ΤΟ

RUIN.

I.

ALL hail! inexorable lord!

At whose destruction-breathing word, The mightiest empires fall!

Thy cruel, woe-delighted train,

The ministers of grief and pain,

A sullen welcome all!
With stern-resolv'd, despairing eye,

I see each aimed dart;
For one has cut my dearest tye,

And quivers in my heart.

Then low'ring, and pouring,
The storm no more I dread;
Tho' thick'ning and black'ning,
Round my devoted head.

II.

And thou grim pow'r, by life abhorr'd,
While life a pleasure can afford,

Oh! hear a wretch's pray'r!
No more I shrink appall'd, afraid;
I court, I beg thy friendly aid,
To close this scene of care!
When shall my soul, in silent peace,
Resign life's joyless day;

My weary heart its throbbings cease,
Cold mould'ring in the clay;

No fear more, no tear more,
To stain my lifeless face,
Enclasped, and grasped

Within thy cold embrace!

ΤΟ

MISS L————,
L-

WITH

BEATTIE'S POEMS FOR A NEW YEAR'S GIFT.

JAN. 1. 1787.

AGAIN the silent wheels of time

Their annual round have driv'n,
And you, tho' scarce in maiden prime,
Are so much nearer heav'n.

No gifts have I from Indian coasts
The infant year to hail;

I send you more than India boasts

In Edwin's simple tale.

Our sex with guile and faithless love
Is charg'd, perhaps too true;
But may, dear maid, each lover prove
An Edwin still to you.

EPISTLE

TO A

YOUNG FRIEND.

May

I.

I LANG hae thought, my youthfu' friend,
A something to have sent you,
Tho' it should serve nae other end
Than just a kind memento;

But how the subject-theme may gang,
Let time and chance determine;
Perhaps, it may turn out a sang;
Perhaps, turn out a sermon.

1786.