O blind to each indulgent aim, Vain is alike the joy we seek, To temper'd wishes, juft defires, WRITTEN AT MIDNIGHT IN A THUNDER STORM. BY THE SAME. LET coward Guilt, with pallid Fears Protected by that Hand, whofe law In the thick cloud's tremendous gloom, Through Nature's ever-varying scene, The one eternal end of Heav'n With like beneficent effect, O'er flaming æther glows, As when it tunes the linnet's voice, By reafen taught to fcorn thofe fears, Thy life may all the tend'reft care of Providence defend; And delegated angels round, Their guardian wings extend I When through creation's vast expanse, The laft dread thunders roll; Untune the concord of the spheres, And shake the rising foul: Unmov'd, may'st thou the final form That ushers in the glad ferene THE EVENING WALK. BY THE SAME. HOW fweet the calm of this fequefter'd fhore, And folitude, and filent eve restore The fighing gale, whose murmurs lull to reft Farewel the objects of diurnal care, Your task be ended with the setting fun: Let all be undisturb'd vacation here, While o'er yon wave ascends the peaceful moon. What beauteous vifions o'er the foften'd heart, And cheer the foul with more than mortal views. Her faithful mem'ry wakens all her pow'rs, And quick to ev'ry gladden'd thought restores Come, ****** come, and with me share The fober pleasures of this folemn scene: While no rude tempeft clouds the ruffled air, But all, like thee, is smiling and ferene. Come, while the cool, the folitary hours Each foolish care and giddy with controul, With all thy foft perfuafion's wonted pow'rs Beyond the stars tranfport my lift'ning foul. Oft, when the earth detain'd by empty show, Come, and the facred eloquence repeat: And op'ning Heav'n diffuse its glories round. CONTEMPLATION. BY THE SAME. WHILE foft through water, earth, and air, From noify joys, and giddy crowds, The mountain fnows are all diffolv'd, The circling planets' constant rounds But ah! when once our tranfient bloom, And must return no more. Yet judge by reason's fober rules, And mark how little pilf 'ring years G |