"Steerer of a mighty realm, "Pilot waking o'er the helm, "Blessing of thy native soil! "Weary of a thankless toil, "Cast repining thought behind, "Give thy trouble to the wind. "Mortal destin'd to excel! "Bear the blame of doing well, "Like the worthies great of old, "In the list of fame enroll'd. "What tho' titles thou decline? "Still the more thy virtues shine: "Envy with her serpent eye "Marks each praise that soars on high. "To thy lot resign thy will;
Ev'ry good is mix'd with ill. "See! the white unblemish'd rose "On a thorny bramble blows: "See! the torrent-pouring rain "Does the limpid fountain stain: "See! the giver of the day "Urgeth on thro' clouds his way. "Nothing is entirely blest; "Envy does thy worth attest. "Pleasing visons at command Answer to my voice and hand; Quick the blissful scene prepare,
"Visions cheering to the sight "Give him earnest of delight. "Wise disposer of affairs! "View the end of all thy cares; "Forward cast thy ravish'd eyes, "See the gladd'ning harvest rise: "Lo! the people reap thy pain, "Thine the labour, theirs the gain. "Yonder turn a while they view,
"Turn thee to yon' spreading yew,
"Once the gloomy tree of Fate,
"Once the plighted virgin's hate;
"Now no longer, does it grow,
"Parent of the warring bow.
"See! beneath the guiltless shade
"Peasants shape the plough and spade,
"Rescu'd ever from the fear
"Of the whistling shaft and spear.
"Lo! where Plenty comes with Peace,
"Hear the breath of Murmur cease.
"See at last unclouded days,
"Hear at last unenvy'd praise:
"Nothing shall thy soul molest;
"Labour is the price of rest.
"Mortal destin'd to excel!
"Bless the toil of doing well."
SUPPLICATION FOR MISS CARTERET,
Pow'r o'er ev'ry pow'r supreme,
Thou the poet's hallow'd theme,
From thy mercy-seat on high
Hear my numbers, hear my cry!
Breather of all vital breath,
Arbiter of life and death,
Oh! preserve this innocence,
Yet unconscious of offence,
Yet in life and virtue growing,
Yet no debt to nature owing.
Thou who giv'st angelic grace
To the blooming virgin face,
Let the fell disease hot blight
What thou mad'st for man's delight!
O'er her features let it pass
Like the breeze o'er springing grass,
Gentle as refreshing show'rs
Sprinkled over op'ning flow'rs.
O! let years alone diminish
Beauties thou wast pleas'd to finish.
To the pious parents give
Turn to blessings all their care,
Save their fondness from despair:
Mitigate the lurking pains
Lodg'd within her tender veins;
Soften ev'ry throb of anguish,
Suffer not her strength to languish ;
Take her to thy careful keeping,
And prevent the mother's weeping.
TO MISS GEORGIANA,
YOUNGEST DAUGHTER TO
LORD CARTERET.
LITTLE charm of placid mien,
Miniature of Beauty's queen,
Numb'ring years a scanty nine,
Stealing hearts without design,
Young inveigler, fond in wiles,
Prone to mirth, profuse in smiles,
Yet a novice in disdain,
Pleasure giving without pain,
Still caressing, still caress'd,
Thou and all thy lovers bless'd,
Never teas'd and never teasing,
Hither British Muse of mine,
Hither all the Grecian Nine,
With the lovely Graces three,
And your promis'd nurseling see:
Figure on her waxen mind
Images of life refin'd,
Make it as a garden gay,
Ev'ry bud of thought display,
Till improving year by year,
The whole culture shall appear,
Voice, and speech, and action, rising
All to human sense surprising.
Is the silken web so thin
As the texture of her skin?
Can the lily and the rose
Such unsully'd hue disclose?
Are the violets so blue
As her veins expos'd to view?
Do the stars in wintry sky
Twinkle brighter than her eye?
Has the morning lark a.throat
Sounding sweeter than her note?
Whoe'er knew the like before thee?
They who knew the nymph that bore thee?
From thy pastime and thy toys,
From thy harmless cares and joys,
Give me now a moment's time.
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