Ambition wou'd be froze, and Faction numb, Say, what new worlds and systems you survey! Where cold in everlasting triumph reigns; Or what their frames, who unconfum'd can dwell And thou, fweet Moon! canft tell a fofter tale; When parted from her lov'd and loving fwain, And fighs and looks, and looks and fighs again; Say, for thou know'st what constant hearts endure; And by thy frequent changes teach the cure. Thy gentle beams the lonely hermit fees, Which, high-embow'ring, fhade his gloomy cell, Or the wind whistling o'er the furzy plains. Now lovely Spring her velvet mantle spreads, Refembling much fome antiquated beau, Which north-eaft winds, that blow so long and keen, And fweetly fing and fhake-and fhake with cold. Summer fucceeds; in ev'nings foft and warm, And whirling, bear their lovely ladings down, There There with fuccefs each swain his nymph affails, As birds, they fay, are caught-can we but falt their tails. Then Autumn, more ferene, if not so bright, And of its purple clusters rob the vine; Laft, Winter comes; decrepit, old, and dull; And chearful fire, are his: to him belong Thus Thus roll the feafons o'er Britannia's land, Which o'er Hifpania's or Italia's plains Succeffive heat and cold, and drought and rains ; Her's fcorning, like her fons, to be controul'd, Breathe heat in winter oft, and oft in summer cold. Hail, Liberty, fair Goddess of this ifle! Permit us to enjoy life's tranfient dream, To method, order, meaning, plan, or scheme : And fhield us fafe beneath thy guardian wings, From Law, Religion, Ministers, and Kings. WROTE WROTE AT THE COUNTESS OF SALISBURY's ASSEMBLY, FROM 1787. ROM SALISBURY's Garter dropp'd, th' historian knows, Th' illuftrious Order fo intitled rofe! Another SALISBURY now our bofoms warms, With equal elegance and equal charms. EPITAPH |