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the bad, who fear the vengeance that usually follows the commission of crimes.-These two lines are, a parenthesis, and might be entirely left out without altering the sense. Bound in thy adamantine chain.

That is the proud, when bound in thy chain. Adamantine properly means, of adamant; so strong, as not to be broken; Adamant anciently meant both the loadstone and the diamond.

Purple tyrants.Purple here alludes to the dress of Kings which which was usually purple; not what we call purple, but rather (as some say) scarlet, a colour that was expressed or pressed out of a kind of shell-fish, called the murex-purpureus, which was chiefly found in the sea near Tyre.

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Unpitied and alone.-The greatest aggravation that can be given to suffering is solitude, and want of sympathy. The great have seldom true friends.-Those who pretended attachment to the great, forsake their patrons when they have lost their power. These false friends who usually flatter and promote the vices of their superiors, generally follow the fortunes of some new protector, and frequently become the enemies of those by whose favour they had been advanced in life.

When first thy sire to send on earth Virtue, his darling child, designed.

When first, Jove the sire of Adversity, designed to send Virtue on earth. Here the word Virtue is put

out of its proper place, merely to ex

cite attention, and to give an air of poetry to what would else be plain prose.

Stern rugged nurse! thy rigid lore,

Lore.-lesson.

The poet again addresses Adversity.

With patience, many a year she bore.

She relates to Virtue.

Scared.-Frightened at the frown of

adversity.

Light they disperse. They refers to Laughter, Folly, &c.

The summer friend.-Thousands of light and gaudy insects swarm whilst it is summer, which disappear in winter.-Summer here, is used for prosperity.

By vain Prosperity deceived.

It is so printed in Enfield's Speaker,

which makes absolute nonsense of the whole stanza,-it should be received. -Prosperity receives those flatterers, again, after they have deserted their former friends, and their flatteries are again believed by their new friends. Immersed.-Plunged.

Rapt'rous.-Rapturous, from rap

ture, which is derived from a latin word that signifies to hurry away.

Leaden eye.-Eyes that look heavy, and are fixed on the ground.

Still on thy solemn steps attend.

Thy refers to Adversity.

Warm Charity, &c.-Charity, Justice, and Pity are usually felt most warmly by those who are in adversity.

Sadly pleasing.-A compound epithet, form'd of words strongly contrasted, it means, that tears of com

passion whilst they fall from sadness are at the same time pleasing. O'gently on thy suppliant's head! Suppliant.-A person who humbly beseeches or implores.

Here the sense of all the foregoing stanzas is apparent the poet implores Adversity to lay her hand gently upon him—not in a terrific form, but with a mild and friendly aspect.

Dread Goddess.-Goddess that is to be dreaded—still' meaning Adversity.

Chast'ning. That chastens or chastises, chasten seems to mean a lesser or softer degree of punishment.

Not in thy Gorgon's térrors clad,
Nor circled with the vengeful band,

(As by the impious thou art seen) ›

With thund'ring voice, and threat ning mien; With screaming horror's funeral cry,

Despair, and fell disease, and ghastly poverty.

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