So shalt thou be what many falsely seem,

The beauteous image of angelic worth: Secure to charm in rivetted esteem,

Till heav'n shall tear thee from admiring earth.

Such is my wish: and when maturer age
Shall gently loose the fetters of thy tongue,
May that same mother turn this humble page,
And bid thee read the pleasing truth I sung!

TO A FRIEND,

WHO EXPRESSED HIS SURPRISE AT SEEING

ME MUCH FROM HOME.

The proper study of mankind is man.-POPE.

I.

YOU ask me how I've time to write,
Or put my thoughts on paper?
Since you behold me, day and night,
Absorb'd in London vapour.

II.

Of rural scenes all poets sing,

From plough-boy to a banker;

And after the Pierian spring

E'en kings, like school boys, hanker.

III.

Not so with me; in ev'ry street,

And ev'ry fellow creature,

In whatsoever place we meet,

I study human nature.

IV.

If with the great-and those I see

As seldom as I'm able-

I look, sweet Gratitude! for thee,

And find an empty fable.

If

Whose worth is buried in the crowd,

Like hidden pearls, or gold;

VII.

In vain they think, as sages thought,
In freedom's godlike hour,
When tyranny, to trial brought,

Was crush'd for ill-us'd pow'r.

VIII.

Though some are said to come from God,
They're seldom what they seem ;
Oppression lifts his iron rod,
And liberty's a dream.

LINES MADE DURING THE PROCESSION TO ST. PAUL'S,

FOR THE INTERMENT OF LORD

NELSON'S REMAINS.

WHAT are funereal honours and decrees?

Yon Stoick cries, whom nothing great can please.
Alas! how little does he comprehend

A bright example, or a glorious end.

The dead-though callous in themselves-supply
The noblest lessons how to live and die.
In ev'ry age their merits issue forth,

To rouse the living into deeds of worth.
Though few, like NELSON, can that summit reach,
Whence godlike beings wond'ring mortals teach
To rise superiour to the world they tread;
By NELSON'S glory all alike are led.
Like him, each seaman pants for honest fame,
To guard his country, and to raise her name;
In ev'ry breeze he hears some Genius call:
"Come! fight like NELSON, and like NELSON fall!
"In Vict'ry's arms resign your honour'd breath,
"And shew the living how to conquer Death.

"In frame though mortal, of immortal mind,

"Like him transmit a record to mankind.
"Children unborn shall lisp each wond'rous deed,
"And thirst to imitate the things they read."

THE