Autumn described.

Devolving through the maze of eloquence

A roll of periods, sweeter than her song.

But she too pants for public virtue; she,

Though weak of power, yet strong in ardent will,

Whene'er her country rushes on her heart,

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Assumes a bolder note; and fondly tries

To mix the patriot's with the poet's flame.

When the bright Virgin gives the beauteous days, And Libra weighs in equal scales the year;

From heaven's high cope the fierce effulgence shook Of parting Summer, a serener blue,

With golden light enliven'd, wide invests

The happy world. Attemper'd suns arise,

Sweet-beam'd, and shedding oft through lucid clouds
A pleasing calm; while broad, and brown, below 30
Extensive harvests hang the heavy head.

Rich, silent, deep, they stand; for not a gale
Rolls its light billows o'er the bending plain :

A calm of plenty! till the ruffled air

Falls from its poise, and gives the breeze to blow. 35

Rent is the fleecy mantle of the sky;

The clouds fly different; and the sudden sun

By fits effulgent gilds the illumin'd field,

Blessings of Industry.

And black by fits the shadows sweep along.
A gaily-checker'd heart-expanding view,
Far as the circling eye can shoot around,
Unbounded tossing in a flood of corn.

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These are thy blessings, INDUSTRY! rough power! Whom labour still attends, and sweat, and pain; Yet the kind source of every gentle art,peten unb 2645 And all the soft civility of life:gam båt allt full Raiser of human kind! by Nature cast,

Naked, and helpless, out amid the woods

And wilds, to rude inclement elements; to onkowe A

With various seeds of art deep in the mind
Implanted, and profusely pour'd around
Materials infinite; but idle all.

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Still unexerted, in th' unconscious breast,

Slept the lethargic powers; corruption still,
Voracious, swallow'd what the liberal hand
Of bounty scatter'd o'er the savage year:
And still the sad barbarian, roving, mix'd
With beasts of prey; or för his acorn-meal
Fought the fierce tusky boar; a shivering wretch!
Aghast, and comfortless, when the bleak north,
With winter charg'd, let the mix'd tempest fly,

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Blessings of Industry.

Hail, rain, and snow, and bitter-breathing frost : "Then to the shelter of the hut he fled;

And the wild season, sordid, pin'd away,
For home he had not; home is the resort

Of love, of joy, of peace and plenty; where,
Supporting and supported, polish'd friends,

"And dear relations, mingle into bliss.
But this the rugged savage never felt,
Ev'n desolate in crowds; and thus his days
Roll'd heavy, dark, and unenjoy'd along

A waste of time! till INDUSTRY approach'd,
And rous'd him from his miserable sloth:
His faculties unfolded; pointed out,
Where lavish Nature the directing hand
Of Art demanded; show'd him how to raise
His feeble force by the mechanic powers;
To dig the mineral from the vaulted earth;
On what to turn the piercing rage of fire
On what the torrent, and the gather'd blast;
Gave the tall ancient forest to his axe;
Taught him to chip the wood, and hew the stone,

Till by degrees the finish'd fabric rose ;

Tore from his limbs the blood-polluted fur,

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80

The Benefits of Society.

And wrapt them in the woolly vestment warm,
Or bright in glossy silk, and flowing lawn;
With wholesome viands fill'd his table; pour'd
The generous glass around, inspir'd to wake
The life-refining soul of decent wit:

Nor stopp'd at barren bare necessity;

But still advancing bolder, led him on

To pomp, to pleasure, elegance, and grace;

And, breathing high ambition through his soul,
Set science, wisdom, glory, in his view,

And bade him be the Lord of all below.

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Then gath'ring men their natural powers combin'd, And form'd a Public; to the general good Submitting, aiming, and conducting all. For this the Patriot Council met, the full, The free, and fairly represented Whole; For this they plann'd the holy guardian laws; Distinguish'd orders, animated arts, And with joint force Oppression chaining, set Imperial Justice at the helm; yet still To them accountable: nor slavish dream'd That toiling millions must resign their weal,

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Commerce the Parent of Wealth.

And all the honey of their search, to such

As for themselves alone themselves have rais'd. every form of cultivated life

Hence

In order set, protected, and inspir'd,
Into perfect wrought. Uniting all,
Society grew numerous, high, polite,

And happy. Nurse of art! the city rear'd

In beauteous pride her tower-encircled head;

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And, stretching street on street, by thousands drew, 115
From twining woody haunts, or the tough yew

To bows strong-straining, her aspiring sons.
Then COMMERCE brought into the public walk
The busy merchant; the big warehouse built;
Rais'd the strong crane; choak'd up the loaded street
With foreign plenty; and thy stream, O THAMES,
Large, gentle, deep, majestic, king of floods!
Chose for his grand resort. On either hand,

Like a long wintry forest, groves of masts

Shot up their spires; the bellying sheet between 125

Possess'd the breezy void; the sooty hulk

Steer'd sluggish on; the splendid barge along

Row'd, regular, to harmony; around,