From fleeting mirth that o'er the bottle lives, And from associates pleas'd to find a friend, * Of joy now eager, as before of fame, And screen'd by folly when assail'd by shame, Shall I proceed, and step by step relate The odious progress of a sinner's fate? No-let me rather hasten to the time (Sure to arrive) when misery waits on crime. With virtue prudence fled; what Shore possess'd Was sold, was spent, and he was now distress'd; And want, unwelcome stranger, pale and wan, Met with her haggard looks the hurried man : His pride felt keenly what he must expect From useless pity and from cold neglect. Struck by new terrors from his friends he fled, With shrunken features, and with bloodshot eyes; Now seiz'd for debt, and lodg'd within a jail, He tried his friendships, and he found them fail; Then fail'd his spirits, and his thoughts were all Fix'd on his sins, his sufferings, and his fall: His ruffled mind was pictur'd in his face, Once the fair seat of dignity and grace: Great was the danger of a man so prone To think of madness, and to think alone; Yet pride still liv'd, and struggled to sustain The drooping spirit, and the roving brain; But this too fail'd: a friend his freedom gave, And sent him help the threat'ning world to brave; Gave solid counsel what to seek or flee, But still would stranger to his person be: In vain! the truth determin'd to explore, He traced the friend whom he had wrong'd before. This was too much; both aided and advis'd By one who shunn'd him, pitied and despis'd; He bore it not; 'twas a deciding stroke, And on his reason like a torrent broke; In dreadful stillness he appear'd awhile · With vacant horror, and a ghastly smile; Then rose at once into the frantic rage, That force controll'd not, nor could love assuage. Then as its wrath subsided by degrees, The mind sank slowly to infantine ease; That gentle maid, whom once the youth had lov'd, Is now with mild religious pity mov'd; Kindly she chides his boyish flights, while he 1 Will for a moment fixed and pensive be; Rarely from town, nor then unwatch'd he goes, In darker mood, as if to hide his woes; Returning soon, he with impatience seeks His youthful friends, and shouts, and sings, and speaks; THE BUTTERFLY'S BIRTHDAY. Roscoe. THE shades of night at distance fled, From floating clouds of pearly hue, Fell in light drops, the recent shower, That hung like gems of morning dew, On every tree, and every flower. And from the Blackbird's mellow throat Was poured so long and loud a swell, As echoed with responsive note From mountain side, and shadowy dell. When bursting forth to life and light, Launched in full splendour on the day! Unconscious of a mother's care, No infant wretchedness she knew; But as she felt the vernal air, At once to full perfection grew. Her slender form, ethereal light, Her velvet textured wings enfold, With all the rainbow's colours bright, Trembling with joy, awhile she stood, And balanced oft her broidered wings, Through fields of air prepared to sail; Then on her vent'rous journey springs, And floats along the vernal gale, Go! child of pleasure, range the fields, Share all the joys that Spring can give ; ́ Partake what bounteous Summer yields, And live, while yet 'tis time to live. Go, sip the rose's fragrant dew, From flower to flower, the search renew, And let me trace thy vagrant flight, But hark! while thus I musing stand, They cease; but still a voice I hear, "Yet start not-on thy closing eyes, “Another day shall still unfold, "A sun of brighter radiance rise, "A happier age of joys untold. "Shall the poor worm, that shocks thy sight, "The humblest form in Nature's train, "Thus rise again to life and light, "And yet the emblem teach in vain? |