Inscribe on every bark; the wounded plants
Will fast increase, faster thy just respect.
Such are our heroes, by their virtues known,
Or skill in peace and war.
The female sex with sweet
Subdue obdurate hearts.
Of softer mould
attractive airs
The travellers oft,
That view their matchless forms with transient glance,
Catch sudden love, and sigh for nymphs unknown,
Smit with the magic of their eyes. Nor hath
The dædal hand of Nature only pour'd
Her gifts of outward grace; their innocence
Unfeign'd, and virtue most engaging, free
From pride or artifice, long joys afford
To the' honest nuptial bed, and in the wane
Of life rebate the miseries of age.
And is there found a wretch so base of mind,
That woman's powerful beauty dares condemn,
Exactest work of Heaven? he ill deserves
Or love or pity; friendless let him see
Uneasy, tedious days, despised, forlorn,
As stain of human race; but may the man,
That cheerfully recounts the female's praise,
Find equal love, and love's untainted sweets
Enjoy with honour! O ye gods! might I
Elect my fate, my happiest choice should be
A fair and modest virgin, that invites
With aspect chaste, forbidding loose desire,
Tenderly smiling, in whose heavenly eye
Sits purest Love enthroned; but if the stars,
Malignant, these my better hopes oppose,
May I, at least, the sacred pleasures know
Of strictest amity, nor ever want
A friend, with whom I mutually may share
Gladness and anguish, by kind intercourse
Of speech and offices; may in my mind
Indelible, a grateful sense remain
Of favours undeserved!-0 thou! from whom
Gladly both rich and low seek aid, most wise
Interpreter of right, whose gracious voice
Breathes equity, and curbs too rigid law
With mild impartial reason, what returns
Of thanks are due to thy beneficence,
Freely vouchsafed when to the gates of Death
I tended prone? If thy indulgent care
Had not prevened, among unbodied shades
I now had wander'd, and these empty thoughts
Of apples perish'd; but upraised by thee
I tune my pipe afresh, each night and day
Thy unexampled goodness to extol
Desirous: but nor night nor day suffice
For that great task; the highly-honour'd name
Of Trevor must employ my willing thoughts
Incessant, dwell for ever on my tongue.
Let me be grateful; but let far from me
Be fawning cringe, and false-dissembling look,
And servile flattery, that harbours oft
In courts and gilded roofs. Some loose the bands
Of ancient friendship, cancel Nature's laws,
For pageantry and tawdry gewgaws: some
Renounce their sires, oppose paternal right
For rule and power, and others' realms invade
With specious shows of love: this traitorous wretch
Betrays his sovereign. Others destitute
Of real zeal, to every altar bend,
By lucre sway'd, and act the basest things
To be styled Honourable. The honest man,
Simple of heart, prefers inglorious want
To ill-got wealth: rather from door to door
A jocund pilgrim, though distress'd, he'll rove,
Than break his plighted faith: nor fear nor hope
Will shock his stedfast soul: rather debarred
Each common privilege, cut off from hopes
Of meanest gain, of present goods despoil'd,
He'll bear the marks of infamy contemn'd,
Unpitied; yet his mind, of evil pure,
Supports him, and intention free from fraud.
If no retinue with observant eyes
Attend him, if he can't with purple stain
Of cumbrous vestments labour'd o'er with gold,
Dazzle the crowd and set them all agape,
Yet, clad in homely weeds, from Envy's darts
Remote he lives, nor knows the nightly pangs
Of conscience, nor of spectres' grisly forms,
Demons, and injured souls, at close of day
Annoy'd, sad interrupted slumbers finds;
But (as a child whose inexperienced age
Nor evil purpose fears nor knows) enjoys
Night's sweet refreshment, humid sleep sincere.
When chanticleer with clarion shrill recalls
The tardy day he to his labours hies
Gladsome, intent on somewhat that may ease
Unhealthy mortals, and with curious search
Examines all the properties of herbs,
Fossils, and minerals, that the' embowell'd earth
Displays, if by his industry he can
Benefit human race; or else his thoughts
Are exercised with speculations deep,
Of good, and just, and meet, and the' wholesome
Of temperance, and aught that may improve
The moral life; not sedulous to rail,
Nor with envenom'd tongue to blast the fame
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