Henry the 4th's Invocation to Sleep. HOW How many hour Nature's foft nurfe, how have I frighted thee, That thou no more wilt weigh my eyelids down, Why rather, fleep, ly'ft thou in smoky cribs, And hufh'd with buzzing night-flies to thy flumber; And lull'd with founds of sweetest melody? And in the vifitation of the winds, Who take the ruffian billows by the top, Curling their monftrous heads, and hanging them SHAKESPEAR. Extempore on seeing Hoole's Tragedy of Cyrus. M ASTER Hoole, Thou'rt not a fool: But, do not tire us S. THE The Wounded Soldier. fun was just retir'd, the dews of eve Their glow-worm luftre fcatter'd o'er the vale; The lonely nightingale began to grieve, Telling, with many a paufe, her tend'reft tale. No clamours loud difturb'd the penfive hour, And the young Moon, yet fearful of the night, Rear'd her pale crefcent o'er the burnifh'd tow'r, That caught the parting orb's ftill ling'ring light. 'Twas then, where peasant footsteps mark'd the way, On crutches borne, his mangled limbs he drew, Then, as with strange contortions, lab'ring flow, In fpite of Fortitude, one struggling figh One trembling tear hung ready to depart. "How chang'd," he cry'd, "is the fair scene to me, "Since last across this narrow path I went! "The foaring lark felt not superior glee, "Nor any human breaft more true content. "When the fresh hay was o'er the meadow thrown, "Amidst the bufy throng I ftill appear'd; "My prowefs too at harvest time was fhewn, "While Lucy's carol ev'ry labour cheer'd. "The burning rays I scarcely feem'd to feel, "If the dear maiden near me chanc'd to rove; "Or if the deign'd to fhare my frugal meal, "It was a rich repast, a feast of love. "And when at evening, with a rustic's pride, "I dar'd the sturdieft wrestlers on the green; "What joy was mine! to hear her at my fide, "Extol my vigour, and my manly mien. "Ah! now no more the sprightly lass shall run "To bid me welcome from the fultry plain; "But her averted eye my fight shall shun, "And all our cherish'd fondest hopes be vain. "Alas! my Parents, muft ye too endure "That I fhould gloom for ere your homely mirth, "Exift upon the pittance ye procure, "And make ye curfe the hour that gave me birth! Ohapless day! when, at a neighb'ring wake, "The gaudy ferjeant caught my wond'ring eye; "And as his tongue of war and honour fpake, "I felt a wish-to conquer or to die. "Then, while he bound the ribbands on my brow, "TO SELL my service in a RIGHTEOUS CAUSE; "I left my humble cot, my village maid. "O hapless day! torn from my Lucy's charms, "I thence was hurried to a scene of ftrife; "To painful marches and the din of arms, "The wreck of reafon, and the waste of life. "In loathsome veffels now with crowds confin'd, "Now led with hosts to flaughter in the field; "Now backward driven, like leaves before the wind, "Too weak to ftand, and yet asham'd to yield. "Till oft repeated victories infpir'd "With tenfold fury the indignant foe; "Who ruthlefs ftill advanc'd, as we retir'd, "And laid our boasted, proudest honours low. "Thro' frozen defarts then compell'd to fly, "Our braveft legions moulder'd faft away; "Thousands of wounds and fickness left to die, "While hov'ring ravens mark'd them for their prey. > "Ah! fure remorfe THEIR favage hearts must rend, "Whose selfish, defp'rate frenzy could decree, "That in one mass of murder MAN fhould blend, "Who fent the SLAVES to fight against the FREE. "Unequal contest!-at fair Freedom's call, "Then be this warfare of the world accurs'd— He reach'd the threshold of his Parent's fhed, BUT WHEN HE ENTER'D IN SUCH HORRID GUISE, O may this tale, which agony muft close, Give deep contrition to the SELF-CALL'D GREAT; And fhew THE POOR how hard the lot of those, Who fhed their blood for MINISTERS OF STATE! ANON. To the memory of Mr Burgh, a learned School-mafter, and the ingenious and laborious author of Political Difquifitions, and the Dignity of Human Ñature. BY CAPTAIN THOMPSON. ENEATH this fod, conceal'd from mortal eyes, BThe dignity of human nature lies. What is this dignity, the sophists scan? "The nobleft work of God-an honeft man." |