The prey of fordid Paffion, and of Vice?

pomp,

Pride dazzles with her gorgeous train of
Dull Sloth benumbs thee, gentle Pleasure clafps
In her impure embrace, or Avarice pale
Torments with care, and goads thy craving breast.
Vanquish this hoft of tyrants,-and be free
Like as the captive lion, whom the threats
And blandishments of fome unworthy lord
Had erft enflav'd,-if once the galling chain
Be fhaken off, regains his native woods;
And, fcorning to return to former durance,
Enjoys th' unbounded range of liberty.

Seek then the road where Virtue's rugged path Leads up to heaven; for fee, where Glory, crown'd With laurel wreaths, invites thy near approach: Nay more, th' Almighty with aufpicious eye Looks down to animate thy finking powers. Thus emulate the gem, that low in earth Long hid its head inglorious, 'till the hand Of artift brought forth all its latent beauty: Stripp'd of its rougher drefs, it foon affumes The high-wrought polish, and on every fide Reflective, darts it fparkling rays around.

EPITAPHIUM

EPITAPHIUM FELIS.*

ITH age o'erwhelm'd, deep funk in dire difeafe, At laft I vifit the infernal fhades: Fair Proferpine, with fmiles, difpos'd to please, Said "Welcome, Tabby, to th' Elyfian glades.'

But ah! I cried, mild Queen of filent fprites,
Grant me, once more, to view my late, dear home:
Once more;-to tell the man of ftudious nights,
"I love thee, faithful ftill, tho' distant far I roam.”
B.

EPITAPH

ON

DR. STEPHEN HALES.*

Or fweet fimplicity, of generous breast,
Godlike Religion! thy undoubted teft;
Of vivid genius, form'd for public good,
Source to the wretch, of joy,-the poor, of food:
Such were thy titles; high and low the fame

Bespoke thee, Hales; claim.

and these God's voice

pro

B.

See p. 39:

This truly great, for he was a truly good man, is highly complimented by Mr. Pope, who dignifies him with the appellation of "plain Parfon Hales."* In 1741, he published his excellent invention of Ventilators, which he improved as long as he lived. About fix or seven years. after, one of thefe machines was introduced at the prifon of the Savoy; and its benefits were foon discovered and acknowledged. Previous to this invention, between 50 and 100 prisoners had died every year of the gaol-diftemper in that place; but no fooner was this life-giving machine erected, than four perfons only died, in two years, though the number of the confined exceeded two hundred. The use of ventilators foon became general, In the last war, after long folicitations, he procured an order from the French King to erect ventilators in the prifons where the English captives were kept; and upon being informed of his fuccefs, he was heard to fay in a jocofe vein,"He hoped nobody would inform against him, for correfponding with the enemy." It would be endless to mention his various natural researches, and ingenious schemes for the benefit of mankind. They all discover great knowledge of the fecrets of nature, which he was able to apply to agricul

* See Pope's Works, Vol. III. Moral Effays, Ep. II. 198. where both the poet, and his learned annotator, have given his name HALE.

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ture,

ture, phyfics, and feveral other arts of life. In a word, he deserved, as much as ever man did, the

title of a Chriftian Philofopher." All his ftudies and researches into nature tended only to one point, that of doing good to mankind. died 4th Jan. 1761, aged 84 years.

He

INSCRIPTIONIS FRAGMENTUM.

QVAE. TE. SVB. TENERA. &c. *

BY THE REVEREND MR. MERRICK.

THEE, PÆTA, death's relentless hand

Cut off in earliest bloom:

Oh! had the fates for Me ordain'd
To fhare an equal doom;

With joy this bufy world I'd leave,
This hated light refign,

To lay me in the peaceful grave,

And be for ever Thine.

* See Page 47. Though already so often met with, and juftly admired, the reader cannot but deem the above tranflation intitled to a place in this work, as taken from Dodfley's collection of Poems, Vol. IV. P. 188. The original, we are informed, has been republished by the very ingenious Mr. Thomas Warton, in his "Infcriptionum Romanarum metricarum Delectus:" London, 1758; as an ancient infcription.

Do thou, if Lethé court thy lip,

To tafte its ftream forbear: Still in thy foul his image keep,

Who haftes to meet thee there.

Safe o'er the dark and dreary shore
In queft of thee I'll roam;
Love with his lamp fhall run before,
And break the circling gloom.

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