Or else, beneath thy porch, in social joy
Sit and approve thy infant's virtuous haste,
Humanity's sweet tones while all employ,

To lure the wing'd domesticks to repast!

There smiling see, a fop in swelling state,
The turkey struts with valour's red pretence,
And duck row on with waddling honest gait,
And goose mistake solemnity for sense!

While one with front erect in simple pride
Full firmly treads, his consort waits his call ;-
Now deal the copious barly, waft it wide,

That each may taste the bounty meant for all.

Yon bashful songsters with retorted eye

Pursue the grain, yet wheel contracted flight, While he, the bolder sparrow, scorns to fly,

A son of freedom claiming Nature's right.

Liberal to him, yet still the wafted grain,

Choicest for those of modest worth, dispense, And blessing heaven that wakes their grateful strain, Let Heaven's best joy be thine, Benevolence!

While flocks soft bleatings, echoing high and clear, The neigh of steeds, responsive o'er the heath, Deep lowings sweeter melt upon thy ear

Than screams of terror and the groans of death.

Yet sounds of woe delight a giant brood :

Fly then mankind, ye young, ye helpless old! For not their fury, a consuming flood,

Distinguishes the shepherd, drowns the fold..

But loosen once thy gripe, avenging law!
Eager on man, a nobler chase they start;
Now from a brother's side a dagger draw,
Now sheath it deeper in a virgin's heart..

See as they reach ambition's purple fruits,
Their reeking hands in nation's carnage dyed!
No longer bathing in the blood of brutes,
They swim to empire in a human tide.

But see him, see the fiend that others stung,
With scorpion conscience lash himself, the last!
See festering in the bosom where they sprung

The fury passions that laid nature waste ?

Behold the self-tormentor drag his chains,

And weary heaven with many a fruitless groan! By pining fasts, by voluntary pains,

'Revenging nature's cause, he pleads his own.

Yet prostrate, suppliant to the throne above,
He calls down heaven in thunders to pursue
Heaven's fancied foes-O God of peace and love
The voice of thunder is no voice from you!

Mistaken mortal! 'tis that God's decree

To spare thy own, nor shed another's blood: Heaven breathes benevolence, to all, to thee; Each being's bliss consummates general good.

[98]

DANIEL BELLAMY.

London. 1687-1775.

This gentleman was the son of opulent parents, but the unfortunate issue of the south sea scheme obliged him, "to turn those talents, which were intended for the ornament towards the support of life," and he actually devoted more than half a century to writing for the publick.

As an example of that virtuous levity of heart, of which no adverse circumstances can deprive those who early and assiduously cultivate the means of preserving; the following extract is taken from a M. S. preface to his works, written by his son D. Bellamy, Chaplain at Kew, in the possession of Thomas Hill, Esq. of Queenhithe. "The fable of the City Mouse and the Country Mouse;

and of the Dog and the Shadow, in the tenth article of this collection, were written in the mad year 1720; at which time our author was so deeply engaged in the south sea scheme, that he there lost his lands, and sunk his fortune. As somewhat too nearly similar to the infatuation of that year has happened to various adventurers in

change-alley in our times, it is presumed there will be the less need of apology for re-printing those poetical sallies on such an interesting event; more especially as they convey the feelings of the author while smarting under the distresses which those projects brought upon him; and which gave the colour to every transaction of a life extended to the age of eighty-eight years. Our author departed this life the 6th day of February, 1775."

The Old Lyon.

ALL drown'd in tears a lion sat,
With age and cares oppress'd:
Once the dread sovereign of the plains,
But now his subjects jest.

The tenants of the groves and meads
Insult him now by turns:

The bear torments him with his tusks,
The bull with levelled horns.

But above all the coward ass

Of former wrongs complains;