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RETIREMENT.

"Ye, who to wisdom would devote your hours, "And far from riot, far from discord stray! "Look back disdainful on the city's tow'rs, "Where Pride, where Folly point the slipp'ry

way.

"Pure flows the limpid stream in chrystal tides, "Thro' rocks, thro' dens, and ever verdant vales, "Till to the town's unhallow'd wall it glides,

"Where all its purity and lustre fails."

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ODE TO HOPE.

HOPE! lively cheerer of the mind,
In lieu of real bliss design'd,

Come from thy ever ever verdant bow'r -
To chace the dull and ling'ring hour;

O! bring, attending on thy reign,

All thy ideal fairy train,

To animate the lifeless clay,

And bear my sorrows hence away..

Hence gloomy featur'd black Despair,
With all thy frantic furies fly,

Nor rend my breast with gnawing care, ·,
For Hope in lively garb is nigh;

Let pining Discontentment mourn,
Let dull ey'd Melancholy grieve,
Since pleasing Hope must reign by turn,,
And every bitter thought relieve.

ODE TO Hope.

O smiling Hope! in adverse hour
I feel thy influencing pow'r :
Tho' frowning Fortune fix my lot,
In some defenceless lonely cot,
Where Poverty, with empty hands,
In pallad meagre aspect stands ;
Thou canst enrobe me, 'midst the great,
With all the crimson pomp of state,

Where Luxury invites his guests

To pall them with his lavish feasts:
What cave so dark, what gloom so drear,
So black with horror, dead with fear!
But thou canst dart thy streaming ray,
And change close night to open day.

Health is attendant in thy radiant train,

Round her the whisp'ring zephyrs gently play, Behold her gladly tripping o'er the plain,

Bedeck'd with rural sweets and garlands gay.

ODE TO HOPE.

When vital spirits are depress'd,
And heavy languor clogs the breast,
Comforting hope! 'tis thine to cure,
Devoid of Esculapian power;

For oft thy friendly aid avails,

When all the strength of physic fails.

"Nay, even tho' death should aim his dart,
I know he lifts his arm in vain,
Since thou this lesson canst impart,
Mankind but die to live again.

Depriv'd of thee must banners fall;
But where a living Hope is found,
The legions shout at danger's call,
And victors are trumphant crown'd.

Come then, bright Hope! in smiles array'd Revive us by thy quick ning breath, Then shall we never be afraid

To walk thro' danger and thro' death.

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