^^:
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 UNIVIKSITY Of 
 CAUWWMIA 
 
 SAN 0(080 

 
 POEMS, 
 
 ST 
 
 NATHANIEL BLOOMFIELD. 
 
 SECOND EDITION.
 
 AM ESSAY 
 
 ON 
 
 WAIR, 
 
 IN BLANK VERSE j 
 
 HQJVIJVGTOJV GREEJV, 
 
 A BALLAD ; 
 
 THE CUJLFMIT, 
 
 AND 
 
 OTHER POEMS, ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS : 
 
 B Y 
 
 NATHANIEL ELOOMFIELD. 
 
 SECOND EDITION. 
 
 ratNTED TOR THO. HURST, NO. 31, PATERNOSTER-ROW; 
 
 AND VERNOR AND HOOD, POULTRY, LONDON ; 
 BT P. GEDGE, HURT. 
 
 1803.
 
 PREFACE.. 
 
 w, 
 
 HOEVER has read the Preface to the FAR- 
 MER'S BOY will hardly fail of recollecting the Name 
 of NATHANIEL BLOOMFIELD ; the Author of the 
 POEMS here offer 'd to The Public. 
 
 It will be remembered that he there appears, with 
 his Brother GEORGE BLOOMFIELD, Handing in the 
 place of the Father, whom they had early loft, to 
 their younger Brother ROBERT. 
 
 It is natural to fuppofe that this brotherly inter- 
 ference, and it's confequences, greatly and advan- 
 tageoufly influenced the difpofitions, purfuits, and 
 habits of thought and conduct, of all three of the 
 Brothers. And it is the more exemplary when it 
 is confider'd how young the two eldeft were at 
 that time. 
 
 as
 
 vi PREFACE. 
 
 It is an encouraging inftance how much may be 
 effected for each other by the poor and uneducated, 
 if they have prudence, activity, and kind affections ; 
 and how unexpectedly, and to an extent far beyond, 
 apparent probability, fuccefs is given by Providence 
 to virtuous and benevolent efforts. 
 
 Beyond queftion, the Brothers of this Family are all 
 extraordinary Men : and perhaps every one of them 
 is more fo than he would have been without the 
 fraternal concord which has animated them all, and 
 multiplied the powers of all by union and fympathy. 
 
 Of NATHANIEL, as of ROBERT, my Account 
 ftnll be taken from communications by Letter, 
 made at my requeft by Mr. GEORGE BLOOMFIELD. 
 
 NATHANIEL BLOOMFIELD was born 23d Feb.* 
 1759. 
 
 * I had faid, .and certainly upon full authority, 2jd 
 April ; which the Author his-fe!f believ'd to be the Day: 
 and had remark'd accordingly it was a Day diftinguiflt'd 
 by the B'ntb and Death or' SHAKESPERE. But Mr. N. 
 BLOOMFIELD difcover'd and immediately communicated 
 the miftake as to the Day. Thus we lofe an interesting 
 coincidence: but we gain what is of greater value; a juft 
 and prompt facrifice to truth and candor. C. L.
 
 PREFACE. vii 
 
 He was the 3d Child and 2d Son of GEORGE 
 BLOOMFIELD, ofHonington: and was deprived of 
 his Father, by the Small-pox, when he was eight 
 years old. Like ROBERT, he learnt to read and 
 write of his MOTHER : and had, like him, his far- 
 ther inftruftion in Writing, and was taught the 
 firft Rules of Arithmetic, by Mr. RODWELL, of 
 Ixworth*: where alfo he feems to have had fomc 
 inftrudtion in Grammar. But his Mother being 
 then a Widow, his Grandfather (Mr.RoBiN MANBY) 
 kindly bound him Apprentice to Mr. HAYLETT, a 
 Tailor of Market-Marling : of which bufinefs the 
 Father of the BLOOMFIELDS had been. 
 
 He was here very kindly treated : and was found 
 to be an excellent Apprentice. 
 
 While here he learnt Church Mujic, (one of the 
 great confolations of energetic and penfive minds) 
 and fung in a company which was conducted by 
 Mr. SYDER. But when his voice broke, he could 
 make no figure among them : for it was not only a 
 Bafs of extremely narrow compafs, but <weak and 
 tremulous. 
 
 * Who is mention'd in the Prej'au to tie farmer's Hoy, 
 
 C.L.
 
 ?i PREFACE. 
 
 This latter defedt of voice was obferv'd in 
 THOMSON : and perhaps it may arife fometimes 
 not from a fault in the natural quality of the voice, 
 but from exceeding fenfibility to Poetry and Mufic. 
 
 When about 16 or 17 years of age he entered 
 with the fervor of a vigorous and thoughtful mind 
 into the ftudy of Religion, on the principles of the 
 Church of England: and added to his ftudy of it 
 what is the great end, the practice of Religion as a 
 rule of conduct and life. 
 
 At a ftall at Harling Fair he met with a Practical 
 Catecbi/M : the Author's name, PRATT : and at 
 the fame time he made the acquifition of a large 
 M>lume of TILLOTSON'S Sermons. Probably the 
 Folio Edition of the Sermons of that excellent Man 
 and Writer : fo diftinguifh'd by his Piety, uniform, 
 mild, and rational ; the morality of his excellent 
 Diicourfes ; their fimplicity and clearnefs ; and the 
 fweetnefs and perfuafivenefs of manner. Thefe, 
 and other religious Traces, he bought : and " the 
 laft" (Tillotfon) " he lent," fays Mr. GEORGB 
 BLOOMFIELD, " to me. I receiv'd many excellent 
 Letters from him on that fubjecT: : and they had 
 greater weight on my mind than if they had. been 
 written by an elder hand."
 
 PREFACE. ix 
 
 When his Apprentice/hip expir'd he came to 
 LONDON : and expected to find his Brother GEORGE 
 there. But GEORGE had taken a trip, " or tramp, as 
 it is called," into Kent. They however foon met in 
 LONDON : "and there never lived" (adds GEORGE) 
 ** a more pleafant acquaintance than he prov'd." 
 
 It was fome years before he could procure work 
 in LONDON fufficient to fupport him through the 
 dead Months. He us'd therefore, when he found 
 trade dull in Town, to go into the Country. 
 
 And thus, while at Woolwich, he became ac- 
 quainted with CHARLOTTE NOBLE, whom he 
 MARRIED 4th March, 1787; he being then in his 
 28th, and me in her 17th year. Her Mother was 
 a Widow : who kept a fmall General Shop. Her 
 Brother-in-law GEORGE, in fpeaking of this union, 
 fays, " There perhaps never liv'd a Woman who 
 poffefs'd a better temper: and he has, though 
 very poor, been exceedingly happy." For myfelf, 
 I wiih, in tranfcribing this account, that thofe who 
 think riches fo efiential to happinefs that they will 
 take no ftep in life, nor fuffer their hearts or their 
 underftandings to have any influence with them, 
 if the acquifition of riches feems likely to be de- 
 kyed or endanger'd, would confider that the
 
 * PREFACE. 
 
 Family of the BLOOMFIELDS has been happy, and 
 has excell'd, upon very different principles. And if 
 we would compare the thoufands in every fituation 
 of Life to whom what is called pro/ferity is a fnare, 
 a burthen and a curfe, with thofe who are happy 
 with mere necefiaries, and thofe with difficulty 
 
 obtain'd happy by their AfTedlions and their 
 
 Virtues ; by improv'd and generous and tender 
 Feelings ; by Hope amid difficulties, and Confidence 
 in Heaven amid trials and diflreffes,...it might be 
 feen and felt that there is more of folly in the wif- 
 dom of the world, than thofe who place Wifdom in 
 the accumulation of fuperfluities, to the neglecl of 
 the moft natural Blefiings, and often in violation 
 of the cleared Duties, either of Jujlice or of Bene- 
 volence, may be willing to acknowledge. 
 
 He has two Children living :...ELIZABETH ; 
 born llthya/. 1789; GEORGE; 4th Febr. 1797. 
 He loft," adds his Brother, " two fweet Boys : 
 who both died within a few days of each-other, 
 by that dreadful difcafe the SMALL-POX ;" which, 
 while this Preface was in the Prtfs, has been fatal 
 to another promifing Child, THOMAS ; born Aug. 
 1799. The Father, opprefst with grief, reproaches 
 himfclf for not having inoculated this Child with 
 the Small-Pox. But when it is coufider'd how for-
 
 PREFACE. xi 
 
 midable, after two fuch Lofies, the SMALL-POX in 
 any form muft appear to affectionate Parents, I think 
 it will be evident that he is too fevere to himfelf in 
 this reproach. The inoculated SMALL-POX is fome- 
 times fatal : had he inoculated the Child he would 
 have reproach'd himfelf, and ftill with more feeling 
 than juftice, for fo doing. 
 
 He had read but little Poetry when he came to 
 LONDON : but he had not been long there before he 
 was ftruck, looking, as was his cuftom, at Books 
 on a flail, with the Title of NIGHT THOUGHTS. 
 " He had never heard of it before : but it's name 
 " was an irrefiftible charm to his melancholy, en- 
 " quiring mind. This has been ever his favourite 
 " Book. He would have bought it had it been 
 " double the price. And as he pofleffes an un- 
 " commonly retentive memory, he us'd to repeat 
 " great part of it by rote in his walks with his 
 " Brothers. He afterwards read MILTON." 
 
 Such a Memory, and the ftudy of two fuch 
 Authors with poetic enthufiafm, may in part ac- 
 count for what exceedingly furpriz'd me in read- 
 ing the MSS. of THE ESSAY ON WAR :...a greater 
 maftery in the mechanifm, and greater power of 
 numbers, than I fhould have almoft thought poflible
 
 xit PREFACE. 
 
 in the firft attempt in BLANK VERSE; even to a 
 perfon of the beft education*. 
 
 He read too, GOLDSMITH and FIELDING. And 
 he added to thefe fome of our Englifh Poets as they 
 fell in his way. Among thefe THOMSON could 
 hardly fail to be: but Mr. G. BLOOMFIELD re- 
 marks, " he never was fo ftruck with THOMSON as 
 I. mould have expedled." 
 
 While fingle, he made it the amufement of his 
 evenings to read Entick's Diftionary y and write 
 down every word of which he wifh'd to remember 
 the fpelling or the meaning. He has often faid 
 that fince his buying of the Sermons in his early 
 youth, he had never bought for his own reading 
 any but poetical Books : and when he could get 
 hold of any milcellaneous Book, he read firft the 
 Poetry, and after look'd at no other part. 
 
 * This pofition has been controverted in Print. It is not 
 here the place to enter into a detail'd vindication or proof 
 of it. The Poems are before the Public : and I appeal to the 
 unbiafst ear and feelings of thofe Readers who, to a tafte 
 for poetic Modulation in it's more ufual form, unite, 
 what is far more rare, a perception of the peculiar excel- 
 lences of BLANK VERSE. I ought, however, to fay, that 
 my opinion in general of thefe Poems has been abundantly 
 feconded from the feme quarter in other rcfpccls. C. JL.
 
 PREFACE. xiii 
 
 With this turn of mind and habit of reading, 
 that he has through Life indulg'd in poetical effu- 
 fions will be no matter of furprize. But he has 
 more than once faid to his Brother GEORGE inLetters, 
 that it was the fuccefs of ROBERT that encouraged 
 him to attempt an EJJay on War: a fubjeci on 
 which he had occupied his thoughts a great length 
 of time. 
 
 " I remember," fays his Brother, " nothing par- 
 " ticular of his infancy : except the great fhare of 
 " bafhfulnefs (or, as a Philofopher perhaps would 
 " fay, pride) which he poflefs'd in common with 
 " the reft of the Family....Exceedingly mild in his 
 " temper and kind to his play -mates, he was very 
 ' apt in learning." 
 
 For the laft 15 years his own Account is that he 
 has certainly read but little : his Family having 
 claim'd his utmoft exertions ; and his bufinefs al- 
 lowing little leifure. And what leifure he had being 1 
 generally employed in walking with his Children. 
 Untill laft Summer he was a Journeyman Tailor : 
 but has fince been a MASTER in a fmall way. If 
 therefore he appears to poflefs any knowledge of a 
 literary nature, it muft be all from the ftores of 
 Memory.
 
 xiv PREFACE. 
 
 He at prcfent lives at No. 19, Dagget Court ; 
 Broker Row, Moorfields, London. He is (fays 
 MF.G.BLOOMFIELD) about 5F. 3l. high*: of adark 
 complexion, and dark gray eyes : he has loft the hair 
 from the top of his head, which gives him the ap- 
 pearance of Age. Though remarkable for talking 
 little, fo as to have the name of a man of few 
 words, he is, on occafion, a chearful companion : 
 and though generally penfive and melancholy, ever 
 kind-hearted. 
 
 " As a Hufband and Father, his character is cer- 
 *' tainly exemplary. And few men pafs through Life 
 " fo fmoothly. Though commonly working with a 
 " number of mop-mates, he has fuch a philofophical 
 " command of temper, that he never difputes ; nor 
 " concerns himfelf with the difputes of others, 
 " unlefs they refer to him for a decifion." 
 
 Thus far the Account by his Brother : who had 
 obferv'd in a former Letter, that with refpeft to 
 Temper, what he mould otherwife hare to fpeak of 
 NATHANIEL, he had in a great meafurefaid already 
 
 If True Natural Greatntfi all conjijtt in height," the 
 Family of the Bloomfiddt is molt unfortunate. The Father 
 Mr. George Bleomjield hz& 2 Inches lefs of this Greatnefs.
 
 PREFACE. xv 
 
 of ROBERT. Such a coincidence in mild and fimple 
 manners, amiable and good difpoiition, is pleating 
 to remark any where : and additionally fo when it 
 relates to Men who have each original and charac- 
 teriftic Genius ; and when the teftimony is given by 
 a Brother fo capable of judging, and who has had 
 fuch continued experience from their very early 
 Life, of the Difpofi tion and Character of both. 
 
 Having fpoken thus far of the AUTHOR, from 
 the beft authority, it remains for me to fay fome- 
 thing briefly of thefe his WORKS. 
 
 Early in the Spring of 1801, I faw in MSS. Ho- 
 NINGTON-GREEN, and the ESSAY ON WAR*. I 
 communicated them to Mr. GEDGE, Printer, of 
 BURY ; who had been a zealous and active Friend 
 to THE FARMER'S BOY: on reading them, he 
 wanted no time for deliberation, but offer' d at 
 once to print them for the benefit of the Author, 
 at his own rifque. I had known his accuracy as 
 a Printer : of which, and of neat Typography, I 
 
 * I had a hint from both the Brothers, GEORGE and 
 ROBERT, that NATIIANJEL had a turn for Poetry, and 
 had written what they believM would much pleafe me. 
 C.L.
 
 xvi PREFACE. 
 
 flatter myfelf this Publication will be a proof. I 
 had no difficulty to adopt the Propofal : and gladly 
 offcr'd, on my part, what little preparation (very 
 little indeed it was) might be necefiary of the MSS. 
 for the Prefs; (or rather in it's progrefs through it) ; 
 and to revife and corredt the Proofs. 
 
 My province has been quite of a fimilar kind in 
 this inftance as it was in that of Mr. ROBERT 
 BLOOMFIELD : little corrections, in point of Ortho- 
 graphy ; and ftill fewer of Grammar : fometimes 
 of Diction ; and fometimes of Versification. For 
 fome of the beft of thefe emendations I have been 
 indebted to one, in mentioning of whom I mould 
 have had an affectionate Pride : and have more in 
 that Modefty which forbids the mention. They 
 are, as I hav-- faid, few of any kind : For of emen- 
 dations I have been anxioufly fparing. Little was 
 requifite : and more than was fo would have been 
 blameable. I rely on the original MSS. being 
 preferv'd : which on this, as on the former oc- 
 cafion, will fpeak for itfelf. 
 
 I have Taidwhat I thought of THE FARMER'S 
 BOY. It is a truely agricultural Poem : it's origi- 
 nality and vivid reprefentation of immediate Nature 
 manifeft themfelves in the whole Defign, and in 
 every page. It will live with the works of HESIOD
 
 PREFACE. xvii 
 
 and THEOCRITUS; of VIRGIL and THOMSON. 
 I was nearly as much afiur'd of this from the 
 firft, and fo exprefs'd myfelf, as the event could 
 affure me. I will now fay with the fame freedom 
 what I think of the ESSAY ON WABL. 
 
 I regard it as a Poem of extraordinary vigor and 
 originality : in Thought, Plan, Conduct, Language, 
 and Versification. I think it has much indeed of 
 the philofophic character, poetic fpirit, force of 
 coloring, energy and pathos, which diftinguifh 
 LUCRETIUS. Of the juftnefs and fpirit of the 
 VERSIFICATION I have already fpoken. 
 
 The PRINCIPLE of the ESSAY ON WAR appears 
 to me, I will own, more paradoxical than I mould 
 think, to judge from their conduct, it can appear 
 to the ruling part at leaft of Mankind in general. I 
 indulge the hope and expectation that WAR mail 
 one day be univerfally and finally extinguifh'd. 
 But I will confefs alfo, that appearances would 
 tempt us to apprehend that day is far diftant. And 
 while we make War for Sport on ufeful, generous, 
 inoffenfive Animals, it is not eafy to imagine that 
 we mail ceaie to make War on one another.
 
 xviii PREFACE. 
 
 But whether the Principle of the Poem be well 
 or ill-founded, I can hardly imagine any abftra<5t 
 propofition to be more poetically, more forcibly, 
 or more cotnprehenfively maintrin'd. And I am 
 either ignorant wherein Genius confifts, or it is 
 manifeft in the Idea, the Style and Numbers, the 
 Defign and Conduct of this Poem. 
 
 Of HONIKGTON GREEN I am to fpeak next. 
 And here it may be right to obviate fome prejudice 
 againft the Poem, which, in the minds of feveral, 
 may arife from the fubjecl:. I am not an Enemy to 
 Enclofures: if the RIGHTS and INTERESTS of the 
 POOR, and of SMALL OWNERS, be very carefully 
 guarded, an ENCLOSURE may be a common 
 Benefit. However, it is very liable to become 
 otherwife. But be an Enclofure good or bad, 
 (and every Man has a right to his opinion, and to 
 fupport it by argument, on this fubject and every 
 other) there are particular circumftances and con- 
 fiderations which Hand clear of the fcope of the 
 general queftion. The Spot which is the fubjeft 
 of the Ballad is lefs, I believe, than Half an Acre. 
 It did certainly ornament the Village ; independent 
 of ajuft and laudable partiality in the Author. Thus 
 it would have feem'd to the cafual glance of a
 
 PREFACE. xbc 
 
 ftranger. To the BLOOMFIELDS every circum- 
 ftance gave it peculiar endearment. There the 
 Author of < THE FARMER'S BOY,' and of thefe 
 POEMS, firft drew breath. There grew the firft 
 Dailies which their feet prefs'd in childhood. 
 On this little Green their Parents look'd with 
 delight : and the Children caught the affedtion ; 
 and learn'd to love it as foon as they lov'd any 
 thing. By it's fmallnefs and it's fituation it was 
 no object : and could have been left out of Enclo- 
 fure without detriment to the General Plan, or to 
 any individual Intereft. 1 wifli it had : and moft 
 who love Poetry, and refpedl Genius, and arc 
 anxious to preferve the little innocent Gratifications 
 of the Poor, will have the fame wifh. 
 
 As a poetical effufion, it ftrikes me that it has 
 the tone, fimplicity, and fweetnefs, and pleafing 
 Melancholy of the Ballad. There is a ftroke or 
 two of indignant feverity : but the general charac- 
 ter is fuch as I have defcrib'd. And with filial 
 Gratitude and Love there is blended, in the clofe, 
 that turn for Reflection which is fo remarkable in 
 this Author....! wifh'd and recommended that 
 fome at leaft of the ornaments of * THE FARMER'S 
 BOY' mould be fketches of local fcenerj: knowing 
 b2
 
 xx PREFACE. 
 
 how much more interefting they would have been, 
 and how much more appropriate to the Poem. In 
 that recommendation Iwasnotfuccefsful; but lam 
 glad, in this inftance, to fee a faithful and agreeable 
 Sketch ofHonlngton-Green from a very young pencil *. 
 It will be remember'd, at a far remote Period, that 
 the double Cottage near the Church, at the end of 
 what was the Green, was the Birth-place of the 
 BLOOMFIELDS. It is ftill, (and may it yet be long 
 so) the habitation of their Mother^ : and has been 
 repair'd lately by ROBERT. And I much doubt 
 whether any Houfe or Green will fee two fuch 
 Poets born of the fame Parents. 
 
 THE CULPRIT is the next in this Collection, 
 and I had not feen it, nor was it written, when I 
 faw the two firft. They decided my Opinion ; 
 and had no more appear'd, they would have been 
 publhh'd alone ; as they abundantly deferv'd. 
 
 THE CULPRIT ftrikes me as an original and 
 highly affecting Poem. The very attempt to 
 Iketch the fuccefiive conflicting; feelings of one 
 thus circumftanc'd is no common effort. And 
 
 * A name-fake and relation of the Author : of the Age, 
 as 1 under! laud, of about 14. 
 
 f The pan nearest to the Church of the double Tene- 
 ment U that which is inhabited by Mrs. Glover.
 
 PREFACE. xxi 
 
 what compafs of thought ; what energy of ex- 
 preflion!...! do not always admit the juftnefs of 
 the arguments. But it is a Soliloquy in character : 
 and in judging of it, as in all pieces of reprefentat'rve 
 Poetry (as Mr. DYER, in his lately publifh'd 
 ESSAY has well term'd it) the imagin'd fituation 
 ought to be confider'd. And it ftrikes me as 
 doling with a true and aweful Pathos : not often 
 cquall'd. 
 
 The YORKSHIRE DIP is, I think, the refult of 
 that adlive but melancholy Fancy, which can travel 
 far into views of Life and Nature from a flight 
 occafion. It has a mixture of the Sportive which 
 deepens the impression of it's melancholy Clofe. I 
 could have wifh'd, as I have faid in a fhort Note, the 
 Conclufion had been otherwife. The fours of Life 
 lefs offend my Tafte than its fweets delight it. 
 But when I think what NATHANIEL muft have 
 felt in paffing through Life, I more refpedt the 
 Chearfulness and habitual Vigor of his Mind, 
 than I am difpos'd to be out of humor with oc- 
 cafional gloom. 
 
 LOVE'S TRIUMPH differs as much in manner as 
 in fubjeft from thofe which precede it. Yet a 
 vein of penfive and philofophic thought flows here 
 b3
 
 xxii PREFACE. 
 
 alfo. The SONG OF BALDWIN is well adapted to 
 foothe the fears and the difcontents of Poverty ; 
 and to convince thofe who have not learnt it, that 
 wealth, and rank, and power, and unlimited in- 
 dulgence, are not fuch Blessings as they are 
 imagin'd to be at a diftance : nor Poverty fuch an 
 Evil, that the firft and beft Bleffings of Nature 
 fhould be therefore thrown afide in defpair. 
 
 I may doubt on the expediency of the SONG OF 
 BALDWIN being in a different meafure ; but I can 
 not doubt of the general merit of the Poem. 
 
 The PROVERBS, like other compofitions of this 
 kind, muft reft chiefly on their moral Juftnefs, 
 Utility, Simplicity, and Concifeness, rather than 
 on poetic Excellence : though neither in form nor 
 coloring are they deficient of that compos'd and 
 grave Beauty which the Nature of the Subject 
 and Compofition admits. 
 
 MORE BREAD AND CHEESE contains the Prin- 
 ciple of the ESSAY ON WAR ; and of a celebrated 
 ESSAY ON POPULATION, which I dare fay the 
 Author never faw. It is ftrong, characteriftic, and
 
 PREFACE. xxiii 
 
 original : and although in the meafure of the 
 humorous Ballad, has much nerve and energy*. 
 
 I have now a Remark to make which relates 
 generally to the Versification. We may obferve of 
 HONINGTON GREEN, and moft of the Poems in 
 rhyme in this Collection, that they are ftrongly 
 accentuated : and if red with a clofe attention to 
 accent and emphafis, the rhythm is mufical 
 and energetic ; where to a carelefs Reader it might 
 appear harm and untuneable. 
 
 The LYRIC ELEGY which concludes this little 
 Collection is, I think, animated and pathetic in no 
 common degree. On the Merits of VACCINE INOCU- 
 LATION I do not think myfelf qualified to offer an 
 opinion. Great Doubts have been entertain'd con- 
 cerning it by medical Men of Abilities and Experi- 
 ence. Objections apparently ftrong were urg'd; and 
 of various kinds. At present it has had Declarations 
 in it's favor from among the moft diftinguifh'd of 
 
 * I am half tempted to fay of it 
 
 A Jefl may lit Lim ivbo a Sermon fits. 
 
 Ridiculum acri 
 Fortius ct melius magnas quandoque fecat re. C. L.
 
 xxi7 PREFACE. 
 
 it's Oppofers. And it feems to have little fhort of 
 a general reception in the medical JPbrW....Time 
 and Experience, the great Teft of Truth in fuch 
 inftances, muft determine for or againft it. But, 
 important as the Queftion is, poetical Merit is 
 comparatively independent on the corredlnefs of 
 a philofophic Syftem or Hypothefis. And reflect- 
 ing on his former Lofles and preient Calamities, 
 the Author could not hut feel a deep Intereft in 
 whatever feem'd likely to obviate fuch an Evil to 
 others. 
 
 I have obferv'd fome rather ftriking coincidences 
 with VIRGIL and LUCRETIUS. I might have 
 pointed out more ; and to other clajjic Authors. 
 But I fliould have extended this Preface too far. 
 At the fame time, such a concurrence in the Sen- 
 timents and Expreffions of Genius in very diftant 
 Ages, and under widely different Circumftances, 
 is always interesting ; even where it can be refolv'd 
 with Certainty, or Probability, into IMITATION: 
 and much more fo, when, as in thefe Poems, it is 
 certain that it CAN NOT. 
 
 I have very few Words more to fay in prefenting 
 this little Volume to the PUBLIC. Specimens they 
 will find in it of fuch different kinds of Compo-
 
 PREFACE. TXT 
 
 fition, as the fame individual rarely can attempt 
 with fuccefs. Yet through great diverfity of Style, 
 Diflimilarity of Meaftire, and Variety of Sentiment 
 and Subject, may be feen the fame Mind: and 
 Traces of the fame Manner, and that manner pe- 
 culiarly chara<fteriftic...a mixture of contemplative 
 equanimity, of incidental gleams of vivacity ; of 
 energy frequently pathetic, fometimes farcaftic, 
 and not feldom fublime. And we have here an 
 additional proof, that a true poetic Spirit, in 
 whatever Breaft it inhabits, will create Thoughts, 
 Language, and Numbers, worthy of the Mufe, 
 however unfavorable the occupation and habits 
 of Life. 
 
 Mr. NAT HAN i EL BLOOM FIELD was not without 
 his fears, however, left it fhould be thought, that, 
 although THE MUSE can vint a SHEPHERD'S BOY, 
 there may be fome employments which exclude 
 her influence. That a TAYLOR fhould be a POET, 
 he doubted, might appear too ftartling an Afier- 
 tion. And he had faid accordingly to his Brother 
 GEORGE, in a Letter, when this Publication was 
 firft going to Prefs, " I want you to exclude the 
 ' word Taylor. Let there be no fuch Word in the 
 " Book. But perhaps I am too late. I know
 
 xxvi PREFACE. 
 
 ** there is in the public Mind as great contempt 
 " for him who bears the appellation of Taylor , 
 ** as STERNE has made old SHANDY have for 
 " SIMKIN, NECKEY, or TRISTRAM. Howmany 
 " C^SARS and POMPEYS, fays he, by mere in- 
 " fpiration of the names, have been rendered 
 " worthy of them ? And how many are there 
 " who might have done exceedingly well in the 
 " World, had not their Characters and Spirits been 
 totally deprefs'd and Nicodemiz'J; and I will 
 " add (fays Mr. N. BLOOM FIELD) taylor'd into 
 " nothing? In the REHEARSAL, the Author, to 
 * make the moft ridiculous part of it ftill more 
 " ridiculous, tells us, that it was written to a 
 " Taylor* and by a Taylor's Wife. And even the 
 " difcerning SPECTATOR has given into this 
 * common-place raillery in the Monkey's Letter 
 " to her Miftrefs. He has made the Soul which 
 " inhabited Pug's Body, in recounting the hu- 
 " miliating State it had formerly been in, fay, 
 " that he had been a Taylor, a Shrimp, and a 
 " Tom-tit. It is from thefe caufes, as well as 
 ** from the habits and appearance contracted by a 
 " reclufe and fedentary Life, that, in the en- 
 * lighten'd, as well as the ignorant, the ideas of
 
 PREFACE. xxvii 
 
 " Taylor and Infignificance are infeparably link'd 
 together." 
 
 I prevail'd, notwithftanding, that this word, 
 whofe anti-poetic influence is fo dreaded, fhould 
 be in the Book. About half a Century ago, 
 there feem'd a degree of incredulity as to the 
 poffibility of Courage in a Taylor. ELLIOT'S 
 LIGHT HORSE, at that time compos'd of Taylor- 
 Volunteers, effectually overcame that prejudice. 
 It remain'd to diflblve another (till more irrational 
 prepofieffion, that a Taylor cannot be a Poet. And 
 this Volume will be a victorious Hoft againft an 
 Army of fuch Prejudices. Indeed the Force is 
 greater than fuch a Combat requires : for ftubborn 
 as other Prejudices may ftill be, our litterary Pre- 
 judices have, in this Age, been rapidly giving way 
 to Candour, Reafon, Common-Senfe, and the Evi- 
 dence of Fadt. We have long known that a 
 Scotch Plough-Boy and a Milk-Woman* could ftill 
 be Poets of high and almoft fingular Excellence. 
 And if Improbability were any thing againft Fadt, 
 it would be far more improbable, that two Bro- 
 thers ihould be fuch Poets as ROBERT and 
 
 * BURNS, and Mrs. YEARSLEY.
 
 xxviii PREFACE. 
 
 NATHANIEL BLOOMFIELD are, than that a Taylor 
 fhould be a Poet. It remains then for Prejudice 
 to vanifh like Mifts before the Sun : while the two 
 BROTHERS fociably afcend PARNASSUS together ; 
 higher than ever Brothers have climbed before : I 
 might add, each of them to an height which but 
 few have ever reach'd*.. 
 
 CAPEL LOFFT.f 
 
 Troflon-Hall, 2 Jan : 1803. 
 
 * Pauct guos aquas amajtt 
 r, atque ardens evcxit ad xthera Virtus, 
 Felices, potuere ! 
 
 I know indeed of but one Family of Brothers who have 
 attain'd great poetical eminence, excepting the present 
 instance. C. 1 . . 
 
 f I am happy, in ten days from the first Publication^ 
 to find that a second Edition is required. C. L. 
 
 12 Febr; 1803.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 'ESSAY ON WAR 1 
 
 HONINGTON GREEN- - 29 
 
 THE CULPRIT 41 
 
 YORKSHIRE DIP - 65 
 
 LOVE'S TRIUMPH - 71 
 
 PROVERBS OP THREESCORE - 85 
 
 MORE BREAD AND CHEESE 89 
 
 LYRIC ADDRESS TO DR. JENNER * 93
 
 ESSAY ON WAR. 
 
 MAN'S fad neceflity, deftruclive War, 
 Sweeps to the grave the furplus of his fons, 
 Where'er the kindly clime and foil invite 
 To Love ; and multiply the Human Race. 
 
 Around the World, in every happier fpot 
 Where Earth fpontaneous gives nutritious fruits, 
 Her fofteft verdure courting human feet, 
 And mofly grots, beneath protecting (hades, 
 The Stranger's envy, the Poffefibr's pride ; 
 There, as increafing numbers throng each bower,
 
 USSAY ON WAR. 
 
 IVar for room requir d by encreai d Population, v. II. 
 
 Frequent and fatal rivalfhips arife ; 
 
 And ruthlefs War eredls his hideous creft. 
 
 Soon as Appropriation's iron hand 
 Aflays to grafp the Produce of the Earth, 
 And Youths aflert hereditary power, 
 Propriety exclufive, and in arms 
 League to defend their patrimonial rights, 
 Indifputable claim of Fruits and Fields 
 Contending, oft their maflive clubs they raife 
 Againft each other's life : often, alas, 
 The needy cravings of the unportion'd poor 
 Provoke their jealous wrath ; relentlefsly 
 Tenacious of their ftore, they Ihut him out, 
 'Midft defart Famine, and ferocious Beafts, 
 To guard his life and till the fteril foil ; 
 And thus extend the range of human feet. 
 Still as Experience, in her tardy fchool, 
 Inftrufts the Shepherd and the Hufbandman
 
 ESSAY ON WAR. 
 
 v. 38. Witb Arts of Ufe and Cumfort fprlng tloft of War. 
 
 To great increafe their flocks and herds to rear, 
 To till the ground, and plant the fruitful tree 
 In flow progreflion rifing into ufe, 
 Nurtur'd by her the infant Arts appear. 
 While fage Experience thus teaches Man 
 The ufeful and the pieafant Arts of Life, 
 She in harfh ledures, in the frequent broil, 
 Enjoins her Pupil ftill to cultivate 
 The fatal, neceflary, Art of War. 
 
 The Artizan, who, from metallic ores 
 Forms the (harp implements to drefs the glebe, 
 And prune the wild luxuriance of the tree ;... 
 By him is made the fword, the fpear, the fliaft, 
 By Man worn to defend him againft Man. 
 
 Moft blefs'd the country where kind Nature's face 
 In unfophifticated Freedom fmiles : 
 Happy the tenants of primeval days 
 When young fociety is in it's fpring : 
 B 2
 
 4 ESSAY ON WAR. 
 
 Bltffings of the Infant State of Society. v. 47. 
 
 Where there is room and food for millions more, 
 Love knows no check : the votaries of Love, 
 The happy votaries of Wedded Love, 
 Know not the curfe of peopled, polifh'd, times ; 
 The curfe to wifli their children may be few. 
 
 Sweet converfe binds the cords of focial love : 
 When the rude noife and geftures that ere while 
 Imperfectly exprefs'd the labouring thought 
 By focial concourfe are improv'd to Speech : 
 Speech, reafoning Man's diftinguifhing perfection ; 
 Speech, the ineftimable vehicle 
 Of mental light, and intellectual blifs ; 
 Whence the fair fruits of Holy Friendfhip grow, 
 Prefenting to fond Hope's enamour'd fight 
 The fairy profpect of perpetual Peace. 
 Advanc'd Society's prudential Laws, 
 The moral virtues of the enlighten'd mind, 
 And all the ties of Intereft and of Love,
 
 ESSAY ON WAR. 
 
 V. 67. Peace cannot loft beyond the Infancy of Society. 
 
 In vain confpire to nurfe their favourite Peace, 
 
 And banifh dire Immanity and War. 
 
 Strong Nature's bent, continual increafe*, 
 
 Still counteracts Humanity's fond with, 
 
 The perpetuity of Peace, and Love j 
 
 Alas ! Increafe progreffive cannot laft. 
 
 Soon mourns the encumber'd land it's human load : 
 
 Too foon arrives the inaufpicious hour ; 
 
 The Natal Hour of the unhappy Man, 
 
 Whp all his life goes mourning up and down 
 
 That there is neither bough, nor mud, nor ftraw 
 
 That he may take to make himfelf a hut : 
 
 No, not in all his native land a twig 
 
 His hand may pluck ; nor fpot of green grafs turf, 
 
 Where without trefpafs he may fet his foot. 
 
 Now Want and Poverty wage War with Love ; , 
 
 * V. 69. Nothing inharmonious in this line, if continual 
 be pronounced as a full Quadhfyilable ; as it ought in 
 Verfe. C. L.
 
 ESSAY ON WAR. 
 
 War deflind to firefcrve the Equilibrium of Population. V. 83. 
 
 And hard the conflid : horrible the thought, 
 
 That Love, who boafts of his all-conquering impulfe, 
 
 Should have to mourn abortive energies... 
 
 But in proportion as Mankind increafe, 
 
 So evils multiply : till Nature's felf, 
 
 (The native paflions of the human mind) 
 
 Engender War ; which thins, and fegregates, 
 
 And rectifies the balance of the World : 
 
 As thick-fown plants in the vegetable world, 
 
 With ftretching branches wage continual War ; 
 
 Each tender bud ftirinks from the foreign touch 
 
 With a degree of fenfitive perception ; 
 
 Till one deforms, o'er-tops, and kills the other. 
 
 Like Summer fwarms, that quit their native hives, 
 The offspring of increafing families, 
 Who find no room beneath their fathers' roofs, 
 No patrimony nor employ at home, 
 Colleagu'd in bands explore the defart wilds,
 
 ESSAY ON WAR. 
 
 V. 109. War bctiveen hordes of emigrating Stranger Nations. 
 
 To feek adventures ; or to feek their food : 
 
 If chance they meet with rovers (like themfclves) 
 
 Whofe home is far away in diftant vales, 
 
 Behind the mountains, or beyond the lake ; 
 
 Inftindlively they war where'er they meet : 
 
 The friendly parley cannot intervene ; 
 
 The unknown tongue does but create alarm : 
 
 With jealous fears, ftern looks, and brandifh'd arms, 
 
 They ftand aloof: as birds of diftant groves 
 
 At the ftrange note prepare for inftant War. 
 At firft they Ikirmifliing difpute the right 
 
 Of hunting in the unappropriate wafte : 
 
 But every onfet aggravates their hate ; 
 
 Till each increafing force, whetting their fwords, 
 
 With purpos'd malice feeking out the foe, 
 
 Alternate by reprifal and revenge, 
 
 Doubly compenfate each difcomfiture. 
 
 Yet feek not to attack each-other's home,
 
 ESSAY ON WAR. 
 
 Invaftoas on account of violated Women. V. I2O. 
 
 Where Age, and Infancy, in fafety dwell : 
 They war but with freebooters : private Peace 
 And Female Covert, Valour feorns to affail. 
 But when in evil hour fome female hand, 
 Whether by force of Love, or force of Arms, 
 Is led acrofs the defart by the Foe j 
 The jealous fury kindles to a flame : 
 No longer facred the domeftic hearth : 
 Fire, Death, and Devastation, mark their way, 
 And all the horrid crimes of favage War. 
 
 Now War becomes the bufinefs of the State : 
 The moft humane, the moft pacific men, 
 Muft arm for War, or lofe all they hold dear : 
 The forrows of the Aged, Infant cries, 
 And Female Tears, refiftlefsly prevail: 
 Can gentleft natures be in love with Peace, 
 When Love, moft tender Love, excites to War I 
 No...When fome lov'd and honor'd Youth diftrefe'd,
 
 ESSAY ON WAR. 
 
 v. 13 7. Love the Jtrongrjl and moft natural caufe of War. 
 
 Railing his head amongft his arm'd compeers, 
 Tells that the well-known honourable Maid, 
 The Virgin Miftrefs of his deareft hopes, 
 Is ravifh'd from him, borne by force away ; 
 Though pierc'd with grief, yet nobly he exclaims, 
 ' Think not I wifh to' embroil you in my fate : 
 
 * For though not one of you efpoufe my caufe, 
 ' I fingly will attempt the defperate deed. 
 
 * Farewell : I go to find my Love, or die !' 
 
 Silent and motionlefs the legions ftand, 
 By looks examining each-other's heart : 
 But foon a murmur through the ranks proceeds, 
 Swelling as quickly a terrific roar ; 
 Like heavy waters breaking from their mounds, 
 A long, and loud, and inarticulate fhout, 
 While every weapon vibrates in the air, 
 And hiffes it's fierce vengeance at the foe. 
 
 The righteous caufe admits of no delay ;
 
 10 ESSAY ON WAR. 
 
 Violence of conflifiing Pajpons at Sight of an Enemy, v. I6Z. 
 
 No tardy foot impedes the' immediate march : 
 The Enemy, not taken by furprife, 
 Wak'd by the watchful fears of confcious guilt, 
 On their frontiers await the coming Foe. 
 
 Now at the near approach of threatening Death, 
 Full many-a thinking, fighing, aching heart, 
 Indulges fecretly the hopelefs wilh 
 For Life, and Peace...Alas ! it cannot be : 
 To advance is to encounter dreadful danger ; 
 But to recede, inevitable death ; 
 His own aflbciates would deal the blow : 
 
 Thus led by Fate, behold upon the plain, 
 The adverfe bands in view, and in advance. 
 Now Fear, Self-pity, and afFe&ed Courage, 
 Speak in their hideous fhouts with voice fcarce human} 
 Like that which ifiues from his hollow throat 
 Who fleeping bellows in a frightful dream. 
 More near their glaring eye-balls flaihing meet ;
 
 ESSAY ON WAR. 11 
 
 'i 
 
 v. 178. Solitary wounded Combatant amid the Dying and Dead. 
 
 Terror and rage diftorting every face, 
 Inflame each-other into trembling fury. 
 
 Soft-ey'd Humanity, oh ! veil thy fight ! 
 'Tis not in Rationality to view 
 (Even in thought) the dire enfuing fcene ; 
 For Madnefs, Madnefs reigns, and urges men 
 To deeds that Rationality difowns. 
 
 Now here and there about the horrid Field, 
 Striding acrofs the dying and the dead, 
 Stalks up a man by ftrength fuperior, 
 Or fldll and prowefs in the arduous fight, 
 Preferv'd alive :...fainting he looks around j 
 Fearing purfuit, nor caring to purfue. 
 The fupplicating voice of bittereft moans, 
 Contortions of excruciating pain, 
 The fhriek of torture and the groan of death, 
 Surround him ; and as Night her mantle fpreads, 
 To veil the horrors of the mourning Field,
 
 J2 ESSAY ON WAR. 
 
 Female Friends feeting for Dead or Wounded Relatives, v. 198. 
 
 With cautious ftep fliaping his devious way, 
 He feeks a covert where to hide and reft : 
 At every leaf that nifties in the breeze 
 Starting, he grafps his fword ; and every nerve 
 Is ready ftrain'd, for combat or for flight. 
 
 Thus lift'ning to ward off approaching foes, 
 A diftant whifpering, fighing, murmuring found 
 Salutes his ear, and to his throbbing heart 
 Soft tidings tells of tendernefs and love. 
 For on that fatal day of vengeful ire, 
 At fearful diftance following the hoft, 
 From either country came a female throng ; 
 And now beneath the covert of the night 
 Advancing, guided by the voice of woe, 
 Where on the earth the wounded mourners lie, 
 With trembling fteps and fearful whifpering voice, 
 Each feeks, and calls, him whom me came to feek : 
 And many a fugitive, whom force or fear
 
 ESSAY ON WAR. is 
 
 "V. 214. Morning after the Battle....Symf>atby....Comf>aflion, 
 
 Had driven from the Field, fteals foftly back, 
 Anxious to know the fate of fome lovM friend. 
 Mutual fears appal the mingled group, 
 Starting alternate at the unknown tongue : 
 They fear a foe in each uncertain form 
 That through the gloom imperfectly appears. 
 The mournful horrors of the doleful night 
 Melt every heart :...and when the morning's beam 
 Shews the fad fcene, and gives an interview, 
 Refentment, that word torment of the mind, 
 Refentment ceafes, fatiate wrath fubfides. 
 Woman is prefent : and fo ftrong the charm 
 Of weeping Woman's fafcinating tears, 
 That though furviving Heroes' unwafh'd hands 
 Still grafp the falchion of horrid hue, 
 And though their fallen brethren from the ground 
 May feem to call for Vengeance from their hands, 
 The imptilfe of Revenge is felt no more ;
 
 ESSAY ON WAR. 
 
 Long remembrance of the Horrors of War. v. 234. 
 
 No more the ftrange attire, the foreign tongue 
 Creates alarm : for Nature's-felf has writ 
 In every face ; where every eye can read 
 Repentant Sorrow, and forgiving Love. 
 Their mingled tears warn the lamented dead : 
 On every wound they pour foft pity's balm : 
 Ere Sorrow's tears are dried, they feel the fpring 
 Of new-born joys, and each expanding heart 
 Contemplates future fcenes of Peace and Love. 
 Long, e'en as long as room and food abound, 
 They interchange their friendly offices 
 For mutual good ; reciprocally kind : 
 And much they wonder that they e'er were foes. 
 Still War's terrific name is kept alive : 
 Tradition, pointing to the rufty arms 
 That hang on high, informs each lift'ning youth 
 How erft in fatal fields their Grandfires fell j 
 Childhood attentive hears the tragic tale ;
 
 ESSAY ON WAR. 15 
 
 V. 244. Gunpowder ; it's tremendous effic&s. 
 
 And learns to fhudder at the name of War. 
 
 GUNPOWDER ! let the Soldier's Pean rife, 
 Where e'er thy name or thundering voice is heard: 
 Let him who, fated to the needful trade, 
 Deals out the adventitious {hafts of Death, 
 Rejoice in thee ; and hail with loudeft fhouts 
 The aufpicious era when deep-fearching Art 
 From out the hidden things in Nature's ftore 
 Cull'd thy tremendous powers : and tutored Man 
 To chain the unruly element of Fire 
 At his controul, to wait his potent touch ; 
 To urge his miffile tolls of fudden Death, 
 And thunder terribly his vengeful wrath. 
 Thy mighty engines and gigantic towers 
 With frowning afped awe the trembling World. 
 Or weak or powerful what efcapes thy force ? 
 When thy dire thunder and thy fudden blaze 
 Hath taught the Birds to tremble...little know,
 
 16 ESSAY ON WAR. 
 
 Gunpowder, a humane Jifcovery. v. 279. 
 
 Ah ! little know thofe gentle Sons of Air 
 How fully their Deftru&ion is aveng'd : 
 That Man hisfelf, thy terror's boafted Lord, 
 Within the blacken'd hollow of thy tube, 
 Affrighted fees the darkfome fhades of Death ; 
 Nor only mourning groves, but human tears, 
 The weeping Widow's tears, the Orphan's cries, 
 Sadly deplore that e ? er thy powers were known : 
 Hofts whirl'd in Air, and Cities funk in Flames, 
 Atteft the horrid Triumphs of thy Might. 
 Yet let thy Advent be the Soldier's Song,.. 
 No longer doom'd to grapple with the Foe 
 With Teeth and Nails....When clofe in view, and in 
 Each-other's grafp, to grin, and hack, and ftab ; 
 Then tug his horrid weapon from one breaft 
 To hide it in another :...with clear hands 
 He now expertly poizing thy bright tube, 
 At diftance kills ; unknowing and unknown ;
 
 ESSAY ON WAR. IT 
 
 V. 491. Cafttes, &c. proofs of the continued prevalence of War. 
 
 Sees not the wound he gives, nor hears the fhriek 
 Of him whofe breaft he pierces....GuNPOWDEn! 
 (O ! let Humanity rejoice) how much 
 The Soldier's fearful work is humaniz'd, 
 Since thy momentous birth...ftupendous power ! 
 
 In Britain, where the hills and fertile plains, 
 Like her hiftoric page, are overfpread 
 With veftiges of War, the Shepherd Boy 
 Climbs the green hillock to furvey his flock ; 
 Then fweetly fleeps upon his favourite hill, 
 Not confcious that his bed's a Warrior's Tomb. 
 
 The ancient Manfions, deeply moated round, 
 Where, in the iron Age of Chivalry, 
 Redoubted Barons wag'd their little Wars ; 
 The ftrong Entrenchments and enormous Mounds, 
 Rais'd to oppofe the fierce, perfidious Danes ; 
 And ftill more ancient traces that remain 
 Of Dykes and Camps, from the far diftant date 
 c
 
 is ESSAY ON WAR. 
 
 Men quit a peaceful Country to feet War abroad. V. 313. 
 
 When minftrel Druids wak'd the foul of War, 
 And rous'd to arms old Albion's hardy fons, 
 To ftem the tide of Roman Tyranny :... 
 War's footfteps, thus imprinted on the ground, 
 Shew that in Britain he, from age to age, 
 Has rear'd his horrid head, and raging reign'd. 
 
 Long on the margins of the Giver Tweed 
 Oppofing Enfigns wav'd ; War's clarion 
 Dreadfully echo'd down the winding ftream, 
 Where now fweet Peace and Unity refide : 
 The happy Peafant of Tweed's fmiling dale, 
 Whene'er his fpade difturbs a Soldier's bones, 
 With fhuddering horror ruminates on War : 
 Then deeper hides the aweful fpecTiacle ; 
 Blefling the peaceful days in which he lives. 
 
 Since Peace has blefs'd the villages on Tweed, 
 And War has ceas'd to drive his iron car 
 On Britain's fhore, what myriads of men
 
 ESSAY ON WAR. 
 
 v. 339. Hi/lory full of War. 
 
 Over the Eaftern and the Weftern Seas 
 
 Have follow'd War, and found untimely graves. 
 
 Where'er the jarring interefts of States 
 
 Excite the brave to' advance their native land 
 
 By deeds of arms, Britons are foremoft found. 
 
 The fprightly bands, haste'ning from place to place, 
 
 Gayly caroufing in their gay attire, 
 
 Invite, not force the train of beedlefs youths, 
 
 Who croud to mare their jollity and joy : 
 
 To martial mufic dancing into death, 
 
 They fell their Freedom for a holiday : 
 
 And with the Rich and Great 'tis Glory charms, 
 
 And Beauty's favor that rewards the Brave. 
 
 All the hiftoric Records of the World 
 Are little more than hiftories of Wars; 
 Shewing how many thoufands War deftroy'd, 
 The time, the place, and fome few great ones' names. 
 The mournful remnants of demolish'd States, 
 c 2
 
 20 ESSAY ON WAR. 
 
 Sla-vi/b Peace more cruel and more horrid than War, v. 349. 
 
 The Greek, the Roman, and long-exil'd Jew ; 
 
 Are living monuments of wafting War's 
 
 Annihilating force : and while they mourn 
 
 Their Grandeur faded, and their Power extincl, 
 
 To every State memento mori founds. 
 
 From age to age the habitable World 
 
 Has been a conftant theatre of War : 
 
 In every land with Nature's gifts moft bleft, 
 
 Frequent and fatal War's deftruftive rage. 
 
 So bland is fair Britannia's genial clime, 
 
 So liberal her all-protecting Laws, 
 
 So generous the fpirit of her Sons, 
 
 So fond, fo chafte, her Daughters virtuous love, 
 
 That human offspring ftill redundant grows, 
 
 And free-born Britons muft contend for life. 
 
 O ! envy not the lands where Slaves refide, 
 Though their proud Tyrants boaft of peaceful reign, 
 Where hard Oppreffion, freezing genial love,
 
 ESSAY ON WAR. 21 
 
 v. 360. Obligations of Peace to the afiive yirtuei of War. 
 
 Performs the work of War in embryo : 
 Let not miftaken fondnefs doat on Peace, 
 Preferv'd by arts more horrid far than War!... 
 Let the dull languor of the pale Chinefe 
 Defert their Infants, and their Peace enjoy ! 
 But, O ! let Britons ftill in Love and War 
 Exert the generous ardor of the foul ; 
 Protect the Fair, and fofter Infancy. 
 
 By ftrenuous enterprize, and arduous toils, 
 Is public fafety purchas'd and fecur'd. 
 Negative merit, " I have done no harm," 
 Is an inglorious boaft....Shall he who fits 
 Secure, enjoying Plenty in the lap 
 Of Eafe, vaunt his recumbent Virtues ?...He 
 Brand with harm epithets the Warrior's toils ? 
 While 'tis to them he owes fincereft thanks 
 For Peace and Safety, that are earn'd in War.... 
 As well might he who eats the flefti of Lambs, 
 c 3
 
 22 ESSAY ON WAR. 
 
 Ha-uock of Peace more flocking than that of War. v. 381. 
 
 And fmacks the ichor in a favoury difh, 
 Boaft his humanity, and fay " My hand 
 " Ne'er flew a Lamb ;" and cenfure as a crime, 
 The Butcher's cruel, necefiary trade. 
 
 In Battle, the chance-medley game of Death, 
 Where every one ftill hopes 'till he expires, 
 Lefs horror {hocks the mind contemplative, 
 Than where, in flow Proceflion's folemn pace, 
 Doom'd wretches meet their deftin'd fate in bonds, 
 Who know the moment to expert the blow, 
 And count the moments 'till that moment comes : 
 Or where Oppreflion wages War, in Peace, 
 On the defencelefs : on the haplefs man 
 Who holds his breath but by another's will : 
 Whofe Life is only one long cruel Death ! ... 
 Hardly he fares, and hopelefsly he toils ; 
 And when his driver's anger, or caprice, 
 Or wanton cruelty, inflicts a blow,
 
 ESSAY ON WAR. 23 
 
 V. 396. War bet-ween Man and the rejl of the animal Creation. 
 
 Not daring to look angry at the whip, 
 Oh ! fee him meekly clafp his hands and bo\v 
 To every ftroke : no lurid deathful fcene 
 In Battle's rage, fo racks the feeling heart ; 
 Not all the thunders of infuriate War, 
 Difploding mines, and crafhing, burfting bombs, 
 Are half fo horrid as the founding lam 
 That echoes through the Carribean groves. 
 
 Inceflant is the War of Human Wit, 
 Oppos'd to beftial ftrength ; and varioufly 
 Succefsful : in thefe happy fertile climes, 
 Man ftill maintains his furreptitious power ; 
 Reigns o'er the Brutes, and, with the voice of Fate, 
 Says " This to-day, and that to-morrow dies." 
 Though here our Shambles blazon the Renown, 
 The Vidory, and Rule, of lordly Man ; 
 Far wider trafts within the Torrid Zone 
 Own no fuch Lord : where Sol's intenfer rays
 
 24 ESSAY ON WAR. 
 
 IVar of the Elements and natural Powers. V. 544. 
 
 Create in beftial hearts more fervid fires, 
 And deadlier poifons arm the Serpent's tooth ; 
 In gloomy fhades, impaflable to Man, 
 Where matted foliage exclude the Sun, 
 The torpid Birds that crawl from bough to bough 
 Utter their notes of terror : while beneath 
 Fury and Venom, couch'd in murky dens, 
 Hilling and yelling, guard the hideous gloom. 
 O'er dreary waftes, untrod by human feet, 
 Without controul the lordly Lion reigns ; 
 And every creature trembles at his voice : 
 When rifen from his den, he prances forth, 
 Extends his talons, makes his flaky mane, 
 Then whurrs his tufted tail, and Hooping low 
 His wide mouth near the ground, his dreadful roar 
 Makes all the defart tremble : he proclaims 
 His ire...proclaims his ftrong neceflity ; 
 And that furprife or artifice he fcorns.
 
 ESSAY ON WAR. 25 
 
 V. 533. Recapitulation Concluficn. 
 
 Unfldll'd, alas ! in philofophic lore^ 
 Unblefs'd with fcientific erudition ; 
 How can I fing of elemental War, 
 Or the contending powers of oppofite 
 Attractions, that impel, and poize, and guide, 
 The ever-rolling Spheres :... Animal War, 
 The flux of Life, devouring and devour'd, 
 Ceafelefs in every tribe, through Earth, and Air, 
 And Ocean, tranfcends my utmoft ken. 
 
 From obvious truths my Song has aim'd to fhew 
 That War is an inevitable 111 ; 
 An HI through Nature's various Realms diffus'd ; 
 An 111 fubfervient to the General Good. 
 
 With fympathetic fenfe of human woes 
 Deeply imprefllt, the melancholy Mufe 
 With Modefty aflerts this mournful Truth : 
 'Tis not in human wifdom to avert, 
 Though every feeling heart muft fure lament, 
 
 The SAD NECESSITY of FATAL WAR.
 
 ELEGY 
 
 ON THE ENCLOSURE OF 
 
 HONINGTON GREEN.
 
 EJLEGY 
 
 ON THE ENCLOSURE OF 
 
 HONINGTON GREEN. 
 
 i 
 
 IMPROVEMENT extends it's domain ; 
 
 The Shepherds of Britain deplore 
 That the Coulter has furrow'd each plain, 
 
 And their calling is needful no more. 
 u Enclofing Land doubles its ufe ; 
 
 " When cultur'd, the heath and the moor 
 Will the Riches of Ceres produce, 
 
 ' Yet feed as large flocks as before."
 
 SO HONINGTON GREEN. 
 
 Motives of Enclofure. 
 
 2 
 
 Such a lucrative maxim as this 
 
 The Lords of the Land all purfue : 
 For who fuch advantage wou'd mifs ? 
 
 Self-int'reft we all keep in view. 
 By it, they ftill more wealth amafs, 
 
 Who poflefs'd great abundance before ; 
 It gives pow'r to the Great, but alas ! 
 
 Still poorer it renders the Poor. 
 
 3 
 Tafte fpreads her refinements around) 
 
 Enriching her favourite Land 
 With profpedts of beautified ground, 
 
 Where, cinclur'd, the fpruce Villas (land : 
 On the caufeways, that never are foul, 
 
 MarfhaPd bands may withmeafur'd pace tread ; 
 The foft Car of Voluptuoufnefs roll, 
 
 And the proud Steed of Greatnefs parade.
 
 HONINGTON GREEN. 31 
 
 Natural Pleafures and bumble Convenience iojl by it. 
 
 4 
 Thofe fenc'd ways that fo even are made, 
 
 The pedeftrian trav'ller bemoans ; 
 He no more the green carpet may tread, 
 
 But plod on, 'midft the gravel and ftones : 
 And if he would reft with his load, 
 
 No green hillock prefents him a feat, 
 But long, hard, tirefome famenefs of road 
 
 Fatigues both the eye and the feet. 
 
 5 
 Sighs fpeak the poor Labourers' pain, 
 
 While the new mounds and fences they rear, 
 Interfering their dear native plain, 
 
 To divide to each rich Man his mare ; 
 It cannot but grieve them to fee, 
 
 Where fo freely they rambled before, 
 What a bare narrow track is left free 
 
 To the foot of the unportion'd Poor.
 
 32 HONINGTON GREEN. 
 
 Recolleftiont of tie Spot....Tbe Mother. 
 
 6 
 The proud City's gay wealthy train, 
 
 Who nought but refinements adore, 
 May wonder to hear me complain 
 
 That Honington Green is no more ; 
 But if to the Church you e'er went, 
 
 If you knew what the village has been, 
 You will fympathize, while I lament 
 
 The Enclofure of Honington Green. 
 
 7 
 That no more upon Honington Green 
 
 Dwells the Matron whom moft I revere, 
 If by pert obfervation unfeen, 
 
 I e'en now could indulge a fond tear. 
 Ere her bright Morn of Life was o'ercaft, 
 
 When my fenfes firft woke to the fcene, 
 Some fhort happy hours fhe had paft 
 
 On the margin of Honington Green.
 
 HONINGTON GREEN. 33 
 
 The Father. 
 8 
 
 Her Parents with Plenty were bleft, 
 And numerous her Children, and young, 
 
 Youth's Bloflbms her cheek yet pofieft, 
 And Melody woke when fhe fung : 
 
 A Widow fo youthful to leave, 
 (Early clos'd the bleft days he had feen) 
 
 My Father was laid in his grave, 
 
 In the Church-yard on Honington Green. 
 
 9 
 I faintly remember the Man, 
 
 Who died when I was but a Child ; 
 But far as my young mind could fcan, 
 
 His manners were gentle and mild : 
 He won infant ears with his lore, 
 
 Nor let young ideas run wild, 
 Tho' his hand the fevere rod of pow'r 
 
 Never fway'd o'er a trembling Child.
 
 84 HONINGTON GREEN. 
 
 Character of hit Mind, 
 10 
 
 Not anxioufly careful for pelf, 
 Melancholic and thoughtful, his mind 
 
 Look'd inward and dwelt on itfelf, 
 Still penfive, pathetic, and kind : 
 
 Yet oft in defpondency drown'd, 
 He from friends, and from converfe would fljr, 
 
 In weeping a luxury found, 
 
 And reliev'd others' woes with a figh. 
 
 11 
 In folitude long would he ftay, 
 
 And long lock'd in filence his tongue j 
 Then he humm'd an elegiac lay, 
 
 Or a Pfalm penitential he fung : 
 But if with his Friends be regal'd, 
 
 His Mirth, as his Griefs, knew no bounds ; 
 In no Tale of Mark Sargent he fail'd, 
 
 Nor in all Robin Hood's Deny-down*.
 
 HONINGTON GREEN. 35 
 
 The Wtdo'W^^.Maternal Cares. 
 12 
 
 Thro' the poor Widow's long lonely years, 
 
 Her Father fupported us all : 
 Yet fure ftie was loaded with cares, 
 
 Being left with fix Children fo fmall. 
 Meagre Want never lifted her latch ; 
 
 Her cottage was ftill tight and clean ; 
 And the cafement beneath it's low thatch 
 
 Commanded a view o'er the Green : 
 
 13 
 O'er the Green, where fo often (he bleft 
 
 The return of a Hulband or Son, 
 Coming happily home to their reft, 
 
 At night, when their labour was done : 
 Where fo oft in her earlier years, 
 
 She, with tranfport maternal, has feen 
 (While plying her houfewifely cares) 
 
 Her Children all iafe on the Green. 
 B 2
 
 36 HONINGTON GREEN. 
 
 The Green It's Beauties and Picafures. 
 
 14 
 
 The Green was our pride through the year : 
 For in Spring, when the wild flow'rets blew, 
 
 Tho' many rich paftures were near, 
 Where Cowflips and Daffodils grew ; 
 
 And tho' fuch gallant flow'rs were our choice, 
 It was blifs interrupted by Fear... 
 
 The Fear of their Owner's dread voice, 
 
 Harihly bawling " You've no bufinefs here." 
 
 15 
 While the Green, tho' but Daifies it's boaft, 
 
 Was free as the Flow'rs to the Bee ; 
 In all feafons the Green we lov'd moft, 
 
 Becaufe on the Green we were free ; 
 'Twas the profpedt that firft met my eyes, 
 
 And Memory ftill bleffes the fcene ; 
 For early my heart learnt to prize 
 
 The Freedom of Honington Green.
 
 HONINGTON GREEN. 37 
 
 The Enclofure in general Itfi an object to the Poor. 
 
 16 
 No Peafant had pin'd at his lot, 
 
 Tho' new fences the lone Heath enclofe : 
 For, alas ! the bleft days are forgot, 
 
 When poor Men had their Sheep and their Cows. 
 Still had Labour been bleft with Content, 
 
 Still Competence happy had been, 
 Nor Indigence utter'd a plaint, 
 
 Had Avarice fpar'd but the Green. 
 
 17 
 Not Avarice itfelf could be mov'd 
 
 By defire of a morfel fo fmall : 
 It could not be lucre he lov'd ; 
 
 But to rob the poor folk of their all. 
 He in wantonnefs ope'd his wide jaws, 
 
 As a Shark may difport with the Fry ; . 
 Or a Lion, when licking his paws, 
 
 May wantonly fhap at a Fly. 
 D 3
 
 38 HONINGTON GREEN. 
 
 Under whatever Change the Mind will adapt itfelf. 
 
 18 
 Could there live fuch an envious Man, 
 
 Who endur'd not the halcyon fcene ? 
 When the infantine Peafantry ran, 
 
 And roll'd on the daify-deck'd Green : 
 All ! fure 'twas fell Envy's defpite, 
 
 Left Indigence tafted of Blifs, 
 That fternly decreed they've no right 
 
 To innocent pleafure like this. 
 
 19 
 Tho' the Youth of to-day muft deplore 
 
 The rough mounds that now fadden the fcene, 
 The vain ftretch of Mifanthropy's Power, 
 
 The Enclofure of Honington Green. 
 "Yet when not a green turf is left free, 
 
 When not one odd nook is left wild, 
 Will the Children of Honington be 
 
 Lefs bleft than when I was a Child :
 
 HONINGTON GREEN. 39 
 
 The nrw Scene "willjind it's Admirert, 
 20 
 
 No !... Childhood fhall find the fcene fair;: 
 Then here let me ceafe my complaint ; . 
 
 Still fhall Health be inhal'd with the Air, 
 Which at Honington cannot be taint : 
 
 And tho' Age may ftill talk of the Green, 
 Of the Heath, and free Commons of yore,-. 
 
 Youth fhall joy in the new-fangled fcene, 
 
 And boaft of that change we deplore. 
 
 21 
 Dear to me was the wild-thorny Hill ; 
 
 And dear the brown Heath's fober fcene : 
 And Youth fhall find Happinefs ftill, 
 
 Tho' he roves not on Common or Green : 
 Tho' the preflure of Wealth's lordly hand 
 
 Shall give Emulation no fcope, 
 And tho' all the appropriate Land 
 
 Shall leave Indigence nothing to hope.
 
 40 HONINGTON GREEN. 
 
 Plcafurei are as the Mind and it's Habits, 
 
 22 
 So happily flexile Man's make, 
 
 So pliantly docile his mind, 
 Surrounding impreflions we take, 
 
 And blifs in each circumftance find. 
 The Youths of a more polish'd Age 
 
 Shall not wifh thefe rude Commons to fee ; 
 To the Bird that's inur'd to the Cage, 
 
 It would not be Blifs to be free.
 
 THE CULPRIT.
 
 THE CUJLPRIT. 
 
 Man bard of heart to Man ! '.-.of 'torrid things 
 
 Mo/l horrid; 'midjl Jlupendous highly Jirange : 
 
 Yet oft his courteftes arcfmoothtr "wrongs ; 
 
 Pride brandi/bes the favours he confers, 
 
 And contumelious his Humanity. 
 
 What then bis vengeance ? hear it not, ye Stars, 
 
 And tbou, pale Moon, turn paler at the found:..,. 
 
 Man is to Man the fore/}, furejt III." YOUNG. 
 
 1 
 
 * MAN hard of heart !... of horrid things 
 
 Moft horrid, and of ftrange moft ftrange :* 
 Thus the mournful Poet fings, 
 
 Experienced in Life's various range. 
 
 2 
 In the hopeful morn of Youth, 
 
 This ferious Song I lov'd and learn'd, 
 Nor ever thought the mournful truth 
 
 Would ever thus by me be mourn'd.
 
 44 THE CULPRIT. 
 
 Hit Rejltftlons on the Propensity to gaze on Atijery. 
 3 
 
 Ne'er thought I ever thus (hould (land, 
 
 The butt of every tearful eye ; 
 To raife the Culprit's trembling hand, 
 
 To heave the Culprit's anxious figh. 
 
 4 
 Now the mournful truth to prove, 
 
 Gazing crouds around I fee ; 
 For fure 'tis cruel felfifti love 
 
 That brings them here to gaze on me. 
 
 5 
 'Tis thus wherever human woe, 
 
 Wherever deep diftrefs appears : 
 Thither curious gazers go, 
 To* infult the wretched with their tears. 
 
 6 
 
 E'en where hoftile armies join 
 
 In the horrid frightful fray, 
 Where groaning mortals life refign, 
 
 I've heard their fellow -mortal fay...
 
 THE CULPRIT. 45 
 
 fyTilitary Punishments, 
 
 7 
 Oh ! for a fafe and lofty ftand, 
 
 Where I the Battle's rage might fee ; 
 When Carnage, with relentlefs hand, 
 
 Strews the Ground, or ftains the Sea*.', 
 
 8 
 When lift'ning, with fufpended breath, 
 
 A wretch his dreadful fentence hears, 
 In Martial Court, where worfe than Death 
 
 The Military Culprit fears. 
 
 9 
 And when encircled by the band, 
 
 Lingering torments, public Ihame, 
 Severity's moft ruthlefs hand 
 Lacerates his manly frame : 
 
 * The fentiment of Lucretius 
 
 Sua-ve etiam Martii certamina magna tueri 
 Per camfos injlrufla, tuajtne partt pcricti. 
 Sweet to behold the Martial Conteft fpread 
 Wide o'er the Plains, without thy (hare of III. 
 But the Philofophic Poet accounts for it by the heighten'd 
 fcnfe of fafety ; and not on the principle of Malevolence.
 
 46 THE CULPRIT. 
 
 Eager Curiojlty of Spe&ators. 
 10 
 
 When many a hardy Soldier weeps, 
 
 And grieves that he's compell'd to flay j 
 Who perforce his ftation keeps, 
 
 Or would foon be far away ; 
 
 11 
 Yet fee beyond the circling guard, 
 
 Idle gazers flocking round, 
 To fee and hear are preffing hard, 
 
 As if the fpot were fairy ground. 
 
 12 
 What is it that a charm imparts ? 
 
 Why do they prefs to hear and fee ? 
 Can it be that human hearts 
 
 Delight in human mifery ? 
 
 is 
 When the inexorable hour 
 
 Chills the hopelefs convict's blood ; 
 When funk and drown'd his eve'ry power, 
 In forrow's overwhelming flood :
 
 \ 
 
 THE CULPRIT. 4T 
 
 Theatric Amufements, 
 14 
 
 To view the fcene the many run, 
 
 And o'er the haplefs wretch to figh : 
 Nor once enquire the crime he' has done ;... 
 
 They only come to fee him die.... 
 
 15 
 Various cares mankind employ ; 
 
 But to gaze on human woe 
 Seems the univerfal joy, 
 
 For which they all their cares forego. 
 
 16 
 Each from his purfuit departs, 
 
 Suffering, dying Man to fee ; 
 Surely there are human hearts 
 
 That joy in human mifery. 
 
 17 
 Where fictitious tragic woe 
 
 Entertains the gaudy ring, 
 Each the horror can forego, 
 And inftant mental comfort bring.
 
 48 THE CULPRIT. 
 
 He examines the Motives tvbere the Diftrefs it real. 
 18 
 
 When the fpirits take alarm, 
 
 Prompt to anger, grief, or fpleen, 
 Reafon can diflblve the charm, 
 
 And fay, 'tis a fi<5titious fcene. 
 
 19 
 But to fcenes of real woe, 
 
 Where a wretch is truely dying, 
 Wherefore do fuch numbers go ? 
 
 What can be the joy of fighing ? 
 
 20 
 Men of thought, who foar ferene, 
 
 And loftily philofophize, 
 Will fay, they feek the folemn fcenc 
 
 To contemplate and fympathize. 
 
 21 
 And all the throng will tell you fo :... 
 
 'Tis fympathy that brings them there ; 
 They love to weep for others* woe, 
 And come but to enjoy a tear.
 
 THE CULPRIT. 49 
 
 His Dread from the Difpofition of Mankind. 
 22 
 
 If to enjoy the tear that ftarts, 
 They run the forrow'd fcene to fee... 
 
 Alas ! for pity...human hearts 
 Delight in human mifery. 
 23. 
 
 Still my wretched thought thus ftrays, 
 'Midft gloomy fcenes and profpe&s drear ; 
 
 My weary mind, in various ways 
 
 Seeking Hope, ftill finds Defpair. 
 
 24 
 This thought a weight of woe imparts, 
 
 At once to (ink a wretch like me ; 
 What can I hope, if human hearts 
 
 Delight in human mifery ? 
 
 25 
 Tortur'd by fevere fufpenfe, 
 
 I the Jurors' Verdict wait, 
 Ere I may depart from hence, 
 Their decifion feals my fate.
 
 SO THE CULPRIT. 
 
 The Jury witbdraion....,His Reflefiions. 
 
 26 
 
 Now withdrawn, their clofe debate 
 Admits no curious, lift'ening ear: 
 But the refult's fo big with fate, 
 The Culprit rauft in thought be there. 
 
 27 
 And now, led on by fad defpair, 
 
 Does a frightful form obtrude ; 
 Vindictive Spleen aflumes the air 
 
 Of noble, manly, Fortitude. 
 28 
 
 And thus I hear the Demon fay, 
 Let us not abufe our truft j 
 
 < We muft not be led away 
 ' For mercy's fake, to be unjuft.* 
 
 29 
 
 Yet he'll profefs no wrath to feel 
 'Gainft fuch a haplefs wretch as I j 
 
 No !...but for the public weal, 
 'Tis expedient that I die.
 
 THE CULPRIT. 51 
 
 Full of apprebenfton...,effeft of Pride in maintaining an opinion. 
 
 30 
 And this his judgment once made known, 
 
 Self-love and felf-conceit's fo ftrong, 
 He'll rather let me die than own 
 
 That his opinion could be wrong. 
 
 31 
 Ye who the lore of diftant climes 
 
 Canvass, latent truth to find ; 
 Who hail our philofophic times, 
 
 And Man's emancipated mind ; 
 
 32 
 Oh ! ye who boaft the enlighten'd age, 
 
 Who boaft your right of thinking free... 
 If e'er ye learn the leflbns fage 
 
 Taught in Affliction's fchool, like me, 
 
 33 
 
 Should you e'er a Culprit ftand, 
 
 You'll wifti mankind all Chriftians then ; 
 If e'er you raife the Culprit's hand, 
 
 You'll wifh the Jurors Chriftian Men. 
 E 2
 
 52 THE CULPRIT. 
 
 Hh fears from the dim in'is 'j'd regard of an Oath. 
 34 
 
 When at the dread Confeffional, 
 
 Men trembled from their early youth, 
 
 Taught to fear, on pain of Hell, 
 To utter more or lefs than Truth, 
 . 35 
 
 Then Faith could fharpeft trials ftand, 
 Man at threat'ning Death could fmile, 
 
 If but his Paftor's lenient hand 
 
 Toucht him with the Holy Oil : 
 
 36 
 Full faith the folemn Oath obtain'd, 
 
 Man's mind was aw'd by prieftly rule ; 
 Steady to Truth he ftill remain'd, 
 Unlefs to prieftly fraud a tool. 
 
 37 
 But where Church Difciplinc has ceas'd 
 
 To train men's minds in early youth, 
 Hard indeed the Culprit's cafe, 
 
 Whofe fate depends on others' truth.
 
 THE CULPRIT. 53 
 
 Tbii idea purf ited. 
 38 
 
 Even the man whofc ways are wife, 
 Whofe life is rul'd by Honour's laws ; 
 
 Who owns, in philofophic guife, 
 A Deity...a firft great caufe :... 
 
 39 
 Yet boafts his mind no fhackles wears :... 
 
 'Tis hard his folemn Oath to truft ; 
 For, without future hopes and fears, 
 Know I if Confcience makes him juft ?... 
 
 40 
 
 And then, the' admitted evidence... 
 Ye Jurors, can his word be true ? 
 Tempted, in his own defence, 
 
 To feign another's crime to you. 
 
 41 
 When venial crimes in Love's gay fpring, 
 
 Prompt the youthful Female's figh ; 
 When her rofes all take wing, 
 
 And Matrons fage her plight defcry ; 
 E 3
 
 54 THE CULPRIT. 
 
 Inftance of false Slamc.of contempt of Shame, 
 42 
 
 Blufhing, weeping, (he'll confefs 
 
 The fault her faded cheeks difcover : 
 But, to make her crime the lefs, 
 Imputes an outrage to her Lover. 
 
 43 
 So ftrong the power of pride and fhame, 
 
 Her frailty (he will ftill deny ; 
 Rather than own herfelf to blame, 
 
 She lets the haplefs Lover die. 
 
 44 
 Is Merit from his right debarrM ; 
 
 Or guiltlefs charg'd with foul offence ? 
 A Knave but fpeaks the perjurM word, 
 
 And laughs at injur'd Innocence. 
 \ 
 
 45 
 
 Laughs he at detection too ? 
 
 Yes...for he'll be but expos'd ; 
 But fet up to public view, 
 
 Should his falihood be difclos'd.
 
 THE CULPRIT. 
 
 Perjury. 
 
 46 
 
 He fuch expofure dares defy ; 
 
 Public ftiame is not his fear : 
 He who can vouch the folemn lie, 
 
 Would fhew his forehead any where. 
 
 47 
 While Innocence meets puniftiment, 
 
 While Falfliood can produce fuch woes, 
 Mercy's felf muft needs lament 
 
 Perjury not more punish'd goes. 
 
 48 
 
 Dubious may be the Culprit's cafe, 
 Though clear and open all his ways ; 
 
 What Life is proof 'gainft dire difgrace, 
 If guileful hate his adl pourtrays ? 
 49 
 
 Ye Jurors cautioufly proceed, 
 
 When the queftion's left to you, 
 Not Has the Culprit done the deed :' 
 But ' Was the deed a crime to do * :' 
 
 * See Note at the end of the Poem.
 
 56 THE CULPRIT. 
 
 Duty of Deliberation.... Mitbodings. 
 50 
 
 Grudge not deliberation's time, 
 Left you {hould be too fevere ; 
 
 When Juftice muft believe a crime, 
 
 She lends it her moft tardy ear 
 
 51 
 
 How fhort is this momentous hour ! 
 
 O ! how fwift the minutes fly ! 
 Soon the Jurors, arm'd with power, 
 
 Will come, to bid me live or die. 
 
 52 
 Pointed thoughts of Life and Death, 
 
 Anxious fore folicitude, 
 Shake my frame, fufpend my breath, 
 
 When Terror's gloomy fhades protrude. 
 
 53 
 But when hope cheers me with the found 
 
 Of Mercy's voice, of Mercy's plea, 
 And tells me, Mercy will be found 
 
 Amongft the twelve to fpeak for me,
 
 THE CULPRIT. 57 
 
 Hopes from mild and confeient'wus Feelings. 
 
 54 
 Rapt Fancy hears the Cherub plead :... 
 
 Propitious is the Culprit's fate, 
 If one, by tender mercy fway'd, 
 Among the Jurors takes his feat. 
 
 55 
 One who will meek-ey'd Mercy's laws 
 
 Oppofe to Rigour's doubtful rule... 
 Nor quit the haplefs Culprit's caufe, 
 
 Though fterner Judgements deem him fool. 
 
 56 
 Bleffings that wait his heart, his tongue, 
 
 Cannot elate his tranquil breaft : 
 He courts no bleffing from the throng ; 
 
 He is, and ever will be, bleft. 
 
 57 
 He ftiall win the Jury's ear, 
 
 Pity glifte'ning in his eye ;... 
 Let us not be too fevere 
 
 If we let the Culprit die,
 
 58 THE CULPRIT. 
 
 Conflict of Hope, Doubt, and Fear. 
 
 58 
 Fruitlefsly we may bewail 
 
 In future, fhould our hearts relent : 
 O ! then let Mercy's voice prevail ; 
 Mercy we can ne'er repent. 
 
 59 
 Mercy fmiles, and every face 
 
 Reflects the Cherub's afpecl meek; 
 Glowing with her refiftlefs grace, 
 
 Mercy beams on every cheek. 
 
 60 
 Hope, thy prefage cannot fail, 
 
 Bid my Mary ceafe to mourn ; 
 Surely Mercy fhall prevail, 
 
 And I to Love and Life return. 
 
 61 
 Shall I the lenient Verdid hear*. 
 
 Thrilling through my fhivering frame ? 
 Ye Jurors, clad in fmiles appear, 
 
 To realize this happy dream.
 
 THE CULPRIT. 59 
 
 Tic Ver&a. 
 
 62 
 Their Deliberation's o'er, 
 
 How fhall I the Crifis meet? 
 Hark ! I hear the opening door :... 
 
 Silence and Awe attend their feet ! 
 
 63 
 They enter...though no voice is heard, 
 
 Mercy in each face I fee ; 
 They fpeak...and in the fingle word 
 
 Is Life, and Love, and Liberty ! 
 
 * This Queftion may come before the Jury in Cafes of 
 Homicide, AJJault and Battery, and other charges of that 
 nature, which may be justifiable on circumstances : but in 
 many if the fact is found, as in Forgery, &c. the criminality, 
 withfome very rare exceptions, is a legal inference neceflarily 
 refulting from the fact. C. L.
 
 YORKSHIRE 3DIP.
 
 YORKSHIRE E>IP. 
 
 ONCE on a time, old Legends fay, 
 'Twas on a fultry Summer's day, 
 A Grecian God forfook the Skies, 
 To tafte of Earth's felicities. 
 Clad like a rufticated elf, 
 (Perhaps incog, 'twas Jove himfelf) 
 He travers'd hills, and glens, and woods, 
 And verdant lawns, by cryftal floods j 
 For fure, faid he, if Earth has joys, 
 They dwell remote from pomp and noife.
 
 64 YORKSHIRE DIP. 
 
 Tire Country Ramble of Jupiter. 
 
 He loitering pafs'd the vacant hour, 
 For Strawberries ftoop'd, or pluck'd a Flower, 
 And fnuff'd the Zephyrs as they play'd, 
 In wanton curves beneath the fhade. 
 
 'Till having every fweet purfued, 
 That leifure finds in folitude, 
 Refolving now to feek Mankind, 
 And new delights in converfe find, 
 He left the woods, he crofs'd the plain, 
 And join'd the Reapers' jolly train. 
 With Men and Maids he talk'd and toil'd, 
 While jocund mirth the hours beguil'd ; 
 For Maids the cheerful labour fharM, 
 And blooming health their rich reward. 
 
 When noon advanc'd, Sol's downward rays 
 Shedding intolerable blaze, 
 Compel the Laborers' retreat, 
 To fhelter from the fervent heat ;
 
 YORKSHIRE DIP. 
 
 The Feafl ......It's Mafic, and Gaiety. 
 
 The copfe that fldrts the irriguous mead 
 Affords a welcome cooling (hade. 
 
 A Damfel from the careful Dame 
 With wholefome viands loaded came ; 
 Though coarfe and homely was their meal, 
 Though brown their bread, and mild their ale, 
 Gladly they view'd the plenteous ftore, 
 Difpos'd on Nature's verdant floor. 
 
 The aerial Stranger foon made free : 
 Nor mifs'd Apollo's minftrelfy ; 
 For chirping Grafshoppers were heard, 
 With dulcet notes of many a Bird 
 That fought at noon the umbrageous glade 
 And foftly fung beneath the (hade. 
 He took his place upon the ground, 
 With Lads and Lalfes circling round ; 
 He fat as they fat, fed as they fed, 
 Drank ale, and laugh'd, and talk'd, as they did ; 
 F
 
 66 YORKSHIRE DIP. 
 
 The Dip makes iff appearance. 
 
 Each playful wile, by Love employ'd, 
 He by kind fympathy enjoy'd ; 
 The Lover's extafies he caught, 
 When looks convey'd the enamour'd thought j 
 From breaft to breaft while raptures bound, 
 He prais'd the varied profpedls round, 
 Compar'd each Lafs to Beauty's Queen, 
 And own'd it an Elyfian fcene. 
 
 The jolly God fmil'd all propitious, 
 But ah ! how fatally capricious.... 
 
 It chanc'd, amid this humble Feaft, 
 A cup of YORKSHIRE DIP was plac'd... 
 A pudding-fauce well-known of yore, 
 When folks were frugal, though not poor ; 
 An olio mixt of/tvtet and four. 
 Soon as this toucht his laughing lip, 
 That unmixt Nedar us'd to fip,
 
 YORKSHIRE DIP. 67 
 
 The Confluence. 
 
 He rofe, and with a threat'ning frown 
 Of direful Anger*, dash'd it down, 
 And fwore, departing in a huff, 
 I'll make your lives like that d d fluff. 
 
 Too fure the Maledidion fell, 
 As every mortal wight can tell : 
 For HUMAN LIFE, to this blefs'd hour, 
 Like York/hire Dip, is SWEET AND SOUR. 
 
 * Gods partial, changeful, paffionate, unjuft f. POPE. 
 
 f The Poet has drawn his Jupiter accordingto the Homeric 
 Model, in it's lead divine features. Yet I wifh he had not. 
 The York/bin Dip f the mixture of fweet and four) might 
 have remained a type of Life, temper'd in like manner : not 
 by the wrath but by the benevolence of Jupiter. 
 
 Who hath will'd 
 
 That Pleafure be co-mate of Toil and Pain, 
 Left Joy fhould fink in lilllcfs apathy. 
 
 Curis acuens mortalla corda, 
 
 Nee torpere gravi pajjus fua Rcgna ftternf, GEOKG. F, 
 And accordingly the next Poem. C. L. 
 
 F2
 
 LOVE'S TRIUMPH: 
 
 AN 
 
 ELEGIAC BALLAD.
 
 JLOTE'S TRIUMPH; 
 
 GOME, let us feek the woodland {hade, 
 And leave this view of towns and towers : - 
 
 Sweeter far the verdant mead, 
 And lonely dell's fequefter'd bowers. 
 
 2 
 
 Why does my Love this walk prefer ; 
 
 This hill, fo near the public way ? 
 Why is this profpect dear to her ? 
 
 Where Villas proud their pomp difplay ?
 
 72 LOVE'S TRIUMPH. 
 
 Ibe Expoftulation. 
 
 Ah ! why does Mary fometimes figh, 
 
 Surveying this tnagnific fcenc ; 
 The feats of Grandeur tow'ring high, 
 
 With Rivers, Groves, and Lawns between ? 
 
 4 
 
 On fplendid Cars, that fmoothly move, 
 With high-born Youths gay Damfels ride ; 
 
 By the encircling arm of Love 
 Prefs'd to the wealthy Lover's fide. 
 
 5 
 
 Why turn to view their eafy ftate, 
 As the long glittering train moves by ? 
 
 And when they reach the pompous gate, 
 Ah ! why doee youthful Mary figh ?
 
 LOVE'S TRIUMPH. 7S 
 
 Continued. 
 
 6 
 Doth Envy that fond hofom heave ? 
 
 Repining at her humble lot... 
 Alas ! does Mary long to leave 
 
 The lonely Dale and lowly Cot ? 
 
 7 
 
 Pure and fincere is Mary's Love : 
 
 Words were fuperfluous to tell ; 
 A thoufand tendernefles prove 
 
 That Mary loves her Stephen well. 
 
 8 
 
 When lifte'ning to the Stockdove's moan, 
 
 Far in the deep fequefter'd grove, 
 The blufh that whifperM, We're alone,' 
 
 Sweetly confeft the power of Love.
 
 74 LOVE'S TRIUMPH. 
 
 Fears of Poverty. 
 
 9 
 Exalted Love concealment mocks, 
 
 This feign'd indifference does but prove 
 That was I Lord of Fields and Flocks, 
 
 My Mary's Lips would own her Love. 
 
 10 
 
 Doth Poverty create the fears 
 
 That o'er your love their fhadows fling ? 
 The filence of thofe falling tears 
 
 Confefles all the truth I fing. 
 
 11 
 
 O ! Mary, let not empty mew, 
 Let not the pride of gaudy drefs* 
 
 Thus cloud thy morn of life with woe, 
 And blight it's future happincfs.
 
 LOVE'S TRIUMPH. 75 
 
 Encouragement. 
 
 12 
 
 Truft the monition Baldwin gave, 
 
 Our future blifs it's truth fhall prove :. 
 
 * Life's cares the Lovers who dare brave, 
 ' Shall find their rich reward in Love** 
 
 IS 
 
 Baldwin, the hoary-headed Bard, 
 
 I ftill confult when cares annoy : 
 He own'd for me a fond regard ; 
 
 And calls me ftill his darling Boy. 
 
 14 
 
 His mind is fraught with fpoils of Time ; 
 
 He's wife and good, though known to few : 
 He gave me this advice in rhyme, 
 
 And here I'll read the Song to you :...
 
 76 LOVE'S TRIUMPH. 
 
 Bald-win s Song, 
 
 15 
 
 Though envious Age affedts to deem thee Boy, 
 ' Lofe not .one day, one hour, of proffer'd blifs ; 
 
 In youth grafp every unoffending joy, 
 'And wing'd with rapture fnatch the bridal kifs. 
 
 16 
 
 < Let not this chief of bleflings be deferr'd, 
 Till you your humble fortunes can improve ; 
 
 None's poor but he, by fordid fears deterr'd, 
 
 'Who dares not claim the matchlefs wealth of Love. 
 
 17 
 
 Virtue can make moft rich thy little ftore ; 
 
 Virtue can make moft bright thy lowly ftate: 
 
 Murmur not then that virtuous thou art poor, 
 
 * While profperous Vice can make men rich and great*
 
 LOVE'S TRIUMPH. T7 
 
 Deceitfulneft tftiiciou! indulgence. 
 
 18 
 
 ' The bad man may, his every fenfe to pleafe, 
 
 ' Each foft indulging luxury employ : 
 The plenitude of elegance and cafe 
 
 * He may poflefs; but never can enjoy. 
 
 19 
 
 ' No...though his goods, and flocks, and herds abound ; 
 
 * His wide demefne to fair profusion grown; 
 
 * Though proud his lofty manfion looks around, 
 
 * On hills, and fields, and forefts, all his own : 
 
 20 
 
 4 Tho' this may tempt thee, murmuring to complain, 
 
 * With confcience clear, and life void of offence, 
 ** Verily, then, I've cleans'd my heart in vain ; 
 
 ** In vain have walh'd my hands in Innocence."
 
 7 LOVE'S TRIUMPH. 
 
 Tormenting Paflions. 
 
 21 
 
 ' Yet could' st thou clofely mark the envied Man, 
 
 See how defires ungovern'd mar his peace 4 
 Or had'st thou pow'r his inward mind to fcan, 
 
 * How foon in pity would thy envy ceafe ! 
 
 22 
 
 * Envenom'd Paffions all his thoughts unhinge ! 
 
 ' The Slave of Vice muft thy companion move ; 
 ' If ftill he burns with thirft of dire Revenge, 
 ' Lawlefs Ambition, or unhallow'd Love. 
 
 23 
 
 * 'Midft gayeft fcenes he wears a gloomy frown : 
 
 * Vain is the fplendour that his dome adorns ; 
 
 * While he reclines on lilky heaps of down, 
 
 His tortur'd mind is weltering on thorns.
 
 LOVE'S TRIUMPH. 79 
 
 Comforts of a lo-w Fortune. 
 24 
 
 To prove that man oppreft with mental pain, 
 
 * The goods of Fortune have no power to pleafc, 
 ' Even Suicide has oft been known to ftain 
 
 * The downy couch of moft luxurious eafc. 
 
 25 
 
 ' The adtive life of Labour gives no room 
 
 * To that dull fpleen the Indolent endure ; 
 ' Generous cares difpel our mental gloom, 
 
 * And Induftry is Melancholy's cure. 
 
 26 
 
 * Repine not then, that low thy lot is caft ; 
 
 * Health gives to life or high or low it's zeft ; 
 
 * 'Tis Appetite that feafons our repaft, 
 
 And Wearinefs ftill finds the fofteft reft.
 
 80 LOVE'S TRIUMPH. 
 
 Poverty in England contra/led -with other Countries. 
 
 27 
 
 For all thy bleffings thankfulnefs to wake, 
 
 * Think of lefs culturM lands, lefs peaceful times : 
 Our coarfeft fare, when fparingly we take, 
 
 'Tis luxury, compar'd with other climes. 
 
 28 
 
 Think of the poor Greenlander*s difmal caves, 
 Where thro' their long, longNight they buried lie; 
 
 * Or the more wretched lands where haplefs flares 
 Hopelefsly toil beneath the fervid Sky. 
 
 29 
 
 ' In Britain...bkft with peace and competence, 
 
 * Rich Fortune's favours could impart no more :... 
 Heaven's bleffings equal happinefs difpenfe ; 
 
 Believe my words, for I am old and poor.
 
 LOVE'S TRIUMPH. 81 
 
 The <$>ueftion~.. c Tbc Conclujion. 
 30 
 
 ' Many who drudge in Labor's rougheft ways, 
 ' By whom Life's fimpleft, lowlieft walks are trod, 
 
 Happily live, to honor'd length of days, 
 ' Bleffing kind Nature, and kind Nature's God.' 
 
 31 
 What think you, is fage Baldwin right ? 
 
 Should Spring-tide Love endure delay? 
 And fliall our blifs be feal'd ere Night? 
 
 Say, lovely Mary, foftly fay? 
 
 32 
 Why ftarts my Love?...why rife to go? 
 
 Will Mary then my fuit deny? 
 Sweet is the fmile that anfwers, No! 
 
 By Heaven, there's rapture in her eye I
 
 PROVERBS OF THREESCORE; 
 
 MORE BREAD AND CHEESE; 
 
 AND A 
 
 LYRIC ABBBESS 
 
 TO 
 
 D*- JENNER.
 
 THE 
 
 PROVERBS OF THREESCORE 
 
 EIGHTEEN. 
 
 1 
 HAVE you feen the delightlefs abode, 
 
 Where Penury nurfes Defpair j 
 Where comfortlefs Life is a load,, 
 
 Age wifhes no longer to bear? 
 Ah ! who, in this lazerhoufe pent, 
 
 His lone wailings fends up to the fkies ? 
 'Tis the Man whofe young prime was mifpent; 
 
 'Tis he who fo bitterly fighs. 
 
 G 3
 
 PROVERBS OF THREESCORE. 
 
 Ibe Contraft. 
 2 
 
 His Youth, funk in profligate wafte, 
 
 Left no Comforts Life's evening to cheer ; 
 He muft only it's bitternefs tafte, 
 
 No Friend, no kind relative near. 
 His Children by want forc'd to roam, 
 
 Are aliens wherever they are : 
 They have long left his defolate home ; 
 
 Have left him alone to defpair. 
 
 3 
 Have you feen the deledtable place, 
 
 Where honor'd Age loves to abide ; 
 Where Plenty, and Pleafure, and Peace, 
 
 With Virtue and Wifdom refide ? 
 Autumn's Fruits he has carefully ftor'd ; 
 
 His Herds will ing tributes abound : 
 And the fmiles of his plenteous board, 
 
 By his Children's Children are crown'd.
 
 PROVERBS OF THREESCORE. 87 
 
 Encouragement. 
 
 4 
 
 And his is the Godlike delight, 
 
 The power to relieve the diftrefs'd !... 
 Who can contemplate bleffings fo bright, 
 
 And not wifh to be equally blefs'd. 
 Then let not the means be forgot : 
 
 Remember, and mark this great truth ; 
 
 'Twas not Chance fix'd his profperous Lot ; 
 
 'Twas the Virtues of provident Youth. 
 
 5 
 If fuch a bright profpect can charm, 
 
 If you feel emulation arife, 
 If your juvenile bofom is warm, 
 
 With the hope to be wealthy and wife ; 
 O cherifh the noble defign, 
 
 The maxims of Prudence purfue j 
 Application and Induftry join, 
 'Tis the way fickle Fortune to woo.
 
 S8 PROVERBS OF THREESCORE. 
 
 The Admonition. 
 6 
 
 Early cultivate Virtue's rich feeds ; 
 
 Thefe will fruits in Life's winter difplay: 
 Ne'er defer till to-morrow good deeds, 
 
 That as well might be fmiftYd to-day. 
 For Age and Experience can tell, 
 
 And you'll find, when you grow an old man, 
 Though it's never too late to do well> 
 will wifh you had fooner began. 
 
 r
 
 MORE BREAD AND CHEESE. 
 
 A NEW SONG, 
 
 Written in the Beginning of the Tear 1793.. 
 
 TO THE TUNE OF " NOTTINGHAM ALE." 
 
 1 
 
 MY Brothers of this world, of every Nation,. 
 Some maxims of prudence the Mufe would infpire. 
 Now reftlefsnefs reigns throughout every ftation; 
 The low would be high, and the high would be higher; 
 
 Now Freedom's the word, 
 
 That unfheaths ev'ry fword, 
 Fut don't be deceiv'd by fuch pretexts as thefe : 
 
 'Tis not Freedom, nor Slavery, 
 
 That calls for your Bravery ; 
 J Tis only a Scramble for more Bread and Cheefe.
 
 90 MORE BREAD AND CHEESE. 
 
 The Balance of Population and Supply. 
 
 2 
 
 When others fome party are venting their rage on, 
 Inflam'd by the news from Verfailles or the Hague, 
 Let Mum be your maxim...beware of contagion... 
 For Anger is catching as Fever or Plague : 
 
 Now Victuals is fcanty, 
 
 And Eaters are plenty, 
 The former muft rife, or the latter decreafe ; 
 
 If in War they're employ'd,. 
 
 Till one half are deftroy'd, 
 The few that are left will have more Bread and Chede. 
 
 3 
 
 Think not that Employment's the grand requifition ; 
 That If men had work it would make the times good : 
 No man would want work if he lack'd not provifion; 
 The cry for Employ is the cry for more Food.
 
 MORE BREAD AND CHEESE. 91 
 
 The Overstock d Hive, 
 
 Now every Trade, 
 
 From the Gown to the Spade, 
 Opprefs'd by it's numbers feels Scarcity's fqueeze ; 
 
 From the Prince to the Peafant, 
 
 J Tis true, tho' unpleafant, 
 
 There muft be fewer mouths, or elfe more Bread and 
 Cheefe. 
 
 4 
 
 Now our Hive is fo pinch'd, both for room and for honey, 
 The induftrious Bees would fain kick out the Drones : 
 But expofe not your Life, for victuals nor money; 
 'Tis better you fupperlefs deep with whole bones. 
 
 Then muffle, and huftle, 
 
 Keep clear of the buftle, 
 Step out of the way when they kick up a breeze : 
 
 Preferve your own Life, 
 
 Till the end of the ftrife : 
 
 Then the few that are left will have more Bread and 
 Cheefe.
 
 92 MORE BREAD AND CHEESE. 
 
 The Source of IVar. 
 
 5 
 
 Think not Hell is let loofe with a terrible miffion, 
 
 To punifh a world for incor'gible Sin. 
 
 Not from angry Gods, nor the deep Politician, , 
 
 War nat'rally fprings from the Paffions of Men* : 
 'Tis for room and for food, 
 That Men fight and fhed bloodf ; 
 
 When fufficiently thinn'd the inducement will ceafe : 
 There'll be room for us all, 
 When our numbers are fmall i. 
 
 And the few that are left will have more Bread and 
 Cheefe. 
 
 * So hath faid the APOSTLE. Ja : iv. i. But then thefe 
 warring Paffions are fomething very like national Sins. C. L. 
 
 f Bad as this would be, it would be well if they made 
 not War on Motives lefs naturally urgent than thefe: 
 " glandem atque cubilia p ropier" It is worfe to make Wars 
 of Heroical, ftill worfe of Minifterial, and wcrtt of all of 
 Commercial Speculation. C. L.
 
 JLYMIC ABBMESS 
 
 JENNER. 
 
 i 
 
 REJOICE, rejoice, Humanity ! 
 
 The fell, deftructive, foreDifeafe, 
 The peft of ages, now can be 
 
 Repell'd with fafety and with eafe. 
 
 2 
 He well deferves his Country's Meed, 
 
 By whom the peerlefs bleffing came ; 
 And thoufands from deftrudtion freed, 
 
 Shall raptur'd fpeak of JENNER'S name.
 
 94 ADDRESS TO DR. JENNER. 
 
 Vaccine Inoculation. 
 
 3 
 
 Yes, JENNER'S vigilance is crown'd; 
 
 A fovereign antidote is given : 
 The Bleffing flows the Nations round ; 
 
 Free he diffus'd the gift of Heaven. 
 
 4 
 
 So well approv'd it's fure effeft, 
 To turn afide the impending harm ; 
 
 And lhall parental Love neglect 
 To minifter the precious balm? 
 
 5 
 Oh ! no !... beware of dire Delay, 
 
 Ye, who carefs your Infants dear : 
 Defer it not from day to day, 
 
 From month to month, ftom year to year ;
 
 ADDRESS TO DR. JENNER. 95 
 
 Dtftrefs and Terrors of the Small Pox. 
 
 6 
 
 Left you, like me, too late lament, 
 
 Your Life bereft of all it's joy. 
 Clafp now the Gift fo kindly fent, 
 
 Left you behold your dying Boy ! 
 
 7 
 Left you fee with trembling Fear, 
 
 With inexpreflible Diftrefs ; 
 The purple fpots of Death appear, 
 
 To blaft your Hopes and Happinefsi 
 
 8 
 Left your keeneft grief to wake, 
 
 Like mine your fuffering prattler fay, 
 Go, bid my Father come and take 
 
 * Thefe frightful Spots and Sores away.'
 
 96 ADDRESS TO DR. JENNER. 
 
 Dangers of Delay. 
 
 9 
 Quickly from fuch fears be free : 
 
 Oh ! there is Danger in Delay ! 
 Say not to-morrow it fliall be :... 
 
 To-morrow ! no ; to-day, to-day. 
 
 10 
 Embrace the Blefling Heaven hath fent ; 
 
 So fhall you ne'er fuch pangs endure : 
 Oh ! give a Trifle to prevent, 
 
 What you would give a World to cure. 
 
 PRINTED BY P. GEDGE, BURY.
 
 575?
 
 A 000 689 425 7
 
 s