pomp,

'The prey of fordid Passion, and of Vice ?
Pride dazzles with her

gorgeous

train of
Dull Sloth benumbs thee, gentle Pleasure clasps
In her impure embrace, or Avarice pale
Torments with care, and goads thy craving breast.
Vanquish this host of tyrants,—and be free;
Liķe as the captive lion, whom the threats
And blandishments of some unworthy lord
Had erst enslav'd, if once the galling chain
Be shaken off, regains his native woods : ;
And, scorning 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 see, where Glory, crown'd
With laurel wreaths, invites thy near approach:
Nay more, th' Almighty with auspicious eye
Looks down to animate thy sinking powers.
Thus emulate the gem, that low in earth
Long hid its head inglorious, 'till the hand
Of artist brought forth all its latent beauty :
Stripp'd of its rougher dress, it soon affumes
The high-wrought polish, and on every side
Reflective, darts it sparkling rays around.

EPITAPHIUM FELIS,

With age o’erwhelm’d, deep funk in dire diseases

At last I visit the infernal shades:
Fair Proserpine, with smiles, dispos’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 studious nights,

“ I love thee, faithful ftill, tho' distant farl roam.".

Of sweet 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 same
Bespoke thee, Hales ; and these God's voice pro
claim.

B.
See p. 39:

the This truly great, for he was a truly good man, is highly complimented by Mr. Pope, who dignifies him with the appellation of “

plain Parson 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 these inachines was introduced at the prison 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-distemper in that place; but no sooner was this life-giving machine erected, than four persons only died, in two years, though the number of the confined exceeded two hundred. The use of ventilators soon became general, In the last war, after long solicitations, he procured an order from the French King to erect ventilators in the prisons where the English captives were kept; and upon being informed of his success, he was heard to say in a jocose vein,“ He hoped nobody would inform against him, for corresponding 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 secrets of nature, which he was able to apply to agricul

• See Pope's Works, Vol. III. Moral Esays, Ep. II. 198. where both the poet, and his learned annotątor, have given his

name HALE.

3

ture,

ture, physics, and several other arts of life. In a word, he deserved, as much as ever man did, the title of "

a Christian Philosopher.” All his studies and researches into nature tended only to one point,--that of doing good to mankind. He died 4th Jan. 1761, aged 84 years.

Twee, PÆTA, death's relentless hand

Cut off in earliest bloom :
Oh! had the fates for Me ordain'd

To share an equal doom ;

With joy this busy world I'd leave,

This hated light resign,
To lay me in the peaceful grave,

And be for ever Tbine.

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

Do thou, if Lethé court thy lip,

To taste its stream forbear : Still in thy soul his image keep,

Who haftes to meet thee there.

Safe o'er the dark and dreary shore

In quest of thee I'll roam;
Love with his lamp shall run before,

And break the circling gloom.