Or on some fane his three-fork'd dart bestows, Down falls the spire, the body fearful quakes, Nor sure to fall or stand, with doubtful tremblings shakes. So when the lark, poor bird! afar espi'th (Phineas.) Her yet unfeather'd children-whom to save She strives in vain-slain by the cruel scythe; Which from the meadow its green locks doth shave, That their warm nest is now become their grave: The woful mother up to heaven springs, And all about her plaintive notes she flings, All so a lily press'd with heavy rain, (Giles.) Which fills her cup with showers up to the brinks; The weary stalk no longer can sustain The head, but low beneath the burthen sinks: Or as a virgin rose her leaves displays, Which too hot scorching beams quite disarrays; Down falls her double ruff, and all her sweets decays. See how the sun in day-time clouds his face; (Phineas.) But, sleeping on bright Oeta's top, doth dream Looks from his starry bower; the heavens do moan; groan, So oft the South with civil enmity Musters his watry forces 'gainst the West, The rolling clouds come tumbling up the sky, In dark folds wrapping up their angry guest: At length the flame breaks from the impris'ning cold, With horrid noise tearing the limber mould, While down in liquid tears the broken vapour's roll'd. (Phineas.) So may we oft a tender father see, To please his wanton son, his only joy, And stung himself his busy hands employ (Giles.) As when a youth bound for the Belgic war, They see not now,-and now are seen no more: Like to a ship in which no ballast lies, (Phineas.) Without a pilot on the sleeping waves, Fairly along with wind and water flies, With painted mast which silken sail embraves; That Neptune's self the bragging vessel saves To laugh awhile at her so proud array : Her waving streamers loosely she lets play, That with their colours shine as bright as smiling day. As when the powerful wind and adverse tide (Gües.) Strive which should most command the subject main ; The scornful waves swelling with angry pride Yielding to neither, all their force disdain : (Phineas.) The garden like a lady fair was cut, That lay as if she slumber'd in delight, And to the open skies her eyes did shut : The azure field of heaven, in semblance right Was a large circle set with flowers of light; The flower-de-luce, and the bright drops of dew That hung upon the azure leaves, all shew Like twinkling stars that sparkle in the heav'ns so blue. Upon a lofty bank her head she cast, On which was built the bower of Vain-delight; White and red roses for her face were plac'd, And for her tresses marigolds so bright, Which broadly she display'd t' attract the sight, "Till in the ocean the glad day was drown'd: Then up again her yellow locks she wound, That with green fillets in their pretty cauls were bouud. (Giles.) The flowers that frighted with sharp winter's dread, And spreading his flowr'd purple to the skies, The hedge, green satin prick'd and cut, arrays; Th' imperial flower, his neck with pearl attires; The pansy, her wrought velvet garment bears; The red rose, scarlet, and the provence, damask wears. (Phineas.) So Philomel, perch'd on an aspen sprig Weeps all the night her lost virginity; The cheerful lark, mounting from early bed, (Giles.) With sweet salutes awakes the drowsy light; The earth she leaves, and up to heaven is fled; There chants her maker's praises out of sight. Earth seems a mole-hill, men but ants to be; Teaching vain men, that soar to high degree, The further up they climb, the less they seem and see. (Phineas.) That heavenly voice I more delight to hear, Than gentle airs that breathe; or swelling waves (Giles.) Great power of love! with what commanding fire Nothing is free from thy sweet government: Fish burn in seas; beasts, birds, thy weapons prove; By thee dead elements and heavens move; Which void of sense themselves, yet are not void of love. (Phineas.) Non nostrum inter vos tantas componere lites, Et vitula tu dignus, et hic! We fear our readers may be cloyed with these sweets,. but it is a duty we have undertaken to exhibit the native poets of Kent to advantage, and notwithstanding the restrictions we had thought right formerly to impose on ourselves, repeated perusal of the longer poem of Phineas, forbids us to leave it without further extending our selections. The "Purple Island" is but little visited by poetic ramblers: it has a forbidding aspect, and few will be tempted to seek for flowers among its frowning rocks and rugged promontories. Yet does it abound with the choicest specimens, and if we may venture to anticipate judgment, we predict that by offering to them the following garland, we shall be entitled to the thanks of all true lovers of the muse. |