Where, still the woe of others to beguile, Is e'en the gayest heart's most loved employ; Where Grief herself will generously smile Through her own tears, to share another's joy! T. MOORE. ON AMBITION. THE mariner, when first he sails, Such young Ambition's fearless aim, Nor thinks of evening storm and gloomy hour. Life's opening views bright charms reveal, Feed the fond wish, and fan the youthful fire; But woes unknown those charms conceal, And fair illusions cheat our fierce desire. There Envy shows her sullen mien, With changeful colour, grinning smiles of hate; In deadly silence treacherous Friendships wait. Mid clouds and storms, has Glory fix'd her seat; The lightnings blast it, and the tempests beat. Within the sun-gilt vale beneath [dwells, More moderate Hope with sweet Contentment To better genius ever blind, That points to each in varied life his share, Our native powers we scorn to know; While sad successes but our pain renew. In vain Heaven tempers life with sweet, With flowers the way that leads us home bestrews, If dupes to passion and deceit, We drink the bitter and the rugged choose. Few can on Grandeur's stage appear, Each lofty part with true applause sustain; No common virtue safe can steer, Where rocks unnumber'd lurk beneath the main. Then happiest he whose timely hand To cool Discretion has the helm resign'd; Enjoys the calm, in sight of land, From changing tides secure, and trustless wind. MARRIOTT. TO PEACE. SHE comes, benign enchantress, heaven-born Peace, With mercy beaming in her radiant eye!She bids the horrid din of battle cease, And at her glance the savage passions die! "Tis Nature's festival; let Earth rejoice; Vanquish'd and conqueror pour exulting songs; In distant regions, with according voice, [longs! Let Man the victory bless-its prize to Man be Resistless Freedom-when she nerves the arm, No vulgar triumph crowns the hero's might; She, she alone can spread a moral charm O'er War's fell deeds, and sanctify the fight! Oh Gallia, in this bright immortal hour How proud a trophy binds thy laurel'd brow! Republic, hail, whose independent power All Earth contested once, all Earth confesses now! Protecting spirits of the glorious dead, Ah! not in vain the hero's noble toil, Ah, not in vain the patriot's blood is shed,— That blood shall consecrate his native soil! Illustrious names to history's record dear, And breathed when some high impulse fires the bard, For you shall Virtue pour the glowing tearAnd your remember'd deeds shall still your country guard! And thou, loved Britain, my parental isle, Of frantic combat-(strife unmeet for thee!) Now views, triumphant, from his seagirt rock, Thee unsubdued alone; for thou alone wert free! Oh, happy thy misguided efforts fail'd, My country, when with tyrant hosts combined! Oh, hideous conquest, had thy sword prevail'd And crown'd the' impious league against man kind! Thou nurse of great design, of lofty thought, Ah, rather haste to Concord's holy shrine, By the polluting step of tyrant or of slave! And from your shores the abject Vices chase— That low Ambition generous souls disdain, Corruption blasting every moral grace, Servility that kneels to bless his chain! Oh Liberty, those demons far remove : Come, nymph, severely good, sublimely great; Nor to the' enraptured hope of mortals prove Like those illusive dreams that pass the ivory gate! New age, that rollest o'er man thy dawning year, And purer glory cheers the gladden'd Earth. 1801. H. M. WILLIAMS. TO MANKIND. Is there, or do the schoolmen dream, To whom an uncontrol'd command, Then say, what signs this god proclaim? If service due from humankind, Superior virtue, wisdom, might In thee, vast ALL! are these contain❜d, |