 | Poems on several occasions |  |
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HAMPTON-GAY.
Remote from noise, near Cherwell's gliding stream,
A village stands, long great in yewy fame;
So far enrich'd with all the charms of May,
That rural sweetness crown'd it Hampton-Gay.
But ah! gone are those days, when void of care,
Each rustick's mein proclaim'd its fragrant air;
When they were taught those sacred truths to know,
Which, if pursu'd, make life with pleasure flow.
When they from rev'rend Hindes instruction gain'd,
Whose grave discourse God's attributes maintain'd.
A village stands, long great in yewy fame;
So far enrich'd with all the charms of May,
That rural sweetness crown'd it Hampton-Gay.
But ah! gone are those days, when void of care,
Each rustick's mein proclaim'd its fragrant air;
When they were taught those sacred truths to know,
Which, if pursu'd, make life with pleasure flow.
When they from rev'rend Hindes instruction gain'd,
Whose grave discourse God's attributes maintain'd.
When Sol's bright beams had banish'd winter's train,
To view this vill I went in musing strain;
Where soft Retirement's ever lonesome mood
Enthroned sat, with sweetest solitude:
While thoughtful Contemplation's studious mind,
The three-fold state of Quietness conjoin'd.
Beneath this shield advancing, then to view
Nature and art encircling solemn yew;
Whose green-clad dress as close the mound conceal'd,
As Phœbus when by dark December veil'd.
To view this vill I went in musing strain;
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Enthroned sat, with sweetest solitude:
While thoughtful Contemplation's studious mind,
The three-fold state of Quietness conjoin'd.
Beneath this shield advancing, then to view
Nature and art encircling solemn yew;
Whose green-clad dress as close the mound conceal'd,
As Phœbus when by dark December veil'd.
Blest be the mem'ry of the planter's hand,
Who, with true skill, set forth a chosen band
Of twelve; which he, in token of respect,
Call'd the Apostles: striving to effect
Some thoughts of bless'd futurity to those,
Who, free from fancies vain, reflection chose.
Who, with true skill, set forth a chosen band
Of twelve; which he, in token of respect,
Call'd the Apostles: striving to effect
Some thoughts of bless'd futurity to those,
Who, free from fancies vain, reflection chose.
Near this all-pleasing view, still in yew drest,
The vehicle of high-life is exprest,
With all its gaudy charms; inspiring joys,
To those deluded by such bubling toys.
The vehicle of high-life is exprest,
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To those deluded by such bubling toys.
Quitting the flatt'ring scene, I straightway came
To two , whom Fancy, mov'd with holy flame,
Nam'd after those, who foremost danger dar'd,
When tyrant Pharaoh fresh insults prepar'd,
For innocence confin'd in slav'ry's bands,
To make them dread his impious commands;
But when such tyrants raise their people's hate,
May ever they receive a Pharaoh's fate.
To two , whom Fancy, mov'd with holy flame,
Nam'd after those, who foremost danger dar'd,
When tyrant Pharaoh fresh insults prepar'd,
For innocence confin'd in slav'ry's bands,
To make them dread his impious commands;
But when such tyrants raise their people's hate,
May ever they receive a Pharaoh's fate.
Further proceeding in the holy page,
Instant were seen, emblems of lust in age,
Assaulting Chastity's untainted ear;
They, rob'd in secresy, had nought to fear.
Instant were seen, emblems of lust in age,
Assaulting Chastity's untainted ear;
They, rob'd in secresy, had nought to fear.
Degen'rate Palestine! thine elders strove,
With wond'rous art each hindrance to remove,
T'accomplish what in youth is sure a curse,
But when to age conjoin'd, is doubly worse.
With wond'rous art each hindrance to remove,
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But when to age conjoin'd, is doubly worse.
Goodness divine! look down upon this land
Ready to sink, if thy all-gracious hand
Does not impede foul lust's impetuous reign,
Whose vot'ries lewd, no sacred ties restrain.
Tell me, ye guardians of a compact state,
Can lust, or luxury, e'er make you great?
Are ye resolv'd in vice to be enroll'd,
That shamefully his mysteries unfold?
And you, ye monsters, drest like human kind,
What can restrain, when gratitude won't bind?
Reflect awhile; this sacred precept scan,
When virtue's lost, you sink beneath the man.
Ready to sink, if thy all-gracious hand
Does not impede foul lust's impetuous reign,
Whose vot'ries lewd, no sacred ties restrain.
Tell me, ye guardians of a compact state,
Can lust, or luxury, e'er make you great?
Are ye resolv'd in vice to be enroll'd,
That shamefully his mysteries unfold?
And you, ye monsters, drest like human kind,
What can restrain, when gratitude won't bind?
Reflect awhile; this sacred precept scan,
When virtue's lost, you sink beneath the man.
Ye careless fair, who wait at vice's shrine,
That thoughtless thus, your marriage faith resign,
What bliss can e'er attend a nuptial life,
When rank adult'ry centers in the wife?
What ought avails angelic form or face,
If beauty's made the path to vile disgrace?
That thoughtless thus, your marriage faith resign,
What bliss can e'er attend a nuptial life,
When rank adult'ry centers in the wife?
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If beauty's made the path to vile disgrace?
The planter's art did never more abound,
Than his adorning this delightful ground
With recreations of a manly age;
For leaving sacred forms, the eyes engage
A well-match'd pair, arrang'd with curious skill,
Now call'd the champions of this fertile vill;
To shew religion, gloominess unbinds,
And bids diversion cheer our weary minds.
Than his adorning this delightful ground
With recreations of a manly age;
For leaving sacred forms, the eyes engage
A well-match'd pair, arrang'd with curious skill,
Now call'd the champions of this fertile vill;
To shew religion, gloominess unbinds,
And bids diversion cheer our weary minds.
Retiring from the gardens, straight I found
Sad desolation had usurp'd the bound
Of Hampton, once the gay, when joy o'erspread
The cottage swain, to toil and labour bred.
'Twas then content attended by his side,
And gave him comfort with a spotless bride;
Gave him the pleasures of an infant race,
While sparks of virtue in each breast took place:
But now, alas! clos'd is the pleasing scene
Where mirth and innocence did intervene:
Alas! the pleasing sounds are heard no more
Of rural pipe and tabor at the door;
When each bright nymph and swain did jocund sing,
And welcom'd in the dance, returning Spring.
Sad desolation had usurp'd the bound
Of Hampton, once the gay, when joy o'erspread
The cottage swain, to toil and labour bred.
'Twas then content attended by his side,
And gave him comfort with a spotless bride;
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While sparks of virtue in each breast took place:
But now, alas! clos'd is the pleasing scene
Where mirth and innocence did intervene:
Alas! the pleasing sounds are heard no more
Of rural pipe and tabor at the door;
When each bright nymph and swain did jocund sing,
And welcom'd in the dance, returning Spring.
Ye health-cloath'd swains of this now hapless vill,
Ye sprightly nymphs, exert your utmost skill,
While you lament and mourn gay Hampton's woe.
While you rehearse from whence her evils flow.
Ye sprightly nymphs, exert your utmost skill,
While you lament and mourn gay Hampton's woe.
While you rehearse from whence her evils flow.
When some kind hand, to piety inclin'd,
With true devotion, join'd a gen'rous mind,
His fervent zeal a fabrick did erect,
That Sabbaths might not pass by with neglect:
And with pure flame the same did dedicate
Unto his service, who had made him great.
Then were the gospel-truths set forth at large,
Religion flourish'd from the pastor's charge;
And when man's enemy had so contriv'd
To still those rites, late pious Hindes reviv'd
The noble plan: each Sabbath-day he taught
His flock those truths, which their salvation brought!
Yea, when this sacred house fell to decay,
And every broken fence in ruins lay,
He to its pristine fame again restor'd,
A breast so firm, the Deity ador'd;
When lo! that goodness which first gave him breath,
Bid Nature call him to the shades of death!
Oh! tell ye not in Gath the mighty's fall,
Nor publish it abroad of Hampton's thrall:
Sorrow has join'd itself to dire distress,
Deep melancholy makes it her recess.
With true devotion, join'd a gen'rous mind,
His fervent zeal a fabrick did erect,
That Sabbaths might not pass by with neglect:
And with pure flame the same did dedicate
Unto his service, who had made him great.
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Religion flourish'd from the pastor's charge;
And when man's enemy had so contriv'd
To still those rites, late pious Hindes reviv'd
The noble plan: each Sabbath-day he taught
His flock those truths, which their salvation brought!
Yea, when this sacred house fell to decay,
And every broken fence in ruins lay,
He to its pristine fame again restor'd,
A breast so firm, the Deity ador'd;
When lo! that goodness which first gave him breath,
Bid Nature call him to the shades of death!
Oh! tell ye not in Gath the mighty's fall,
Nor publish it abroad of Hampton's thrall:
Sorrow has join'd itself to dire distress,
Deep melancholy makes it her recess.
Oh! bounteous Being! why art thou so long
From these thy servants? who, in mournful song;
Their heart-felt woes, their grievous loss explore,
Religion's fled, the Preacher is no more!
Behold the sacred mansions of the dead
Laid waste by feet prophane, who daily tread
Those courts, where to thy name they did resort,
Where now, alas! they spend in impious sport,
Thine holy Sabbaths! —
From these thy servants? who, in mournful song;
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Religion's fled, the Preacher is no more!
Behold the sacred mansions of the dead
Laid waste by feet prophane, who daily tread
Those courts, where to thy name they did resort,
Where now, alas! they spend in impious sport,
Thine holy Sabbaths! —
Deign then, Supreme, in pity to this place
Involv'd in folly, to restore thy grace,
And send a pastor, to all truth ally'd,
To preach (like Paul) Christ Jesus crucify'd!
Then shall the swains make thee their only stay,
And true devotion reign in Hampton-Gay.
Involv'd in folly, to restore thy grace,
And send a pastor, to all truth ally'd,
To preach (like Paul) Christ Jesus crucify'd!
Then shall the swains make thee their only stay,
And true devotion reign in Hampton-Gay.
| Poems on several occasions | |