HAPPY Insect! what can be In happiness compared to thee? Thou dost drink, and dance, and sing, All the fields which thou dost see, Nor does thy luxury destroy; The shepherd gladly heareth thee, Thee country hinds with gladness hear, Thee Phoebus loves, and does inspire; To thee, of all things upon earth, Life is no longer than thy mirth. Happy insect! happy thou Dost neither age nor winter know; But, when thou 'st drunk, and danc 'd, and sung Thy fill, the flowery leaves among, (Voluptuous, and wise withal, Epicurean animal!) Sated with thy summer feast, Thou retir'st to endless rest. HOPE. OPE! of all ills that men endure, HOPE The only cheap and universal cure! Thou captive's freedom, and thou sick man's health! Thou loser's victory, and thou beggar's wealth! Thou manna, which from heaven we eat, To every taste a several meat! K Thou strong retreat! thou sure entail'd estate, Thou pleasant, honest flatterer! for none Hope thou first fruits of happiness! And art a blessing still in hand! Whilst thee her earnest-money we retain, Whether she her bargain break, or else fulfil; Brother of Faith! 'twixt whom and thee In thee, or in possession! Only the future's thine, the present his ! Hope! thou sad lovers' only friend! Fruition more deceitful is Than thou canst be, when thou dost miss ; And that's a pleasant country, without doubt, YE Caledonian beauties, who have long Been both the muse and subject of my song, How my fond breast with blazing ardour glows, With me have lost the title of divine; My muses who, on smooth meand'ring Tweed, Stray through the groves, or grace the clover mead; Or these who bathe themselves where haughty Clyde Does roaring o'er his lofty cat'racts ride; Or you, who on the banks of lofty Tay, Drain from the flowers the early dews of May, I sing the Plaid, and sing with all my skill; Great is the subject, vast th' exalted theme, Antiquity contains a certain spell, To make e'en things of little worth excel; O first of garbs! garment of happy fate! To be with any other dress adorn'd; Before base foreign fashions interwove, Which 'gainst their interest and their bravery strove. 'Twas they could boast their freedom with proud Rome, And arm'd in steel, despise the senate's doom; |