Then let the boobies stay at home;
"Twould cost him, I dare say,
Less trouble taking twice the sum,
Without the clowns that pay.
HENRY COWPER, Esa.
On his emphatical and interesting Delivery of the Defence of WARREN HASTINGS, Esq. in the House of Lords.
COWPER, whose silver voice,tasked some times hard,
r
Legends prolix delivers in the ears
(Attentive when thou readest) of England's peers, Let verse at length yield thee thy just reward. Thou wast not heard with drowsy disregard, Expending late on all that length of plea Thy generous' powers, but silence honoured thee Mute as ever gazed au Orator or Bard. Thou art not voice alone, but hast beside
Both heart and head; andcouldst with music sweet. Of Attic phrase and senatorial 'tone," Like thy renowned forefathers, far and wide Thy fame diffuse, praised not for utterance meet Of others' speech, but magic of thy own.
Lines addressed to
Dr. DARWIN,
Author of "THE BOTANIC GARDEN."
Two Poets,* (poets, by report,
Not oft so well agree)
Sweet Harmonist of Flora's court!
Conspire to honour Thee,
They best can judge à poet's worth,
Who oft themselves have known
The pangs of a poetic birth
By labours of their own.
We therefore pleased extol thy song,
Though various yet complete,
Rich in embellishment as strong,
And learned as it is sweet.
No envy mingles with our praise,
Though, could our hearts repine
At any poet's happier lays,
They would-they must at thine,
But we, in mutual bondage knit
Of friendship's closest tie,
Can gaze on even Darwin's wit
With an unjaundiced eye;
Alluding to the poem by Mr. Hayley, which accom panied this.
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And deem the bard, whoever he be,
And howsoever known,
Who would not twine a wreath for Thee,
Unworthy of his own.
THE Birds put off their every hue
To dress a room for Montague.
The Peacock sends his heavenly dyes,
His rainbows and his starry eyes;
The Pheasant, plumes, which round inföld
His mantling neck with downy gold's
The Cock, his arched tail's azure show;
And, river blanched, the Swan, his snow.
All tribes beside of Indian name,
That glossy shine or vivid flame,
Where rises and where sets the day,
Whatever they boast of rich and gay,
Contribute to the gorgeous plán,
Proud to advance it all they can.
This plumage neither dashing shower,
Nor blasts, that shake the dripping bower,
Shall drench again or discompose,
T
But screened from every storm that blows,
It boasts a splendour ever new,
Safe with protecting Montague.
To the same patroness resort,
Secure of favour at her court,
Strong Genius, from whose forge of thought
Forms rise, to quick perfection wrought,
Which, though new-born, with vigour move
Like Pallas springing armed from Jove-
Imagination scattering round
Wild roses over furrowed ground,
Which Labour of his frown beguile,
And teach Philosophy a smile
Wit flashing on Religion's side,
Whose fires to sacred Truth applied,
The gem, though luminous before, s
Obtrude on human notice more, on
Like sun-beams on the golden height,
Of some' tall temple playing bright
Well-tutored Learning, from his books
Dismissed with grave, not haughty, looks,
Their order on his shelves exact,ke i 1.
Not more harmonious or compacted
Than that, to which he keeps confined
The various treasures of his minder o
All these to Montague's repair, slutar
Ambitious of a shelter there.
There Genius, Learning, Fancy, Wit,
The ruffled plumage calm refit,iou 9259
(For stormy troubles loudest roar
Around their flight who highest soar),
And in her eye, and by her aid,
Shine safe without a fear to fade.
She thus maintains divided sway
With yon bright regent of the day;:
The Plume and Poet both we know
Their lustre to his influence owe;
And she the works of Phoebus aiding,
Both Poet saves and Plume from fading.
SUPPOSED TO BE WRITTEN BY ALEXANDER SELKIRK, DURING HI'S SOLITARY ABODE IN
THE ISLAND OF JUAN FERNANDEZ,
I.
I AM monarch of all I survey,
My right there is none to dispute;
From the centre all round to the
sea,
I am lord of the fowl and the brute.
Oh solitude! where are the charms,
That sages have seen in thy face?
Better dwell in the midst of alarms,
Than reign in this horrible place,
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