 | [A rhapsody, in] The Maryland Gazette reviv'd |  |
A RHAPSODY.
[Nemora vero?] & luci & Secretum ipsum, tantem mihi afferunt voluptatem, ut inter
[praecipuos Carminum?] fructus numerem, quod nec in Stepitu, nec inter Sordes ac lachrymas
[pereorum?] componuntur, Sed secedit Animus in loca pura atque innocentia, fruiturque
sedibus Sacris.
Tacitus, sive Quintil. in Dialogo de Oratoribus.
A Swain, who musing on the various Cares
Of human Life, it's [ceaseless?] Hopes and Fears;
Had wander'd in a solitary Walk,
Where, with Himself, He might with Freedom talk;
Involv'd in Thought, his rambling Course pursu'd,
Regardless,—'till obstructed by a Flood,
Whose Banks were deck'd with never-dying Green,
He stop'd—amidst a pleasing rural Scene.
Of human Life, it's [ceaseless?] Hopes and Fears;
Had wander'd in a solitary Walk,
Where, with Himself, He might with Freedom talk;
Involv'd in Thought, his rambling Course pursu'd,
Regardless,—'till obstructed by a Flood,
Whose Banks were deck'd with never-dying Green,
He stop'd—amidst a pleasing rural Scene.
To form's Bow'r, the Cedar, and the Pine,
Umbrageous rise, their Branches intertwine,
And to resist the Solar Beams combine:
Their mingling Roots, which matted Moss o'ergrows,
Swell from Earth's Surface, and a Seat compose;
The velvet Couch, with Verdure gay, delights
The Eye, and to Repose, the Limbs invites.
Umbrageous rise, their Branches intertwine,
And to resist the Solar Beams combine:
Their mingling Roots, which matted Moss o'ergrows,
Swell from Earth's Surface, and a Seat compose;
The velvet Couch, with Verdure gay, delights
The Eye, and to Repose, the Limbs invites.
Here sate the Swain, and cast around his View,
While ev'ry Glance presents an Object new.
In the calm Flood the Sun himself surveys,
The limpid Mirror, brighten'd by his Blaze,
Gives to the Gazer's Eye his harmless Rays.
Hills, gently rising, bound the Prospect there,
Tall Poplars, on the Left, their Heads up-rear;
While on the Right, an Orchard cloaths his Field,
Whose equi-distant Trees a Vista yield;
Thro' which, on yon' well cultivated Plain,
The Limbs are seen to crop the grassy Grain:
Beyond the Plain, a beauteous Hill ascends,
Whose ridgy Height half-circular extends;
Thick Tufts of various Trees adorn its Head,
Its fertile Sides unplanted Vines o'erspread.
Whene're a down the Steep, impetuous Rains
Descend, a Bason at its Foot contains
Their Floods, and barrs 'em from the adjoining Plains.
While ev'ry Glance presents an Object new.
In the calm Flood the Sun himself surveys,
The limpid Mirror, brighten'd by his Blaze,
Gives to the Gazer's Eye his harmless Rays.
Hills, gently rising, bound the Prospect there,
Tall Poplars, on the Left, their Heads up-rear;
While on the Right, an Orchard cloaths his Field,
Whose equi-distant Trees a Vista yield;
Thro' which, on yon' well cultivated Plain,
The Limbs are seen to crop the grassy Grain:
Beyond the Plain, a beauteous Hill ascends,
Whose ridgy Height half-circular extends;
Thick Tufts of various Trees adorn its Head,
Its fertile Sides unplanted Vines o'erspread.
Whene're a down the Steep, impetuous Rains
Descend, a Bason at its Foot contains
Their Floods, and barrs 'em from the adjoining Plains.
So sweet a Landschape sooths the troubled Swain,
His Breast no longer bleeds with fancy'd Pain,
But thus he sings in an unstudy'd Strain.
His Breast no longer bleeds with fancy'd Pain,
But thus he sings in an unstudy'd Strain.
Oh lovely Place! What Language can display
The pleasing Prospect which my Eyes survey!
Here, might a Philosophic Poet's Mind,
Fit Objects for her Contemplation find.
To [Walks?] like these, the Sabine Bard retir'd,
[Was?] by the Life informing Muse inspir'd:
[illeg.], with Thoughts like his, my Bosom warm,
[My moral Verse?] should ev'ry Reader charm!
The pleasing Prospect which my Eyes survey!
Here, might a Philosophic Poet's Mind,
Fit Objects for her Contemplation find.
To [Walks?] like these, the Sabine Bard retir'd,
[Was?] by the Life informing Muse inspir'd:
[illeg.], with Thoughts like his, my Bosom warm,
[My moral Verse?] should ev'ry Reader charm!
That rolling Orb of Light, the Source of Day,
From his meridian Station posts away;
And tho' his Beauties now o'erpower the Sight,
Soon shall his brilliant Beams be veil'd in Night.
Then, shall the Soul which now my Life sustains,
And sends the Blood swift-circling thro' my Veins;
The destin'd Time arriv'd, pursue its Way
To Worlds unknown,—the Body shall decay,
And be o'erwhelm'd with its parental Clay.
From his meridian Station posts away;
And tho' his Beauties now o'erpower the Sight,
Soon shall his brilliant Beams be veil'd in Night.
Then, shall the Soul which now my Life sustains,
And sends the Blood swift-circling thro' my Veins;
The destin'd Time arriv'd, pursue its Way
To Worlds unknown,—the Body shall decay,
And be o'erwhelm'd with its parental Clay.
The stately Trees which grace yon' fertile Mould,
Whose Leaves fell Victims to the wintry cold,
May to the Man who views their Trunks, declare
The Change which Humankind is doom'd to bear,
Not long ago their spreading Heads were gay,
Thick-waving Foliage danc'd on ev'ry Spray;
Tho' naked now their hoary Limbs are seen,
Yet by th'approaching Spring recloath'd in Green,
Fresh blooming Ornaments shall crown each Head,
And a new Family of Leaves succeed.
Whose Leaves fell Victims to the wintry cold,
May to the Man who views their Trunks, declare
The Change which Humankind is doom'd to bear,
Not long ago their spreading Heads were gay,
Thick-waving Foliage danc'd on ev'ry Spray;
Tho' naked now their hoary Limbs are seen,
Yet by th'approaching Spring recloath'd in Green,
Fresh blooming Ornaments shall crown each Head,
And a new Family of Leaves succeed.
So, when the Man hath run his mortal Race,
His Off-spring for a while supply his Place;
Produce their Likeness, and then haste to die,
And leave the World to a new Progeny.
The gentle Flood slow-swallowing up the Beach,
Rejoicing seems its boundary to reach;
And as the Waves o'erflow the shelvy Strand,
Retiring from them flits the unstable Sand,
Tho' now a Calm forbids the Flood to roar,
Should Winds arise, subservient to their Pow'r,
Soon would the Water shift his smiling Face;
While Sands, and Mud, the Surface would disgrace,
With foaming Rage its boiling Billows white,
Would Terror raise, and banish sweet Delight.
His Off-spring for a while supply his Place;
Produce their Likeness, and then haste to die,
And leave the World to a new Progeny.
The gentle Flood slow-swallowing up the Beach,
Rejoicing seems its boundary to reach;
And as the Waves o'erflow the shelvy Strand,
Retiring from them flits the unstable Sand,
Tho' now a Calm forbids the Flood to roar,
Should Winds arise, subservient to their Pow'r,
Soon would the Water shift his smiling Face;
While Sands, and Mud, the Surface would disgrace,
With foaming Rage its boiling Billows white,
Would Terror raise, and banish sweet Delight.
When I reflect on this, methinks I find,
Drawn on these Waves, the Picture of my Mind;
Tho' now, my Bosom all serene and calm,
Seems fill'd with soft Co[illeg.], and pleasing Balm;
Yet soon, perhaps, with rude resistless Sway,
Shall rising Passion drive this Calm away:
The Mind disturb'd, and mad with raging Woe,
Shall to the sight a loathsome Bottom show;
And those Ideas which my Fancy store,
May be dispers'd like Sands upon the Shore.
Drawn on these Waves, the Picture of my Mind;
Tho' now, my Bosom all serene and calm,
Seems fill'd with soft Co[illeg.], and pleasing Balm;
Yet soon, perhaps, with rude resistless Sway,
Shall rising Passion drive this Calm away:
The Mind disturb'd, and mad with raging Woe,
Shall to the sight a loathsome Bottom show;
And those Ideas which my Fancy store,
May be dispers'd like Sands upon the Shore.
Oh Thou, who dost the Universe sustain!
How poor a Creature is thy Servant Man!
Whatever Views employ my musing Mind,
My Weakness, and thy wondrous Pow'r I find.
How poor a Creature is thy Servant Man!
Whatever Views employ my musing Mind,
My Weakness, and thy wondrous Pow'r I find.
Almighty Lord! thy Providential Care
Hath kept me, since I first drew vital Air;
And tho' Misfortunes have my Life annoy'd,
Desertless, many Blessings Iv'e enjoy'd.
Oh! graciously accept my grateful Sense,
Acknowledging thy great Beneficence:
From all my Faults and Follies set me free,
From their ill Consequence deliver me.
And with such Pow'rs my fickle Mind endue,
That I my future Course may safe pursue:
In all those Trials I am doom'd to bear,
While thro' the stormy Sea of Life I steer,
Let Reason guide me with unfailing Care.
And that with Comfort I may act my Part,
May Piety and Wisdom fill my Heart.
Let no injurious Being work my Thrall,
Nor let Misfortune heavy on me fall.
Let not my own Misconduct work my Woe,
Nor Error make Me to my self a Foe.
That I may Truth obtain divinely fair,
Let my Perceptions be distinct and clear.
Grant me such Health, and such Prosperity,
As to thy Wisdom shall seem good for me.
Be my Life crown'd with Peace, to Thee resign'd,
Blest with Content, and with a tranquil Mind:
And when that Duty which on Men is laid,
To Friends, and to my Family is paid;
And I with just Endeavours still have strove,
My Mind with useful Knowledge to improve;
With virtuous Habits to reform my Heart,
And act thro' Life a just and honest Part:
May I, with Decency submit to Fate,
And find my self in a more happy State.
Hath kept me, since I first drew vital Air;
And tho' Misfortunes have my Life annoy'd,
Desertless, many Blessings Iv'e enjoy'd.
Oh! graciously accept my grateful Sense,
Acknowledging thy great Beneficence:
From all my Faults and Follies set me free,
From their ill Consequence deliver me.
And with such Pow'rs my fickle Mind endue,
That I my future Course may safe pursue:
In all those Trials I am doom'd to bear,
While thro' the stormy Sea of Life I steer,
Let Reason guide me with unfailing Care.
And that with Comfort I may act my Part,
May Piety and Wisdom fill my Heart.
Let no injurious Being work my Thrall,
Nor let Misfortune heavy on me fall.
Let not my own Misconduct work my Woe,
Nor Error make Me to my self a Foe.
That I may Truth obtain divinely fair,
Let my Perceptions be distinct and clear.
Grant me such Health, and such Prosperity,
As to thy Wisdom shall seem good for me.
Be my Life crown'd with Peace, to Thee resign'd,
Blest with Content, and with a tranquil Mind:
And when that Duty which on Men is laid,
To Friends, and to my Family is paid;
And I with just Endeavours still have strove,
My Mind with useful Knowledge to improve;
With virtuous Habits to reform my Heart,
And act thro' Life a just and honest Part:
May I, with Decency submit to Fate,
And find my self in a more happy State.
Here ceas'd the Swain, and soon the Ev'ning Hour
Warn'd him to seek the House, and quit his verdant Bow'r.
Warn'd him to seek the House, and quit his verdant Bow'r.
| [A rhapsody, in] The Maryland Gazette reviv'd | |