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 ^UIBRARYtf, 
 

 
 THE 
 
 TRIUMPHS OF TEMPER; 
 
 A 
 
 POEM: 
 IN SIX CANTOS. 
 
 WILLIAM HAYLEY, 
 
 O <voi ch" avete gV intelletti font 
 Mir ate la dottrina, eke Ji afconde 
 Sotto 1 il velame degli <verfi ftrani. 
 
 DANTE, Inferno,Canto g 
 
 THE SIXTH EDITION, CORRECTED. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR T. CADELL, IN THE STRAND. 
 M.DCC.LXXXVIII.'
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 jl T feems to be a kind of duty incumbent on thofe 
 who devote themfelves to poetry, to raife, if pojfible, 
 the dignity of a declining art, by making it as bene- 
 ficial to life and manners as the limits of compo/ttion, 
 and the charaQer of modern times, ivill allow. The 
 ages, indeed, are paji, in 'which the fong of the poet 
 iuas idolized for its miraculous effe&s ; yet a poem? 
 intended to promote the cultivation of good-humour t 
 may ftill perhaps be fortunate enough to prove of 
 fame little fervice to fociety in general ; or, if this 
 idea may be thought too chimerical and romantic 
 by fober reafon, it is at leajl one of thofe pleajing 
 'and innocent delufeons, in which a poetical enthu- 
 Jiaft may be fafely indulged. 
 
 A 3 fht 
 
 1090359
 
 Vi PREFACE. 
 
 yhe following production owes its exiftence to an 
 Incident in real life, very Jtmilar to the principal 
 aftion of the lajl canto ; but in forming the gene- 
 ral plan of the work, it feemed to me abfolutely 
 necejfary to introduce both the agency and the abode 
 of SPLEEN, notwitbftanding the difficulty and tht 
 hazard of attempting a fubjecJ fo happily executed 
 ly the mafterly pencil of Pope. I considered his 
 Cave of Spleen as a mojt exqui/ite cabinet piflure ; 
 and, to avoid the fertility of imitation, I deter- 
 mined to Jketch the man/ton of this gloomy power 
 on a much voider canvafs : happy, indeed, if the 
 judgment of the public may enable me to exclaim, 
 with the honeft vanity of the painter, vuho com- 
 pared his OVJH voorks to the divine productions of 
 Raphael, 
 
 " E fan pittore anch* lo!" 
 
 The celebrated Alejfandro TaJ/bni, vaho is gene- 
 rally conjldmd as the inventor of the modern Heroi-
 
 PREFACE. Vit 
 
 eomic poetry, 'was fo proud of having extended the 
 limits of bis art by a new kind of compojition, that 
 be not only fpoke of it with infinite exultation in 
 one of his private letters, but even gave a MS. 
 copy of his work to his native city of Modena, with 
 an infcription., in which he ftiled it a new fpeciet 
 tf poetry, invented by himfelf, 
 
 A few partial friends have ajferted, that the 
 prefent performance has fame degree of Jimilar me- 
 rit ; but as I apprehend all the novelty it poj/ejjes, 
 may rather rt^uire an apology, than entitle its 
 author to challenge commendation? I Jhall explain 
 how far the condul of the poem differs from the 
 mcjl approved models in this mode of writing, and 
 fiightly mention the poetical ej~ets, which fuch a 
 variation appeared likely to product, 
 
 It is well known, that the favourite poems* 
 
 which blend the ferious and tht comic, reprefent 
 
 A 4 their
 
 VJii PREFACE. 
 
 their principal characters in a fatirical point of 
 view : it 'was the intention of Taffoni (though 
 prudence made him attempt to conceal it) to fatirize 
 a particular Italian nobleman, who happened to be 
 the object of his refentment. Boileau openly ridi- 
 cules the French ecclefiaftics in his Lutrin ; Garth, 
 our Englijh phyfecians, in his Difpenfary ; and the 
 Rape of the Lock itfelf, that moji excellent and en- 
 . chanting poem, which I never contemplate but with 
 new idolatry, is denominated the beft fatire ex- 
 tant, by the learned Dr. Warton, in his very ele- 
 gant and ingenious, but fever e, EJfay on Pope : a 
 fentence -which feems to be confirmed by the poet 
 himfelf, in his letter to Mrs. Fermor y where he 
 fays, " the character of Belinda, as it is noiv ma- 
 naged, refembles you in nothing but in beauty" 
 Though I think, that no compojltion can furpafs, or 
 perhaps ever equal this moft happy effort of genius t 
 as a fportive fatire, I imagined it might be pof- 
 Jible to give a new character to this mixed fpecies 
 
 if
 
 PREFACE. 13C 
 
 ef poetry, and to render it by its objeft, though not 
 in its execution, more noble than the moft beauti- 
 ful and refined fat ire can be. We have feen it car- 
 ried to inimitable perfection, in the moft delicate 
 raillery on female foibles : it remained to If 
 tried, if it might not alfo afpire to delineate the 
 more engaging features of female excellence, fbe 
 idea appeared to me worth the experiment ; for, if 
 it fucceeded, it feemed to promife a double advan- 
 tage J f r ft* ^ would give an air of novelty to the 
 poem ; and, fecondly, what I thought of much 
 greater importance, it would render it more inte- 
 rfjling to the heart. On thefe principles, I have en- 
 deavoured to paint S E R E N A as a moft lovely, enga- 
 ging, and accomplijhed character ; yet I hope the co- 
 louring is fo faithfully copied from general nature, 
 lhat every man, who reads the poem, may be hap- 
 py enough to knovj many fair ones, who refemble 
 my heroine* 
 
 There
 
 X PREFACE. 
 
 'There is another point, in which I have alfo 
 attempted to give this poem an air of novelty : I 
 mean, the manner of connecting the real and the 
 *uifionary fcenes, which compofe it j by Jhifting theje 
 in alternate cantos, I hoped to make familiar in- 
 cident and allegorical pitJure afford a ftrong relief 
 to each other, and keep the attention of the reader 
 alive, by an appearance particularly diverfified. I 
 wijhed, indeed (but I fear mofl ineffectually) for 
 powers to unite fame touches of the fportive wild- 
 tiefs of Ariofto, and the more ferious fublime paint- 
 ing of Dante, with fame portion of the enchant- 
 ing elegance, the rejined imagination, and the 
 moral graces of Pope ; and to do this, if pof- 
 
 jlble, without violating thofe rules of propriety, 
 
 which Mr. Cambridge has illustrated, by example 
 
 as well as precept, in the Scribleriad, and in 
 
 ' his fenfible preface to that elegant and learned 
 
 poem. 
 
 I have
 
 PREFACE. XI 
 
 1 have now 'very frankly informed my reader 
 of the extent, or rather the extravagance of my ' 
 dejtre ; for I will not give it the ferious name of 
 defign : They, whom an enlightened tafte has ren- 
 dered thoroughly fenjible how very difficult it mufl 
 be to accomplijh fuch an idea, will not only be the 
 Jirft to difcern, but the moft ready to pardon thofe 
 errors, into which fo hazardous an attempt may 
 perhaps have betrayed me. I had thoughts of 
 introducing this performance to the public, by a 
 dij/ertation of conjiderable length on this fpecies of 
 poetry, but I forbear to indulge myfelf any farther 
 in fuck preliminary remarks, as the anxiety of 
 authors is fo apt to produce, from the reflection, 
 that, however ingenioujly written, they add little 
 or nothing to the fuccefs of a good poem, and 
 are utterly in/ufficient to prevent that neglefi, 
 or oblivion^ 'which is the inevitable fate of a 
 bad one, 
 
 In
 
 Xii PREFACE. 
 
 In difmijfing a work to my fair readers > which 
 is intended principally for their perufal, I foall only 
 recommend it to their attention ; and bid therx 
 farewell* in the words of the pleafant and cour- 
 teous 'Taffbni 
 
 tf Vaglia il luon <voler, s* altro non lice t 
 E chi la leggera, <vi<va felice ! " 
 
 EARTHAM, 
 
 Jan. 31, 1781. 
 
 THE
 
 THE 
 
 TRIUMPHS OF TEMPER. 
 
 CANTO I. 
 
 JL HE mind's foft guardian, who, tho'yet unfimg, 
 Infpires with harmony the female tongue, 
 And gives, improving every tender grace, 
 The fmile of angels to a mortal face ; 
 Her powers I fmg; and fcenes of mental ftrife, 
 Which form the maiden for th* accomplifh'd wife ; 
 Where the fweet victor fees, with fparkling eyes, 
 Love her reward, and happinefs her prize. 
 Daughters of beauty, who the fong infpire, 
 To your enchanting notes attune my lyre ! 
 And O ! if haply your foft hearts may gain 
 Or ufe, or pleafure from the motley ftrain, 
 
 B Tho*
 
 2 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 Tho* formal critics, with a furly frown, 
 Deny your artlefs bard the laurel crown, 
 He ftill lhall triumph, if ye deign to fpread 
 Your fweeter myrtle round his honour'd head. 
 In your bright circle young SERENA grew; 
 1 A lovelier nymph the pencil never drew ; 
 For the fond Graces form'd her eafy mien, 
 And heaven's foft azure in her eye was feen. 
 She feem'd a rofe-bud, when it firft receives 
 The genial fun in its expanding leaves : 
 For now fhe enter 'd thofe important years, 
 When the full bofom fwells with hopes and fears; 
 When confcious nature prompts the fecret figh, 
 And fheds fweet languor o'er the melting eye; 
 When nobler toys the female heart trepan, 
 And dolls rejected, yield their place to man. 
 
 Beneath a father's care SERENA grew; 
 The good SIR GILBERT, to his country true, 
 A faithful Whig, who, zealous for the Hate, 
 In freedom's fervke led the loud debate ; 
 
 Yet
 
 OF TEMPER. 3 
 
 Yet every day, by tranfmutation rare, 
 Turn'd to a Tory in his elbow-chair, 
 And made his daughter pay, howe'er abfurd,, 
 . Paflive obedience to his fovereign word. 
 
 In his domeftic fway he borrow'd aid 
 From prim PENELOPE., an ancient maid, 
 His upright fifter, confcious of her worth, 
 Who valued ftill her beauty, and her birth ; 
 Tho' from her birth no envied rank me gain'd> . 
 And of her beauty but the ghoft remain'd ; 
 A reftlefs ghoft ! that with remembrance keen 
 Proclaim'd inceffant what it once had been ; 
 Delighted ftill the fteps of youth to haunt, 
 To watch the tender nymph, and warm gallant ; 
 And, with an eye that petrified purfuit, 
 Hang like the dragon o'er th' Hefperian fruit. 
 
 Tho' ftriftly guarded by this jealous power, 
 The mild SERENA no reftraint could four : 
 Pure was her bofom, as the filver lake, 
 Ere rifmg winds the ruffled water fhake, 
 
 B 2 When
 
 $. THETRIUM P H S 
 
 When the bright pageants of the morning flcy, 
 Acrofs th' expanfive mirror lightly fly, 
 By vernal gales in quick fucceffion driven, 
 While the clear glafs reflefts the fmile of heaven. 
 
 . In gay content a fportive life ihe led, 
 The child of Modefty, by Virtue bred : 
 Her light companions Innocence and Eafe : 
 Her hope was pleafure, and her wifii to pleafe : 
 For this, to Fafhion early rites me paid ; 
 For-this, to Venus fecret vows (he made ; 
 Nor held it fin to caft a private glance 
 O'er the dear pages of a new romance, 
 Eager in fiction's touching fcenes to find 
 A field, to exercife her youthful mind : 
 The touching fcenes new energy impreft 
 On all the virtues of her feeling breaft. 
 Sweet Evelina's fafcinating power 
 Had firft beguil'd of fieep her midnight hour : 
 
 Pofleft by fympathy's enchanting fway, 
 She read, unconfcious of the dawning day. 
 
 The
 
 London, PublifliU Sept 1 1*1^87,^7 T.CadclL,Strand
 
 OF TEMPER. 5 
 
 The Modern Anecdote was next convey'd 
 Beneath her pillow by her faithful maid. 
 The nymph, attentive as the brooding dove, 
 Por'd o'er the tender fcenes of Franzel's love : 
 
 . The finking taper now grew weak and pale ; 
 SEREKA figh'd, and dropt th' unfinifh'd tale ; 
 But, as warm clouds in vernal sether roll, 
 The foft ideas floated in her foul : 
 Free from ambitious pride, and envious care, 
 To love, and to be lov'd, was all her prayer : - 
 While thefe fond thoughts her gentle mind poffefs'd, 
 Soft flumber fettled on her fnowy breaft. 
 
 Scarce had her radiant eyes began to clofe, 
 When to her view a friendly vifion rofe : 
 A fairy Phantom ftruck her mental fight, 
 
 . Light as the goffamer, as aether bright ; 
 Array'd like Pallas was the pigmy form, 
 When the fage Goddefs ftills the martial ftorm. . 
 Her cafque was amber, richly grac'd above 
 With down, collected from the callow dove : 
 
 B 3 Her
 
 6 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 Her burnifh'd breaft-plate, of a deeper dye< 
 Was once the armour of a golden fly : 
 A lynx's eye her little aegis flione, 
 By fairy fpells converted into ftone, 
 And worn of old, as elfin poets fing, 
 By ^Egypt's lovely queen, a favourite ring : 
 Myfterious power was in the magic toy, 
 To turn the frowns of care to fmiles of joy. 
 Her tiny lance, whofe radiance ftream'd afar, 
 Was one bright fparkle from the bridal ftar. 
 A filmy mantle round her figure play'd, 
 Fine as the texture, by Arachne laid 
 O'er fome young plant, when glittering to the view 
 With many an orient pearl of morning dew. 
 The Phantom hover'd o'er the confcious Fair 
 With fuch a lively fmile of tender care, 
 As on her elfin lord Titania caft, 
 Wheat firft me found his angry fpell was paft. 
 Round her rich locks SERENA chanc'd to tie 
 .An ample ribband of cerulean dye : 
 
 High
 
 OF TEMPER. 
 
 High o'er her forehead rofe the graceful bow, 
 Whofe arch commanded the fweet fcene below : 
 The hovering Spirit view'd the tempting fpot, 
 And lightly perch'd on this unbending knot ; 
 As the fair flutterer, of Pfyche's race, 
 Is feen to terminate her airy chace, 
 When, pleas'd at length her quivering wings to clofe, 
 Fondly (he fettles on the fragrant rofe. 
 
 Now in foft notes, more mufically clear 
 Than ever Fairy breath'd in mortal ear, 
 Thefe words the vifionary voice convey 'd 
 To the charm'd fpirit of the fleeping maid : 
 
 <f Thou darling of my care, whofe ripen'd worth 
 Shall fpread my empire o'er the fmiling earth ; 
 Whom Nature bleft, forbidding modim Art 
 To cramp thy fpirit, or contrad thy heart ; 
 Screen'd from thy thought, nor in thy viiions felt, 
 Long on thy opening mind I've fondly dwelt ; 
 In childhood's forrows brought thee quick relief, 
 And dry'd thy April mowers of infant grief: 
 
 B 4- Taught
 
 9 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 Taught thee to laugh at the malicious boy, 
 Who broke thy playthings with a barbarous joy, 
 
 . To bear what ills the little female haunt, -\ 
 
 The tefty nurfe, th' imperious governante, > 
 
 . And that tyrannic peft, the prying maiden aunt. 3 
 "Now ripening years a nobler fcene fupply ; 
 For life now opens on thy fparkling eye : 
 Thy rifmg bofbm fwells with juft defire 
 Rapture to feel, and rapture to infpire : 
 Not the vain blifs, the tranfitory joys, 
 That childim woman feels, in radiant toys ; 
 The coftly diamond, or the lighter pearl, 
 The maflive Nabob, or the tinfel Earl. 
 Thy heart demands, each meaner aim above, 
 
 . Th' imperimable wealth of fterling love ; 
 Thy wifh, to pleafe by ev'ry fofter grace 
 Of elegance and eafe, of form and face ! 
 
 . By lively fancy and by fenfe refin'd, 
 The ftronger magic of the cultur'd mind ! 
 Thy pure ambition, and thy virtuous plan, 
 
 . To fix the variable heart of man ! 
 
 Short
 
 OF TEMPER. 9 
 
 Short is the worihip paid at beauty's ftirine { 
 But lafting love and happinefs are mine : 
 Mine, tho' the earth's miftaken, blinded race 
 Defpife my influence, and my name debafe ; 
 Nor breathe one vow to that aetherial friend, 
 On whom the colours of their life depend. 
 But to thy innocence I now difplay 
 The myftic marvels of my fecret fway ; 
 And tell, in this thy fate-deciding hour, 
 My race, my name, my office, and my power. 
 
 Firft, hear what wonders human forms contain ! 
 And learn the texture of the female brain ! 
 By Nature's care in curious order fpread, 
 This living net is fram'd of tender thread ; 
 Fine, as thy hand, fome favour'd youth to grace, 
 Knits with nice art to form the mimic lace. 
 Within the center of this fretted dome, 
 Her fecret tower, her heaven-conftrufted home, 
 . Soft Senfibility, fweet Beauty's foul ! 
 Keeps her coy ftate, and animates the whole, 
 
 Invifible
 
 IO T.KE TRIUMPHS 
 
 Invifible as Harmony, who fprings, 
 Wak'd by young Zephyr, from ^Eolian firings : 
 Her fubtle power, more delicately fine, 
 Dwells in each thread, and lives in every line, 
 Whofe,quick vibrations, without end, impart 
 Pleafure and pain to the refponfive heart. 
 As Zephyr's breath the willing chord infpires, 
 Whifpering foft mufic to the trembling wires. 
 So with fond care I regulate, unfeen, 
 The fofter movements of this nice machine ; 
 TEMPER my earthly name, the nurfe of Love ! 
 But call'd SOPH ROSY NE in realms above ! 
 When lovely Woman, perfeft at her birth, 
 Bleft with her early charms the wond'ring earth, 
 jbler foul, in fweet fimplicity array'd, 
 Nor fhar'd my guidance, nor requir'd my aid. 
 Her tender frame, nor confident nor coy, 
 Had every fibre tun'd to gentle joy : 
 No vain caprices fwell'd her pouting lip ; 
 No gold produc'xi a mercenary trip ; 
 
 Soft
 
 F TEMPED. II 
 
 Soft innocence infpir'd her willing kifs, 
 . Her love was nature, and her life^was blifs. 
 Guide of his reafon, not his paffion's prey, 
 She tam'd the favage, Man, who blefs'd her fway. 
 No jarring wilhes filPd the world with woes, 
 But youth was ecftacy, and age repofe. 
 
 The Powers of MifcHjef met, in dark Divan, 
 To blaft thefe mighty joys of envied Man : 
 The Fiends, at their infernal leader's call,' 
 Fram'd their bafe wiles in Demogorgon's hall. 
 In the deep center of that dreadful dome, 
 An hellifh cauldron boil'd with fiery foam-: 
 In this wide urn the circling fpirits threw 
 Ingredients harm, and hideous to the view.; 
 While the terrific mafter of the fpell 
 With adjurations fhook. the depths of hell, 
 And in dark words, unmeet for mortal ear, 
 Bade the dire offspring of his art appear. 
 Forth from the vafe, with fullen murmurs, broke 
 A towering mafs of peftilential fmoke : 
 
 Emerging
 
 1% THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 Emerging from this fog of thickeft night, 
 A Phantom fwells, by flow degrees, to fight ; 
 But ere the view can feize the forming fhape, 
 From the mock'd eye its lineaments efcape : 
 It feem'd all paflions melted into one, 
 Aflum'd the face of all, and yet was none : 
 HelJ flood aghaft at its portentous mien, 
 And ihuddering Demons call'd the fpeftre Spleen. 
 ' Hie thee to earth !* its mighty matter cried, 
 < O'er the vex'd globe in heavy vapours ride ! 
 Within its center fix thy fhadowy throne t 
 With fliades thy fubjefts, and that hell thy own ! 
 Reign there unfeen ! but let thy ftrong controul 
 Be hourly felt in Woman's wayward foul ! 
 With darkeft poifons from our deep abyfs, 
 Taint that pure fountain of terreftrial blifs !' 
 TV enormous Phantom, at this potent found, 
 Rofl'd forth obedient from the vaft profound : 
 The quaking Fiends recover'd from their dread, 
 And hell grew lighter, as the monfter fled. 
 
 But
 
 ^-ftdtZL Strarul.
 
 OF TEMPER. 13 
 
 But now round earth the gliding vapours run, 
 
 Blot the rich xther, and eclipfe the fun ; 
 
 All Nature fickens ; and her faireft flower, 
 
 Enchanting Woman, feels the baneful Power : 
 
 As in her foul the clouds of Spleen arife, 
 
 The fprightly eflence of her beauty flies : 
 
 In youth's gay prime, in hours with rapture warm, 
 
 Love looks aftonifh'd on her altering form : 
 
 To pleafing frolics, and enchanting wiles, 
 
 Life-darting looks, and foul-fubduing fmiles, 
 
 Dark whims fucceed : thick-coming fancies fret ; 
 
 The fullen paflion, and the hafty pet-; 
 
 The fwelling lip, the tear-diftended eye, 
 
 The peevifh queftion, the perverfe reply j 
 
 The moody humour, that, like rain and fire. 
 
 Blends cold difguft with unfubdu'd defire, 
 
 Flies what it loves, and, petulantly coy, 
 
 Feigns proud abhorrence of the profter'd joy : 
 
 For Nature's artlefs aim, the wim to pleafe 
 
 By genuine modefty, and iimple eafe, 
 
 Falhion's
 
 14 THE TRIUMPH- S 
 
 Fafhion's pert tricks the crowded brain opprefs 
 ..With all the poor parade of tawdry drefs : 
 The fickly bofom pants for noife and fhow, 
 For every bauble, and for every beau ; 
 The voice, that health made harmony, difowna 
 That native charm for languor's mimic tones ; 
 And feigns difeafe, till, feeling what it feigns, 
 Its fancied maladies are real pains. 
 Such, and a thoufand ftill fuperior woes, 
 From Spleen's new empire o'er the earth arofe : 
 Each fimple diftate of the foul forgot, 
 Then firft was form'd the mercenary plot ; 
 And beauty pradiis'd that pernicious art, 
 The art of angling for an old man's heart ; 
 Tho' crawling to his bride with tottering knees, 
 His words were dotage, and his love difeafe. 
 From fex to fex this bafe contagion ran, 
 And gold grew beauty in the eyes of man : 
 Courtfhip was traffic : and the married life 
 . But one loud jangle of incefiant flrife. 
 
 Tho
 
 OF TEMPER. 15 
 
 The gentle Sprite, who, on his radiant car, 
 , Shines the mild regent of the evening-ftar, 
 And joys from thence thofe genial rays to med, 
 That lead the bridegroom to the nuptial bed, 
 While earth's new ills his friendly foul abforb, 
 From Cynthia call'd me to his kindred orb ; 
 And, eager to redrefs the woes of man, 
 The brilliant Son of Vefper thus began: 
 ' Thou fofteft Being of th' aetherial kind, 
 Be thy benignant cares no more confin'd 
 To fmooth the ruffled plume of Zephyr's wing, 
 To guard from cruel froft the infant fpring, 
 To drive grofs atoms from the rays of noon, 
 Or chafe the halo from the vapourifh moon I 
 Thy friendly nature will not now deny 
 To quit for nobler toils thy native fky ; 
 Thou feeft how Spleen's infernal vapours roll 
 . Acrofs the fweet ferene of woman's foul; 
 And earth, which darkens as her beauties fade, 
 Muft grow a fecond hell without thy aid: 
 
 B a Take
 
 l6 TITE TRIUMPHS 
 
 Take then thy ftation ! fix thy nobler reign 
 O'er thofe fine chords, that form the female brain, 
 That us'd, ere injur'd by the ruft of Spleen, 
 To fill with harmony the human fcene ! 
 Go ! left her touch their tender tones deftroj^ 
 Teach them to vibrate to thy notes of joy ! 
 Go ! and reftore, by ftilling mental ftrife, 
 Health to faint love, and happinefs to life!' 
 So fpake that friend of man, who lights above 
 His heavenly lamp of Hymenasal love : 
 In his juft aim my kindred fpirit join'd, 
 And flew obedient to the charge affign'd. 
 Hence, as the bias fways th' unconfcious bowl, 
 I long unfeen have fway'd the carelefs foul ; 
 Tho' oft I feel my power by Spleen fubdu'd, 
 In the fhrill vixen, and the fullen prude, 
 In fome fair forms my foft dominion grows, 
 Like fragrance, rifing from the opening rofe r 
 Still I preferve, in many a lovely face, 
 . That gay good-humour, and that conftant grace, 
 
 Which
 
 OF TEMPER. I/ 
 
 Which heavenly Powers united to infold 
 
 In perfect Woman's new-created mould ; 
 
 When Nature, in her infant beauty bleft, 
 
 The laft and lovelieft of her works careft. 
 
 But of thofe nymphs, who, delicately fair, 
 
 Draw their foft graces from my forming care, 
 
 My young SERENA mines her peers above, 
 
 Pride of my hopes, and darling of my love. 
 
 Hence I to thee fuch myfteries unfold, 
 
 As Man's pedantic eye mail ne'er behold ; 
 
 Whofe narrow fcience, tho' it proudly boaft 
 
 To pierce the fky, and count the ftarry hoft, 
 
 Sees not the lucid band of airy Powers, 
 
 Who flutter round him in his fecret hours : 
 
 But if to me, thy guardian now difplay'd, 
 
 Thy duteous orifons are juftly paid, 
 
 Thou to thofe realms malt pafs with me thy guide, 
 
 Where Spleen's pale vi&ims, after death, refide j 
 
 Then to that orb, in vilion malt thou rife, 
 
 Unfeen by mortal aftronomic eyes, 
 
 C Where
 
 l8 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 Where I but firft let me thy foul prepare 
 To meet our fecret foe's infidious fnare ! 
 J Tis my fond purpofe in thy form to mow 
 
 . The fweeteft model of my (kill below : 
 A youth I deftine to thy dear embrace, 
 Crown'd with each mental charm, and manly grace, 
 With whom thy innocence, fecure from ftrife, 
 Shall reap the beauteous joys of blamelefs life. 
 Pleas'd I obferve thy little heart begin 
 To aflc, what charms the mighty prize may win : 
 But know, tho* Elegance herfelf be feen 
 To guide thy motion, and to form thy mien ; 
 Tho' Beauty o'er thy filial cheek diffufe 
 The foft enchantment of her rofeate hues, 
 Not from their favour {hall this glory rife ! 
 
 , TEMPER fhall fingly gain the fplendid prize : 
 The fudden conqueft fhall be mine alone, 
 And Love with tranfport fhall my triumph own. 
 Such are my hopes ; but I with pain relate 
 What hard conditions are annex'd by fate : 
 
 As
 
 OF TEMPI R ' 
 
 . As chemic fires, that patient labour blows, 
 Draw the rich perfume from the Perflan rofe, 
 So mult thou form, by fiery toils refin'd, 
 The living eflence of thy fweeter fflind. 
 Dimly I fee, on Deftiny's dull glafs, 
 Three dangerous trials 'tis thy doom to pafs ; 
 And oh ! if once forgetful of my power, 
 
 - Good-humour fail thee in the fateful hour, 
 Farewell thofe joys, that wait the happy wife ! 
 Farewell the vifion of unclouded life ! 
 
 Fain would my love thy fecret perils {how. 
 Which fate allows not even me to know : 
 In Spleen's dark court a thoufand agents dwell, 
 Who bind her victims in the wayward {pell ; 
 Perchance three prime fupporters of her {way, 
 The bufieft of her fiends, may crofs thy way : 
 
 . Stern Contradiction, her ill-favour'd child. 
 Of fierce demeanor, and of fpirit wild, 
 Bane of delight ! and horror of the fex ! 
 His plan to puzzle, and his pride to vex ! 
 Cz
 
 2O THETRIUM P H S 
 
 Or Scandal, filthy hag ! who blindly limps 
 
 Round. the wide earth, fupported by her imps, 
 
 Her inky demons, who delight to print 
 
 Her bafe fuggeftion, and her envious hint : 
 
 Or groundlefs Jealoufy, pert changeling ! born 
 
 Of amorous Vanity, and angry Scorn, 
 
 Whofe bitter taunts with public infult dare 
 
 Bafely to wound the unoffending fair, 
 
 Proud the fweet joys of innocence to crufh, 
 
 And fpread o'er beauty's cheek the burning blufh* 
 
 Whether thefe kindred fiends, or one or all, 
 
 Shall aim thy airy fpirit to enthrall, 
 
 Are points, my fondnefs tries in vain to reach ; 
 
 But truft my caution ! and beware of each ! 
 
 Left to thy lively mind my words may feem 
 The vain chimera of a common dream, 
 By one unqueftionable fign be taught 
 To prize my prefence in thy waking thought ! 
 An azure ribband, on thy toilet thrown, 
 Shall make the magic of my empire known : 
 
 On
 
 OF TEMPER. 21 
 
 On this thy fportive needle tried its powers, 
 
 And filver fpangles form'd the mimic flowers ; 
 
 On thefe my love fhall breathe a fecret charm ; 
 
 With this, my caeftus, thy foft bofom arm ! 
 
 Above it let the decent tucker rife, 
 
 To hide the myftic band from mortal eyes I 
 
 When Spleen's dark Powers would teach that breaft 
 to iwell, 
 
 This guardian cin&ure mail thofe Powers repel : 
 . As the touch'd talifman, more fwift than thought, 
 
 To fave'her charge, th' Arabian Fairy brought ; 
 
 So mall this zone, if juftly I'm obey'd, 
 
 Bring my foft fpirit to thy certain aid. 
 . In Love's great name obferve this high beheft ! 
 
 Revere my power Be gentle, and be bleft !" 
 Here the kind Sprite her friendly counfel clos'd, 
 
 And lightly vanifh'd Still SERENA doz'd ; 
 
 Still in fweet trance me fondly feem'd to hear 
 
 The foft perfuafion vibrate in her ear. 
 
 But waking now far different notes me found ; 
 
 Lefs pleafmg echoes in her chamber found : 
 
 C. 7 For
 
 22 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 For now the heralds of the London day 
 
 Sing their loud mattins in th' uncrowded way ; 
 
 TV impatient milk-maid now, with early din, 
 
 Screams to the rattle of her pail of tin ; 
 
 With fweep's faint cry, and, lateft of the crew, 
 
 The deep-ton'd mufic of the murmuring Jew. 
 
 END OF THE FIRST CANTO. 
 
 CANTO
 
 OF TEMPER. 32 
 
 CANTO II. 
 
 Y E radiant nymphs ! whofe opening eyes convey 
 Warmth to the world, and luftre to the day ! 
 Think what-o'erfhadowing clouds may crofs your 
 
 brain, 
 
 Before thofe lovely lids mail clofe again ! 
 What funds of patience twelve long hours may afk, 
 When cold Difcretion claims her daily talk ! 
 Ah think betimes ! and, while your morning care 
 Sheds foreign odors o'er your fragrant hair, 
 Tinge your foft fpirit with that mental fweet, 
 Which may not be exhal'd by paffion's heat ; 
 But charm the fenfe, with undecaying power, 
 Thro' every chance of each diurnal hour ! 
 O ! might you all perceive your toilets crown'd 
 With fuch cofmetics as SERENA found ! 
 For, to the warning vifion fondly true, 
 Now the quick fair-one to the toilet flew : 
 
 C 4 With
 
 24 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 With keen delight her ravifti'd eye furvey'd 
 The myftic ribband on her mirror laid : 
 Bright fhone the azure as Aurora's car, 
 And every fpangle feem'd a living ftar. 
 With fportive grace the fmiling damfel preft 
 The guardian cinclure to her fnowy breaft, 
 More lovely far than Juno, when me ftrove 
 To look moft lovely in the eyes of Jove ; 
 And willing Venus lent her every power, 
 That fheds enchantment o'er the amorous hour : 
 For fpells more potent on this band were thrown, 
 Than Venus boafted in her beauteous zone. 
 Her dazzling casftus could alone infpire 
 The fudden impulfe of ftiort-liv'd defire : 
 Thefe finer threads with lafting charms are fraught, 
 Here lies the tender, but unchanging thought, 
 , Silence, that wins, where eloquence is vain, 
 And tones, that harmonize the mad'ning brain, 
 Soft fighs, that anger cannot hear, and live, 
 And fmiles, that tell, how truly they forgive.; 
 
 And
 
 OF TAMPER. i5 
 
 And lively grace, whofe gay difFufwe light 
 Puts the black phantoms of the brain to flight, 
 Whofe cheering powers thro* every period laft, 
 And make the prefent happy as the paft. 
 
 Such fecret charms this richer zone poffeft, 
 Whofe flowers, now {parkling on SERENA'S breafl, 
 Give, tho* unfeen thofe fwelling orbs they bind, 
 Smiles to her face, and beauty to her mind : 
 For now, obfervant of the Sprite's beheft, 
 The nymph conceals them by her upper veil: 
 Safe lies the fpell, no mortal may defcry, 
 Not keen PENELOPE'S all-piercing eye ; 
 Who conflant, as the fteps of morn advance, 
 Surveys the houfhold with a fearching glance, 
 And entering now, with all her ufual care, 
 Reviews the chamber of the youthful fair. 
 Beneath the pillow, not compleatly hid, 
 The novel lay She faw fhe feiz'd ihe chid : 
 With rage and glee her glaring eye-balls flam, 
 Ah wicked age ! fhe cries, ah filthy trafti ! 
 
 From
 
 26 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 From the firft page my juft abhorrence fprings ; 
 For modern anecdotes are monftrous things : 
 Yet will I fee what dangerous poifons lurk, 
 To taint thy youth, in this licentious work. 
 She faid : and rudely from the chamber rufh'd, 
 Her pallid cheek with expectation fiufh'd, 
 With ardent hope her eager fpirit (hook, 
 Vain hope ! to banquet on a lufcious book. 
 So if a prieft, of the Arabian fedl, 
 In Turkifh hands forbidden wine deleft, 
 The facred muffulman, with pious din, 
 Arraigns the culprit, and proclaims the fin, 
 Curfes with holy zeal th' inflaming juice, 
 But curling takes it for his fecret ufe. 
 
 The gay SERENA, with unruffled mind, 
 The pleafmg novel, thus unread, refign'd. 
 The vifion on her foul fuch virtue left, 
 She only fmil'd at the provoking theft ; 
 The teazing incident me deem'd a jeft, 
 Nor felt the zone grow tighter on her brealt. 
 
 Now
 
 OF TEMPER. 27 
 
 Now in full charms defcends the finifti'd fair, 
 For now the morning banquet claims her care ; 
 Already at the board, with viands pil'd, 
 Her fire impatient fits, and chides his tardy child. 
 On his imperial lips rude hunger reigns, 
 And keener politics ufurp his brains : 
 But when her love-infpiring voice he hears, 
 When the foft magic of her fmile appears, 
 In that glad moment he at once forgets 
 His empty ftomach, and the nation's debts : 
 He bends to Nature's more divine controul, 
 And only feels the Father in his foul. 
 Quick to his hand behold her now prefent 
 The Indian liquor of celeftial fcent ! 
 Not with more grace the nedtar'd cup is given 
 By rofe-lip'd Hebe to the lord of heaven. 
 While her fair hands a frem libation pour, 
 Fafaion's loud thunder wakes the founding door. 
 The light SERENA to the window fprings, 
 On curiofity's amulive wings : 
 
 Her
 
 28 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 Her quick eyes fparkle with furprife, to fee 
 
 The glories of a golden vis-a-vis : 
 
 Its glittering tablet gleam'd with mimic pearl, 
 
 And the rich coronet announc'd an earl. 
 
 The good old knight grew fomewhat proud to hear 
 
 Of this new viiit from the early peer : 
 
 SERENA recollects the vifion's truth, 
 
 And fluttering, hopes it is the promis'd youth t 
 
 PENELOPE from her high chamber peeps ; 
 
 There her unnnifh'd charms me coyly keeps ; 
 
 With fage referve her modefty abhorr'd 
 
 To mew her morning face before a lord. 
 
 The peer alights : the well-rang'd vafials bawl 
 His founding title thro' the fpacious hall, 
 Till in the deep falcon's extremeft bound 
 Th' ear-tickling words, ' LORD FILLIGREE," 
 
 refound. 
 
 As when great Hector, fetting war apartj 
 Advanc'd to parley, with his fpear athwart, 
 The Greeks beheld him with a ftffl delight ; 
 And filent reverence flopt the rifmg fight j 
 
 With
 
 OF TEMPER. 29 
 
 With fuch refpeft, but unchaftis'd by fear, 
 S i R G i L B E R T and the nymph firft meet the peer j 
 And, while his morning Compliments commence, 
 The flighted breakfaft ftands in cold fufpence. 
 But far unlike to Hector's ruder grace 
 His modern ftature, and his modifti face ! 
 Nor lefs he differs from thofe barons old, 
 Whofe arms are blazon'd on his car of gold ; 
 Whofe proftrate caftle guarded once the lands, 
 Where, fpruce in motley pride, his villa ftands, 
 By Tafte erefted, in her trimmeft mode, 
 Her mufhroom ftrudure, and her quaint abode. 
 As the neat daify to the fun's broad flower, 
 As the French boudoir to the Gothic tower, 
 Such is the peer, whom faftiion much admires, 
 Compar'd in perfon to his ancient flres : 
 Fur their broad flioulder, and their brawny calf, 
 Their coarfe, loud language, and their coarfer laugh, 
 His finer form, more elegantly flim, 
 Difplays the fafhionable length of limb : 
 
 With
 
 3<J THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 With foreign fhrugs his country he regards, 
 And her lean tongue with foreign words he lards ; 
 While Gallic Graces, who correft his ftyle, 
 Forbid his mirth to pafs beyond a fmile. 
 As the nice workman in the wooden trade, 
 Hides his coarfe ground, with fineft woods o'erlaid, 
 Thus our young lord, with faftiion's phrafe refin'dj 
 Fineer'd the mean interior of his mind : 
 And hence, in courtefy's foft luftre feen, 
 His fpirit (hone, as graceful as his mien. 
 The artlefs fair, on famion's kind report, 
 Thought him the mirror of a matchlefs court : 
 Much (he his drefs, his language much obferves, 
 Whofe finer accents prove his feeling nerves. 
 Her fancy now the deftin'd lover fpies, 
 But her free heart abjures the quick furmife ; 
 Yet as he fpoke, at every flattering word 
 The vifion's promife to her thought recurr'd. 
 Far more parental pride contrives to blind 
 The good SIRGILBERT'S more-experienc'd mind, 
 
 Who
 
 OF TEMPER." 3t 
 
 Who fondly faw, and at the profpeft fmil'd, 
 A future countefs in his favourite child. 
 But what new flutterings fhoofc SERENA'S breaft, 
 What hopes and fears the modeft nymph oppreft, 
 When with a fimpering fmile, and foft regard, 
 The peer difplay'd a mirth-expreffive card, 
 Where the gay Graces, in a fportive band, 
 Shew the fweet art of Cipriani's hand ; 
 Where, in their train, his airy Cupids throng, 
 And laughing drag a comic mafk along ! 
 " We," cries my lord, with felf-fufficient joy, 
 Twirling, with lordly airs, the graceful toy, 
 " We, who pofTefs true fcience, we, who give 
 The world a leflbn in the art to live, 
 We for the fair a fplendid fete defign, 
 And pay our homage thus at Beauty's mrine.'* 
 He fpoke ; and fpeaking, to the blufhing maid, 
 With modifli eafe, th' inviting card convey'd, 
 Where Mirth announc'd her mafque-devoted hour 
 In characters intwin'd with many a flower : 
 
 The
 
 32 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 The bluming maid, with eyes of quick defirc, 
 
 View'd it, and felt her little foul on fire j 
 
 For of all fcenes ftie had not yet furvey'd, 
 
 Her heart moft panted for a mafquerade : 
 
 But her gay hopes increafing terrors drown, 
 
 And dread forebodings of her father's frown. 
 
 In mute fufpence to read his thought me tries, 
 
 And ftrongly pleads with her prevailing eyes, 
 
 Her eyes, for doubt enchain'd her modeft tongue, 
 
 While on his fovereign word her pleafure hung. 
 
 With fuch a tender, and perfualive air 
 
 Of foft endearment, and of anxious care, 
 
 Thetis attended from th' almighty fire 
 
 His fateful anfwer to her fond defire : 
 
 The good old knight, like the Olympian god, 
 
 Bleft the fair fuppliant with his gracious nod ; 
 
 Her lively fpirit the kind fignal took, 
 
 And her glad heart in every fibre fhook. 
 
 The party fettled, it imports not how, 
 
 The peer politely made his parting bow : 
 
 Th
 
 OF TEMPER. 33 
 
 The nymph, with eyes that fparkled joyous fire, 
 Kifs'd the round cheek of her complying fire, 
 Then fwiftly flew, and fummon'd to her aid 
 Th' important counfel of her favourite maid, 
 To vent her joy, and, as the moments prefs, 
 To fix that firft of points, a fancy-drefs. 
 
 Quick as the poet's eyes o'er nature fly, 
 Piercing the deep, or traverfing the fky, 
 With fuch light fpeed her fond ideas glance 
 O'er play and poem, ftory and romance, 
 While all the characters, fhe e'er has read, 
 Flafh on her brain, and fill her bufy head. 
 
 Now in Diana's form fhe hopes to meet 
 A fond Endymion fighing at her feet ; 
 Now her proud thought terreftrial pomp aflumes, 
 And Dian's crefcent yields to Indian plumes ; 
 Now, in the habit of the Grecian ifles, 
 She hears fome Ofman fuing for her fmiles, 
 And fees his foul that blaze of drefs outfhine, 
 Whofe wealth impoverifh'd a diamond-mine ; 
 
 D Now
 
 34 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 Now fimpler charms her quick attention draw, 
 
 The rofe-crown'd bonnet, and the hat of ftraw, 
 
 A village-maid fhe feems, in neat attire, 
 
 A faithful mepherd now her fole defire. 
 
 Thus, as new figures in her fancy throng, 
 
 te She's every thing by Harts, and nothing long j" 
 
 But, in the fpace of one revolving hour, 
 
 Flies thro' all ftates of poverty and power, 
 
 All forms, on whom her veering mind can pitch, 
 
 Sultana, gipfy, goddefs, nymph, and witch. 
 
 At length, her foul with Shakefpeare's magic fraught, 
 
 The wand of Ariel fixt her roving thought ; 
 
 Ariel's light graces all her heart pofiefs, 
 
 And Jenny's order'd to prepare the drefs. 
 
 It feems already bought, with fond applaufe ; 
 
 An azure tiffue, and a filver gauze ; 
 
 Too foon, alas ! that garb of heavenly hue 
 
 The ready mercer flafhes to her view. 
 
 Ah blind to fate ! how oft the youthful belle 
 
 Feels her gay heart at fight of tiflue fwell ! 
 
 And
 
 OF TEMPER.' 3^ 
 
 And thinks the fafhionable filk muft prove 
 Her robe of triumph, and a fpell to love ! 
 To thee, fweet maid, whofe pleafure-darting eyes 
 Joy in this favourite veft, an hour mail rife, 
 When thou malt hate the filk fo fondly fought, 
 And wifli thy filver-fpotted gauze unbought * : 
 Por bufy Spleen thy trial now prepares ; 
 Darkly me forms her unfufpefted fnares, 
 And, keen to raife her pleafure-killing ftorm, 
 Affumes PENELOPE'S congenial form. 
 In that prim lhape, which all the graces mun, 
 See the four fiend to good SIR GILBERT run! 
 Where, deeply pondering the public debt, 
 Silent he mufes o'er a new gazette ! 
 Ent'ring, (he view'd, with eyes of envious fpite, 
 The card, that fpoke the mafque-devoted night: 
 
 * Nefcia mens hominum fati fortifque futurae, 
 Et fervare modum, rebus fublata fecaudis. 
 Turno tempus erit, magno cum optaverit emptum 
 Intadtum Pallanta, et cum fpolia ifta diemque 
 Qderit. ./ENEID. x. v. 501. & feq. 
 
 D 2 Eager
 
 3& THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 Eager flie darted on. the graceful toy, 
 And, fiercely pointing to each naked boy, 
 " Canft thou," Ihe cried, in a difcordant fcream, 
 That rous'd the politician from his dream, 
 While with her voice the echoing chamber rings, 
 ' * Say ! canft thou fuffer thefe flagitious things ? 
 Are thefe devices to thy daughter brought, 
 That wake fuch grofs impurity of thought ? 
 In vaiu are all the prudent words I preach, 
 The modeft maxims that I ftrive to teach ; 
 By foolifh fondnefs of your fenfe beguil'd, 
 You (till indulge, and fpoil the flippant child: 
 For me, whate'er I fay is deem'd abfurd; 
 She fcorns my fage advice : but mark my word, 
 If to this ball you let the hoyden run, 
 Your power is ended, and the girl undone." 
 The patriot knight, by interruption vext, 
 Jn his political purfuits perplext, 
 
 * Zev wTEf, a vefASfftfyt ojwv raj's xagTEga. tgyct, &C, 
 
 ILIAD s. v. 872. & feq. 
 While
 
 OF T E M P E R. 37 
 
 While he with wrath th' intruding Mifchief eyed, 
 
 S tern to the falfe PENELOPE replied : 
 
 " Go! teazing prude, ceafe in my ears to vent 
 
 Thy envious pride, and peevifh difcontent ! 
 
 To me of prudence canft thou vainly boaft ? 
 
 Of all my houfhold, thou haft plagu'd me moft : 
 
 The joys thou blameft are thy dear delight, 
 
 By day the vifit, and the ball by night : 
 
 And, tho' too old a lover to trepan, 
 
 Thy midnight dream, th^y morning thought, is man. 
 
 Wert thou lefs clofely to my blood allied, 
 
 Thou (hould'ft, to cure thee of thy canting pride, 
 
 Be fent to figh alone o'er purling brooks, 
 
 Scold village maids, and croak to croaking rooks.'* 
 
 He fpoke indignant: the fly fiend withdrew, 
 Nor inly griev'd; for well her force me knew. 
 As Indian females, in a jealous hour, 
 Of fecrct poifon try the fubtleft power, 
 Which fare, tho' flow, corrodes th' unconfcious prey, 
 And ends its triumph on a diftant day: 
 
 D 3 Thus
 
 38 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 Thus the departing Fury left behind 
 
 Her venom, latent in SIR GILBERT'S mind. 
 
 The hidden mifchief tho' no eye obferves, 
 
 He feels it fretting on his alter'd nerves ; 
 
 But the kind habit of his healthy foul 
 
 Still ftruggled hard againft its bafe controul. 
 
 Now Spleen's dark vapours, in his bofom hid, 
 
 Prompt him the promis'd pleafure to forbid; 
 
 Now Love's foft pleadings that dire thought deftroy, 
 
 And fave the bloflbm of his daughter's joy; 
 
 Her envious aunt now ferves him for a jeft, 
 
 And gay good-humour reaffumes his breaft. 
 
 While Spleen's dark power now finks, and now 
 
 revives, 
 
 . At length the day, th' important day, arrives, 
 Which in his breaft muft end the clofe debate, 
 And fix the colour of SERENA'S fate. 
 
 Now comes the hour, when the convivial knight 
 Waits to begin the dinner's chearful rite : 
 His fond heart ever, with a father's pride, 
 . Joys to behold his darling at his fide; 
 
 But
 
 OP TEMPER. 39 
 
 But moft the abfence of her fmile he feels 
 
 In the gay feafon of his focial meals : 
 
 Hence, while for her the rich repaft attends, 
 
 His hafty fummons to the nymph he fends : 
 
 The happy nymph fuperior cares induce 
 
 To rifk his anger by a rafh excufe : 
 
 She craves his pardon ; but, for time diflreft, 
 
 She ftill is bufy on her magic veft ; 
 
 To range her diamonds^n a fparlding zone, 
 
 She begs to fnatch her fcanty meal alone. 
 
 The knight in fullen ftate begins to dine : 
 Spleen, like a harpy, flutters o'er his wine : 
 Invisible (he poifons every dim, 
 Tinging with gall his mutton, fowl, and filh. 
 The more he eats, the more perverfe he grows ; 
 For as his hunger funk, his choler rofe. 
 The cloth remov'd, he cries, with vapours fick, 
 The pears are mellow, and the port is thick; 
 Tho' nicer fruit Pomona never knew, 
 And his rich wine furpafs'd the ruby's hue! 
 
 D 4 A thou-
 
 4O THE TRIITMPHS 
 
 A thoufand times his dizzy brain revolves 
 A ftern command : now doubts, and now refolves 
 To bid the nymph defcend, and, difarray'd, 
 Quit her dear projedl of the mafquerade : 
 As oft kind nature to his heart recurr'd, 
 And love parental ftopt the cruel word. 
 
 Mean time, unconfcious of the brooding ftorm, 
 The nymph exults in her improving form : 
 Gay is her fmile, as thofe the queen of love 
 Darts on the Graces in her court above, 
 While they contrive, with love-infpiring cares, 
 New modes of beauty for the robe (he wears. 
 At length, each duty of the toilet paft, 
 The glance of triumph on the mirror caft, 
 Now the light wand our finifh'd Ariel arms ; 
 Glad Jenny glories in her lady's charms; 
 And gives full utterance, as me fmooths her veft,, 
 To the fweet bodings of SERENA'S breaft. 
 
 O ! lovely bias of the female foul ! 
 Which trembling points to pleafure's diflant pole ; 
 
 Which
 
 ies, ~\ 
 rize ! J 
 
 OF T E M P E RV 4! 
 
 Which with fond truft on flattering hope relies, 
 
 O'erleaps each peril, that in profpecl: lies, 
 
 And fpringing to the goal, anticipates the prize ! 
 
 Such was SERENA'S fear-difcarding ftate; 
 
 Her eye beheld not the dark frowns of fate : 
 
 She only faw, the combat all forgot, 
 
 The triumph promis'd as her glorious lot. 
 Now, eager to difplay her light attire, 
 
 The fprightly damfel feeks her fullen fire ; 
 
 His gloomy brow with fportive air ftie kift : 
 .Ah! how could Spleen that magic lip refift? 
 
 That voicerj whofe melting mufic might afluage 
 . The fcorpion Anger's felf-tormenting rage? 
 
 For ne'er did nature to a fire's embrace 
 
 Prefent a filial form of fofter grace; 
 
 Or fancy view a ihape of lovelier kind 
 
 In the bright mirror of her Shakefpeare's mind. 
 The fulky fiend, in fpite of all her art, 
 
 Had now been baniih'd from the father's heart, 
 
 But that, refolv'd her utmoft force to try, 
 
 She fummon'd to her aid her old ally, 
 
 The
 
 42 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 The fiery demon, temper-troubling Gout, 
 Who finks the lively, and appals the ftout ; 
 Who now, affifting Spleen's malignant aim, 
 Shoots in quick throbbings through SIR GIL- 
 BERT'S frame. 
 
 Thus forely pefter'd by a double foe, 
 Galling his giddy brain, and burning toe, 
 The tefty knight, with ftern and fullen air, 
 Denounc'd his humour to the fhudd'ring fair : 
 *< Go change your drefs ! give up this vain delight ! 
 I will not hear of mafquerades to-night : 
 Your chaperone's inform'd (he need not wait, 
 So change your drefs ! and fit with me fedate.'* 
 
 As the proud dame, whofe avaricious glee 
 . Built golden caftles in the rich South Sea, 
 Gaz'd on her broker, when he told her firil 
 Her wealth was vanim'd, and the bubble burft : 
 So gaz'd the nymph, hearing her fire deftroy 
 Her airy palace of ideal joy. 
 Firft her fond thoughts to flattering doubt incline, 
 And deem the harfh command no fix'd defign, 
 
 But
 
 f 2 7 S8 fy T CdMl, Strand .
 
 OF TEMPER. 43 
 
 !But the quick fally of a peevifh word, 
 , That love revokes, the moment it is heard: 
 Or haply mirth, in mimic wrath exprefl, 
 A feign'd forbiddance utter'd but in jeft : 
 To this fliort hope her finking fpirit clung, 
 To fee his foftening eyes refute his tongue. 
 Ah fruitlefs hope ! for there (he cannot find 
 The, well-known fignals of the friendly mind. 
 Stern contradiction, with the frown of fate, 
 On his dark vifage reign'd in fullen ftate ; 
 Felt in each feature, in each accent mown, 
 Lower'd irfliis look, and thunder'd in his tone. 
 Hence the warm bofom of the lively fair 
 Now ftiivers with the chill of blank defpair : 
 Now difappointment's thick'ning fhadows roll 
 A cloud of horror o'er the darken'd foul ; 
 And fancy, in a fick delirium toft, 
 Gives double value to each pleafure loft. 
 The blafted joys, me labours to forget, 
 JRulh on her mind, and waken keen regret : 
 
 Her
 
 44 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 Her cheek turns pale the tear prepares- to ftart, 
 And palpitation heaves her fwelling heart. 
 But here, SOPHROSYNE ! thy guardian aid 
 Saves from her potent foe the finking maid. 
 Her bofom, into ftrong emotions thrown, 
 Now feels the preflure of thy friendly zone. 
 Swift thy kind cautions to her foul recur, 
 More quick to cancel faults, than prone to err. 
 As the rough fwell of the infurgent tides 
 By the mild impulfe of the moon fublides.: 
 So, by her myftic monitor repreft, 
 The flood of paffion leaves her lighten'd breaft, 
 From her clear brain each cloudy vapour flies, 
 And joy's bright ray rekindles in her eyes. 
 Reviving gaiety full luftre fpread 
 O'er all her features, and with fmiles Ihe faid : 
 " Let others drive to pleafure's diftant dome ! 
 Be mine the dearer joy to pleafe at home !" 
 Scarce had (he fpoke, when me with fportive eafe 
 Preft her piano-forte's fav'rite keys, 
 
 O'er
 
 OF TEMPER. 45 
 
 O'er fofteft notes her rapid fingers ran, 
 SweeL;prelude to the Air me thus began ! 
 
 SOPHROSYNE ! thou guard unfeen ! 
 
 Whofe delicate controul 
 Can turn the difcord of chagrin 
 
 To harmony of foul ! 
 Above the lyre, the lute above, 
 
 Be mine thy melting tone, 
 Which makes the peace of all we love 
 
 The bafis of our own ! 
 
 So fung the nymph, not uninfpir'd : the fprite 
 Invok'd fo fondly in the myftic rite, 
 With richeft mufic fwell'd her warbling throat, 
 And gave new fweetnefs to her fweeteft note. 
 As when the feraph Uriel firft begun 
 His carol to the new-created fun, 
 The facred echo fhook the vaft profound, 
 And chaos perilh'd at the potent found : 
 
 So,
 
 46 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 So, at the magic of S E R E N A'S ftrain, 
 Spleen vanifh'd from her fire's chaotic brain 5 
 Whofe fibres, lighten'd of that load, rejoice 
 In the dear accents of her dulcet voice. 
 Much he inclines his mandate to recall, 
 And fend the fair-one to the promis'd ball ; 
 But ftubborn pride forbids him to revoke 
 The folemn fentence, which ill-humour fpoke. 
 Still, confcious of her power, the nymph prolongs 
 The foft enchantment of her foothing fongs ; 
 Which his fond mind in firm attention keep, 
 To his fixt hour of fupper and of fleep : 
 This now arriv'd, the knight, retiring, fhed 
 A double bleffing on his darling's head ; 
 And with unufual exultation preft 
 His lovely child to his parental breaft. 
 
 Thus while to reft the happy fire withdrew, 
 The nymph, more happy, to her chamber flew ; 
 And, Jenny now difmifs'd, the grateful fair 
 Breathes to her guardian Sprite this tender prayer :. 
 
 ' Thou
 
 OF TEMPER. 47 
 
 " Thou kind preferver ! whofe attentive zeal 
 Gives me in this contented hour to feel 
 That deareft pleafure of a foul refin'd, 
 The triumph of the felf-correfted mind ; 
 If, .happy in the ftrength thy fmiles impart* 
 I own thy favour in no thanklefs heart, 
 Still let me view thy form, fo juftly dear ! 
 Still in kind vifions to thefe eyes appear ! 
 Thy friendly didlates teach me to fulfil ! 
 And let thy aid avert each future ill !" 
 
 While fond devotion taught her thus to fpeak, 
 The foft dowji finks beneath her lovely cheek, 
 And fettling on her lips, that fweetly clofe, 
 Silence, enamour 'd, lulls her to repofe 
 
 END OF THE SECOND CANTO. 
 
 CANTO
 
 48 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 CANTO III. 
 
 . JL E kind tranfporters of th' excurfive foul ! 
 Ye vifions ! that, when night enwraps the pole, 
 The lively wanderer to new worlds convey, 
 Efcaping from her heavy houfe of clay, 
 How could the gentle fpirit, foe to ftrife, 
 Bear without you this coil of waking life ? 
 Its grief-embitter'd cares, its joylefs mirth, 
 And all the "flat realities of earth ? 
 Sweet phantoms ! you the glowing hope infpire. 
 You give to beauty charms, to fancy fire, 
 When, foaring like the eagle's kindred frame, 
 The poet dreams of everlafting fame ; 
 Or, tickled by the feather of the dove, 
 The fofter virgin dreams of endlefs love. 
 There was a time, when fortune's bright decrees 
 Were feen to realize fuch dreams as thefe : 
 
 Now
 
 OF TEMPER. 49 
 
 Now dangerous vifions the fond mind decoy 
 Vainly to pant for unexifting joy, 
 While belles and bards with mournful fighs exclaim, 
 Mortality has feiz'd both Love and Fame. 
 
 Ah fair SERENA, might the boaft be ours 
 To clear from fuch a charge thefe heavenly powers t 
 Bleft ! might thy bard deferve in Fame to fee 
 A guard as faithful, as Love proves to thee ! 
 Bleft ! if that airy being gild his life, 
 Who fav'd thee trembling on the brink of flrife, 
 And nowHdnd prompter of thy nightly dream, 
 Fill'd thy rapt fpirit with her facred beam ! 
 For foon as flumber fet thy foul at large, 
 Thy Guardian Power revifited her charge ; 
 And, lightly hovering o'er th' illumin'd bed, 
 Thus with fond fmiles of approbation faid : 
 " Well haft thou paft, fweet maid, one trying 
 
 fcene, 
 One fiery ordeal of the tyrant Spleen : 
 
 E Thus,
 
 50 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 Thus, my SERENA, may thy force fuftain 
 
 Each harder trial, that may yet remain ! 
 
 Againft the fiend to fortify thy foul, 
 
 By ufeful knowledge of her dark controul, 
 
 I come to mow thee, what no mortal eye, 
 
 Save thine, was e'er permitted to defcry ; 
 
 The realms, where Spleen's infernal agents goad 
 
 The ghoftly tenants of her drear abode. 
 
 Now fummon all thy ftrength ! throw fear afide, 
 
 And firmly truft in thy aetherial guide !" 
 
 She fpoke: and thro' the night's furrounding 
 
 made 
 
 Th' obedient nymph, not unappall'd, convey'd ; 
 Thro' long, long tracts of darknefs, on they paft 
 With fpeed, that ftruck the trembling maid aghaft, 
 Till now, recovering by degrees, flie found 
 Her foft foot prefs upon the folid ground. 
 Encourag'd by her guide, at length {he tries 
 To fearch the gloomy fcene, with anxious eyes. 
 
 Thro'
 
 OF TEMPER. 51 
 
 * c Thro' me ye pafs to Spleen's terrific dome, 
 Thro' me, to Difcontent's eternal home : 
 Thro' me, to thofe, who fadden'd human life, 
 By fallen humour or vexatious ftrife ; 
 And here, thro' fcenes of endlefs vapours hurl'd, 
 Are punifh'd in the forms they plagued the world ; 
 Juftly they feel no joy, who none beftow, 
 All ye who enter, every hope forego !" 
 O'er an arch'd cavern, rough with horrid ftone, 
 On which a feeble light, by flames, ftione, 
 Thefe characters, that chill'd her foul with dread, 
 SERENA, fixt in filent wonder, read. 
 As {he began to fpeak, her voice was drown'd 
 By the flirill echo of far other found : 
 
 * Per me fi va nella citta dolente, 
 Per me fi va nell' eterno dolore, 
 Per me fi va tra la perduta gente, 
 
 Lafciate ogni fperanza, voi ch' intrate. 
 Quefte parole di colore ofcuro 
 
 Vid' io fcritte al fommo d'una ports. 
 
 DANTE, Inferno. 3. 
 
 E 2 Forth
 
 52 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 Forth from the portal lamentable cries 
 
 Of wailing infants, without number, rife. 
 
 Compaffion to this poor and piteous flock 
 
 Led the foft maid ftill nearer to the rock. 
 
 The pining band within fhe now efpied, 
 
 And, touch'd with tender indignation, cried, 
 
 " How could thefe little forms, of life fo brief, 
 
 Deferve this dire abode of lafting grief?" 
 
 te Well may thy gentle heart be fore concern'd 
 
 At fight fo moving," the mild Sprite return'd : 
 
 " Thou feeft in thofe, whofe wailings wound thy 
 
 ears, 
 
 The puny progeny of modern peers : 
 Their fires, by avarice or ambition led, 
 Aliens to love, approach'd the nuptial bed ; 
 With proud indifference, and with cold diftafte, 
 Their homely brides reluftantly embrac'd, 
 And by fuch union gave difaftrous birth 
 To thefe poor pale incumbrances of earth, 
 Who, bred in vanity, with pride their dower, 
 Were Spleen's fure vi&ims from their natal hour, 
 
 And
 
 OF TEMPER. 53 
 
 And in their fplendid cradles pul'd and pin'd, 
 Till Fate their ill-fpun thread oflife untwin'd, 
 And to this veftibule convey'd their ghofts, 
 To form the van-guard of th' infernal holts. 
 But let not pity's ineffectual charm 
 Impede thy progrefs, or thy ftrength difarm ! 
 Follow and fear not ! guarded by my care 
 From all the phantoms that around thee glare." 
 
 She fpoke ; and enter'd, ere the nymph replied, 
 A pafs, that open'd in the cavern's fide, 
 Low, dark, and rocky with her body bent, 
 SERENA follow'd down the dire defcent. 
 A fudden light foon ftruck her dazzled view j 
 But 'twas a light of fuch infernal hue, 
 As double horror to the darknefs gave, 
 With dread reflection from a dufky wave. 
 Round a black water tatter'd fpeftres ftand, 
 With each a tiny taper in its hand ; 
 Fierce mendicants ! who ftrive fome alms to win 
 From the fair wanderer, with inceflant din. 
 
 E 3 The
 
 54 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 The guardian Spirit faw SERENA grieve, 
 To hear of wants fhe knew not to relieve ; 
 And to the generous nymph in pity cries : 
 " The gulf of Indolence before us lies, 
 O'er whofe dull flood, to which no bank is feen, 
 A boat muft waft thee to the dome of Spleen. 
 Thefe pallid figures, that around thee prefs, 
 And haunt thee with importunate diftrefs, 
 On earth were beggars of each different clafs, 
 Tho' blended here in one promifcuous mafs. 
 The poor, who fpurn'd kind induftry's controul, 
 The rich, who begg'd from penury of foul : 
 Both by their abjeft pride alike debas'd, 
 Blafphem'd that nature, which they both difgrac'd, 
 And, hither by the fullen fiend convey'd, 
 Here ftill they ply their ineffe&ual trade ; 
 In chafe of each new paffenger they run, 
 Condemn'd to beg from all, to gain by none. 
 But from thefe wretches turn thy fruitlefs care ! 
 Behold the gulf before thee, and beware ! 
 
 Nor
 
 OF TEMPER. 55 
 
 Nor touch the flream, which mortal fenfe o'ercomes, 
 And by its baleful charm the foul benumbs !" 
 ' Can mortal pafs !" the fhudd'ring nymph re- 
 plied, 
 
 " This fullen, flow, unnavigable tide. 
 In whofe black current this enormous mound 
 Of fhapelefs ftone appears, this horrid bound, 
 That feems an everlafting guard to keep 
 O'er the dull waters, that beneath it creep ?" 
 
 While yet fhe fpoke, with a refounding mock, 
 Forth from the arch of the impending rock, 
 Which o'er the murmuring eddy hung fo low, 
 The lazy river fcarce had room to flow, 
 Of rude conftru&ion, and in rougheft plight, 
 A boat now ifTued to SERENA'S fight ; 
 An empty boat, that flowly to the fliore 
 Advanc'd, without the aid of fail or oar ; 
 Self-mov'd it feem'd, but foon the nymph beheld 
 A grifly figure, who the ftern impell'd. 
 
 E 4 Wading
 
 56 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 Wading behind, the horrid form appear'd ; 
 
 Above the water his ftrong arm he rear'd, 
 
 And crofs the creeping flood the crazy veflel fteer'd. 
 
 The heavenly Sprite obferv'd her trembling ward, 
 
 Whofe growing fears the hideous pafs abhorr'd, 
 
 And cheering thus me fpake : ' ' This fpeftre boafts 
 
 The chief dominion of thefe dreary coafts : 
 
 To him, thy pilot, without dread confign, 
 
 And place thy body in his bark fupine ! 
 
 So thro' this arching rock thou'lt pafs alone, 
 
 Safe from the perils of th' incumbent Hone : 
 
 Embark undaunted ! on the farther fide 
 
 Thou'lt furely find me, thy unfailing guide. 
 
 Nor let this pilot raife thy groundlefs dread, 
 
 This fallen Charon of the froward dead, 
 
 A phantom, never Weft with human life, 
 
 Tho' oft on earth his noxious power is rife ; 
 
 And in that region, ne'er from error free, 
 
 The words he dictates are affign'd to me. 
 
 Obferve
 
 OF TEMPER. 57 
 
 Obferve this fiend, that Nature fcorn'd to frame, 
 . Offspring of Pride, and Apathy his name I 
 
 Paffions he ne'er can feel, and ne'er impart, 
 A mifcreated imp, without a heart ; 
 In place of which, his fubtle parent pinn'd 
 A bladder, fill'd with circulating wind, 
 Which feems with mimic life the mafs to warm, 
 And gives falfe vigour to his bloated form. 
 But plape thee in the boat his arms direft, 
 My love (hall watch thee, and my power proteft." 
 So fpake the friendly Sprite ; th' obedient maid 
 Her form along the narrow veflel laid : 
 But oh ! what terrors make her tender foul, 
 As from the more the bark begins to roll, 
 And, fever'd from her friend, her eyes difcern 
 The fleering fpe&re wading at the ftern ! 
 Far ftronger fears her refolution melt, 
 Than thofe, which erft the bard of Florence felt, 
 When, by the honour'd made of Virgil led 
 Thro' all the dreary circles of the dead, 
 
 Hell's
 
 58 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 Hell's fierceft demons tlireaten'd to divide 
 The living poet from his madowy guide ; 
 And bade him, friendlefs, and alone, return, 
 Thro' the dire horrors of the dark fojourn. 
 Not long the lovely fair one's terrors laft ; 
 For fafely thro' th' impending rock me part : 
 And flow advancing to the gloomy flrand, 
 The fullen pilot brings her fafe to land. 
 There, fondly hovering on her guardian plumes, 
 The heavenly Monitor her charge refumes ; 
 And fmiling, leads along the rocky road, 
 Whofe windings open into Spleen's abode. 
 
 Thou queen of {hades ! whofe fpirit-damping fpell 
 Too oft is feen the poet's pride to quell, 
 May I, unpunilh'd by thy fubtle power, 
 Dare to difplay thy fubterranean bower, 
 And to this wond'ring upper world explain 
 The lhadowy horrors of thy fecret reign ? 
 
 Entering beneath a wide fantaltic arch, 
 Round the drear circuit of the dome they march ; 
 
 Which
 
 OF TEMPER. 59 
 
 Which a pale flafh from many a fiery fprite 
 Frequent illumes with intermitting light ; 
 Such, as on earth, to Superftition's eye, 
 Denounces ruin from the northern fky, 
 While fhe difcerns, amid the nightly glare, 
 Armies embattled in the blazing air. 
 
 Around the nymph unnumber'd phantoms glide ; 
 Here fwell the bloated race of bulky Pride : 
 In clofe and horrid union, there appear 
 The wilder progeny of frantic Fear ; 
 Mif-ma|)en monfters ! whofe ftupendous frame 
 
 - Abhorrent Nature has refus'd to name. 
 Here, in cameleon colours, lightly flit 
 The motley offspring of diforder'd Wit. 
 All tilings prodigious the wide cave contain'd, 
 
 . And forms, beyond what fable ever feign'd : 
 But, as the worm, that on the dewy green 
 Springs half to view, and half remains unfeen, 
 Perceiving near its cell a human tread, 
 Slinks back to earth, and hides its timid head : 
 
 So,
 
 60 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 So, where the heavenly Spirit deign'd to lead, 
 The ftartled fpedlres from her ftep recede ; 
 And, as abafti'd they from her eye retire, 
 Sink into mift, or melt in fluid fire. 
 
 High on an ebon throne, fuperbly wrought 
 With each fierce figure of fantaftic thought, 
 In a deep cove, where no bright beam intrudes, 
 O'er her black fchemes the fullen emprefs broods. 
 The fcreech-owl's mingled with the raven's plume 
 Shed o'er her furrow'd brows an awful gloom j 
 A garb, that glares with ftripes of lurid flame, 
 Wraps in terrific pomp her haggard frame ; 
 Round her a ferpent, as her zone, is roll'd, 
 Which, writhing, ftings itfelf in every fold. 
 
 Near her pavilion, in barbaric ftate, 
 Four mutes the mandates of their queen await. 
 From fickly Fancy bred, by fullen Sloth, 
 Both parents' curfe, yef pamper'd ftill by both, 
 Firft ftands Difcafe ; an hag of magic power, 
 Varying her frightful vifage every hour, 
 
 Her
 
 OF TEMPER. 6l 
 
 Her horrors heightening, as thofe changes laft, 
 And each new form more hideous than the paft. 
 Detraction next, a ftiapelefs fiend, appears, 
 Whofe mrivell'd hand a mifty mirror rears ; 
 Fram'd by malignant Art, th' infernal toy 
 Inverts the lovely mien of fmiling Joy, 
 Robs rofeate Beauty of attractive grace, 
 And gives a ftepdame's frown to Nature's face- 
 The third in place, but with a fiercer air, 
 See the true Gorgon Difappointment glare ! 
 By whofe petrific power Delight's o'erthrown ; 
 And Hope's warm he"art becomes an icy ftone. 
 Laft, in a gorgeous robe, that, ill beftow'd, 
 Bows her mean body by its cumbrous load, 
 . Stands fretful Difcontent, of fiends the worft, 
 By dignity debas'd, by bleffings curft, 
 Who poifons Pleafure with the foureft leaven, 
 And makes a hell of Love's ecftatic heaven. 
 
 The guide celeftial, near this ghaftly group, 
 Perceiv'.d her tender charge with terror droop : 
 
 " Fear
 
 6 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 " Fear not, fweet maid," {he cries, " my fleps 
 
 purfue ! 
 
 Nor gaze too long on this infernal crew ! 
 , Turn from Detraction's fafcinating glafs ! 
 In filence crofs the throne ! obferve, and pafs ! 
 Beyond this dome, the palace of the queen, 
 Her empire winds thro' many a dreary fcene, 
 Where me torments, as their deferts require, 
 Her various victims, that on earth expire ; 
 Each clafs apart : for in a different cell 
 The fierce, the fretful, and the fullen dwell : 
 Thefe malt thou flightly view, in vapours hurl'd, 
 And fwiftly then regain thy native world. 
 But firft remark, within that ample nich, 
 With every quaint device of fplendor rich, 
 Yon phantom, who, from vulgar eyes withdrawn, 
 Appears to ftretch in one eternal yawn : 
 Of empire here he holds the tottering helm, 
 Prime minifter in Spleen's difcordant realm, 
 The pillar of her fpreading ftate, and more, 
 Her darling offspring, whom on earth me bore ; 
 
 For,
 
 OF TEMPER. 63 
 
 For, as on earth his wayward mother ftray'd, 
 Grandeur, with eyes of fire, her form furvey'd, 
 And with ftrong paffion ftarting from his throne, 
 Unloos'd the fallen queen's reluctant zone. 
 From his embrace, conceiv'd in moody joy, 
 Rofe the round image of a bloated boy : 
 His nurfe was Indolence ; his tutor Pomp, 
 Who kept the child from every childifh romp ; 
 They rear'd their nurfling to the bulk you fee, 
 And his proud parents calPd their imp ENNUI. 
 This realm he rules, and in fuperb attire 
 Vifits each earthly palace of his fire : 
 A thoufand ihapes he wears, now pert, now prim, 
 Purfues each grave conceit, or idle whim ; 
 In arms, in arts, in government engages, 
 With monarchs, poets, politicians, fages ; 
 But drops each work, the moment it's begun, 
 And, trying all things, can accomplifh none : 
 Yet o'er each rank, and age, and fex, his fway 
 Spreads undifcern'd, and makes the world his prey. 
 
 The
 
 (>4 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 . The light coquet, amid flirtation, fighs, 
 To find him lurk in Pleafure's vain difguife ; 
 And the grave nun difcovers, in her cell, 
 That holy water but augments his fpell. 
 , As the ftrange monfter of the ferpent breed, 
 That haunts, as travellers tel!, the marfhy mead, 
 Devours each nobler beaft, tho' firmly grown 
 To fize and ftrength fuperior to his own ; 
 For on the grazing horfe, or larger bull, 
 Subtly he fprings, of dark faliva full, 
 With fwiftly-darting tongue his prey anoints 
 ' With venom, potent to difiblve its joints, 
 And, while its bulk in liquid poifon fwims, 
 Swallows its melting bone and fluid limbs : 
 So this Ennui, this wonder-working elf, 
 Can vanquifh powers far mightier than himfelf : 
 Nor Wit nor Science foar his reach above, 
 And oft he feizes on fuccefsful Love. 
 Of all the radiant hoft who lend their aid 
 To light mankind thro' life's bewildering made, 
 
 Bright
 
 OF TEMPER. 65 
 
 Bright Charity alone, with cloudlefs ray, 
 , May boaft exemption from his baleful fway : 
 Hafte then, fweet nymph, nor let us longer roam 
 Round the drear circle of this dangerous dome ! 
 Left e'en thy guide, entangled in his fpell, 
 Should fail to guard thee from a fiend fo fell !" 
 
 So fpeaking, the kind Spirit's anxious care 
 Led from the palace the attentive fair, 
 And, winding through a paflage dark and rude, 
 Thus the mild monitor her Tpeech renew'd : 
 " 'Gainft fear and pity now thy bofom fteel, 
 For fights more horrible I now reveal ! 
 Spleen's tortur'd viclims view with dauntlefs eyes ; 
 For lo ! her penal realms before thee rife !" 
 The nymph advancing faw, with mute amaze, 
 A difmal, deep, enormous dungeon blaze. 
 Stones of red fire the hideous wall compos'd ; 
 And maflive gates the horrid confine clos'd. i$| 
 Th' infernal portrefs of this doleful dome, 
 With fiery lips, that fwell'd with poifonous foam, 
 F Pale
 
 66 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 Pale Difcord, rag'd ; with whofe tormenting tongue, 
 
 Thro' all its caves th' extenfive region rung : 
 
 A living vulture was the fury's creft ; 
 
 And in her hand a rattlefnake (he preft, 
 
 Whofe angry joints inceffantly were heard 
 
 To found defiance to the fcreaming bird. 
 
 " The boundlefs depth of this dire prifon holds 
 . The untam'd fpirits of imperious fcolds : 
 Nor think that females only fill the cave ! 
 ' Male termagants have fiv'd, and here they rave. 
 All of each fex are pent within this pale, 
 Who knew no ufe of language, but to rail." 
 Thus to her charge exclaim'd the heavenly guide, 
 And, as me fpoke, the portals open'd wide, 
 And to th' obfervance of the fhuddering maid, 
 Th' immeafurable den was all difplay'd. 
 But oh ! what various noifes from within 
 Fill the vext air with one ftupendous din ! 
 Mourning's deep groan, and anger's furious call, 
 . Terror's loud cry, and affectation's fquall, 
 
 The
 
 OF TEMPER. 67 
 
 The fob of paflion, the hyfteric fcreanv 
 And mrieks of frenzy, in its fierce extreme ! 
 In this wild uproar every found's combin'd, 
 That ftuns the fenfes, and diftra&s the mind. 
 " Mark" (to the nymph SOPHROSYNE began) 
 tf The fierce Xantippe flaming in the van, 
 The vafe, {he emptied on the fage's head, 
 Hangs o'er her own, a different mower to fhed ; 
 For, drop by drop, diftilling liquid fire, 
 It fills the vixen with new tropes of ire. 
 
 Beyond the Grecian dame extend your view, 
 And mark the fpeftre of a modern flirew ! 
 She, who whene'er me din'd, with furious look, 
 Spurn* d her nice food, and bellow'd at her cook, 
 Here juftly feels a culinary rack, 
 
 . Bound like Ixion, to a whirling jack." 
 SERENA gaz'd, but foon me turn'd away, 
 Mute with difguft, and fhuddering with difmay. 
 " To fcenes lefs hideous let us now repair !" 
 (Said the kind guard of the dejected fair) 
 
 F 2 And,
 
 6 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 And, cheering her faint charge, her ftep me led 
 To the near dwelling of the fretful dead. 
 
 Of duflcy adamant the dungeon rofe ; 
 A dingy mirror its dark fides compofe, 
 Reflecting, with a thoufand quaint grimaces, 
 The pale inhabitants' diftorted faces. 
 " Here, like a dame of quality array 'd, 
 Sits Peevifhnefs, prefiding o'er the (hade, 
 And frowning at her own uncomely mien, 
 Whofe coarfe refle&ion on the wall is feen. 
 A fnarling lap-dog her right-hand reftrains, 
 Her lap an infant porcupine contains, 
 Which, while her fondnefs tries its wrath to ftill, 
 Wounds her each moment with a pointed quill. 
 The froward fpirits here in durance fret, 
 > Whofe tefty life was one continued pet ; 
 Here they in trifles that vexation find, 
 Which teaz'd on earth their irritated mind. 
 Obferve the phantom, who with eyes aflcance 
 Still to the mirror turns her eager glance ! 
 
 See!
 
 OF TEMPER. 69 
 
 See ! to her cheek, incefiant as Ihe turns, 
 Her vex'd blood rufhes, and her vifage burns. 
 Beauty for lafting blifs had form'd the maid ; 
 Love to her charms his faithful homage paid ; 
 But, all this fwelling tide of joy to check, 
 A fatal freckle rifes on her neck : 
 Her foft cofmetics the griev'd nymph applies, 
 Succefs attends her, and the freckle dies : 
 But ah ! this vi&ory avails her not ; 
 
 ' She finds an hydra in the teazing fpot : 
 Faft as one flies, another ftill fucceeds, 
 
 And with eternal food her fretful humour feeds. 
 
 Near to the nymph, in a more moody fit, 
 See the pale phantom of a peevifh wit ! 
 Mark with what frowns his eager eyes perufe, 
 Wet from the prefs, three Critical Reviews ! 
 With wounded vanity's diftrafting rage 
 How rapidly he runs thro' every page ! 
 He finds fome honours lavifh'd on his verfe, 
 And joy's faint gleams his gloomy fpirit pierce. 
 
 F 3 But
 
 70 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 But oh ! too foon thefe feeble fparks decay ; 
 
 . And. keen vexation reaflumes her prey. 
 Hating reproof, in every fibre fore, 
 One cenfur'd particle torments him more, 
 More than a hundred happier lines delight, 
 Which liberal favour condefcends to cite. 
 
 But time will fail us, if we paufe to view 
 The various torments of the tefty crew j 
 
 . Thefe wretched chymifts, whofe o'erheated brain 
 
 Extra&s from nothing a fubftantial pain. 
 Yet, ere to different diftri&s we advance, 
 Take of one fretful tribe a tranfient glance ! 
 Their unfufpefted punilhments fupply 
 
 A leflbn, ufeful to the female eye. 
 
 Spleen's livelieft agent here beguiles the gay, 
 
 Fair to attract, and flattering to betray." 
 As thus the kind aethereal guardian fpoke, 
 Within a rock, whence plaintive murmurs broke, 
 She touch'd a fecret fpring, whofe power was fuch, 
 Two jarring doors unfolded at the touch, 
 
 And,
 
 OF TEMPER. 71 
 
 And, with the charms of regal fplendor bright, ' 
 
 A chearful banquet fparkles to the fight. 
 
 Viands fo light, fo elegantly grac'd, 
 
 Might tempt e'en Temperance herfelf to tafte ; 
 
 For fruits alone compos 'd th' enticing treat, 
 
 Fair to the eye, and to the palate fweet. 
 
 In fuch bright juice the peach and cherry fwim, 
 
 As make the topaz and the ruby dim. 
 
 Here crown'd with every flower, and gaily draft 
 
 In all the glitter of a Gallic veil, 
 
 Whofe ample folds her loathfome body fcreen'd, 
 
 A child of luxury reigns, a fubtle fiend ! 
 . Who, with a grace that every heart allures, 
 
 Smiles on the luftre of her rich liqueurs. 
 
 Her fatal fmiles their utmoft power exert 
 
 To poifon beauty at her dire deflert ; 
 To blaft the rofe that health'* bright cheek adorns, 
 . And fill each feftive heart with latent thorns : 
 
 For the fly fiend, of every art pofleft, 
 
 Steals on th' affection of her female guefl ; 
 
 F 4 And,
 
 72 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 And, by her foft addrefs feducing each, 
 Eager fhe plies them with a brandy peach : 
 They with keen lip the lufcious fruit devour ; 
 But fwiftly feel its peace-deftroying power. 
 Quick thro' each vein new tides of frenzy roll : 
 All evil paffions kindle in the foul, 
 Drive from each feature every chearful grace, 
 And glare ferocious in the fallow face ; 
 The wounded nerves in furious conflict tear, 
 Then fmk, in blank dejeftion and defpair. 
 Effedts more dire, thus tempting to deceive, 
 The apple wrought not in the foul of Eve ; 
 Howe'er difguis'd, in jelly or in jam, 
 Spleen has no poifon furer than a dram. 
 
 " But hafte we now" (the heavenly leader cries) 
 " To where this penal world's laft wonder lies !" 
 She fpoke ; and led the nymph thro' deeper dells, 
 Low-murmuring vaults, and horror-breathing cells. 
 And now they pafs a perforated cage, 
 Where rancorous fpeftres without number rage. 
 
 < Avert
 
 OF TEMPER. 73 
 
 " Avert thine eye 1" (the heavenly Spirit faid) 
 " Nor view thefe abjeft tribes of envious dead 1 
 Who pin'd to hear the voice of truth proclaim 
 
 A filler's beauty, or a brother's fame ! 
 Tho' crown'd with all profperity imparts, 
 High in their various ranks, and feveral arts ; 
 Yet, meanly funk by envy's bafe controul, 
 They died in that confumption of the foul ; 
 And here, thro' bars that twifted adders make, 
 And the long volumes of th' envenom'd fnake, 
 O'er this dark road they dart an anxious eye, 
 Still envying every fiend that flutters by. 
 Pafs ! and regard them not ! ' ' Th' attentive maid 
 
 . In filent tremor the beheft obey'd. 
 
 This dungeon croft, her weary feet me drags 
 Thro' winding caverns, and o'er icy crags : 
 Soul-chilling damps in the dark paflage reign, 
 Which iflues on a vaft and dreary plain, 
 Fann'd by no breezes, with no verdure crown'd ; 
 The black horizon is its only bound. 
 
 And
 
 74 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 And now advancing, in a drizzly mift, 
 Thro' fallen phantoms, hating to exift, 
 SERE.NA fpies, high o'er his fubje&s plac'd, 
 The ghaftly tyrant of the gloomy wafte. 
 Murmuring he fits upon a rocking ftone, 
 Th' unftable bafe of his ill-founded throne : 
 Hideous his face, and horrible his frame, 
 Mifanthropy the grifly monfter's name ! 
 Him to fierce Pride, with raging paffion fore, 
 The frowning gorgon, Difappointment, bore ; 
 On earth detefted, and by heaven abhorr'd, 
 Of this drear wild he reigns the moody lord. 
 Few are the fubje&s of his wafte domain,. 
 And fcarce a female in his frightful train, 
 Except one changing corps of ancient prudes : 
 Reluftant here the prying band intrudes. 
 Each, who on earth, behind her artful fan, 
 Feign'd coarfe averfion to the creature man,. 
 la doom'd, in this dark region, to abide 
 Some tranfient pains for hypocritic pride - 
 
 Here
 
 OF TEMPER. 75 
 
 Here ever-during chains thofe fcoffers bind, 
 Whofe writings deaden and debafe the mind ; 
 Who mock creation with injurious fcorn, 
 
 . And feel a fancied void in plenty's horn. 
 In his right-hand, an emblem of his cares, 
 
 . A branch of aconite the monarch bears ; 
 And thofe four phantoms, who this region haunt, 
 He feeds with berries from this deadly plant ; 
 For, ftrange to tell ! tho' fever'd from its root, 
 
 , The bough ftill blackens with fucceffive fruit. 
 The tribes, who tafte it, burft into a fit 
 Of raving mockery and rancorous wit j 
 And, pleas'd their tyrant's ghaftly fmile to court, 
 By vile diilortions make him various fport. 
 The frantic rabble, who his fway confefs, 
 Before his throne an hideous puppet drefs ; 
 When in unfeemly rags they have array 'd 
 The image, from their own dark femblance made, 
 In horrid gambols round their work they throng, 
 With antic dance and rude difcordant fong ; 
 
 Satire's
 
 76 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 Satire's rank offals on the block they fling, 
 And call it nature, to delight their king : 
 While in their features he exults to fee 
 The frowns of torture, mixt with grins of glee. 
 For, as thefe abjedT: toils engage the crew, 
 Their own grim idol darkens to their view ; 
 Wide and more wide its horrid ftature fpreads, 
 And o'er the tribe new confternation flieds : 
 For each forgets, in his bewilder'd gaze, 
 'Tis but a monfter, which he help'd to raife. 
 As o'er its form their dizzy glances roll, 
 
 . It ftrikes a chearlefs damp thro' all the foul. 
 Vainly to fhun the baleful fight they try, 
 Jt draws for ever the reluftant eye : 
 At. each review with deeper dread they ftart ; 
 A colder chaos numbs each freezing heart. 
 
 - No mutual confidence, no friendly care, 
 Relieves the panic they are doom'd to bear ; 
 For as they fhrink abforb'd in wild affright, 
 When each to each inclines his wounded fight, 
 
 They
 
 OF T E M P E R, 77 
 
 They feel, for focial comfort, four difguft, 
 
 . And all the fallen anguifh of diftruft. 
 
 Around thefe wretches in the drear abode, 
 The ghaftly grinning fiend Derifion rode, 
 Who to their wayward minds on earth fupplied 
 
 , Perverted ridicule's malignant tide. 
 His fteed of Pegafus the femblance bore ; 
 But with falfe wings, that knew not how to foar : 
 Where'er he pafs'd, with mifchief in his look, 
 A founding whip of knotted fnakes he (hook ; 
 And laugh'd in laming each pretended fage, 
 Whofe malice wore the maflc of moral rage. 
 An uncouth bugle his left-hand difplay'd, 
 From a grey monkey's fkull by Cunning made, 
 And form'd to pour, in harmony's defpite, 
 Sounds that each jarring fenfe of pain excite : 
 And now his livid lips this bugle blew ; 
 Thro' every den the piercing difcord flew : 
 The fiends all anfwer'd in one hideous yell, 
 And in a fearful trance SERENA fell. 
 
 Hence
 
 78 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 Hence from the lovely nymph her fenfes fled, 
 Till, thro' the parted curtains of her bed, 
 The amorous fun, who now began to rife, 
 , Kift, with a fportive beam, her opening eyes. 
 
 END OF THE THIRD CANTO. 
 
 CANTO
 
 OF TEMPER. 79 
 
 CANTO IV. 
 
 11 AIL, thou enlighten'd globe of human joy ! 
 Where focial cares the foften'd heart employ : 
 What cheering rays of vital comfort roll 
 In thy bright regions o'er the refcued foul, 
 Which, 'fcaping from the dark domain of Spleen, 
 Springs with new warmth to thy attra&ive fcene ! 
 Once more I blefs thy pleafure-breathing gale, 
 And gaze enchanted on thy flowery vale, 
 Where frniling innocence, and ardent youth, 
 Sport hand in hand with beauty and with truth. 
 Sport on, fweet revellers ! in rofy bowers, 
 Safe from th' intrufion of all evil powers ! 
 Ah fruitlefs wifh of the benignant Mufe, 
 Which to this chequer'd world the Fates refufe I 
 For round its precindls many an ugly fprite 
 Speeds undifcern'd to poifon pure delight : 
 
 Amid ft
 
 80 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 Amidft the foremoft of this haggard band, 
 Unwearied pofter of the fea and land, 
 Wrapt in dark mifts, malignant Scandal flies, 
 
 . While Envy's poifon'd breath the buoyant gale fup- 
 
 plies. 
 
 Tho' SHERIDAN, with fhafts of comic wit, 
 Pierc'd, and expos'd her to the laughing pit, 
 Th* immortal hag ftill wears her paper crown, 
 The dreaded emprefs of the idle town : 
 O'erleaping her prerogative of old, 
 To fink the noble, to defame the bold ; 
 In chafe of worth to flip the dogs of ftrife, 
 
 . Thro' all the ample range of public life ; 
 The tyrant now, that fanftuary burft 
 Where happinefs by privacy is nurft, 
 Her fury rifing as her powers encreafe, 
 O'erturns the altars of domeftic peace. 
 Pleas'd in herxlark and gall-diftilling cloud 
 The fportive form of innocence to fliroud, 
 Beauty's young train her baleful eyes furvey, 
 To mark the faireft/as her favourite prey. 
 
 Hence,
 
 OF TEMPER, 8l 
 
 Hence, fweet SERENA, while thy fpirit ftray'd 
 Round the deep realms of fubterranean fhade, 
 This keeneft agent of th' infernal powers 
 On earth was bufied, in thofe tranquil hours, 
 To blaft thy peace, and poifon'd darts to aim 
 Againft the honour of thy fpotlefs name : 
 For Scandal, reftlefs fiend, who never knows 
 The balmy bleffing of an hour's repofe, 
 Worn, yet unfated with her daily toil, 
 In her bafe work confumes the midnight oil. 
 O'er fiercer fiends when heavy (lumbers creep, 
 When wearied avarice and ambition deep, 
 Scandal is vigilant, and keen to fpread 
 The plagues that fpring from her prolific head. 
 On truth's fair bafis me her falfehood builds, 
 With tinfel fentiment its furface gilds j 
 To nightly labour from their dark abodes 
 The demons of the groaning prefs me goads, 
 And fmiles to fee their rapid art fupply 
 Ten thoufand wings to every infant lie. 
 
 G In
 
 $2 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 In triumph now behold the hag applaud 
 Her keen and fav'rite imp, ingenious Fraud, 
 Her quick compofitor, whofe flying hand 
 Has cl$ji,Vi the paragraph fhe keenly plann'd. 
 No nymph The nam'd, yet mark'd her vile intent, 
 That dulnefs could not mifs the name fhe meant : 
 In fatire's tints the injur'd fair fhe drew, 
 In form an angel, but in foul a Jew. 
 
 It chanc'd her fire among his friends inroll'd 
 A wealthy fenator, infirm and old ; 
 Who, dup'd too early by a generous heart, 
 Rafhly afTum'd a mifanthropic part : 
 Tho' peevifh fancies would his mind incruft, 
 Good-nature's image lurk'd beneath their ruft ; 
 And gay SERENA, with that fportive wit 
 
 Which heals the folly that it deigns to hit, 
 Would oft the ficknefs of his foul beguile, 
 And teach the fullen humorift to fmile ; 
 Pleas 'd by her virtuous frolics to affuage 
 
 f The mental anguifh of diftemper'd age. 
 
 This
 
 OF TEMPER. 8j 
 
 This ancient friend, in a farcaftic (ketch, 
 Was mark'd by Scandal as a monied wretch, 
 For whom the young, yet mercenary fair 
 Had fubtly fpread a matrimonial fnare. 
 With fuch bafe matter- more diffufely wrought, 
 The fpirit-piercing paragraph was fraught, 
 O'er which with glee the eye of Scandal glar'd, 
 Which for the opening prefs herfelf prepar'd ; 
 She on the types her inky wad let fall, 
 And fmear'd each letter with her bittereft gall ; 
 The prefs, whofe ready gripe the charge receives, 
 Stamps it fucceflive on ten thoufand leaves, 
 Which pil'd in heaps impatient feem to lie, 
 They only wait the dawn of day to fly. 
 
 Now, as the child, in lonely chamber laid, 
 Mute in the dark, and of itfelf afraid, 
 When, haply confcious of the pain it feels, 
 The watchful mother to its pillow fteals, 
 Springs to her breaft, and makes off all alarms, 
 Feeling its fafety in her foilering arms : 
 
 G 2 ' With
 
 84 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 With fuch quick joy, in innocence as young, 
 The foft SERENA from her pillow fprung, 
 Pleas'd to awake from her terrific dream, 
 And feel the chearful fun's returning beam. 
 Eager fhe rofe, in bufy thought, nor ftaid 
 The wonted fummons of her pundlual maid, 
 And as her own fair hands adjuft her veft, 
 The guardian cinfture flutters on her breaft ; 
 For fondly, when fhe wak'd, or when fhe flept, 
 Still round her heart th' important zone fhe kept. 
 Thou happy girdle ! to thy charge be juft ! 
 Firm be thy threads, and faithful to their truft ; 
 For hours approach, when all the flores they hide 
 Of magic virtue, muft be ftrongly tried ! 
 Now, while her kind domeftic heart intends 
 To pleafe her early fire, the nymph defcends ; 
 But fleep, who left the fair with fudden flight, 
 With late wings hover'd o'er the good old knight ; 
 And the chill circle of the lone faloon 
 Informs the fhiv'ring maid fhe rofe too foon. 
 
 'Tis
 
 OF TEMPER. 85 
 
 'Tis true, attentive John's unfailing care 
 
 Began the rites of breakfaft to prepare ; 
 
 But yet no fires on the cold altar burn, 
 
 No fmoke arifes from the filver urn, 
 
 And the blank tea-board, where no viands lay, 
 
 Only fupplied the paper of the day. 
 
 Tho' mild SERENA'S peace -de voted mind 
 The keen debate of politics declin'd, 
 And heard with cold contempt, or generous hate, 
 The frauds of party and the lies of ftate ; 
 Nor car'd much more for fafhion's loofe intrigues, 
 Than factious bickerings or foreign leagues ; 
 Yet, while me faunters idle and alone, 
 Her carelefs eyes are on the paper thrown. 
 
 As fome gay youth, whom fportive friends engage 
 To view the furious ourang in his cage, 
 If while amus'd he fees the monfter grin, 
 And trufts too carelefs to the bolts within, 
 If the fly beaft, as near the grate he draws, 
 Tear him unguarded with projected paws, 
 
 G 3 Starts
 
 86 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 Starts at the wound, and feels his bofom thrill 
 With pain and wonder at the fudden ill : 
 So did SERENA Hart, fo wildly gaze, 
 In fuch mixt pangs of anguifh and amaze, 
 
 . Feeling the wound which Scandal had defign'd 
 To lacerate her mild and modeft mind. 
 Startled, as one who from ele&ric wire 
 Unheeding catches unfufpefted fire, 
 
 . She reads, then almoft doubts that me has read, 
 And thinks fome vifion hovers round her head. 
 Now, her fixt eye fome ftriking words confine, 
 And now me darts it thrice thro' every line ; 
 Nor could amazement more her fenfes make, 
 Had every letter been a gorgon's fnake. 
 Now rifing indignation takes its turn, 
 And her flufh'd cheeks with tingling blufhes burn, 
 With reftlefs motion and with many a frown, 
 Thro' the wide room me paces up and down t 
 Now, mufing, makes a momentary ftand, 
 The fatal paper fluttering in her hand. 
 
 So
 
 OF TEMPER. 87 
 
 So the fliy bird, by cruel fportfmen fprung, 
 And by their random fire feverely ftung, 
 Scar'd, not difabled, by the diftant wound, 
 Now trembling flies, now fkims along the ground, 
 Now vainly tries, in fome fequefter'd fptot., 
 From her gor'd breaft to make the galling mot. 
 
 Ye tender nymphs ! whofe kindling fouls would 
 
 flame, 
 
 Touch'd, like SERENA'S, by injurious blame, 
 O let your quick and kindred fpirits form 
 A vivid pidlure of the mental ftorm 
 In which flie labour 'd, and whofe force to paint 
 The Mufe's ftrongeft tints appear too faint ; 
 In fympathetic thought her fifffering fee ! 
 But O, for ever from fuch wrongs be free ! 
 
 Her faithful girdle try'd its power to fave, 
 And oft a monitory impulfe gave ; 
 Still unregarded, ftill unfelt, it preft 
 With ufelefs energy her heaving breaft, 
 Her mind, forgetful of the magic zone, 
 Full of the burning fhaft by Scandal thrown, 
 
 G 4 With
 
 88 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 With blended notes of forrow and difdain, 
 Thus in diforder'd language vents its pain : 
 " Had malice dar'd my honour to defame, 
 The felf-refuted lie had loft its aim : 
 But here the world, deceiv'd by fland'rous art, 
 
 Muft think SERENA has a venal heart." 
 A venal heart ! at that detefted found, 
 
 In fwelling anguilh her funk voice was drown'd. 
 
 Now was a fearful crifis of her fate : 
 Diftended now by paffion's growing weight, 
 And for its miftrefs fill'd with confcious dread, 
 The magic girdle crack'd thro' every thread, 
 And fnapp'd perchance by Scandal's force accurft, 
 From her full heart the guardian zone had burft, 
 And, fpite of all the virtues of the fair, 
 
 The fpell of happinefs had funk in air, 
 But that SOPHROSYNE, whofe friendly fear 
 Timely forefaw this trial too fevere, 
 An early fuccour gain'd from fecret love, 
 . From the fell kite to fnatch the falling dove. 
 
 As
 
 OF TEMPER. 8<J 
 
 As Nature ftudies, in her wide domain, 
 To blend fome antidote with every bane ; 
 Thus her kind aid the friendly power contriv'd, 
 That, from the quarter whence the wound arriv'd, 
 There flow'd, the anguifti of that wound to calm, 
 A foothing, foft, and medicinal balm. 
 As in her agitated hand the fair 
 Wav'd the loofe paper with diforder'd air, 
 In capitals me faw SERENA flame : 
 She blum'd, me (hudder'd, as (he view'd the name ; 
 Her ready fears fubflde in new furprife, 
 And eager thus me reads with lighten'd eyes : 
 
 " Go, faithful fonnet, to SERENA fay 
 
 What charms peculiar in her features reign : 
 
 A ftranger, whom her glance may ne'er furvey, 
 Pays her this tribute in no flattering ftrain. 
 
 Tell her, the bard, in beauty's wide domain, 
 Has feen a virgin cheek as richly glow, 
 
 A bofom,
 
 90 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 A bofom, where the blue meandring vein 
 
 Sheds as foft luftre thro' the lucid fnow, 
 Eyes, that as brightly flafh with joy and youth, 
 
 And locks, that like her own luxuriant flow : 
 Then fay, for then me cannot doubt thy truth, 
 
 That the wide earth no female form can mow 
 ' Where nature's legend fo diftinftly tells, 
 
 In this fair fhrine a fairer fpirit dwells." 
 
 With curious wonder the reviving maid 
 View'd-this fond homage to her beauty paid ; 
 A fecond glance o'er every line fhe caft, 
 And half pronounc'd and half fupprefs'd the laft, 
 While modefl pleafure, and ingenuous pride, 
 Her burning cheek with deeper crimfon dy'd. 
 
 O Praife ! thy language was by heaven defign'd 
 As manna to the faint bewilder'd mind : 
 Beauty and diffidence, whofe hearts rejoice 
 In the kind comfort of thy cheering voice, 
 
 In

 
 OF TEMPER.' 91 
 
 In this wild wood of life, wert thou not nigh, 
 Muft, like the wandering babes, lie down and die : 
 But thy fweet accents wake new vital powers, 
 And make this thorny path a path of flowers : 
 As oil on ocean's troubled waters fpread, 
 Smooths the rough billow to a level bed, 
 The foothing rhyme thus foften'd into reft 
 The painful tumult of SERENA'S breaft. 
 
 Now, to herfelf reftor'd, the confcious maid 
 The lurking fiend's infidious fnare furvey'd ; 
 Her nerves, with grateful trepidation, own 
 A flighter preffure from the faithful zone ; 
 And in fond thought me breathes a thankful prayer 
 For her aetherial guardian's conftant care ; 
 Yet with a keen defire her bofom glow'd, 
 To hear from whom the gentle fonnet flow'd ; 
 But kind SOPHROSYNE, who watch'd unfeen, 
 To fhield her votary from the wiles of Spleen, 
 As friendly love had fixt a future time, 
 When to reveal the fecret of the rhyme, 
 
 Strove
 
 92 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 Strove till that hour her fancy to reftrain, 
 . Nor let her anxious wifhes rife to pain. 
 As gaiety's frelh tide began to roll, 
 Faft in the fwelling channel of her foul, 
 The good old knight defcends, tho' eager, flow, 
 The gout flill tingling in his tender toe ; 
 And now, paternal falutations paft, 
 His eyes he keenly on the paper caft, 
 While his fweet daughter, with attentive grace, 
 Before him flies his ready cup to place ; 
 For tea and politics alternate fhare, 
 In friendly rivalfhip, his morning care. 
 Tho' fmooth as oil the knight's good-humour flows, 
 When the mild breeze of pleafant fortune blows, 
 Yet, quick to catch the cafual fparks of ire, 
 Like oil it kindles into mounting fire ; 
 And fiercely now his flaming fpirit blaz'd, 
 While on thofe galling words he wildly gaz'd, 
 Whofe force had almoft work'd into a ilorm 
 The gentler elements in beauty's form. 
 
 As
 
 OF TEMPER. 93 
 
 As the farcaftic fentence caught his view, 
 Back from the board his elbow-chair he drew, 
 And, by {harp flings of fudden fury prick'd, 
 Far from his foot his gouty (tool he kick'd. 
 
 , Fierce as Achilles, by Atrides ftung, 
 He pour'd the ftream of vengeance from his tongue. 
 But ah, thofe angry threats he deign'd to fpeak, 
 Had founds, alas ! far differing from the Greek. 
 Rage from his lips in legal language broke ; 
 Of juries and of damages he {poke, 
 And on the printer's law-devoted head 
 
 i He threaten'd deep revenge in terms moft dread ; 
 Terms, that with pain the ear of beauty pierce, 
 And oaths too rough to harmonize in verfe. 
 
 While thus the good old knight, with paflion hot, 
 His toaft neglefted, and his tea forgot, 
 The difcord of the drama to increafe, 
 
 Now prim PENELOPE aflails her niece ; 
 For, as SIR GILBERT now, with choler dumb, 
 Points her the period with his angry thumb, 
 
 "Ah!
 
 94 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 " Ah ! brother," cries the ftifF, malignant crone, 
 (Her lharp eye fwiftly thro' the fentence thrown) 
 " Scandal could never rife to heights like this, 
 But from the manners of each modern mifs ; 
 Had but my niece, lefs giddy and more grave, 
 Obferv'd the prudent hints I often gave " 
 
 The honeft knight her vile conclufion faw, 
 And quick curtail'd it with a tefty " Pfhaw I" 
 Mean while the gentle maid, who heard the taunt, 
 Survey 'd without a frown her prudifh aunt : 
 Far other thoughts employ'd her fofter mind, 
 To one fweet purpofe all her foul inclin'd ; 
 How me might clofe th' unpleafant fcene, how beft 
 Reftore good-humour to her father's breaft. 
 Her airy guardian with delight furvey'd 
 Thefe tender wilhes in the lovely maid, 
 And, to accomplim what her heart defir'd, 
 Trains of new thought above her age infpir'd. 
 
 As Venus on her fon's enlighten'd face 
 Shed richer charms, and more attractive grace, 
 
 When,
 
 OF T E M P E R. 95 
 
 When, ifiuing forth from the diffolving cloud, 
 His bright form burft on the admiring crowd : 
 So kind SOPHROSYNE, unfeen, fupplies 
 A livelier radiance to SERENA'S eyes ; 
 And, ere Ihe fpeaks, to captivate her fire, 
 Touches her lips with patriotic fire. 
 
 It chanc'd, that, tofs'd upon a vacant chair, 
 A volume of that wit lay near the fair, 
 * Whofe value, try'd by fafhion's varying touch, 
 Once rofe too high, and now is funk too much ; 
 The book, which fortune plac'd within her reach* 
 Contain'd, O CHESTERFIELD, the liberal fpeech 
 In which thy fpirit, like an Attic fage, ~\ 
 
 Strove to defend the violated ftage > 
 
 Prom fetters bafely forg'd by minifterial rage. J 
 From this the nymph her ufeful leflbn took, 
 And thus began, reclining on the book : 
 '* If on this noble lord we may rely, 
 Scandal is but a fpeck on Freedom's eye ; 
 
 And
 
 96 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 And public fpirit, then, will rather bear 
 The cafual pain it gives by growing there, 
 Than, by a ralh attempt to move it thence, 
 Hazard the fafety of a precious fenfe, 
 And, by the efforts of a vain defire, 
 Rob this life-darting eye of all its fire. 
 Tho' the foft breaft of innocence may fmart, 
 By cruel calumny's corroding dart, 
 Yet would me rather ache in every nerve, 
 And bear thofe pangs me knows not to deferve, 
 Much rather than be made a fenfelefs tool, 
 To aid the frenzy of tyrannic rule, 
 Or forge one dangerous bolt for power to aim 
 
 At facred Liberty's fuperior frame." 
 
 As ancient chiefs were wont of old to gaze, 
 With eyes of tender awe and fond amaze 
 On the fair prieftefs of the Delphic fane, 
 When firft me utter'd her prophetic ftrain, 
 Entranc'd in wonder, thus SIR GILBERT view'd 
 His child, yet more infpir'd, who thus purfu'd : 
 
 " For
 
 OF TEMPER. 97 
 
 <f For me, I own, thefe lines, with gall replete, 
 Shot thro' my fimple heart a fudden heat ; 
 But happier thoughts my rifing rage repreft. 
 And turn'd the pointlefs infult to a jefl : 
 And O ! mould Slander ftill new wrath awake, 
 Still may my father, for his daughter's fake, 
 Difdain the vengeance of litigious ilrife, 
 And let SERENA'S anfwer be her life !" 
 
 She ended with a fmile, whofe magic flame 
 Shot youthful vigour thro' her father's frame : 
 His age, his anger, and his gout, are fled ; 
 te Enchanting girl !" with tears of joy, he faid, 
 fc Enchanting girl!" twice echoed from his tongue, 
 As, fpeaking, from his elbow-chair he fprung, 
 " Come to thy father's arms ! By Heaven, thou art 
 His own true offspring, and a Whig in heart." 
 
 He fpoke ; and his fond arms around her curl'd 
 , With proud grafp, feeming to infold the world. 
 Her confcious heart Ihe feels with triumph b^at, 
 And joys to find that triumph is compleat ; 
 
 H For
 
 98 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 For ftiff PEN ELOPE, who near them flood, 
 . Albeit unufed to the melting mood,'* 
 
 Squeez'd from her eye-lid one reluftant tear, 
 
 And foften'd with a fmile her brow fevere ; 
 
 But 'twas a fmile of fuch a gloomy grace, 
 
 As lighten'd once upon Alefto's face, 
 
 When Orpheus pad her, leading back to life, 
 
 From Pluto's regions, his recover'd wife, 
 
 When love connubial, join'd to mufic's fpell, 
 
 Moiften'd with tender joy the eyes of hell. 
 
 Far other fmiles, with pleafure's fofteft air, 
 
 Gild the gay features of the youthful fair : 
 
 She looks like fportive Spring, when her young 
 
 charms 
 Wind round her hoary fire's reluftant arms, 
 
 And, by a frolic infantine embrace, 
 Banifh the rugged frown from Winter's face. 
 
 Thro' the long day fhe felt the glowing tide 
 Of exultation thro' her bofom glide ; 
 And oft fhe wifh'd for flow-approaching night, 
 To hold fweet converfe with her guardian fprite. 
 
 At
 
 OF TEMPER. 99 
 
 At length the hour approach'd her heart defir'd, 
 
 And, in her lonely chamber now retir'd, 
 
 Her tender fancy gave the fondeft fcope 
 
 To ardent gratitude and eager hope. 
 
 " Dear airy being !" (the foft nymph exclaim'd) 
 
 " Whofe power can break the fpell that Spleen has 
 
 fram'd, 
 
 Can, by the waving of thy viewlefs wing, 
 O'er darkeft forms a golden radiance fling, 
 And make, in minds by forrieft thoughts perplext, 
 
 ,This moment's grief the triumph of the next; 
 I blefs thy fuccour in each trial paft ; 
 Be prefent ftill, and fave me in the laft !'* 
 Thus, with her lovely eyes devoutly fixt, 
 
 Where rays of hope, and fear, and reverence mixt, 
 The tender fair her faithful guard addreft, 
 Then with her cheek her downy pillow preft ; 
 But long her wakeful lids refufe to clofe, 
 
 For curio lity difpels repofe. 
 
 Her bufy mind the myftic veil would pierce, 
 That hides the author of the pleafmg verfe ; 
 
 H z Her
 
 JOO THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 Her lips involuntary catch the chime, 
 And half articulate the foothing rhyme, 
 1 Till weary thought no longer watch can keep, 
 But finks reluftant in the folds of fleep. 
 
 END OF THE FOURTH CANTO-. 
 
 CANTO
 
 OF TEMPER. 
 
 CANTO V. 
 
 W HY art thou fled, O bleft poetic time, 
 When Fancy wrought the miracles of rhyme ; 
 When, darting from her ftar-encircled throne, 
 Her poet's eye commanded worlds unknown ; 
 When, by her fiat made a mimic god, 
 He faw exiftence waiting on his nod, 
 And at his pleafure into being brought 
 New fhadowy hofts, the vaflals of his thought, 
 In joy's gay garb, in terror's dread array, 
 Darker than night, and brighter than the day ; 
 Who, at his bidding, thro' the wilds of air, 
 Rais'd willing mortals far from earthly care, 
 And led them wondering thro' his wide domain. 
 Beyond the bounds of nature's narrow reign ; 
 While their rapt fpirits, in the various flight, 
 Shook with fucceffive thrills of new delight ? 
 
 H 3 Rejurnj
 
 101 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 Return, fweet feafon, grac'd with fiction's flowers, 
 Let not cold fyftem cramp thy genial powers ! 
 Shall mild Morality, in garb uncouth, 
 The houfevvife garb of plain and homely truth, 
 Robb'd by ftern Method of her rofy crown, 
 Chill her faint votaries by a wintry frown ? 
 No ; thou fweet friend of man, as fuits thee beft, 
 Shine forth in Fable's rich-embroider'd veft ! 
 O make my verfe thy vehicle, thy arms, 
 To fpread o'er focial life thy potent charms ! 
 And thou, SOPH ROSY NE, myfterious fprite 1 
 If haply I may trace thy fteps aright, 
 Roving thro* paths untrod by mortal feet, 
 To paint for human eyes thy heavenly feat, 
 Shed on my foul fome portion of that power, 
 Which fav'd SERENA in the trying hour, 
 To bear thofe trials, which, however hard, 
 As bards all tell us, may befall the bard ; 
 . The fop's pert jeft, the critic's frown fevere, 
 Learning's proud cant, with envy's artful fneer, 
 
 And,
 
 OF TEMPER. 103 
 
 And, the vext poet's laft and worft difgrace, 
 His cold blank bookfeller's rhyme-freezing face. 
 Hence ! ye dark omens, that to Spleen belong, 
 Ye mail not check the current of my fong, 
 While Beauty's lovely race, for whom I fing, 
 Fire my warm hand to ftrike the ready firing, 
 
 As quiet now her lightelt mantle laid 
 O'er the flill fenfes of the fleeping maid, 
 Her nightly vifitant, her faithful guide, 
 Defcends in all her empyrean pride ; 
 That fairy Ihape no more me deigns to wear, 
 Whofe light foot fmooths the furrow plough'd by care 
 In mortal faces, while her tiny fpear 
 Gives a kind tingle to the caudon'd ear. 
 Now, in her nobler fliape, of heavenly fize, 
 She ftrikes her votary's foul with new furprife. 
 Jove's favourite daughter, arm'd in all his powers, 
 Appear'd lefs brilliant to th' attending Hours, 
 When, on the golden car of Juno rais'd, 
 In heavenly pomp the queen of battles blaz'd : 
 
 H 4 With
 
 104 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 With all her luftre, but without the dread 
 Which from her arm the frowning gorgon flied, 
 SOPHROSYNE defcends, with guardian love, 
 To waft her gentle ward to worlds above. 
 From her fair brow a radiant diadem 
 Rofe in twelve ftars, and every feparate gem 
 Shot magic rays, of virtue to controul 
 
 Some paffion hoftile to the human foul. 
 Round her fweet form a robe of zether flow'd, 
 And in a wonderous car the fmiling Spirit rode ; 
 
 Firm as pure ivory, it charm'd the light 
 -With finer polifti and a fofter white. 
 
 The hand of beauty, with an eafy fwell, 
 Scoop'd the free concave like a bending mell ; 
 And on its rich exterior, art difplay'd 
 The triumphs of the Power the car convey'd. 
 Here, in celeftial tints, furpaffing life, 
 Sate lovely Gentlenefs, difarming Strife ; 
 
 There, young Affeftion, born of tender Thought, 
 In rofy chains the fiercer paflions. caught ; 
 
 Ambition,
 
 "OF TEMPER. fO5 
 
 Ambition, with his fceptre fnapt in twain, 
 And Avarice, fcorning what his chefts contain. 
 Round the tame vulture flies the fearlefs dove ; 
 Soft Innocence embraces playful Love ; 
 And laughing Sport, the frolic child of Air, 
 Buries in flowers the finking form of Care. 
 
 Thefe figures, pencil'd with a touch fo light, 
 That every image feem'd an heavenly fprite, 
 Breathe on the car ; whofe fight-enchanting frame 
 Four wheels fuftain, of pale and purple flame:; 
 For no fleet animals, to earth unknown, 
 Bear thro' setherial fields this flying throne. 
 As by the fubtle electrician's fkill, 
 Globes feem to fly, obedient to his will ; :^A 
 
 So thefe four circles of inftin&ive fire 
 Move by the impulfe of their queen's defire., 
 Mount or defcend by her directing care, 
 Or reft, fupported by the buoyant air. 
 
 Now, fpringing from her car, that hovering flaid 
 High in the chamber of the fleeping maid, 
 
 The
 
 106 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 The goddefs, with a voice divinely clear, 
 Breath'd thefe kind accents in her votary's ear : 
 " Come, my fair champion, who fo well haft fought 
 .The ufeful battles of contentious thought ; 
 To aid thy gentle fpirit to fuftain 
 The final conflift of thy deftin'd pain, 
 View the rewards that, in my realms of blifs, 
 Wait the fweet viftor in fuch war as this ! 
 So haply may thy mind, with ftrength renew'd. 
 The dark devices of the fiend elude ; 
 By one bleft effort feal thy triumphs paft, 
 . And gain thy promis'd guerdon in the laft." 
 
 As thus me fpake, her heavenly arms embrac'd, 
 And in the car the confcious maiden plac'd. 
 Quick at her wifh the flaming wheels afcend, 
 No clouds impede them, wherefoe'er they bend. 
 As thro' the empire of the winds they rufh'd, 
 The winds were all in mute fubmiffion hufh'd : 
 And now SERENA, from th' exalted car, 
 Look'd down, aftonifh'd, on each finking ftar ; 
 
 Flying
 
 OF TEMPER. JO/ 
 
 Flying o'er lucid orbs, whofe diftant light 
 Yet has not reach'd the fcope of human fight ; 
 And now, not diftant from the bounds of fpace, 
 The guardian fprite fuipends their rapid race ; 
 And, while in deep amaze the nymph admires 
 The circling meteors' inoffenfive fires, 
 Pleas'd at her wonder, the mild power addreft, 
 With kind intelligence, her earthly gueft : 
 " Of thofe three orbs, that in yon cryftal fphere 
 A feparate fyftem in themfelves appear, 
 The laft, whofe luminous and fteady form 
 Shines foftly bright, and moderately warm, 
 Contains my palace, and the gentle train 
 Whom I have wafted to this pure domain. 
 At equal diftance my dominions lie 
 From thefe two larger worlds, more near thine eye : 
 Obferve their difference as our wheels advance, 
 And patting, take of each a tranfient glance.'* 
 So fpeaking, to the groffer globe me fprung, 
 Her car fufpended o'er its furface hung, 
 
 In
 
 108 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 In heavy air ; for round this orb was roll'd 
 A circling vapour, dull, and damp, and cold. 
 " Here,"fays SOPHROSYNE, " thofe beings dwell, 
 Who wanted foul to aft or ill or well ; 
 Who faunter'd thoughtlefs thro' their mortal time, 
 Without a care, a .virtue, or a crime ; 
 Here ftill they faunter, in this languid fcene : 
 But pafs the dozing crowd, and mark their queen." 
 And now, flow riding on a tortoife' back, 
 Her features lifelefs, and each fibre flack, 
 Full in their view the nymph Indifference came ; 
 The quick SERENA foon perceiv'd her name ; 
 For, as in folemn creeping ftate fhe rode, 
 In her lax hand fhe held fair GREVILLE'S ode. 
 Ne'er did the mufe from her fweet treafure cull 
 Jncenfe fo precious for a Power fo dull. 
 Still, as fhe mov'd along her even way, 
 The heavy goddefs try'd to read the lay ; 
 But at each paufe her inattentive eye 
 Stray'd from the paper, which fhe held awry ; 
 
 Nor
 
 OF TEMPER. 109 
 
 Nor could her lips a fmgle line repeat, 
 Tho' the foft verfe, moft ravifhingly fweet, 
 Thro' Time's juft ear will lafting pleafure fpread, 
 . And charm the poppy from Oblivion's head. 
 Thus, like a city mayor, whofe heavy barge 
 Steers its dull progrefs at the public charge, 
 This Power, fo cumber'd by her empire's weight, 
 Makes her flow circuit round her fluggifli Hate. 
 Around her, tribes of rambling fceptics crawl, 
 
 ,Tho' moving, dubious if they move at all. 
 Before her, languid Pomp, her marlhal, creeps, 
 Whofe hand her banner half unfolded keeps-: 
 Its quaint device her dull dominion fpoke 
 
 An eagle, numb'd by the torpedo's ftroke. 
 
 Enough of fcenes fo foreign to thy foul," 
 SOPHROSYNE exclaim'd; "/from this dark goal 
 Pafs we to regions oppofite to this." 
 She fpoke ; and, darting o'er the wide abyfs ; 
 Her car, like lightning in foft flames hurl'd, 
 Shot to the confines of a clearer world. 
 
 Now
 
 1 10 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 Now lovelier views the virgin's mind abforb ; 
 
 For now they hover'd o'er a lucid orb. 
 
 Here the foft air, luxuriantly warm, 
 
 Imparts new luftre to SERENA'S form : 
 
 Her eyes with more expreffive radiance fpeak, 
 
 And richer rofes open on her cheek. 
 
 Here, as fhe gaz'd, (he felt in every vein 
 
 A blended thrill of pleafure and of pain ; 
 
 Yet every object glittering in her view, 
 
 Her quick regard with foft attraction drew. 
 
 SOPHROSYNE, who faw the gentle fair 
 
 Lean o'er thefe confines with peculiar care, 
 
 Smil'd at the tender intereft me difplay'd, 
 
 And fpoke regardful of the penfive maid : 
 
 << Well may'ft thou bend O'er this congenial fphere ; 
 
 For Senfibility is fovereign here. 
 
 Thou feeft her train of fprightly damfels fport, 
 
 Where the foft fpirit holds her rural court ; 
 
 But fix thine eye attentive to the plain, 
 
 And mark the varying wonders of her reign." 
 
 As
 
 OF TEMPER.' Hi 
 
 As thus {he fpoke, lhe pois'd her airy feat 
 
 High o'er a plain exhaling every fweet ; 
 
 For round its precinfts all the flowers that bloom 
 
 Fill'd the delicious air with rich perfume ; 
 
 And in the midil a verdant throne appear'd, 
 
 In fimpleft form by graceful fancy rear'd, 
 
 And deck'd with flowers ; not fuch whofe flaunting 
 
 dyes 
 
 Strike with the ftrongeft tint our dazzled eyes ; 
 But thofe wild herbs that tendereft fibres bear, 
 And fhun th' approaches of a damper air. 
 Here flood the lovely ruler of the fcene, 
 And beauty, more than pomp, announc'd the queen. 
 The bending fnow-drop, and the briar-rofe, 
 The limple circle of her crown compofe ; 
 Rofes of every hue her robe adorn, 
 Except th' infipid rofe without a thorn. 
 Thro' her thin veft her heighten'd beauties fliine ; 
 For earthly gauze was never half fo fine. 
 Of that enchanting age her figure feems, 
 When fmiling nature with the vital beams 
 
 Of
 
 112 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 Of vivid youth, and pleafure's purple flame, 
 Gilds her accomplifh'd work, the female frame* 
 With rich luxuriance tender, fweetly wild, 
 
 And juft between the woman and the child. 
 
 Her fair left arm around a vafe me flings, 
 ' From which the tender plant mimofa fprings : 
 Towards its leaves, o'er which me fondly bends. 
 The youthful fair her vacant hand extends 
 With gentle motion, anxious to furvey 
 How far the feeling fibres own her fway : 
 The leaves, as confcious of their queen's command, 
 Succeffive fall at her approaching hand ; 
 JWhile her foft breaft with pity feems to pant, 
 
 And fhrinks at every fhrinking of the plant. 
 
 Around their fovereign, on the verdant ground, 
 Sweet airy forms in myftic meafures bound. 
 The mighty matter of the revel, Love, 
 In notes more foothing than his mother's dove, 
 Prompts the foft ftrain that melting virgins fing, 
 Or fportive trips around the frolic ring, 
 
 Coupling,
 
 FukluJud <u- Olt 4ct direetr Iv T. CdddL. Strand, Ftt? i
 
 OF TEMPER. 113 
 
 Coupling, with radiant wreaths of lambent fire, 
 Fair fluttering Hope and rapturous Defire. 
 Unnumber'd damfels different charms difplay, 
 Penftve with blifs, or in their pleafures gay ; 
 And the wide profpeft yields one touching fight 
 ' Of tender, yet diverfified delight. 
 But, the bright triumphs of their joy to check, 
 In the clear air there hangs a dufky fpeck ; 
 It fwells it fpreads and rapid, as it grows, 
 O'er the gay fcene a chilling (hadow throws. 
 The foft SERENA, who beheld its flight, 
 Sufpe&s no evil from a cloud fo light ; 
 For harmlefs round her the thin vapours wreath, 
 Not hiding from her view the fcene beneath ; 
 But ah ! too foon, with pity's tender pain, 
 She faw its dire effeft o'er all the plain : 
 Sudden from thence the founds of anguifti flow, 
 And joy's fvveet carols end in fhrieks of woe : 
 The wither'd flowers are fall'n, that bloom'd fo fair, 
 And poifon all the peftilential air. 
 
 I From
 
 114 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 From the rent earth dark demons force their way, 
 And make the fportive revellers their prey. 
 Here gloomy Terror, with a fhadowy rope, 
 Seems, like a Turkifh mute, to ftrangle Hopd j 
 There jealous Fury drowns in blood the fire 
 That fparkled in the eye of young Defire ; 
 And lifelefs Love lets mercilefs Defpair 
 From his crufli'd frame his bleeding pinions tear. 
 But pangs more cruel, more intenfely keen, 
 Wound and diftrad their fympathetic queen : 
 With fruitlefs tears me o'er their mifery bends ; 
 From her fweet brow the thorny rofe me rends, 
 And, bow'd by grief's infufferable weight, 
 Frantic me curfes her immortal ftate : 
 The foft SERENA, as this curfe me hears, 
 Feels her bright eye fuffus'd with kindred tears ; 
 And her kind breaft, where quick companion fwell'd, 
 Shar'd in each bitter fuffering me beheld. 
 
 The guardian Power furvey'd her lovely grief, 
 And fpoke in gentle terms of mild relief: 
 
 "For
 
 OF TEMPER. 115 
 
 " For this foft tribe thy heavieft fear difinifs, 
 , And know their pains are tranfient as their blifs : 
 . Rapture and agony, in nature's loom, 
 Have fbrm'd the changing tiffue of their doom ; 
 Both interwoven with fo nice an art, 
 No power can tear the twitted threads apart : 
 Yet happier thefe, to Nature's heart more dear, 
 Than the dull offspring in the torpid fphere, 
 Where her warm wiihes, and affedions kind, 
 Lofe their bright current in the ftagnant mind. 
 Here grief and joy fo fuddenly unite, 
 That anguilh ferves to fublimate delight." 
 
 She fpoke ; and, ere SERENA could reply, 
 The vapour vanifh'd from the lucid fky ; 
 The nymphs revive, the fhadowy fiends are fled, 
 The new-born flowers a richer fragrance (hed ; 
 The gentle ruler of the changeful land, 
 Smiling, refum'd her fymbol of command ; 
 Replac'd the rofos of her regal wreath, 
 Still trembling at the thorns that lurk beneath: 
 
 1 2 But,
 
 Il6 THE T R I U M P H S 
 
 But, to her wounded fubje&s quick to pay 
 The tender duties of imperial fway, 
 Their wants fhe fuccour'd, they her wifh obey'd, 
 And all recover'd, by alternate aid ; 
 While, on the lovely queen's enchanting face, 
 Departed forrow's faint and fainter trace, 
 Gave to each touching charm a more attractive 
 
 grace. 
 
 Now, laughing Sport, from the enlighten'd plain, 
 Clear'd with quick foot the veftiges of pain ; 
 The gay fcene grows more beautifully bright, 
 Than when it firft allur'd SERENA'S fight, 
 Still her fond eyes o'er all the profpeft range, 
 Flaming fweet pleafure at the blifsful change : 
 Her curious thoughts with fond attachment burn, 
 Yet more of this engaging land to learn. 
 She finds the chief attendants of the queen, 
 Sweet females, wafted from our human fcene ; 
 But, as it chanc'd, while all the realm reviv'd, 
 A fpirit mafculine from earth arriv'd : 
 
 Two
 
 OF TEMPER. 11 
 
 Two airy guides conduft the gentle (hade ; 
 Genius, in robes of braided flames array'd, 
 And a fantaftic nymph, in manners nice, 
 Profufely deck'd with many an odd device ; 
 Sifter of him, whofe luminous attire 
 Flames with unextinguimable fire ; 
 Like him in features, in her look as wild, 
 And Singularity by mortals ftyl'd. 
 The eager queen, and all her Trailing court, 
 Surround the welcome made in gentle fport; 
 For in their new afibciate all rejoice, 
 All pant to hear the accents of his voice. 
 Tho' o'er his frame th* Armenian robe was flung, 
 The pleating ftranger fpoke the Gallic tongue ; 
 But in that language his enchanting art 
 Infpir'd new energy, that feiz'd the heart ; 
 In terms fo eloquent, fo fweetly bold, 
 A ftory of difaftrous love he told, 
 Convuls'd with fympathy, the lift'ning trainj 
 At every paufe, with dear delicious pain, 
 Intreat him to renew the fafcinating ftrain. 
 
 I 3 And 
 
 y train, *\ 
 lin, V 
 
 :rain. 3
 
 Il8 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 And now SERENA, with fufpended breath, 
 Liften'd, and caught the tale of Julia's death ; 
 And quick fhe cries, ere tears had time to flow, 
 " Bleft be this hour ! for now I fee RoufTeau." 
 Fondly fhe gaz'd, till the enchanting found 
 In fuch a potent fpell her fpirit bound, 
 That, loft in fweet illufion, fhe forgot 
 The promis'd fcenes of the fublimer fpot ; 
 Till now her mild remembrancer, whofe care 
 Stray'd not a moment from the mortal fair, 
 Rous'd her rapt mind, preparing her to meet 
 The brighter wonders of her blifsful feat ; 
 While her inftindlive car's obedient frame 
 Now upward rofe, like undulating flame. 
 
 As when fome victor on the watery world, 
 Bright honour gilding all his fails unfurl'd, 
 Steers into port, while to the laughing fky 
 His ftreamers tell his triumph as they fly ; 
 Expefting thoufands line the crowded ftrand, 
 Swell the glad voice, or wave the joyous hand, 
 
 Preffing
 
 OF TEMPER. 119 
 
 Prefling to view the fight their vows implor'd, ^J- 
 And hail their glory and their ftrength reftor'd : 
 So the blefl beings of this fmiling fcene 
 Flock'd round the car of their returning queen. 
 The radiant car, from which they now alight, 
 Careful fhe gives to a fele&ed fprite, 
 A nymph of fnowy veil and lovely frame, 
 Fidelity her fair and fpotlefs name ; 
 Then, happy to review her hallow'd home, 
 Leads her fweet gueft to her celeftial dome. 
 Gentleft of powers ! for every purpofe fit, 
 
 ,To ftrengthen wifdom, and embellilh wit ; 
 Thou, whofe foft arts, poflefs'd by thee alone, 
 
 Can give to virtue's voice a fweeter tone ; 
 Allay the froft of age, or fire of youth, 
 And lend attraction to fevereft truth ; 
 Improve e'en beauty by thy graceful eafe, 
 Or teach deformity herfelf to pleafe ; 
 Infpire the bard, whofe juft ambition pants 
 
 To guide weak mortals to thy heavenly haunts ! 
 
 1 4 Grant
 
 I2O THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 Grant him, in notes that, like thy foft controul, 
 Allure attention, and poffefs the foul ; 
 Grant him to mow, in luminous difplay, 
 The myilic wonders of thy fecret fway ! 
 
 Now, at the fight of the prefiding power, 
 Wide fpread the gates of a ftupendous tower, 
 On whofe firm height, commanding nature's bound, 
 The faithful warder of the fort they found, 
 Wakeful Intelligence, a trufty fprite, 
 Whofe eyes are piercing as the folar light, 
 And ever on the watch to found alarm, 
 If aught of dufky hue, portending harm, 
 Should, in defiance of her mandate, dare 
 Approach the palace of th' imperial fair. 
 Within his ward, magnificently great, 
 Lies the rich armoury that guards her ftate. 
 Here ftands Conviction's ftrong and lucid fpear, 
 Whofe touch annihilates fufpence and fear ; 
 Here, Truth's unfullied adamantine fhield, 
 Which, fave SOPHROSYKE, no power can wield ; 
 
 And
 
 OF TEMPER. I2f 
 
 And Reafon's trenchant blade of blazing fteel, 
 Its edge and polifh form'd by friendly zeal.; 
 And, not lefs fure their deftin'd mark to hit, 
 Pointed by virtue's hand, the fhafts of Wit ; 
 And Ridicule's ftrong bolt, whofe ftunning blow 
 Lays towering vice and fearlefs folly low. 
 Here too the goddefs kept, in rnyilic ftate, 
 Thofe fweet rewards that on her champions wait, 
 Guerdons more precious than triumphant palms : 
 The glance of gratitude for mental alms, 
 Peace's foft kifs, and reconcilement's tear, 
 And fmiles of fympathy, are treafur'd here. 
 
 Thefe precindls paft, now hand in hand they came 
 To the rich fabric of majeftic frame ; 
 Inftinft with joy their fovereign to behold, 
 The gates of maiTive adamant unfold ; 
 And, as the gently-moving valves unclofe, 
 Myfterious mufic from their motion flows ; 
 The airy notes thro* all the palace roam, 
 And dulcet echoes fill the feftive dome : 
 
 A gorgeous
 
 122 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 A gorgeous hall amaz'd SERENA'S eyes, 
 Compar'd to which, in fplendor, ftrength, and fize, 
 The nobleft works of which tradition fings, 
 Judaic fhrine, or feat of Memphian kings, 
 Would feem more humble than the waxen cell 
 In which the fkilful bee is proud to dwell. 
 . Here fits a power, in whofe angelic face 
 Beauty is fweeten'd by maternal grace ; 
 Her radiant feat, furpafling mortal art, 
 Supports an emblem of her liberal heart, 
 A pelican, who rears her callow brood, 
 And from her vitals feems to draw their food. 
 Around this fpirit flock a filial hoft, 
 Who blefs her empire, and her guidance boaft. 
 Here every fcience, all the arts attend, 
 In her they hail their parent and their friend ; 
 Each to her prefence brings the happy few, 
 Whofe deareft glory from her favour grew. 
 Here, in her fimple charms, with youthful fire, 
 Proud to difplay the magic of her lyre, 
 
 Soul-
 
 OF TEMPER. 123 
 
 Soul-foothing Harmony prefents her band : 
 Befide her Orpheus and Amphion Hand. 
 Here, mild Philofophy, whofe thoughtful frown 
 Is fweetly fhaded by her olive crown, 
 (In all her Attic elegance array'd, 
 Strong to convince, and gentle to perfuade) 
 To her, whofe breath infpir'd his every rule, 
 Leads the bleft fire of the Socratic fchool. 
 Each animating bard and moral fage, 
 The heaven-taught minds of every clime and age, 
 Who foften'd manners, and refin'd the foul, 
 Flock to this prefence, as to glory's goal ; 
 And, as the mother's heart, that yearns to ble& 
 The rival innocents that round her prefs, 
 Delights to fee them, as her love they fliare, 
 Sport in her fight, and flour ifh by her care ; 
 Fondly refponfive to their every call, 
 . Tender of each, and provident for all : 
 So this fweet image of celeflial grace, 
 Who fits encircled by her lovely race, 
 
 To
 
 124 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 To every fcience vital ftrength imparts, 
 And rears the circle of the focial arts ; 
 With fuch folicitude me gives to each, 
 Pow'rs of fublimer aim and wider reach. 
 And now SOPH ROSY NE, who near her preft, 
 Thus {poke her title to her earthly gueft : 
 -" Behold the honour'd form, without whofe aid 
 My ftrength muft vanim, and my glory fade ! 
 Source of my being, and my life's fupport ! 
 EUNOIA call'd in this celeftial court, 
 BENEVOLENCE the name me bears on earth, 
 The guard of weaknefs, and the friend of worth." 
 
 She ended : and the mild maternal form 
 Embrac'd SERENA with a fmile as warm 
 As the gay fpirit Vegetation wears, 
 When {he to crown her favourite nymph prepares. 
 When, pleas'd her flowery treafures to difplay, 
 She pours them in the lap of youthful May. 
 
 But how, SERENA ! how may human fpeech 
 Thy heavenly raptures in this moment reach ? 
 
 If
 
 OF TEMPER. 125 
 
 If aught of earthly fentiment may vie 
 With the pure joy thefe happy fcenes fupply, 
 'Tis when, unmixt with trouble and with pain, 
 Love glides in fecret thro' the glowing vein ; 
 When fome fond youth, unconfcious of its fire, 
 Free from chill fear and turbulent defire, 
 With every thought abforb'd in foft delight, 
 Sees all creation in his fair one's fight, 
 And feels a blifsful flate without a name, 
 Repofe of foul with harmony of frame. 
 So, plung'd in pleafure of the purefl kind, 
 SERENA gaz'd on the maternal mind ; 
 Gaz'd till SOPH ROSY NE'S directing aid 
 Thus fummon'd to new fights th' obedient maid : 
 *' Hafte, my fair charge, for of this ample ftate, 
 Trafts yet unfeen thy vifitation wait. 
 The prefling hours forbid me to unfold 
 Each feparate province which thefe confines hold j 
 But I will lead thee to that blifsful crew, 
 Whofe kindred fpirits belt deferve thy view." 
 
 So
 
 126 THE TRIU-MPHS 
 
 So (peaking, her attentive gueft (he led 
 Thro' fcenes, that ftill increafmg wonder bred. 
 Where'er me trod, thro' all her gorgeous feat, 
 Soft mufic echoed from beneath her feet : 
 Paffin.g a portal, on whofe lucid ftone 
 Emblems of innocence and beauty fhone, 
 They reach a lawn with verdant luftre bright, 
 And view the bowers of permanent delight. 
 No fiery fun here forms a fcorching noon, 
 No baleful meteor gleams, no chilling moon : 
 But, from a latent fource, one foothing light, 
 Whofe conftant rays repel the mift of night, 
 Tho' tender, chearful, and tho' warm, ferene, 
 Gives lafting beauty to the lovely fcene. 
 No fenfual thought this paradife profanes ; 
 Por here tried excellence in triumph reigns, 
 Benignant cares eternal joy fupply, 
 And blifs angelic beams in every eye. 
 
 " In yonder groups," the leading fpirit cried, 
 " My fav'rite females fee, my faireft pride. 
 
 The
 
 OF T E M P E R. t 127 
 
 The firft in rank is that diftinguifh'd train, 
 Whofe ftrength of foul was tried by Hymen's chain : 
 Tho' beauty bleft their form, and love, their guide, 
 Their nuptial band with bappieft omens tied, 
 Beauty and love, they felt, may lofe the art 
 To fix inconftant man's eccentric heart ; 
 Yet, confcious of their lord's neglected vow^ 
 No virtue frown'd outrageous on their brow, 
 To keep returning tendernefs aloof, 
 By coarfe upbraiding, and defpis'd reproof: 
 With forrow fmother'd in attraction's fmik, 
 They flrove the fenfe of mifery to beguile ; 
 And, from wild paflion's perilous abyfs, 
 
 , Lure the loft wanderer back to faithful blifs. 
 See mild Odlavia o'er this band prefide, 
 Voluptuous Antony's negle&ed bride, 
 
 . Whofe feeling heart, with all a mother's care, 
 Rear'd.the young offspring of a rival fair. 
 Far other trials rais'd yon lovely crew, 
 Tho' in connubial fcenes their merit grew.: 
 
 It
 
 128 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 It was their chance, ere judgment was mature, 
 When glittering toys the infant mind allure ,- 
 Following their parents' avaricious rule, 
 To wed, with hopes of blifs, a wealthy fool. 
 When time remov'd delufion's veil by Health, 
 
 ... And ftiow'd the drear vacuity of wealth ; 
 When fad experience prov'd the bitter fate 
 Of beauty coupled to a fenfelefs mate, 
 Thefe gentle wives ftill gloried to fubmit ; 
 Thefe, tho' invited by alluring wit, 
 
 , Refus'd in paths of lawlefs joy to range, 
 Nor murmur 'd at the lot they could not 'change: 
 But, with a lively fweetnefs, unoppreft 
 By a dull hufband's lamentable jeft, 
 Their conftant rays of gay good-humour fpread 
 
 . A guardian glory round their idiot's head. 
 The next in order are thofe lovely forms, 
 Whofe patience weather'd all paternal ftorms ; 
 By filial cares, the mind's unfailing teft, 
 Well have they earn'd thefe feats of blifsful reft : 
 
 They,
 
 OP TEMPER. 129 
 
 They, unrepining at fevere reftraint, 
 
 Peevifh commands, and undeferv'd complaint ; 
 
 Bent with unwearied kindnefs to appeafe 
 
 Each fancied want of querulous difeafe ; 
 
 Gave up thofe joys which youthful hearts engage, 
 
 To watch the weaknefs of parental age. 
 
 Turn to this chearful band ; and mark in this, 
 Spirits who juftly claim my realms of blifs ! 
 Moft lovely thefe ! when judg'd by generous truth, 
 Tho* beauty is not their's, nor blooming youth : 
 For thefe are they, who, in life's thorny fhade, 
 Repin'd not at the name of ancient maid. . 
 No proud difdain, no narrownefs of heart, 
 Held them from Hymen's tempting rites apart ; 
 But fair difcretion led them to withdraw 
 From the priz'd honour of his proffer'd law ;* 
 To quit the object of no hafty choice, 
 In mild fubmiflion to a parent's voice ; 
 The valued lover with a figh refign, 
 And facrifice delight at duty's fhrine. 
 
 K With
 
 J3O THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 With finiles they bore, from angry fpleert exempt> 
 Injurious mockery, and coarfe contempt : 
 'Twas their's to clafp, each felfifti care above, 
 .A fitter's orphans with parental love, 
 And all her tender offices fupply, 
 Tho' bound not by the ftrong maternal tie : 
 'Twas their's to bid inteftine quarrels ceafe, 
 And form the cement of domeftic peace. 
 No throbbing joy their fpotlefs bofom fir'd, 
 Save what benevolence herfelf inipir'd ; 
 No praife they fought, except that praife refin'd, 
 Which the. heart whifpers to the worthy mind. 
 Such are thefe gentle tribes, the happy few 
 Who mare the triumph to their victory due : 
 Angelic aims their fpotlefs minds employ, 
 And fill their meafure of unchequer'd joy. 
 Behold ! where fome with generous ardour wait 
 Around yon feer, who holds the book of fate ; 
 Thofe awful leaves with eager glance they turn, 
 Thence with celeftial zeal they fondly learn 
 
 What
 
 OF TEMPER. 131 
 
 What dangers threaten, thro' the vale of earth, 
 Their kindred pilgrims, ere they rife to birth : 
 To earth they ftill invifibly defcend, 
 In that dark fcene congenial minds defend, 
 From pleafure's bud drive fpleen's corroding worm, 
 And in my votaries' heart my power confirm. 
 
 Delights more calm yon liftening band employ, 
 Who deeply drink of intellectual joy. 
 See them around that fpeaking nymph rejoice, 
 Their pleafures varying with her varied voice ! 
 What graces in the fweet enthufiail glow ! 
 Repeating here whate'er me learns below. 
 Memory her name, her charge o'er earth to flit, 
 And cull the faireft flowers of human wit. 
 Whatever Genius, in his happieft hour, 
 Has penn'd, of moral grace and comic power, 
 To warm the heart, the fpells of Spleen unbind, 
 And pour gay funfhine o'er the mifty mind ; 
 Teach men to cherilh their fraternal tie, 
 And view kind nature with a filial eye ; 
 
 K 2 This
 
 132 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 This a&ive fpirit catches in her flight, 
 Skill'd to retain, and happy to recite. 
 Here (he delivers each bright work, and each 
 . Derives new beauty from her graceful fpeech. 
 Warpt by no envy, by no love mifled, 
 Equal fhe holds the living and the dead ; 
 Alike rehearfing, as they claim their turn, 
 The fong of Anftey, and the tale of Sterne. 
 
 But morning calls thee hence. Yet one fcene 
 
 more, 
 
 My foftering love mail lead thee to explore. 
 This, thy laft fight, with careful eyes furvey, 
 And mark th* extenfive nature of my fway." 
 
 Thus with fond zeal the guardian Spirit faid, 
 And to new precinfts of her palace led ; 
 The fcene (he enter'd of her richeft ftate, 
 Where on her voice the fubjeft paffions wait : 
 Here rofe a throne of living gems, fo bright 
 No breath could fully their benignant light ; 
 This, her immortal feat, the gracious guide 
 Affum'd : her ward flood wondering at her fide. 
 
 Swift
 
 OF TEMPER. 133 
 
 Swift as they felt their ruling Power inthron'd, 
 ^Etherial beings, who her empire own'd, 
 Crowded in glittering pomp the gorgeous fcene, 
 To pay their homage to their heavenly queen. 
 Firft came chafte Love, whofe fweet harmonious 
 
 form 
 
 Ne'er felt fufpicion's foul-convulfmg ftorm ; 
 No baleful arrow in his quiver lies, 
 No blinding veil inwraps his fparkling eyes ; 
 There all the rays of varied joy unite, 
 And jointly fhed unfpeakable delight. 
 With him was Friendlhip, like a virgin drelt, 
 The foft afbeftos form'd her iimple veft, 
 Whofe wond'rous folds, in fierceft flames entire, 
 Mock the vain ravage of confuming fire : 
 Around this robe, a myftic chain me wore, 
 Each golden link a ftar of diamonds bore ; 
 Force could not tear the finifh'd work apart, 
 Nor int'reft loofe it by his fubtleft art : 
 But, ftrange to tell, if the preliding Power, 
 Who to her favourite gave this precious dower, 
 
 K 3 If
 
 J34 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 If kind SOPHROSYNE could fail to breathe 
 Her vital virtue on this magic wreath, 
 The parts muft fever, faithlefs to their truft, 
 The gold grow drofs, and every diamond duft. 
 Thefe Valour follow'd, deck'd with verdant palm, 
 Gracefully bold, majeftically calm. 
 A mingled troop fucceed, with feftive found, 
 .Wifdom with olive, Wit with feathers crown'd ; 
 Here, hand in hand they move, no longer foes, 
 Their charms increafmg as their union grows ; 
 Pure fpirits all, who hating mental ftrife, 
 Exalt creation, and embellifh life ; 
 All here attend, and, in their fovereign's praife, 
 Their circling forms the fong of glory raife. 
 
 The bleft SERENA drinks, with ravifti'd ear, 
 The melting mufic of the tuneful fphere. 
 Now in its clofe the foothing echoes roll 
 O'er her rapt fancy, and in trance her foul ; 
 Her fenfes fink in foft oblivion's bands, 
 Till faithful Jenny at her pillow ftands, 
 
 Recalls
 
 OF TEMPER. 135 
 
 Recalls each mental and corporeal power. 
 While (he proclaims aloud the pafling hour ; 
 And, in a voice expreflive of furprife, 
 Too mrill to feem the mufic of the fkies, 
 Informs the ftartled fair 'tis time to rife. 
 
 I 
 
 END OF THE FIFTH CANTO. 
 
 4 CANTO
 
 136 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 CANTO VI. 
 
 ,_DLEST be the heart of fympathetk mould, 
 Whatever form that gentle heart infold, 
 Whofe generous fibres with fond terror make. 
 When keen affli&ion threatens to o'ertake 
 Young artlefs beauty, as alarm'd fhe flrays 
 Thro' the ftrange windings of this mortal maze ! 
 To fuch, SERENA, be thy ftory known, 
 Whofe bofom beft can make thy lot their own, 
 And, kindly fharing in thy trials paft, 
 Attend with fweet anxiety the laft. 
 
 , The hour approaches, the tremendous hour, 
 In whofe dark moments deeper perils lower ; 
 Still fo inwrapt in pleafure's gay difguife, 
 They lurk invifible to caution's eyes ; 
 And, unfulpefted by the fair one, wait 
 To cancel or confirm her blifsful fate, 
 
 Her
 
 OF' TEMPER. 137 
 
 Her lively mind with bright ideas ftor'd, 
 She takes her ftation at the breakfaft-board ; 
 Still her foft foul the heavenly vifion fills, 
 And fweeter graces in her fmile inftils ; 
 New hopes of triumph glide thro' every nerve, 
 And arm her glowing heart with firm referve ^ 
 Confcious the final trying chance impends, 
 To bear its force her every power me bends ; 
 In her quick thought ambitious to prefage 
 How Spleen's dark agents may exert their rage, 
 She ponders on what perils may befall, 
 And fondly deems her mind a match for all. 
 Ah, lovely nymph ! this dangerous pride forego ; 
 
 , Pride may betray fecurity's thy foe. 
 
 While fancied prudence thus, a foreign gueft, 
 Sits doubly cherifh'd in SERENA'S breaft, 
 Behold a billet her attention fteal, 
 No common arms compofe its ample feal ; 
 Th* unfolding paper breathes a rofeate fcent, 
 
 Sweet harbinger of joy, its kind intent. 
 
 Of
 
 138 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 Of courteous FILLIGREE it bears the name, 
 dear fymptom of the peer's increafing flame ! 
 The gracious earl, lamenting pleafure loft, 
 And fair SERENA in her wilhes croft, 
 Has plann'd, in honour of the lovely maid, 
 A fancied ball, a private mafquerade, 
 And fupplicates her fire, with warm efteem, 
 To fmile indulgent on the feftive fcheme. 
 
 All arts he ufes to infure the grant, 
 . Nor leaves unafk'd the eager maiden aunt. 
 Quick at the found SERENA^S glowing heart 
 Throbs with gay hopes ; but foon thofe hopes depart : 
 Refleftion, in her foul a faithful guard, 
 The opening avenues of pleafure barr'd: 
 She deem'd the plan of this delightful mow, 
 But the new ambufh of her fecret foe ; 
 The blifs too bright to realize, me guefs'd, 
 And chas'd th* idea from her guarded breaft. 
 While thefe difcreet refolves her thought employ, 
 Tranquil fhe triumphs o'er her fmother'd joy. 
 
 Not
 
 OF TEMPER. 139 
 
 Not fo the knight to his parental eyes, 
 In dazzling pomp delufive vifions rife : 
 That coronet, the objeft of his vow, 
 He fees fufpended o'er his daughter's brow ; 
 
 , Eager he burns to fnap the pendent thread. 
 And fix the glory on his darling's head. 
 Far wifer aims the ancient maiden caught, 
 No empty gew-gaw flutters in her thought; 
 But, while more keenly (he applauds the plan, 
 
 . Her hope is folid and fubftantial man ; 
 Not for her infant niece, whofe baby frame 
 She holds unfit for Hymen's holy flame ; 
 But for her riper felf, whofe ftrength may bear 
 
 , The heavieft burden of connubial care. 
 
 Tho' different phantoms dance before their fight, 
 
 Niece, aunt, and father, in one wifh unite, 
 To join the banquet is their common choice, 
 
 The bufmefs paft with no diflenting voice ; 
 And the warm fire, in whom ambition burn'd, 
 A note of grateful courtefy return'd : 
 
 His
 
 140 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 His billet feal'd, the glad good-humour'd knight 
 . Launch'd forth, like Neftor, on his youthful 
 
 might: 
 
 ' O could I now, in fpite of age, retain 
 That a&ive vigour, and that fprightly vein, 
 Which led me once the lively laugh to raife 
 Among the merrier wits of former days, 
 When rival beauties would around me throng, 
 And gay ridottos Men to my fong ! 
 Such were I now, as on the feftive night, 
 
 When Ch h's charms amaz'd the public fight ; 
 
 When the kind fair one, in a veil fo thin 
 
 That the clear gauze was but a lighter fkin, 
 
 Mafk'd like a virgin juft prepar'd to die, 
 
 Gave her plump beauties to each greedy eye ! 
 
 On that fam'd night (for then with frolic fire 
 
 Youth fill'd my heart, and humour ftrung my lyre), 
 
 Pleas'd in the funfliine of her fmile to bafk, 
 
 I danc'd around her in a devil's mafk ; 
 
 And idly chanted an infernal ode, 
 
 In praife of all this female tempter fhow'd. 
 
 The
 
 OF TEMPER. 141 
 
 The jocund crowd, who throng 'd with me to gaze, 
 
 ExtolPd my unpremeditated lays, 
 
 And Sport, who fiill of this old revel brags, 
 
 * Sty I'd her the fir ft of maids, and me of wags. 
 
 Then a light devil, now, reduc'd to limp, 
 
 I am but fit to play the hag-born imp ; 
 
 Still, not to crofs the frolic of this ball, 
 
 Still as the tortoife Caliban I'll crawl, 
 
 And if with gout my burning ankles flinch, 
 
 I'll call it Profpero's tormenting pinch ; 
 
 Still in this ftiape I'll mow them what I am : 
 
 And PEN. (hall go as Sycorax, my dam." 
 
 So fpoke the knight ; and fpoke with fo much 
 
 weight, 
 
 The liftening females faw his word was fate ; 
 For ne'er did Jove with fo refolv'd a brow 
 To fmiling Love his joyous fcheme avow, 
 
 Otoiv An, Neropt 
 
 See Neftor's fpeech in the nth Jlrad. 
 
 When
 
 142 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 When he concerted, for his fpecial mirth, 
 A mafquerading on the ftage of earth, 
 And of the iwan's foft plume, or bull's rough hair 
 Order'd the fancy-drefs he chofe to wear. 
 From whence let fapient antiquarians (how 
 The ancient ufe of mafquerades below. 
 SE R E N A fmil'd to fee this joyous fire 
 Infufe new youth in her determin'd fire j 
 But mute PENELOPE, with half a figh, 
 1 ' With one aufpicious and one dropping eye," 
 Heard the firm knight his fixt refolve impart, 
 Tickling at once and torturing her heart. 
 The ball me relifh'd, but abhorr'd the tafk 
 To hide her beauties in a beldam's maflc : 
 Miranda's name would better fuit her plan, 
 A fimple maiden, not afraid of man ; 
 But us'd, alas ! her brother's law to feel, 
 She knows that law admits not of repeal. 
 Trufting her charms will any garb enrich, 
 She deigns to take the habit of a witch. 
 
 Never
 
 OF TEMPER. 143 
 
 Never did forcerefs in the ftiades of night 
 Try to illuminate a filthy fprite 
 With fonder efforts, or with worfe fuccefs, 
 Than PEN. now labour'd, in this wayward drefs, 
 To give the fprightly {how of living truth 
 To the poor ghoft of her departed youth. 
 As witches o'er their magic cauldron bend, 
 Anxious to fee their menial imps afcend ; 
 So in her glafs the ancient maiden pries, 
 And dreams new graces in her perfon rife. 
 No fuch delights, whofe dear delufions pleafe, 
 The mild SERENA in her mirror fees ; 
 She, at whofe toilet beauty's latent queen 
 Attends, enchanted with her filial mien, 
 And o'er her favourite's unconfcious face 
 Breathes her own rofeate glow and vivid grace. 
 She haftes her glittering garments to adjuft, 
 With all the modeft charms of fweet diftruft, 
 Doubting that beauty, which fhe doubts alone, 
 Which dazzles every eye except her own. 
 
 The
 
 144 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 The native diffidence which fway'd her mind, 
 Now feels new terrors with its own combin'd ; 
 The robes of Ariel to the nymph recall 
 Thofe difappointments that may yet befall ; 
 As her fair hands the gauze or tiflue touch, 
 They fondly warn her not to hope too much. 
 She feels the friendly counfel they impart, 
 And caution reigns proteftor of her heart. 
 
 The fateful evening comes the coach attends, 
 And firft the gouty Caliban afcends ; 
 Then, in deformity's well-fuited pride, 
 , Sour Sycorax is ftation'd by his fide ; 
 And laft, with fportive fmiles, divinely fweet, 
 Light Ariel perches on the vacant feat. 
 Fancy now paints the fcene of pleafure near, 
 , Yet fluttering gaiety is check'd by fear. 
 Her wifh to view the feftive fight runs high ; 
 But the fond nymph remembers, with a figh, 
 . From hope's keen hand the cup of joy may flip, 
 And fall untafted, though it reach the lip. 
 
 As
 
 OF TEMPER. 145 
 
 As the fine artift, whofe nice toils afpire 
 To fame eternal by encauftic fire ; 
 If he, with grief, has feen the faithlefs heat 
 Mar the rich labour it fhould make compleat, 
 When next his hands, with trembling care, confide 
 To the fierce element his pencil's pride, 
 Watches unceafing the pernicious flame, 
 Terror and hope contending in his frame, 
 While his fair work the dangerous fire fuftains, 
 Feels it in all his fympathetic veins, 
 And at each trivial found that chance may caufe, 
 Hears the gem crack, and fees its cruel flaws : 
 With fuch folicitude the panting maid 
 Paft the long ftreet, of every noife afraid. 
 Now, while around her rival flambeaus flare, 
 And the coach rattles thro' the crowded fquare, 
 She fears fome dire mifchance muft yet befall, 
 Some demon fnatch her from the promis'd ball ; 
 And dreams no trial more fevere than this, 
 So bright fhe figures the new fcene of blifs : 
 
 L Yet,
 
 146 THE TRIUMP H S 
 
 Yet, horrid as it feems, her heart is bent 
 To bear e'en this, and bear it with content. 
 
 But, whirl'd at length within the porter's gatd 
 She thinks what perils at the ball may wait ; 
 And, as fhe now alights, the fluttering fair 
 Invokes her guardian to protect her there, 
 Till thoughts of danger, thoughts of caution, fly 
 Before the magic blaze that meets her eye. 
 Th' advancing nymph, at every ftep fhe takes, 
 Pants with amazement, doubtful if fhe wakes ; 
 Far as her eyes the glittering fcene command, 
 J Tis all enchantment, all a fairy land ; 
 No veftiges of modern pomp appear, 
 No modern melody falutes her ear : 
 With Moorifti notes the echoing manfion rings. 
 And its tranfmuted form to fancy 
 The rich * Alhambra of the Moorifh kings 
 The peer, who keenly thirfts for fafhion's praife, 
 To gild his revel with no common rays, 
 
 * See the views of this palace in Swinburn's Travels. 
 
 Summon 'd 
 
 manfion rings, ^ 
 brings > 
 
 rifh kings. J
 
 OF TEMPER. 147 
 
 Summon'd his modifti architect, whofe (kill 
 
 . Can all the wifhes of caprice fulfil. 
 His genius, equal to the wildeft tafk, 
 Gave to the houfe itfelf a Gothic mafk. 
 The chaplain, that no gueft might feel neglect, 
 As a magician of the Arab feft, 
 Wav'd a prefiding wand throughout the ball, 
 And well provided for the wants of all. 
 
 The peer himfelf, his prowefs to evince, 
 Shines in the femblance of a Moorifh prince ; 
 And round the brilliant mimic hero wait 
 All pomp and circumftance of Moorifh ilate : 
 Thro* all his fplendid dome no eye could find 
 Aught unembellifh'd, fave the matter's mind. 
 
 . There, tho' repreft by courtefy's controul, 
 Lurks the low mover of the little foul, 
 Mean vanity ; whofe flave can never prove 
 
 , The heart-refining flame of genuine love. 
 While her cold joys his abjeft mind amufe, 
 His thoughts are bufied on connubial views. 
 
 L 2 His.
 
 148 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 His houfe compleat, its decorations plac'd 
 By the fare hand of fafhionable tafle, 
 He only wants, to crown his modim life, 
 That laft and fineft moveable a wife. 
 She too muft prove, to fix his coy defire, 
 Such as the eye of fafhion will admire. 
 His ball is but a jury, to decide 
 Upon the merit of his fancied bride. 
 If fweet SERENA, on this fignal night, 
 Shines the firft idol of the public fight ; 
 If gallantry's fixt eyes pronounce her fair* 
 By the fare fign of one unceafing flare ; 
 And if, prophetic of her nobler doom, 
 Each rival beauty fhudders at her bloom ; 
 The die is caft he weds the point is clear 
 She cannot flight the vows of fuch a peer. 
 Thus argued in his mind the feftive earl, 
 And, left he lightly chufe an awkward girl, 
 Wifely conven'd, on this important cafe, 
 Each faftiionable judge of female grace. 
 
 Here
 
 OF TEMPER. 149 
 
 Here beaux efprits in various figures lurk, 
 Of Jew and Gentile, Bramin, Tartar, Turk ; 
 But of the manly mafks, a youthful bard 
 Seem'd molt to challenge beauty's foft regard : 
 Adorn'd with native elegance, he wore, 
 In fimpleft form, the minftrel drefs of yore : 
 They call him EDWIN, who around him throng, 
 EDWIN, immortaliz'd in Beattie's fong ; 
 And, footh to fay, within a comely frame, 
 He bore a heart that anfvver'd to the name ; 
 For this neat habit deck'd a generous youth, 
 
 . Of gentleft manners, and fincereft truth. 
 Tho' on his birth propitious fortune fmil'd, 
 No proud parental folly fpoil'd the child ; 
 And genius, more beneficently kind, 
 
 . Bleft with fuperior wealth his manly mind. 
 Of years he barely counted twenty -one ; 
 But, like a brilliant morn, his opening life begun. 
 Fain would the mufe on this her votary dwell, 
 And fully paint the youth me loves fo well ; 
 
 L 3 His
 
 150 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 His figure's charms, the mufic of his tongue, 
 What nymphs his lays allur'd, what lays he fung : 
 But higher cares her rambling fong controul ; 
 SERENA'S perils fummon all her foul ; 
 For Spleen, ambitious to exert her force, 
 Confcious this trial is her laft refource, 
 Moft keenly bent on her pernicious talk, 
 Has fhifted round the ball from mafk to mafk, 
 Watching the moment, with infernal care, 
 To form with deepeft art her final fnare, 
 And manacle the mind of the unguarded fa 
 
 It comes, the moment that mull fix her lot, 
 By her, ah thoughtlefs maid ! by her forgot ; 
 Tho' the light Hours, e'en in their frolic ring, 
 Trembling perceive the fearful chance they bring, 
 And, (huddering at the nymph's terrific flute, 
 Seem anxious to fufpend her doubtful fate. 
 
 Now focial cafe the place of fport fupplied, -\ 
 The hot oppreflive malk was thrown afide, v 
 
 And beauty Ihone reveal'd in all her blulhing pride. ) 
 
 Superior 
 
 ire, ^ 
 
 id fair. J
 
 OF TEMPER. 151 
 
 Superior ftill in features as in form, 
 
 With admiration flufh'd, with pleafure warm, 
 
 The gay SERENA every eye allur'd ; 
 
 , The hearts her figure won her face fecur'd : 
 A tender fweetnefs ftill the nymph maintain'd, 
 
 And modefty o'er all her graces reign'd. 
 Well might her foul to brilliant hopes incline, 
 A thoufand youths had call'd her charms divine ; 
 A thoufand friends had whifper'd in her ear, 
 That fate had mark'd her for the feftive peer. 
 Her youthful fancy, tho' by pomp amus'd, 
 Wifh'd not thofe offers, which her heart refus'd : 
 That tender heart, by no vain pride pofTeft, 
 With indecifive trembling fhook her breaft, 
 Like a young bird, that, fluttering in the air, 
 Wifhes to build her neft, yet knows not where. 
 
 The bufy earl, his puny love to raife, 
 Hunted the circling whifper of her praife ; 
 Heard envy own her lovely charms, tho' loth, 
 Heard tafte atteft them with a modiih oath ; 
 
 L 4 And,
 
 J52 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 And, nuptial proje&s thickening in his mind, 
 Now his fair partner in the dance rejoin'd. 
 As now the fprightly mufic paus'd, my lord 
 Eager refolv'd to touch a fofter chord ; 
 Secure of all repulfe, he vainly meant 
 Half to difplay, half hide his fond intent, 
 And, in diflembled paflion's flowery tropes, 
 To fport at leifure with the virgin's hopes : 
 For this he fram'd a motley fpeech, replete 
 With amorous compliment and vain conceit. 
 The labour'd nothing with complacent pride 
 He fpoke ; but to his fpeech no nymph replied : 
 For in the moment, the loft fair devotes 
 Her willing ear to more attractive notes. 
 The minftrel happen'd near the nymph to walk, 
 Rapt with a bofom-friend in fecret talk, 
 And, at the inftant when the earl began 
 Half to unfold his matrimonial plan, 
 EDWIN, in whifpers, from the crowd retir'd, 
 Chanc'd to repeat the fonnet me infpir'd : 
 
 The
 
 tondmi.Fubl.fh'd SeptT Aj8 7 ,\>y T. C adelU Strand.
 
 OF TEMPER. 153 
 
 The founds, tho' faint, her recollection caught, 
 Drew her quick eye, and fixt her wondering thought. 
 Loft in this fweet furprife, {he could not hear 
 A fmgle accent of the amorous peer. 
 Spleen faw the moment that (he fought to gain, 
 And perch'd triumphant on the noble's brain. 
 With jealous envy flung, and baffled pride, 
 <l Contemptuous girl!'* withfudden rage, he cried, 
 " If here to happier youths thy views incline, 
 I want not fairer nymphs who challenge mine. 
 Thy breaft in vain with penitence may burn ; 
 But, once negledled, I no more return." 
 Thus loudly fpeaking, with diftemper'd heat, 
 Rudely he turn'd, with rancorous fcorn replete. 
 SERENA, ftartled at th' injurious found, 
 Survey'd th' infulting peer, who fternly frown'd ; 
 Shame and refentment thro' her bofom rum, 
 Swell every vein, and raife the burning blulh. 
 Love, new-born love, but in its birth conceal'd, 
 Nor to the nymph herfelf as yet reveal'd, 
 
 And
 
 J54 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 And juft difdain, and anger's honeft flame, 
 With complicated power convulfe her frame : 
 Contending paffions every thought confound, 
 And in tumultuous doubt her foul is drown'd. 
 Now treacherous pride, who tempts her tongue to trip, 
 Forms to a keen reply her quivering lip : 
 
 , Infidious Spleen now hovers o'er the fair, 
 Deems her half lock'd within her hateful fnare ; 
 In her new flave preparing to rejoice, 
 To taint her fpirit, and untune her voice. 
 Haplefs SERENA ! what can fave thee now ? 
 The fiend's dark fignet ftamps thy clouded brow, 
 In thy fwoln eye I fee the ftarting drop ; 
 This fatal mower, aetherial guardian ! flop : 
 Hafte to thy votary, hafte, her foul fuftain, 
 
 . Nor let the trials me has paft be vain. 
 Ah me ! while yet I fpeak, with fhuddering dread 
 I hear the magic girdle's burfting thread. 
 This horrid omen, ye kind powers ! avert : 
 Nor thou, bright zone 1 thy brighter charge defert. 
 
 Ah,
 
 OF TEMPER. 155 
 
 Ah, fruitlefs prayer ! her panting breaft behold ! 
 See ! the gauze (hakes in many a ruffled fold ! 
 Forc'd from their ftation by her heaving heart, 
 From the ftrain'd girdle thrice three fpangles flart : 
 Thro' her diforder'd drefs a pafs they've found, 
 And fallen, fee, they glitter on the ground ! 
 O blefled chance ! with life -recalling light 
 The glittering monitors attract her fight ! 
 Like ftars emerging from the darken'd pole, 
 They fparkle fafety to her harrafs'd foul. 
 See ! from her brow the clouds of trouble fly, 
 Vexation's tear is vaniih'd from her eye ! 
 
 * Her rofy cheeks with joy's foft radiance burn, 
 Like nature fmiling at the fun's return ; 
 
 The nymph, no more with mental darknefs blind, 
 Shines the fweet ruler of her refcu'd mind. 
 Hence, hateful Spleen ! thy fancied prize refign, 
 Renounce for ever what lhall ne'er be thine ; 
 For, confcious of her airy guardian's aid, 
 
 She feels new fpirit thro' her heart convey'd, 
 
 And,
 
 156 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 And, inly blefling this victorious hour, 
 Her foul exults in its recover'd power. 
 In fuch mild terms (he hails th' infulting peer. 
 As Spleen, if mortal, muft expire to hear ; 
 But, driven for ever from the lovely girl, 
 The foul fiend riots in the captive earl. 
 He anfwers not ; but, with a fullen air, 
 On happier EDWIN, who approach'd the fair, 
 .Darts fuch a glance of rage and envious hate, 
 As Satan caft on Eden's blifsful Hate, 
 When on our parents firft he fixt his fight, 
 And undelighted gaz'd on all delight : 
 So doom'd to look, and doom'd fuch*pangs to feel, 
 Scornful he turn'd on his elaftic heel. 
 
 " O lovely mildnefs ! oh angelic maid ! 
 Deferving homage, tho' to fcorn betray'd ; 
 Rife ftill, fweet fpirit, rife thefe wrongs above, 
 Turn from injurious pride to faithful love ; 
 
 Tho'
 
 ay fhine, ~\ 
 
 r's fhrine> > 
 
 : worfhips thine." j 
 
 OF TEMPER. 157 
 
 Tho* on my brow no coronet may mine, 
 Wealth I can offer at thy beauty' 
 
 And, worthier thee, a heart that worfhips thir 
 Thus, with new-kindled love's afpiring flame, 
 Spoke the fond youth conceal'd by ED wi N'S name, 
 The gallant FALKLAND, rich in inborn worth, 
 By fortune bleft, and not of abjecl birth. 
 Warmly he fpoke, with that indignant heat 
 With which the generous heart ne'er fails to beat, 
 
 . When worth infulted wakens virtuous ire, 
 And injur'd beauty fets the foul on fire. 
 Quick to his voice the ftartled virgin turn'd, 
 With wonder, hope, and joy, her bofom burn'd J 
 With fweet confufion, flurried and amaz'd, 
 On his attractive form fhe wildly gaz'd. 
 Full on her thought the friendly vifions rufh'd ; 
 
 , Blufhing fhe view'd him, view'd him ftill and 
 
 blufh'd; 
 
 And, foft affeftion quickening at the fight, 
 Perchance had fwoon'd with fullnefs of delight, 
 
 But
 
 158 THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 But that her father's voice, with quick controul, 
 
 RecalTd the functions of her fainting foul. 
 
 When on the diftant feat, where, fondly fixt, 
 
 He view'd the nymph as in the dance fhe mixt, 
 
 He indiftin&ly heard, with wounded ear, 
 
 The fpleenful outrage of the angry peer, 
 
 Swift at th* imperfect found, with choler wild, 
 
 He fprung to fuccour his infulted child ; 
 
 Bat ere his fury into language broke, 
 
 Love calm'd the ftorm that arrogance awoke. 
 
 The fudden burft of FALKLAND'S tender flame, 
 
 His winning manners, his diftinguifh'd name, 
 
 His liberal foul, by fortune's fmile careft, 
 
 All join'd to harmonize the father's breaft. 
 
 His fiery thoughts fubfide in glad furprife, 
 
 And to the generous youth he warmly cries : 
 
 Ingenuous FALKLAND ! by thy franknefs won, 
 
 My willing heart would own thee as my fon ; 
 
 But on thy hopes SERENA muft decide : 
 
 Hafte we together from this houfe of pride." 
 
 So
 
 OF TEMPER. 159 
 
 So fpoke the fire ; for, to her votary kind, 
 SOPHROSYNE infpir'd his foften'd mind. 
 Speaking, he fmil'd, to fee that on his word 
 The lover hung, and bleft the founds he heard ; 
 That his embarrafs'd child his fentence caught 
 , With each tumultuous fign of tender thought ; 
 Whofe blufhes, fpringing from the heart, declare 
 The dawn of fondnefs in the modeft fair. 
 Th' enchanted youth with ecftafy convey'd 
 Forth from the troubled feaft the trembling maid. 
 
 As the keen failor, whom his daring foul 
 Has drawn, too vent'rous, near the freezing pole ; 
 Who, having flighted caution's tame advice, 
 Seems wedg'd within impervious worlds of ice ; 
 If, from each chilling form of peril free, 
 At length he reach the unincumber'd fea, 
 With joy fuperior to his transient pain, 
 Rufties, exulting, o'er th' expanfive main : 
 Such ftrong delight SERENA'S bofom fhar'd, 
 When fweet reflection to her heart declar'd, 
 
 That
 
 I6O THE TRIUMPHS 
 
 That all the trials of her fate were paft, 
 , And love's decifive plaudit feal'd the laft. 
 Hen airy guard prepares the fofteft down, 
 From peace's wing, to line the nuptial crown : 
 Her fmiles accelerate the bridal morn, 
 And clear her votary's path from every thorn. 
 On the quick match the prude's keen cenfures fall, 
 Blind to the heavenly power who guided all : 
 But mild SERENA fcorn'd the prudifh play, 
 To wound warm love with frivolous delay ; 
 Nature's chafte child, not affectation's (lave, 
 The heart fhe meant to give, (he frankly gave. 
 Thro' her glad fire no gouty humours run, 
 Jocund he glories in his deftin'd fon. 
 PENELOPE herfelf, no longer feen 
 In the four femblance of tormenting Spleen, 
 Buys for her niece the robes of nuptial ftate, 
 Nor fcolds the mercer once thro' all the long debate. 
 For quick difpatch, the honeft man of law 
 Toils half the night the legal ties to draw ; 
 
 At
 
 OF TEMPER. l6l 
 
 At length th* enraptur'd youth, all forms compleat* 
 Bears his fweet bride to his paternal feat ; 
 On a fair lawn the chearful manlion flood, 
 And high behind it rofe a circling wood. 
 As the bleft lord of this extenfive reign 
 Led his dear partner thro' her new domain, 
 With fond furprife, SERENA foon defcried 
 A temple rais'd to her aetherial guide. 
 Its ornaments me view'd with tender awe, 
 Their fafhion fuch as fhe in vifion faw ; 
 For the kind youth, her grateful fmile to gain, 
 Had, from her clear defcription, deck'd the fane. 
 Joyful he cried, to his angelic wife, 
 fc Be this kind power the worfhip of our life !'" 
 He fpoke j and led her to the inmoft fhrine ; 
 Here, link'd in rofy bands, two votaries mine ; 
 The pencil had imparted life to each, 
 With energy that feem'd beyond its reach. 
 Firft flood Connubial Love, a manly youth, 
 Whofe bright eye fpoke the ardent vows of truth ; 
 M Friendfhip,
 
 l62 THE TRIUMPHS OF TEMPER. 
 
 Friendfhip, fweet fmiling, fill'd the fecond place, 
 In all the fofter charms of virgin grace. 
 Their meeting arms a myftic tablet raife, 
 Deck'd with thefe lines, the moral of my lays : 
 ** VIRTUE'S an ingot of Peruvian gold, 
 SENSE the bright ore Potofi's mines unfold; 
 But TEMPER'S image muft their ufe create, 
 And give thefe precious metals flerling weight." 
 
 N I S.
 
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