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Her confcious tail her joy declar'd;

The fair round face, the snowy beard,

The velvet of her paws,

The coat that with the tortoise vies,
Her ears of jet, and emerald eyes,

She saw, and purr'd applaufe.

JII.

Still had she gaz'd; but midst the tide
Two beauteous forms were seen to glide,

The Genii of the stream;

Their scaly armour's Tyrian hue,
Through richest purple, to the view,

Betray'd a golden gleam.

ON THE DEATH OF A FAVOURITE CAT.

IV.

The hapless nymph, with wonder saw:

A whisker first, and then a claw,

With many an ardent wish,

She stretch'd, in vain, to reach the prize.
What female heart can gold defpife?

What cat's averse to fish?

V.

Presumptuous maid! with looks intent
Again she stretch'd, again she bent,
Nor knew the gulf between;
(Malignant Fate fat by, and smil'd)
The flippery verge her feet beguil'd;
She tumbled headlong in.

VI.

Eight times emerging from the flood,
She mew'd to every watery god,

Some speedy aid to send.

No Dolphin came, no Nereid stir'd,
No cruel Tom, nor Sufan heard.

A favourite has no friend.

VII.

From hence, ye beauties, undeceiv'd,

Know, one false step is ne'er retriev'd,

And be with caution bold.

Not all that tempts your wandering eyes
And heedless hearts, is lawful prize;
Nor all, that glisters, gold.

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OD E

ON

A DISTANT PROSPECT

OF

ETON-COLLEGE.

ΑΝΘΡΩΠΟΣ ΙΚΑΝΗ ΠΡΟΦΑΣΙΣ ΕΙΣ ΤΟ ΔΥΣΤΥΧΕΙΝ.

MENANDER.

I.

YE distant spires, ye antique towers,
That crown the wat'ry glade,
Where grateful Science still adores
Her Henry's holy shade : *
And ye, that from the stately brow
Of Windsor's heights th' expanse below
Of grove, of land, of mead survey,
Whose turf, whose shade, whose flowers among
Wanders the hoary Thames along

His silver-winding way.

II.

Ah happy hills! ah pleasing shade!

Ah fields, belov'd in vain !

Where once my careless childhood stray'd

A stranger yet to pain!

*

King Henry VI. founder of the College.

I feel the gales, that from ye blow,
A momentary bliss bestow,

As waving fresh their gladsome wing,
My weary foul they seem to soothe,
And, redolent of joy and youth, *
To breathe a second spring.

Ш.

Say, father Thames, for thou hast seen
Full many a sprightly race,

Disporting on thy margent green,
The paths of pleasure trace;

Who foremost now delight to cleave,
With pliant arms, thy glassy wave ?
The captive linnet which enthral?
What idle progeny succeed
To chace the rolling circle's speed,
Or urge the flying ball?

IV.

While some, on carnest business bent,
Their murmuring labours ply,

'Gainst graver hours, that bring constraint
To sweeten liberty;

Some bold adventurers disdain

The limits of their little reign,

And unknown regions dare descry;
Still as they run they look behind,
They hear a voice in every wind,
And fnatch a fearful joy.

* And bees their honey redolent of spring.

Dryd. Fab. on the Pyth. Phil. from Ovid.

V.

Gay Hope is theirs, by Fancy fed,
Less pleasing when poffefs'd;
The tear forgot as oon as shed,
The fun-shine of the breast.

Theirs buxom Health of rofy hue,

Wild Wit, Invention ever new,

And lively Chear of Vigour born;
The thoughtless day, the easy night,
The fpirits pure, the slumbers light,

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That fly th' approach of morn.

VI.

Alas! regardless of their doom,
The little victims play!

No sense have they of ills to come,
No care beyond to-day.

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Yet see, how all around them wait
The ministers of human fate,
And black Misfortune's baleful train!
Ah, show them where in ambush stand,
To feize their prey, the murderous band!
Ah, show them they are men!

VII.

These shall the fury passions tear,
The vultures of the mind,
Difdainful Anger, pallid Fear,
And Shame, that skulks behind;
Or pining Love, shall waste their youth;
Or Jealousy, with wrankling tooth,
That inly gnaws the fecret heart;
And Envy wan, and faded Care,

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