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 Maurice 
 The school-boy 
 
 ''k.
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 FREDERIC THOMAS BLANCHARD 
 ENDOWMENT FUND 

 
 THE 
 
 S C H O O LB O Y, 
 
 POEM. 
 
 IN IMITATION OF 
 
 Mr. PHILLIPS'S SPLENDID SHILLING. 
 
 MULTA TULIT, FECIT Q.UE PUER. 
 
 HOR. 
 
 OXFORD; 
 
 Printed for the Author ; and fold by J. and J. Fletcher, in the 
 Turle; and G. Kearsley, in Fleet-Street., London.
 
 T O 
 
 
 CHARLES G * * * * *, Efq; 
 
 THIS 
 
 POEM 
 
 ISINSCRIBED, 
 BY HIS SINCERE FRIEND, 
 
 AND 
 
 OBEDIENT HUMBLE SERVANT, 
 
 o,,0Kn, The AUTHOR. 
 
 Jprii II, 1775. 
 
 865293
 
 THE 
 
 S C H O O LB O Y. 
 
 THRICE happy he, whofe Hours the chearing Smiles 
 Of Freedom blefs ; who wantons uncontrourd 
 Where Eafe invites, or Pleafure's Syren Voice ; 
 Him the ftern Tyrant with his iron Scourge 
 Annoys not, nor the dire oppreffive Weight 
 Of galling Chain ; but when the bluftiing Morn 
 Purples the Eaft, with eager Tranfport wild, 
 O'er Hill, o'er Valley, on his panting Steed 
 He bounds exulting, as in full Career 
 With Horns, and Hounds, and thund'ring Shouts he drives 
 The flying Stag ; or when the dufky Shades 
 Of Eve, advancing veil the darkened Sky, 
 To Neighb'ring Tavern, blithfom, he reforts 
 With boon Companion, where they drown their Cares 
 In fprightly Bumpers, and the manding Bowl. 
 
 B Far
 
 ( ^ ) 
 
 Far otherwife within thefe darkfom Walls, 
 Whofe Gates, with Rows of triple Steel fecur'd, 
 And many a Bolt, prohibit all Egrefs, 
 I fpend my joylefs Days ; E'er Dawn appears, 
 Rous'd from my peaceful Slumbers by the Sound 
 Of Awe-infpiring Bell, whofe every Stroke 
 Chills my Heart-blood, all trembling, I defcend 
 From dreary Garret, round whofe ancient Roof, 
 Gaping with hideous Chinks, the whirling Blaft 
 Perpetual Raves, and fierce defcending Rains 
 Difcharge their Fury — Dire, lethargic Dews 
 Opprefs my drowfy Senfe ; flill Fancy teems 
 With fond, ideal Joys, and, fired with what 
 Or t'oets fing, or fabled Tale records, 
 Prefents tranfporting Vifions; Goblets crown'd 
 With Juice of Ne6tar, or the Food divine 
 Of rich Ambrofia, tempting to the Sight I 
 While in the Shade of fome embow'ring Grov?, 
 I lie reclined, or through Elyfian Plains 
 Enraptur'd flray ; where every Plant and Hower 
 Send forth an odorous Smell, and all the Air 
 With Songs of Love and Melody refounds. 
 
 -Meanwhile
 
 ( 3 ) 
 
 Meanwhile benumbing Cold invades my Joints, 
 As with flow fault'ring Footfteps 1 refort 
 To where, of antique Mold, a lofty Dome 
 Rears its tremendous Front ; here all at once 
 From thoufand different Tongues a mighty Hum 
 Affaults my Ears ; loud as the diftant Roar 
 Of tumbling Torrents ; or as in fome Mart 
 Of public Note, for Traffic far renown'd. 
 Where Jew with Grecian, Turk with African, 
 Affembled, in one general Peal unite 
 Of dreadful Jargon. — Strait on wooden Bench 
 I take my Seat, and conn with ftudious Care 
 Th' appointed Tafks ; o'er many a puzzling Page 
 Poring intent, and fage Athenian Bard, 
 With Dialed, and Mood, and Tenfe perplex'd ; 
 And Conjugations varied without End. 
 
 When lo ! with haughty Stride (in Size like him 
 Who erft extended on the burning Lake, 
 Lay floating many a Rood ;) his fullen Brow, 
 With low'ring Frowns and fearful Glooms o'ercafl". 
 Enters the Paedagogue j terrific Sight ! 
 
 B 2 An
 
 ( 4 ) 
 
 An ample ninefold Peruke, fpread immenfe, 
 
 Luxuriant waving down his Shoulders plays ; 
 
 His right Hand fiercely grafps an oaken Staff, 
 
 His left a Bunch of limber Twigs fuftains, 
 
 Call'd by the Vulgar Birch, Tartarean Root, 
 
 Whofe rankling Points, in blackeft Poifon dipt, 
 
 Infli6l a mortal Pain ; and, where they light, 
 
 A ghaftly Furrow leave. — Scar'd at the Sight, 
 
 The buftling Multitude, with anxious Hearts, 
 
 Their Stations feek. — A folemn Paufe enfues ; 
 
 As when, of old, the Monarch of the Floods, 
 
 Midft raging Hurricanes, and battling Waves, 
 
 Shaking the dreadful Trident, rear'd aloft 
 
 His awful Brow. — Sudden the furious Winds 
 
 Were hufh'd in Peace, the Billows ceafed their Rage: 
 
 Or when, (if mighty Themes, like thefe, allow 
 
 An humble Metaphor) the fportive Race 
 
 Of nibbling Heroes, bent on wanton Play, 
 
 Beneath the Shelter of fome well-flor'd Barn, 
 
 In many an airy Circle wheel around ; 
 
 Some Eye, perchance, in private Nook conceal'd, 
 
 Beholds G r i m a l k i n j inftant they difperfe, 
 
 In
 
 C s ) 
 
 In headlong Flight, each to his fecret Cell ; 
 If haply he may fcape impending Fate : 
 
 Thus ceas'd the gen'ral Clamour j all remain 
 In filent Terror wrapt, and Thought profound. 
 
 Meanwhile, the Paedagogue throughout the Dome 
 His fiery Eyeballs, like two blazing Stars, 
 Portentous rolls, on fome unthinking Wretch, 
 To fhed their baleful Influence ; whilft his Voice 
 Like Thunder, or the Cannon's fudden Burft, 
 Three Times is heard, and thrice the Roofs refound I 
 A fudden Palenefs gathers in my Face ; 
 Through all my Limbs a ftiff'ning Horror fpreads, 
 Cold as the Dews of Death, nor heed my Eyes 
 Their wonted Fundion, but in flupid Gaze 
 Ken the fell Monfter ; from my trembling Hands 
 The Time-worn Volume drops ; oh dire Prefage 
 Of inftant Woe ! for now the mighty Sound 
 Pregnant with difmal Tidings, once again 
 Strikes my aftonifli'd Ears, transfixed with Awe, 
 And fenfelefs for a Time, I ftand ; but foon, 
 
 By
 
 ( 6 ) 
 
 By friendly Jog, or neighb'ring Whifper rous'd,. 
 Obey the dire Injundlion ; ftrait I loofe 
 Depending Brogues, and mount the lofty Throne 
 Indignant, or the Back oblique afcend 
 Of forrowful Compeer ; nor long delays 
 The Monarch, from his Palace ftalking down, 
 With Vifage all inflam'd ; His fable Robe 
 Sweeping in length'ning Folds along the Ground : 
 He fhakes his Sceptre, and th' impending Scourge 
 Brandifhes high ; nor Tears nor Shrieks avail ; 
 But with impetuous Fury it defcends. 
 Imprinting horrid Wounds, with fatal Flow 
 Of Blood attended, and convulfive Pangs. 
 
 Curfi: be the Wretch, for ever doom'd to bear 
 Infernal Whippings ; he, whofe favage Hands 
 Eirfl grafp'd thefe barbarous Weapons, bitter Caufe 
 Of foul Difgrace, and many a dolorous Groan, 
 To haplefs School-Boy. — Could it not fuffice 
 I groan'd and toil'd beneath the mercilefs Weight, 
 By Stern relentlefs Tyranny impos'd. 
 But Scourges too, and Cudgels were referv'd 
 
 To
 
 ( 7 ) 
 
 To goad my harrovv'd Sides : This wretched Life 
 
 Loading with heavier Ills ; a Life expos'd 
 
 To all the Woes of Hunger, Toil, Diftrefs ; 
 
 Cut off from every genial Source of Blifs ; 
 
 From every bland Amufement, wont to foothe 
 
 The youthful Breaft ; except when Father Time, 
 
 Jn joyful Change, rolls round the feftive Hour, 
 
 That gives this meagre, pining Figure back 
 
 To Parent Fondnefs, and its native Roofs. 
 
 Fired with the Thought, then, then my tow'ring Soul 
 
 Rifes fuperior to its Load, and fpurns 
 
 Its proud Oppreflbrsj frantic with Delight, 
 
 My Fancy riots in fucceffive. Scenes 
 
 Of Blifs and Pleafures : Plans and Schemes are laid 
 
 How beft the fleeting Moments to improve, 
 
 Nor lofe one Portion of fb rare a Boon. 
 
 But foon, too fbon, thefe glorious Scenes are fled, 
 Scarce one fliort Moon enjoy 'd, oh! tranflent State 
 ;.Of fublunary Blifs) by bitter Change, 
 And other Scenes fucceeded, what fierce Pangs 
 Then rack my Soul j what ceafelefs Floods of Grief, 
 
 Rufli
 
 { 8 ) 
 
 Rufh down my Cheeks, while ftrong convulflve Throbs 
 
 Heave all my Frame, and choak the Power of Speech. 
 
 Forlorn I figh, nor heed the gentle Voice 
 
 Of Friend or Stranger, who, with foothing Words, 
 
 And flender Gift, would fain beguile my Woes : 
 
 In vain ; for what can ought avail to foothe 
 
 Such raging Anguifh ; oft with fudden Glance 
 
 Before my Eyes in all its Horrors glares 
 
 That well-known Form, and oft I feem to hear 
 
 The thund'ring Scourge — Ah me I e'en now 1 feel 
 
 Its deadly Venom, raging as the Pangs 
 
 That tore Alcides, when the burning Veft 
 
 Prey'd on his wafted Sides. — At Length return d 
 
 Within thefe hated Walls, again I mourn 
 
 A fullen Prifoner, till the wifh'd Approach 
 
 Of joyous Holyday or feftive Play 
 
 Releafes me : Ah ! Freedom that muft end 
 
 With thee, declining Sol ; all hail ye Sires 
 
 For Sandity renown'd, whofe glorious Names 
 
 In large confpicuous Charaders pourtray'd, 
 
 Adorn the annual Chronologic Page, 
 
 Of Wing or Partridge ; oft when fore oppreft 
 
 With
 
 ( 9 ) 
 
 With dire Calamities, the glad Return 
 Of your triumphant Feftivals, hath cheer'd 
 My drooping Soul ; nor be thy Name forgot, 
 Illuftrious George, for much to thee I owe 
 Of Heart-felt Rapture, as with loyal Zeal 
 Glowing, I pile the crackling Bonfire high, 
 Or hurl the mounting Rocket thro' the Air, 
 Or fiery whizzing Serpent ; thus thy Name 
 Shall ftill be honour'd, as thro' future Years, 
 The circling Seafons roll their feftive Round. 
 
 Sometimes^ by dire,compulfive Hunger prefs'd, 
 ;I fpring the neighb'ring Fence, and fcale the Trunk 
 Of Apple-tree, or wide, o'er flow'ry Lawns, 
 By Hedge or Thicket, bend my hafty Steps, 
 Intent, with fecret Ambufii, to furprize 
 The Straw-built Neft, and unfufpeding Brood 
 Of Thrufh or Bull-finch ; oft with watchful Keji 
 Eyeing the backward Lawns, left hoftile Glance 
 Obferve my Footfteps, while each ruftling Leaf, 
 Stirr'd by the gentle Gale, alarms my Fears i 
 
 C Then,
 
 ( to ) 
 
 Then, parch'd beneath the burning Heats of Noon, 
 I plunge into the limpid Stream, that laves 
 The iilent Vale, or on its grafly Banks, 
 Beneath fome Oak's majeftic Shade, recline ; 
 Envying the vagrant Fifhes, as they pafs 
 Their Boon of Freedom ; till the diftant Sound, 
 Of tolling Curfew, warns me to depart. 
 
 Thus under tyrant Power I groan, opprefs'd 
 With worfe than Slav'ry ; yet my freeborn Soul 
 Her native Warmth forgets not, nor will brook 
 Menace, or Taunt from proud infulting Peer ; 
 But fummons to the Field the doughty Foe 
 In fingle Combat, midft th' impartial Throng, 
 There to decide our Fate ; oft too enflam'd 
 With mutual Rage, two rival Armies meet 
 Of youthful Warriors ; kindling at the Sight, 
 My Soul is filled with vaft heroic Thoughts, 
 Trufting, in martial Glory, to furpafs 
 Roman or Grecian Chief; inftant, with Shouts 
 The mingling Squadrons join the horrid Fray ; 
 
 No
 
 ( ri ) 
 
 No Need of Cannon, or the murd'roiis Steel, 
 Wide-wafting ; Nature, Rage our Arms fupplies. 
 Fragments of Rock are hurl'd, and Showers of Stones 
 Obfcure the Day ; nor lefs the brawny Arm, 
 Or knotted Club avail ; high in the midfl; 
 Are feen the mighty Chiefs, thro' Hofts of Foes 
 Mowing their Way ; and now, with tenfold Rage, 
 The Combat burns, full many a fanguine Stream 
 Diftains the Field, and many a Veteran brave 
 Lies proftrate ; loud triumphant Shouts afcend 
 By Turns from cither Hoft j each claims the Palm 
 Of glorious Conqueft ; nor till Night's dun Shades 
 Involve the Sky, the doubtful Conflidl ends. 
 
 Thus when Rebellion fliook the Thrones of Heav'n, 
 And all th' eternal Powers in Battle met, 
 High o'er the reft, with vaft gigantic Strides, 
 The Godlike Leaders, on th'embattled Plain, 
 Came tow'ring, breathing forth Revenge and Fate j 
 Nor lefs terrific join'd the inferior Hofts 
 Of Angel Warriors, when encount'ring Hills, 
 
 Tore
 
 ( t^ ) 
 
 Tore the rent Concave, — flafliing with the Blaze 
 Of fiery Arms, and Lightings, not of Jove ; 
 All Heav'n refounded, and the aftonifh'd Deeps 
 Of Chaos bellow'd with the monftrous Roar. 
 
 THE END.
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 
 Los Angeles 
 
 This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. 
 
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