Wild sparkling rage inflames the Father's eyes, He bursts the bands of fear, and madly cries, Detested wretch! but scarce his speech began When the strange partner seem'd no longer man ; His youthful face grew more serenely sweet, His robe turn'd white, and flow'd about his feet: Fair rounds of radiant points invest his hair; Celestial odours breathe through purpled air; And wings, whose colours glitter'd like the day, Wide at his back the dazzling plumes display The form ethereal bursts upon his sight, And moves in all the majesty of light. Tho' loud at first the pilgrim's passion grew; In sweet memorial rise before the throne ; Nay, cease to kneel-thy fellow servant, I. And bids the doubting sons of men be still. What strange events can strike with more surprise Than those which lately struck thy wond'ring eyes ? Yet taught by these, confess th' Almighty just, And, where you can't unriddle, learn to trust! "The great vain man, who fared on costly food, Whose life was too luxurious to be good; *Second means-God often appoints wicked and abandoned wretches to be his instruments of justice upon others, for some ends tending to public good, though unperceived by human eyes. Who made his iv'ry stands with goblets shine, And forc'd his guests to morning draughts of wine, Has with the cup, the graceless custom lost, And still he welcomes, but with less of cost. "The mean suspicious wretch, whose bolted door Ne'er mov'd in pity to the wand'ring poor : 66 Long had our pious friend in virtue trod, But now the child half wean'd his soul from God; Child of his age,* for him he liv'd in pain, And measured back his steps to earth again. To what excesses had his dotage run! But God, to save the father, took the son, To all but thee, in fits he seem'd to go, And 'twas my ministry to deal the blow. * Child of his age.-A child born to him when in years, on which he doated too fondly. The poor fond parent, humbled in the dust, "But how had all his fortune felt a wrack, What funds of charity would then have fail'd! Depart in peace, resign, and sin no more." The bending Hermit here a prayer begun, 4 H |