The frighted birds the rattling branches shun,
That wave and glitter in the distant fun.

When, if a sudden gust of wind arise,
The brittle forest into atoms flies :
The crackling wood beneath the tempest bends,
And in a spangled show'r the prospect ends.
Or, if a southern gale the region warm,
And by degrees unbind the wint’ry charm;
The traveller a miry country sees,
And journeys fad beneath the dropping trees.

Like fome deluded peasant, Merlin leads Through fragrant bow'rs, and through delicious

meads;
While here enchanted gardens to him rise,
And airy fabrics there attract his eyes;
His wand'ring feet the magic paths pursue,
And while he thinks the fair illusion true,
The trackleis scenes disperse in fluid air,
And woods and wilds, and thorny ways appear ;
A tedious road the weary wretcli returns,
And as he goes the transient vision mourns.

Copenhagen, March 9th, 1709.

THE FIRE-SIDE.

BY DR. COTTON.

I.
DEAR Chloe, while the busy crowd,

The vain, the wealthy, and the proud,

In folly's inaze advance;
Though fingularity and pride
Be call'd our choice, we'll step aside,

Nor join the giddy dance.

II.
From the gay world we'll oft retire
To our own family and fire,

Where love our hours employs :
No noisy neighbours enter here,
No intermeddling stranger near,

To spoil our heart-felt joys.

III.
If solid happiness we prize,
Within our breast this jewel lies

And they are fools who roam:
The world has nothing to bestow,
From our own selves our joys must flow,

And that dear hut, our home.

IV.

Of rest was Noah's dove bereft,
When with impatient wing the left

That safe retreat the ark;
Giving her vain excursion o'er,
The disappointed bird once more

Explor'd the facred bark.

V.

Though fools fpurn Hymen's gentle pow'r3, We, who iimprove his golden hours,

By sweet experience know, That marriage, rightly understood, Gives to the tender and the good

A paradise below.

VI.

Our babes shall richest comforts bring :
If tutor'd right, they'll prove a spring

Whence pleasures ever rise :
We'll form their minds with ftudious care,
To all that's manly, good, and fair,

And train them for the skies.

VII.

While they our wisest hours engage,
They'll joy our youth, support our age,

And crown our hoary hairs :
They'll grow in virtue every day,
And thus our fondest loves repay,

And recompense our cares.

VIII. No borrow'd joys! they're all our own, While to the world we live unknown,

Or by the world forgot: Monarchs! we envy not your state, We look with pity on the great,

And bless our humbler lot,

IX.

Our portion is not large indeed,
But then, how little do we need!

For nature's calls are few :
In this the art of living lies,
To make no more than may suffice,

And make that little do.

X.
W'ell therefore relish with content
Whate'er kind Providence has fent,

Nor aim beyond our pow'r;
For if our stock be very small,
'Tis prudence to enjoy it all,

Nor lose the present hour.

XI.

To be resign'd, when ills betide,
Patient, when favours are deny’d,

And pleas'd with favours givin, Dear Chloe, this is wisdom's part, This is that incense of the heart

Whose fragrance Imells to heav'n.

XII. We'll ask no long protracted treat (Since winter life is seldom sweet ;)

But when our feast is o'er, Grateful from table we'll arise, Nor grudge our sons with envious eyes

The relics of our store.

XIII. Thus hand in hand through life we'll go, Its checquer'd paths of joy and woe

With cautious steps we'll tread ; Quit its vain scenes without a tear, Without a trouble or a fear,

And mingle with the dead:

XIV. While Conscience, like a faithful friend, Shall through the gloomy vale attend,

And cheer our dying breath : Shall, when all other comforts cease, Like a kind angel whifper peace,

And smooth the bed of death.