 | The progress of refinement |  |
84
BOOK III. INFLUENCE OF VIRTUE.
ARGUMENT.
DEFINITION of True Virtue, in distinction from that, understood in the present connexion.—Different Notions and Qualifications of Men in search of Truth, by which to regulate their Conduct.—Gold, the occasion of Sordid Ambition; and Beauty, the occasion of Vanity, the Common and Worst Enemies of Virtue.—Comparison between Virtuous Youth and the Rose.—Reflection on Human Life.—Sympathy and Friendship:— Offspring of Virtue.—The influence of Virtue, in effecting General Harmony.—Conclusion.
85
In vision wrapped of nature, man acquires
Materials for reflection's work, then forms
Arts elegant to humanize the mind.
Then glow the warm affections of the heart,
And pure refinement decorates the breast.
Virtue, the subject of my present strain,
Then lives; and every ruder passion dies.
Materials for reflection's work, then forms
Arts elegant to humanize the mind.
Then glow the warm affections of the heart,
And pure refinement decorates the breast.
Virtue, the subject of my present strain,
86
Though different prospects fascinate the view,
Enkindling raised emotions of delight;
Though the fine arts move, ravish, and exalt;
Though all creation, and all human schemes
Unite, to expand and grace the mind, to shed
Refining power; they ne'er communicate
Celestial influence to the wildered heart.
The sparks of love, that are divine, are not,
By human efforts simply, to be gained.
True heaven born virtue, that will stand the test
Of judgment and of durability,
That merits approbation most sincere,
Is harmony of mind with general ends.
This is a jewel in humanity;
Which, conscious of its value, prides in hopes
Of solid glory; and in public sphere
Or private, casts bright beaming lustre round.
The satisfaction of a life well spent,
And pleasing recollections of past scenes
Of duty done, of charity humane,
Gives consolation to the honest man
Deserving; though obscured from public show,
And scorned by those, his secret-working hand
Of kindness benefits. Affectionate
To all, to God sincere, devout, and chaste,
He fills his little sphere with usefulness,
And acts conformant to the general good.
But virtue, such as nature and fine arts
Enkindle, is benevolence of soul,
Complacent, kind, and friendly, prompting deeds
Conformable to moral truth, which bear
The sanction of humanity benign.
The mind, reviewing the transactions past
Of life, scans every motive, sees the effects
That they produce, and gathers pain
Or pleasure, as they seem or wrong or right.
A consciousness of cruelty to man
Or beast, has oft the heart of peace deprived,
The tender heart, and pierced it with the shaft
Of keen reflection. But beneficence
Diffuses satisfaction o'er the mind.
Enkindling raised emotions of delight;
Though the fine arts move, ravish, and exalt;
Though all creation, and all human schemes
Unite, to expand and grace the mind, to shed
Refining power; they ne'er communicate
Celestial influence to the wildered heart.
The sparks of love, that are divine, are not,
By human efforts simply, to be gained.
True heaven born virtue, that will stand the test
Of judgment and of durability,
That merits approbation most sincere,
Is harmony of mind with general ends.
This is a jewel in humanity;
Which, conscious of its value, prides in hopes
Of solid glory; and in public sphere
87
The satisfaction of a life well spent,
And pleasing recollections of past scenes
Of duty done, of charity humane,
Gives consolation to the honest man
Deserving; though obscured from public show,
And scorned by those, his secret-working hand
Of kindness benefits. Affectionate
To all, to God sincere, devout, and chaste,
He fills his little sphere with usefulness,
And acts conformant to the general good.
But virtue, such as nature and fine arts
Enkindle, is benevolence of soul,
Complacent, kind, and friendly, prompting deeds
Conformable to moral truth, which bear
The sanction of humanity benign.
The mind, reviewing the transactions past
88
That they produce, and gathers pain
Or pleasure, as they seem or wrong or right.
A consciousness of cruelty to man
Or beast, has oft the heart of peace deprived,
The tender heart, and pierced it with the shaft
Of keen reflection. But beneficence
Diffuses satisfaction o'er the mind.
The guide of virtue, through the scenes of life,
Is truth: a gem, whose value is not small.
The studious seek it with a keen desire
Ambitious, with anticipation sweet
Of what it promises; yet with much pains
Laborious. Still the inducement to pursue
Are strong. The satisfaction is refined,
The treasure rich, when purchased. Far above
The common level of the wife, it rears
The aspiring mind. It adds philosophy
To meditation, dignity to man,
And to his actions durability.
Is truth: a gem, whose value is not small.
The studious seek it with a keen desire
Ambitious, with anticipation sweet
Of what it promises; yet with much pains
Laborious. Still the inducement to pursue
Are strong. The satisfaction is refined,
The treasure rich, when purchased. Far above
The common level of the wife, it rears
89
To meditation, dignity to man,
And to his actions durability.
Quite different are the gifts of men; their thoughts,
Their reasonings, and their actions different too.
They labour, ardent, in the mental field,
Collecting each what better suits his taste.
Blinded by passion some, and some, through pride,
Run heedless; some, by prejudice deceived,
And ignorant, superior wisdom boast;
Others eccentric, seeking novelty,
Imbibe erroneous tenets; while the man,
Who reasons just, and practises the truth
He propagates, alone is in the right,
And acts compatible with virtue's end.
To follow solid metaphysic rule,
Demonstrate clear, illustrate, and evince,
Is the nice province of discerning minds.
Their reasonings, and their actions different too.
They labour, ardent, in the mental field,
Collecting each what better suits his taste.
Blinded by passion some, and some, through pride,
Run heedless; some, by prejudice deceived,
And ignorant, superior wisdom boast;
Others eccentric, seeking novelty,
Imbibe erroneous tenets; while the man,
Who reasons just, and practises the truth
He propagates, alone is in the right,
And acts compatible with virtue's end.
To follow solid metaphysic rule,
Demonstrate clear, illustrate, and evince,
90
Opinions various among men prevail,
And juster in proportion to the pains
They take, with candour or with prejudice,
To find out errour, and embrace the truth.
Discordant minds, contending, keep the pen
Fluent with mighty tides of argument,
Or flimsy, subtil, false or reasonable,
In every series of revolving time.
Should the mind ever cease to think, men then,
Perhaps, may cease to jar in sentiment.
Such is the bias education gives,
And such the heat of superstition, which
Insinuates poisonous influence o'er the mind,
While yet in weakness; such the varied strength
Of different geniuses; and such man's thirst
For new discovery, the prevalence
Of inconsistencies is not much strange.
But why, since candour in the search of truth
Is laudable, why form hypothesis,
Devious from right, and dazzling figures bring,
To enchant the mind, and, by the subtilties
Of art, use crafty methods to illude?
Why seminate gross prejudice austere,
With crude conception, for a partial cause?
And juster in proportion to the pains
They take, with candour or with prejudice,
To find out errour, and embrace the truth.
Discordant minds, contending, keep the pen
Fluent with mighty tides of argument,
Or flimsy, subtil, false or reasonable,
In every series of revolving time.
Should the mind ever cease to think, men then,
Perhaps, may cease to jar in sentiment.
Such is the bias education gives,
And such the heat of superstition, which
Insinuates poisonous influence o'er the mind,
While yet in weakness; such the varied strength
Of different geniuses; and such man's thirst
For new discovery, the prevalence
91
But why, since candour in the search of truth
Is laudable, why form hypothesis,
Devious from right, and dazzling figures bring,
To enchant the mind, and, by the subtilties
Of art, use crafty methods to illude?
Why seminate gross prejudice austere,
With crude conception, for a partial cause?
Men have eccentric geniuses, and feed
On various fare. Their ardour, in support
Of different sentiment, is not unlike
The raging conflict of hostilities,
Discordant, in the embattled field. The clash
Of truth and errour, like the clang of arms,
Keeps up the variance; and the endeavours used
To proselyte, like hopes of victory,
Which prompt to readiest methods of assault,
Set every mind in motion, in the search
Of copious argument, or false or true,
To bias or convince. The sprightliness
Of far fetched metaphors, or witty turns
Of diction, tickle some; some, grossly rude,
On superstition feed, unwholesome fare!
Anxious, with low delight, suck errour down,
And fancy they are wise. But errour, not
Like streams pierian, which illume the mind,
Only when drank in copious draughts; but, like
The vapid juice of poppy, stupifies
The more 'tis taken, and deludes the mind.
On various fare. Their ardour, in support
Of different sentiment, is not unlike
The raging conflict of hostilities,
Discordant, in the embattled field. The clash
Of truth and errour, like the clang of arms,
Keeps up the variance; and the endeavours used
To proselyte, like hopes of victory,
Which prompt to readiest methods of assault,
92
Of copious argument, or false or true,
To bias or convince. The sprightliness
Of far fetched metaphors, or witty turns
Of diction, tickle some; some, grossly rude,
On superstition feed, unwholesome fare!
Anxious, with low delight, suck errour down,
And fancy they are wise. But errour, not
Like streams pierian, which illume the mind,
Only when drank in copious draughts; but, like
The vapid juice of poppy, stupifies
The more 'tis taken, and deludes the mind.
The ray of truth the bigoted avoid.
Too much they know, to follow reason's path,
Preclude the light, and dare not step for fear.
The dreamer never argues; frightful shapes
None oftener sees; and none more hard to evince,
That they are phantoms of disordered brain.
The rude are more enlightened than the learned;
The superstitious, only, are controled
By candour; and the bigoted are fair.
Unconscious ignorance makes men more wife,
Than all the precepts of philosophy.
And thus a Newton was no sage, who taught,
Consistent, how the unerring HAND DIVINE,
That rules the vast of nature, sets the springs,
The secret springs in motion, and sustains
A world, a system, and a universe.
Thus too a Locke, on whose capacious mind
The orb of science poured meridian blaze,
Was not discerning: nor a Milton grand,
Who soared on fancy's towering wing sublime.
Nor was an Edward metaphysical,
Who, with great strength of mind and eagle eye,
Deep penetrated to the soul of truth.
Too much they know, to follow reason's path,
Preclude the light, and dare not step for fear.
The dreamer never argues; frightful shapes
None oftener sees; and none more hard to evince,
93
The rude are more enlightened than the learned;
The superstitious, only, are controled
By candour; and the bigoted are fair.
Unconscious ignorance makes men more wife,
Than all the precepts of philosophy.
And thus a Newton was no sage, who taught,
Consistent, how the unerring HAND DIVINE,
That rules the vast of nature, sets the springs,
The secret springs in motion, and sustains
A world, a system, and a universe.
Thus too a Locke, on whose capacious mind
The orb of science poured meridian blaze,
Was not discerning: nor a Milton grand,
Who soared on fancy's towering wing sublime.
Nor was an Edward metaphysical,
94
Deep penetrated to the soul of truth.
Science full orbed, and with refulgent blaze,
Illumes the modern world. The dawning beams,
The ancients cherished, glimmered faintly bright.
Still the proficiency they made, though small,
Pointed to truths in science, which unfold
In brighter times. But let the fathers sleep
In peace, and be content to call them wise,
Though ages since have thought themselves more wise
Than they were; but the moderns think themselves
Yet wiser still; and though America,
So famous, is esteemed more wise than all:
Even wiser than old Britain with her kings.
For envy grants superiority;
And the same rancorous ire, that would infect
Our country's bosom, cankers in her own.
Illumes the modern world. The dawning beams,
The ancients cherished, glimmered faintly bright.
Still the proficiency they made, though small,
Pointed to truths in science, which unfold
In brighter times. But let the fathers sleep
In peace, and be content to call them wise,
Though ages since have thought themselves more wise
Than they were; but the moderns think themselves
Yet wiser still; and though America,
So famous, is esteemed more wise than all:
Even wiser than old Britain with her kings.
For envy grants superiority;
And the same rancorous ire, that would infect
Our country's bosom, cankers in her own.
95
Strangely it mortifies the instructors pride,
To see the pupil rise above the rules
Of borrowed precept, and become more sage
Than he. So the young bird, whose pinions still
Unfledged and feeble, nurtured by the dam
With proved attention, soon, with equal wing,
In ether soars, and mingles with the flock;
Though does not soar, like men, above the rest.
To see the pupil rise above the rules
Of borrowed precept, and become more sage
Than he. So the young bird, whose pinions still
Unfledged and feeble, nurtured by the dam
With proved attention, soon, with equal wing,
In ether soars, and mingles with the flock;
Though does not soar, like men, above the rest.
The feathered throng, not by invention taught,
Nor by the light of reason's orb illumed,
Endowed with instinct only, are alike
Confined to narrow bounds of knowledge dim.
Nature has taught them as they need, to build
Their nest with skill, convenient for themselves,
And model as their little fancies prompt,
In way peculiar to each different kind.
Unlearned by complicated theory,
Or logic rule, they prove minutely wise,
And nicely regular. They trill their notes
Of rapture, sing enamoured to their mates
Their social lay, wild echoing through the groves,
When undisturbed, or pour the lengthened wail
Of lamentation, when the ruthless swain,
Unfeeling and regardless of their moan,
Bespoils their eggs, or robs them of their young.
Such nature dictates: but the mind of man
Progressive, of bright reason's boon possessed,
Moves forth in ceaseless action, e'er expands,
Makes great researches in the field of truth,
Discovers the connexions, intricate,
Of causes and effects, draws inference
From principle, forms plans and executes,
Indulges high raised hopes, and, with desire
Ambitious, climes the slippery steep to fame.
Nor by the light of reason's orb illumed,
Endowed with instinct only, are alike
Confined to narrow bounds of knowledge dim.
Nature has taught them as they need, to build
Their nest with skill, convenient for themselves,
And model as their little fancies prompt,
In way peculiar to each different kind.
Unlearned by complicated theory,
96
And nicely regular. They trill their notes
Of rapture, sing enamoured to their mates
Their social lay, wild echoing through the groves,
When undisturbed, or pour the lengthened wail
Of lamentation, when the ruthless swain,
Unfeeling and regardless of their moan,
Bespoils their eggs, or robs them of their young.
Such nature dictates: but the mind of man
Progressive, of bright reason's boon possessed,
Moves forth in ceaseless action, e'er expands,
Makes great researches in the field of truth,
Discovers the connexions, intricate,
Of causes and effects, draws inference
From principle, forms plans and executes,
Indulges high raised hopes, and, with desire
Ambitious, climes the slippery steep to fame.
97
As we expatiate o'er the bustling world,
Look through the various scenes of busy care,
'Tis all tumultuous and a toilsome round.
Man seeks for happiness, but vainly seeks,
To find it in the dreams of wealth and fame.
Formed for enjoyment, with intense desires,
He aims for pleasure; pain is oft imbibed.
He hates, in others, that, which in himself
He loves; despises what he cannot gain;
And, suffering envy to corrode his breast,
Fosters the poison that destroys his peace.
Urged on by passion, and inflamed with hope,
With heightened expectation, and misled
By erring reason's dictates, all his views
On mere imaginary things are placed,
On the false glitter of delusive joy.
Virtue is slighted, and her influence scorned.
Anxious he roves from scene to scene, in quest
Of things to gratify desire; but, led
By partial notions, never gains his end.
At empty bubbles, which enchant the fight,
Delight the fancy, and excite desire,
He grasps, and catches but the fleeting air.
Then disappointed expectation comes.
The disappointed, ever on the jar,
Feel all the pangs of anguish and regret.
Too often heated fancy paints a pearl,
A real treasure, in an empty theme;
Which, when procured, but surfeits and disgusts.
Too oft illuded, and as oft deceived,
Man still persists, is disappointed still;
Yet still pursues imaginary joy,
And his acquirements jeer at all his hopes.
The rose, that blooms so fair, he fain would seize;
Its foliage, alas, drops off—frail thing!
The briar stings his hand; the only prize
He gains, a bramble; the only pleasure, pain.
But solid judgment, stationed at the helm
Of fancy, moderates to noble views.
It regulates the passions, and the breast
Resigns to social virtue's gentle sway.
Look through the various scenes of busy care,
'Tis all tumultuous and a toilsome round.
Man seeks for happiness, but vainly seeks,
To find it in the dreams of wealth and fame.
Formed for enjoyment, with intense desires,
He aims for pleasure; pain is oft imbibed.
He hates, in others, that, which in himself
He loves; despises what he cannot gain;
And, suffering envy to corrode his breast,
Fosters the poison that destroys his peace.
Urged on by passion, and inflamed with hope,
With heightened expectation, and misled
By erring reason's dictates, all his views
On mere imaginary things are placed,
On the false glitter of delusive joy.
Virtue is slighted, and her influence scorned.
98
Of things to gratify desire; but, led
By partial notions, never gains his end.
At empty bubbles, which enchant the fight,
Delight the fancy, and excite desire,
He grasps, and catches but the fleeting air.
Then disappointed expectation comes.
The disappointed, ever on the jar,
Feel all the pangs of anguish and regret.
Too often heated fancy paints a pearl,
A real treasure, in an empty theme;
Which, when procured, but surfeits and disgusts.
Too oft illuded, and as oft deceived,
Man still persists, is disappointed still;
Yet still pursues imaginary joy,
And his acquirements jeer at all his hopes.
The rose, that blooms so fair, he fain would seize;
99
The briar stings his hand; the only prize
He gains, a bramble; the only pleasure, pain.
But solid judgment, stationed at the helm
Of fancy, moderates to noble views.
It regulates the passions, and the breast
Resigns to social virtue's gentle sway.
As things material are inadequate
To expectation, and refined desire,
Hope, wanton hope, oft meets with a reverse.
'Tis mental food alone can satisfy
A being, immaterial in his make,
Of social nature, and whose bliss is love.
For solid pleasure things of vanity
Were ne'er intended. Their possession yields
Small satisfaction even to narrow souls.
True virtue's social sweets, the harmonies
Of generous spirits, constitute the charms,
And dear felicities of life; although
In deep obscurity immured, and where
Nor wealth, nor trump of fame were ever known.
To expectation, and refined desire,
Hope, wanton hope, oft meets with a reverse.
'Tis mental food alone can satisfy
A being, immaterial in his make,
Of social nature, and whose bliss is love.
For solid pleasure things of vanity
Were ne'er intended. Their possession yields
Small satisfaction even to narrow souls.
True virtue's social sweets, the harmonies
100
And dear felicities of life; although
In deep obscurity immured, and where
Nor wealth, nor trump of fame were ever known.
Hail tranquil solitude! thou sweet retreat,
Where virtuous minds oft love to dwell; and where,
Secluse from noise, they cherish finer flames.
Thou gentle nurse of meditation pure!
Thy haunts are sacred to the pensive mind,
Congenial to divine philosophy,
Sweet to the soul of museful man. There glide
The hours unruffled with a silken wing;
Nor molestation e'er invades thy paths
Unknown to bustle. Nor temptation finds
An avenue, to enter thy resort
Beloved; but is debarred with all its train.
Conscience, with thee, its purity preserves;
The mind is free from envy's sting; the heart
Unsullied, and the bosom crowned with peace.
Thou art the confine of the pensive mind,
The noisy city, of the giddy throng.
Obsequious ever to reflection calm,
To rich improvement, in thy pleasing walks,
Sweet solitude, the meditative mind,
Free from the flattering whimsies of the world,
Is e'er indulgent to the dreams of thought.
There dwells tranquillity of mind; which, clear
As morn unclouded, gives reflection scope;
And, ever busy on delightful themes,
Creation scans, the monuments of art
Descries, and their effect on human kind
Discovering, hopes success to virtue's reign,
To science, to society, and man.
Where virtuous minds oft love to dwell; and where,
Secluse from noise, they cherish finer flames.
Thou gentle nurse of meditation pure!
Thy haunts are sacred to the pensive mind,
Congenial to divine philosophy,
Sweet to the soul of museful man. There glide
The hours unruffled with a silken wing;
Nor molestation e'er invades thy paths
Unknown to bustle. Nor temptation finds
An avenue, to enter thy resort
Beloved; but is debarred with all its train.
Conscience, with thee, its purity preserves;
101
Unsullied, and the bosom crowned with peace.
Thou art the confine of the pensive mind,
The noisy city, of the giddy throng.
Obsequious ever to reflection calm,
To rich improvement, in thy pleasing walks,
Sweet solitude, the meditative mind,
Free from the flattering whimsies of the world,
Is e'er indulgent to the dreams of thought.
There dwells tranquillity of mind; which, clear
As morn unclouded, gives reflection scope;
And, ever busy on delightful themes,
Creation scans, the monuments of art
Descries, and their effect on human kind
Discovering, hopes success to virtue's reign,
To science, to society, and man.
Some, whose pursuit is glory and applause,
Discarding every sympathy of soul
Refined, and pleasures of a moral life,
Devoid of principle and honest views,
The golden treasure seize, the palm of wealth,
Flutter in opulence and rich attire,
In all the pomp and splendour of a court,
In affluency great; but soon, alas,
Stern fortune frowns disastrous, and involves
Their gaudy glory in obscurity!
They seem for moments happy, only seem,
And then are destined to anxiety.
102
Refined, and pleasures of a moral life,
Devoid of principle and honest views,
The golden treasure seize, the palm of wealth,
Flutter in opulence and rich attire,
In all the pomp and splendour of a court,
In affluency great; but soon, alas,
Stern fortune frowns disastrous, and involves
Their gaudy glory in obscurity!
They seem for moments happy, only seem,
And then are destined to anxiety.
How fickle fortune blasts the hopes of men!
How strangely she upsets their high raised schemes!
In every stage of life, through every scene,
She, watchful, seeks to pull ambition down,
High-browed ambition; and would fain conform
To virtue and humility the mind.
How strangely she upsets their high raised schemes!
In every stage of life, through every scene,
She, watchful, seeks to pull ambition down,
High-browed ambition; and would fain conform
To virtue and humility the mind.
103
Some, trivial, run a dissipated round,
Regardless of the impending ills of life;
Others, securely careless of their end,
Important end! waste time in slothful ease;
Some, active, in accumulating wealth,
And covetous, deny themselves the fruit,
Their labour yields; and others, prodigal,
Are brought to pinching poverty and want.
All fain would travel pleasure's flowery road;
And while they run the chase of golden hopes,
The gay career in giddy circles run,
And of elysian transports fondly dream,
The fleeting moments rapidly depart;
Hours, days, weeks, months, and seasons roll away,
And life is dwindled to oblivious dreams.
Age imperceptibly steals o'er the bloom
Of youth; manhood arrives, and soon is gone;
Then sickness, with her desolating train,
All ghastly, ominous with dire disease,
Instils her poison through the human frame,
And, fatal, weakens all the springs of life.
Then, like the leaves in autumn, which elapse
When touched by frost, we droop and fall away.
Time draws the curtain round, and shuts the scene
Of human action. Then the soul is left,
To feel too conscious of eternity,
To realize its worth and just deserts.
Regardless of the impending ills of life;
Others, securely careless of their end,
Important end! waste time in slothful ease;
Some, active, in accumulating wealth,
And covetous, deny themselves the fruit,
Their labour yields; and others, prodigal,
Are brought to pinching poverty and want.
All fain would travel pleasure's flowery road;
And while they run the chase of golden hopes,
The gay career in giddy circles run,
And of elysian transports fondly dream,
The fleeting moments rapidly depart;
Hours, days, weeks, months, and seasons roll away,
And life is dwindled to oblivious dreams.
Age imperceptibly steals o'er the bloom
Of youth; manhood arrives, and soon is gone;
104
All ghastly, ominous with dire disease,
Instils her poison through the human frame,
And, fatal, weakens all the springs of life.
Then, like the leaves in autumn, which elapse
When touched by frost, we droop and fall away.
Time draws the curtain round, and shuts the scene
Of human action. Then the soul is left,
To feel too conscious of eternity,
To realize its worth and just deserts.
Thus to all those, who void of virtue's boon,
To the base shrine of avaricious views,
The enjoyments sacrifice of social life,
The emoluments of same are vanity,
All its pursuits are dreams, its joys deceit.
Thrice blessed is he, who acts the wiser part;
Who keeps himself unspotted from the world,
And unintangled in its treacherous wiles.
Who thinks he's happy, is the happier man.
Enjoyment crowns his wishes, and repletes
Desire. Content he does not hope for that,
Which never was designed for virtuous use.
To the base shrine of avaricious views,
The enjoyments sacrifice of social life,
The emoluments of same are vanity,
All its pursuits are dreams, its joys deceit.
Thrice blessed is he, who acts the wiser part;
Who keeps himself unspotted from the world,
105
Who thinks he's happy, is the happier man.
Enjoyment crowns his wishes, and repletes
Desire. Content he does not hope for that,
Which never was designed for virtuous use.
But not alone we see ambition stalk,
Trampling on virtue, to the shrine of gold
Advancing; but capricious vanity,
The child of beauty and of slattering vile,
We see, inflate with prudery and whim.
These are the worst seducers of the world;
Adverse to friendship and morality.
Trampling on virtue, to the shrine of gold
Advancing; but capricious vanity,
The child of beauty and of slattering vile,
We see, inflate with prudery and whim.
These are the worst seducers of the world;
Adverse to friendship and morality.
Beauty, extrinsical, is but a name;
A gift of nature; an adaptedness
To please the fancy, or delight the eye.
'Tis true, its kindling power is great; and who,
What heart, that when its magic beaming eye
Darts potent inspiration, can resist?
In youth it charms; in middle age it fades,
And saturates the sense, and then decays.
A gift of nature; an adaptedness
To please the fancy, or delight the eye.
'Tis true, its kindling power is great; and who,
What heart, that when its magic beaming eye
106
In youth it charms; in middle age it fades,
And saturates the sense, and then decays.
When in my boyhood, fondly I observed
The fair; their geniuses and tempers marked
With critic eye. My fancy was well pleased
With virtue, even in the morn of life,
Nor was my heart unfeeling of the flame
And amorous impulse, nature early gave.
Beauty with virtue joined, oft won, ('tis told
With freedom for 'twas innocent) ah, won
A conquest o'er my little sluttering heart.
Enraptured I beheld, with wanton eye,
The red rose blossom on the fair one's cheek,
Who breathed of spring; whose rosy lip shed sweets
Ambrosial; and whose breast too felt the flame.
While I perceived the magic of her eye,
The voice of love soft-whispered to my heart;
The modest red-enkindling blush bespoke
My passion, and its innocence betrayed.
The beauties of the field, then too, I loved,
Admired to ramble with the little lass,
And crop the flowers of spring. The stripling boy
Knows more, feels more, far more than fame allows.
The fair; their geniuses and tempers marked
With critic eye. My fancy was well pleased
With virtue, even in the morn of life,
Nor was my heart unfeeling of the flame
And amorous impulse, nature early gave.
Beauty with virtue joined, oft won, ('tis told
With freedom for 'twas innocent) ah, won
A conquest o'er my little sluttering heart.
Enraptured I beheld, with wanton eye,
The red rose blossom on the fair one's cheek,
Who breathed of spring; whose rosy lip shed sweets
Ambrosial; and whose breast too felt the flame.
While I perceived the magic of her eye,
107
The modest red-enkindling blush bespoke
My passion, and its innocence betrayed.
The beauties of the field, then too, I loved,
Admired to ramble with the little lass,
And crop the flowers of spring. The stripling boy
Knows more, feels more, far more than fame allows.
Nature is often lavish with her gifts,
And, when bestowed on females, be it kept
A secret; for to intimate the thought,
Is dangerous; makes them vain; and vanity
May virtue, modest virtue, never know.
It dissipates the mind, corrupts the heart,
And makes sweet females supercilious prudes.
But why should those, who ought in tenderness
To nourish virtue in the female breast,
To fan the graces, and prevent the fall
Of innocence; why should they dare to instil
The poisonous flame? by thoughts unchaste, expressed
In smoother terms, why flatter to betray?
To injure sweetness, satiate, and despoil?
Why raze the temple on which virtue builds
Her throne; where, like the empress of the night,
In modest eminence, she fain would shine?
Who flatters, is of impudence possessed:
Who does it to inspire with vanity,
Is inimical to fair virtue's cause;
And base the wretch who flatters to seduce!
Too oft unfeeling inhumanity
Has watched, with dissolute intent, the path,
Where female virtue innocently walked,
Unconscious of the harm. Too oft are worth
And thriving glory blasted in their bloom.
And, when bestowed on females, be it kept
A secret; for to intimate the thought,
Is dangerous; makes them vain; and vanity
May virtue, modest virtue, never know.
It dissipates the mind, corrupts the heart,
And makes sweet females supercilious prudes.
But why should those, who ought in tenderness
To nourish virtue in the female breast,
To fan the graces, and prevent the fall
108
The poisonous flame? by thoughts unchaste, expressed
In smoother terms, why flatter to betray?
To injure sweetness, satiate, and despoil?
Why raze the temple on which virtue builds
Her throne; where, like the empress of the night,
In modest eminence, she fain would shine?
Who flatters, is of impudence possessed:
Who does it to inspire with vanity,
Is inimical to fair virtue's cause;
And base the wretch who flatters to seduce!
Too oft unfeeling inhumanity
Has watched, with dissolute intent, the path,
Where female virtue innocently walked,
Unconscious of the harm. Too oft are worth
And thriving glory blasted in their bloom.
O, human species, what vile infamy
Would stigmatize thy race, did female worth
Hear wantonly to flattery's rant, and yield,
With unreserve, to libertine intrigue,
Still virtue sometimes falls. But did the fair
The wiles of sycophants discountenance,
Brand the deceiver with deserved disgrace,
And make unblemished honour, open truth,
And mental charms, the standard of their smiles;
Virtue would flourish with unrivalled growth,
Would triumph o'er the fall of vice, and add
New rays to human glory. Meekness, then,
Would smooth the brow of conscious innocence,
With down-cast looks and fascinating charms.
When modesty forsakes them, loveliness
Departs, and every beauty disappears.
Blessed is the purer heart, that vanity
Ne'er tainted, sweet the guileless countenance
Of honesty, and eminent the mind,
That dignity to human nature shows,
Through the bright mirror of morality.
Complacent manners, unaffected ease,
And dispositions sweet, which indicate
Refinement, ever charm congenial minds.
109
Hear wantonly to flattery's rant, and yield,
With unreserve, to libertine intrigue,
Still virtue sometimes falls. But did the fair
The wiles of sycophants discountenance,
Brand the deceiver with deserved disgrace,
And make unblemished honour, open truth,
And mental charms, the standard of their smiles;
Virtue would flourish with unrivalled growth,
Would triumph o'er the fall of vice, and add
New rays to human glory. Meekness, then,
Would smooth the brow of conscious innocence,
With down-cast looks and fascinating charms.
When modesty forsakes them, loveliness
Departs, and every beauty disappears.
Blessed is the purer heart, that vanity
Ne'er tainted, sweet the guileless countenance
110
That dignity to human nature shows,
Through the bright mirror of morality.
Complacent manners, unaffected ease,
And dispositions sweet, which indicate
Refinement, ever charm congenial minds.
In purer ages, when brave honour met
The approving smile of virtue with delight;
When lovers frank, in fondness entertained
The lass, with feats their valour had atchieved,
Or with the instructive tale of simple truth;
Then base disguise and flattery were unknown.
To give the worthy deed its due applause,
Was virtue's plea, and merit's sure reward.
The blooming fair then lent their manners mild,
To soften roughness in the ruder sex,
And stole becoming dignity from them.
By mutual aids, rusticity acquired
Refinement delicate and gentler mould;
And weak effeminacy, nobler grace.
The benefit, alternately derived,
Gave affability and worth to each.
No vain applause intruded on the rules
Of decency; nor did infatuate thirst
Of gold eradicate, from man, a sense
Of justice, nor a love of virtuous deeds.
The approving smile of virtue with delight;
When lovers frank, in fondness entertained
The lass, with feats their valour had atchieved,
Or with the instructive tale of simple truth;
Then base disguise and flattery were unknown.
To give the worthy deed its due applause,
Was virtue's plea, and merit's sure reward.
The blooming fair then lent their manners mild,
To soften roughness in the ruder sex,
And stole becoming dignity from them.
111
Refinement delicate and gentler mould;
And weak effeminacy, nobler grace.
The benefit, alternately derived,
Gave affability and worth to each.
No vain applause intruded on the rules
Of decency; nor did infatuate thirst
Of gold eradicate, from man, a sense
Of justice, nor a love of virtuous deeds.
Flattery, the common fosterer of guile,
In modern times, by freakish belles and beaus,
Obtains the smoother sense of compliment.
Still, with its blandished softness, its effects
Are rankling poison in the unguarded heart.
It learns the fair to cultivate deceit,
And slight the brilliant talents of the mind.
Some paint, dress fine, assume affected airs,
And, primming at the mirror, waste the day,
To fancy they are pretty: fondly dote
On their imagined, but unreal charms,
And foster dear deception of themselves.
Have you not seen a peacock strut superb,
With flirts and turns, with ostentatious plumes,
And gaudy show? and did the dazzling sight,
With colours splendid, beautify his legs?
Nor does the vesture of the gay coquette,
The affected air, the prim, and painted cheek,
Add graces or accomplishments of mind.
Often, too often is intrinsic worth,
For beauty, slighted; and the glowing cheek,
That nature decks, by paint uncomely daubed.
Strange, that the sprightliest fancy should be cloyed
With native grace, to have recourse to art!
The well mixed colours and the gentlest touch,
Far from adorning nature's images,
Of nice perfection, tarnish and deform.
The painter, though his taste be exquisite,
Can never add a beauty to the rose.
With curious and minute observing eye,
With fine discernment, pleased he may perceive
Its mingled tinges and proportioned shades;
But ne'er can adequately draw the theme.
He sees, admires those beauties, pencil ne'er
Can steal, nor artists imitate exact;
Although the tints be delicately fine,
And laid with lightly-fingered skill, and nice.
Hence, why does female vanity attempt,
To grace the cheek, too fair to be adorned?
The finer pieces, drawn with master strokes,
May please a moment, carelessly beheld;
But cannot captivate, like images
By nature's self portrayed. The blooming cheek,
The ruby lip, the brightly sparkling eye,
And comely set of features, vivified
With life and health, are objects beautiful,
Too beautiful for art to emulate;
And the superior graces of the mind,
Ever unfolding with still brighter charms,
Can captivate, when nature's beauties fade;
And when the mimic arts no more can please.
In modern times, by freakish belles and beaus,
Obtains the smoother sense of compliment.
Still, with its blandished softness, its effects
Are rankling poison in the unguarded heart.
It learns the fair to cultivate deceit,
And slight the brilliant talents of the mind.
Some paint, dress fine, assume affected airs,
112
To fancy they are pretty: fondly dote
On their imagined, but unreal charms,
And foster dear deception of themselves.
Have you not seen a peacock strut superb,
With flirts and turns, with ostentatious plumes,
And gaudy show? and did the dazzling sight,
With colours splendid, beautify his legs?
Nor does the vesture of the gay coquette,
The affected air, the prim, and painted cheek,
Add graces or accomplishments of mind.
Often, too often is intrinsic worth,
For beauty, slighted; and the glowing cheek,
That nature decks, by paint uncomely daubed.
Strange, that the sprightliest fancy should be cloyed
With native grace, to have recourse to art!
The well mixed colours and the gentlest touch,
113
Of nice perfection, tarnish and deform.
The painter, though his taste be exquisite,
Can never add a beauty to the rose.
With curious and minute observing eye,
With fine discernment, pleased he may perceive
Its mingled tinges and proportioned shades;
But ne'er can adequately draw the theme.
He sees, admires those beauties, pencil ne'er
Can steal, nor artists imitate exact;
Although the tints be delicately fine,
And laid with lightly-fingered skill, and nice.
Hence, why does female vanity attempt,
To grace the cheek, too fair to be adorned?
The finer pieces, drawn with master strokes,
May please a moment, carelessly beheld;
But cannot captivate, like images
114
The ruby lip, the brightly sparkling eye,
And comely set of features, vivified
With life and health, are objects beautiful,
Too beautiful for art to emulate;
And the superior graces of the mind,
Ever unfolding with still brighter charms,
Can captivate, when nature's beauties fade;
And when the mimic arts no more can please.
See yonder! in the gaudy pride of state,
The rose-bud, sportive, vibrates to the breeze,
Exhaling sweetest odours. Softening dews,
Mellifluous, yield a nutriment benign,
Which prompts its growth, expands its foliage;
And there it glows the beauteous pride of spring.
Its matchless graces charm the sight; and though,
On either side, environed by the thorn,
It flourishes unsoiled, and sports unharmed.
Emblem of genuine virtue! which nor pride
Of life, nor lure of gold, nor beauty's power,
Can elevate, intice, or overcome.
Sweet emblem also of aspiring youth,
Who sport upon the tide of fame, and swell
With high desire and emulating hopes.
Beguiling are thy beauties! Ruddiness,
Festivity, and sweets in thee combine.
The garden owes to thee its matchless grace
And pristine grandeur: and ingenuous youth,
Their fond desires of merited applause,
To virtue owe. The precious jewel this,
On which depends true eminence in life.
Fair virtue is the pride of youth, the rose
The garden's pride. But youth ne'er represent
The charms of virtue in so pleasing light,
And striking, as the garden shows the rose.
Still virtue, even amid the blasts of time,
Buds and expands; though oft embarrassed much;
And, if with heavenly principle combined,
When winged to milder suns, in glory beams,
And flourishes in ever brightening bloom.
While cropped, perhaps, by some inclement hand,
Or withering on its stalk, the rose expires;
Its tinges fades; and every charm decays.
Twice, thrice two days it bloomed, perhaps a week;
Then sudden, from its boasted grandeur, pomp,
And heightened glory, to oblivion fell;
As falls all outward beauty and its pride.
The rose-bud, sportive, vibrates to the breeze,
Exhaling sweetest odours. Softening dews,
Mellifluous, yield a nutriment benign,
Which prompts its growth, expands its foliage;
And there it glows the beauteous pride of spring.
Its matchless graces charm the sight; and though,
On either side, environed by the thorn,
115
Emblem of genuine virtue! which nor pride
Of life, nor lure of gold, nor beauty's power,
Can elevate, intice, or overcome.
Sweet emblem also of aspiring youth,
Who sport upon the tide of fame, and swell
With high desire and emulating hopes.
Beguiling are thy beauties! Ruddiness,
Festivity, and sweets in thee combine.
The garden owes to thee its matchless grace
And pristine grandeur: and ingenuous youth,
Their fond desires of merited applause,
To virtue owe. The precious jewel this,
On which depends true eminence in life.
Fair virtue is the pride of youth, the rose
The garden's pride. But youth ne'er represent
The charms of virtue in so pleasing light,
116
Still virtue, even amid the blasts of time,
Buds and expands; though oft embarrassed much;
And, if with heavenly principle combined,
When winged to milder suns, in glory beams,
And flourishes in ever brightening bloom.
While cropped, perhaps, by some inclement hand,
Or withering on its stalk, the rose expires;
Its tinges fades; and every charm decays.
Twice, thrice two days it bloomed, perhaps a week;
Then sudden, from its boasted grandeur, pomp,
And heightened glory, to oblivion fell;
As falls all outward beauty and its pride.
One youth, though in the bloom of health, and gay
In harmless merriment, unknown to care
Perplexing; though in eager search of fame,
Urged by desire and emulation warm;
Which, if e'er gratified, give ardency
To other hopes; though strowed with flowers his path;
Though pleasure smiles in every chase; one youth,
And only one, is there for man designed.
He rises into life, runs giddy rounds
Of flattering joy, forgetful of its cheats,
And of the hurrying years. Age after age
Succeeds; and treacherous illusive time,
With swift-winged flight, in hasty guile steals on,
To bury all its grandeur in the dust,
Or, rather else, to obliviate its crimes.
Nature is subject to perpetual waste;
And soon forgotten are the exploits of men.
The deeds of hero's, mighty boasts of fame,
Of art, and all the wonders of the world,
Are wasting fast the memory to evade.
In harmless merriment, unknown to care
Perplexing; though in eager search of fame,
Urged by desire and emulation warm;
117
To other hopes; though strowed with flowers his path;
Though pleasure smiles in every chase; one youth,
And only one, is there for man designed.
He rises into life, runs giddy rounds
Of flattering joy, forgetful of its cheats,
And of the hurrying years. Age after age
Succeeds; and treacherous illusive time,
With swift-winged flight, in hasty guile steals on,
To bury all its grandeur in the dust,
Or, rather else, to obliviate its crimes.
Nature is subject to perpetual waste;
And soon forgotten are the exploits of men.
The deeds of hero's, mighty boasts of fame,
Of art, and all the wonders of the world,
Are wasting fast the memory to evade.
118
The seasons are a type of human life.
Now, as the green scene opens, bud the trees,
And put forth young-eyed infancy awhile;
Now gaily blossom in the pride of youth;
Now gather all their nourishment, in strength
Of manhood; then, mature, give up their spoils,
And yield obedient to the blasts of time.
Now, as the green scene opens, bud the trees,
And put forth young-eyed infancy awhile;
Now gaily blossom in the pride of youth;
Now gather all their nourishment, in strength
Of manhood; then, mature, give up their spoils,
And yield obedient to the blasts of time.
Like spring, when vegetative vigour works,
Infusing secret influence through the tribes
Of rising forms, and beauty's fairy train,
The youthful mind, susceptible and warm
Of feeling, shows the pleasing habitudes
Of virtue in its thriving state, ere yet
The briars of ambition, and the cares
Of busier age, infringe upon its growth.
Then nature's dictates, throbbing at the heart,
In harmless mirths and sensibilities,
Attachments warm and amorous flames, and all
The kind affections of congenial souls,
Excite to habits moral and humane.
Friendship diffuses sweets; and sympathy
Mingles caresses in all scenes of life.
Virtue's blest offspring! qualities most dear,
In human nature, and in social joys!
Infusing secret influence through the tribes
Of rising forms, and beauty's fairy train,
The youthful mind, susceptible and warm
Of feeling, shows the pleasing habitudes
Of virtue in its thriving state, ere yet
The briars of ambition, and the cares
Of busier age, infringe upon its growth.
Then nature's dictates, throbbing at the heart,
In harmless mirths and sensibilities,
119
The kind affections of congenial souls,
Excite to habits moral and humane.
Friendship diffuses sweets; and sympathy
Mingles caresses in all scenes of life.
Virtue's blest offspring! qualities most dear,
In human nature, and in social joys!
When with disastrous fate the breast is torn;
And goodness, sadly injured, is compelled
To grieve, sweet sympathy her aid bestows,
Pours consolation's balm in every wound,
Endeavours to inspire, with lenient ease,
The bosom, gives exhilaration sweet
Of mind, and wakes vivacity of thought.
Ingenuous spirits with immingling fires
Congenial, ratified by long proved love,
Proffer affection, show attachment warm,
And blend their feelings in one common lot.
Then far avaunt, ye sadly lingering hours,
Nor enter where concordant passions reign!
For mutual pleasures e'er untainted flow,
Where dwell the generous, where the virtuous dwell.
That lovely tenderness of soul sincere,
Which care dissolves and mitigates distress,
And the kind heart that vibrates at our joy,
Are blessed ingredients of sweet sympathy.
She lends her smiles reviving, kindles hope,
The aspect sad dispels, regales the soul,
Averts corroding sorrows from the mind,
And wins it over to a mirthful mood.
Or when kind fortune smiles, she heightens joy;
And cheerfulness leads on the happier hours.
And goodness, sadly injured, is compelled
To grieve, sweet sympathy her aid bestows,
Pours consolation's balm in every wound,
Endeavours to inspire, with lenient ease,
The bosom, gives exhilaration sweet
Of mind, and wakes vivacity of thought.
Ingenuous spirits with immingling fires
Congenial, ratified by long proved love,
Proffer affection, show attachment warm,
120
Then far avaunt, ye sadly lingering hours,
Nor enter where concordant passions reign!
For mutual pleasures e'er untainted flow,
Where dwell the generous, where the virtuous dwell.
That lovely tenderness of soul sincere,
Which care dissolves and mitigates distress,
And the kind heart that vibrates at our joy,
Are blessed ingredients of sweet sympathy.
She lends her smiles reviving, kindles hope,
The aspect sad dispels, regales the soul,
Averts corroding sorrows from the mind,
And wins it over to a mirthful mood.
Or when kind fortune smiles, she heightens joy;
And cheerfulness leads on the happier hours.
Spirits refined and virtuous coalesce.
Their tempers, mutual, harmonize sincere;
And intimacy ratifies the bond.
'Tis this discovers qualities humane,
Which more attract, the more we realize
Their merits. Oft has intimacy found
The jewel precious, that neglect concealed.
Merit, not showy, not too fond of fame,
And eminent above the groveling arts
Of flattery in disguise, and boasting rant,
Is nobly humble; keeps herself secluse;
And by the passing throng is not discerned.
But intimacy strips the mantle off,
Unfolding treasures of consummate worth.
Their tempers, mutual, harmonize sincere;
121
'Tis this discovers qualities humane,
Which more attract, the more we realize
Their merits. Oft has intimacy found
The jewel precious, that neglect concealed.
Merit, not showy, not too fond of fame,
And eminent above the groveling arts
Of flattery in disguise, and boasting rant,
Is nobly humble; keeps herself secluse;
And by the passing throng is not discerned.
But intimacy strips the mantle off,
Unfolding treasures of consummate worth.
How happy to indulge the cordial glow
Of social feeling, friendship called! Herein
The finer joys consist of mutual man.
The soul exhilarating intercourse
Of bland philanthropy gives tardy time
A swiftly-fleeting pinion to be gone,
Embezzling all our pains, and leaving sweets
Her votaries to bless. When anxious thought
Sorrows the brow, and causes grief acute,
Mingle with friends; the cordial hand bestow;
Cheer up your spirits; every care dispel,
And let hilarity complete the joy.
Mirth in its proper time is innocent:
Not incompatible with virtue's rules;
Nor has unhappy influence on the mind.
Of social feeling, friendship called! Herein
The finer joys consist of mutual man.
The soul exhilarating intercourse
Of bland philanthropy gives tardy time
122
Embezzling all our pains, and leaving sweets
Her votaries to bless. When anxious thought
Sorrows the brow, and causes grief acute,
Mingle with friends; the cordial hand bestow;
Cheer up your spirits; every care dispel,
And let hilarity complete the joy.
Mirth in its proper time is innocent:
Not incompatible with virtue's rules;
Nor has unhappy influence on the mind.
A friend—how dear the name! a friend sincere,
What comprehension in the term! a friend,
Joyous, I once possessed—another self.
May roses amaranthine deck his urn;
Love crown his memory. He fell, when young,
A luckless victim to an early tomb!
In bloom of life he fell; not like the flower
Autumnal, lapsing in an age mature;
But like a lily of the vernal morn,
That bloomed awhile; but faded ere 'twas noon.
Such the mysterious calls of PROVIDENCE!
His gentle virtue blossomed like the rose,
Promised much benefit to man; but soon,
Ah, sudden, gained a passport to the skies!
What comprehension in the term! a friend,
Joyous, I once possessed—another self.
May roses amaranthine deck his urn;
Love crown his memory. He fell, when young,
A luckless victim to an early tomb!
In bloom of life he fell; not like the flower
123
But like a lily of the vernal morn,
That bloomed awhile; but faded ere 'twas noon.
Such the mysterious calls of PROVIDENCE!
His gentle virtue blossomed like the rose,
Promised much benefit to man; but soon,
Ah, sudden, gained a passport to the skies!
Though lawless passions false, enkindled warm
By heated fancy, to infatuate rage,
Lose, shortly lose their irritated glow,
And turn to cold retaliating guilt;
Still there's a flame, that flourishes in growth
Immortal. And although the sordid soul,
Ignoble, unacquainted with the charms
Of friendship and the power of sympathy,
Scoff at the affections, kindled at the shrine
Of virtue; it ne'er lessens, but augments
The joys of those who feel them. Genuine sweets
Of friendship can be realized by those
Alone, who merit, taste, and are revived:
Who never knew disguise; whose open brow
Meets virtue's smile, and speaks a kindred soul.
By heated fancy, to infatuate rage,
Lose, shortly lose their irritated glow,
And turn to cold retaliating guilt;
Still there's a flame, that flourishes in growth
Immortal. And although the sordid soul,
Ignoble, unacquainted with the charms
Of friendship and the power of sympathy,
Scoff at the affections, kindled at the shrine
Of virtue; it ne'er lessens, but augments
124
Of friendship can be realized by those
Alone, who merit, taste, and are revived:
Who never knew disguise; whose open brow
Meets virtue's smile, and speaks a kindred soul.
Where e'er the graces shine, in mental powers,
Or outward action; where affections kind
And charity their benefits diffuse;
There virtue dwells, society to bless.
Holding dominion o'er the human mind,
She humbles vanity, ambition curbs,
And moderates them to benigner rule.
No vengeful passions, then, control within;
Nor actions, of immoral cast, disgrace
The human species. Peace with union dwells.
By science' beams enlightened, by fine arts
Exalted, warmed by virtue, human minds
New mould receive; and pure refinement reigns,
Auspicious reigns, to harmonize the world.
Or outward action; where affections kind
And charity their benefits diffuse;
There virtue dwells, society to bless.
Holding dominion o'er the human mind,
She humbles vanity, ambition curbs,
And moderates them to benigner rule.
No vengeful passions, then, control within;
Nor actions, of immoral cast, disgrace
The human species. Peace with union dwells.
By science' beams enlightened, by fine arts
Exalted, warmed by virtue, human minds
125
Auspicious reigns, to harmonize the world.
Thus having ranged the field of nature, found
Ingredients for reflection to advance
Her works; thence traced the active powers of man
In mimic ingenuities, and marked
Refinement, as o'er human intellect
It sweetly stole; imagination lowers
Her pinions, and participates repose.
Ingredients for reflection to advance
Her works; thence traced the active powers of man
In mimic ingenuities, and marked
Refinement, as o'er human intellect
It sweetly stole; imagination lowers
Her pinions, and participates repose.
| The progress of refinement | |