 Of native foil ! There STOWER exulting pays 
 
 His tributary (Iream, well pleas'd with wave 
 
 Auxiliary her pond'rous (lores to waft ; 
 
 And boafling, as he flows, of growing fame, 
 
 And wond'rous beauties on his banks difplay'd 
 
 Of ALSCOT'S * fwelling lawns, and fretted fpires 
 
 Of faired model, Gothic, or Chinefe 
 
 Of EATINGTON'S t> and TOLTON'S J verdant meads, 
 
 And groves of various leaf, and HONINGTON H, 
 
 Profufe of charms, and Attic elegance ; 
 
 Nor fails he to relate, in jocund mood, 
 
 How liberally the mailers of the fcene 
 
 Enlarge his current, and direct his courfe 
 
 With winding grace and how his cryftal wave 
 
 * The feat of JAMES WEST, Efq. 
 f The feat of the Hon. GEORGE SHIRLEY, Efq. 
 The feat of Sir HENRY PARKER, Bart. 
 | The feat of JOSEPH TOWNSHEND, Efq.
 
 BOOK I. E D G E - H I L L. 23 
 
 Reflects th' inverted fpires, and pillar'd domes- 
 And how the frifking deer play on his fides, 
 PicYring their branched heads, with wanton fport, 
 In his clear face. Pleas'd with the vaunting tale, 
 Nor jealous of his fame, AVON receives 
 The prattling ftream, and, towards thy nobler flood, 
 SABRINA fair, purfues his length'ning way. 
 
 Hail, beauteous AVON, hail ! on whofe fair banks 
 The fmiling daifies, antf. t their fifter tribes, 
 Violete, and euckow-buds, and lady-fmocks, 
 A brighter dye difclofe, and proudly tell 
 That SHAKESPEARE, as he flray'd thefe meads along, 
 Their fimple charms admir*d, and in his verfe 
 Preferv'd, in never-fading bloom to live. 
 
 And thou, whofe birth thefe walls unrival'd boaft. 
 That mock'fl the rules of the proud Stagyrite, 
 And Learning's tedious toil, hail mighty Bard ! 
 Thou great Magician hail ! Thy piercing thought 
 Unaided faw each movement of the mind, 
 As fkilful artifts view the fmall machine, 
 The fecret fprings and nice dependencies, 
 
 C 4 And
 
 24 E D G E - H I L L. BOOK I. 
 
 And to thy mimic fcenes, by fancy wrought 
 To fuch a wond'rous fhape, th' impafllon'd breaft 
 In floods of grief, or peals of laughter bow'd, 
 Obedient to the wonder-working ftrain, 
 Like the tun'd ftring refponfive to the touch, 
 Or to the wizard's charm, the paffive ftorm. 
 Humour and wit, the tragic pomp, or phrafe 
 Familiar flow'd, fpontaneous from thy tongue, 
 As flowers from Nature's lap. Thy potent fpells 
 From their bright feats aerial fprites detain'd, 
 Or from their unfeen haunts, and flumb'ring (hades 
 Awak'd the fairy tribes, with jocund ftep 
 The circled green, and leafy hall to tread : 
 While, from his dripping caves, old AVON fent 
 His willing Naiads to their harmlefs rout. 
 
 Alas ! how languid is the laboured fong, 
 The flow refult of rules, and tortur'd fenfe, 
 Compar'd with thine ! thy animated thought, 
 And glowing phrafe ! which art in vain efiays, 
 And fchools can never teach. Yet, though deny'd 
 Thy pow'rs, by fituation more allied, 
 
 I court
 
 BOOK I. E D G E - H I L L; 25 
 
 I court the genius of thy fportive Mufe 
 On AVON*S bank, her facred haunts explore, 
 And hear in ev'ry breeze her charming notes. 
 
 Beyond thefe flow'ry meads, with claffic ftreams 
 Enrich'd, two fifter rills their currents join, 
 And IKENILD difplays his Roman pride. 
 There ALCESTER * her ancient honour boafts. 
 But fairer fame, and far more happy lot 
 She boafts, O RAGLEY f ! in thy courtly train 
 Of HERTFORD'S fplendid line ! Lo ! from thefe 
 
 {hades, 
 
 Ev'n now his fov'reign, ftudious of her weal, 
 Calls him to bear his delegated rule 
 To BRITAIN'S fifter iile. HIBERNIA'S fons 
 Applaud the cho : ce, and hail him to their ihore 
 With cordial gratulation. Him, well-pleas'd 
 With more than filial rev'rence to obey, 
 BEAUCHAMP attends. What fon, but wou'd rejoice 
 
 * So called from its fituation on the river ALENUS, or 
 ALNE, and from its being a Roman ftation on the IKENII.D- 
 STREET. 
 
 t A feat of the Right Hon, the Earl of HERTFORD. 
 
 The
 
 26 E D G E - H I L L. BOOK I. 
 
 The deeds of fuch a father to record ! 
 What father, but were blefl in fuch a fon ! 
 Nor may the Mufe omit with CONWAY'S * name 
 To grace her fong. O ! might it worthy flow 
 Of thofe her theme involves! The cyder- land, 
 In Georgic drains, by her own PHILIPS fung, 
 Shou'd boaft no brighter fame, though proudly grac'd 
 With loftieft-titled names The CECIL line, 
 Or BEAUFORT'S, or, O CHANDOIS! thine, or his 
 In ANNA'S councils high, her fav'rite peer, 
 HARLEY ! by me ftill honour'd in his race. 
 
 See, how the pillar'd ifles and (lately dome 
 Brighten the woodland-made ! while fcatter'd hills, 
 Airy, and light, in many a conic form, 
 A theatre compofe, grotefque and wild, 
 And, with their fhaggy fides, contract the vale 
 Winding, in ftraiten'd circuit, round their bafe. 
 Beneath their waving umbrage FLORA fpreads 
 Her fpotted couch, primrofe, and hyacinth . 
 
 * The Right Hon. HENRY SEYMOUR CONWAY, Efq; 
 one of his Majefty's principal Secretaries of State, and 
 brother to the Right Hon. the Earl of HERTFORD. 
 
 Profufe,
 
 BOOK I. E D G E - H I L L. 27 
 
 Profufe, with ev'ry fimpler bud that blows 
 
 On hill or dale. Such too thy flow'ry pride 
 
 O HEWEL * ! by thy mailer's lib'ral hand 
 
 Advanc'd to rural fame ! Such UMBERSLADE -j- ! 
 
 In the fweet labour join'd, with culture fair, 
 
 And fplendid arts, from ARDEN'S J woodland (hades 
 
 The pois'nous damps, and favage gloom to chafe. 
 
 What happy lot attends your calm retreats, 
 By no fcant boundary, nor obftrudting fence, 
 Immur'd, or circumfcrib'd j but fpread at large 
 In open day : fave what to cool recefs 
 Is deftin'd voluntary, not conflrain'd 
 ]By fad necefiity, and cafual ftate 
 Of fickly peace ! Such as the moated hall. 
 With clofe circumference of watry guard, 
 And penfile bridge proclaim ! or, rear'd aloft, 
 And inacceffible the mafiy tow'rs, 
 And narrow circuit of embattled walls, 
 
 * The feat of the Right Hon. the Earl of PLYMOUTH, 
 
 t The feat of the Right Hon. Lord AR.CHER. 
 
 J The foreft, or woodland part of WARWICKSHIRE. 
 
 Rais'd
 
 i8 E D G E - H I L L. BOOK I. 
 
 RaisM on the mountain-precipice ! Such thine 
 O BEAUDESERT * ! old MONTFORT'S lofty feat! 
 Haunt of my youthful fteps ! where I was wont 
 To range, chaunting my rude notes to the wind, 
 While SOMERVILLE difdain'd not to regard 
 With candid ear, and regulate the ftrain. 
 
 Such was the genius of the Gothic age, 
 And NORMAN policy ! Such the retreats 
 Of BRITAIN'S ancient Nobles ! lefs intent 
 On rural beauty, and fweet patronage 
 Of gentle arts, than ftudious to reftrain, 
 With fervile awe, Barbarian multitudes ; 
 Or, with confed'rate force, the regal pow'r 
 Controul. Hence proudly they their vafTal troops 
 Afiembling, now the fate of empire plann'd : 
 Now o'er defencelefs tribes, with wanton rage, 
 Tyrannic rul'd j and, in their caftled halls 
 Secure, with wild excefs their revels kept, 
 While many a fturdy youth, or beauteous maid, 
 Sole folace of their parents' drooping age ! 
 
 * So called, from its pleafant rural fituation. 
 
 Bewail'd
 
 BOOK I. EDGE -HILL. 29 
 
 Bewail'd their wretched fate, by force compell'd 
 To thefe abhorr'd abodes ! Hence frequent * wars, 
 In ancient annals fam'd ! Hence haply feign'd 
 Th' enchanted caftle, and its curfed train 
 Of giants, fpectres, and magicians dire ! 
 Hence gen'rous minds, with indignation fir'd, 
 And threat'ning fierce revenge, were character'd 
 By gallant knights on bold achievements bent, 
 Subduing monfters, and diflblving fpells. 
 
 Thus, from the rural landfcape, learn to know 
 The various characters of time and place. 
 To hail, from open fcenes, and cultur'd fields, 
 Fair Liberty, and Freedom's gen'rous reign, 
 With guardian laws, and polifh'd arts adorn'd. 
 While the portcullis huge, or moated fence 
 The fad reverfe of favage times betray 
 Diftruft, barbarity, and Gothic rule. 
 
 Wou'd ye, with faultlefs judgment, learn to plan 
 The rural feat ? To copy, as ye rove, 
 The well-form'd picture, and correct defign ? 
 Firft fhun the falfe extremes of high, and low. 
 
 * Called the Barons wars. * 
 
 With
 
 3 o EDGE-HILL; Boo* I. 
 
 With watry vapours this your fretted walls 
 
 Will foon deface ; and that, with rough affault, 
 
 And frequent tempefts make your tott'ring roof. 
 
 Me mod the gentle eminence delights 
 
 Of healthy champaign, to the funny fouth 
 
 Fair-op'ning, and with woods, and circling hills, 
 
 Nor too remote, nor, with too clofe embrace, 
 
 Stopping the buxom air, behind enclos'd. 
 
 But if your lot hath fall'n in fields lefs fair, 
 
 Confult their genius, and, with due regard 
 
 To Nature's clear directions, fhape your plan. 
 
 The fite too lofty fhelter, and the low 
 
 With funny lawns, and open areas chear. 
 
 The marifli drain, and, with capacious urns, 
 
 And well-conducted ftreams refrefh the dry. 
 
 So fliall your lawns with healthful verdure fmile, 
 
 While others, fick'ning at the fultry blaze, 
 
 A ruflet wild difplay, or the rank blade, 
 
 And matted tufts the carelefs owner fliame. 
 
 Seek not, with fruitlefs coft, the level plain 
 
 To raife aloft, nor fink the rifing hill. 
 
 Each has its charms tho' different, each in kind 
 
 Improve,
 
 BOOK I. E D G E - H I L L. ^ 
 
 Improve, not alter. Arc with art conceal. 
 Let no (trait terrac'd lines your Hopes deform. 
 No barb'rous walls reftrain the bounded fight. 
 But to the diftant fields the clofer fcene 
 Connect. The fpacious lawn with fcatter'd trees 
 Irregular, in beauteous negligence, 
 Clothe bountiful. Your unimprifon'd eye, 
 With pleafing freedom, thro* the lofty maze 
 Shall rove, and find no dull fatiety. 
 The fportive flream with ftiffen'd line avoid 
 To torture, nor prefer the long canal, 
 Or labour'd fount to Nature's eafy flow. 
 Your winding paths, now to the funny * gleam 
 Directed, now with high embow'ring trees, 
 Or fragrant fhrubs conceal'd, with frequent feat, 
 And rural ftrufture deck. Their pleafing form 
 To fancy's eye fuggefts inhabitants 
 Of more than mortal make, and their cool made, 
 And friendly (belter to refrefhment fweet, 
 And wholefome meditation (hall invite. 
 
 Haec amat obfcurum, volet haec fub luce videri. 
 
 HOR. 
 
 JO To
 
 32 E D G E H I L L. BOOK L 
 
 To ev'ry ftruclure give its proper fite. 
 Nor, on the dreary heath, the gay alcove, 
 Nor the lone hermit*s cell, or mournful urn 
 Build on the fprightly lawn. The graffy (lope 
 And fheher'd border for the cool arcade 
 Or Tufcan porch referve. To the chafte dome, 
 And fair rotunda give the fwelling mount 
 Of frefheft green. If to the Gothic fcene 
 Your tafte incline, in the well-water'd vale, 
 With lofty pines embrown'd, the mimic fane, 
 And mould'ring abbey's fretted windows place. 
 The craggy rock, or precipitious hill, 
 Shall well become the caftle's mafTy walls. 
 In royal villas the Palladian arch, 
 And Grecian portico, with dignity, 
 Their pride difplay : ill fuits their lofty rank 
 The fimpler fcene.' If chance hiftoric deeds 
 Your fields diftinguifh, count them doubly fair, 
 And ftudious aid, with monumental done, 
 And faithful comment, fancy's fond review. 
 
 Now other hills, with other wonders ftor'd, 
 Invite the fearch. In vain ! unlefs the Mufe 
 
 The
 
 BOOK L E D G E - H I L L. 33 
 
 The landfcape order. Nor will fhe decline 
 The pleafing tafk. For not to her *ds hard 
 To foar above the mountain's airy height, 
 With tow'ring pinions, or, with gentler wing, 
 T' explore the cool recefies of the vale. 
 Her piercing eye extends beyond the reach 
 Of optic tube, levell'd by midnight fage. 
 At the moon's dilk, or other diftant fun, 
 And planetary worlds beyond the orb 
 Of SATURN. Nor can intervening rocks 
 Impede her fearch. Alike the fylvan gloom"* 
 Or earth's profoundeft caverns (he pervades* 
 And* to her fav'rite Tons, makes vifible 
 All that may grace, or dignify the fong, 
 Howe'er envdop'd from their mortal ken. 
 
 So URIEI,, winged regent of the fun! 
 Upon its evening-beam to Paradife 
 Came gliding down , fo, on its Hoping ray, 
 To his bright charge return'd. So itf keav'nly gueft, 
 From ADAM'S eyes the carnal film remov'd, 
 On EDEN'S hill, and purg'd his vifual nerve 
 To fee things yet unform'd and future deeds. 
 
 > Lo!
 
 34 E D G E - H I L L, BOOK I. 
 
 Lo ! where the fouthcrn hill, with winding courfe, 
 Bends tow'rd the weft, and, from his airy feat, 
 Views four fair provinces in union join'd; 
 Beneath his feet, confpicuous rais'd, and rude, 
 A mafiy pillar rears its fhapelefs head. 
 Others in flature lefs, an area fmooth 
 Inclofe, like that on * SARUM'S ancient plain. 
 And fome of middle rank apart are feen : 
 DiftinguiftYd thofe ! by courtly character 
 Of knights, while that the regal f title bears. 
 "What now the circle drear, and ftiffen'd mafs 
 Compofe, like us, were animated forms, 
 With vital warmth, and fenfe, and thought endued j 
 A band of warriors brave ! Effect accurs'd 
 Of necromantic art, and fpells impure. 
 
 So vulgar fame. But clerks, in antique lore 
 Profoundly fkill'd, far other ftory tell : 
 And, in its myftic form, temple, or court 
 Efpy, to fabled gods, or throned kings 
 
 * STONE-HENCE. 
 
 f Call'd the KING'S-STONE, or KONING-STONE. 
 
 2 Devote -,
 
 BOOK I. E D G E - H I L L. 35 
 
 Devote; or fabric monumental, rais'd 
 By Saxon hands, or by that Danifh chief 
 ROLLO*! the builder in the name imply'd. 
 Yet to the weft the pleafing fearch purfue, 
 Where from the vale, BRAILS lifcs his fcarry fides, 
 And ILLMINGTON, and CAMPDEN'S hoary hills, 
 (By LYTTELTON'S fweet plaint, and thy abode 
 His matchlefs LUCIA ! to the Mufe endear'd) 
 Imprefs new grandeur on the fpreading fcene, 
 With champaign fields, broad plain, and cover: vale 
 Diverfified: By CERES fome adorn'd 
 With rich luxuriance of golden grain, 
 And fome in FLORA'S liv'ry gaily dight, 
 And fome with fylvan honours graceful crown'd. 
 Witnefs the foreft-glades, with ftately pride, 
 Surrounding SHELDON'S f venerable dome! 
 Witnefs the (loping lawns of IDLICOT J ! 
 
 * Call'd ROLL-RICH-STONES. 
 
 f WESTON, the feat of WILLIAM SHELDON, Efq. 
 
 J The feat of the late Baron LEGGE, now belonging to 
 ROBERT LADBROKE, Efq. 
 
 Da And
 
 36 E D G E - H I L L. BOOK I. 
 
 And HONINGTON'S irriguous meads ! Some wind 
 Meand'ring round the hills disjoin'd, remote, 
 Giving full licenfe to their fportive range-, 
 While diftant, but diftinft, his Alpine ridge 
 MALVERN ere&s o'er ESHAM'S vale fublime, 
 And boldly terminates the finifh'd fcene. 
 
 Still are the praifes of the RED-HORSE VALE 
 Unfung , as oft it happens to the mind 
 Intent on diftant themes, while what's more near, 
 And nearer, more important, Tcapes its note. 
 
 From yonder far-known hill, where the thin turf 
 But ill conceals the ruddy glebe, a form 
 On the bare foil portray'd, like that fam'd fteed, 
 Which, in its womb, the fate of TROY conceal'd, 
 Overlooks the vale. Ye fwains, that wifh to learn, 
 Whence rofe the ftrange phenomenon, attend 1 
 
 BRITANNIA'S fons, tho* now for arts renown'd, 
 A race of anceftors untaught, and rude, 
 Acknowledge , like thofe nake"d Indian tribes, 
 Which firft COLUMBUS in the Atlantic ides 
 "With wonder faw. Alike their early fate, 
 
 To
 
 BOOK I. E D G E - H I L L; 37 
 
 To yield to conquering arms ! Imperial ROME 
 Was then to them what BRITAIN is to thefe, 
 And thro' the fubject-land her trophies rear'd. 
 
 But haughty ROME, her ancient manners flown, 
 Stoop'd to Barbaric rage. O'er her proud walls 
 The Goths prevail, which erft the Punic bands 
 Aflail'd in vain, tho* Cannse's bloody field 
 Their valour own'd, and HANNIBAL their guide ! 
 Such is the fate, which mightieft empires prove, 
 Unlefs the virtues of the fon preferve 
 What his forefather's ruder courage won ! 
 
 * No CATO now, the lift'ning fenate warm*d 
 To love of virtuous deeds, and public weal. 
 No Scjpios led her hardy fons to war, 
 With fenfe of glory fir'd. Thro' all her realms 
 Or hoftile arms invade, or factions make 
 Her toti'ring (late. From her proud capitol 
 
 * Non his juventus orta parentibus 
 Infecit aequor fangume Punico, 
 Pyrrhumque, et ingentem cecidit 
 Antilochum, Hannibalemque dirum. 
 
 HORAT* 
 
 D ,3 Her
 
 38 E D G E - H I L L. Book I. 
 
 Her tutelary gods retire, and ROME, 
 Imperial ROME, once miftrefs of the world, 
 A victim falls, fo righteous Heav'n ordains, 
 To Pride and Luxury's all-conqu'ring charms. 
 
 Mean time her ancient foes, ere while reftrain'd 
 By Roman arms, from Caledonia's hills 
 Rum like a torrent, with refiftlefs force, 
 O'er Britain's fencelefs bounds, and thro* her fields 
 Pour the full tide of defolating war. 
 .fliTius, thrice Conful ! now an empty name, 
 In vain her fons invoke. In vain they feek 
 Relief in fervitude. Ev'n fervitude 
 Its miferable comforts now denies, 
 From fhore to Ihore they fly. The briny flood, 
 A guardian once, their further flight reftrains. 
 Some court the boift'rous deep, a milder foe, 
 Some gain the diftant fhores, and fondly hope 
 In each to find a more indulgent home. 
 The reft, protracting ftill a wretched life", 
 From Belgia's coaft in wild defpair invite 
 Its new inhabitants, a Saxon race ! 
 On enterprise, and martial conqueft bent. 
 
 With
 
 BOOK I. E D G E - H I L L. 39 
 
 With joy the Saxons to their aid repair, 
 And foon revenge them on their northern foes. 
 Revenge too dearly bought ! Thefe courted guefts 
 Give them fhort fpace for joy. A hoftile look 
 On their fair fields they caft, (for feeble hands 
 Alas! too fair,) and feize them for their own. 
 
 And now again the conquer'd ifle afTumes 
 Another form ; on ev'ry plain, and hill 
 New marks exhibiting of fervile ftate, 
 The mafly (tone with figures quaint infcrib'd - 
 Or dyke by * WODEN, or the Mercian King-f, 
 Vaft bound'ry made or thine, O ASHBURY J ! 
 And TYSOE'S |] wond'rous theme, the martial Horfe, 
 
 * WANSDYKE, or WODENSDYKE, a boundary of the 
 kingdom of the Weft Saxons, in Wiltfhire. 
 
 f OFFA, from whom the boundary between the kingdom 
 of the Mercians, and the Britons in WALES, took, its 
 name. 
 
 t ASHBURY, in BERKSHIRE, near which is the figure of 
 3 horfe cut on the fide of a hill, in whitifh earth, which gives 
 name to the neighbouring valley. 
 
 H The figure of the Red Horfe, here defcribed, is in the 
 parifh of TYSOB. 
 
 D 4 Carv'd
 
 40 E D G E - H I L L: BOOK I, 
 
 Carv'd on the yielding turf, armorial fign 
 
 Of HENGIST, Saxon Chief! of BRUNSWICK now. 
 
 And with the Britifh lion join'd, the bird 
 
 Of Rome furpafiing. Studious to preferve 
 
 The fav'rite form, the treach'rous conqueror? 
 
 Their vaffal tribes compel, with feftive rites, 
 
 Its fading figure yearly to renew, 
 
 And to the neighb'ring * vale impart its name, 
 
 Call'd, from this figure, the VALE of RED-HORSE. 
 
 END OF THfe FIRST BOOK, 
 
 EDGE,
 
 D G E-H I L L, 
 
 BOOK II. 
 
 NOON.
 
 ARGUMENT TO BOOK THE SECOND.- 
 
 Noon. The Mid-Scene from the Caftle on RATLEY- 
 HILL. More particular Account of the feveral Parts 
 of this Scene, and of whatever is moft remarkable in 
 it. WARWICK. Its Antiquity. Hifterical Account 
 of the Earls of WARWICK. Story of GUY. GUY'S- 
 CLIFFE. KENELWORTH. Its Caftle. Hiftory of it. 
 BALSAL. WROX A L. COVENTRY. Its Environs. 
 Manufactures. Story of GODIVA. Peroration.
 
 E D G E-H I L L, 
 
 BOOK II. 
 
 NOON. 
 
 THE Sun, whofe eaflern ray had fcarcely gilt 
 The mountain's brow, while up the fteep afcent, 
 With early ftep, we climb'd, now wide difplays 
 His radiant orb, and half his daily ftage 
 Hath nearly meafur'd. From th* ilJumin'd vale 
 The foaring mifts are drain'd, and, o'er the hill, 
 No more breathes grateful the cool, balmy air, 
 Chearing our fearch, and urging on our fleps 
 
 Delightful.
 
 44 EDGE-HILL. BOOK II. 
 
 Delightful. Sec, the languid herds forfake 
 
 The burning mead, and creep beneath the fhade 
 
 Of fpreading tree, or fhelt'ring hedge-row tall : 
 
 Or, in. the mant'Jing pool, rude refervoir 
 
 Of wintry rains, and the flow, thrifty fpring ! 
 
 Cool their parch'd limbs, and lave their panting fides. 
 
 Let us too feek the made. Yon* airy dome, 
 Beneath whofe lofty battlements we found 
 A covert pafiage to thefe fultry realms, 
 Invites our drooping ftrength, and well befriends 
 The pleafing comment on fair Nature's book, 
 In fumptuous volume, open'd tq our view. 
 
 Ye fportive nymphs ! that o'er the rural fcene 
 Prefide, you chief! that haunt the flow'ry banks 
 Of AVON, where, with more majeftic wave, 
 WARWICK'S illuftrious Lord, thro' the gay meads 
 His dancing current guides, or round the lawn 
 Directs th* embroider'd verge of various dyes, 
 O ! teach me all its graces to unfold, 
 And, with your praife, join his attendant fame. 
 
 'Tis well ! Here flielter'd from the fcorching heat, 
 At large we view the fubjeft vale fublime, 
 
 And
 
 BOOK. II. D G - H I L L; 43 
 
 And unimpeded. Hence its limits trace 
 
 Stretching, in wanton bound'ry, from the foot 
 
 Of this green mountain, far as human ken 
 
 Can reach, a theatre immenfe ! adorn'd 
 
 With ornaments of fweet variety, 
 
 By Nature's pencil drawn the level meads, 
 
 A verdant floor ! with brighteft gems inlaid, 
 
 And richly-painted flow'rs the tillag'd plain, 
 
 Wide-waving to the fun a rival blaze 
 
 Of gold, bed fource of wealth ! the prouder hills* 
 
 W T ith outline fair, in naked pomp difplay'd, 
 
 Round, angular, oblong ; and others crown'd 
 
 With graceful foliage. Over all her horn 
 
 Fair Plenty pours, and Cultivation fpreads 
 
 Her height'ning luftrc. See, beneath her touch. 
 
 The fmiling harvefts rife, with bending line, 
 
 And wavy ridge, along the dappled glebe 
 
 Stretching their lengthened beds. Her careful hand 
 
 Piles up the yellow grain, or ruftling hay 
 
 Aduft for wintry ftore -the long-ridg'd mow, 
 
 Or fhapely pyramid, with conic roof, 
 
 Drefiing the landfcape. She the thick-wave fence 
 
 Nurfes,
 
 46 E D G E H I L L. BOOK II. 
 
 Nurfes, and adds, with care, the hedge-row elm. 
 
 Around her farms and villages (he plans 
 
 The rural garden, yielding wholefome food 
 
 Of fimple viands, and the fragrant herb 
 
 Medicinal. The well-rang'd orchard now 
 
 She orders, or the melt*ring clump, or tuft 
 
 Of hardy trees, the wintry ftorms to curb, 
 
 Or guard the fweet retreat of village-fwain, 
 
 With health, and plenty crown'd. Fair Science next, 
 
 Her offspring ! adds towns, cities, vaulted domes, 
 
 And fplendid palaces, and chafes large, 
 
 With lake, and planted grove. Hence WARWICK, 
 
 fair 
 
 With rifing buildings, COVENTRY'S tall fpircs, 
 And KENELWORTH ! thy (lately caftle rofe, 
 Which ftill, in ruin, charms th' aftonifh'd fight. 
 To crown the beauteous fcene, the curtain'd fky, 
 Its canopy divine of azure tint, 
 Spreads heav'nly fair, and foftens ev'ry charm. 
 
 Now yet again, with accurate furvey, 
 The level plain, hills rifing various, woods, 
 And meadows green, the fimple cot, and towns, 
 
 Nurs'ries
 
 
 BOOK II. E D G E - H I L L. 47 
 
 Nurs'ries of arts, and commerce ! WARWICK, fair 
 
 With rifing buildings, COVENTRY'S tall fpires, 
 
 Magnificent in ruin KENELWORTH ! 
 
 And (till more diftant fcenes, with legends ftrange, 
 
 And fmoaky arts, taught in the dufky fchools 
 
 Of TUBAL'S fons, attentive let us fcan, 
 
 And all their charms, and myfteries explore. 
 
 Firft view, but cautious, the vaft precipice ; 
 Left, ftartled at the giddy height, thy fenfe 
 Swimming forfake thee, and thy trembling limbs, 
 Unnerv'd, and fault'ring, threaten dang'rous lapfe. 
 Along th' indented bank, the foreft-tribes, 
 The thin-leav'd afli, dark oak, and gloify beech, 
 Of polifh'cl rind, their branching boughs extend, 
 With blended tints, and amicable ftrife, 
 Forming a checker'd (hade. Below, the lawns, 
 With fpacious fweep, and wild declivity, 
 To yellow plains their (loping verdure join. 
 
 There, white with flocks, and, in her num'rous herds 
 Exulting, CHADSUNT'S * paftures, large, and fair 
 
 * The feat of JAMES NEWSAM CRAGGS, Efq. 
 
 Sal are
 
 48 E D G E - H I L L. BOOK It, 
 
 Salute the fight, and witnefs to the fame 
 Of LICHFIELD'S mitred faint*. The furzy heaths 
 Succeed ; clofe refuge of the tim'rous Hare, 
 Or prowling Fox, but refuge infecure ! 
 From their dark covert oft the hunter-train 
 Roufe them unwilling, and, o'er hill, and dakj 
 With wild, tumultuous joy, their fteps purfue. 
 Juft vengeance on the midnight thief! and life 
 With life aton'd ! But that poor, trembling wretch ! 
 ' Who doubts if now me lives/ what hath me done 
 Guiltlefs of blood, and impotent of wrong ? 
 How num'rous, how infatiate yet her foes ! 
 Ev'n in thefe thickets, where (he vainly fought 
 A fafe retreat from man's unfeeling race, 
 The bufy hound, to blood, and (laughter train'd, 
 Snuffs her fweet vapour, and, to murth'rous rage, 
 By mad'ning founds impell'd, in her clofe feat, 
 With fury tears her, and her corfe devours : 
 Or fcares her o'er the fields, and, by the fcent, 
 With keen defire of reeking gore inflam'd, 
 
 * ST. CHADD. 
 
 Loud-
 
 BOOK II. E D G E - H I L L. 49 
 
 Loud- bellowing tortures her with deathful cries. 
 Nor more fecure her path! Man even there, 
 Watching, with foul intent, her fecret haunts, 
 Plants initruments of death, and round her neck 
 The fatal fnare entwines. Thus Innocence, 
 In human things, by wily Fraud enfnar'd, 
 Oft helplefs falls, while the bold Plund'rer 'fcapes. 
 Next the wide champaign, and the cheerful downs 
 Claim notice^ chiefly thine, O CHESTERTON*! 
 Pre-eminent. Nor Ycape the roving eye 
 Thy folemn wood* and Roman veftiges* 
 Encampment green, or military road ! 
 Amufive to the grave, hiftoric mind. 
 Thee f TACHBROKE joins with venerable made. 
 Nor diftant far, in Saxon annals fam'd, 
 The rural J court of OFFA, Mercian King ! 
 
 * A feat of the Right Honourable Lord WILLOUGHBY 
 DE BROKE, fo called from its being a Roman ftation on the 
 Fofs-Way. 
 
 f A feat of Sir WALTER BAGOT, Bart. 
 
 J OFFCHURCH, the feat of WHITWICK KNJGHTLEY, 
 
 Efq. 
 
 E Where,
 
 50 E D G E - H I L L. BOOK IL 
 
 Where, fever'd from its trunk, low lies the head 
 Of brave FERMUNDUS, (lain by coward hands, 
 As on the turf fupine in fleep he lay, 
 Nor.wift it fleep from which to wake no more! 
 
 Now WARWICK claims thefong-, fupremely fair 
 In this fair realm ; confpicuous rais'd to view 
 On the firm rock, a beauteous eminence 
 For health, and pleafure form'd. Full to the foutfc 
 A {lately range of high, embattled walls 
 And lofty tow'rs, and precipices vaft, 
 * Its guardian worth, and ancient pomp confefs. 
 f The northern hills, where Superftition long 
 Her gloomy rites maintained, a tranquil fcene 
 Of gentler arts, and pleafures more refin'd 
 Difplays. Lawns, parks, and meadows fair, 
 And groves around their mingled graces join, 
 And AVON pours his tributary ftream. 
 
 'JOn thee contending kings their bounty pour'd, 
 
 And call*d the favoured city by their names. 
 
 Thy 
 
 * The Caftle. 
 
 t The Priory, now the feat of HENRY WISE, Efq. 
 
 J Called CAER.LEON from GUTH-LEON, alfo CAER- 
 
 7 GWAYR,
 
 BOOK II. EDGE-HILL: 51 
 
 * Thy worth the Romans publifh'd, when to thee 
 Their legions they confign'd. Thee ETHELFLEDE f, 
 Thy guardian Fair ! with royal grace reftor'd, 
 When Pagan foes had raz'd thy goodly ftreets. 
 A monarch's care, thofe walls to learning rais'd, 
 Thefe an afylum to declining age 
 A LEICESTER'S love proclaim. Nor pafs unfung 
 The train of gallant chiefs, by thy lov'd name 
 Diftinguifh'd, and by deeds of high renown 
 Gracing the lofty title. || ARTHGAL firft, 
 And brave MORVIDUS, fam'd in Druid fong, 
 And Britim annals. Fair FELICIA'S fire, 
 ROHAND ! and with her join'd in wedded love, 
 
 GWAYR, or GUARIC, from GWAR, two Britifli Kings. Its 
 prefent name is faid to be taken from WARREMUND, a 
 Saxon. 
 
 * It was the PRESIDIUM of the Romans. 
 
 f She rebuilt it when it had been deftroyed by the Danes. 
 
 t The Free-School. 
 
 The Hofpital. 
 
 || The firft Earl of WARWICK, and one of the Knights 
 ef King ARTHUR'S round table. 
 
 E 2 Immortal
 
 51 EDGE-HILL. BOOK II, 
 
 Immortal GUY ! who near WINTONIA'S walls 
 
 With that gigantic braggard COLEBRAND hight! 
 
 For a long fummer's day fole fight maintain'd. 
 
 But huge gigantic fize, and braggart oaths, 
 
 And fword, or mafly club difmay'd thee not. 
 
 Thy fkill the ftroke eluded, or thy fhield 
 
 Harmlefs receiv'd, while on his batter'd fides 
 
 Fell thick thy galling blows, till from his hands 
 
 Down dropp'd the pond'rous weapon, and himfelf 
 
 Proftrate, to thy keen blade his grizly head 
 
 Reluctant yielded. Lamentations loud, 
 
 And fhouts victorious, in ftrange concert join'd, 
 
 Proclaim the champion's fall. Thee ATHELSTAN 
 
 His great deliverer owns, and meditates 
 
 With honours fair, and feftive pomp to crown. 
 
 But other meed thy thoughtful mind employ'd, 
 
 Intent in heav'nly folitude to fpend 
 
 The precious eve of life. Yet (hall the Mufe 
 
 Thy ded record, and on her patriot lift 
 
 Enrol thy name, tho* many a Saxon chief 
 
 She leaves unfung, A Norman race fucceeds, 
 
 To
 
 BOOK II. E D G E - H I L L. 53 
 
 To thec, fair town * ! by charitable deeds, 
 
 And pious gifts endear'd. The BEAUCHAMPS too 
 
 Thou claim'ft, for arms, and courtly manners fam'd ! 
 
 + Him chief, whom three imperial HENRYS crown'd 
 
 With envied honours. Mirror fair was he 
 
 Of valour, and of knightly feats atchiev'd 
 
 In tilt, and tournament. Thee J NEVIL boafts 
 
 For bold exploits renown'd, with civil ftrife 
 
 "When BRITAIN'S bleeding realm her weaknefs 
 
 mourn'd, 
 
 And half her nobles in the conteft (lain 
 Of YORK, and LANCASTER. He, fworn to both, 
 As int'reft tempted, or refentment fir'd, 
 
 * HENRY DE Novo BURGO, the firft Norman Earl, 
 founded the priory at Warwick, and ROGER his fon built 
 and endowed the church of St. Mary. 
 
 f RICHARD Earl of Warwick, in the reigns of K. 
 HENRY IV. V. and VI. was Governor of Calais, and Lieu- 
 tenant General of FRANCE. He founded the Lady's Chapel, 
 and lies interred there under a very magnificent monument. 
 
 $ Called MAKE-KING. He was killed at the battle of 
 Barnet. 
 
 3 To
 
 54 E D G E - H I L L. BOOK JI. 
 
 To HENRY now, and now to EDWARD join'd 
 His pow'rful aid ; now both to empire rais'd, 
 Now from their fummit pluck'd, till in the ftrife 
 By EDWARD'S conquering arms at length he fell. 
 Thou, * CLARENCE, next, and next thy haplefs fon,, 
 The laft -J-PLANTAGENET awhile appears 
 To dignify the lift ; both facrific'd 
 To barb'rous policy ! Proud J DUDLEY now 
 From EDWARD'S hand the bright diftinftion bore, 
 But foon to MARY paid his forfeit head, 
 And in his fate a wretched race involv'd : 
 Thee chief, thee wept by ev'ry gentle^Mufe, 
 Fair JANE ! untimely doom'd to bloody death. 
 
 * He married the Earl of WARWICK'S daughter, and was 
 put to death by his brother, EDWARD IV. 
 
 f Beheaded in the Tower by HENRY VII. under a pre- 
 tence of favouring the efcape of Peter Warbeck. 
 
 % Made Earl of WARWICK by EDWARD VI. and af- 
 terwards Duke of NORTHUMBERLAND. 
 
 Lady JANE GREY, married to a fon of the Earl of 
 WARWICK. 
 
 For
 
 BOOK II. EDGE -HILL. 55 
 
 For treafon not thy own. To * RICH'S line 
 Was then transfer'd th* illuftrious name, to thine 
 O -f- GREVILLE ! lad. Late may it there remain ! 
 With promife fair, as now, (more fair what heart 
 Parental craves ?) of long, tranfmiffive worth, 
 Proud WARWICK'S name, with growing fame to grace, 
 And crown, with lading joy, her caflled hill. 
 
 Hail, ftately pile , fit manfion for the great ! 
 Worthy the lofty title ! Worthy him J, 
 To BEAUCHAMP'S gallant race allied ! the friend 
 
 * ROBERT Lord RICH, created Earl of WARWICK by 
 JAMES I. 
 
 f GREVILLE Lord BROOK, firft created Earl BROOK of 
 Warwick Caftle, and afterwards Earl of WARWICK, by 
 K. GEORGE II. 
 
 : Sir FULKE GREVILLE, made Baron BROOK of Beau- 
 camp's-court, by JAMES I. had the Caftle of WAR WICK, 
 then in a ruinous condition, granted to him ; upon which he 
 laid out 20,000 1. He lies buried in a neat o&agon building, 
 on the north fide of the chancel at WARWICK, under a fine 
 marble monument, on which is the following very fignificant, 
 laconic infcription, 
 
 " TROPHOEVM PECCATI ! 
 
 " FULKE GREVILLE, Servant to Queen ELIZABETH, Coun- 
 " fellor to King JAMES, and Friend to Sir PHILIP SIDNEY." 
 
 E 4 Of
 
 56 E D G E - H I L L. BOOK II. 
 
 Of gentle SIDNEY ! to whofe long defert, 
 In royal councils prov'd*, his fov'reign's gift 
 Confign'd the lofty ftru&ure : Worthy he 1 
 The lofty ftruclure's fplendor to reftore. 
 
 Nor lefs intent who now, by lineal right, 
 His place fuftains, with reparations bold, 
 And well-attemper'd dignity to grace 
 Th' embattled walls. Nor fpares his gen'rous mind 
 The coft of rural work, plantation large, 
 Foreft, or fragrant mrub , or fhelter'd walks, 
 Or ample, verdant lawns, where the fleek deer- 
 Sport on the brink of AVON'S flood, or graze 
 Beneath the rifing walls ; magnificence 
 "With grace uniting, and enlarg'd delight 
 Of profpect fair, and Nature's fmiling fcenes ! 
 
 Still is the colouring faint. O ! cou'd my verle, 
 Like their * LOUISA'S pencil'd (hades defcribe 
 The tow'rs, the woods, the lawns, the winding flream, 
 Fair like her form, and like her birth fublime ! 
 
 * The Right Hon. Lady LOUISA GREVILLE, daughter ;o 
 the Right Hon. the Earl of WARWICK. 
 
 Not
 
 BOOK II. E D G E - H I L L: 57 
 
 Not WINDSOR'S royal fcenes by DENHAM fung, 
 pr that more tuneful bard on TWICK'NAM'S fhore 
 Should boaft a loftier ftrain, but in my verfe 
 Their fame lhou ? d live, as lives, proportioned true, 
 Their beauteous image in her graven lines. 
 
 Tranfporting theme ! on which I ftill cou'd wafte 
 The ling'ring hours, and ftill protract the fong 
 With new delight; but thy example, Guy 1 
 Calls me from fcenes of pomp, and earthly pride, 
 To mufe with thee in thy fequefter'd cell *. 
 
 Here the calm fcene lulls the tumultuous bread 
 To fweet compofure. Here the gliding ftream, 
 That winds its watry path in many a maze, 
 As loth to leave th' enchanted fpot, invites 
 To moralize on fleeting time, and life, 
 With all its treach'rous fweets, and fading joys, 
 Jn emblem fhewn, by many a fhort-liv'd flow'r, 
 That on its margin fmiles, and fmiling falls 
 To join its parent Earth. Here let me delve. 
 Near thine, my chamber in the peaceful rock, 
 
 * Called GUY'S CLIFF, the feat of the Right Hon. Lady 
 MARY GREATHEED. 
 
 And
 
 5 E D G E - H I L L. BOOK If. 
 
 And think no more of gilded palaces, 
 
 And luxury of fenfe. ' From the tili'd glebe, 
 
 Or ever-teeming brook, my frugal meal 
 
 I'll gain, and flake my thirft at yonder fpring. 
 
 Like thee, I'll climb the deep, and mark the fcenc 
 
 How fair! how patting fair! in grateful (trains 
 
 Singing the praifes of creative love. 
 
 Like thee, I'll tend the call of mattin bell * 
 
 To early orifons, and lateft tune 
 
 My evening fong to that more wond'rous love, 
 
 Which fav'd us from the grand Apoftate's wiles. 
 
 And righteous vengeance of Almighty ire, 
 
 Juftly incens'd. O pow'r of grace divine ! 
 
 When mercy met with truth, with juftice, peace. 
 
 Thou, holy Hermit ! in this league fecure, 
 
 Did'ft wait Death's vanquim'd fpectre as a friend, 
 
 To thange thy mortal coil for heav'nly blifs. 
 
 Next, KENELWORTH ! thy fame invites the fong. 
 Aflemblage fweet of focial, and ferene ! 
 But chiefly two fair ftreets, in adverfe rows, 
 
 * Here was anciently an oratory, where tradition fays, 
 GUY fpent the latter part of his life in devotional exercifes. 
 
 Their
 
 BOOK II. E D G E - H I L L. 59 
 
 Their lengthen'd fronts extend, reflecting each 
 Beauty on each reciprocal. Between, 
 A verdant valley, flop'd from either fide, 
 Forms the mid-fpace, where gently-gliding flows 
 A cryftal flream, beneath the mould'ring bafc 
 Of an old abbey's venerable walls. 
 Still further in the vale her caflle lifts 
 Its ftately tow'rs, and tott'ring battlements, 
 Dreft with the rampant ivy's uncheck'd growth 
 Luxuriant. Here let us paufe awhile, 
 To read the melancholy tale of pomp 
 Laid low in duft, and, from hiftoric page, 
 Compofe its epitaph. Hail, * CLINTON ! hail ! 
 Thy Norman founder ftill yon* neighb'ring -J- Green, 
 And maffy walls, with ftile J Imperial grac'd, 
 Record. ^The MONTFORTS thee with hardy deeds, 
 
 * GEOFFRY DE CLINTON, who built both the Caftle, and 
 the adjoining Monaftery, Temp. HEN. I. 
 
 t CLINTON-GREEN. 
 J CJESAR'S-TOWER. 
 
 The MONTFORTS, Earls of LEICESTER, of which 
 SIMON DE MONTFORT, and his fon HENRY, were killed at 
 the battle of Evefham. 
 
 And
 
 6o E D G E - H I L L. BOOK II. 
 
 And memorable fiege by * HENRY'S arms, 
 
 And fenatorial acts, that bear thy name 
 
 Diftinguifh. Thee the bold Lancaftrian f line, 
 
 A royal train I from valiant GAUNT deriv'd, 
 
 Grace with new luftre; till ELIZA'S hand 
 
 Transferr'd thy walls to LEIC ESTER'S J favour'd Earl. 
 
 He long, beneath thy roof, the maiden Queen, 
 
 And all her courtly guefts, with rare device 
 
 Of maik, and emblematic fcenery, 
 
 Tritons, and fea-nymphs, and the floating ifle, 
 
 Detained. Nor feats of prowefs, jouft, or tilt 
 
 Of harnefs'd knights, nor ruftic revelry 
 
 Were wanting -, nor the dance, and fprightly mirth 
 
 Beneath the feftive walls, with regal ftate, 
 
 And choiceft lux'ry ferv'd. But regal ftate, 
 
 HENRY III. who befieged this Caflle, and call'd a conven- 
 tion here, which pafled an aft for redeeming forfeited eftates, 
 called DICTUM DE KENELWORTH. 
 
 i From whom a part of this ftrucTrurc is called LANCAS- 
 TER'S BUILDINGS. 
 
 t Granted by Queen ELIZABETH to DUDLEY Earl of 
 LEICISTER. 
 
 And
 
 BOOK Hi E D G E - H I L L. 6i 
 
 And fprightly mirth, beneath the feflive roof, 
 Are now no more. No more aflembled crowds 
 At the ilern porter's lodge admittance crave. 
 No more, with plaint, or fuit importunate, 
 The thronged lobby echoes, nor with ftaff, 
 Or gaudy badge, the bufy purfuivants 
 Lead to wifh'd audience. All, alas ! is gone, 
 And Silence keeps her melancholy court 
 Throughout the walls; fave, where, in rooms of ftate, 
 Kings once repos'd ! chatter the wrangling daws, 
 Or fcreech-owls hoot along the vaulted ifles. 
 No more the trumpet calls the martial band, 
 With fprightly fummons, to the guarded lifts ; 
 Nor lofty galleries their pride difclofe 
 Of beauteous nymphs in courtly pomp attir*d, 
 Watching, with trembling hearts, the doubtful ftrife, 
 ^ And, with their looks, infpiring wond'rous deeds. 
 No more the lake difplays its pageant (hows, 
 And emblematic forms. Alike the lake, 
 And all its emblematic forms are flown, 
 And in their place mute flocks, and heifers graze, 
 Or buxom damfels ted the new-mown hay. 
 
 What
 
 62 E D G E - H I L L. BOOK I 
 
 What art thou, Grandeur ! with thy flatt'ring trairi 
 Of pompous lies, and boaftful promifes ? 
 Where are they now, and what's their mighty fum ? 
 All, all are vanifh'd ! like the fleeting forms 
 Drawn in an evening cloud. Nought now remains^ 
 Save thefe fad relicks of departed pomp, 
 Thefe fpoils of time, a monumental pile ! 
 Which to the vain its mournful tale relates, 
 And warns them not to truft to fleeting dreams. 
 
 Thee too, tho* boailing not a royal train, 
 The Mufe, O * BALSHAL ! in her faithful pag6 
 Shall celebrate : for long beneath thy roof 
 A band of warriors bold, of high renown, 
 To martial deeds, and hazardous emprize 
 Sworn, for defence of SALEM'S facred walls; 
 From Paynim-foes, and holy pilgrimage. 
 Now other guefts thou entertain'ft, 
 A female band, by female charity 
 
 * Formerly a feat of the Knights Templars, now an Alms- 
 houfe for poor widows, founded by the Lady KATHARINE 
 LEVISON, a defcendant of ROBERT DUDLEY, Earl of 
 LEICESTER. 
 
 Suftain'd.
 
 BOOK II. E D G E - H I L L. 63 
 
 Suftain'd. Thee, * WROXAL ! too, in fame allied; 
 Seat of the Poet's, and the Mufe's friend ! 
 My verfe fhall fing, with thy long-exil'd Knight, 
 By LEONARD'S prdy'rs, from diflant fervitude, 
 To thefe brown thickets, and his mournful mate, 
 Invifibly convey'd. Yet doubted me 
 His fpeech, and aker'd form, and better proof 
 Impatient urg'd. (So ITHACA'S chaile queen 
 Her much-wifh'd lord, by twice ten abfent years^ 
 And wife MINERVA'S guardian care difguis'd, 
 Acknowledg'd not : fo, with fufpended faith, 
 His bridal claim reprefs'd.) Strait he difplays 
 Part of the nuptial ring between them fhar'dj 
 When in the bold crufade his fhield he bore. 
 The twin memorial of their plighted love 
 Within her faithful bofom me retained. 
 Quick from its mrine the hallow'd pledge flie drew* 
 To match it with its mate, when, ftrange to tell I 
 No fooner had the feparated curves 
 
 * The feat of CHRISTOPHER WREN, Efq; once a nun- 
 nery, dedicated to St. LEONARD. See DUGDALE'S Anti- 
 quities. 
 
 Approached
 
 $4 EDGE-HILL. BOOK II. 
 
 Approach'd each other, but, with fudden fpring, 
 They join'd again, and the fmall circle clos'd. 
 So they* long fever'd, met in elofe embrace. 
 
 At length* O COVENTRY ! thy neighboring fields, 
 And fair furrounding villas we attend, 
 * ALLESLEV, and f WHITLEY'S paftures, J STIVI- 
 
 CHALE, 
 
 That views with lafting joy thy green domains, 
 And BAGINGTON'S fair walls, and H STONELY ! thine^ 
 And f COOMBE'S majeftic pile, both boafting once 
 Monadic pomp, ftill equal in renown ! 
 And, as their kindred fortunes they compare, 
 Applauding more the prefent, than the path 
 
 * The feat of M. NEALE, Efq. 
 
 t The feat of ED. BOWATER, Efq; now belonging to 
 FRANCIS WHEELER, Efq. 
 
 t The feat of ARTHUR GREGORY, Efq; commanding a 
 pleafant view of Coventry park, &c. 
 
 The feat of WILLIAM BROMLEY, Efq; one of the 
 Reprefentatives in Parliament for the county of WARWICK. 
 
 |1 The feat of the Right Hon. Lord LEIGH. 
 fl The feat of the Right Hon. Lord CRAVEN. 
 
 v*n
 
 BOOK II. E D G E - H I L L; 65 
 
 Ev'n now the pencil'd fheets, unroll'd, difplay 
 More fprightly charms of beauteous lawn, and grove, 
 And fweetly-wand'ring paths, and ambient flream, 
 To chear with lafting flow th f enamell'd fcene, 
 And themes of fong for future bards prepare. 
 
 Fair City ! thus environ'd ! and thyfelf 
 For royal grants, and filken arts renown'd ! 
 To thee the docile youth repair, and learn, 
 With fidelong glance, and nimble flroke, to pry 
 The flitting fhuttle, while their active feet, 
 In myftic movements, prefs the fubtle flops 
 Of the loom's complicated frame, contriv'd, 
 From the loofe thread, to form, with wond'rous art, 
 A texture clofe, inwrought with choice device 
 Of flow'r, or foliage gay, to the rich fluff, 
 Or filky web, imparting fairer worth. 
 Nor mail the Mufe, in her defcriptive fong* 
 Neglect from dark oblivion to preferve 
 Thy mould'ring * Crofs, with ornament profufe 
 
 * Built by Sir WILLIAM HOLLIES, Lord Mayor of LON- 
 DON, in the reign of King HENRY VIII. 
 
 F Of
 
 66 E D G E - H I L L. BOOK II. 
 
 Of pinnacles, and niches, proudly rais'd, 
 Height above height, a fculptur'd chronicle ! 
 Lefs lafting than the monumental verfe. 
 Nor fcornful will me flout thy cavalcade, 
 Made yearly to GODIVA'S deathlefs praife, 
 While gaping crowds around her pageant throng, 
 With prying look, and ftupid wonderment. 
 Not fo the Mufe ! who, with her virtue hYd, 
 And love of thy renown, in notes as chafte 
 As her fair purpofe, from memorials dark, 
 Shall, to the lift'ning ear, her tale explain. 
 
 When * EDWARD, laft of EGBERT'S royal race, 
 O'er fev'n united realms the fceptre fway'd, 
 Proud LEOFRIC, with truft of fov'reign pow'r, 
 The fubjed Mercians rul'd. His lofty ftate 
 The lovcliefl of her fex ! a noble dame 
 Of THOROLD'S ancient line, GODIVA lhar'd. 
 But pageant pomp charm'd not her faintly mind 
 Like virtuous deeds, and care of others weal. 
 Such tender paffions in his haughty bread 
 
 * EDWARD THE CONFESSOR. 
 
 He
 
 BOOK II. E D G E - H I L' L. 67 
 
 He cherilh'd not, but with defpotic fway, 
 
 ControuPd his vafial tribes, and, from their toil, 
 
 His luxury maintain'd. GODIVA faw 
 
 Their plaintive looks ; with grief (he faw thy fons, 
 
 O COVENTRY ! by tyrant laws opprefs'd, 
 
 And urg'd her haughty lord, but urg'd in vain ! 
 
 With patriot-rule, thy drooping arts to chear. 
 
 Yet, tho* forbidden e'er again to move 
 
 In what fo much his lofty ftate concern'd, 
 
 Not fo from thought of charitable deed 
 
 Defifted me, but amiably perverfe 
 
 Her hopelefs fuit renew'd. Bold was th* attempt ? 
 
 Yet not more bold than fair, if pitying fighs 
 
 Be fair, and charity which knows no bounds. 
 
 What had'ft thou then to fear from wrath inflam'd 
 
 At fuch tranfcendent guiit, rebellion join'd 
 
 With female weaknefs, and officious zeal ? 
 
 So thy ftern lord might call the gen'rous deed j 
 
 Perhaps might punilh as befitted deed 
 
 So call'd, if love reftrain*d not : yet tho' love 
 
 O'er anger triumphed, and imperious rule, 
 
 F 2 Net
 
 68 EDGE-HILL. BOOK II. 
 
 Not o*er his pride ; which better to maintain, 
 His anfwer thus he artfully return'd. 
 
 Why will the lovely partner of ,my joys, 
 Forbidden, thus her wild petition urge ? 
 Think- not my bread is fteel'd againft the claims 
 Of fweet humanity. Think not I hear 
 Regardlefs thy requeft. If piety, 
 Or other motive, v/ith miftaken zeal, 
 Call'd to thy aid, pierc'd not -my flubborn frame, 
 Yet to the pleader's worth, and modeft charms, 
 Wou'd my fond love no trivial gift impart. 
 But 'pomp and fame forbid. That vafialage, 
 Which, thonghtlefs, thou wou'dft tempt me to diflblve, 
 Exalts our fplendor, and augments my pow'r. 
 With tender bofoms form'd, and yielding hearts, 
 Your fex foon melts at fights of vulgar woe ; 
 Heedkfs how glory fires the manly brcail 
 With love of rank fublime. This principle 
 In female minds a feebler empire holds, 
 Oppofing lefs the fpecious arguments 
 For milder rule, and freedom's popular theme. 
 
 But
 
 BOOK II. E D G E - H I L L. 69 
 
 But plant fome gentler paflion in its room, 
 
 Some virtuous inftinct fuited to your make, 
 
 As glory is to ours, alike requir'd 
 
 A ranfom for the vulgar's vafTal ftate, 
 
 Then wou'dft thou foon the ftrong contention own, 
 
 And juftify my conduft. Thou art fair, 
 
 And chafte as fair ; with niceft fenfe of (hame, 
 
 And fanftity of thought. Thy bofom thou 
 
 Did'ft ne'er expofe to Ihamelefs dalliance 
 
 Of wanton eyes ; nor, ill-concealing it 
 
 Beneath the treach'rous cov'ring, tempt afide 
 
 The fecret glance, with meditated fraud. 
 
 Go now, and lay thy modeft garments by : 
 
 In naked beauty, mount thy milk-white deed, 
 
 And through the ftreets, in face of open day, 
 
 And gazing Haves, their fair deliv'rer ride : 
 
 Then will I own thy pity was fincere, 
 
 Applaud thy virtue, and confirm thy fuit. 
 
 But if thou lik'ft not fuch ungentle terms, 
 
 And fure thy foul the guilty thought abhors ! 
 
 Know then that LEOFRIC, like thee, can feel, 
 
 Like thee, may pity, while he feems fevere, 
 
 F 3 And
 
 yo E D G E - H I L L. BOOK II, 
 
 And urge thy fuit no more. His fpeech he clos'd, 
 And, with ftrange oaths, confirm'd the fad decree. 
 
 Again, within GODJVA'S gentle breaft 
 New tumults rofe. At length her female fears 
 Gave way, and fweet humanity prevail'd. 
 Reluctant, but refolv'd, the matchlefs fair 
 Gives all her naked beauty to the fun ; 
 Then mounts her milk-white fleed, and, thro' the 
 
 flreets, 
 
 Hides fearlefs ; her dimevell'd hair a veil ! 
 That o'er her beauteous limbs luxuriant flow'd, 
 Nurs'd long by Fate for this important day ! 
 Proftrate to earth th' aftonifh'd vafials bow, 
 Or to their inmoft privacies retire. 
 All, but one prying Have ! who fondly hop'd, 
 With venial curiofity$ to gaze 
 On fuch a wond'rous dame. But foul difgrace 
 O'ertook the bold offender, and he (lands, 
 By juft decree, a fpectacle abhorr'd, 
 And lading monument of fwift revenge 
 For thoughts impure, and beauty's injur'd charms. 
 
 Ye
 
 BOOK II; E D G E-H ILL. 71 
 
 Ye guardians of her rights, fo nobly won ! 
 Cherifh the Mufe, who firft in modern ftrains 
 Eflay'd to fing your lovely * Patriot's fame, 
 Anxious to refcue from oblivious time 
 Such matchlefs virtue, her heroic deed 
 Illuflrate, and your gay proceflion grace. 
 
 * See DUGDALE'S Antiquities of Warwickfhire. 
 
 It is pleafant enough to obferve, with what gravity the 
 above-mentioned learned writer dwells on the praifes of this 
 renown'd lady. " And now, before I proceed," fays he, " I 
 have a word more to fay of the noble Countefs GODEVA, 
 which is, that befides her devout advancement of that pious 
 work of his, i. e. her hufband LEOFRIC, in this magnificent 
 monaftery, viz. of Monks at COVENTRY, fhe gave her whole 
 treafure thereto, and fent for fkilful goldfmiths, who, with 
 all the gold and filver fhe had, made crofles, images of 
 faints, and other curious ornaments." Which paflages may 
 ferve as a fpecimen of the devotion and patriotism of thofe 
 times. 
 
 END OF BOOK THE SECOND, 
 
 F 4 EDGE-
 
 EDGE-HILL. 
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 AFTERNOON.
 
 ARGUMENT TO BOOK THE THIRD. 
 
 Mdrefi to ike Right Hon. tie Earl of CLARENDON. Me- 
 taphyfual Subtleties exploded. Philofophical Account 
 of Vifton, and Optic Gla/es. ObjeRs of Sight not fuf- 
 fciently regarded on Account of their being common. 
 Story relative thereto. Return to the Mid- Scene, 
 SOLIHUL. School-Scene. BREMICHAM. Its Ma- 
 nufactures. Coal- Mines, Iron-Ore. Procefs of it, 
 Panegyric upon Iron.
 
 EDGE-HILL. 
 
 BOOK III. 
 AFTERNOON. 
 
 AGAIN, the Mufe her airy flight effays. 
 Will VILLERS, ikill'd alike in claflic. fong, 
 Or, with a critic's eye, to trace the charms 
 Of Nature's beauteous fcenes, attend the lay ? 
 Will he, accuftom'd to foft Latian climes, 
 As to their fofter numbers, deign awhile 
 To quit the Mantuan Bard's harmonious ftrain, 
 By fweet attraction of the theme allur'd ? 
 The Latian Poet's fong is ftill the fame. 
 
 Not
 
 76 EDGE-HILL. BOOK IIL 
 
 Not fo the Latian fields. The gentle Arts 
 That made thofe fields fo fair, when Gothic Rule, 
 And Superftition, with her bigot train, 
 Fixt {here their gloomy feat, to this fair Ifle 
 Retir'd, with Freedom's gen'rous fons to dwell, 
 To grace her cities, and her fmiling plains 
 With plenty cloathe, and crown the rural toil. 
 
 Nor hath he found, throughout thofe fpacious 
 
 realms 
 
 Where ALBIS flows, and ISTER'S ftately flood, 
 More verdant meads, or more fuperb remains 
 Of old magnificence, than his own fields 
 Difplay, where * CLINTON'S venerable walls 
 In ruin, flill their ancient grandeur tell. 
 
 Requires there aught of learning's pompous aid 
 To prove that all this outward frame of things 
 Is what it feems, not unfubflantial air, 
 Ideal vifion, or a waking dream, 
 
 * The magnificent ruins of KENILWORTH CASTLE, built 
 by GEOFRY DE CLINTON, and more particularly defcribed 
 in the preceding book, belong to the Right Hon. the Earl 
 of CLARENDON, many years refident in ITALY, and Envoy 
 to moft of the Courts in GERMANY. 
 
 Without
 
 BOOK III, EDGE-HILL. 77 
 
 Without exiftence, fave what Fancy gives ? 
 
 Shall we, becaufe we ftrive in vain to tell 
 
 How Matter ads on incorporeal Mind, 
 
 Or how, when deep has lock'd up ev'ry fenfe, 
 
 Or fevers rage, Imagination paints 
 
 Unreal fcenes, reject what fober fenfe, 
 
 And calmeft thought atteft ? Shall we confound 
 
 States wholly difPrent ? Sleep with wakeful life ? 
 
 Difeafe with health ? This were to quit the day, 
 
 And feek our path at midnight. To renounce 
 
 Man's fureft evidence, and idolize 
 
 Imagination. Hence then banifh we 
 
 Thefe metaphyfic fubtleties, and mark 
 
 The curious ftructure of thefe vifual orbs, 
 
 The windows of the mind; fubftance how clear, 
 
 Aqueous, or cryftalline ! through which the foul, 
 
 As thro* a glafs, all outward things furveys. 
 
 See, while the fun gilds, with his golden beam, 
 Yon' diftant pile, which HYDE, with care refin'd, 
 From plunder guards, its form how beautiful ! 
 Anon fome cloud his radiance intercepts, 
 And all the fplendid object fades away. 
 
 Or,
 
 78 E D G E - H I L L. BOOK III. 
 
 Or, if fome incruftation o'er the fight 
 
 Its baleful texture fpread, like a clear lens, 
 
 With filth obfcur'd ! no more the fenfory, 
 
 Thro* the thick film, imbibes the chearful day, 
 
 ' But cloud inftead, and ever-during night 
 
 Surround it.' So, when on fome weighty truth 
 
 A beam of heav'nly light its luftre fheds, 
 
 To Reafon's eye it looks fupremely fair. 
 
 But if foul Pafiion, or diftemper'd Pride, 
 
 Impede its fearch, or Phrenzy feize the brain, 
 
 Then Ignorance a gloomy darknefs fpreads, 
 
 Or Superftition, with mifhapen forms, 
 
 Erects its favage empire in the mind. 
 
 The vulgar race of men, like herds that graze, 
 On Inftinct live, not knowing how they live ; 
 While Reafon fleeps, or waking (loops to Senfe. 
 But fage Philofophy explores the caufe 
 Of each phenomenon of fight, or found, 
 Tafte, touch, or fmell ; each organ's in mod frame, 
 And correfpondence with external things : 
 Explains how different texture of their parts 
 Excites fenfations different, rough, or fmooth, 
 
 Bitter,
 
 BOOK III. E D G E - H I L L. 7$ 
 
 Bitter, or Tweet, fragrance, or noifome fcent : 
 How various ftreams of undulating air, 
 Thro* the ear's winding labyrinth convey'd, 
 Caufe all the vaft variety of founds. 
 Hence too the fubtle properties of light, 
 And fev'n-fold colour are diftinctly view'd 
 In the prifmatic glafs, and outward forms 
 Shewn fairly drawn, in miniature divine, 
 On the tranfparent eye's membraneous cell. 
 By combination hence of different orbs, 
 Convex, or concave, thro' their cryftal pores, 
 Tranfmitting varioufly the folar ray, 
 With line oblique, the telefcopic tube 
 Reveals the wonders of the (tarry fphere, 
 Worlds above worlds ; or, in a fingle grain, 
 Or watry drop, the penetrative eye 
 Difcerns innumerable inhabitants 
 f perfect ftructure, imperceptible 
 To naked view. Hence each defect of fenfe 
 Obtains relief; hence to the palfy'd ear 
 New impulfe, vifion new to languid fight, 
 Surprize to both, and youthful joys reftor'd ! 
 
 5 Cheap
 
 So E D G E - H I L L; BOOK lit. 
 
 Cheap is the blifs we never knew to want ! 
 So gracelefs fpendthrifts wafte unthankfully 
 Thofe fums, which Merit often feeks in vain* 
 And Poverty wou'd kneel to call its own. 
 So objects, hourly feen, unheeded pafs, 
 At which the new-created fight would gaze 
 With exquifite delight. Doubt ye this truth ? 
 A tale fhall place it fairer to your view. 
 
 A youth * there was, a youth of lib'ral mind, 
 And fair proportion in each lineament 
 Of outward form ; but dim fuffufion veil'd 
 His fightlefs orbs, which roll'd, and roll'd in vain 
 To find the blaze of day. From infancy, 
 Till full maturity glow'd on his cheek, 
 The long, long night its gloomy empire held, 
 And mock'd each gentle effort, lotions, 
 Or cataplafms, by parental hands, 
 With fruitlefs care employ'd. At length a Leech, 
 Of (kill profound, well-vers'd in optic lore, 
 
 For the general fubjeft of the following ftory, fee the 
 TATLER, Numb. 55, and SMITH'S OPTICS. 
 
 An
 
 BOOK III. E E> G E-H I L L. 81 
 
 An arduous tafk devis'd afide to draw 
 
 The veil, which, like a cloud, hung o'er his fight, 
 
 And ope a lucid paflage to the fun. 
 
 Inftant the Youth the promis'd bleffing craves, 
 
 But firfl his parents, with uplifted hands, 
 
 The healing Pow'rs invoke, and pitying friends 
 
 With fympathizing heart, the rites prepare : 
 
 'Mongft thefe, who well deferv'd the important truft, 
 
 A gentle Maid there was, that long had wail'd 
 
 His haplefs fate. Pull many a tedious hour 
 
 Had me, with converfe, and inftructive fong* 
 
 Beguil'd. Full many a flep darkling her arm 
 
 Suflain'd him ; and, as they their youthful days 
 
 In friendly deeds, and mutual intercourfe 
 
 Of fweet endearment pafs'd, love in each bread 
 
 His empire fix'd j in her's with pity join'd, 
 
 In his with gratitude, and deep regard. 
 
 The friendly wound was giv'n j th' obftrufling film 
 Drawn artfully afide ; and, on his fight 
 Burft the full tide of day. Surpriz'd he flood, 
 Not knowing where he was, nor what he faw ! 
 The (kilful artift firft, as firft in place 
 
 G H
 
 82 EDGE-HILL. BOOK III. 
 
 He view'd, then feiz'd his hand, then felt his own, 
 Then mark'd their near refemblance, much perplex'd, 
 And ftill the more perplex'd, the more he faw. 
 
 Now filence firft th* impatient mother broke, 
 And, as her eager looks on him me bent, 
 *' My fon," fhe cried, " my Ton !" On her he gaz'd 
 With frefh furprize. And, what ? he cried, art thou 
 My mother ? for thy voice befpeaks thee fuch, 
 Tho' to my fight unknown. Thy mother I ! 
 She quick reply'd, thy fifter, brother thefe 
 O ! 'tis too, much, he faid; too foon to part, 
 Ere well we meet ! But this new flood of day 
 O'erpow'rs me, and I feel a death-like damp 
 Chill all my frame, and ftop my fauk'ring tongue. 
 
 Now LYDIA, fo they call'd his gentle friend, 
 Who, with averted eye, but, in her foul, 
 Had felt the lancing fteel, her aid apply'd, 
 And flay, dear youth, me faid, or with thee take 
 Thy LYDIA, thine alike in life, or death. 
 
 At LYDIA'S name, at LYDIA'S well-known voice, 
 He drove again to raife his drooping head, 
 
 And
 
 III. E D G E - H I L L. 83 
 
 And ope his clofing eye, but flrove in vain, 
 And on her trembling bofom funk away. 
 
 Now other fears diftract his weeping friends. 
 But fhort this grief ! for foon his life return'd, 
 And, with return of life, return'd their peace. 
 Yet, for his fafety, they refolve awhile 
 His infant fenfe from day's bright beams to guard, 
 Ere yet again they tempt fuch dang'rous joy. 
 
 As, when from fome tranfporting dream awak'd, 
 We fondly on the fweet delufion dwell, 
 And, with intenfe reflection, to our minds 
 Picture th' enchanted fcene angelic forms 
 Converfe fublime and more than waking blifs ! 
 Till the coy vifion, as the more we ftrive 
 To paint it livelier on th' enraptur'd fenfe, 
 Still fainter grows, and dies at laft away : 
 So dwelt the Youth on his late tranfient joy, 
 So longM the dear remembrance to renew. 
 
 At length, again the wifh'd-for day arriv'd. 
 The talk was LYDIA'S ! her's the charge, alone 
 From dangers new to guard the dear delight; 
 But firft th' impatient Youth me thus addrefs'd. 
 
 G 2 Dear
 
 84 E D G E - H I L L. BOOK III. 
 
 Dear Youth ! my trembling hands but ill efiay 
 This tender tafk, and, with unufual fear, 
 My flutt'ring heart forebodes fome danger nigh. 
 
 Difmifs thy fears, he cried, nor think fo ill 
 I con thy leflbns, as ftill need be taught 
 To hail, with caution, the new-coming day. 
 Then loofe thefe envious folds, and teach my fight, 
 If more can be, to make thee more belov'd. 
 
 Ah ! there's my grief, me cried: 'tis true our hearts 
 With mutual paffion burn, but then 'tis true 
 Thou ne'er haft known me by that fubtle fenfe 
 Thro' which love moft an eafy pafTage finds ; 
 That fenfe ! which foon may mew thee many a maid 
 Fairer than LYDIA, tho' more faithful none. 
 And may fhe not ceafe then to be belov'd ? 
 May (he not then, when lefs thou need'ft her care, 
 Give place to fome new charmer? 'Tis for this 
 I figh ; for this my fad foreboding fears 
 New terrors form. And can'ft thou then, he cried, 
 Want aught that might endear thee to my foul ? 
 Art thou not excellence ? Art thou not all 
 That man cou'd wiih ? Goodnefs, and gentleft love ? 
 
 Can
 
 BOOK III. E D G E - H I L L. 85 
 
 Can I forget thy long affiduous care ? 
 Thy morning-tendance, fureft mark to me 
 Of day's return, of night thy late adieu ? 
 Do I need aught to make my blifs compleat, 
 When thou art by me ? when I prefs thy hand ? 
 When I breath fragrance at thy near approach 5 
 And hear the fweeteft mufic in thy voice ? 
 Can that, which to each other fenfe is dear, 
 So wond'rous dear, be otherwife to fight ? 
 Or can fight make, what is to reafon good, 
 And lovely, feem lefs lovely, and lefs good ? 
 Perilh the fenfe, that wou'd make LYDIA fuch ! 
 Perifti its joys, thofe joys however great ! 
 If to be purchas'd with the lofs of thee. 
 O my dear LYDIA ! if there be indeed 
 The danger thou report'ft, O ! by our love, 
 Our mutual love, I charge thee, ne'er unbind 
 Thefe haplefs orbs, or tear them from their feat, 
 Ere they betray me thus to worfe than death: 
 
 No, Heav'n forbid! {he cried, for Heav'n hath heard 
 Thy parents pray'rs, and many a friend now waits 
 To mingle looks of cordial love with thine. 
 
 G 3 And
 
 86 E D G E - H I L L. BOOK III. 
 
 And fhou'd I rob them of the facred blifs ? 
 Shou'd I deprive thee of the rapt'rous fight ? 
 No ! be thou happy -, happy be thy friends ; 
 Whatever fate attends thy LYDIA'S love ; 
 Thy haplefs LYDIA! Haplefs did I fay ? 
 Ah ! wherefore ? wherefore wrong I thus thy worth ? 
 Why doubt thy well-known truth, and conftant mind ? 
 No, happieft (he of all the happy train, 
 In mutual vows, and plighted faith fecure ! 
 So faying, fhe the filken bandage loos'd, 
 Nor added further fpeech, prepar'd to watch 
 The new furprize, and guide the doubtful fcene, 
 By filence more than tenfold night conceal'd. 
 When thus the Youth. And is this then the world, 
 In which I am to live ? Am I awake ? 
 Or do I dream ? Or hath fome pow'r unknown, 
 Far from my friends, far from my native home; 
 Convey'd me to thefe radiant feats ? O thou ! 
 Inhabitant of this enlighten'd world ! 
 Whofe heav'nly foftnefs far tranfcends his fhape, 
 By whom this miracle was firft atchiev'd, 
 Q 1 deign thou to inftruct me where I am ; 
 
 3 And
 
 BOOK III. E D G E-H I L L. 87 
 
 And how to name thee by true character, 
 Angel, or mortal ! Once I had a friend, 
 Who, but till now, ne'er left me in diftrefs. 
 Her fpeech was harmony, at which my heart 
 With tranfport flutter'd ; and her gracious hand 
 Supplied rne with whate'er my wilh cou'd form i 
 Supply, and tranfport ne'er fo wifh'd before ! 
 Never, when wanted, yet, fo long denied ! 
 Why is me filent now, when mod I long 
 To hear her heav'nly voice ? why flies me not 
 With more than ufual fpeed to crown my blifs ? 
 Ah ! did I leave her in that darkfome world ? 
 Or rather dwells (he not in thefe bright realms, 
 Companion fit for fuch fair forms as thine ? 
 O ! teach me, if thou canft, how I may find 
 This gentle counfellor ; when found, how know 
 By this new fenfe, which, better ftill to rate 
 Her worth, I chiefly wifh'd. The lovely form 
 Replied, In me behold that gentle friend, 
 If ftill thou own'ft me fuch. O ! yes, 'tis me, 
 He cried ; 'tis LYDJA ! 'tis her charming voice ! 
 O ! fpeak again i Q ! let me prefs thy hand : 
 
 G 4 On
 
 88 EDGE-. HJLL. BOOK III. 
 
 On thefe I can rely. This new-born fenfe 
 May cheat me. Yet fo much I prize thy form, 
 I willingly wou'd think it tells me true - 
 
 Ha ! wha,t are thefe ? Are they not they, of whom 
 Thou warn'dft me ? Yes true they are beautiful. 
 But have they lov'd like thee, like thee convers'd ? 
 They move not as we move, they bear no part 
 In my new blifs. And yet methinks, in one, 
 Her form I can defcry, tho' now fo calm ! 
 Who call'd me fon. Miftaken Youth ! fhe cried, 
 Thefe are not what they feem ; are not as we, 
 Not living fubftances, but piftur'd fhapes, 
 Refemblances of life ! by mixture form'd 
 Of light, and fhade, in fweet proportion join'd. 
 But hark ! I hear, without, thy longing friends, 
 Who wait my fummons, and reprove my Hay* 
 
 To thy direction, cried th' enraptur'd Youth, 
 To thy direction I commit my fteps. 
 Lead on, be thou my guide, as late, fo now, 
 In this new world, and teach me how to ufe 
 This wond'rous faculty , which thus, fo foon 
 Mocks me with phantoms. Yet enough for me ! 
 
 That
 
 BOOK III. E D G E - H I L L. 89 
 
 That all my paft experience joins with this 
 
 To tell me I am happier than I know. 
 
 To tell me thou art LYDIA ! From whofe fide 
 
 I never more will part ! with whom compar'd, 
 
 All others of her fex, however fair, 
 
 Shall be like painted, unfubftantial forms. 
 
 So when the foul, inflam'd with ftrong defire 
 Of purer blifs, its earthly manfion leaves, 
 Perhaps fome friendly geniusj wont to fteer 
 With minifterial charge, his dang'rous Heps ; 
 Perhaps fome gentle partner of his toil, 
 More early bleft, in radiant luftre clad, 
 And form celeftial, meets his dazzled fight ; 
 And guides his way, thro' tracklefs fields of air, 
 To join, with rapt'rous joy/th' ethereal train. 
 
 Now to the midland fearch the Mufe returns. 
 For more, and flill more bufy fcenes remain ; 
 The promis'd fchools of wife artificers 
 In brafs, and iron. But another fchool 
 Of gentler arts demands the Mufe's fong, 
 Where firft me learn'd to fcan the meafur'd verfe, 
 And aukwardly her infant notes efiay'd. 
 
 Hail
 
 90 E D G E - H I L L. BOOK III. 
 
 Hail SOLIHUL ! refpe&ful I falute 
 Thy walls ; more -awful once ! when, from the fweets 
 Of feftive freedom, and domeftic eafe, 
 With throbbing heart, to the ftern difcipline 
 Of pasdagogue morofe I fad return'd. 
 But tho' no more his brow fevere, nor dread 
 Of birchen fceptre awes my riper age, 
 A fterner tyrant rifes to my view, 
 With deadlier weapon arm'd. Ah ! Critic ! fpare, 
 O ! fpare the Mufe, who feels her youthful fears 
 On thee transfer'd, and trembles at thy lafli. 
 Againft the venal tribe, that proftitutes 
 The tuneful art, to footh the villain's breaft, 
 To blazon fools, or feed the pamper'd lull 
 Of bloated vanity ; againft the tribe 
 Which cafts its wanton jefts at holy truths, 
 Or clothes, with virtue's garb, th' accurfed train 
 Of loathfome vices, lift thy vengeful arm, 
 And all thy juft feverity exert. 
 Enough to venial faults, and haplefs want 
 Of animated numbers, fuch as breathe 
 
 The
 
 BOOK III. E D G E - H I L L. 9 x 
 
 The foul of epic fong, hath erft been paid 
 Within thefe walls, ftill ftain'd with infant blood. 
 
 Yet may I not forget the pious care 
 Of love parental, anxious to improve 
 My youthful mind. Nor yet the debt difown 
 Due to fevere reftraint, and rigid laws, 
 The wholefome curb of Pafiion's headftrong reign. 
 To them I owe that ere, with painful toil, 
 Thro* PRISCIAN'S crabbed rules, laborious tafk! 
 I held my courfe, till the dull, tirefome road 
 Plac'd me on claffic ground, that well repaid 
 The labours of the way. To them I owe 
 The pleafing knowledge of my youthful mates 
 Matur'd in age, and honours. Thefe among, 
 I gratulate whom AUGUSTA'S fenate hails 
 Father ! and, in each charge, and high employ, 
 Found worthy all her love, with amplefl truft, 
 And dignity invefts. And well I ween, 
 Her tribunitial pow'r, and purple pomp 
 On thee confers, in living manners fchooPd 
 To guard her weal, and vindicate her rights, 
 O LADBROKE ! once in the fame fortunes clafs'd 
 
 Of
 
 92 E D G E - H I L L. BOOK III. 
 
 Of early life ; with count'nance uneftrang'd, 
 For ev'ry friendly deed ftill vacant found ! 
 
 Nor can the Mufe, while Ihe thefe fcenes furveys, 
 Forget her SHENSTONE, in the youthful toil 
 Afibciate ; whofe bright da\vn of genius oft 
 Smooth'd my incondite verfe ; whofe friendly voice 
 Call'd me from giddy fports to follow him 
 Intent on better themes call'd me to tafte 
 The charms of Britifh fong, the pidlur'd page 
 Admire, or mark his imitative fkill ; 
 Or with him range in folitary fhades, 
 And fcoop rude grottos in the (helving bank. 
 Such were the joys that cheer'd life's early morn ! 
 Such the ftrong fympathy of foul, that knit 
 Our hearts congenial in fweet amity! 
 On CHERWEL'S banks, by kindred fcience nurs'd j 
 And well-matur'd in life's advancing ftage, 
 When, on ARDENNA'S plain, we fondly ftray'd, 
 With mutual truft, and amicable thought ; 
 Or in the focial circle gaily join'd : 
 Or round his Leafowe's happy circuit rov'd ; 
 On hill, and dale invoking ev'ry Mufe, 
 
 Nor
 
 BOOK III; EDGE-HILL. 93 
 
 Nor TEMPE'S fhade, nor AGANIPPE'S fount 
 Envied j fo willingly the Dryads nurs'd 
 His groves j fo lib'rally their cryftal urns 
 The Naiads pour'd, enchanted with his fpells ; 
 And pleas'd to fee their ever-flowing ftreams 
 Led by his hand, in many a mazy line ; 
 Or, in the copious tide, collected large, 
 Or tumbling from the rock, in fportive falls* 
 Now, from the lofty bank, precipitate ; 
 And now, in gentler conrfe, with murmurs foft 
 Soothing the ear j and now, in concert join'd, 
 Fall above fall, oblique, and intricate, 
 Among the twifted roots. Ah ! whilft I write, 
 In deeper murmur flows the fadning ftream ; 
 Wither the groves ; and from the beauteous fcene, 
 Its foft enchantments fly. No more for me 
 A charm it wears, fince he alas ! is gone, 
 Whofe genius plann'd it, and whofe fpirit grac'd. 
 Ah ! hourly does the fatal doom, pronounc'd 
 Againft rebellious fin, fome focial band 
 Diffolve, and leave a thoufand friends to weep, 
 Soon fuch themfelves, as thofe they now lament ! 
 
 This
 
 94 E D G E - H t L L. BOOK IlL 
 
 This mournful tribute to thy mem'ry paid! 
 
 The Mufe purfues her folitary way ; 
 
 But heavily purfues, fmce thou art gone, 
 
 "Whofe counfel brighten*d, and whofe friendfhip fhar'd 
 
 The pleafing tafk. Now BREMICHAM ! to thee 
 
 She fleers her flight, and, in thy bufy fcenes, 
 
 Seeks to reflrain awhile the ftarting tear. 
 
 Yet ere her fong defcribes the fmoky forge* 
 Or founding anvil, to the dufky heath 
 Her gentle train fhe leads. What ? tho* no grain* 
 Or herbage fweet, or waving woods adorn 
 Its dreary furface, yet it bears, within, 
 A richer treafury. So worthy minds 
 Oft lurk beneath a rude, unfightly form. 
 More haplefs they ! that few obfervers fearch, 
 Studious to find this intellectual ore, 
 And ftamp, with gen'rous deed, its current worth* 
 Here many a merchant turns adventurer, 
 Encourag'd, not difgufted. Intereft thus, 
 On fordid minds, with ftronger impulfe works, 
 Than virtue's heav'nly flame. Yet Providence 
 Converts to gen'ral ufe man's felfim ends. 
 
 Hence
 
 BOOK III. E D G E - H I L L; 95 
 
 Hence are the hungry fed, the naked cloath'd, 
 The wintry damps difpell'd, and focial mirth 
 Exults, and glows before the blazing hearth. 
 
 When likely figns th' adventrous fearch invite, 
 A cunning artift tries the latent foil : 
 And if his fubtle engine, in return, 
 A brittle mafs contains of fable hue, 
 Strait he prepares th' obftru&ing earth to clear, 
 And raife the crumbling rock. A narrow pafs 
 Once made, wide, and more wide the gloomy cave 
 Stretches its vaulted ifles, by num'rous hands 
 Hourly extended. Some the pick-axe ply, 
 Loos'ning the quarry from its native bed. 
 Some waft it into light. Thus the grim ore, 
 Here ufelefs, like the mifer's brighter hoard, 
 Is from its prifon brought, and fent abroad, 
 The frozen hours to cheer, to minifter 
 To needful fuftenance, and poiifli'd arts. 
 Mean while the fubterraneous city fpreads 
 -Its covert ftreets, and echoes with the noife 
 Of fwarthy Haves, and inftruments of toil. 
 They, fuch the force of Cuftom's pow'rful laws ! 
 
 Purfue
 
 96 E D G E - H I L L: BOOK III. 
 
 Purfue their footy labours, deftitute 
 
 Of the fun's cheering light, and genial warmth. 
 
 And oft a chilling damp, or unctuous mift, 
 
 Loos'd from the crumbly caverns, iffues forth, 
 
 Stopping the fprings of life. And oft the flood* 
 
 Diverted from its courfe, in torrents pours, 
 
 Drowning the nether world. To cure thefe ills 
 
 Philofophy two curious arts fupplies, 
 
 To drain th* imprifon'd air, and, in its place, 
 
 Mote pure convey, or, with impetuous force, 
 
 To raife the gath'ring torrents from the deep. 
 
 One from the * wind its falutary pow'r ' 
 
 Derives, thy charity to fick'ning crowds, 
 
 From cheerful haunts, and Nature's balmy draughts 
 
 Confin'd ; O friend of man, illuftrious -j- HALES ! 
 
 That, ftranger Hill ! its influence owes to air f , 
 
 By cold, and heat alternate now condens'd, 
 
 Now rarefied fl. Agent ! to vulgar thought 
 
 * The Ventilator, 
 t Dr. STEPHEN HALES. 
 % The Fire-engine. 
 
 j) " Denfat erant quae rara modo, et quae denfa relaxat." 
 
 How
 
 BOOK III. E D G E - H I L L. 97 
 
 How feeming weak, in aft how pow'rful feen ! 
 So Providence, by inftruments defpis'd, 
 All human force, and policy confounds. 
 
 But who that fiercer element can rule ? 
 When, in the nitrous cave, the kindling fiamej 
 By pitchy vapours fed, from cell to cell, 
 With fury fpreads^ and the wide fewell'd earth, 
 Around, with greedy joy, receives the blaze. 
 By its own entrails nourifh'd, like thofe mounts 
 Vefuvian, or JEtnean, dill it waftes, 
 And ftill new fewel for its rapine finds 
 Exhauftlefs. Wretched he ! who journeying late. 
 O'er the parch'd heath, bewilder'd, feeks his way* 
 Oft will his fnorting fteed, with terror ftruck, 
 His wonted fpeed refufe, or ftart afide, 
 With rifing fmoak, and ruddy flame annoy'd. 
 While, at each ftep, his trembling rider quakes* 
 AppalPd with thoughts of bog, or cavern'd pit, 
 Or treach'rous earth, fubfiding where they tread, 
 Tremendous paflage to the realms of death ! 
 
 Yet want there not ev'n here ibme lucid fpots 
 The ftnoaky- fcene to cheer, and, by contraft, 
 
 H More
 
 9$ EDGE-HILL. BOOK III. 
 
 More fair. Such DARTMOUTH'S cultivated * lawns! 
 
 Himfelf, diftinguifh'd more with ornament 
 
 Of cultur'd manners, and fupernal light! 
 
 Such f thine, O BRIDGMAN ! Such but envious time 
 
 Forbids the Mufe r.o thefe fair fcenes to rove, 
 
 Still minding her of her unfinifti'd theme, 
 
 From ruffet heaths, and fmould'ring furnaces, 
 
 To trace the progrefs of thy freely arts, 
 
 J Queen of the founding anvil! ASTON |) thee, 
 
 And EDGBASTON with hofpitable made, 
 
 And rural pomp inveft. O ! warn thy fons -, 
 
 When, for a time, their labours they forget, 
 
 Not to moleil thefe peaceful folitudes. 
 
 So may the matters of the beauteous fcene, 
 
 Protect thy commerce, and their toil reward. 
 
 * SANDWEL, ths feat of the Right Hon. the Earl of 
 DARTMOUTH. 
 
 t CASTLE-BROMWICK, the feat of Sir HENRY BRIDG- 
 Bart. 
 
 J BREMICHAM, alias BIRMINGHAM. 
 J. The feat of Sir LISTER HOLT, Bart. 
 The feat of Sir HENRY GOUGH, Bart. 
 
 Nor
 
 BOOK III. E D G E - H I L L. '99 
 
 Nor does the barren foil conceal alone 
 The fable rock inflammable. Oft-times 
 More pond'rous ore beneath its furface lies, 
 Compact, metallic, but withearthy parts 
 Incrufted. Thefe the fmoaky kiln confumesj 
 And to the furnace's impetuous rage 
 Co'nfigns the folid ore. In the fierce heat 
 The pure difiblves, the drofs remains behind* 
 This pufh'd afide, the trickling metal flows 
 Thro' fecret valves along the channel'd floor, 
 Where in the mazy moulds of figur'd fand, 
 Anon it hardens. Now the bufy forge 
 Reiterates its blows, to form the bar 
 Large, maflTy, flrong. Another art expands, 
 Another yet divides the yielding mafs 
 To many a taper length, fit to receive 
 The artift*s will, and take its deftin'd form. 
 
 Soon o'er thy furrow'd pavement, BREMICHAM! 
 Ride the loofe bars obftrep'rous ; to the fons 
 Of languid fenfe> and frame too delicate 
 Harfh ncife perchance, but harmony to thine* 
 
 H 2 Inilant
 
 joo EDGE-HILL. BOOK lit. 
 
 Inftant innumerable hands prepare 
 To fhape, and mould the malleable ore. 
 Their heavy fides th' inflated bellows heave, 
 Tugged by the pulley'd line, and, with their blaft 
 Continuous, the fleeping embers roufe, 
 And kindle into life. Strait the rough mafs, 
 Plung'd in the blazing hearth, its heat contracts, 
 And glows tranfparent. Now, CYCLOPEAN chief! 
 Quick on the anvil lay the burning bar, 
 And with thy lufty fellows, on its fides 
 Imprefs the weighty ftroke. See, how they ftrain 
 The fwelling nerve, and lift the finewy * arm 
 In meafur'd time ; while with their clatt'ring blows, 
 From ftreet to ftreet the propagated found 
 Increafing echoes, and, on ev'ry fide, 
 The tortur'd metal fpreads a radiant fhow'r. 
 
 'Tis noife, and hurry all ! The thronged ftreet, 
 The clofe-piled warehoufe, and the bufy fhop ! 
 
 * " Illi inter fefe magna vi brachia tollunt 
 
 M In numerum, verfantque tenaci forcipe ferrum. 
 
 VJRG. 
 
 With
 
 BOOK III. E D G E -H I L L: jot 
 
 With nimble ftroke the tinkling hammers move ; 
 
 While (low, and weighty the vaft fledge defcends, 
 
 In folemn bafe refponfive, or apart, 
 
 Or focially conjoin'd in tuneful peal. 
 
 The rough file * grates 9 yet ufeful is its touch, 
 
 As fharp corrofives to the fchirrhous flefh, 
 
 Or, to the ftubborn temper, keen rebuke. 
 
 How the coarfe metal brightens into fame 
 Shap'd by their plaftic hands ! what ornament ! 
 What various ufe ! See there the glitt'ring knife 
 Of tempered edge ! The fcifiars' double (haft, 
 Ufelefs apart, in focial union join'd, 
 Each aiding each ! Emblem how beautiful 
 Of happy nuptial leagues ! The button round, 
 Plain, or imboft, or bright with fteely rays ! 
 Or oblong buckle, on the lacker'd fhoe, 
 With poliiVd luftre, bending elegant 
 Its fhapely rim. But who can count the forms 
 
 * " Turn ferri rigor, et argutce lamina ferrae, 
 " Turn variae venere artes, &c," 
 
 VlRG. 
 
 H 3 That
 
 lea E D G E - H I L L. BOOK III. 
 
 That hourly from the glowing embers rife, 
 
 Or fhine attractive thro' the glitt'ring pane, 
 
 And emulate their parent fires ? what art 
 
 * Can, in the fcanty bounds cf meafur'd verfe, 
 
 Difplay the treafure of a thoufand mines 
 
 To wond'rous fhapes by ftubborn labour wrought ? 
 
 Nor this alone thy praife. Of various grains 
 Thy fons a compound form, and to the fire 
 Commit the precious mixture, if perchance 
 Some glitt'ring mafs may blefs their midnight toil, 
 Or glofTy varnifh, or enamel fair, 
 To Ihame the pride of China, or Japan. 
 Nor wanting is the graver's pointed fteel, 
 IS'or pencil, wand'ring o'er the polifh'd plate, 
 With glowing tints, and mimic life endued. 
 Thine too, of graceful form, the lettered type ! 
 The friend of learning, and the poet's pride ! 
 Without thee what avail his fplendid aims, 
 
 * " Sed neque quam multae fpecies, nee nomina quae fint, 
 " Eft nuinerus : neque enim numero comprendererefert." 
 
 VIRG. 
 
 2 And
 
 BOOK III. EDGE-HILL. 103 
 
 And midnight labours ? Painful drudgery ! 
 And pow'rlefs effort ! But that thought of thee 
 Imprints frefh vigour on his panting breaft, 
 As thou ere long (halt on his work imprefs ; 
 And, with immortal fame, his praife repay. 
 
 Hail, native Britim Ore ! of thee pofiefs'd, 
 We envy not GOLCONDA'S fparkling mines, 
 Nor thine POTOSI ! nor thy kindred hills, 
 Teeming with gold. What ? tho' in outward form 
 Lefs fair r not lefs thy worth. To thee we owe 
 More riches than Peruvian mines can yield, 
 Or MOTEZUMA'S crowded magazines, 
 And palaces cou'd boaft, though rooPd with gold. 
 Splendid barbarity ! and rich diftrefs ! 
 Without the focial arts, and ufeful toil ; 
 That poliih life, and civilize the mind ! 
 Thefe are thy gifts, which gold can never buy. 
 
 Thine is the praife to cultivate the foil; 
 To bare its inmoit ftrata to the fun ; 
 To break, and meliorate the ftifTen'd clay, 
 And, from its clofe confinement, fet at large 
 Its vegetative virtue. Thine it is 
 
 H 4 The
 
 104 EDGE-HILL. BOOK III, 
 
 The with'ring hay, and ripen'd grain to (heer, 
 And wafc the joyous harveft round the land. 
 Go now, and fee if, to the Silver's edge, 
 The reedy ftalk will yieM its bearded ftore, 
 In weighty fheafs. Or if the ftubborn marie, 
 In fidelong rows, with eafy force will rife 
 Before the Silver plowfhare's glitt'ring point. 
 Or wou'd your gen'rous horfes tread more fafe 
 On plated Gold ? Your wheels, with fwifter force 
 On golden axles move ? Then grateful own, 
 BRITANNIA'S fons ! Heav'n's providential love, 
 That gave you real wealth, not wealth in fhew, 
 Whofe price in bare imagination lies, 
 And artificial compact. Thankful ply 
 Your Iron arts, and rule the vanquifh'd world.. 
 Hail, native Ore ! without thy pow'rful aid, 
 We ftill had liv'd in huts, with the green fod, 
 And broken branches roof'd. Thine is the plane, 
 The chiiTel thine ; which fhape the well-arch'd dome, 
 The graceful portico ; and fculptur'd walls. 
 
 Wou'd ye your coarfe, unfightly mines exchange 
 jfwi Mexiconian hills ? to tread on gold, 
 
 As
 
 BOOK III. E D G E - H I L L. i* 6 
 
 As vulgar fand ? with naked limbs, to brave 
 The cold, bleak air? to urge the tedious chace, 
 By painfu.1 hunger ftung, with artlefs toil, 
 Thro' gloomy forefls, where the founding axe, 
 To the fun's beam, ne'er op'd the cheerful glade, 
 Nor culture's healthful face was ever feen ? 
 In fqualid huts to lay your weary limbs, 
 Bleeding, and faint, and flrangers to the blifs 
 Of home-felt eafe, which Britim fwains can earn, 
 With a bare fpade ; but ill alas ! cou'd earn, 
 With fpades of gold ? Such the poor Indian's lot ! 
 Who flarves 'midft gold, like mifers o'er their bags i 
 Not with like guilt ! Hail, native Britifh Ore ! 
 For thine is trade, that with its various (lores, 
 Sails round the world, and vifits ev'ry clime, 
 And makes the treafures of each clime her own. 
 By gainful commerce of her woolly veils, 
 Wrought by the fpiky comb ; or (leely wares, 
 From the coarfe mafs, by ftubborn toil, refin'd. 
 Such are thy peaceful gifts ! And War to thee 
 Its bed fupport, and deadlieft horror owes, 
 
 The
 
 io6 E D G E - H I L L. BOOK III. 
 
 The glitt'ring faulchion, and the thund'ring tube ! 
 At whofe tremendous gleam, and voliey'd fire, 
 Barbarian kings fly from their ufelefs hoards, 
 And yield them all to thy fuperior povy'r. 
 
 END OF BOOK THE THIRD. 
 
 EDGE.
 
 E D G E - H I L L. 
 
 BOOK IV. 
 
 EVENING,
 
 ARGUMENT TO BOOK THE FOURTH; 
 
 Evening Walk along the Hill to the N. E. Point. Scene 
 from thence. DASSET - HILLS. FARNBOROUGH. 
 
 WORMLEIGHTON. SnUCKBURG. LEAME and 
 
 ICHENE. Places near thofe two Rivers. BENNONES, 
 or HIGH-CROSS. Foss-WAY. WATLING-$TREET. 
 Inland Navigation. Places of Note. Return. Pane- 
 gyric on the Country. The Scene moralized. The? 
 beautiful, yet tr an/lent. Change by Approach of Winter. 
 Of Storms and Pefilential Seafons. Murrain. Rot 
 amongft the Sheep. General Thoughts on the Vanity 
 and Dif orders of human Life. "Battle of EDGE-HILL.. 
 ReflecTions. Ccnclujion,
 
 EDGE-HILL. 
 
 BOOK IV. 
 
 EVENING. 
 
 IN purple veftments clad, the temper'd Iky 
 Invites us from our hofpitable roof, 
 To tafte her influence mild ; while to the weft 
 The jocund fun his radiant chariot drives, 
 With rapid courfe, untir'd. Ye nymphs, and fwains ! 
 Now quit the (hade, and, with recruited flrength, 
 Along the yet untroden terrace urge 
 Your vig'rous Heps. With moderated heat, 
 
 And
 
 no E D G E - H I L L. BOOK IV. 
 
 And ray oblique, the fun fhall not o'erpow*^ 
 But kindly aid your yet unfinifh'd fearch. 
 
 Not after fable night, in filence hufh'd, 
 More welcome is th* approach of op'ning morn* 
 * With fong of early birds,' than the frefh breeze 
 Of fbften'd air fucceeding fultry heat, 
 And the wild tumult of the buzzing day. 
 
 Nor think, tho* much is paft, that nought remains^ 
 Or nought of beauty, or attractive worth, 
 Save what the morning- fun, or noon-tide ray, 
 Hath, with his rifing beam, diftindly mark'd, 
 Or more confusedly, with meridian blaze, 
 Daz'ling difplay'd imperfect Downward hg 
 Shall other hills illumine oppofite, 
 And other vales as beauteous as the paft j 
 Suggefting to theMufe new argument, 
 And frefh inftru&ion for her clofmg lay* 
 
 There BASSET'S ridgy mountain courts the fong* 
 Scarce MALVERN boafls his adverfe boundary 
 More graceful. Like the tempeft- driven wave, 
 Irregularly great, his bare tops brave 
 
 The
 
 BOOK IV. E D G E- H I L L. in 
 
 The winds, and, on his fides, the fat'ning ox 
 
 Crops the rich verdure. When at HASTINGS' field, 
 
 The Norman Conqueror a kingdom won 
 
 In this fair Ifle, and to another race 
 
 The Saxon pow'r transferr'd ; an alien * lord, 
 
 Companion of his toil ! by fov'reign grant, 
 
 Thefe airy fields obtain'd. Now the tall Mount, 
 
 By claim more juft, a nobler mafter owns ; 
 
 To tyrant force, and flavifli laws a foe. 
 
 But happier lands, near OUSE'S reedy fhore, 
 
 (What leifure ardent love of public weal 
 
 Permits) his care employ ; where Nature's charms 
 
 With learned Art combin'd ; the richeft domes, 
 
 And faireft lawns, adorn'd with ev'ry grace 
 
 Of beauty, or magnificent defign, 
 
 By COBHAM'S eye approv'o, or GRENVILLE plann'd, 
 
 The villas of imperial Rome outvie ; 
 
 And form a fcene of ftatelier pomp a STOWE. 
 
 Her walls the living boaft, thefe boaft the dead, 
 
 Beneath their roof, in facred dull entomb'd. 
 
 * The Earl of MELIE.VT. 
 
 Lie
 
 in E D G E- H ! L L. BOOR IV. 
 
 Lie light, O earth ! on that illuftrious Dame** 
 Who, from lier own prolific womb deriv'd, 
 To people thy green orb, fucceffive faw 
 Sev'n times an hundred births. A goodlier train ! 
 Than that, with which the Patriarch journey'd erft 
 From PADAN-ARAM, to the Mamrean plains : 
 Or that more num'rous, which, with large increafe* 
 At JOSEPH'S call, in wond'rous caravans, 
 Reviving fight ! by Heav'n's decree prepared, 
 He led to GOSHEN, EGYPT'S fruitful foil* 
 
 Where the tall pillar lifts its taper head, 
 Her fpacious terrace, and furrounding lawns, 
 Deckt with no fparing coft of planted tufts, 
 Or ornamented building, -f FARNBOROUGH boafts. 
 Hear they her mailer's call ? in fturdy troops, 
 The jocund labourers hie, and, at his nod, 
 A thoufand hands or fmooth the flanting hill$ 
 
 * Dame HESTER TEMPLE, of whom this is recorded by 
 FULLER, in his account of BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, and who 
 lies buried, with many of that ancient family, in the pariffi- 
 church of BuRTON-D ASSET. 
 
 t The feat of WILLIAM HOLBECH, Efq. 
 
 Or
 
 BOOK IV. EDO E-H I L L. 113 
 
 Or fcoop new channels for the gath'ring flood, 
 And, in his pleafures, find fubftantial blifs. 
 Nor ihall thy verdant paftures be unfung 
 * WORMLEIGHTON ! erft th' abode of SPENSER'S 
 
 race, 
 
 Their title now ! What ? tho* in height thou yield'ft 
 To DASSET, not in fweet luxuriance 
 Of fatning herbage, or of rifing groves ; 
 Beneath whofe fhade the lufty fleers repofe 
 Their cumbrous limbs, mixt with the woolly tribes, 
 And leifurely concoct their graffy meal. 
 
 Her wood-capt fummit -f SHUCKBURGH there dif 
 
 plays ; 
 
 Nor fears neglect, in her own worth fecure, 
 And glorying in the name her matter bears. 
 Nor will her fcenes, with clofer eye, furvey'd, 
 Fruftrate the fearcher's toil, if fteepy hills, 
 By frequent chafms disjoin'd, and glens profound, 
 
 * An eftate, and ancient feat, belonging to the Right 
 Hon. Earl SPENSER. 
 
 f The feat of Sir CH. SHUCKBURGH, Bart. 
 
 I And
 
 H4 EDGE-HILL; B^OK iv 
 
 And broken precipices, vaft, and rude 
 Delight the fenfe ; or Nature's lefTer works, 
 Tho' lefler, not lefs fair ! or native (lone* 
 Or fifh, the little * Aftroit's doubtful race, 
 For ftarry rays, and pencil'd fhades admir'd f 
 Invite him to thefe fields, their airy bed. 
 
 Where LEAME and ICHENE own a kindred rife, 
 And hafle their neighb'ring currents to unite, 
 New hills arife, new paftures green, and fields 
 With other harvefts crown'd ; with other charms 
 Villas, and towns with other arts adorn'd. 
 There ICHIKGTON its downward ftrudtures views 
 In ICHENE'S pafling wave, which, like the Mole, 
 Her fubterraneous journey long purfues, 
 Ere to the fun Ihe gives her lucid ftream. 
 Thy villa, f LEAMINGTON ! her fitter nymph 
 In her fair bofom fhews ; while, on her banks, 
 As further fhe her liquid courfe purfues, 
 
 * The Aftroites, or Star-ftones, found here, 
 f The feat of Sir WILLIAM WHEELER, Bart. 
 
 Amidft
 
 Bo6K iV. E D G E - H I L L; 115 
 
 Amidft furrounding woods his ancient walls 
 * BIRB'RY conceals, and triumphs in the made. 
 
 Not fuch thy lot, O -f BouRTOft ! nor from fight 
 Retireft thou, but, with complacent fmile, 
 Thy focial afpec~t courts the diftaht eye, 
 And views the diftant fcene reciprocal, 
 Delighting, and delighted. Dulky heaths 
 Succeed, as oft to mirth, the gloomy hour ! 
 Leading th' unfinifh'd fearch to thy fam'd feat 
 J BENNONES! where two military ways 
 Each other crofs, tranfverfe from fea to fea, 
 The Romans hoftile paths ! There NEWNHAM'S 
 
 walls 
 
 With graceful pride afcetid, th* inverted pile 
 In her clear ftream, with flow'ry margin grac'd, 
 Admiring. H NEWBOLD there her modefl charms 
 
 * The feat of Sir THEOPHILUS BIDDULPH, Bart, 
 f The feat of JOHN SHUCKBVRGH, Efq. 
 
 A Roman ftation, where the Fofs-Way and Watling- 
 ftreet crofs each other. 
 
 The feat of the Right Hon. the Earl of DENBEICH. 
 H The feat of Sir FRANCIS SKIPWITH, Bart. 
 
 I 2 More
 
 n6 E D G E - H I L L. BOOK IV. 
 
 More baflifully unveils, with folemn woods, 
 And verdant glades enamour'd. Here her lawns, 
 And rifing groves for future (belter form'd, 
 Fair * COTON wide difplays. There ADDISON, 
 With mind ferene, his moral theme revolv'd, 
 Inftruclion dreft in Learning's faireft form ! 
 The graveft wifdom with the livelieft wit 
 Attemper'd ! or, beneath thy roof retir'd 
 O -f- BILTON ! much of peace, and liberty 
 Sublimely mus'd, on BRITAIN'S weal intent, 
 Or in thy made the coy Pierians woo'd. 
 
 Another theme demands the varying fong. 
 Lo ! where but late the flocks, and heifers graz'd, 
 Or yellow harvefts wav'd, now, thro' the vale, 
 Or o'er the plain, or round the flaming hill 
 A glitt'ring path attracts the gazer's eye, 
 Where footy barques purfue their liquid track 
 Thro' lawns, and woods, and villages remote 
 From public haunt, which wonder as they pafs. 
 
 * The feat of DIXWELL GRIMES, Efq. 
 f The feat of the Right Hon. JOSEPH ADDISON, Efq. 
 
 The
 
 BOOK IV. E D G E - H I L L. 117 
 
 The channel'd road ftill onward moves, and ftill 
 With level courfe, the flood attendant leads. 
 Hills, dales oppofe in vain. A thoufand hands 
 Now thro' the mountain's fide a paflage ope, 
 Now with ftupendous arches bridge the vale, 
 Now over paths, and rivers urge their way 
 Aloft in air. Again the Roman pride 
 Beneath thy fpacious camp embattled hill, 
 O * BRINKLOW ! feems with gentler arts returned. 
 But BRITAIN now no bold invader fears, 
 No foreign aid invokes. Alike in arts 
 Of peace, or war renown'd. Alike in both 
 She rivals ancient ROME'S immortal fame. 
 
 Still villas fair, and populous towns remain 
 POLESWORTH, and ATHERSTONE, and EATON'S walls 
 To charity devote ! and, TAMWORTH, thine 
 
 * The Canal defign'd for a communication between the 
 Cities of OXFORD and COVENTRY, pafles through BRINK- 
 LOW, where is a magnificent aquedudl, confifting of twelve 
 arches, with a high bank of earth at each end, croffing a 
 valley beneath the veftiges of a Roman camp, and tumulus, 
 on the Fofs-Way. 
 
 I To
 
 n8 E D G E - H I L L. BOOK IV. 
 
 To martial fame ! and thine, O * MERIVAL ! 
 Boafting thy beauteous woods, and lofty fcite ! 
 f- And COLESHILL ! long for momentary date 
 Of human life, tho* for our wilhes fliort, 
 Repofe of DIGBY'S honourable age ! 
 
 Nor may the Mufe, tho* on her homeward way 
 Intent, mort fpace refufe his alleys green, 
 And decent walls with due refpe& to greet 
 J On BLYTHE'S fair ftream, to whofe laborious toil 
 She many a leflbn owes, his painful fearch 
 Enjoying without pain, and, at her eafe, 
 With equal love of native foil infpir'd, 
 Singing in meafnr'd phrafe her country's fame. 
 
 Nor, ARBURY,! may we thy fcenes forget. 
 
 * The feat of the late EDWARD STRATFORD, Efq; art 
 exterfive view to Charley Foreft and Bofworth Field. 
 
 f Seat of the late Right Hon. Lord DIGBY, commpnly 
 called, rhe good Lord DIGBY. 
 
 J BLYTHE HALL, the feat of Sir WILLIAM DUGDALE, 
 now belonging to RICHARD GEAST, Efq. 
 
 The feat of Sir ROGER NEWDIGATE, Bart. Member 
 of Parliament for the Univerfity of Oxford. 
 
 7 Haunt
 
 BOOK IV. E D G E - H I L L. 119 
 
 Haunt of the Naiads, and each woodland nymph ! 
 
 Rejoicing in his care, to whom adorn-'d 
 
 With all the graces which her fchools expound, 
 
 The gowny Ions of Isis truft their own, 
 
 And BRITAIN'S weal. Nor fhall thy fplendid walls, 
 
 O * PACKING-TON I allure the Mufe in vain. 
 
 The Goths no longer here their empire hold. 
 
 The (haven terrac-'d hill, flope above (lope, 
 
 And high impris'ning walls to Belgia's coaft 
 
 Their native clime retire. In formal bounds 
 
 The long canal no more confines the dream 
 
 Reluctant. Trees no more their tortur'd limbs 
 
 Lament rno more the long-neglected fields, 
 
 Like outlaws bani(h ? d for fome vile offence, 
 
 Are hid from fight from its proud refervoir 
 
 Of ampleft fize, and fair indented form, 
 
 Along the channel'd lawn the copious ftream 
 
 With winding grace the ftately current leads. 
 
 The channel'd lawn its bounteous ftream repays, 
 
 With ever-verdant banks, and cooling mades, 
 
 * The feat of the Right Hon. the Earl of AYLESFORDC 
 I 4 And
 
 120 E D G E - H I L L. BOOK IV. 
 
 And wand'ring paths, that emulate its courfe. 
 On ev'ry fide fpreads wide the beauteous fcene, 
 AfTembJage fair of plains, and hills, and woods, 
 And plants of od'rous fcent plains, hills, and woods, 
 And od'rous plants rejoice, and fmiling hail 
 The reign of Nature, while attendant Art 
 Submifiive waits to cultivate her charms. 
 
 Hail happy land ! which Nature's partial fmile 
 Hath robed profufely gay ! whofe champaigns wide 
 With plenteous harvefts wave ; whofe paftures fwarm 
 With horned tribes, or the Iheep's fleecy race ; 
 To the thronged fhambles yielding wholefome food, 
 And various labour to man's active pow'rs, 
 Not lefs benign than to the weary reft. 
 Nor deftitute thy woodland fcenes of wealth, 
 Or fylvan beauty ! there the lordly fwain 
 His fcantier fields improves ; o'er his own realms 
 Supreme, at will to fow his well-fenc'd glebe, 
 With grain fucceffive -, or with juicy herbs, 
 To fwell his milky kine -, or feed, at eafe, 
 His flock in paftures warm. His blazing hearth, 
 With copious fewel heap'd, defies the cold j 
 
 3 And
 
 BOOK IV. E D G E - H I L L: 121 
 
 And houfe wife-arts or teize the tangled wool, 
 Or, from the diftafFs hoard, the ductile thread, 
 With fportive hand entice ; while to the wheel 
 The fprightly carol join'd, or plaintive fong 
 Diffufe, and artlefs fooths th' untutor'd ear 
 With heart- felt ftrains, and the flow tafk beguiles* 
 
 Nor hath the fun, with lefs propitious ray, 
 Shone on the mailers of the various fcene. 
 Witnefs the fplendid train ! illuftrious names, 
 That claim precedence on the lifts of fame, 
 Nor fear oblivious time ! enraptur'd Bards ! 
 Or learned Sages ! gracing, with their fame, 
 Their native foil, and my afpiring verfe. 
 
 Say, now my dear companions ! for enough 
 Of leifure to defcriptive fong is giv'n ; 
 Say, fhall we, ere we part, with moral eye, 
 The fcene review, and the gay profpect clofe 
 With obfervation grave, as fober eve 
 Haftes now to wrap in fhades the clofing day ? 
 Perhaps the moral ftrain delights you not ! 
 Perhaps you blame the Mufe's quick retreat ; 
 Intent to wander ftill along the plain, 
 
 * In
 
 122 E D G E - H I L L; BOOK I 
 
 In coverts cool, lull'd by the murm'ring ftream, 
 
 Or gentle breeze i while playful fancy (kims, 
 
 With carelefs wing, the furfaces of things : 
 
 For deep refeareh too fndolent, too light 
 
 For grave reflec1T6n. So the Syren queen 
 
 Tempted ALCIDES, on a flow'ry plain, 
 
 With anVrous blandifhment, and urg'd to wafte 
 
 His prime inglorious : but fair VIRTUE'S form 
 
 Refcued the yielding youth, and fir'd his bread 
 
 To manly toil, and glory's well-earn'd prize. 
 
 O ! in that dang'rous feafon, O ! beware 
 
 Of Vice, envenom'd weed ! and plant betimes 
 
 The feeds of virtue in th j untainted heart. 
 
 So on its fruit th' enraptur'd mind mail feaft 
 
 When, to the fmiling day, and mirthful fcene 
 
 Night's folemn gloom, cold winter's chilling blafts, 
 
 And pain, and ficknefs, and old age fucceed. 
 
 Nor flight your faithful guide, my gentle train ! 
 
 But, with a curious eye, expatiate free 
 
 O'er Nature's moral plan. Tho' dark the theme, 
 
 Tho' formidable to the fenfual mind j 
 
 Yet mall the Mufc, with no fictitious aid,
 
 BOOK IV. E D G E - H I L L." 123 
 
 Jnfpir'd, ftill guide you with her friendly voice, 
 And to each feeming ill fome greater good 
 Oppofe, and calm your lab'ring thoughts to reft. 
 
 Nature herfelf bids us be ferious, 
 Bids us be wife ; and all her works rebuke 
 The ever-thonghtlefs, ever-titt'ring tribe. 
 What, tho' her lovely hills, and valleys fmile 
 To-day, in beauty dreft ? yet, ere three moons 
 Renew their orb, and to their wane decline, 
 Ere then the beauteous landfcape all will fade j 
 The genial airs retire , and fhiv'ring fwains 
 Shall, from the whiten'd plain, and driving ftorm. 
 Avert the fmarting cheek, and humid eye. 
 
 So fome fair maid to time's devouring rage 
 Her bloom refigns, and, with a faded look, 
 Difgufts her paramour ; unlefs thy charms, 
 O Virtue ! with more lading beauty grace 
 Her lovelier mind, and, thro 5 declining age, 
 Fair deeds of piety, and modefl worth, 
 Still flourifli, and endear her ftill the more. 
 
 Nor always lafts the Landfcape's gay attire 
 Till furly Winter, with his ruffian blafts, 
 
 Benumbs
 
 124 E D G E - H I L L. BOOK IV. 
 
 Benumbs her tribes, and diflipates her charms. 
 
 As ficknefs ofc the virgin's early bloom 
 
 Spoils immature, preventing hoary age, 
 
 So blafts and mildews oft invade the fields 
 
 In all their beauty, and their fummer's pride. 
 
 And ofc the fudden fhow'r, or fweeping * ftorm 
 
 O'erflows the meads, and to the miry glebe 
 
 Lays clofe the matted grain ; with awful peal, 
 
 While the loud thunder makes a guilty world, 
 
 And forked lightnings cleave the fultry fkies. 
 
 Nor does the verdant mead, or bearded field 
 Alone the rage of angry fkies fuftain. 
 Oft-times their influence dire the bleating flock, 
 Or lowing herd afiails, and mocks the force 
 Of coftly med'cine, or attendant care. 
 Such late the wrathful peftilence, that feiz'd 
 In paftures far retir'd, or guarded ftails, 
 
 * " Ssepe etiam immenfum caelo venit agmen aquarum, 
 " Et faedam glomerant tempeftatem imbribus atris 
 " Collec'iae ex alto nubes; ruit arduus aether, 
 " Et pluvia ingenti fata laeta, boumque labores 
 " Diluit." VJRG. 
 
 The
 
 BOOK IV. EDGE-HILL. 125 
 
 The dew-lap'd race ! with plaintive lowings they, 
 And heavy eyes, confefs'd the pois'nous gale, 
 And drank infection in each breath they drew. 
 Quick thro' their veins the burning fever ran, 
 And from their noftrils ftream'd the putrid rheum 
 Malignant ; o'er their limbs faint languors crept, 
 And ftupefaction all their fenfes bound. 
 In vain their matter, with officious hand, 
 From the pil'd mow the fweeteft lock prefents; 
 Or anxioufly prepares the tepid draught 
 Balfamic j they the proffer'd dainty loath, 
 And * Death exulting claims his deftin'd prey. 
 
 Nor feldom f coughs, and watry rheums affliclt 
 The woolly tribes, and on their vitals feize ; 
 Thinning their folds , and, with their mangled limbs, 
 
 * " Hinc laetis vituli vulgo moriuntur in herbis, 
 " Et dulces animas plena ad praefepia reddunt." 
 
 " Non tarn creber agens hyemem ruit aetbere turbo, 
 " Quam multse pecudum peftes, nee fingula morbi 
 " Corpora corripiunt, fed tota aeftiva repente 
 ** Spemque, gregemque fimul, cun6lamque ab origine 
 *' gentem." VIRG. 
 
 And
 
 *26 E D G E - H I L L. BOOK IV*. 
 
 And tatter'd fleeces, the averted eye 
 
 Difgufting, as the fqueamifh traveller, 
 
 With long-fufpended breath, hies o'er the plain. 
 
 And is their lord, proud Man ! more fafe than they t 
 
 More privileged from the deftroying breath, 
 
 That, thro' the fecret fhade, in darknefs walks, 
 
 Or fmites whole paftures at the noon of day ? 
 
 Ah ! no, Death mark'd him from his infant birth ; 
 
 Mark'd for his own, and, with envenom'd touch, 
 
 His vital blood defil'd. Thro* all his veins 
 
 The fubtle poifon creeps ; compounded joins 
 
 Its kindred mafs to his increafmg bulk ; 
 
 And, to the rage of angry elements, 
 
 Betrays his viflim, poor, ill-fated Man * 
 
 Not furer born to live, than born to die ! 
 
 In what a fad variety of forms 
 
 Clothes he his meffengers ? Deliriums wild ! 
 
 Inflated dropfy ! flow consuming cough ! 
 
 Jaundice, and gout, and ftone ; convulfive fpafms j 
 
 The lhaking head, and the contra&ed limb * 
 
 And ling'ring atrophy, and hoary age ; 
 
 And fecond childhood, flack'ning ev'ry nerve, 
 
 To
 
 
 IV. E D G E - H I L L; $27 
 
 To joy, to reafon, and to duty dead ! 
 I know thee, who thou art, offspring of Sin* 
 And Satan ! nurs'd in Hell, 'and then let loofe 
 To range* with thy accurfed train, on earth, 
 When man, apoftate man\ by Satan's wiles, 
 From life, from blifs, from God, and goodhefs fell I 
 Who knows thee not / who feels thee not within, 
 Plucking his heart - firings ? whom hall thou not 
 
 robb'd 
 
 Of parent, wife, or friend, as thou haft me ? 
 Glutting the grave with ever- crowding guefts, 
 And, with their image, fad'ning ev'ry fcene, 
 Lefs peopled with the living than the dead ! 
 
 Thro' populous ftreets the never-ceafing bell 
 Proclaims, with folemn found, the parting breath ; 
 Nor feldom from the village-tow'r is heard 
 The mournful knell. Alike the grafiy ridge, 
 With ofiers bound, and vaulted catacomb, 
 His fpoils inclofe. Alike the fimple ftone, 
 And maufoleum proud, his pow'r atteft, 
 In wretched doggrel, or elab'rate verfe. 
 
 Perhaps
 
 128 E D G E-H I L L. BOOK IV. 
 
 Perhaps the peafant's humble obfequies ; 
 The flowing (heet, and pall of rufty hue, 
 Alarm you not. You flight the fimple throng; 
 And for the nodding plumes, and fcutcheon'd hearfe, 
 Your tears referve. Then mark, o*er yonder plain, 
 The grand procefiion fuited to your tafte. 
 I mock you not. The fable purfuivants 
 Proclaim th' approaching date. Lo ! now the plumes ! 
 The nodding plumes, and fcutcheon'd hearfe ap- 
 pear ! 
 
 And clad in mournful weeds, a long fad train 
 Of flowly-moving pomp, that waits on death ! 
 Nay yet another melancholy train ! 
 Another triumph of the ghaftly fiend 
 Succeeds ! 'Tis fo. Perhaps ye have not heard 
 The mournful tale. Perhaps no meflenger 
 Hath warn'd you to attend the folemn deed ! 
 Then from the Mufe the piteous (lory learn ; 
 And, with her, on the grave procefiion wait, 
 That to their early tomb, to mould'ring duft 
 Of anceftors, that crowd the fcanty vault, 
 
 Near
 
 BOOK IV. EDGE-HILL. 129 
 
 Near which our Cong began, * NORTHAMPTON bears* 
 
 The gay NORTHAMPTON, and his beauteous -j- Bride ! 
 
 Far other pageants in his youthful bread 
 
 He cherifh'd, while, with delegated truft, 
 
 On {lately ceremonials, to the fhore, 
 
 Where ADRIA'S waves the fea-girt city lave, 
 
 He went , and, with him, join'd in recent 
 
 His blooming Bride, of BEAUFORT'S royal line, 
 The charming SOMERSET! But royal blood, 
 Nor youth, nor beauty, nor employment highj 
 Cou'd grant protection from the rude a/fault 
 Of that barbarian Death ; who, without form, 
 To courts and cottages unbidden comes ; 
 And his unwelcome embafly fulfils, 
 Without distinction, to the lofty peer, 
 The graceful bride, or peafant's homely race/ i 
 Ere, from her native foilj (he faw the fun 
 
 * The Right Hon. the Earl of NORTHAMPTON, who 
 died on his return from an embafly to VENICE, while the' 
 Author was writing this poem. 
 
 f The Right Hon. the Countefs of NORTHAMPTON* 
 daughter to the Duke of REAUFORT. 
 
 K
 
 130 E D G E- H I L L. BOOK IV. 
 
 Run half his annual courfe, in Latian climes, 
 
 She breath'd her laft j him, ere that courfe was 
 
 done, 
 
 Death met returning on the Gallic plains> 
 And fent to join her yet unburied duft : 
 Who, but this youthful pair's untimely fate 
 Muft weep, who, but in theirs, may read their own ? 
 
 Another leflbn feck ye, other proof 
 Of vanity, and lamentable woe 
 Betiding man ? Another fcene to grace 
 With troops of victims the terrific king, 
 And humble wanton Folly's laughing fons ? 
 The Mufe lhall from her faithful memory 
 A tale felecl: ; a tale big with the fate 
 Of kings, and heroes on this now fair field 
 Embattled i but her fong (hall to your view 
 Their ranks embody, and, to future peace, 
 Their fierce defigns, and hoftile rage convert. 
 
 Not on PHARSALIA'S plain a bolder ftr if e 
 Was held* tho* twice with ROMAN blood diftain'd, 
 Than when thy fubjects, firft imperial CHARLES ! 
 Dared, in thefe fields, with arms their caufe to plead. 
 3 Where
 
 BOOK IV. EDGE-HILL. 131 
 
 * Where once the Romans pitch'd their hoftile tents, 
 
 Other Campanlas fair, and milder Alps 
 
 Exploring, now a nobler warrior flood, 
 
 His country's fov'reigh liege ! Around his camp 
 
 A gallant train of loftieft rank attend, 
 
 By loyalty, and love of regal fway, 
 
 To mighty deeds impell'd. Mean while below 
 
 Others no lefs intrepid courage boaftj 
 
 From iburce as fair, the love of Liberty ! 
 
 Dear Liberty ! when rightly underftood, 
 
 Prime focial blifs ! Oh ! may no fraud 
 
 Ufurp thy name, tb veil their dark defigns 
 
 Of vile ambition, or licentious rage ! 
 
 Long time had they, with charge of mutual blame, 
 And fierce debate of fpeech, difcordant minds 
 Avow'd, yet not to defp'rate chance of war 
 'Till now their caufe referr*d : rude arbiter 
 Of fit, and right ! Unhappy native land ! 
 Nought then avail'd that Nature form'd thy fields 
 So fair, and with her wat'ry barrier fenc'd ! 
 
 * A ROMAN camp at WARMINGTON T J on the top of 
 EDGE-HILL. 
 
 K 2 Nought
 
 132 EDGE-HILL. BOOK IV. 
 
 Nought then avail'd thy forms of guardian laws, 
 
 The work of ages, in a moment loft, 
 
 And ev'ry focial tie at once diflblv'd ! 
 
 For now no more fweet peace, and order fair, 
 
 And kindred love remain'd, but hoflileragc 
 
 Inftead, and mutual jealoufy, and hate, 
 
 And tumult loud ! nor, hadft thou then been there, 
 
 * O TALBOT ! cou'd thy voice, fo often heard 
 
 On heav'nly themes ! nor f his fraternal ! fkill'd 
 
 In focial claims, the limits to define 
 
 Of law, and right^ have calm'd the furious ftrife, 
 
 Or ftiird the rattling thunder of the field. 
 
 Acrofs the plain, where the flight eminence, 
 And fcatter'd hedge-rows mark a midway fpace 
 Tayonder J town, once deem'd a royal court ; 
 Now harbouring no friends to royalty ! 
 The popular troops their martial lines extend. 
 
 * The Rev. Mr. TALBOT, of KINETON. 
 
 f CH. HEKRY TALBOT, Efq; of MARSTON, at the bot- 
 tom of EDGE-HILL. 
 
 J KINETON, alias KINGTON. So called, as fome con- 
 jecture, from a caftle on a neighbouring hill, faid to have 
 been a palace belonging to King JOHN. 
 
 High
 
 BOOK IV. EDGE-HILL. 133 
 
 High on the hill, -the royal banners wave 
 Their faithful fignals. Rang'd along the fteep, 
 The giitt'ring files, in burnifh'd armour clad, 
 Reflect the downward fun ; and, with its gleam, 
 The diflant crowds affright, who trembling wait 
 For the dire cnfct, and the dubious fight. 
 
 As pent-up waters, fwell'd by fudden rains, 
 Their former bounds difdain, and foam, and rage 
 Impatient of reftraint ; till, at fome breach, 
 Outward they burft impetuous, and mock 
 The peafant's feeble toil, which flrives to check 
 Their headlong torrent , fo the royal troops, 
 With martial rage inflam'd, impatient wait 
 The trumpet's fummons. At its fprightly call, 
 The airy feat they leave, and down the deep, 
 Rank following rank, like wave fucceeding wave, 
 Rufh on the hoftile wings. Dire was the (hock, 
 Dire was the clam of arms ! The hoftile wings 
 Give way, and foon in flight their fafety feek. 
 They, with augmented force, and growing rage 
 The flying foe purfue. But too fecure, 
 And counting of cheap conqueft quickly gain'd 
 
 K 3 O'er
 
 134 E D G E - H I L L. BOOK IV. 
 
 O'er daftard minds, in wordy quarrels bold, 
 
 But flack by deeds to vindicate their claim, 
 
 In chace, and plunder long they wafte the day ? 
 
 And late return, of order negligent. 
 
 Mean while the battle in the centre rag!d 
 
 With diffrenc fortune, by bold ESSEX led, 
 
 Experienc'd chief ! and to the monarch's caufe. 
 
 And youthful race, for martial deeds unripe, 
 
 Menac'd deftruftion. In the royal breai^ - 
 
 High paflions rofe, by native dignity 
 
 Made more iublime, and urg'd to pow'rful a$ 
 
 By ftrong, * paternal love, and proud difdain, 
 
 Of vulgar minds, arraigning in his race 
 
 The rights of fov'reignty, from ancient kings 
 
 In order fair deriv'd. Amidfl his troops 
 
 "With hafte he flies, their broken ranks reforms, 
 
 To bold revenge re-animates their rage, 
 
 And from the foe his fhort-liv'd honour wrefts. 
 
 * P : rincc CHARLES, afterwards King CHARLES II. and 
 his brother the Duke of Y RK, afterwards King JAMES II. 
 were then in the field, the former being in the i3th, and the 
 latter juft enter'd into the loth year of his age. 
 
 Now
 
 BOOK IV. E D G E - H I L L. 135 
 
 Now Death, with hafty ftride, ftalks o'er the field, 
 Grimly exulting in the bloody fray. 
 Now on the crefted helm or burnifh'd fhield, 
 He (lamps new horrors ; now the levell'd fword 
 With weightier force impells, with iron-hoof 
 Now tramples on th' expiring ranks-, or gores 
 The foaming fteed againft th' oppofmg fpear. 
 But chiefly on the cannon's brazen orb 
 He fits triumphant, and, with fatal aim, 
 Involves whole fquadrons in the fulph'rous ftorm. 
 
 Then * LINDSEY fell, nor from thefhelt'ring ftraw, 
 Ceas'd he to plead his fov'reign's flighted caufe 
 Amidft furrounding foes j nor but with life, 
 Expir'd his loyalty. His valiant fon f 
 Attempts his refcue, but attempts in vain ! 
 Then J VERNEY too, with many a gallant knight, 
 And faithful courtier, anxious for thy weal, 
 
 * Earl of LINDSEY, the King's general. 
 
 } Lord WJLLOUGHBY, fon to the Earl of LINDSEY. 
 
 t Sir EDMUND VERNEY, ftandard- bearer to the king. 
 
 K 4 Unhappy
 
 136 EDGE-HILL. BOCK IV. 
 
 Unhappy Prince ! but mindlefs of their own, 
 Pour'd out his life upon the crimfon plain. 
 Then fell the gallant * STEWART, -f AUBJGNY:, 
 J And KJNGSMILL ! He whofe monumental done 
 Protects his neighb'ring afhes, and his fame. 
 
 The clofing day compos'd the furious ft rife : 
 Put for fhort time compos'd ! anon to wake 
 With tenfold rage, and fpread a wider fcene 
 Of terror, and deftru&ion o'er the land ! 
 
 Now mark the glories of the great debate ! 
 Yon' grafs-goeen mount, where waves the planted 
 
 pine, 
 
 And whifpers to tke winds the mournful tale, 
 Contains them in its monumental mould ; 
 A flaughter'd crew, promifcuous lodg'd below ! 
 Still as the plowman breaks the clotted glebe, 
 He ever and anon fome trophy finds, 
 
 * Lord STEWART. 
 
 f Lord AUEIGNY, fon to the Duke of LENO^. 
 
 ^ Captain KINGSMILL, buried at RADWAY; whafe 
 jjwnument fee at the end of the Poem. 
 
 The
 
 BOOK IV. E D G E - H I L L. 137 
 
 The * relicks of the war or rufty fpear, 
 Or canker'd ball ; but, from fepulchral foil, 
 Cautious he turns afide the mining (leel, 
 Left haply, at its touch, uncovered bones 
 Should ftart to view, and blaft his rural toil. 
 
 Such were the fruits of Paffion, froward Will, 
 And unfubmitting Pride ! Worfe florms than thofe 
 That rend the fky, and wafte our cultur'd fields ! 
 Strangers alike to man's primaeval ftate, 
 Jire Evil entrance found to this fair world, 
 Permitted, not ordain'd, whatever Pride 
 May dream of order in a world of fin, 
 Or pre-exiftent foul, and penal doom 
 For crimes unknown. More wife, more happy he ! 
 Who in his bread ofc pond'ring, and perplext 
 With endlefs doubt, and learning's fruitlefs toil, 
 His weary mind at length repofes fure 
 
 * " Scilicet et tempus veniet, cum finibus illis, 
 " Agricola incurvo terram molitus aratro, 
 <tf Exefa inveniet fcabra rubigine pila, 
 " Aut gravibus raftris galeas pulfabit inanes, 
 " Grandiaque efFoffis mirabuur ofla fepulchris." 
 
 VlRG. 
 
 On
 
 138 E D G E - H I L L, BOOK IV. 
 
 On Heav'n's attefled oracles. To them 
 
 Submifs he bows, convinc'd, however weak 
 
 His reafon the myfterious plan to folve, 
 
 That all He wills is right, who, ere the worlds 
 
 Were form'd, in his all-comprehenfive mind, 
 
 Saw all that was, or is, or e'er mall be. 
 
 Who to whatever exifts, or lives, or moves, 
 
 Throughout creation's wide extent, gave life, 
 
 Gave being, pow'r, and thought to act, to move 
 
 Impelling, or impell'd, to all ordain'd 
 
 Their ranks, relations, and dependencies, 
 
 And can direct, fufpend, cqntroul their pow'rs, 
 
 Elfe were he not fupreme ! Who bids the winds 
 
 Be ftill, and they obey ; who to the Tea 
 
 Afligns its bounds, and calms its boifterous waves, 
 
 Who, with like eafe can moral difcord rule, 
 
 And all apparent evil turn to good. 
 
 Hail then, ye fons of EVE ! th' unerring guide, 
 The fovereign grant receive, fin's antidote ! 
 A cure for all our griefs ! So heav'nly Truth . 
 Shall wide difplay her captivating charms. 
 And Peace her dwelling fix with human race. 
 
 So
 
 $OOK IV; EDGE-HILL. 139 
 
 So Love thro* ev'ry clime his gentle reign 
 Shall fpread, and at his call difcordant realms 
 Shall beat their fwords to plowfhares, and their fpears 
 To pruning-hooks, nor more learn murth'rous war. 
 So when revolving years, by Heav'n's decree. 
 Their circling courfe have run, new firmaments, 
 With bleffings fraught, mall fill the bright expanfe, 
 Of tempefts void, and thunder's angry voice. 
 New verdure mail arife to clothe the fields : 
 New EDENS-! teeming with immortal fruit ! 
 No more the wing'd inhabitants of air 
 Or thofe that range the fields, or flum the flood, 
 Their fiercenefs mail retain, but brute with brute, 
 And all with man in amicable league 
 Shall join, and enmity for ever ceafe. 
 
 Remains there aught to crown the rapt'rous theme? 
 5 Tis this, unfading joy, beyond the reach 
 Of elemental worlds, and fhort-liv'd time, 
 This too is yours from outward fenfe conceal'd, 
 But, by refemblance of external things, 
 Inward difplay'd, to elevate the foul 
 To thoughts fublime, and point her way to Heav'n, 
 
 So,
 
 I 4 o E D G E - H I L L. BOOK IV. 
 
 So, from the top of NEBO'S lofty mount, 
 The patriot-leader of JEHOVAH'S fons 
 The promis 5 d land furvey'd ; to CANAAN'S race 
 A fplendid theatre of frantic joys, 
 And fatal mirth, beyond whofe fcanty bounds 
 Darknefs, and horror dwell ! Emblem to him 
 Of fairer fields, and happier feats above ! 
 Then clofed his eyes to mortal fcenes, to wake 
 In the bright regions of eternal day. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 LABOUR
 
 LABOUR, AND GENIUS: 
 
 OR, THE 
 
 Mill - Stream, and the Cafeade. 
 
 A F A B L E. 
 
 INSCRIBED TO 
 
 WILLIAM SHENSTONE, 
 
 difcordia Semina rerum." 
 
 OVID,
 
 LABOUR, AND GENIUS: 
 
 OR, THE 
 
 Mill - Stream, and the Cafcade. 
 A FABLE. 
 
 XT AT URE, with lib'ral hand, difpenfes 
 
 * ^ Her apparatus of the fenfes, 
 
 In articles of gen'ral ufe, 
 
 Nerves, finews, mufcles, bones profufe. 
 
 Diftinguifhing her fav'rite race 
 
 With form erect, and featur'd face . 
 
 The flowing hair, the polifh'd fkin 
 
 Bur, for the furniture within, 
 
 Whether
 
 H4 LABOUR, AND GENItfS: 
 Whether it be of brains, or lead, 
 What matters it, fo there's a head ?' 
 For wifeft noddle feldom goes, 
 But as 'tis led by corp'ral nofe. 
 Nor is it thinking much, but doing, 
 That keeps our tenements from ruin* 
 And hundreds eat, who fpin, or knit, 
 For one that lives by dint of wit. 
 
 The fturdy threlher plies his flail, 
 And what to this doth wit avail ? 
 Who leacns from wit to prefs the fpade ? 
 Or thinks 'twou'd mend the cobler's trade ? 
 The pedlar, with his cumb'rous pack, 
 Carries his brains upon his back. 
 Some wear them in full-bottom'd wig, 
 Or hang them by with queue, or pig. 
 Reduc'd, till they return again, 
 In diihabille, to common men. 
 Then why, my friend, is wit fo rare ? 
 That fudden flalh, that makes one flare! 
 A meteor's blaze, a dazzling mew ! 
 Say what it is, for well you know. 
 
 I Or,
 
 A FABLE, 145 
 
 Or, if you can with patience hear 
 A witlefs Fable, lend an ear. 
 
 BETWIXT two Hoping verdant bills, 
 A Current pour'd its carelefs rills, 
 Which unambitious crept along, 
 With weeds, and matted grafs o'erhung. 
 Till rural Genius, on a day, 
 Chancing along its banks to ftray, 
 Remark'd with penetrating look 
 The latent merits of the Brook, 
 Much griev'd to fee fuch talents hid> 
 And thus the dull by-ftanders chid. 
 
 How blind is man's incurious race* 
 The fcope of Nature's plans to trace ? 
 How do ye mangle half her charms* 
 And fright her hourly with alarms ? 
 Disfigure now her fwelling mounds, 
 And now contract her fpacious bounds ? 
 Fritter her faireft lawns to alleys^ 
 Bare her green hills, and hide her valleys ? 
 
 L Confine
 
 146 LABOUR, AND GENIUS-, 
 Confine her ftreams with rule and line, 
 And counteract her whole defign ? 
 Neglecting, where Ihe points the way, 
 Her eafy dilates to obey ? 
 To bring her hidden worth to fight ; 
 And place her charms in faireft light r 
 
 Alike to intellectuals blind, 
 *Tis thus you treat the youthful mind , 
 Miftaking gravity for fenfe, 
 For dawn of wit, impertinence. 
 
 The boy of genuine parts, and merit, 
 For fome unlucky prank of fpirit, 
 With frantic rage is fcourg'd from fchool, 
 And branded with the name of fool, 
 Becaufe his active blood flow'd fader 
 Than the dull puddle of his matter. 
 While the (low plodder trots along, 
 Thro' thick and thin, thro* profe and fong, 
 Infcnfible of all their graces, 
 But learn'd in words, and common phrafes : 
 Till in due time he's mov'd to college, 
 To ripen thefe choice feeds of knowledge. 
 
 So
 
 A FABLE. 147 
 
 So fome tafte-pedant, wond'rous wife, 
 Exerts his genius in dirt-pies. 
 Delights the tonfile yew to raife, 
 But hates your laurels, and your bays, 
 Becaufe too rambling, and luxuriant, 
 Like forward youths, of brains too prurient* 
 Makes puns, and anagrams in box, 
 And turns his trees to bears, and cocks. 
 Excels in quaint jette-d'eau, or fountain, 
 Or leads his ftream acrofs a mountain, 
 To (hew its fhallownefs, and pride, 
 In a broad grin, on t'other fide. 
 Perverting all the rules of fenfe, 
 Which never offers violence, 
 But gently leads where Nature tends, 
 Sure, with applaufe, to gain its ends. 
 
 But one example may teach more, 
 Than precepts hackney'd o'er, and o'er. 
 Then mark this Rill-, with weeds o'erhung, 
 Unnotic'd by the vulgar throng ! 
 Ev'n this, conducted by my laws, 
 Shall rife to fame, attract applaufe ; 
 
 L 2 Inftruct
 
 148 LABOUR, AND GENIUS: 
 Inftruft in * fable, fhine in fong, 
 And be the theme of ev'ry tongue. 
 He faid : and, to his fav'rite fon, 
 Confign'd the tafk, and will'd it done. 
 DAMON his counfel wifely weigh'd, 
 And carefully the fcene furvey'd. 
 And, tho' it feems he faid but little, 
 He took his meaning to a tittle. 
 And firft, his purpofe to befriend, 
 A bank he rais'd at th' upper end : 
 Compact, and clofe its outward fide, 
 To flay, and fwell the gath'ring tide : 
 But, on its inner, rough and tall, 
 A ragged cliff, a rocky wall. 
 The channel next he op'd to view, 
 And, from its courfe, the rubbifh drew. 
 Enlarg'd it now, and now, with line 
 Oblique, purfued his fair defign. 
 
 * See Fable XLI. and LI. in DODSLEY'S new-invented 
 Fables, and many little pieces printed in the public papers. 
 
 Preparing
 
 A FABLE, 149 
 
 Preparing here the mazy way, 
 And there the fall for fportive play. 
 The precipice abrupt, and fteep, 
 The pebbled road, and cavern deep. 
 The rooty feat, where beft to view 
 The fairy fcene, at diftance due. 
 He laft invok'd the Dryads aid, 
 And fring'd the borders round with fhade. 
 Tap'ftry, by Nature's fingers wove, 
 No mimic, but a real grove: 
 Part hiding, part admitting day, 
 The fcene to grace the future play. 
 
 DAMON perceives, with ravifh'd eyes, 
 The beautiful enchantment rife. 
 Sees fweetly blended (hade, and light, 
 Sees ev'ry part with each unite. 
 Sees each, as he directs, aflume 
 A livelier dye, or deeper gloom: 
 So, famion'd by the painter's (kill, 
 New forms the glowing canvas fill. 
 So, to the fummer's fun, the rofe, 
 And jeflamin their charms difclofe. 
 
 L 3 While,
 
 150 LABOUR, AND GENIUS: 
 
 While, all intent on this retreat, 
 He faw his fav'rite work complear, 
 Divine enthufiafm feiz'd his breaft, 
 And thus his tranfport he exprefs'd. 
 " Let others toil, for wealth, or pow'r, 
 I jCourt the fweetly-vacant hour : 
 Down life's fmooth current calmly glide, 
 Nor vex'd with cares, nor rack'd with pride. 
 Give me, O Nature ! to explore 
 Thy lovely charms, I afk no more. 
 For thee I fly from vulgar eyes, 
 For thee I vulgar cares defpiie. 
 For thee Ambition's charms refign j 
 Accept a vot'ry, wholly thine. 
 
 Yet ftill let Friendmip's joys be near, 
 Still, on thefe plains, her train appear. 
 By Learning's fons my haunts be trod, 
 And STAMFORD'S feet imprint my fod. 
 For STAMFORD oft hath deign'd to ftray 
 Around my Leafow's Sow'ry way. 
 And, where his honour'd fteps have rov'd, 
 Oft have his gifts thofc fcenes improv'd.
 
 A FABLE. 151 
 
 To him I'll dedicate my cell, 
 To him fufpend the votive fpell. 
 His name fhall heighten ev'ry charm, 
 His name protect my groves from harm, 
 Protect my harmlefs fport from blame, 
 And turn obfcurity to fame. 5 * 
 
 He fpake. His hand the pencil guides, 
 And * STAMFORD o'er the fcene prefides. 
 The proud device, with borrow'd grace, 
 Conferr'd new luftre on the place : 
 As books, by dint of dedication, 
 Enjoy their patron's reputation. 
 
 Now, launching from its lofty more, 
 The loofen'd ftream began to roar : 
 As headlong, from the rocky mound, 
 It rum'd into the vaft profound. 
 There checkt awhile, again it flow'd 
 Glitt'ring along the channel'd road : 
 
 * The fcene here referr'd to, was infcribed to the Right 
 Hon. the Earl of STAMFORD; but fince to WILLIAM 
 SHENSTONE, Efq. 
 
 L 4 From
 
 152 LABOUR, AND GENIUS: 
 
 From ileep to fleep, a frequent fall, 
 Each difFrent, and each natural. 
 Obftructing roots and rocks between, 
 Diverfify th' enchanted fcene; 
 While winding now, and intricate, 
 Now more develop'd, and in ftate, 
 Th' united Stream, with rapid force, 
 Purfues amain its downward courfe, 
 Till at your feet abforb'd, it hides 
 Beneath the ground its buttling tides. 
 
 With prancing fteeds, and liv'ried trains, 
 Soon daily (hone the bord'ring plains. 
 And diflant founds foretold th' approach 
 Of frequent chaife, and crowded coach. 
 For fons of Tafte, and daughters fair, 
 Hafted the fweet furprize to (hare : 
 While * HACLEY wonder'd at their (lay, 
 And hardly brook'd the long delay. 
 
 Not diftant far below, a Mill 
 Was built upon a neighb'ring Rill : 
 
 * The feat of the Right Hon. Lord LYTTELTON, dif- 
 tant but a few miles from the Leafows. 
 
 Whofe
 
 A FABLE. 153 
 
 Whofe pent-up flream, whene'er let loofe, 
 Impell'd a wheel, clofe at its fluice, 
 So ftrongly, that, by friction's pow'r, 
 'Twou'd grind the firmeft grain to flow'r. 
 Or, by a correfpondence new, 
 With hammers, and their clatt'ring crew, 
 Wou'd fo beftir her aclive flumps, 
 On iron-blocks, tho' arrant lumps, 
 That, in a trice, (he'd manage matters, 
 To make 'em all as fmooth as platters. 
 Or flit a bar to rods quite taper, 
 With as much eafe, as you'd cut paper. 
 For, tho' the lever gave the blow, 
 Yet it was lifted from below ; 
 And wou'd for ever have lain ftill, 
 But for the buflling of the Rill ; 
 Who, from her ftately pool, or ocean, 
 Put all the weels, and logs in motion 5 
 Things in their nature very quiet, 
 Tho' making all this noife, and riot. 
 
 This Stream, that cou'd in toil excel, 
 Began with foolifh pride to fwell : 
 
 Piqu'd
 
 154 LABOUR, AND GENIUS: 
 
 Piqu'd at her neighbour's reputation, 
 And thus exprefs'd her indignation. 
 
 " Madam ! methinks you're vaftly proud, 
 You was'nt us'd to talk fo loud. 
 Nor cut fuch capers in your pace, 
 Marry ! what anticks, what grimace ! 
 For fhame ! don't give yourfelf fuch airs, 
 In flaunting down thofe hideous flairs. 
 Nor put yourfelf in fuch a flutter, 
 Whate'er you do, you dirty gutter ! 
 I'd have you know, you upftart minx ! 
 Ere you were form'd, with all your finks, 
 A Lake I was, compar'd with which, 
 Your Stream is but a paltry Ditch : 
 And ftill, on honeft Labour bent, 
 I ne'er a fingle fiajh mifpent. 
 And yet no folks of high degree, 
 Wou'd e'er vouchfafe to vifit me, 
 As, in their coaches, by they rattle, 
 Forfooth ! to hear your idle prattle. 
 Tho' half the bufinefs of my flooding 
 Is to provide them cakes, and pudding : 
 
 Or
 
 A F A B L E. 155 
 
 Or furnifh fluff for many a trinket, 
 
 Which, tho* fo fine, you fcarce wou'd think it, 
 
 When * BOULTON'S (kill has fix'd their beauty, 
 
 To my rough toil firft ow'd their duty. 
 
 But I'm plain Goody of the Mill ; 
 
 And you are Madam Cafcadillel" 
 
 " Dear Coz, reply'd the beauteous Torrent, 
 Pray do not difcompofe your current. 
 That we all from one fountain flow, 
 Hath been agreed on long ago. 
 Varying our talents, and our tides, 
 As chance, or education guides. 
 That I have either note, or name, 
 I owe to Him who gives me fame. 
 Who teaches all our kind to flow, 
 Or gaily fwift, or gravely flow. 
 Now in the lake, with glaflfy face, 
 Now moving light, with dimpled grace. 
 Now gleaming from the rocky height, . 
 Now, in rough eddies, foaming white. 
 
 * An eminent merchant, and very ingenious mechanic, at 
 the So-ho Manufactory, near BIRMINGHAM. 
 
 Nor
 
 6 LABOUR, AND GENIUS. 
 Nor envy me the gay, or great, 
 That vifit my obfcure retreat. 
 None wonders that a clown can dig, 
 But 'tis fome art to dance a jig. 
 Your talents are employ'd for ufe, 
 Mine to give pleafure, and amufe. 
 And tho', dear Coz, no folks of tafte 
 Their idle hours with you will wafte, 
 Yet many a grift comes to your mill, 
 Which helps your matter's bags to fill. 
 While I, with all my notes, and trilling, 
 For DAMON never got a milling. 
 Then, gentle Coz, forbear your clamours, 
 Enjoy your hoppers, and your hammers : 
 We gain our ends by diff'rent ways, 
 And you get Bread, and I get Praife. 
 
 MIS-
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES.

 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 
 
 A R D E N N A. 
 
 A PASTORAL-ECLOGUE. 
 To A LADY. 
 
 DAMON, and LYCIDAS. 
 
 WHEN o'er the Weftcrn world fair Science 
 fpread 
 
 Her genial ray, and Gothic darknefs fled, 
 To BRITAIN'S Ifle the Mufes took their way, 
 And taught her lift'ning groves the tuneful lay. 
 'Twas then two Swains the Doric reed effay'd 
 To fing the praifes of a peerlefs maid. 
 On ARDEN'S blifsful plain her feat (he chofc, 
 And hence her rural name ARDENNA rofe. 
 
 10 In
 
 160 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES: 
 In fportive verfe alternately they vied, 
 Thus DAMON fang, and LYCIDAS replied. 
 
 DAMON. 
 
 Here, gentle Swain, beneath the (hade reclin'd, 
 Remit thy labours, and unbend thy mind. 
 Well with the fhepherd's ftate our cares agree, 
 Fpr Nature prompts to pleafing induflry. 
 'Tis this to all her gifts frefh beauty yields, 
 Health to our flocks, and plenty to our fields. 
 Yet hath fhe not impos'd unceafmg toil, 
 Not reftlefs plowlhares always vex the foil. 
 Then, Shepherd, take the bleffings Heav'n beftows, 
 Aflift the fong, and fweeten our repofe. 
 
 LYCIDAS. 
 
 While others, funk in deep, or live in vain, 
 Or, flaves of indolence, but wake to pain, 
 Me let the call of earlieft birds invite 
 To hail th' approaches of returning light j 
 To tafte the fremnefs of the chearful morn, 
 While glift'ring dew-drops hang on ev'ry thorn. 
 
 Hence
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 161 
 
 Hence all the blifs that centers in our kind, 
 Health to the blood, and vigour to the mind. 
 Hence ev'ry tafk its meet attendance gains, 
 And leifure hence to liften to thy ftrains. 
 
 DAMON. 
 
 Thrice happy fwain, fo fitly form'd to {hare 
 The fhepherd's labour, and ARDENNA'S care ! 
 To tell ARDENNA'S praife the rural train 
 Infcribe the verfe, or chant it o'er the plain. 
 Plains, hills, and woods return the well-known found, 
 And the finooth beech records the fportive wound. 
 Then, LYCIDAS, let us the chorus join, 
 So bright a theme our mufic fhall refine. 
 
 Efcap'd from all the bufy world admires, 
 Hither the philofophic dame retires ; 
 For in the bufy world, or poets feign, 
 Intemp'rate vice, and giddy pleafures reign ; 
 Then, when from crowds the Loves, and Graces flew, 
 To thefe lone (hades the beauteous maid withdrew, 
 To ftudy Nature in this calm retreat, 
 And with confed'rate Art her charms compleat. 
 
 M How
 
 ifa MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 
 How fwect their union is, ye (hepherds, fay, 
 And thou who form'dft the reed infpire my lay. 
 
 Her praife I fmg by whom our flocks are freed 
 From the rough bramble, and envenom'd weed; 
 Who to green paftures turns the dreary wafte, 
 With fcatter'd woods in carelefs beauty grac'd. 
 
 'Tis (he, ARDENNA ! Guardian of the fcene, 
 Who bids the mount to fwell, who fmooths the green, 
 Who drains the marfh, and frees the ftruggling flood 
 From its divided rule, and ftrife with mud. 
 She winds its courfe the copious ftream to (hew, 
 And (he in fwifter currents bids it flow ; 
 Now fmoothly gliding with an even pace, 
 Now dimpling o'er the (tones with roughen'd grace : 
 With gl.ifly furface now ferenely bright, 
 Now foaming from the rock all filver white. 
 
 'Tis (he the rifing bank with beeches crowns, 
 Now fpreads the fcene, and now contracts its bounds, 
 Cloaths the bleak hil! with verdure ever gay, 
 And bids our feet thro' myrtle-valleys ftray. 
 She for her (hepherds rears the rooty (hed, 
 The chccquer'd pavement, and the draw-wove bed. 
 3 For
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 163 
 For them Ihe fcoops the grotto's cool retreat, 
 From ftorms a fhelter, and a (hade in heat. 
 Directs their hands the verdant arch to bend, 
 And with the leafy roof its gloom extend. 
 Shells, flint, and ore their mingled graces join, 
 And rocky fragments aid the chafte defign. 
 
 LY c i DAS. 
 
 Hail happy lawns ! where'er we turn our eyes, 
 Frefh beauties bloom, and opening wonders rife. 
 Whileome thefe charming fcenes with grief I view'd 
 A barren wafte, a dreary folitude ! 
 My drooping flocks their ruffet paftures mourn'd, 
 And lowing herds the plaintive moan return'd. 
 With weary feet from field to field they ftray'd, 
 Nor found their hunger's painful fenfe allay'd. 
 But now no more a dreary fcene appears, 
 No more its prickly boughs the bramble rears, 
 No more my flocks lament th* unfruitful foil, 
 Nor mourn their ragged fleece, or fruitlefs toil. 
 
 M 2 DAMON*.-
 
 i6 4 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 
 
 DAMON. 
 
 As this fair lawn excels the rufhy mead, 
 As firs the thorn, and flow'rs the pois'nous weed, 
 Far as the warbling fky-larks foar on high, 
 Above the clumfy bat, or buzzing fly ; 
 So matchlefs moves ARDENNA o'er the green, 
 In mind alike excelling as in mien. 
 
 LYCIDAS. 
 
 Sweet is the fragrance of the damalk rofe, 
 And bright the dye that on its furface glows, 
 Fair is the poplar rifing on the plain, 
 Of fhapely trunk, and lofty branches vain ; 
 But neither fweet the rofe, nor bright its dye, 
 Nor poplar fair, if with her charms they vie. 
 
 DAMON. 
 
 Grateful is funfhine to the fportive lambs, 
 The balmy dews delight the nibbling dams j 
 But kindlier warmth ARDENNA'S fmiles impart, 
 A balm more rich her leflbns to the heart. 
 
 Ly CID AS,
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 165 
 
 L Y C I D AS. 
 
 No more POMONA'S guiding hand we need, 
 Nor FLORA'S help to paint th' enamell'd mead, 
 Nor CERES' care to guard the rifing grain, 
 And fpread the yellow plenty o'er the plain , 
 ARDENNA'S precepts ev'ry want fupply, 
 The grateful lay what fhepherd can deny ? 
 
 DAMON. 
 
 A theme fo pleafmg, with the day begun, 
 Too foon were ended with the fetting fun. 
 But fee o'er yonder hill the parting ray, 
 And hark ! our bleating flocks reprove our flay. 
 
 M THE
 
 166 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 
 
 THE SCAVENGERS. 
 A TOWN-ECLOGUE. 
 
 " Dulcis odor lucri ox re qualibet." 
 
 yt WAKE, my Mufe, prepare a loftier theme. 
 The winding valley, and the dimpled ftream 
 Delight not all : quit, quit the verdant field, 
 And try what dufty ftreets, and alleys yield. 
 
 Where AVON wider flows, and gathers fame, 
 Stands a fair town, and WARWICK is its name. 
 For ufeful arts entitled once to (hare 
 The gentle ETHELFLEDA'S guardian care. 
 Nor lefs for deeds of chivalry renown'd, 
 When her own Guy was with her laurels crown'd. 
 Now Syren Sloth holds here her tranquil reign, 
 And binds in filken bonds the feeble train. 
 No frowning knights in uncouth armour lac'd, 
 Seek now for monfttrs on the dreary wade : 
 In thtrfe fcfr. fcenes they chacs a gentler prey, 
 No monfters ! but as dangerous as they. 
 
 In
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 167 
 
 In difPrent forms as fure deftrucYion lies, 
 
 They have no claws 'tis true but they have eyes. 
 
 Laft of the toiling race there liv'd a pair, 
 Bred up in labour, and inur'd to care ! 
 To fweep the flreets their tafk from fun to fun, 
 And feek the naftinefs which others fhun. 
 More plodding wight, or dame you ne'er (hall fee, 
 He Gaffer PESTEL highr, and Gammer fhe. 
 
 As at their door they fate one fummer's day, 
 Old PESTEL firft efTay'd the plaintive lay : 
 His gentle mate the plaintive lay return'd, 
 And thus alternately their cares they mourn'd, 
 
 OLD PESTEL. 
 
 Alas ! was ever fuch fine weather feen, 
 How dufty are the roads, the ftreets how clean ! 
 How long, ye Almanacks ! will it be dry ? 
 Empty my cart how long, and idle I ! 
 Ev'n at the beft the times are not fo good, 
 But 'tis hard work to fcrape a livelihood. 
 The cattle in the flails refign their life, 
 And baulk the Ihambles, and th j unbloody knife. 
 
 M 4 While
 
 168 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 
 While farmers fit at home in penfive gloom, 
 And turnpikes threaten to compleat my doom. 
 
 WIFE. 
 
 Well ! for the turnpike that will do no hurt, 
 Some fay the managers are friends to dirt. 
 But much I fear this murrain where 'twill end, 
 For fure the cattle did our door befriend. 
 Oft have J hail'd 'em, as they ftalk'd along, 
 Their fat the butchers pleas'd, but me their dung. 
 
 OLD PESTEL. 
 
 See what a little dab of dirt is here ! 
 But yields all WARWICK more, O tell me where? 
 Yet, on this fpot, tho* now fo naked feen, 
 Heaps upon heaps, and loads on loads have been. 
 Bigger, and bigger, the proud dunghill grew, 
 Till my diminifh'd houfe was hid from view. 
 
 WIFE. 
 
 Ah ! Gaffer PESTEL, what brave days were thofe, 
 When higher than our houfe our muckhill rofe ! 
 
 The
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 169 
 The growing mount I view'd with joyful eyes, 
 And mark'd what each load added to its fize. 
 Wrapt in its fragrant fleam we often fate, 
 And to its praifes held delightful chat. 
 Nor did I e'er neglect my mite to pay, 
 To fwell the goodly he^p from day to day. 
 A cabbage once I bought j but fmall the cod - 
 Nor do I think the farthing all was loft. 
 Again you fold its well-digefted ftore, 
 To dung the garden where it grew before. 
 
 OLD PESTEL. 
 
 \ 
 
 What tho' the beaus, and powder'd coxcombs jeer'd, 
 And at the fcavenger's employment fneer'd, 
 Yet then at night content I told my gains, 
 And thought well paid their malice, and my pains. 
 Why toils the tradefman, but to fwell his ftore ? 
 Why craves the wealthy landlord ftill for more ? 
 Why will our gentry flatter, fawn, and lie ? 
 Why pack the cards, and what d'ye call't the die ? 
 All, all the pleafing paths of gain purfue, 
 And wade thro' thick, and thin, as we folks do.' 
 
 Sweet
 
 ryo MISCELLANEOUS PIECES, 
 
 Sweet is the fcent that from advantage fprings, 
 
 I 
 And nothing dirty which good irit'reft brings. 
 
 WIFE. 
 
 When goody DOBBINS calFd me nafty bear, 
 And talk'd of kennels, and the ducking-chair, 
 With patience I cou'd hear the fcolding quean, 
 For fure 'twas dirtinefs that kept me clean. 
 Clean was my gown on Sundays, if not fine, 
 
 Nor Mrs. *s cap fo white as mine. 
 
 A flut in filk, or kerfey is the fame, 
 Nor fweeteft always is the fineft dame. 
 
 Thus wail'd they pleafure pafl, and prefent cares, 
 While theftarv'd hog join'd his complaint with theirs. 
 To ftill his grunting different ways they tend, 
 To * WEST-STREET he, and Ihe to * COTTON-END. 
 
 e Names of the mofl remote, and oppofite parts of the 
 Town. 
 
 ABSENCE.
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 17 
 
 ABSENCE. 
 
 TT 7"ITH leaden foot Time creeps along 
 
 While DELIA is away, 
 With her, nor plaintive was the fong, 
 Nor tedious was the day. 
 
 Ah ! envious pow'r ! reverfe my doom, 
 
 Now double thy career, 
 Strain ev'ry nerve, ftretch ev'ry plume, 
 
 And reft them when (he's here. 
 
 To A LADY. 
 
 \\T HEN Nature joins a beauteous face 
 
 With fhape, and air, and life, and grace, 
 To ev'ry imperfection blind, 
 I fpy no blemilh in the mind. 
 
 When
 
 172 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 
 When wit flows pure from STELLA'S tongue, 
 Or animates the fprightly fong, 
 Our hearts confefs the pow'r divine, 
 Nor lightly prize its mortal fhrine. 
 
 Good-nature will a conqueft gain, 
 Tho' wit, and beauty figh in vain. 
 
 When gen'rous thoughts the breaft infpire, 
 I wilh its rank, and fortunes higher. 
 
 When SIDNEY'S charms again unite 
 To win the foul, and blefs the fight, 
 Fair, and learn'd, and good, and great ! 
 An earthly goddefs is compleat. 
 
 But when I fee a fordid mind 
 
 With affluence, and ill-nature join'd, 
 
 And pride without a grain of fenfe, 
 
 And without beauty infolence, 
 
 The creature with contempt I view, 
 
 And fure 'tis like Mifs you know who.
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 173 
 
 To A LADY WORKING A PAIR OF RUFFLES. 
 
 T T T HAT means this ufelefs cod, this wanton 
 pride ? 
 
 To purchafe fopp'ry from yon' foreign flrand ! 
 To fpurn our native {lores, and arts afide, 
 
 And drain the riches of a needy land ! 
 
 Pleas'd I furvey, fair nymph, your happy {kill, 
 Yet view it by no vulgar critic's laws : 
 
 With nobler aim I draw my fober quill, 
 Anxious to lift each art in Virtue's caufe. 
 
 Go on, dear maid, your utmoft pow'r effay, 
 And if for fame your little bofom heave, 
 
 Know patriot-bands your merit {hall difplay, 
 And amply pay the graces they receive. 
 
 Let ev'ry nymph like you the gift prepare, 
 And bani{h foreign pomp, and coftly mow ; 
 
 What lover but wou'd burn the prize to wear, 
 Or blufh by you pronounc'd his country's foe ? 
 
 Your
 
 1/4 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 
 Your fmiles can win when patriot-fpeeches fail, 
 
 Your frowns controul when juftice threats in vain, 
 O'er ftubborn minds your foftnefs can prevail, 
 
 And placemen drop the bribe if you complain. 
 
 Then rife the guardians of your country's fame, 
 Or wherefore were ye form'd like angels fair ? 
 
 By beauty's force our venal hearts reclaim, 
 And fave the drooping Virtues from defpair. 
 
 FEMALE EMPIRE. 
 A TRUE HISTORY. 
 
 T IKE Bruin's was AVARO'S breaft, 
 < *~ - ' No foftnefs harbour'd there ; 
 While SYLVIO fome concern exprefs'd, 
 When beauty (lied a tear. 
 
 ' In HYMEN'S bands they both were tied, 
 
 As * CUPID'S archives fhew ye ; 
 Proud CELIA was AVARO'S bride, 
 And SYLVIO'S gentle CHLOE. 
 
 * The pnrifh-regifter. 
 
 Like
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES, 175 
 
 Like other nymphs, at church they fwore, 
 
 To honour, and obey, 
 Which, with each learned nymph before, 
 
 They foon explain'd away. 
 
 If CHLOE now wou'd have her will. 
 
 Her ftreaming eyes prevail'd, 
 Or if her fwain prov'd cruel ftill, 
 
 Hyfterics never fail'd. 
 
 But CELIA fcorn'd the plaintive moan, 
 
 And heart-diffblving fhow'r ; 
 With flaming eye, and angry tone, 
 
 She beft maintain'd her pow'r. 
 
 Yet once the mandates of his Turk 
 
 AVARO durft refufe ; 
 For why ? important was his work, 
 
 " Ta regifter old (hoes !" 
 
 And does, faid me, the wretch difpute 
 
 My claim fuch clowns to rule ? 
 If CELIA cannot charm a brute, 
 
 She can chaftife a fool. 
 
 Then
 
 176 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 
 
 Then ftrait fhe to his clofet flew, 
 
 His private thoughts fhe tore, 
 And from its place the poker drew, 
 
 That fell'd him on the floor. 
 
 Henceforth, faid fhe, my calls regard, 
 
 Own mine the ftronger plea, 
 Nor let thy vulgar cares retard 
 
 The female rites of tea. 
 
 Victorious fex ! alike your art, 
 
 And puifTance we dread ; 
 For if you cannot break our heart, 
 
 'Tis plain you'll ,break our head. 
 
 Place me, ye Gods, beneath the throne 
 
 Which gentle fmiles environ, 
 And I'll fubmiflion gladly own, 
 
 Without a rod of iron. 
 
 , ON
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 177 
 ON MR. SAMUEL COOKE'S POEMS. 
 
 WRITTEN IN THE YEAR 1749. 
 
 TNDEED, Mafter COOKE ! 
 
 -* You have made fuch a book, 
 As the learned in paftry admire : 
 
 But other wits joke 
 
 To fee fuch a fmoke 
 'Without any vifible fire. 
 
 What a nice bill of fare, 
 
 Of whatever is rare, 
 And approv'd by the critics of tafte ! 
 
 Not a clafiical bit, 
 
 Ev'ry fancy to hit, 
 But here in due order is plac'd. 
 
 N Yet,
 
 178 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 
 
 Yet, for all this parade, 
 You are but a dull blade, 
 And your lines are all fcragged, and raw ; 
 And tho' you've hack'd, and have hew'd, 
 And have fqueez'd, and have ftew'd, 
 
 Your forc'd-meat isn't all worth a ftraw. 
 
 
 Tho' your fatire you fpit, 
 
 'Tisn't feafon'd a bit, 
 And your puffs are as heavy as lead , 
 
 Call each difh what you will, 
 
 Boil, roaft, hafh, or grill, 
 Yet ftill it is all a calve's-head. 
 
 I don't mind your huffing, 
 
 For you've put fuch vile ftuff in, 
 I proteft I'm as fick as a dog ; 
 
 Were you leaner, or fatter, 
 
 I'd not mince the matter, 
 You're not fit to drefs JEsop a frog. 
 
 Then
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 179 
 
 Then, good mafter Slice ! 
 
 Shut up fhop, if your wife, 
 And th' unwary no longer trepan ; 
 
 Such advice indeed is hard, 
 
 And may (lick in your gizzard, 
 But digeft it as well as you can. 
 
 THE MISTAKE. 
 
 ON CAPTAIN BLUFF. 1750. 
 
 SAYS a Gofling, almoft frighten'd out of her wits, 
 Help mother, or elfe I lhall go into fits. 
 I have had fuch a fright, I fhall never recover, 
 O ! that Hawke, that you've told us of over and 
 
 over. 
 
 See, there, where he fits, with his terrible face, 
 And his coat how it glitters all over with lace. 
 With his fharp hooked nofe, and his fword at his heel, 
 How my heart it goes pit-a-pat, pray,, mother, feel. 
 
 N 2 Says
 
 i8o MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 
 
 Says the Goofe, very gravely, Pray don't talk fo wild, 
 Thofe looks are as harmlefs as mine are, my child. 
 And as for his fword there, fo bright, and fo nice, 
 I'll be fworn 'twill hurt nothing befides frogs, and mice. 
 Nay, prithee don't hang fo about me, let loofe, 
 I tell thee he dares not fay bo to a Goofe. 
 In fhort there is not a more innocent fowl, 
 Why, inftead of a Hawke, look ye, child, 'tis an Owl 
 
 To A LADY, 
 
 WITH A BASKET OF FRUIT, 
 
 N G E of forbidden fruit the mortal tafte 
 
 Chang'd beauteous EDEN to a dreary wafteu 
 Here you may freely eat, fecure the while 
 From latent poifon, or infidious guile. 
 Yet O ! cou'd I but happily infufe 
 Some fecret charm into the fav'ry juice, 
 Of pow'r to tempt your gentle breaft to (hare 
 "With me the peaceful cot, and rural fare : 
 r A difPrent fate fhou*d crown the bled device, 
 And change my Defart to a Paradife. 
 
 PEYTOE's
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 181 
 
 *P E Y T O E's GHOST. 
 
 TO CRAVEN'S health, and foclal joy, 
 The feftive night was kept, 
 While mirth and patriot fpirit flow'd, 
 And Dullnefs only flept. 
 
 When from the jovial crowd I Hole, 
 
 And homeward fhap'd my way ; 
 And pafs'd along by CHESTERTON, 
 
 All at the dole of day. 
 
 The fky with clouds was over-caft : 
 
 An hollow tempeft blow'd, 
 And rains and foaming cataradts 
 
 Had dclug'd all the road. 
 
 When thro' the dark and lonefome fhade, 
 
 Shone forth a fudden light ; 
 And foon diftinft an human form, 
 
 Engag'd my wondering fight. 
 
 * Was the late Lord WH.LOUGHEY DE BROKE. 
 
 N 3 Onward
 
 182 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 
 
 On\vard it mov'd with graceful port, 
 
 And foon overtook my fpeed ; 
 Then thrice I lifted up my hands, 
 
 And thrice I check'd my fteed. 
 
 Who art thou, paiTenger, it cry'd, 
 
 From yonder mirth retir'd ? 
 That here purfu'ft thy cheerlefs way, 
 
 Benighted, and be-mir'd. 
 
 I am, faid I, a country clerk, 
 
 A clerk of low degree, 
 And yonder gay and gallant fcene, 
 
 Suits not a curacy. 
 
 But I have feen fuch fights to-day, 
 
 As make my heart full glad, 
 Altho' it is but dark, 'tis true, 
 
 And eke my road is bad. 
 
 For I have feen lords, knights, and fquires, 
 
 Of great and high renown, 
 To chufe a knight for this fair mire, 
 
 All met at WARWICK Town. 
 
 5 A wight
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 183 
 
 A wight of {kill to ken our laws, 
 
 Of courage to defend, 
 Of worth to ferve the public caufe, 
 
 Before a private end. 
 
 And fuch they found, if right I guefs - 
 
 Of gentle blood he came ; 
 Of morals firm, of manners mild, 
 
 And * CRAVEN is his name. 
 
 Did half the Britifli tribunes (hare 
 Experienc'd f MORD AUNT'S truth, 
 
 Another half, like CRAVEN, boaft 
 A free unbiafs'd youth : 
 
 The fun I trow, in all his race, 
 
 No happier realm fhould find ; 
 Nor BRITONS hope for aught in vain, 
 
 From warmth with prudence join'd. 
 
 * Hon. WILLIAM CRAVEN, of WYKINJ he was after- 
 wards Lord CRAVEN. 
 
 f The late Sir CHARLES MORDAUNT, Bart. 
 
 N 4 " Go
 
 184 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 
 
 " Go on, my Country, favour'd foil, 
 
 Such Patriots to produce ! 
 Go on, my Countrymen, he cry'd, 
 
 Such Patriots ftill to chufe." 
 
 This faid, the placid form retir'd, 
 
 Behind the veil of night 5 
 Yet bade me, for my Country's good, 
 
 The folemn tale recite. 
 
 To A LADY, 
 
 FURXISHING HER LIBRARY, AT ****, IN 
 
 WARWICKSHIRE, 
 
 TT THEN juft proportion in each part, 
 
 And colours mixt with niceft art, 
 Confpire to fhew the grace and mien 
 Of CLOE, or the CYPRIAN Queen : 
 "With elegance throughout refin'd, 
 That fpeaks the paflions of the mind, 
 
 The
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 
 The glowing canvas will proclaim, 
 A RAPHAEL'S, or a TITIAN'S name. 
 So where thro' ev'ry learned page, 
 Each diftant clime, each diftant age 
 Difplay a rich variety, 
 Of wifdom in epitome ; 
 Such elegance and tafte will tell 
 The hand, that could felect fo well. 
 But when we all their beauties view, 
 United and improv'd by You, 
 We needs muft own an emblem faint, 
 T* exprefs thofe charms no art can paint. 
 Books muft, with fuch correctnefs writ, 
 Refine another's tafte and wit j 
 'Tis to your merit only due, 
 That theirs can be refin'd by You.
 
 ifr6 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 
 To WILLIAM SHENSTONE, Esq. 
 
 ON RECEIVING A GILT POCKET-BOOK. 1751. 
 
 f a A H E S E fpotlefs leaves, this neat array, 
 Might well invite your charming quill, 
 In fair affemblage to difplay 
 The power of Learning, Wit, and Skill. 
 
 But finceycu carelefsly refufe, 
 
 And to my pen the tafk affign ; 
 O ! let your Genius guide my Mufe, 
 
 And every vulgar thought refine. 
 
 Teach me your beft, your bed lov'd art, 
 With frugal care to ftore my mind ; 
 
 In this to play the Mifer's part, 
 And give mean lucre to the wind : 
 
 To fhun the Coxcomb's empty noife, 
 To fcorn the Villain's artful mafk ; 
 
 Nor truft gay Pleafure's fleeting joys 
 Nor urge Ambition's endlefs talk. 
 
 Teach
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 187 
 
 Teach me to ftem Youth's boifterous tide, 
 
 To regulate its giddy rage j 
 By Reafon's aid my barque to guide, 
 
 Into the friendly port of Age : 
 
 To fhare what Claffic Culture yields, 
 
 Thro' Rhetoric's painted meads to roam ; 
 
 With you to reap hiftoric fields, 
 And bring the golden Harveft home. 
 
 To tafte the genuine fvveets of Wit-, 
 To quaff in Humour's fprightly bowl 5 
 
 The philofophic mean to hit, 
 And prize the Dignity of Soul. 
 
 Teach me to read fair Nature's book, 
 Wide opening in each flow'ry plain ; 
 
 And with judicious eye to look 
 On all the glories of her reign. 
 
 To hail her, feated on her throne, 
 By aweful woods encompafs'd round, 
 
 Or her divine extraction own, 
 
 Tho' with a wreath of rufhes crown'd. 
 
 Thro'
 
 I5S MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 
 
 Thro' arched walks, o'er fpreading lawns, 
 Near folemn rocks, with her to rove ; 
 
 Or court her, 'mid her gentle fawns, 
 In mofly cell, or maple grove. 
 
 Whether the profpecT: ftrain the fight, 
 Or in the nearer landfkips charm, 
 
 Where hills, vales, fountains, woods unite, 
 To grace your fweet ARCADIAN farm : 
 
 tfbere let me fit, and gaze with you, 
 On Nature's works by Art refin'd ; 
 
 And own, while we their conteft view, 
 Both fair, but faireft, thus combin'd !
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 189 
 AN ELEGY ON MAN. 
 
 WRITTEN JANUARY 1752. 
 
 BEHOLD Earth's Lord, imperial Man, 
 T M - 
 In ripen d vigour gay ; 
 
 His outward form attentive fcan> 
 And all within furvey. 
 
 Behold his plans of future life, 
 
 His care, his hope, his love, 
 Relations dear of child, and wife, 
 
 The dome, the lawn, the grove. 
 
 Now fee within his active mind, 
 
 More gen'rous pafiions {hare, 
 Friend, neighbour, country, all his kind, 
 
 By turns engage his care. 
 
 Behold him range with curious eye, 
 
 O'er Earth from pole to pole, 
 And thro* th' illimitable fky 
 
 Explore with daring foul. 
 
 2 Yet
 
 190 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 
 
 Yet pafs fome twenty fleeting years, 
 
 And all his glory flies, 
 His languid eye is bath'd in tears, 
 
 He fickens, groans, and dies. 
 
 And is this all his deftin'd lot, 
 
 This all his boafted fway ? 
 For ever now to be forgot, 
 
 Amid the mould'ring clay ! 
 
 Ah gloomy thought ! ah worfe than death ! 
 
 Life fickens at the found ; 
 Better it were not draw our breath, 
 
 Than run this empty round. 
 
 Hence, cheating Fancy, then, awa y 
 
 O let us better try, 
 By Reafon's more enlighten'd ray, 
 
 What 'tis indeed to die. 
 
 Obferve yon mafs of putrid earth, 
 
 It holds an embryo-brood, 
 Ev'n now the reptiles crawl to birth, 
 
 And feek their leafy food. 
 
 -
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 191 
 
 Yet flay 'till fome few funs are pad, 
 
 Each forms a filken tomb, 
 And feems, like man, imprifon'd faft, 
 
 To meet his final doom. 
 
 Yet from this filent manfion too 
 
 Anon you fee him rife, 
 No more a crawling worm to view, 
 
 But tenant of the fkies. 
 
 And what forbids that man mould mare, 
 
 Some more aufpicious day, 
 To range at large in open air, 
 
 As light and free as they ? 
 
 There was a time when life firft warm'd 
 
 Our flelh in fliades of night, 
 Then was th' imperfect fubftance form'd, 
 
 And fent to view this light. 
 
 There was a time, when ev'ry fenfe 
 
 In ftraiter limits dwelt, 
 Yet each its tafk cou'd then difpenfe, 
 
 \\ r e faw, we heard, we felt. 
 
 And
 
 19* MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 
 
 And times there are, when thro* the veins 
 
 The blood forgets to flow, 
 Yet then a living pow'r remains, 
 
 Tho' not in a&ive {how. 
 
 Times too there be, when friendly Sleep's 
 
 Soft charms the Senfes bind, 
 Yet Fancy then her vigils keeps, 
 
 And ranges unconfin'd. 
 
 And Reafon holds her fep'rate fway, 
 
 Tho' all the Senfes wake, 
 And forms in Mem'ry's ftorehoufe play, 
 
 Of no material make. 
 
 What are thefe then, this eye, this ear,- 
 
 But nicer organs found, 
 A glafs to read, a trump to hear, 
 
 The modes of fhape, or found ? 
 
 And blows may maim, or time impair 
 
 Thefe inftruments of clay, 
 And Death may ravifli what they fpare, 
 
 Compleating their decay. 
 
 But
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 193 
 
 &ut are thefe then that living Pow'r 
 
 That thinks, compares, and rules ? > 
 
 Then fay a fcaffold is a tow'r, 
 A workman is his tools. 
 
 For aught appears that Death can do, 
 
 That ftill furvives his ftroke, 
 Its workings plac'd beyond our view, 
 
 Its prefent commerce broke. 
 
 But what connections it may find, 
 
 * Boots much to hope, and fear, 
 And if Inftruftion courts the mind, 
 
 'Tis madnefs not to hear. 
 
 * Vid. BUTTER'S Analogy.
 
 J94 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 
 
 ON 'RECEIVING A LITTLE IVORY BOX 
 FROM A LADY, 
 
 CURIOUSLY WROUGHT BY HER OWN HANDS. 
 
 T ITTLE Box of matchlefs grace 
 
 "^"* Fairer than the faireft face, 
 
 Smooth as was her parent-hand, 
 
 That did thy wond'rous form command. 
 
 Spotlefs as her infant mind, 
 
 As her riper age refin'd, 
 
 Beauty with the Graces join'd. 
 
 Let me clothe the lovely ftranger, 
 Let me lodge thee fafe from danger. 
 Let me guard thy foft repofe, 
 From giddy Fortune's random blows. 
 From thoughtlefs mirth, barbaric hate, 
 From the iron-hand of Fate, 
 And Oppreflion's deadly weight. 
 
 Thou art not of a fort, or number 
 Falhion'd for a Poet's lumber ; 
 
 Tho ! 
 
 1
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 195 
 Tho* more capacious than his purfe, 
 Too fmall to hold his ftore of verfe. 
 Too delicate for homely toil, 
 Too neat for vulgar hands to foil. 
 
 O ! wou'd the Fates permit the Mufe* 
 Thy future deftiny to chufe ! 
 In thy circle's fairy round, 
 With a golden fillet bound : 
 Like the fnow-drop filver white, 
 Like the glow-worm's humid light, 
 Like the dew at early dawn, 
 Like the moon-light on the lawn, 
 Lucid rows of pearls fhou'd dwell, 
 Pleas'd as in their native fhell ; 
 Or the brilliant's fparkling rays, 
 Shou'd emit a ftarry blaze. 
 
 And if the Fair whofe magic fkill, 
 Wrought thee paflive to her will, 
 Deign to regard thy Poet's love, 
 Nor his afpiring fuit reprove, 
 Her form ihould crown the fair defign, 
 Goddefs fit for fuch a (brine ! 
 
 02 V A L E N-
 
 i$6 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 
 
 VAL E N T I N E's DAY. 
 
 /"T^ H E tuneful choir in amorous drains, 
 
 Accoft their feather'd loves ; 
 While each fond mate with equal pains, 
 The tender fuit approves. 
 
 With chearful hop from fjpray to fpray, 
 
 They fport along the meads ; 
 In focial blifs together ftray, 
 
 Where love or fancy leads. 
 
 ifhro* Spring's gay fcertes each happy pair 
 
 Their fluttering joys purfue ; 
 Its various charms and produce mare, 
 
 For ever kind and true. 
 
 Their fprightly notes from every (hade, 
 
 Their mutual loves proclaim ; 
 Till Winter's chilling blafts invade, 
 
 And damp th* enlivening flame. 
 
 Then
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 197 
 Then all the jocund fcene declines, 
 
 Nor woods nor meads delight ; 
 The drooping tribe in fecret pines, 
 
 And mourns th' unwelcome fight. 
 
 Go, bKfsful warblers! timely wife, 
 
 Th' inftructive moral tell ! 
 Nor thou their meaning 'lays defpifo 
 
 My charming ANNABELLE ! 
 
 HAMLET's S OLIL O QJJ Y, 
 
 IMITATED. 
 
 A I AO prinfy or not to print that is the queftion. 
 
 Whether 'tis better in a trunk to bury 
 The quirks and crotchets of outrageous fancy, 
 Or fend a well-wrote copy to the prefs, 
 And by difclofmg, end them ? To print, to doubt 
 No more ; and by one act to fay we end 
 The head-ach, and a thoufand natural mocks 
 
 O 3 Of
 
 t 9 8 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES, 
 Of fcribbling frenzy 'tis a confummation 
 Devoutly to be wifh'd. To print to beam 
 From the fame (helf with POPE, in calf well bound : 
 To fleep, perchance, with QUARLES Ay, there's the. 
 
 rub- 
 For to what clafs a writer may be doom'd, 
 When he hath muffled off fome paltry fturT, 
 Muft give us paufe. There's the refpect that makes 
 Th* unwilling poet keep his piece nine years. 
 For who wou'd bear th* impatient thjrfl of fame, 
 The pride of confcious merit, and J bove all, 
 The tedious importunity of friends, 
 When as himfelf might his quietus make 
 With a bare inkhorn ? Who would fardles bear ? 
 To groan and fweat under a load of wit ? 
 But that the tread of fleep PARNASSUS* hill, 
 That undifcover'd country, with whofe bays 
 Few travellersreturn, puzzles the will, 
 And makes us rather bear to live unknown, 
 Than run the hazard to be known, and damn'd. 
 Thus Critics do make cowards of us all. 
 And thus the healthful face of many a poem, 
 
 i Is
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 199 
 Is fickly'd o'er with a pale manufcript ; 
 And enterprizers of great fire, and fpirit, 
 With this regard from DODSLEY turn away, 
 And lofe the name of authors. 
 
 ROUNDELAY, 
 
 WRITTEN FOR THE JUBILEE AT STRAT- 
 FORD UPON AVON, 
 
 CELEBRATED BY MR. GARRICK. IN HONOUR 
 OF SHAKESPEARE, SEPTEMBER 1769. 
 
 Set to Mufic by Mr. DIB DIN. 
 
 I. 
 
 QISTERS of the tuneful train, 
 
 Attend your Parent's jocund {train, 
 'Tis Fancy calls you ; follow me 
 To celebrate the Jubilee. 
 
 O 4 II. On
 
 200 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 
 
 II. 
 
 On AVON'S banks, where SHAKESPEARE'S buft 
 Points out, and guards his fleeping duft j 
 The fons of fcenic mirth agree, 
 To celebrate the Jubilee. 
 
 HI. 
 
 Come, daughters, come, and bring with yoq 
 Th* aerial Sprites and Fairy crew, 
 And the fifter Graces three, 
 .To celebrate the Jubilee, 
 
 IV. 
 
 Hang around the fculptur'd tomb 
 The 'broider'd veft, the nodding plume, 
 And the mafk of comic glee, 
 To celebrate the Jubilee. 
 
 V, 
 
 From BIRNAM Wood, and BOSWORTH Field, 
 Bring the ftandard, bring the ftiield, 
 
 With
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES, 201 
 
 With drums, and martial fymphony, 
 To celebrate the Jubilee. 
 
 VI, 
 
 In mournful numbers now relate 
 Poor DESDEMONA'S haplefs fate, 
 With frantic deeds of jealoufy, 
 To celebrate the Jubilee. 
 
 VII. 
 
 Nor be WINDSOR'S Wives forgot, 
 With their harmlefs merry plot, 
 The whitening mead, and haunted tree, 
 To celebrate the Jubilee. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Now in jocund drains recite 
 The humours of the braggard Knight, 
 Fat Knight, and Ancient Piftol he, 
 To celebrate the Jubilee. 
 
 IX. But
 
 202 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 
 
 IX. 
 
 But fee in crowds the Gay, the Fair, 
 To the fplendid fcene repair, 
 A fcene as fine, as fine can be, 
 To celebrate the Jubilee. 
 
 THE BLACKBIRDS. 
 ELEGY. 
 
 rT^HRSun had chas'd the mountain-fnow, 
 
 His beams had pierc'd the ftubborn foil, 
 The melting ftreams began to flow, 
 And Plowmen urg'd their annual toil. 
 
 'Twas then, amidft the vocal throng, 
 "Whom Nature wak'd to mirth, and love, 
 
 A Blackbird rais'd his am'rous fong, 
 And thus it echo'd thro* the grove. 
 
 O faireft
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 203 
 
 O faireft of the feather'd train ! 
 
 For whom I fing, for whom I burn, 
 Attend with pity to my ftrain, 
 
 And grant my love a kind return. 
 
 For fee, the wint'ry ftorms are flown, 
 
 And zephyrs gently fan the air ; 
 Let us the genial influence own, 
 
 Let us the vernal paftime fhare. 
 
 The Raven plumes his jetty wing, 
 
 To pleafe his croaking paramour, 
 The Larks refponfive carols fing, 
 
 And tell their paffion as they foar : 
 
 But does the Raven's fable wing 
 
 Excel the glofly jet of mine ? 
 Or can the Lark more fweetly fing, 
 
 Than we, who ftrength with foftnefsjoin? 
 
 O let me then thy fleps attend ! 
 
 I'll point new treafures to thy fight : 
 Whether the grove thy wifh befriend, 
 
 Or hedge- rows green, or meadows bright. 
 
 I'll
 
 204 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES, 
 
 I'll guide thee to the cleared rill, 
 
 Whofe ftreams among the pebbles ftray 5, 
 
 There will we fip, and fip our fill, 
 Or on the flow'ry margin play, 
 
 I'll lead thee to the thickeft brake, 
 Impervious to the fchool-boy's eye i 
 
 For thee the plaifter'd neft I'll make, 
 And to thy downy bofom fly. 
 
 When, prompted by a mother's care, 
 
 Thy warmth fhall form th' imprifon'd young, 
 
 The pleafmg tafk I'll gladly mare, 
 Or cheer thy labours with a fong. 
 
 To bring thee food I'll range the fields, 
 
 And cull the beft of ev'ry kind, 
 Whatever Nature's bounty yields, 
 
 And love's afliduous care can find, 
 
 And when my lovely mate wou'd flray, 
 To tafte the fummer fweets at large, 
 
 J'll wait at home the live-long day, 
 And fondly tend our little charge, 
 
 a Then
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 
 
 Then prove with me the fweets of love, 
 With me divide the cares of life, 
 
 No bufli mail boaft in all the grove, 
 A mate fo fond, fo bleft a wife. 
 
 He ceas'd his fong the plumy dame 
 Heard with delight the love-fick ilrain. 
 
 Nor long conceal'd a mutual flame, 
 Nor long reprefs'd his am'rous pain. 
 
 He led her to the nuptial bow'r, 
 
 And perch'd with triumph by her fide ; 
 
 What gilded roof cou'd boaft thct hour 
 A fonder mate, or happier bride ? 
 
 Next morn he wak'd her with a fong, 
 Behold, he faid, the new-born day, 
 
 The Lark his mattin-peal has rung, 
 Arife, my love, and come away. 
 
 Together thro' the fields they flray'd, 
 And to the murm'ring riv'let's fide, 
 Renew'd their vows, and hopp'd, and play'd 
 artlejs joy, and decent pride.
 
 206 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 
 
 "When O ! with grief my Mufe relates 
 What dire misfortune clos'd the tale, 
 
 Sent by an order from the Fates, 
 A Gunner met them in the vale. 
 
 Alarm'd, the lover cried> My dear, 
 Hafte, hafte away, from danger fly j 
 
 Here, Gunner, point thy thunder here, 
 O fpare my love, and let me die. 
 
 'At him the Gunner took his aim, 
 Too fure the volley'd thunder flew ! 
 
 O had he chofe fome other game, 
 Or (hot as he was wont to do ! 
 
 Divided Pair ! forgive the wrong, 
 While I with tears your fate rehearfe, 
 
 I'll join the Widow's plaintive fong, 
 And fave the Lover in my verfe. 
 
 THE
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 207 
 
 THE GOLDFINCHES, 
 AN ELEGY. 
 
 TO WILLIAM SHENSTONE, ESQ^. 
 
 Ingenuas didicifle fideliter artes 
 Emollit mores, nee finit efle feros. 
 
 fTT^O you, whofe groves protect the feather'd choirs* 
 
 Who lend their artlefs notes a willing ear, 
 To you, whom Pity moves, and Tafte infpires, 
 The Doric drain belongs, O SHENSTONE hear. 
 
 'Twas gentle Spring, when all the plumy race, 
 By Nature taught in nuptial leagues combine, 
 
 A Goldfinch joy'd to meet the warm embrace, 
 And with her mate in Love's delights to join. 
 
 All in a garden, on a currant-bufh, 
 
 With wond'rous art they built their airy feat ; 
 
 In the next orchard liv'd a friendly Thrum, 
 Nor diftant far a Woodlark's foft retreat. 
 
 Here
 
 208 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 
 
 Here bleft with cafe, and in each other bleft, 
 
 With early fongs they wak'd the neighboring groves* 
 
 Till time matur'd their joys, and crown'd their neft 
 With infant pledges of their faithful loves. 
 
 And now what tranfport glow'd in cither's eye ? 
 
 What equal fondnefs dealt th' allotted food ? 
 What joy each other's likenefs to defcry, 
 
 And future fonnets in the chirping brood ! 
 
 But ah ! what earthly happinefs can laft ? 
 
 How does the faireft purpoie often fail ? 
 A truant fchoolboy's wantonnefs cou'd blaft 
 
 Their fiatt'ring hopes, and leave them both to wail. 
 
 The moft ungentle of his tribe was he, 
 No gen'rous precept ever touch'd his heart, 
 
 With concord falfe, and hideous profody 
 
 He fcrawl'd his tafk, and blunder'd o'er his part. 
 
 On mifchief bent, he mark'd, with rav'nous eyes, 
 Where wrapt in down the callow fongfters lay, 
 
 Then rufhing, rudely feiz'd the glitt'ring prize, 
 And bore it in his impious hands away ! 
 
 But
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 209 
 
 / 
 But how {hall I defcribe, in numbers rude, 
 
 The pangs for poor GHRYSOMITRIS decreed^ 
 When from her fecrec ftand aghaft (he view'd 
 The cruel fpoiler perpetrate the deed ? 
 
 O grief of griefs ! with fhrieking voice fhe cried. 
 What fight is this that I have.liv'd to fee! 
 
 O ! that I had in Youth's fair feafon died, 
 
 From Love's falfe joys, and bkter forrows free. 
 
 Was it for this, alas ! with weary bill* 
 
 Was it for this I pois'd th' unwieldy ftraw ? 
 
 For this I bore the mofs from yonder hill, 
 
 Nor fhun'd the pond'rous {lick along to draw ? 
 
 Was it for this I pick'd the wool with care, 
 Intent with nicer fkill our work to crown ? 
 
 
 
 For thisj with pain, I bent the fttibborn hair, 
 And lin'd our cradle with the thiftle's down ? 
 
 Was it for this my freedom I refign'd, 
 
 And ceas'd to rove at large from plain to plain ? 
 
 For this I fate at home whole days confiu'd, 
 To bear the fcorching heat, and pealing rain ? 
 
 P Was
 
 2io MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 
 
 Was it for this my watchful eyes grow dim ? 
 
 For this the rofes on my cheek turn pale ? 
 Pale is my golden plumage, once fo trim ! 
 
 And all my wonted mirth, and fpirits fail ! 
 
 O Plund'rer vile ! O more than Adders fell ! 
 
 More murth'rous than the Cat, with prudifh face ! 
 Fiercer than Kites in whom the Furies dwell, 
 
 And thievifh as the Cuckow's pilf'ring race ! 
 
 May juicy plumbs for thee forbear to grow, 
 For thee no flow'r unveil its charming dies ; 
 
 May birch-trees thrive to work thee fliarper woe, 
 And lift'ning flarlings mock thy frantic cries. 
 
 Thus fang the mournful bird her piteous tale, 
 The piteous tale her mournful mate return'd, 
 
 Then fide by fide they fought the diftant vale, 
 And there in fecret fadnefs inly mourn'd. 
 
 THE
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES, 211 
 
 THE SWALLOWS: 
 AN ELEGY. 
 
 PART I. 
 
 TT^ R E yellow Autumn from our plains retir'd, 
 And gave to wintry ftorms the varied year, 
 The Swallow-race with prefcient gift infpir'd, 
 To fouthern climes prepar'd their courfe to fleer. 
 
 On DAMON'S roof a large afiembly fate, 
 His roof a refuge to the feather'd kind ! 
 
 With ferious look he mark'd the grave debate, 
 And to his DELIA thus addrefs'd his mind. 
 
 Obferve yon* twitt'ring flock, my gentle maid ! 
 
 Obferve, and read the wond'rous ways of Heav'n I 
 With us thro* Summer's genial reign they ftay'd, 
 
 And food, and funfhine to their wants were giv'n. 
 P 2 But
 
 212 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 
 
 But now, by fecret inftinft taught, they know 
 The near approach of elemental ftrife, 
 
 Of bluft'ring tempefts, and of chilling fnow, 
 "With ev'ry pang, and fcourge of tender life. 
 
 Thus warn'd they meditate a fpeedy flight, 
 
 For this ev'n now they prune their vig'rous wing, 
 
 For this each other to the toil excite, 
 
 And prove their ftrength in many a fportive ring. 
 
 No forrow loads their bread, or dims their eye, 
 To quit their wonted haunts, or native home, 
 
 Nor fear they hunching on the boundlefs fky, 
 In fearch of future fettlements to roam. 
 
 They feel a pow'r, an impulfe all divine, 
 
 That warns them hsnce, they feel it, and obey, 
 
 To this direction all their cares refign, 
 
 Unknown their deftin'd ftage, unmark'd their way. 
 
 Peace to your flight ! ye mild, doraeftic race ! 
 
 O ! for your wings to travel with the fun ! 
 Health brace your nerves, and zephyrs aid your pace^ 
 
 Till your long voyage happily be done. 
 
 See
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 213 
 
 See, DELIA, on my roof your guefts to-day, 
 To-morrow on my roof your guefts no more, 
 
 Ere yet 'tis night with hafte they wing away, 
 To-morrow lands them on fome happier more. 
 
 How juft the moral in this fcene convey'd 1 
 And what without a moral ? wou'd we read ! 
 
 Then mark what DAMON tells his gentle maid, 
 And with his lefibn regifter the deed. 
 
 So youthful joys fly like the Summer's gale, 
 So threats the winter of inclement age, 
 
 Life's bufy plot a fhort, fan tattle tale ! 
 
 And Nature's changeful fcenes the Ihifting ftage 1 
 
 * And does no friendly pow'r to man difpenfe 
 The joyful tidings of forme happier clime ? 
 
 Find we no guide in gracious Providence 
 
 Beyond the gloomy grave, and (hort-liv'd time ? 
 
 * This little piece, and its companions, particularly the 
 following, are highly honout'd by Mr. AIKIN, in his in- 
 genious and entertaining * Eflay on the Application of 
 Natural Hiftory to Poetry." 
 
 P 3
 
 214 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 
 
 Yes, yes the facred oracles we hear, 
 
 That point the path to realms of endlefs joy, 
 
 That bid our trembling hearts no danger fear, 
 Tho* clouds fnrround, and angry fkics annoy. 
 
 Then let us wifely for our flight prepare, 
 Nor count this ftormy world our fixt abode, 
 
 Obey the call, and truft our Leader's care, 
 
 To fmooth the rough, and light the darkfome road, 
 
 MOSES, by grant divine, led ISRAEL'S hoft 
 Thro* dreary paths to JORDAN'S fruitful fide ; 
 
 But we a loftier theme than theirs can boaft, 
 A better promife, and a nobler guide. 
 
 THE SWALLOWS. 
 PART II. 
 
 A T length the Winter's howling blafis are o'er, 
 Array 'd in fmiles the lovely Spring returns, 
 Now fewel'd hearths attractive blaze no more, 
 And ev'ry breaft with inward fervor burns. 
 
 Again
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 215 
 
 Again the daifies peep, the violets blow, 
 
 Again the vocal tenants of the grove 
 Forgot the patt'ring hail, or driving fnow, 
 
 Renew the lay to melody, and love. 
 
 And fee, my DELIA, fee o'er yonder ftream, 
 
 Where, on the bank, the lambs in gambols play, 
 
 Alike attracted Jay the funny gleam, 
 
 Again the Swallows take their wonted way. 
 
 Welcome, ye gentle tribe, your fports purfue, 
 Welcome again to DELIA, and to me, 
 
 Your peaceful councils on my roof renew, 
 And plan new fettlemems from danger free. 
 
 Again I'll liften to your grave debates, 
 
 Again I'll hear your twitt'ring fongs unfold 
 
 What policy directs your wand'ring ftates, 
 
 What bounds are fettled, and what tribes enroll'd. 
 
 Again I'll hear you tell of diftant lands, 
 
 What infeft-nations rife from EGYPT'S mud, 
 What painted fwarms fubfift on LYBIA'S fands, 
 What GANGES yields, and what th' EUPHRATEAN 
 flood. 
 
 P 4 Thrice
 
 216 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 
 
 Thrice happy race ! whom Nature's call invites 
 To travel o'er her realms with active wing, 
 
 To tafte her various ftores, her beft delights, 
 
 The Summer's radiance, and the fweets of Spring; 
 
 While we are doom'd to bear the refllefs change 
 Of varying feafons, vapours dank, and dry, 
 
 Forbid like you in milder climes to range, 
 When wintry ftorms ufurp the low'ring fky, 
 
 Yet know the period to your joys affign'd, 
 Know ruin hovers o ? er this earthly ball, 
 
 As lofty tow'rs ftoop proftrate to the wind, 
 Its fecret props of adamant (hall fall. 
 
 But when yon* radiant fun (hall mine no more, 
 The ipirit, freed from fin's tyrannic fway, 
 
 On lighter pinions borne than yours, mall foar. 
 To fairer realms beneath a brighter ray. 
 
 To plains ethereal, and celeftial bow ? r.s, 
 Where wintry ftorms no rude accefs obtain, 
 
 Where blafts no lightning, and no tempeft low'rs, 
 But ever-fouling Spring, and Pleafure reign. 
 
 THE END.
 
 D 4 M; 
 
 OR, TH.E 
 
 Fatal Difobedience, 
 
 AN ORATORIO, 
 
 COMPILED FROM THE 
 PAR AD ISE LOST 
 
 O F 
 
 M I L 7 N. 
 
 AND ADAPTED TO MUSIC. 
 BY R. J.

 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 f | ^HE CV/zz/j-, Allegro, II Penferofo, Lyci- 
 -*- ^7J, and Samfon-Agoniftes of MILTON, 
 have each of them had the good fortune to 
 be made choice of as proper fubjecls for 
 mufical compolition ; but no one appears 
 hitherto to have entertained any thoughts of 
 adapting any part of Paradife Loft to the fame 
 ufe, though confelTedly the mod capital of 
 all his works, and containing the greater!: 
 variety both of fentiment, and language fuf- 
 ceptible of the graces of that harmonious 
 art *. Indeed the plan for this purpofe was 
 
 not 
 
 * What Dr. GREGORY fays of Religion in general as a 
 fubject for mufical compofition, may be applied with the 
 ftri&eft propriety to this work in particular, viz. that it 
 
 affords
 
 220 ADVERTISEMENT, 
 not fo obvious. The others were in a great 
 meafure ready prepared to the compofer's 
 hands; here the cafe was different. The 
 feyeral beautiful pafTages contained in this 
 poem lay fcattered through a wide compafs, 
 and it appear'd difficult to afTemble, and unite 
 them into any regular, and compendious 
 form adapted to public reprefentation . This 
 the compiler has attempted, by confining 
 himfelf to thofe paffages which have a more 
 immediate reference to the principal ftory, 
 and omitting what was more remote, and 
 digreffive. In executing this defign he has 
 varied as little as was poffible from the order 
 of time, and language of MILTON, and 
 endeavour'd not to ofFend the judgment, at 
 
 affords almoft all the variety of fubje&s which mufic can 
 exprefs ; the fublime, the joyous, the cheerful, the ferene, 
 the devout, the plaintive, the melancholy. 
 
 Comparative View of the State and 
 Faculties of Man, page 73, 74. 
 
 the
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 221 
 the fame time that he confulted the enter- 
 tainment of the public. 
 
 He will not fay that he has omitted no 
 particular beauties of this poem, for not to 
 do this would be to tranfcribe the whole; 
 but he can truly fay that he has taken feme 
 pains to include as many as could with any 
 propriety be brought within the compafs of 
 his undertaking, and that it will be no 
 fmall pleafure to him to be the occafion of 
 making them more univerfally admired, by 
 means of an alliance with that fifter-art, 
 whofe expreffive- ft rains are the only addi- 
 tional ornament of which they were capa- 
 ble. 
 
 So far was written after the following piece 
 was entirely finim'd, and at a time when 
 the compiler thought that no one had en- 
 gaged
 
 222 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 gaged in the fame delign. In this however 
 he finds he was miftaken, and can truly fay, 
 that had he been fo much converfant in the 
 mufical world as to have known more early 
 that a perfon of Mr. STILLINGFLEET'S me- 
 rit, and abilities had undertaken this work, 
 he would certainly have declined it : but 
 having fpent fome time in it, and finding 
 that this gentleman's plan does not entirely 
 coincide with his, he hopes he may be ex- 
 cufed for prefenting it to the world after 
 him. 
 
 He will no further detain the reader than 
 to fay, that his aim was to furnim the com- 
 pofer with MILTON'S own beauties, fo 
 adapted as that the capital lines and moft 
 finking fentiments might naturally offer 
 themfelves to mufical diflinclion, rather than 
 form words for that purpofe, as he thought 
 
 had
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 223 
 had been done in other compofitions of a 
 like nature, in a manner very forced, and 
 unnatural ; and where, though the ear is 
 gratified, the underflanding is generally dif- 
 gufted. 
 
 The
 
 
 The Ferfons here reprefented are 
 
 ADAM, and 
 
 EVE; with the 
 
 GUARDIAN ANGELS of Paradife, and others, 
 
 The Scene is PARADISE.
 
 ADA M: 
 
 A N 
 
 ORATORIO, 
 
 ACT 1. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 RECITATIVE, 
 
 T TNDER a tuft of (hade, that, on a green, 
 *^ Stood whifp'ring foft, on EDEN'S blifsful plain* 
 Sate the firft human Pair. (Not that fair Field 
 Of ENNA, where PROSERPINE, gath'ring flow'rs, 
 Herfelf, a fairer flow'r, by gloomy D i s 
 Was gather'd ; nor that fweet ELYSIAN Grove 
 Of DAPHNE by ORONTES, and th' infpir'd 
 
 CASTALIAN
 
 226 ADA M: 
 
 CASTALIAN Spring, might with this Paradifc 
 
 Of EDEN drive : nor that NYSEAN Ifle, 
 
 Girt with the river TRITON, where old CHAM, 
 
 Whom Gentiles AMMON call, and LYBIAN JOVE, 
 
 Hid AMALTHEA, and her florid fon, 
 
 Young BACCHUS from his ftep-dame RHEA'S eye 
 
 Nor where ABASSINE kings their ifiue guard, 
 
 Mount AMARA ! enclos'd with mining rock, 
 
 A whole day's journey high.) Around them grew 
 
 All trees of nobleft kind for fight, fmell, tafte, 
 
 And all amid thm grew the Tree of Life, 
 
 High eminent, blooming ambrofial fruit 
 
 Of vegetable gold ; and, next to Life, 
 
 Our Death ! the Tree of Knowledge grew faft by. 
 
 Here waving boughs wept od'rous gums, and balm : 
 
 On others fruit, burnilh'd with golden rind, 
 
 Hung amiable : betwixt them lawns, and downs, 
 
 Or palmy hillock, or the flow'ry lap 
 
 Of fome irriguous valley fpread her flore, 
 
 Flow'rs of all hues, and without thorn the rofe. 
 
 Another fide umbrageous grots, and caves 
 
 Of cool recefs ! o'er which the mantling vine 
 
 Lays
 
 AN ORATORIO. 227 
 
 Lays forth her purple grape, and gently creeps 
 Luxuriant. Mean while murm'ring waters fall 
 Down the (lope hills difpers'd, or, in a lake, 
 That to the fringed bank, with myrtle crown'd, 
 Her cryftal mirrour holds, unite their ftreams. 
 The birds their quire apply airs, vernal airs 
 Breathing the fmell of field, or grove attune 
 The trembling leaves, and whifper whence they Hole 
 Their balmy fpoils. About them frifking play'd 
 All beads of th* earth, fince wild, and of all chafe 
 In wood, or wildernefs, foreft, or den. 
 Sporting the lion ramp'd, and, in his paw, 
 Dandled the kid. Bears, tygers, ounces, pards 
 GamboPd before them. Th' unwieldy elephant, 
 To make them mirth, us'd all his might, and wreath'd 
 His lithe probofcis. Clofe the ferpent fly, 
 Ihfinuatihg, wove, with Gordian twine, 
 His braided train, and, of his fatal guile 
 Gave proof unheeded. They fuperior fate 
 As lords of all, of God-like (hape eredl ! 
 For valour he, and contemplation form'd* 
 For foftnefs Ihe, and fweet attractive grace ! 
 
 * 2 AIR,
 
 228 ADA M: 
 
 A I R. 
 
 " They fuperior fate, 
 
 "jAs lords of all, of God-like fhape ereft ! 
 " For valour he, and comtemplation form'd, 
 " For foftnefs ihe, and fweet attra&ive grace !" 
 
 SCENE II. 
 
 RECITATIVE. 
 
 On the fort downy bank, damafkt with flow'rs, 
 Reclin'd they fate, when ADAM firfl of men 
 To firft of women EVE thus fmiling fpake. 
 
 ADAM. 
 
 Sole partner, and fole part of all thefe joys, 
 Dearer thyfelf than all! needs muft the Pow'r, 
 That made us, and, for us, this ample world, 
 Be infinitely good, and, of his good 
 As liberal, and free as infinite ; 
 Who rais'd us from the duft, and plac'd us here,
 
 AN ORATORIO. 229 
 
 In all this happinefs ; who yet requires 
 From us no other fervice, than to keep 
 This one, this eafy charge Of all the Trees 
 In PARADISE, that bear delicious fruit 
 So various, not to tafte that only Tree 
 Of Knowledge, planted by the Tree of Life. 
 
 SONG. 
 
 " Then let us ever praife Him, and extol 
 
 " His bounty, following our delightful talk, 
 
 " To prune thefe growing pknts, and tend thefe 
 
 " flow'rs, 
 " Which, were it toilfdme, yet with thee were fweet." 
 
 RECITATIVE. 
 
 EVE. 
 
 O thou ! for whom 
 
 And from whom I was form'd ! Flefh of thy flefh ! 
 And without whom am to no end ! My guide, 
 And head ! what thou haft faid is juft, and right : 
 For we indeed to Him all praifes owe, 
 
 And
 
 230 ADAM: 
 
 And daily thanks : I chiefly, who enjoy 
 So much the happier lot, enjoying thee. 
 
 AFFETUOSO. 
 
 " That day I oft remember, when from 
 " I firft awak'd, and found myfelf repos'd 
 " Under a (hade of flow'rs, much wond'ring where, 
 '* And what I was, whence thither brought, and how. 
 " Not diftant far from thence, a murm'ring found 
 " Of waters iflued from a cave, and fpread 
 " Into a liquid plain, then flood unmov'd 
 " Pure as th* expanfe of Heav'n. I thither went, 
 " With unexperienc'd thought, and laid me down 
 " On the green bank to look into the clear, 
 c< Smooth lake, that to me feem'd another fky. 
 " As I bent down to look, juft oppofite, 
 " A fhape within the watry gleam appeared, 
 " Bending to look on me. I ftarted back, 
 " It ftarted back. But pleas'd I focn return'd, 
 " Pleas'd it return'd as foon, with anfw'ring looks 
 " Of fympathy, and love. There I had fix'd 
 11 Mine eyes till now, and pin'd with vain defire, 
 
 "Had
 
 AN ORATORIO. 231 
 
 w Had not a voice thus warn'd me. What thou fee'ft, 
 
 *' What there thou fee'ft, fair creature ! is thyfelf. 
 
 " With thee it came, and goes. But follow me, 
 
 " And I will bring thee where no Ibadow flays 
 
 * { Thy coming, and thy foft embraces He ! 
 
 " Whofe image thou art him thou (halt enjoy 
 
 " Infeparably thine, to him malt bear 
 
 " Multitudes like thyfelf, and thence be call'd 
 
 " Mother of human race. What cou'd I do, 
 
 " But follow ftrait, invifibly thus led ? 
 
 tc Till I efpied thee, fair, indeed, and tali, 
 
 " Under a platan. Yet methought lefs fair, 
 
 " Lefs winning foft, lefs amiably mild, 
 
 " Than that fmooth watry image. Back I turn'd. 
 
 " Thou following cry'dft aloud 5 
 
 AIR. 
 
 " Return, fair EVE ! 
 " Whom fiy'fl thou ? whom thou fly'ft, of him thou 
 
 "art, 
 
 " His fielh, his bone ! To give thee being I lent 
 ? Out of my fide to thee, neareft my heart, 
 
 SubflantiaJ
 
 232 ADAM: 
 
 " Subftantial life, to have thee by my fide> 
 
 " Henceforth an individual folace dear. 
 
 " Part of my foul I feek thee, and thee claim 
 
 " My, other half." With that thy gentle hand 
 
 " Seiz'd mine ; I yieldedand from that time fee 
 
 " How beauty is excell'd by manly grace, 
 
 *' And wifdom, which alone is truly fair." 
 
 RECITATIVE. 
 
 So fpake our gen'ral Mother, and with eyes 
 Of conjugal affection, unreprov'd, 
 And meek furrender, half embracing lean'd 
 On our firft Father. Half her fwelling breaft 
 Naked met his, under the flowing gold 
 Of her loofe trefies hid. He, in delight 
 Both of her beauty, and fubmifiive charms, 
 Smil'd with fuperior love, and prels'd her lip 
 With kifles pure. Thus they in am'rous fport, 
 As well befeems fair couple, linkt as they, 
 In happy nuptial league, their minutes pafs'd, 
 Crown'd with fublime delight. The lovelieft pair 
 That ever yet in Love's embraces met : 
 
 ADAM
 
 AN ORATORIO. 233 
 
 AP.AM the goodlieft man of men fince born 
 His fons, the fairefl of her daughters EVE ! 
 
 CHORUS. 
 
 f c Hail ! HYMEN'S firft, accomplifh'd Pair ! 
 " Goodlieft he of all his fons ! 
 !' Of her daughters fhe moft fair ! 
 
 " Goodlieft he ! 
 
 " She moft fair 1 
 <c Goodlieft he of all his fons ! 
 " Of her daughters fhe moft fair. 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 RECITATIVE. 
 
 Now came ftill Ev'ning on, and Twilight grey 
 Had, in her fober liv'ry all things clad. 
 Silence accompanied : for beaft, and bird, 
 They to their gratify couch, thefe to their nefts 
 Were flunk : all but the wakeful Nightingale ! 
 She all night long her am'rous defcant fung. 
 
 Silence
 
 234 ADAM: 
 
 Silence was pleas'd. Now glow'd the firmament 
 With living faphires. Hefperus, that led 
 The ftarry hoft, rode brighteft, till the Moon, 
 Rifing in clouded majefty, at length, 
 Apparent queen ! unveil'd her peerlefs light, 
 And o'er the dark her filver mantle threw. 
 When ADAM thus to EVE. 
 
 ADAM. 
 
 Fair Confort ! th' hour 
 Of Night, and all things now retir'd to reft 
 Mind us of like repofe : fmce God hath fet 
 Labour, and reft as day, and night to men 
 Succeffive, and the timely due of fleep, 
 Now falling with foft flumb'rous weight, inclines 
 Our eye-lids. Ere frefh Morning ftreak the eaft 
 With firft approach of light, we muft be ris'n, 
 And at our pleafant labour, to reform 
 Yon* flow'ry arbours, yonder alleys green, 
 Our walk at Noon, with branches overgrown. 
 Mean while, as Nature wills, Night bids us reft. 
 
 EVE,
 
 AN ORATORIO. 235 
 EVE. 
 
 My author, and difpofer, what thou bid'ft 
 Unargu'd I obey, fo God ordains. 
 God is thy law, thou mine. To know no more 
 Is woman's happieft knowledge, and her praife. 
 
 AIR. 
 
 " With thee converfing, I forget all time. 
 ?' All feafons, and their change, all pleafe alike. 
 " Sweet is the breath of Morn, her rifing fweet, 
 " With charm of earlieft birds ! Pleafant the Sun J 
 ? When firft on this delightful land he fpreads 
 '* His orient beams on herb, tree, fruit, and flow'r, 
 " Glift'ring with dew : fragrant the fertile Earth, 
 " After foft fhow'rs ! and fweet the coming on 
 " Of grateful Evening mild ; the filent Night, 
 " With this her folemn bird ; and this fair Moon, 
 " And thofe the gems of Heav'n, her ftarry train ! 
 '* But neither breath of Morn, when me afcends, 
 " With charm of earlieft birds, nor rifing Sun 
 4< On this delightful land, nor herb, fruit, flow'r, 
 
 2 Glift'ring
 
 236 ADA M: 
 
 " Glift'ring with dew, nor fragrance after fhow'rs, 
 " Nor grateful Evening mild, nor filent Night, 
 " With this her folemn bird, nor walk by Moon, 
 " Or glitt'ring ftar-light without thee is fweet. 5 * 
 
 RECITATIVE. 
 
 Thus talking, hand in hand, alone they pafs'd 
 On to their blifsful bow'r. It was a place, 
 Chos'n by the Sov'reign Planter, when he fram'd 
 All things to man's delightful ufe , the roof, 
 Of thickeft covert, was in-woven fhade, 
 Laurel, and myrtle, and what higher grew 
 Of firm, and fragrant leaf -, on either fide, 
 Acanthus, and each od'rous, bufhy fhrub 
 Fenc'd up the verdant wall, each beauteous flow'r, 
 Iris, all hues, rofes, and jeflamine 
 Rear'd high their flourifti'd heads between, and 
 
 wrought 
 
 Mofaic ; under foot the violet, 
 Crocus, and hyacinth, with rich inlay, 
 Broider'd the ground, more colour'd than with 
 
 ftone 
 
 Of
 
 AN ORATORIO. 237 
 
 Of coftlieft emblem. Other creature here 
 
 Beaft, bird, infeft, or worm, durft enter none, 
 
 Such was their awe of Man. In (hady bow'r, 
 
 More facred, and fequefter'd , tho' but feign'd, 
 
 PAN, or SYLVANUS never fiept, nor Nymph, 
 
 Or Faunus haunted. Here, in clofe recefs, 
 
 With flow'rs, and garlands, and fweet fmelling 
 
 herbs 
 
 Efpoufed EVE deck'd firft her nuptial bed, 
 And heav'nly quires the Hymensean fung. 
 
 Thus at their fhady lodge arriv'd, both flood, 
 Both turn'd, and, under open Sky, ador'd 
 The God that made both Sky, Air, Earth, and Heav'n, 
 Which they beheld, the Moon's refplendent globe, 
 And ftarry pole. 
 
 EVENING HYMN.- 
 
 " Thou alfo mad'fl the night, 
 <l Maker omnipotent ! and Thou the day, 
 " Which we, in our appointed work employ'd, 
 !* Have finifh'd, happy in our mutual help, 
 
 And
 
 2j8 ADAM: 
 
 *' And mutual love, the crown of all our bills, 
 " Ordain'd by Thee, and this delicious place, 
 * e For us too large, where Thy abundance wants 
 " Partakers, and uncropt falls to the ground. 
 cc But Thou haft promis'd from us two a race, 
 " To fill the earth, who (hall, with us,- extol 
 " Thy goodnefs infinite, both when we wake* 
 " And when we feek, as now, thy gift of Sleep. 
 
 END OF THE FIRST ACT; 
 
 ACT
 
 AN ORATORIO. 23$ 
 
 ACT II. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 RECITATIVE. 
 
 f For that warning voice, which he, who faw 
 Th* Apocalyps, heard cry in Heav'n aloud, 
 Then when the Dragon, put to fecond rout, 
 Came furious down, to be reveng'd on men, 
 Woe to ttf inhabitants of tb* earth I that now, 
 While time was, our firft Parents had been warn'd 
 The coming of their fecret foe, and fcap'd, 
 Haply fo fcap'd his mortal fnare ; for now 
 Satan, now firft inflam'd with rage, came down, 
 The tempter, ere th' accufer of mankind. 
 
 CHORUS. 
 
 He, who fits enthron'd on high, 
 Above the circle of the Iky, 
 
 3 Sees
 
 240 A D A Mi 
 
 Sees his rage, and mocks his toil, 
 Which on himfelf (hall foon recoil 
 In the fnare, with malice, wrought 
 For others, fhall his feet be caught. 
 
 SCENE IL 
 
 RECITATIVE; 
 
 Now Morn her rofy fteps in th* eaftern clime 
 Advancing, fow'd the earth with orient pearl, 
 When ADAM wak'd, fo cuftom'd, for his fleep 
 Was airy light, from pure digeftion bred, 
 And temp' rate vapours bland, which th' only found 
 Of leaves, and fuming rills, AURORA'S fan, 
 Lightly difpers'd, and the fhrill matin fong 
 Of birds on ev'ry bough. Unwaken'd EVE 
 Clofe at his fide, in naked beauty lay, 
 Beauty ! which, whether waking, or afleep 
 Shot forth peculiar charms. He, on his fide, 
 Leaning, half rais'd, with looks of cordial love 
 Hung over her enamour'd : then, with voice, 
 
 Mi:d
 
 AN ORATORIO. 241 
 Mild as when ZEPHYRUS on FLORA breathes, 
 Her hand foft-touching, whifper'd thus* 
 
 SONG. 
 
 " Awake I 
 
 " My fairefl, my efpous'd, my lateft found, 
 " HeavVs laft, beft gift, my ever newdelighr, 
 " Awake ! the morning (bines, and the frefh field 
 " Calls us; we lofe the prime, to mark how fpring 
 " Our tended plants, how blows the citron grove, 
 *' What drops the myrrh, and what the balmy reed 5 
 " How Nature paints her colours 5 how the bee 
 " Sits on the bloom, extracting liquid fweets," 
 
 RECITATIVE. 
 
 EVE. 
 
 ADAM ! well may we labour ftill to drefs 
 This garden, ftill to tend, herb, plant, and flow*r, 
 Our pleafant talk enjoin'd ! but till more hands 
 Aid us, the work under our labour grows 
 Luxurious by reftraint. Let us divide 
 Our labours then, for while together thus 
 Our talk we choofe* what wonder if fo neaf 
 
 R Looks
 
 24* ADAM: 
 
 Looks intervene, and fmiles, or object new 
 Cafual difcourfe draw on, which intermits 
 Our day's work, brought to little, though begun 
 Early, and th* hour of fupper comes unearn'd. 
 
 ADAM. 
 
 Thefe paths, and bow'rs doubt not but our joint 
 
 hands 
 
 Will keep from wildernefs with eafe as wide 
 As we need walk, till younger hands ere long 
 Afiift us. But if much ccnverfe perhaps 
 Thee fatiate, to fhort abfence I cou*d yield, 
 For iblitude fometitnes is beft fociety, 
 And (hort retirement urges fweet return. 
 But other doubt poflefies me, left harm 
 Befal thee fever'd from me ; for thou know'ft 
 What hath been warn'd us, what malicious foe, 
 Envying our happinefs, and of his own 
 Defpairing, feeks to work us woe, and mame, 
 By fly aflault ; and fomevvhere, nigh at hand, 
 Watches no doubt, with greedy hope, to find 
 His wifh, and beft advantage! us afunden 
 
 7 Hopelefs
 
 A* ORATORIO. 243 
 
 Hopelefs to circumvent us join'd, where each 
 To other fpeedy aid might lend at need. 
 Then leave not, I advife, the faithful fide 
 Which gave thee being, (hades thee, and protects. 
 
 A I R. 
 
 " The wife, where danger, or diihonour lurks, 
 k ' Safeft, and feemlieft near her hufband flays, 
 u Who guards her, or with her the word endures." 
 
 RECITATIVE* 
 
 EVE. 
 
 Offspring of Heav'n, and Earth, and all Earth's 
 
 Lord! 
 
 That fuch an enemy we have, who feeks 
 Our ruin, oft inform'd by thee, I learn. 
 But that thou Ihou'dft my firmnefs therefore doubt, 
 To Godj or thee, becaufe we have a foe 
 May tempt it, I expected not to hear. 
 
 ADAM. 
 
 Daughter of God, and man, immortal EVE ! 
 For fuch thou art, from fin, and blame entire : 
 
 R 2 Not
 
 244 ADAM: 
 
 Not diffident of thee, do I diffuade 
 Thy abfence from my fight, but to avoid 
 Th* attempt, which thou thyfelf with virtuous fcorn 
 And anger wou'd'ft refent. Mifdeem not then, 
 If fuch affront I labour to avert 
 From thee alone, which on us both at once 
 The enemy, tho' bold, will hardly dare, 
 Or daring, firft on me th* afiault mall light. 
 Nor thou his malice, and falfe guile contemn. 
 Subtle he needs muft be, who cou'd feduce 
 Angels ; nor think fuperfluous others aid. 
 " I, from the influence of thy looks, receive 
 " Accefs in ev*ry virtue ; in thy fight, 
 " More wife, more watchful, ftronger, if need were, 
 * l Of outward ftrength ; while fhame, thou look- 
 ing on, 
 
 " Shame to be overcome, or over-reach'd ! 
 " Wou'd utmoft vigour raife, and rais'd unite." 
 "Why mou'd'ft not thou like fcnfe within thee feel, 
 When I am prefent, and thy trial chufc 
 "With me, bcft witnefs of thy virtue tried ? 
 
 EVE.
 
 AN ORATORIO. 245 
 
 EVE. 
 
 If this be our condition, thus to dwell 
 In narrow circuit, ftraiten'd by a foe, 
 Subtle, or violent, we not endued, 
 Single, with like defence, wherever met, 
 How are we happy, ftill in fear of harm ? 
 
 A I R. 
 
 " Frail is our happinefs, if this be fo, 
 '* And EDEN were no EDEN thus expos'd." 
 
 RECITATIVE. 
 
 ADAM. 
 
 O woman ! beft are all things, as the will 
 Of God ordain'd them. His creating hand 
 Nothing imperfect, or deficient left 
 Of all that he created, much lefs Man, 
 Or aught that might his happy ftate fecure : 
 Secure from outward force. Within himfelf 
 The danger lies, yet lies within his pow'r. 
 
 R 3 Againft
 
 246 ADAM: 
 
 Againft his will he can receive no harm ; 
 But God left free the will, for what obeys 
 Reafon is free, and reafon he made right, 
 And bid her ftill beware, and ftill erect, 
 Left by fome fair, appearing good furpriz'd, 
 She dictate falfe, and mifinform the will 
 To do what God exprefsly hath forbid. 
 Not then miftruft, but tender love enjoins 
 That I (hou'd mind thee pft, and mind thou me. 
 Firm we fubfift, yet poffible to fwerve. 
 
 AIR. 
 
 " But if thou think'ft trial unfought may find 
 " Us both fecurer, than thus warn'd thou feem'ft, 
 ." Go ! for thy ftay, not free, abfents thee more. 
 " Go in thy native innocence. ^Rely 
 " On what thou haft of virtue: fummon all, 
 *' For God towards thee hath done his part, do thine/* 
 
 SCENE
 
 Aw' ORATORIO. 2*7 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 RECITATIVE. 
 
 So hafte they to the field, their pleafing tafk ! 
 J3ut firft, from under fhady, arb'rous roof, 
 Soon as they forth were come to open fight 
 Of day-fpring, and the Sun, who fcarce upris'n, 
 With wheels yet hov'ring o'er the ocean brim, 
 Shot parallel to th' earth his dewy ray, 
 pifcov'ring, in wide circuit, all the bounds 
 Of PARADISE, and EDEN'S happy plains, 
 L,owly they bow'd adoring, and began 
 Their orifons, each morning duly paid, 
 In various ftyle : for neither various ftyle 
 Nor holy rapture wanted they to praife 
 Their Maker in fit ftrains, pronounc'd, or fung, 
 Unmeditated ; fuch prompt eloquence 
 Fiow'd from their lips, in profe, or num'rous verfe, 
 More tuneable than needed lute, or harp 
 To add more fweetneis : and they thus began. 
 
 R 4 MORNING
 
 248 ADAM: 
 
 MORN ING H YM N. 
 
 " Thefe are Thy glorious works, Parent of good, 
 <* Almighty ! Thine this univerfal frame ! 
 " Thus wond'rous fair ! Thyfelf how wond'rous then ! 
 <c Unfpeakable ! who fit'ft above thefe heav'ns, 
 t To us invifible ; or dimly feen 
 * { In thefe Thy loweft works : yet thefe declare 
 *' Thy goodnefs beyond thought, and pow'r divine. 
 
 " Speak ye, who beft can tell, ye fons of light ! 
 " Angels, for ye behold Him, and, with fongs, 
 " And choral fymphonies day without night, 
 " Circle His throne rejoicing , ye in heav'n, 
 " On earth join all ye creatures to extol 
 *' Him firft, Him laft, Him midft, and without end, 
 
 <e Faireft of Stars, laft in the train of night, 
 cc If better thou belong not to the dawn, 
 '* Sure pledge of day ! that crown'ft the fmiling morn 
 ** With thy bright circlet, praife Him in thy fphere, 
 !' While day arifes, that fweet hour of prime. 
 
 " ThoAi Sun, both eye, and foul of this great world ! 
 '* Acknowledge Him thy greater, found His praife 
 
 In
 
 AN ORATORIO. 249 
 
 ** In thy eternal courfe, both when thou climb'ft, 
 M And when high noon haft gain'd, and when haft 
 " fall'n. 
 
 " Moon ! that now meet'ft the orient Sun, now 
 
 " fly'ft 
 
 " With the fixt ftars, fixt in their orb that flies, 
 <e And ye five other wand'ring fires, that move 
 " In myftic dance, not without fong, refound 
 * c His praife, who out of darknefs call'd up light* 
 
 " Air ! and ye Elements, the eldeft birth 
 " Of Nature's womb, that, in quaternion, run 
 ** Perpetual circle multiform, and mix, 
 " And nourifli all things, let your ceafelefs change 
 ' Vary to your great Maker ftill new praife. 
 
 " Ye Mifts, and Exhalations that now rife, 
 ** From hill, or {learning lake, dufky, or grey, 
 ct Till the Sun paint your fleecy fkirts with gold, 
 c In honour to the world's great Maker rife, 
 " Whether to deck with clouds th' uncolour'd (ky, 
 " Or wet the thirfty earth with falling fhow'rs* 
 *' Rifing, or falling ftill advance His praife. 
 
 "His
 
 250 ADAM: 
 
 " His praife, y Winds, that from four quarters blow, 
 " Breathe fofr, or loud j and wave your tops, ye pines, 
 " With ev'ry plant, in fign of honour wave. 
 
 " Fountains i and ye that warble, as ye flow, 
 " Melodious murmurs, warbling tune His praife. 
 
 " Join voices, all ye living fouls ! ye birds ! 
 " That fi.nging, up to Heav'n's bright gates afcencj, 
 " Bear on your wings, and in your notes His praife. 
 
 " Ye that in waiers glide, and ye that walk 
 " The earth ; and {lately tread, or lowly creep, 
 " Witnefs if I be filent morn, or ev'n, 
 " To hill, or valley, fountain, or frefh made 
 " Made vocal by my fong, and taught His praife. 
 
 " Hail, univerfal Lord ! be bounteous ftill 
 " To give us only good ; and, if the night 
 <c Have gather'd aught of evil, or conceal'd, 
 " Difperfe it, as now light difpcls the dark." 
 
 RECIT ATIVp. 
 
 So pray'd they innocent ; then to their tafk 
 They difr'rent ways repair^ he, where his choice 
 
 Leads
 
 AN O R A T O R I . O, 1 
 
 Leads him, or where mod needs, whether to wind 
 The woodbine round his arbour, or direct 
 The clafping ivy where to twine ; while /he 
 In yonder fpring of rofes, intermixt 
 With myrtle, feefcs what to redrefs till noon. 
 Her long, with ardent look, his eye purfu'd 
 Delighted, but defiring more her ftay. 
 She, like a wood-nymph light of DELIA'S train, 
 Betook her to the groves, but DELIA'S felf 
 In gait furpafs'd, and goddefe-Iike deport. 
 Grace was in all her fteps, Heav'n in her eye; 
 Jn ev'ry gefture dignity, and love. 
 
 A I R. 
 
 " Grace was in all her fteps, Heav'n in her eye; 
 ." In ev'ry gefture dignity, and love." 
 
 END OF ACT THE SECOND. 
 
 ACT
 
 ADAM: 
 
 ACT III. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 THE GUARDIAN ANGELS. 
 
 RECITATIVE, 
 
 U R charge, tho* unfuccefsful, is fulfill'd. 
 The Tempter hath prevail'd, and Man is fall'q. 
 Earth felt the wound, and Nature, from her feat 
 Sighing thro' all her works, gave figns of woe. 
 That all was loft. The fatal omens reach'd 
 Our glittering files, and thro* th' angelic guard 
 Spread fadnefs, mixt with pity, not with guilt, 
 Or confcious negligence. After fhort paufe, 
 Earth trembled from her entrails, as again 
 In pangs, and Nature gave a fecond groan ; 
 Sky lower'd, and, mutt'ring thunder, fome fad drops 
 Wept at compleating of the mortal fin. 
 Now up to Heav'n we hafte, before the throne 
 Supreme, t* approve our faithful vigilance. 
 
 CHORUS,
 
 AN ORATORIO. 253 
 
 CHORUS. 
 
 ** Righteous art thou, O Lord ! and juft tre thy 
 cc judgments. 
 
 "HALLELUJAH!" 
 
 RECITATIVE. 
 
 But fee ! with vifage difcompos'd, and dim'd 
 With pafllons foul, like this late azure clime 
 With clouds, and ftorms o'ercaft, the human pair 
 Bend hitherward their fteps difconfolate. 
 
 SCENE II. 
 ADAM, AMD EVE. 
 
 R E C I TAT I V E. 
 
 ADAM. 
 
 O EVE ! in evil hour thou didft give ear 
 To that falfe worm, of whomfoever taught 
 To counterfeit man's voice, true in our fall, 
 
 Fate
 
 A D A M: 
 Falfe in our promis'd fifing, fince our eyes 
 Open*d we find indeed, and find we know 
 Both good and evil, good loft, and evil gotj 
 Bad fruit of knowledge ! 
 
 A I R 
 
 " How fhall I behold 
 
 kc Henceforth or God* or angel, erfe with joy^ 
 ct And rapture oft beheld ? O ! might I here 
 * c In folitude live favage, in fome glade 
 " Obfcur'd, where higheft woods, impenetrable 
 " To ftar, or fun-light* fpread their umbrage broad, 
 16 And brown as evening. Cover me, ye pines, 
 IC Ye cedars, with innumerable boughs 
 " Hide me, where I may never fee them more." 
 
 &E C I T AT I VE* 
 
 Wou'd thou had'ft hearken'd to my words* and 
 
 ftay'd 
 
 With me, as I befought thee, when that firange 
 Defire of wand'ring, this unhappy mornj 
 I know not whence pofiefs'd thee ! we had then 
 
 Rertlain'd
 
 AN O R A T O R I O. 25$ 
 
 Remain'd ftill happy ; not as now defpoil'd 
 Of all our good, ihamed, naked, mis'rable ! 
 
 AIR. 
 
 44 Let none henceforth feek needlefs caufe t* approve 
 " The faith they owe ; when earneftly they feek 
 " Such proof, conclude they then begin to fail." 
 
 EVE. 
 
 Imput'ft thou that to my defire, or will 
 Of wand'ring, as thou call'ft it, which who knows 
 But might as ill have happen'd thou being by, 
 Or to thyfelf perhaps, had'ft thou been there ? 
 " Was I t' have never parted from thy fide, 
 " As good have grown there ftill a lifelefs rib. 
 " Being as I am, why did'ft not thou, the heady 
 " Command me abfolutely not to go, 
 *' Going into fuch danger as thou faid'ft," 
 Too facil then, thou did'ft not much gainfay, 
 Kay, did'ft permit, approve, and fair difmifs. 
 Had'ft thou been firm, and fix'd in thy diflent, 
 Neither had I tranfgrefs'd, nor thou with me. 
 
 ADAM.
 
 256 ADAM! 
 
 ADAM. 
 
 A I R. 
 
 % " Thus it (hall befall 
 
 * e Him, who to worth in woman overtrufting* 
 " Lets her will rule ; reftraint flie will not brook, 
 " And left t* herfelf, if evil thence enfue, 
 ?' She firft his weak indulgence will accufe." 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 RECITATIVE. 
 ADAM, 
 
 O mis'rable of happy ! Is this the end 
 Of this new glorious world, and me fo late 
 The glory of that glory ? who now become 
 Accurft of bleifed ! Hide me from the face 
 Of God, whom to behold was then my height 
 Of happinefs. Yet well, if here wou'd end 
 The mis'ry ; I deferv'd it, and wou*d bear 
 
 i My
 
 AN ORATORIO, 257 
 
 My own defervings ; but this will not ferve. 
 All that I eat, or drink, or fhall beget, 
 Is propagated curfe. O voice once heard 
 Delightfully, " Increafe, and multiply." 
 Now death to hear ! For what can I increafe, 
 Or multiply but curfes on my head, 
 Heavy ! though in their place ? O fleeting joys 
 Of PARADISE, dear bought with lafting woe ! 
 " Did I requeft thee, Maker ! from my clay, 
 * e To mould me man ? Did I folicit thee 
 " From darknefs to promote me, or to place 
 " In this delicious garden ? As my will 
 " Concurr'd not to my being, 'twere but right 
 " And equal to reduce me to my duft, 
 " Defirous to refign, and render back 
 ?t All J receivU" 
 
 EVE. 
 
 O ADAM ! can I thus behold thee wretched, 
 Thus mis'rable thro* my default, nor drive 
 To fqoth thy grief, and foften thy diftrefs ? 
 
 3 ADAM.
 
 258 ADAM: 
 
 ADAM. 
 
 Out of my fight, thou ferpent ! that name bef| 
 Befits thee, with him leagu'd, thyfelf as falfe, 
 And hateful ! 
 
 '. But for thee, 
 I had continued happy, had not thy pride, 
 And wand'ring vanity, when leaft was fafe, 
 Rejected fny forewarning, and difdain'd 
 Not to be trufted ; longing to be feen, 
 Tho' hy the Devil himfelf. 
 
 Ai R, 
 
 O ! why did God, 
 
 " Creator wife ! that peopled higheft Heav'n 
 4t With fpirits mafculine, create at laft 
 " This novelty on earth, this fair defed 
 " Of Nature ! and not fill the world at once 
 " With men, as angels without feminine-?'! 
 
 Q EVE.
 
 AN ORATORIO. 259 
 
 EVE. 
 
 Forfake me not thus, ADAM \ Witnefs Heav'n ! 
 What love fincere, and rev'rence in my heart 
 I bear thee, and unweeting have offended, 
 Unhappily deceiv'd ! Thy {applicant 
 I beg, and clafp thy knees , " Bereave me not, 
 " Whereon I live, thy gentle looks thy aid^- 
 <c Thy counfel in this uttermoft diftrefs : 
 " My only flrength, and flay ! Forlorn of thee, 
 " Whither (hall I betake me, where fubfift ?" 
 While yet we live, fcarce one Ihort hour perhaps, 
 Between us two let there be peace, both joining, 
 As join'd in injuries, one enmity 
 Againft a foe, by doom exprefs alfign'd us, 
 That cruel ferpent. On me exercife not 
 Thy hatred for this mifery befall'n, 
 On me already loft, me than thyfelf I 
 
 More miferable : both have finn'd, but thow 
 Againft God only, I againft God, and thee: 
 And to the place of judgment will return, 
 
 S 2 There
 
 ADA M: 
 There with my cries importune Heav'n, that all 
 The fentence, from thy head remov'd, may light 
 On me, fole caufe to thee of all this woe, 
 Me ! me ! juft object only of his ire. 
 
 ADAM. 
 
 Alas ! ill able art thou to fuftain 
 His full wrath, whofe thou feel'ft as yet leaft part, 
 And my difpleafure bear'ft fo ill. If pray TS 
 Cou'd alter high decrees, I to that place 
 Wou'd fpeed before thee, and be louder heard, 
 That on my head all might be vifited, 
 Thy frailty, and infirmer fcx forgiv'n, 
 To me committed, and by me expos'd. 
 But rife Let us no more contend, and blame 
 Each other, blam'd enough elfewhere, but ftrive 
 In offices of love, how we may lighten 
 Each other's burthen in our fhare of woe. 
 Then to the place repairing, where our Judge 
 Prpnounc'd our doom, there let us both confefs 
 
 Humbly
 
 AN ORATORIO. 2 
 
 Flumbly our faults, and pardon beg, with tears 
 Wat'ring the ground, and with our fighs the air 
 Frequenting, fent from hearts contrite, in fign 
 Of forrow unfeign'd-, arid humiliation meek. 
 
 kECJTATIVE ACCOMPANIEDi 
 
 So fpake our Father penitent, nor EVE 
 Felt lefs remorfe. They forthwith to the placd 
 Repairing, where He judg'd them, proftrate fell 
 Before Him reverent, and both confefs'd 
 Humbly their faults, and pardon beg*d, with tears 
 Wat'ring the ground, and with their fighs the air 
 Frequenting, fent from hearts contrite, in fign 
 Of forrow unfeign'd, and humiliation meek. 
 
 SCENE
 
 M: 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 RECITATIVE. 
 EVE. 
 
 What tidings bring'ft them, ADAM ! from this new 
 
 gueft 
 
 Angelical, fo late arriv'd ? Alas ! 
 My trembling heart forebodes fome further ill ; 
 For far lefs mild methought his afpeft feem'd, 
 Than RAPHAEL'S, focial fpirit ! who wont fo oft 
 To fit indulgent with us, and partake 
 Rural repaft, permitting us the while 
 Venial difcourfe unblam'd. What tidings ? fay. 
 
 ADAM. 
 
 Our pray'rs are heard in Heav'n, and Death our due 
 By fentence then, when firft we did tranfgrefs, 
 Is of his prey defeated many days , 
 
 Giv'n
 
 AN ORATORIO. 263 
 tjiv'n us of grace, wherein we may repent. 
 So God appeas'd, from his rapacious claim 
 Will quite redeem us, and to life reftore. 
 But longer in this Paradife to. dwell, 
 As not befitting creatures ftain'd with fin, 
 He fuffers not, but fends us forth to till 
 The ground from whence he took us, fitter foil I 
 
 EVE. 
 
 AIR. A F F E T UOSO. 
 
 " O ! unexpected ftfoke, wbrfe than of death ! 
 *' Muft I then leave thee, PARADISE, thus leave 
 " Thee, native foil ! Thefe happy walks, and mades* 
 " Fit haunt of Gods ! where I had hope to fpehd 
 " Quiet, tho' fad the refpite of that day, 
 " That muft be mortal to us both. O flow'rs ! 
 " That never will in other climate grow, 
 * c My early vifitation, and my laft 
 " At ev'n, which I bred up with tender hand* 
 " From the firft op'ning bud, and gave you names, 
 " Who now mail rear you to the fun, and rank 
 
 S 4 " Your
 
 264 ADA Mi 
 
 <c Your tribes, and water from th* ambrofial fount ? 
 
 " Thee laftly, nuptial bow'r ! by me adorn'd 
 
 " With what to fight, or fmell was fweet ; from thee 
 
 " How mall I part, and whither wander down 
 
 " Into a lower world, to this obfcure, 
 
 " And wild ; how fhall we breathe in other air 
 
 " Lefs pure, accuftom'd to immortal fruits ?" 
 
 ADAM. 
 
 Lament not, EVE ! but patiently refign 
 What juftly we have loft, nor fet thine heart 
 Thus overfond on that which is not ours. 
 Thy going is not lonely I will guard 
 Thy fteps from harm, and all thy wants fupply. 
 
 E V E. 
 
 ADAM ! I feel within new life, new hopes 
 By Heav'n, and thee infpir'd. Then now lead on'y 
 In me is no delay. " With thee to go, 
 t{ Is to ftay here. Without thee here to (lay, 
 u Is to go hence unwilling. Thou to me 
 
 "Art
 
 AN ORATORIO. 26$ 
 
 " Art all things under Heav'n, all places thou ! 
 " Who for my wilful crime art banifh'd hence.'* 
 This further confolation yet fecure 
 I carry hence tho* all by me is loft, 
 Such favour I unworthy am vouchfaf'd, 
 By me the promis'd Seed (hall all rcftore. 
 
 So fpake our mother EVE. And ADAM heard 
 Well pleas'd, but anfwer'd not. For now too nigh 
 The Cherubim advanc'd j and, in their front, 
 The brand ifh'd fword of God before them blaz'd* 
 Fierce as a comet, which, with torrid-heat, 
 Smote on that clime, fo late their bleft abode ! 
 Some iiat'ral tears they drop'd, but wip*d them foon 2 
 The world was all before them, where to chufe 
 Their place of reft, and Providence their guide. 
 
 CHORUS. ALLEGRO. 
 
 " The world was all before them, where to chufe 
 " Their place of reft, and Providence their guide.'* 
 
 To
 
 TO THE 
 
 COMPOSER* 
 
 ftf^HE form of this piece is an Hiftorical 
 Drama, for this reafon, amongft others, viz. 
 the better to preferve the very words arid manner of 
 MILTON, which muft have been frequently alter'd, 
 and in many inftances greatly injur'd by any other 
 method. The Recitative confequently is of two 
 kinds, narrative* and interlocutory. Again, the nar^ 
 rative is either defcriptive, as in Act I. Scene I. and 
 other places, or elfe introductory to the dialogue, as 
 
 Scene
 
 [ *7 J 
 
 Scene II. and elfewhere. The Compofer will do 
 well to have an eye to thefe diftinctions, as mere 
 defcriptioii) or the introductory narrative will admit 
 of a different kind of Recitative from the conver- 
 falion part j the one being like painting in flill- 
 life, the other refembling the portraits of living 
 manners. 
 
 Perhaps he will wifh that the Dialogue contained 
 lefs of the Recitative, and more of the Air, and 
 Chorus. The Compiler however is of opinion 
 that there is a due proportion of each. And if 
 there is lefs opportunity for flourimes, and repeti- 
 tions, there is more room for fpirited, and fenfible 
 expreflion, to aflift the effect of the Dialogue upon 
 the paflions of the hearers, by means of an animated 
 and pathetic Recitative, as well as by a full exertion 
 of the force of mufical language in the Airs, where 
 the length of the performance will but feldom ad- 
 mit of dwelling for a long time together in a dif- 
 play of the minute excellencies of this art. 
 
 If
 
 If the Compofer fhould think that in fome placet 
 the Recitative is continued too long without the 
 intervention of Airs* in this cafe he will find fit 
 places for Airs, befides what his own judgment will 
 fuggeft to him, marked in this manner, page 244, 
 &c* 
 
 " I, from the influence of thy looks, receive." 
 
 Again. If hefhould think the parts aflign'd for 
 rnufical airs too prolix, in fome places they may 
 be morten'd, as in the Morning-Hymn, from 
 Faireft of Stars laft in the train of Night, 
 page 248, to 
 
 Made vocal by my fong, and taught His praife* 
 in page 250. 
 
 The Compiler is fenfible that he ought to make 
 an apology to a Compofer, for prefuming to in- 
 terfere fo much in his province, and he hopes the 
 true reafon will be accepted as fuch, viz. that 
 having beftowed more attention upon this work 
 i than
 
 th$n it was likely any ether perfon would, he 
 thought himfelf capable of pointing out the divifion 
 of it into its feveral parts of Act, Scene, Recitative, 
 Air, Song, Chorus, and the like ; and of fuggefting 
 fome few hints concerning the mufical expreffion in 
 general, though he confefies himfelf incapable, at 
 the fame time, of executing the mod minute arti- 
 cle of it. 
 
 FINIS.
 
 A 000 000 978
 
 m r 
 
 
 &*S