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A

Kirk del.

Ridley sculp

Faint, and despairing of To morrow's loread:

Page 87.

Published Feb. 1.1798. by C. Dilly, _Cadell Davies,
London; – and R. Cruttwell, Bath!.

VERSES

INSCRIBED TO

HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF LEEDS,

AND OTHER PROMOTERS OF

THE PHILANTHROPIC SOCIETY.

WHEN Want, with wasted mien and haggard eye,

Retires in silence to her cell to die;

When o'er her child she hangs with speechless dread,
Faint, and despairing of to-morrow's bread;
Who shall approach to bid the conflict cease,
And to her parting spirit whisper peace?
Who thee, poor Infant, that with aspect bland
Dost stretch forth innocent thy helpless hand,
Shall pitying then protect, when thou art thrown
On the world's waste, unfriended and alone?

Oh! hapless Infancy! if aught could move
The hardest heart to pity and to love,

"Twere surely found in thee: dim passions mark
Stern manhood's brow, where age impresses dark
The stealing line of sorrow; but thine eye
Wears not distrust, or grief, or perfidy:--
Though fortune's storms with dismal shadow low'r,
Thy heart nor fears, nor feels, the bitter show'r;
Thy tear is soon forgotten; thou wilt weep,
And then the murmuring winds will hush thy sleep,
As 'twere with some sad musick;-and thy smiles,
Unlike to those that mask oft cruel wiles,

Plead best thy speechless innocence, and lend
A charm might win the world to be thy friend!

But thou art oft abandon'd in thy smiles, And early vice thy easy heart beguiles. O for some voice, that of the secret maze Where the grim passions lurk, the winding ways That lead to sin, and ruth, and deep lament, Might haply warn thee, whilst yet innocent, And beauteous as the spring-time o'er the hills Advancing, when each vale glad musick fills!