Till over-wrought, the general system feels Nor this the worst. As nature's ties decay, As duty, love, and honour fail to sway, Fictitious bonds, the bonds of wealth and law, Still gather strength, and force unwilling awe. Hence all obedience bows to thee alone, And talent sinks, and merit weeps unknown: And scholars, soldiers, kings, unhonour'd die. Yet think not, thus when Freedom's ills I state, I mean to flatter kings, or court the great; Ye powers of truth, that bid my soul aspire, Far from my bosom drive the low desire; And thou, fair Freedom, taught alike to feel The rabble's rage, and tyrant's angry steel; Thou transitory flower, alike undone By proud contempt, or favour's fostering sun, Still may thy blooms the changeful clime endure, I only would repress them to secure ; For just experience tells, in every soil, That those that think must govern those that toil; R O then how blind to all that truth requires, Who think it freedom when a part aspires! Calm is my soul, nor apt to rise in arms, Except when fast approaching danger warms; But when contending chiefs blockade the throne, Contracting regal power to stretch their own, When I beheld a factious band agree To call it freedom when themselves are free; Tear off reserve, and bear my swelling heart; Yes, brother, curse with me that baleful hour, Gave wealth to sway the mind with double force. Forc'd from their homes, a melancholy train, Even now, perhaps, as there some pilgrim strays Through tangled forests, and through dangerous ways; Where beasts with man divided empire claim, And the brown Indian marks with murd'rous aim; And all around distressful yells arise, The pensive exile, bending with his wo, Vain, very vain, my weary search to find Our own felicity we make or find : With secret course, will no loud storms annoy, Luke's iron crown, and Damein's bed of steel, THE HERMIT. AT the close of the day when the hamlet is still, While his harp rung symphonious, a hermit began; 2. "Ah! why, all abandon'd to darkness and wo; Mourn, sweetest complainer, man calls thee to mourn: O sooth him whose pleasures like thine pass away; 3. "Now gliding remote, on the verge of the sky, The moon half extinguish'd her crescent displays : But lately I mark'd, when majestic on high She shone, and the planets were lost in the blaze. Roll on, thou fair orb, and with gladness pursue The path that conducts thee to splendour again : But man's faded glory what change shall renew? Ah fool! to exult in a glory so vain! 4. ""Tis night, and the landscape is lovely no more; I mourn; but, ye woodlands, I mourn not for you; For morn is approaching, your charms to restore, Perfum'd with fresh fragrance, and glitt'ring with dew. Nor yet for the ravage of winter I mourn; Kind nature the embryo blossom will save: But when shall spring visit the mouldering urn! O when shall day dawn on the night of the grave! 5. "Twas thus by the glare of false science betray'd, That leads to bewilder, and dazzles to blind; My thoughts wont to roam, from shade onward to shade, Destruction before me, and sorrow behind. O pity, great Father of light, then I cry'd, Thy creature who fain would not wander from thee! Lo, humbled in dust, I relinquish my pride; From doubt and from darkness thou only canst free. 6. "And darkness and doubt are now flying away; |