His hours no longer pass unmark'd away, 700 705 710 715 720 If then, just then, all thoughts of mercy lost, When hope, long ling'ring, at last yields the ghost, 725 730 Of him, whom Hope has with a touch made whole. 'Tis Heav'n, all Heav'n descending on the wings Of the glad legions of the King of kings; 'Tis more-'tis God diffus'd through ev'ry part, Tis God himself triumphant in his heart 735 O welcome now the Sun's once hated light 740 Rocks, groves, and streams, must join him in his praise. These are thy glorious works, eternal Truth, The scoff of wither'd age and beardless youth ; Of fools that hate thee and delight in sin : 745 But these shall last when night has quench'd the pole, And Heav'n is all departed as a scroll. And when, as Justice has long since decreed, This earth shall blaze, and a new world succeed, Then these thy glorious works, and they who share That hope, which can alone exclude despair, 751 Happy the bard, (if that fair name belong 755 Seek to delight, that they may mend mankind, And while they captivate, inform the mind: Still happier, if he till a thankful soil, 760 And fruit reward his honourable toil : But happier far, who comfort those that wait 705 770 Repays their work--the gleaning only mine. CHARITY. Quo nihil majus meliusve terris Nec dabunt, quamvis redeant in aurum Tempora priscum. HOR. lib. iv. Od. 2. FAIREST and foremost of the train, that wait Prosper, (I press thee with a pow'rful plea,) 5 A task I venture on, impell'd by thee: O never seen but in thy bless'd effects, Or felt but in the soul that Heav'n selects; Who seeks to praise thee, and to make thee known To other hearts, must have thee in his own. 10 Come, prompt me with benevolent desires, Teach me to kindle at thy gentle fires, And though disgrac'd and slighted, to redeem A poet's name, by making thee the theme. God, working ever on a social plan, 15 By various ties attaches man to man : He made at first, though free and unconfin'd, 20 Diff'ring in language, manners, or in face, 25 He sooth'd with gifts, and greeted with a smile, The simple native of the new-found isle ; 30 He spurn'd the wretch that slighted or withstood The tender argument of kindred blood, Nor would endure that any should control His freeborn brethren of the southern pole. But though some nobler minds a law respect, To thwart its influence and its end defeat. 35 While Cook is lov'd for savage lives he sav'd, See Cortez odious for a world enslav'd! 40 Where wast thou then, sweet Charity! where then Thou tutelary friend of helpless men ; Wast thou in monkish cells and nunn'ries found, 45 Through fear, not love and Heav'n abhors the fee. Wherever found, (and all men need thy care,) Nor age nor infancy could find thee there. Was glued to the sword hilt with Indian gore. 50 Their prince, as justly seated on his throne, Trick'd out of all his royalty by art, That stripp'd him bare, and broke his honest heart, Died by the sentence of a shaven priest, 55 For scorning what they taught him to detest. How dark the veil that intercepts the blaze Of Heav'n's mysterious purposes and ways · God stood not, though he seem'd to stand, aloof; Starv'd by that indolence their mines create. O could their ancient Incas rise again, €5 How would they take up Israel's taunting strain! Thou, that hast wasted earth, and dar'd despise Alike the wrath and mercy of the skies, 70 Thy pomp is in the grave, thy glory laid Low in the pits thine avarice has made. We come with joy from our eternal rest, To see th' oppressor in his turn oppress'd. Art thou the god, the thunder of whose hand 75 And made the mountains tremble at his frown? Wise to promote whatever end he means, God opens fruitful nature's various scenes. Each climate needs what other climes produce, 90 95 |