The meadows here, with battening ooze enrich'd,
Give fpirit to the grafs; three cubits high
The jointed herbage fhoots; th' unfallow'd glebe
Yearly o'ercomes the granaries with store
Of golden wheat, the strength of human life.
Lo, on auxiliary poles, the Hops
Afcending fpiral, rang'd in meet array!
Lo, how the arable with barley-grain
Stands thick, o'erfhadow'd, to the thirsty hind
Tranfporting profpect' thefe, as modern ufe
Ordains, infus'd, an auburn drink compofe,
Wholefome, of deathlefs fame. Here, to the fight,
Apples of price, and plenteous fheaves of corn,
Of interlac'd occur, and both imbibe
Fitting congenial juice; fo rich the foil,

So much does fructuous moisture o'er-abound!
Nor are the hills unamiable, whofe tops
To heaven afpire, affording prospect sweet
To human ken; nor at their feet the vales
Defcending gently, where the lowing herd
Chew verdurous pafture; nor the yellow fields
Gaily' enterchang'd, with rich variety
Pleafing; as when an Emerald green, enchas'd
In flamy gold, from the bright mais acquires
A nobler hue, more delicate to fight.
Next add the Sylvan fhades, and filent groves,
(Haunt of the Druids) whence the earth is fed
With copious fuel; whence the sturdy oak,
A prince's refuge once, th' eternal guard
Of England's throne, by fweating peasants fell'd,
Stems the vaft main, and bears tremendous war
To diftant nations, or with fov'ran fway
Awes the divided world to peace and love.
Why should the Chalybes, or Bilboa boast
Their harden'd iron; when our mines produce
As perfect martial ore? can Tmolus' head
Vie with our faffron odors? or the fleece -
Betic, or fineft Tarentine, compare
With Lemfter's filken wool? where fhall we find
Men more undaunted, for their country's weal
More prodigal of life? in ancient days
The Roman legions, and great Cæfar, found
Our fathers no mean foes: and Creffy's plains,
And Agincourt, deep-ting'd with blood, confefs
What the Silures vigour unwithftood
Could do in rigid fight, and chiefly what
Brydges' wide-wafting hand, firft garter'd Knight,
Puiffant author of great Chandos' item,
High Chandos, that tranfmits paternal worth,
Prudence, and ancient prowefs, and renown,
T'his noble offspring. O thrice-happy peer!
That, bleft with hoary vigor, view't thyfelf
Fresh blooming in thy generous fon; whofe lips,
Flowing with nervous eloquence exact,
Charm the wife Senate, and attention win
In deepest councils: Ariconium pleas'd,
Him, as her chofen worthy, firft falutes.
Him on th' Iberian, on the Gallic fhore,
Him hardy Britons blefs; his faithful hand
Conveys new courage from afar, nor more
The General's conduct, than his care avails.

Thee alfo, glorious branch of Cecil's line,
This country claims; with pride and joy to thee
Thy Alterennis calls: yet the indures
Patient thy abfence, fince thy prudent choice

Has fix'd thee in the Mufes' faireft feat *,
Where + Aldrich reigns, and from his endless fore
of univerfal knowledge ftill fupplies
His noble care; he generous thoughts inftils
Of true nobility, their country's love,
(Chief end of life) and forms their ductile minds
To human virtues by his genius led,
Thou foon in every art pre-eminent
Shalt grace this ifle, and rife to Burleigh's fame.

Hail, high-born peer! and thou, great nurfe of arts,
And men, from whence confpicuous patriots fpring.
Hanmer, and Bromley; thou, to whom with due
Refpe&t Wintonia bows, and joyful owns
Thy mitred offspring; be for ever blet
With like examples, and to future times
Proficuous, fuch a race of men produce,
As, in the caufe of virtue firm, may fix
Her throne inviolate. Hear, ye Gods, this vow
From one, the meaneft in her numerous train;
Though meaneft, not leaft ftudious of her prale.
Mufe, raife thy voice to Beaufort's fpotless fame,
To Beaufort, in a long defcent deriv'd
From royal ancestry, of kingly rights
Faithful afferters, in him centering meet
Their glorious virtues, high tefert from pride
Disjoin'd, unthaken honor, and contempt
Of strong allurements. O illuftrious prince!
O thou of ancient faith! exulting, thee,
In her fair lift this happy land inrolls.
Who can refuse a tributary verfe
To Weymouth, firmeft friend of flighted worth
In evil days? whofe hofpitable gate,
Unbarr'd to all, invites a numerous train
Of daily guests; whofe board with plenty crown'd,
Revives the feaft-rites old: meanwhile his care
Forgets not the afflicted, but content
In acts of fecret goodness, fhuns the praife,
That fure attends. Permit me, bounteous lord,
To blazon what though hid will beauteous thine,
And with thy name to dignify my fong.

But who is he, that on the winding ftream Of Vaga first drew vital breath, and now Approv'd in Anna's fecret councils fits, Weighing the fum of things, with wife forecaft Solicitous of public good? how large His mind that comprehends whate'er was known To old, or prefent time; yet not elate, Not confcious of its fkil!? what praife deferves His liberal hand, that gathers but to give, Preventing fuit? O not unthankful Mufe, Him lowly reverence, that firft deign'd to hear Thy pipe, and fkreen'd thee from opprobrious tongue. Acknowledge thy own Harley, and his name Infcribe on every bark; the wounded plants Will fatt increate, fafter thy juft refpect.

Such are our heroes, by their virtues known, Or skill in peace, and war: of fofter mold The female fex, with fweet attractive airs Subdue obdurate hearts. The travellers eft, That view their matchlefs forms with tranfient glance, Catch fudden love, and figh for nymphs unknown,

* Oxford.

Dr. Aldrich, Dean of Christ-Church.

imit with the magic of their eyes: nor hath
The dædal hand of Nature only pour'd
Her gifts of outward grace; their innocence
Unfeign'd, and virtue moft engaging, free
From pride, or artifice, long joys afford
To th' honeft nuptial bed, and in the wane
Of life, rebate the miferies of age.

And is there found a wretch fo base of mind,
That woman's powerful beauty dares contemn,
Exacteft work of Heaven? He ill deferves
Or love, or pity; friendlefs let him fee
Uneafy, tedious days, defpis'd, forlorn,
As ftain of human race: but may the man,
That chearfully recounts the female's praife,
Find equal love, and love's untainted sweets
Enjoy with honor! O, ye Gods! might I
Elect my fate, my happiest choice should be
A fair and modeft virgin, that invites
With afpect chaste, forbidding loose defire,
Tenderly fmiling; in whofe heavenly eye
Sits pureft love enthron'd: but if the stars
Malignant thefe my better hopes oppofe,
May I, at leaft, the facred pleafures know
Of strictest amity; nor ever want

A friend, with whom I mutually may share
Gladness and anguish, by kind intercourse
Of fpeech and offices. May in my mind,
Indelible a grateful fenfe remain

Of favours undeferv'd!-0 thou! from whom
Gladly both rich and low seek aid; most wife
Interpreter of right, whofe gracious voice
Breathes equity, and curbs too rigid law
With mild, impartial reafon; what returns
Of thanks are due to thy beneficence
Freely vouchfaf'd, when to the gates of death
I tended prone? if thy indulgent care
Had not preven'd, among unbody'd shades
I now had wander'd; and thefe empty thoughts
Of apples perish'd; but, uprais'd by thee,
I tune my pipe afresh, each night and day,
Thy unexampled goodness to extol
Defirous; but nor night, nor day, fuffice
For that great tafk; the highly honor'd name
Of Trevor muft employ my willing thoughts
Inceffant, dwell for ever on my tongue.
Let me be grateful; but let far from me
Be fawning cringe, and falfe diffembling look,
And fervile flattery, that harbours oft

Some

In courts and gilded roofs. Some loose the bands
Of ancient friendship, cancel Nature's laws
For pageantry, and tawdry gewgaws.
Renounce their fires, oppofe paternal right
For rule and power; and others realms invade
With fpecious fhews of love. This traiterous wretch
Betrays his fovereign. Others, deftitute
Of real zeal, to every altar bend
By lucre fway'd, and act the bafeft things
To be ftyl'd honorable: the honeft man,
Simple of heart, prefers inglorious want
To ill-got wealth; rather from door to door,
A jocund pilgrim, though diftrefs'd, he'll rove,
Than break his plighted faith; nor fear, nor hope,
Will fhock his ftedfaft foul; rather debarr'd
Each common privilege, cut off from hopes
Of meanest gain, of present goods defpoil',
He'll bear the marks of infamy contemn'd,
Urrity'd; yet his mind, of cvil pure,

Supports him, and intention free from fraud.
If no retinue with obfervant eyes
Attend him, if he can 't with purple ftain
Of cumbrous veftments, labor'd o'er with gold,
Dazzle the crowd, and fet them all agape;
Yet clad in homely weeds, from envy's darts
Remote he lives, nor knows the nightly pangs
Of confcience, nor with spectres' grifly forms,
Dæmons, and injur 'd fouls, at close of day
Annoy'd, fad interrupted flumbers finds.
But (as a child, whofe inexperienc'd age
Nor evil purpofe fears, nor knows) enjoys
Night's sweet refreshment, humid fleep fincere.
When Chanticleer, with clarion thrill, recalls
The tardy day, he to his labours hies
Gladfome, intent on fomewhat that may ease
Unhealthy mortals, and with curious fearch
Examines all the properties of herbs,

Foffils, and minerals, that th' embowel'd earth
Difplays, if by his industry he can

Benefit human race: or elfe his thoughts
Are exercis'd with fpeculations deep

Of good, and just, and meet, and th' wholesome rules
Of temperance, and aught that may improve
The moral life; not fedulous to rail,
Nor with envenom'd tongue to blast the fame
Of harmless men, or fecret whifpers spread
'Mong faithful friends, to breed diftruft and hate.
Studious of virtue, he no life obferves,
Except his own; his own employs his cares,
Large fubject that he labours to refine
Daily, nor of his little tock denies

Fit alms to Lazars, merciful and meek.

Thus facred Virgil liv'd from courtly vice,
And bates of pompous Rome fecure; at court,
Still thoughtful of the rural honest life,
And how t' imp ove his grounds, and how himfelf:
Beft poet! fit exemplar for the tribe

Of Phebus, nor lefs fit Maconides,
Poor eyelefs pilgrim! and, if after thefe,
If after thefe another I may name,
Thus tender Spencer liv'd, with mean repaft
Content, deprefs'd by penury, and pined
In foreign realm; yet nor debis'd his verfe
By fortune's frowns. And had that other bard *,
Oh, had but he, that first ennobled fong
With holy rapture, like his Abdiel been;
'Mong many faithlefs, ftrictly faithful found;
Unpity'd, he should not have wail'd his orbs,
That roll'd in vain to find the piercing ray,
And found no dawn, by dim fuffufion veil'd!
But he however, let the Muse abstain,
Nor blaft his fame, from whom fhe learnt to fing
In much inferior ftrains, groveling beneath
Th' Olympian hill, on plains, and vales intent,
Mean follower. There let her reft a-while,
Pleas'd with the fragrant walks, and cool retreat.

A coftly liquor, by improving time,
Equal'd with what the happieft vintage bears.

But this I warn thee, and fhall always warn,
No heterogeneous mixtures ufe, as fome
With watery turnips have debas'd their wines,
Too frugal; nor let the crude humours dance
In heated brafs, fteaming with fire intense;
Although Devonia much commends the use
Of ftrengthening Vulcan; with their native ftrength
Thy wines fufficient, other aid refuse;

And, when th' allotted orb of time 's compleat,
Are more commended than the labour'd drinks.

Nor let thy avarice tempt thee to withdraw
The Prieft's appointed fhare; with chearful heart
The tenth of thy increase bestow, and own
Heaven's bounteous goodness, that will fure repay
Thy grateful duty: this neglected, fear
Signal avengeance, fuch as overtook
A mifer, that unjustly once withheld
The clergy's due: relying on himself,
His fields he tended, with fuccessful care,
Early and late, when or unwish'd-for rain
Defcended, or unfeasonable frosts

Curb'd his increafing hopes; or, when around
The clouds dropt fatnefs, in the middle sky
The dew fufpended ftaid, and left unmoist
His execrable glebe: recording this,

Be juft, and wife, and tremble to tranfgrefs.
Learn now the promise of the coming year,
To know, that by no flattering figns abus'd,
Thou wifely may'st provide: the various moon
Prophetic, and attendant ftars, explain
Each rifing dawn; ere icy crufts furmount
The current ftream, the heavenly orbs ferene
Twinkle with trembling rays, and Cynthia glows
With light unfully'd now the fowler, warn'd
By thefe good omens, with swift early steps

Indulgent to all moons fome fucculent plant
Allotted, that poor helpless man might flack
His prefent thirst, and matter find for toil.
Now will the Corinths, now the Rafps, fupply
Delicious draughts; the Quinces now, or Plumbs,
Or Cherries, or the fair Thibeian fruit
Are preft to wines; the Britons fqueeze the works
Of fedulous bees, and mixing odorous herbs
Prepare balfamic cups, to wheezing lungs
Medicinal, and short-breath'd, ancient fires.

But, if thou 'rt indefatigably bent

To toil, and omnifarious drinks would'ft brew;
Befides the orchat, every hedge and bush
Affords affiftance; ev'n afflictive Birch,
Curs'd by unletter'd, idle youth, diftils
A limpid current from her wounded bark,
Profufe of nurfing fap. When folar beams
Parch thirsty human veins, the damask'd meads,
Unforc'd, difplay ten thousand painted flowers
Ufeful in potables. Thy little fons
Permit to range the paftures; gladly they
Will mow the Cowflip-pofies, faintly sweet,
From whence thou artificial wines fhalt drain
Of icy tafte, that, in mid fervors, best
Slack craving thirst, and mitigate the day.

Happy lerne, whose most wholesome air
Poifons envenom'd fpiders, and forbids
The baleful toad, and viper, from her shore !
More happy in her balmy draughts, enrich'd
With miscellaneous fpices, and the root
(For thirst-abating sweetness prais'd), which wide
Extend her fame, and to each drooping heart
Prefent redrefs, and lively health convey.

See, how the Belgæ, fedulous and stout, With bowls of fattening Mum, or blifsful cups Of kernel-relish'd fluids, the fair star Of early Phosphorus falute, at noon

glades

Offenfive to the birds; fulphureous death

Checks their mid flight, and heedlefs while they ftrain Their tuneful throats, the towering, heavy lead, O'ertakes their speed; they leave their little lives Above the clouds, precipitant to earth.

The woodcock's early vifit, and abode
Of long continuance in our temperate clime,
Foretel a liberal harveft; he of times
Intelligent, the harth Hyperborean ice
Shuns for our equal winters; when our funs
Cleave the chill'd foil, he backward wings his way
To Scandinavian frozen fummers, meet
For his numb'd blood. But nothing profits more
Than frequent fnows: O, may'st thou often see
Thy furrows when'd by the woolly rain
Nutricious fecret nitre lurks within
The porous wet, quickening the languid glebe.
Sometimes thou shalt with fervent vows implore
A moderate wind; the orchat loves to wave
With winter winds, before the gems exert
Their feeble heads; the loofened roots then drink
Large increment, earnest of happy years.

Nor will it nothing profit to obferve
The monthly stars, their powerful influence
O'er planted fields, what vegetables reign
Under each fign. On our account has Jove

Inftructed, thus to quell their native phlegm
Prevailing, and engender wayward mirth.

What need to treat of diftant climes, remov'd
Far from the floping journey of the year,
Beyond Petfora, and Inlandic coafts?
Where ever-during fnows, perpetual shades
Of darkness, would congeal their livid blood,
Did not the Arctic tract fpontaneous yield
A chearing purple berry, big with wine,
Intenfely fervent, which each hour they crave,
Spread round a flaming pile of pines, and oft
They interlard their native drinks with choice
Of strongest Brandy, yet fcarce with these aids
Fnabled to prevent the fudden rot

Of freezing nose, and quick-decaying feet.

Nor lefs the fable borderers of Nile, Nor they who Taprobane manure, nor they, Whom funny Borneo bears, are ftor'd with streams Egregious, Rum, and Rice's fpirit extract. For here, expos'd to perpendicular rays, In vain they covet fhades, and Thrascia's gales, Pining with Equinoctial heat, unless The cordial glafs perpetual motion keep, Quick circuiting; nor dare they close their eyes, Void of a bulky charger near their lips,

*Ireland.

With

With which, in often interrupted fleep,
Their frying blood compels to irrigate
Their dry-furr'd tongues, elfe minutely to death
Obnoxious, difmal death, th' effect of drought!

More happy they, born in Columbus' world,
Carybbes, and they, whom the Cotton plant
With downy-fprouting vefts arrays! their woods
Bow with prodigious nuts, that give at once
Celeftial food, and nectar; then, at hand
The Lemon, uncorrupt with voyage long,
To vinous fpirits added (heavenly drink!)
They with pneumatic engine ceafelefs draw,
Intent on laughter; a continual tide
Flows from th' exhilarating fount. As, when
Against a fecret cliff, with fudden shock
A fhip is dafh'd, and leaking drinks the fea,
Th' atonith'd mariners ay ply the pump,
Nor ftay, nor reft, till the wide breach is clos'd:
So they (but chearful) unfatigued, ftill move
The draining fucker, then alone concern'd
When the dry bowl forbids their pleasing work.

But if to hoarding thou art bent, thy hones
Are fruftrate, fhould't thou think thy pipes will flow
With early limpid wine. The hoarded ftore,
And the harth draught, muft twice endure the fun's
Kind ftrengthening heat, twice winter's purging cold.
There are, that a compounded fluid drain

From different mixtures, Woodcock, Pippin, Moyle,
Rough Eliot, fweet Permain: the blended ftreams
(Each mutually correcting each) create

A pleasurable medley, of what tafte
Hardly diftinguith'd; as the fhowery arch,
With lifted colours gay, Ore, Azure, Gules,
Delights and puzzles the beholder's eye,

That views the watery brede, with thoufand fhews
Of painture vary'd, yet 's unfkill'd to tell
Or where one colour rifes, or one faints.

Some Cyders have by art, or age, unlearn'd
Their genuine relish, and of fundry vines
Affum'd the flavour; one fort counterfeits
The Spanish product; this, to Gauls has feem'd
The fparkling Nectar of Champaigne; with that,
A German oft has fwill'd his throat, and fworn,
Deluded, that imperial Rhine bestow'd

The generous rummer, whilst the owner, pleas'd,
Laughs inly at his guests, thus entertain'd
With foreign vintage from his cyder cafk.

Soon as thy liquor from the narrow cells
Of clofe preft hufks is freed, thou must refrain
Thy thirty foul; let none perfuade to broach
Thy thick, unwhole fome, undigested cades:
The hoary frofts, and northern blafts, take care
Thy muddy beverage to ferene, and drive
Precipitant the bafer, ropy lees.

And now thy wine's tranfpicuous, purg'd from all
Its earthy grofs, yet let it feed a while
On the fat refufe, left too foon disjoin'd
From fprightly, it to fharp or vapid change.
When to convenient vigor it attains,
Suffice it to provide a brazen tube
Inflext; felf-taught, and voluntary, flies
The defecated liquor, through the vent
Afcending, then by downward tract convey'd,
Spouts into fubject veffels, lovely clear.

As when a noon-tide fun, with fummer beams,

Darts through a cloud, her watery skirts are edg With lucid amber, or undroffy gold:

So, and fo richly, the purg'd liquid fhines.

Now alfo, when the colds abate, nor yet Full fummer fhines, a dubious feafon, clofe In glafs thy purer ftreams, and let them gain, From due confinement, fpirit, and flavour new.

For this intent, the fubtle chemift feeds
Perpetual flames, whofe unrefifted force
O'er fand, and ashes, and the ftubborn flint
Prevailing, turns into a fufil fea,

That in his furnace bubbles funny-red:
From hence a glowing drop with hollow'd steel
He takes, and by one efficacious breath
Dilates to a furprising cube, or fphere,
Or oval, and fit receptacles forms
For every liquid, with his plaftic lungs,
To human life fubfervient; by his means
Cyders in metal frail improve: the Moyle,
And tafteful Pippin, in a moon's thort year,
Acquire complete perfection: Now they smoke
Tranfparent, fparkling in each drop, delight
Of curious palate, by fair virgins crav'd.
But harfher fluids different lengths of time
Expect: Thy flak will flowly mitigate
The Eliot's roughness. Stirom, firmest fruit,
Embottled (long as Priameian Troy
Withstood the Greeks) endures, ere justly mild.
Soften'd by age, it youthful vigor gains,
Fallacious drink! ye honeft men, beware,
Nor trust its smoothness; the third circling glafe
Suffices virtue: But may hypocrites,
(That flyly speak one thing, another think,
Hateful as hell) pleas'd with the relish weak,
Drink on unwarn'd, till, by inchanting cups
Infatuate, they their wily thoughts difclofe,
And through intemperance grow awhile fincere,

The farmer's toil is done; his cades mature
Now call for vent; his lands exhauft permit
T' indulge awhile. Now folemn rites he pays
To Bacchus, author of heart-cheering mirth.
His honeft friends, at thirsty hour of dusk,
Come uninvited; he with bounteous hand
Imparts his fmoking vintage, fweet reward
Of his own induftry; the well-fraught bowl
Circles inceffant, whilft the humble cell
With quavering laugh and rural jefts refounds.
Eafe, and content, and undiffembled love,
Shine in each face; the thoughts of labour past
Encreafe their joy. As, from retentive cage
When fullen Philomel efcapes, her notes
She varies, and of paft imprisonment
Sweetly complains; her liberty retriev'd
Cheers her fad foul, improves her pleasing fong.
Gladfome they quaff, yet not exceed the bounds
Of healthy temperance, nor incroach on night,
Seafon of reft, but well bedew'd repair
Each to his home, with unfupplanted feet-
Ere heaven 's emblazon'd by the rofy dawn,
Domeftic cares awake them; brifk they rife,
Refresh'd, and lively with the joys that flow
From amicable talk, and moderate cups
Sweetly interchang'd. The pining lover finds
Prefent redrefs, and long oblivion drinks
Of coy Lucinda. Give the debtor wine;
His joys are fhort, and few; yet when he drinks,