The tardy rhymes that us'd to linger on, And catch a lustre from his genuine flame. Ah! could they catch his strength, his easy grace, But not to one in this benighted age That burns in Shakspeare's or in Milton's page, As when conspiring in the diamond's blaze, The meaner gems, that singly charm the sight, Together dart their intermingled rays, And dazzle with a luxury of light. Enough for me, if to some feeling breast SONG.t THYRSIS, when he left me, swore * The words in Italic were supplied by Mr. Mason. Written, at the request of Miss Speed, to an old Air of Geminiani: the thought from the French. "Twas the nightingale that sung! Idle notes! untimely green! Why such unavailing haste! Gentle gales and sky serene Prove not always Winter past. Cease, my doubts, my fears to move, Spare the honour of my love. AMATORY LINES.* WITH Beauty, with Pleasure surrounded, to languish To weep without knowing the cause of my anguish : To start from short slumbers, and wish for the morning; To close my dull eyes when I see it returning; Sighs sudden and frequent, looks ever dejected, Words that steal from my tongue, by no meaning connected! Ah, say, fellow-swains, how these symptoms befel me ? They smile, but reply not-Sure DELIA CAN TELL ME! This jeu d'esprit was found among the MSS. of Gray, and printed in a Note in the second volume of Warton's Edition of Pope. 88 TOPHET.* AN EPIGRAM THUS Tophet look'd; so grinn'd the brawling fiend, Whilst frighted prelates bow'd,and call'd him friend. Our mother-church, with half-averted sight, Blush'd as she bless'd her grisly proselyte; Hosannas rung through Hell's tremendous borders, And Satan's self had thoughts of taking orders. IMPROMPTU, SUGGESTED BY A VIEW, IN 1776, of THE SEAT AND RUINS OF A DECEASED NOBLEMAN, At Kingsgate, Kent. OLD, and abandon'd by each venal friend, On this congenial spot he fix'd his choice: [sand; * Mr. Etough. of Cambridge University, the person satirized, was as remarkable for the eccentricities of his character, as fur his personal appearance. A Mr. Tyson, of Bene't College, made an etching of his head, and presented it to Mr. Gray, who embel. lished it with the above lines. Some information respecting Mr. Etough, (who was Rector of Therfield, Herts, and of Colmworth, Bedfordshire,) may be found in the Gentleman's Magazine, vol. Ivi. pp. 25. 281. Here reign the blustering North and blighting East, Here mouldering fanes and battlements arise, 'Ah!' said the sighing peer, 'had B-te been true, Nor M-'s, R-'s, B-'s friendship vain, Far better scenes than these had bless'd our view, And realiz'd the beauties which we feign: 'Purg'd by the sword, and purified by fire, THE CANDIDATE: OR, THE CAMBRIDGE COURTSHIP. WHEN sly Jemmy Twitcher had smugg'd up his face, With a lick of court white-wash, and pious grimace, *This tart lampoon was written a short time previous to the Election of a High Steward of the University of Cambridge, for which office the Noble Lord alluded to made an active canvass. 'Lord! sister,' says PHYSIC to LAW, 'I declare, Such a sheep-biting look, such a pick-pocket air! Not I for the Indies:-You know I'm no prude,But his name is a shame,-and his eyes are so lewd! Then he shambles and straddles so oddly-I fearNo-at our time of life 'twould be silly, my dear.' 'I don't know,' says Law, but methinks for his look 'Tis just like the picture in Rochester's book; Then his character, PHYzzy,—his morals-his lifeWhen she died, I can't tell, but he once had a wife. They say he's no Christian, loves drinking and w-g And all the town rings of his swearing and roaring! His lying and filching, and Newgate-bird tricks;Not I-for a coronet, chariot and six!' DIVINITY heard, between waking and dozing, • What a pother is here about wenching and roaring! Never hang down your head, you poor penitent elf, |