3991 MC76 The contrast THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES THE CONTRAST. THE CONTRAST: O R, A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE CHARACTERS O F T H E ENGLISH AKD IRISH, IN THE YEAR 1780. A POEM DUBLIN: Printed for WILLIAM HALLHEAD, No 63, Dame-Street. MDCCLXXX. THE CONTRAST. A P O E M. V-/H Britain? fav'rite feat of arts and arms, Where free-born virtue fpread her brighteft charms. How funk, how loft ! the boding fears arife, Thy wealth, thy pleafures call forth patriot Cghs. Where are the days ? the bleft the facred days, When Englijh honour Ihonc, with cloudlcfs rays. [ 6 ] 4 *f """* When equal laws their vig'rous arms dif- play'd , And wit, and genius fported in the fhade. Then public zeal in private worth began, And rofe, and grew to citizen from man. 10 A band of virtues trod thy fertile ground, And freedom fmil'd, and all things fmil'd around. I i f {*7^ Alas the chane ! While vice the foul de- praves, And foft pollutions melt down men to flave: For public crimes in private vice begin, And gen'ral luxury is general fin. Unhallow'd pleafures ftain the manly breaft; The pomp and riches of the golden Eaft, With torrid fury from th' afcendant ftrike, 20 To blaft the body and the foul alike] r ? i Fair truth and virtue from their path retire, And radiant honour veils the modeft fire. Where fhall we find in thefe degen'rate days, The voice of warning, or the guiding rays; The heav'n-taught knowledge which with thought began, Stampt by th' Eternal on unfpotted man ; That facred eye, that fure inftinclive light, That beam of god-head, darting on the right. Too well, too well, the world is underftood, To feek for private, now, in public good j 30 Britons your aims to mighty felf advance One ftep beyond is fiction and romance. To vileft means the thirft of pleafure bends 5 It knows no country, and it owns no friends. Thou darling Rachel of the modern throng, Bright in thy charms, refiftlefs in thy fong ; r s i To gain thy fmiles what purchafc is too dear f What tafk too mean ? wnat bondage too fcvere ? Eryoy'd, yet fought with unabated flame, With years of toil,, eternity of fhame ; 49 By thee the (Utefmen bows th' iwgenuoua bands, To ad bis earthly and abhorr'd commands ; When captive fouls are drawn to fatal bow'rs, And bowls of riot crown 'd with poifon'i flowers. In mortal apathy, (the fureft fign Of virtue loft and nations in decline) Th' enfeebled mind, is lifelefs, cold and dead ; And" tafte alike for books, and virtue fled. While wit and humour fcorn the polifh'd land Mere lufcious food the courtly throng demand* t 9 1 The callous mind, which fometimes felt of yore, Is touch'd and charm'd by ridicule no more. 50 Fair truth is banifh'd, fritter'd manly fenfe, To flimfy canting and to vain pretence. Tread foft ye poets ! fpare th' Hl-manner'd jft, And lull with fentiment the flumb'ring bread ; Exotic words, with hackney'd thoughts com- bine, Let decent dullnefs labour thro' the line; Forbid the rhyme with clumfy ftrength t* rage From poifon'd fatire weed the level page. Behold in groupes the filken bands retire : Ah fpare to fcorch them with poetic fire. 60 A foul deform'd can ill the glafs endure -, Thus books grow chafte, as men becomes im- pure. [ 10 ] In fuch an age, and fuch ill-fated foil No gen'rous youths purfue the letter'd toil, Or fchemes of good by midnight tapers plan : Far other ftudies form the rifing man. Thou foaring fpirit ! whom ambition fires, No claflic lore thine ardent wifh requires. Thy hopeful youth by living patterns frame ; Look not on books, they wake a dang'rous flame. 70 For what can fchoolmen.' what hitforians teach, But barren virtues thou muft never reach. What aid can Livy? what can Plato give ? Go to the brothell, and be taught to live ; Or feek the fage, with dice-box in his hand, Who forms the future ftatefmen of the land ; " ] Learn, learn from him, to weigh the nation's fate, The mighty chances in a caft of ftate. Thy confcious eye fhall in thyfelf behold, How vile is manhood, and how precious gold. The Delphic leflbn * bcft is taught by vice, 8 1 We learn our value, and we make our price. Or is there one, whom flavifli tafks offend, Whofe ccnter'd foul would on itfelf depend ; He wifely feeks foft oriental climes, And works his fortune out, by bolder crimes : That caftcrn treafures may a borough win ; And nobly raife the current price of fin. He pours corruption in a golden flood, And gives to perjury the price of blood, go Thus (hall his deeds their harmony maintain > Guilty alike to lavifh and to gain. No lights and fhades commix'd in chequer 'd ftrife, One genuine blackncfs cloths confident life. Ye heav'ns ! in mercy to the feeling few, Snatch both the pail and prefent from their view. Hide from ingenuous youth the claflic tome, TV immortal monuments of Greece and Rome ; Where free-born genius, by the graces dreft* Led wifdom forth, and thron'd her in the breaft. IOO Oh why behold the noble and refin'd The form of virtue rufhing on the mind, Embody'd feen by youths of antient fame, Tho' wafted now to (hade and airy name, Of old (he kindled inexpreflive love, And Greek} and Rsmans for her beauties drove* t 13 ] Now, (hould (he come to woo the Britijh train, Her brighteft beauties were difplay'd in vain; Condemn'd, profcrib'd, ah ! whither could {he y? To what fond bofom ? or what kindling Eye? no Unhappy land ! by antient forms un- done, The body left, the quick'ning fpirit gone. As fome fair oak which once his arms dif- play'd, To birds a dwelling, and to beads a {hade ; The gen'rous fap when creeping ivy drains, Blafts the young {hoots, and dries the fwel- ling veins ; [ 4 ] Decay 'd it ftands, empoifoned and deform, From lightnings black, and Oliver'*! by the ftorm. But ceafc my mufe, forbear thy fullcn fong; Nor brood in anguifh o'er the venal throng. Attend lerne to the goal of fame, ill A rifing nation ftarting for a name. Behold the beams of future glory rife, And bright fuffufions ftream along the ikies. See dawning arts the land of faints adorn, Oh hail the day-fpring of the glorious morn. ' When this green ifle rofe beauteous from the main, The loves and feelings rofe, a gentle train. r 's ] The air was balmy, light the zephyrs flew, A golden luftre ftreak'd th' ethereal blue ; 130 With genial foftnefs, gratulation mild, The morn like that of firft creation fmil'd. A graceful form, our guardian genius flood, And loofe his rayment waoton'd o'er the flood, Celeftial green, enwrought with purple flowr's, By fubtle fpirits wove in airy bow'rs ; His auburn hair in fhining trefles flow'd, His polifh'd cheek with youth immortal glow'd ; A crown of coral on his head he wore, The tuneful emblem of our ifle he bore. 140 And thrice he wav'd his hand, and round him came A thoufand minifters of fubtle flame. [ 16 ] " And hafte my fpirits to your new domain, ** With wakeful pinions {hade the fav'rite " plain : " The breezes temper, fhed profufion round ; " And purge from venom'd thing the holy " ground. " Oh ftill as now, her guiltlefs people fave, ' Her virgins modcft, and her ftriplings '* brave. ' Let av'rice ne'er dcbafe the manly mirtd, ** Nor guilty flames pollute the fofter " kind." 15* They to their taflc. which borne by vernal airs, The Genius to the pow'rs of fate repairs, That ply the loom in adamantine bowr's, As round their labours with th' obedient hours. [ '7 ] '* Some boon he cry'd (and wreath'd a beamy fmile) " Some happy portion for my darling ifle." The beft of boons confenting fate decreed, The gen'rous purpofe, and heroic deed ; But flernly added " Long th' lernian train*, " Shall pant and droop beneath the galling- * chain ; 1 60 " And long (hall Britain vaunt with cruel joy, '* The pow'r of fiends and demons to deftroy. " Her deadly arts (hall curfe the teeming land, " And blaft the labours of th' induftrious " band. Where plenty woes, and commerce hails the " plain, 4 Shall want and famine ftretch their gloomy ** reign. B [ '8 J " Yet fure, tho* late, (hail commerce crown " the foil " And plenty hail, and freedom guard the " toil.'* So fate decreed.* for mournful ages paft, Our land, our lives, our talents run to wafte. No blefling left us but the vital air, 171 TV exhaufted natives funk in deep defpair. To diftant climes, fome bolder fpirits fled ; They fought for freedom, and for freedom bled. While haughty Britain in th' afcendant towr'd A baleful night on fad lerne lowr'd. Dark dark eclipfe, without all hope of day, No wand'ring brightnefs, no reludtant ray. [ 19 1 But now 'tis o'er, the noxious blaze declines, And as it finks, our better planet fhines. The hour is come j -And hark ; the voice that cries, 181 " My fons, to freedom and to commerce rife ; " The God of Wealth (hall blefs the fav'rite " plain, *' Arife, and claim your portion of the main. - See arts of peace with arts of war combine, Allied, united in the vaft defign. Ev'n coldeft fpirits catch the gen'rous flame, Ev'n meaneft natures feel the godlike aim ; An a&ive heat, that knows nor paufe, nor reft, It glows, it flames, it burns from breaft to breaft. jgo The bufy murmur of th' induftrious train, The found of commerce, flies along the plain. t 20 ] And hark ! lerne calls her Tons to arms ; From plain to plain, we hear the glad alarms. On ev'ry breeze the facred banners ftream ; From hill to hill, the marfhall'd fquadrons beam. Not (hephcrd's carroll now, nor hunter's horn, But piercing fifes awake the ling'ring morn. Not rural fports the village throng delight, But warlike leflbns, and the mimic fight. 200 See gayly dread the virtuous bands appear, Dear to their country and to freedom dear. No venal braves by fome poor ftipend led, To fell their worthlcfs blood for daily bread ; No ready engines at a tyrant's word, 'trainft human rights to draw the guilty fword. Awake, alive, pofTeft with glory's charms, 'Tis virtue, virtue calls the hoft to arms. [ zi 3 They blend the citizen's and foldier's riame, And reafon fan&ifies the martial flame. 210 Each facred pledge that human life endears, Each awful call that founds to virtuous ears : The rifing energies of freeborn mind, The glorious ties that honour loves to bind j And laft, the promife of a deathlefs meed, Shall prompt, nor vainly prompt th' heroic deed. What honcft flames from ev'ry eye-ball dart ! What god-like tranfports heave the burfting heart! Now virtue reigns, fublime, fupreme, confeft ; A nation feels her like a fmgle breaft. Oh may we foon in patriot labours fee, All faiths unite, and partifans agree. [ 22 ] May tender charities, fraternal love, Compofe the warring feds that fiercely ftrove. Ten thoufand feveral paths may lead to heav'n ; One, only one, to public weal is giv'n. And concord is that one, by her alone, Shall commerce, wealth, and freedom be our own. And you, fair daughters of th' Hibernian foil, Shall you be wanting to the patriot toil ? 230 In ftory'd volumes lives the immortal praife Of virtuous dames, in Greek and Roman days. Did public danger private aid demand, They gave their jewels, with no fparing hand j They met their huflbands red from glorious wars, And k.ift with weeping joy their honeft fears. r 23 ] Nor fades the flame, that brightly burn'd of yore; It warms the maidens of the Atlantic fhorc. Fair fall the lot of ev'ry gentle maid, 239 Whofe lovely hands the work of freedom aid. Around her, may the vernal moments fling, The bloomy pleafures from the dewy wing. For her with pride the gallant heart (hall bleed, * For her ev'n cowards dare the mighty deed. How happy fhe, whofe milder ftars require, No painful virtues, no heroic fire ; Whofe flow'ry lot is fall'n in peaceful days, When cheap exertions win the patriot praife; Whofe very foibles give a myriad food, Whofe very luxuries are public good. 250 Not hers, to fend a brother to the field j To furbifh arms, a fire or fon muft wield ; t H ] To ftifle fwelling nature's tender cry, Then bid farewell without one feeble figh ; To banifh from her cheek the fearful pale, While the loud din comes thund'ring on the galej To meet a lover on the untimely bier, And nobly mourn without a woman's tear. Such trials heav'n feverely kind ordains To you, ye daughters of th' Atlantic plains. 260 And while ye nobly bear ; our female band Flaunt in the trappings of a foreign land. But one poor facrifice of tinfel pride, Their country claims ; and is that boon de- ny'd? Oh born with hearts the wretch's pangs to feel ! Shall Kile pomp your tender bofoms ftccl ? While foreign robes your polifh'd limbs enfold, Induftrious throngs mull fhuddcr in the cold. [ 25 ] That found of woe their infants piercing cries ! 269 Hear the loud groans of eager angui/h rife j And ye the caufe.- retire ye guilty fair, - Your charms be blafted, and your hopes def- pair. Oh heartlefs woman ! dar'ft thou wiih to prove Th' expanding raptures of parental love ? To view, to hear, a fmiling prattling race ? Or bend to fold them in a dear embrace ? Here female honour found a peaceful cell ; The meek-ey'd train of female virtues dwell. What praife is wanting to th' Hibernian dame ? One, one, alone, to feel the patriot flame. 280 And (he docs feel behold what arts of gain, At her foft bidding, fpread from plain to plain > What numbers toil to forge the various arm^ That conq'ring beauty feelcs for foft alarms. [ 25 ] Her rifmg foul unwonted ardour know? j Her lonely hour in tafk unwonted flows. Behold the maid her filken warp extend, And crofs the woof, and light with fhadow blend. Not fuch the web as wanton Helen * wove, With tales of wand'ring fill'd and guilty love ; 290 But fuch, as might in happier days and climes, Befeem the daughters of heroic times. The banner grows beneath her cunning hand, The fure Palladium of a freeborn band. How nobly is the glorious courfe begun ! Oh faint not, fail not, ere the race you run. * Horaer's Iliad, Book III. t 27 ] A fair expanfc, the field of virtue lies ; My friends, my brethren, to the labour rife. No feeble paufe, no cold unmanly ftay, Hafte, ru(h, afpire, where glory points the way. 300 Long may our fenate feel a virtuous pride, And patriot warmth with temper'd wifdoiu guide, With frugal care reftrain the bounteous hand, And fpare the pittance of a beggar'd land. And long our people hold each hand and heart, Conjoin'd, incorporate, no more to part ; Eternal band, the pledge of fmiling days, Of patriot ardours, and of virtuous praife. t May Britain foon her better int'reft know, Nor fpurn the good I ] Reftrain thy luxury, controul thy pride, Let prefent ills to future bleffings guide ; Like ftrong jfnttus from thy fall arife ; Renew'd by wcaknefs, and by madncfs wife. which it was borrowed. DUE on the last ~low. OCT 22 1998 AOSCNftLO MAMAG.Mi,Nt OftMAftV REC'O LO-UK OCT 25996 NOTON RAND INC. ZO GAYLAMOUNT PAMPHLET BINDER Mf Manufacture) by ftAYLORD BROS. Inc University Souther Librai