Various Poems

Nor Guides, nor Rules, his Sov'reign Choice controul, His Body Independent, as his Soul ba

Loos'd to the World's wide range,-enjoyn'd no Aim; Prefcrib'd no Duty, and affign'd no Name:

Nature's unbounded Son, he ftands alone, barsɔnoƆ His Heart unbyafs'd, and his Mind his own, o

O Mother, yet no Mother!--'tis to you, My Thanks for fuch diftinguish'd Claims are due." You, unenflav'd to Nature's narrow Laws, Warm Championefs for Freedom's Sacred Caufe, From all the dry Devpirs of Blood and Line, From Ties Maternal, Moral and Divine, Discharg'd my grasping Soul; push'd me from Shore, And launch'd me into Life without an Oar. H

What had I loft, if conjugally kind, exe sien tud By Nature hating, yet by Vows confin'd, Untaught the Matrimonial Bounds to flight, M And coldly confcious of a Husband's Right,

You had faint-drawn me with a Form alone,

A Lawful Lump of Life by Force your own! >
Then, while your backward Will retrench'd Defire,
And unconcurring Spirits lent no Fire,

I had been born your dull, domestic Heir;
Load of your Life, and Motive of your Care;
Perhaps been poorly Rich, and meanly Great;
The Slave of Pomp, a Cypher in the State;

Lordly

Lordly neglectful of a Worth unknown,

And flumb'ring in a Seat, by Chance my own.

Far nobler Bleffings wait the Baftard's Lot;
Conceiv'd in Rapture, and with Fire begot!
Strong as Neceffity, he ftarts away,
Climbs against Wrongs, and brightens into Day.

Thus Unprophetic, lately misinfpir'd,
I fung: Gay flutt'ring Hope, my Fancy fir'ds
Inly fecure, thro' conscious Scorn of Ill,
Nor taught by Wisdom, how to ballance Will,
Rafhly deceiv'd, I faw no Pits to fhun;

But thought to purpose, and to act were One;
Heedless what pointed Cares pervert his Way,
Whom Caution arms not, and whom Woes betray}
But now expos'd and fhrinking from Distress,
Ifly to Shelter, while the Tempefts prefs;
My Mufe to Grief refigns the varying Tone,
The Raptures languish, and the Numbers groan.

O Memory!-thou Soul of Joy and Pain!
Thou Actor of our Paffions o'er again!
Why doft thou aggravate the Wretches Woe!
Why add continuous Smart to ev'ry Blow?
Few are my Joys; alas! how foon forgot!
On that kind Quarter thou invad'ft me not,

While

While fharp, and numberless my Sorrows fall; 919 W

Yet thou repeat it, and multiply'ft 'em all!n boblida qvci lizei dio? vuontiuibus) asd

The

Is Chance a Guilt that my difaft'rous Heart, b'll For Mischief never meant, must ever smart toniz Can Self-defence be Sin? Ah, plead no more! What tho' no purpos'd Malice stain'd thee o'er ? Had Heav'n befriended thy unhappy Side, ION 10 Thou had'ft not been provok'd-Or Thou had'ft died.

Far be the Guilt of homefhed Blood from All,
On whom unfought, embroiling Dangers fall!
Still the pale Dead revives, and lives to me,
To me! thro' Pity's Eye condemn'd to fee.
Remembrance veils his Rage, but fwells his Fate;

Griev'd I forgive, and am grown cool too late.
Ι

Young, and unthoughtful then; who knows, one Day,
What ripening Virtues might have made their Way!
He might have liv'd, till Folly died in Shame,
Till kindling Wisdom felt a Thirst for Fame.
He might perhaps his Country's Friend have prov'd;"
Both happy, gen'rous, candid, and belov'd.

He might have fav'd fome Worth, now doom'd to fall;
And I, perchance, in him, have murder'd all.

O Fate of late Repentance! Always vain: Thy Remedies but lull undying Pain.

Where shall my Hope find Reft? No Mother's Care
Shielded my Infant Innocence with Prayer, 197
No Father's Guardian Hand my Youth maintain'd,
Call'd forth my Virtues, or from Vice restrain'd. I
Is it not thine to fnatch fome pow'rfulvArm,ut ) 17 164
First to advance, then fcreen from future Harm?
I am return'd from Death, to live in Pain?
Or wou'd Imperial Pity fave in Vain?dataka, 3
Diftrust it not What Blame can Mercy find,

Which gives at once a Life, and rears a Mind?

Mother, mifcall'd, Farewell