* STANZAS FROM ALBION'S TRIUMPH.

XX.

Meantime, while from this fair event we show
That British valour happily survives,
And cherish'd by the king's propitious view,
The rising plant of glory sweetly thrives.
Let all domestic faction learn to cease,

Till humbled Gaul no more the world alarms:
Till George procures to Europe solid peace,
A peace secur'd by his victorious arms:
And binds in iron fetters ear to ear,
Ambition, Rapine, Havoc, and Despair,
With all the ghastly fiends of desolating War.

George II, early distinguished himself as a volunteer in the battle of Oudernarde, in 1798,

THE VISION OF PATIENCE.

AN ALLEGORICAL POEM.

539

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF MR. ALEXANDER CUMING', A
YOUNG GENTLEMAN UNFORTUNATELY LOST IN THE
NORTHERN OCEAN ON HIS RETURN FROM CHINA, 1740.

Ne jaceat nullo, vel ne meliore sepulchro.
Lucan, lib. viii.

'Twas on a summer's night I lay repos'd
In the kind arms of hospitable Rest;
When Fancy to my waking thought disclos'd
And deep the visionary scene imprest:
Close by my side in robes of morning-grey
A form celestial stood-or seem'd to stand;
Entranc'd in admiration as I lay,

She rais'd with aspect calm my feeble hand: And while through all my veins the tumult ran, With mild benignity-she placid thus began:

"Patience my name-of Lachesis 2 the child,
Nor art thou unacquainted with my voice;
By me afflicted Virtue suffers mild,

And to th' eternal will submits its choice.
Behold, commission'd from the heavenly sphere,
I come to strengthen thy corrected sight;
To teach thee yet continued woes to bear,
And eye Misfortune in a friendly light:
Nor thou my present summons disobey,
But cheerfully prepare to wait me on my way."
"Daughter of Heaven!" (methought I straight
replied)

"Gladly by me thy summons is obey'd;
Content I follow thee, celestial guide,

Beneath thy sore protection undismay'd:
Oft in sharp perils and surrounding woes
Thy salutary presence have I found;
Then lead wherever thy direction shows,

To distant seas, or earth's remotest bound:
Thine be the care to act the sovereign will aright!"
Ready am I to wait thy purpos'd flight,
Sudden, enfolded in a fleecy cloud,

Through yielding air we cut our rapid way, While the pale Moon a dubious light bestow'd, Lands as we pass'd and intermingled sea: Nor ceas'd our voyage, till the blushing Dawn

Dispell'd the glimmering of the starry host; And Night's dark curtain by degrees withdrawn,

We found ourselves on Thule's 3 sky-girt coast: Where Silence 4 sits on her untroubled throne, As if she left the world to live and reign alone.

Mr. A. Cuming was first supercargo of the Suecia, a Swedish East India ship, which was wrecked on a rock about two miles east of the island of North Ronalsha, the northernmost of the Orkney islands, Nov. 18. 1740. Immediately on the ship's striking, Mr. Cuming went off in the barge, accompanied by the surgeon and six of the boldest seamen, in order to discover what the island was, but were never more heard of. Thirty-one of the sailors were saved out of one hundred, the ship's compliment.

Patience, the first allegorical figure introduced, is here represented as the daughter of Necessity, or Lachesis, one of the three Destinies. B.

3 Thule is here taken for the Orkney isles. B. ✦ Silence, the second allegorical person, and sister of Patience. B.

Here no invading noise the goddess finds,
High as she sits o'er the surrounding deep;
But pleas'd she listens to the hollow winds,
Or the shrill mew, that lulls her evening-sleep;
Deep in a cleft-worn rock we found her laid,

Spangl'd the roof with many an artless gem: Slowly she rose, and met us in the shade,

As half disturb'd that such intrusion came: But at her sister's sight with look discreet, She better welcome gave, and pointed each a seat.

Wide from her grotto to the dazzled eye,

A boundless prospect! lay the azure waste, Lost in the sightless limit sea and sky;

By measurable distance faintly trac'd: Whence now arising from his wat'ry bed,

The Sun emerging spread his golden ray; When sweetly Patience rais'd her pensive head, And thus the goddess said, or seem'd to say: "Mark, mortal, with attention's deepest care, The swift approaching scene the hands of Heaven prepare."

With look intent, across the shining void, (An object to the weak beholder lost!) Just in the horizon 5 a sail I spied,

As if she made some long-expected coast: Kind to her wishes blew the western breeze, As, swift advancing o'er the placid main, She shap'd her course, increasing by degrees, Till nearer sense made all her beauties plain; And show'd her on the yielding billows ride, In all the gallant trim of ornamental pride!

Thus flew she onward with expanded sail,
A sight delightful to the pleasur'd eye!
Borne on the wings of the propitious gale,
Heedless, alas! of hidden danger nigh:
The joyful sailor, long on ocean tost,

Already thought his tedious suff'rings o'er;
Already hail'd the hospitable coast,

And trod in thought along the friendly shore: When, dreadful to behold!-disastrous shock 6! Shipwreck'd, at once she struck on a wave-cover'd rock!

O Heaven!-it was a piteous sight to view
The wild confusion suddenly took place!
The different gestures of the frighted crew!
The fear that mark'd each death-distracted
face.

All one impassion'd scene of woe appear'd,
Some wildly rav'd, while others scarce could
speak.

No order was observ'd, no reason heard,

For mortal paleness sate on every cheek!

I look'd at Patience!-as she sate me nigh,
And wonder'd, as I look'd, to see her tearless eye!

Again I turn'd- when, o'er the vessel's side,
Distinct I saw a manly youth appear,
Lanch the oar'd pinnace to the swelling tide,
Nor show'd his steady brow a guilty fear!

5 The pronunciation rather of a sailor, than of a scholar. D.

6 This fatal accident happened near the island of North Ronalsha, the northernmost of the Orkney isles. B.

The sad remainder with a mournful hail

His just design and bold departure blest; With lifted eye he spread the slender sail,

As if he trusted Heaven to guide the rest: Swift o'er the main the bark retreating flew, And the tall ship at once was taken from my view.

Immediate Patience from her seat arose,

And all abrupt the transient visit broke; While Silence, pleas'd, return'd to her repose, With air compos'd, for never word she spoke: Again cloud-wafted we pursu'd our way

Westward, as gave the alter'd wind to ride, When thus, methought, I heard the goddess say, "'Tis mine to wait yon boat that braves the For well, alas! too well I now foresee, [tide, Much need yon voyagers will quickly have for me."

Sweet was his earthen floor with rushes spread, Sweet was each shell-wrought bowl, and wooden dish,

Sweet was the quilt compos'd his healthy bed, Nor wanted he for fowl, or sun-dry'd fish ; And milk of sheep, and turf, a plenteous store, Which lay beneath his comfortable roof; No storms, no accidents, could make him poor, He and his house, I ween, were weather-proof. A batchelor he wonde, devoid of care, Which made him now appear so healthy and so fair.

"Yet take these honours, thy deserv'd reward! Call this untroubled spot of earth thy own; Here shall thy ashes find a due regard,

And annual sweets around thy grave be thrown. Directing Heaven ordain'd thy early end, From fraud and guilt to save thy blameless youth,

To show that Death no terrours can attend, Where Piety resides and holy Truth: Here take thy rest within this hallow'd ground, Till the last trump emit the dead-awak'ning sound!"

He ceas'd-attentive to the words he said,
In earth the natives place the honour'd clay;
With holy rites they cover up his head,

A spotless "grave, where never mortal lay! Charm'd with the simple manners of the isle,

I wish'd some further knowledge to receive; Here could have dwelt with old Content awhile, And learn'd of him the happiness to live! When Patience from my side abruptly broke, And, starting at the loss, I suddenly awoke! London, Sept. 14, 1741.

10 The inhabitants of all these northern isles observe the custom of singing over the dead. B. " Virgin. B.

ODE,

TO MR. WILLIAM CUMING,

ON HIS GOING To france, august 31, 1735.

-Finibus [Gallicis]

Reddes incolumem precor,

Et serves animæ dimidium meæ !

O BLOW serene! ye soft Etesian gales,
Curl the gay main, and fill the swelling sails!

The guardian vessel through the deep attend:
Shine every favourable planet bright,
To guide the prosp'rous navigation right,

And bear to Gallia's shore my happy friend!

Thence to Lutetia's walls, a pleasing way,
Through scenes by Nature dress'd profusely gay!
Auspicious Fortune still his passage guide;
Till safe arriv'd he views the wondrous town,
Which all agree unprejudic'd to own

At once fair Europe's envy and its pride!

There while his thoughts explore th' amazing plan Of pow'r divine-the microcosm of man;

From every danger shield his spotless youth! With manly strength his growing virtue arm, To break the force of every Siren charm,

And keep untainted all his native truth.

When views of pomp or bright processions rise,
When Louvre or Versailles enchants the eyes,
The grand assembly or the royal train!
Oh Liberty! thy faithful prospect lend,
To Britain's isle his calm reflection bend,

And say, that Slav'ry makes the splendour mean.

When artful Beauty lays the secret snare,
Instruct him, friendly goddess, to beware,

Defend him from each captivating art!
For there fair Venus holds her sov'reign court,
There all her wanton sportive Loves resort,

And in a thousand forms surprise the heart.

Yet, goddess! let him, as intent he flies
That airy nation's native skill to please,

Shun the reflection of the mimic glass!
Of all the Britons I have ever seen,
Who ap'd the graces of the Gallic mien,

Scarce one but chronicled himself an ass.

Yet that politeness of the truest kind,
Which both adorns and cultivates the mind,
This let his careful study borrow thence!
Manners from hence new ornament receive,
To knowledge this does double lustre give,
And travel finishes the man of sense.

Sometimes from crowds retir'd if chance he strays,
Where Seine along th' Elysian meadows plays,
Let some kind Genius whisper in his ear,
How many vows for his success are paid,
How many for his safe return are made,
How many think his absence tedious here.

But, oh, too harsh, my friend! these precepts flow, The specious coverings of my secret woe,

While Fortune's partial favour I accuse: Who, when my sorrows needed most a friend, Was pleas'd in thee the precious gift to send, Malicious bounty! but bestow'd to lose.

Who in making of treaties forget their allies, Will never be reckon'd or honest, or wise.

PHYLLIS.

Then be judg'd by the rule you 've so gravely laid down,

Nor hope that Miranda my heart shall disown. With her, gentle Heaven, grant me freedom to rove, While Friendship shall pay me the interest of Love.

ALEXIS.

Beware, charming Phyllis, a fatal mistake,
Where interest's the motive,there friendship is weak.
'Tis virtue alone can establish the tie,

Through life still unbroken, which holds when we die.
The taste may be modish, yet ne'er can last long,
To lose an old lover, to hear a new song.
If novelty charms you, delighted in change,
From pleasure to pleasure, oh! long may you range.
For me, from henceforth on some quieter shore,
Where Fortune and Love shall disturb me no more,
I'll seek in retirement the noblest of joys,
'Tis time must discover the truth of each choice.

EPISTLE TO HENRY BROOKE, ES2. THOUGH midst the cruel storm of passion tost, I view the shore, and sigh for safety lost, While every distant hope of good is gone, And, left by thee! 'tis joy to be undone, Oh! read the thought where no design has part, The last faint purpose of my wretched heart; Long had between us (in a moment torn) The holy band of Friendship's faith been worn: I claim'd the bliss, so happy once was I, Dear to your breast, and cherish'd in your eye: Now lost the privilege, shall one short day Snatch all the labour of our lives away? But oh, I err! I am not what I seem, Friendship can ne'er subsist without esteem; Death were my choice, if Heaven my choice apMore easy than to lose the friend I lov'd: Happy in this, that to your better care I gave a friend, will never lose his share, Whose truth will still increase, the longer known, Whose faith, whose goodness, are so like your own: Forgot, I bless you,-if this wish succeeds, Then live Gustavus, though Arvida bleeds!

ON THE EXTRAORDINARY

[prov'd,

TRANSLATED FROM THE

HORTI ARLINGTONIANI OF C. DRYDEN.
NEAR to those domes the indulgent powers assign
The sacred seat of Stuart's majestic line;
(Those rising towers, that, known to ancient Fame,
Bear both the monarch's and the martyr's name);
Near those fair lawns, and intermingled groves,
Where gentle Zephyrs breathe and sporting Loves;
A frame there stands, that rears its beauteous height,
And strikes with pleasing ravishment the sight.
Full on the front the orient Sun displays
His cheerful beams; and, as his light decays,
Again adorns it with his western rays.
Here wondering crowds admire the owner's state,
And view the glories of the fair and great;
Here falling statesmen Fortune's changes feel,
And prove the turns of her revolving wheel;
Then envy, mighty Arlington, thy life,
That feels no tempest, and that knows no strife.
Whence every jarring sound is banish'd far,
The restless vulgar, and the noisy bar;
But heavenly Peace, that shuns the courtier-train,
And Innocence, and conscious Virtue, reign.

Here when Aurora brings the purple day,
And op'ning buds their tender leaves display;
While the fair vales afford a smiling view,
And the fields glitter with the morning dew;
No rattling wheel disturbs the peaceful ground,
Or wounds the ear with any jarring sound;
Th' unwearied eye with ceaseless rapture strays,
And still variety of charms surveys '.

Here watch the fearful deer their tender fawns, Stray through the wood, or browze the verdant

lawns:

SEPT. 7. 1736.

-Nec lex est justior ulla,

Quam necis artifices arte perire suâ.
By their own arts, 'tis righteously dscreed,
The dire artificers of death shall bleed.

PORTEOUS! thou strong example, timely given;
How sovereigns should employ the power of Heaven!
Thy wanton hands a sanguine deluge spread,
Thy country's equal voice pronounc'd thee dead:

Thy beauteous gardens charm the ravish'd sight, And surfeit every sense with soft delight; Where'er we turn our still transported eyes, New scenes of Art with Nature join'd arise; We dwell indulgent on the lovely scene, The lengthen'd vista or the carpet green; A thousand graces bless th' enchanted ground, And throw promiscuous beauties all around.

Within thy fair parterres appear to view A thousand flowers of various form and hue.

See his catastrophe at Edinburgh, and the cause of it, in the Gent. Mag. for that year, p. 549.