And to the rising god's maturing ray, To start with horror from the rising surge, And slowly measure back the path perplex'd.So all-composing, NIGHT! thy influence bland, That e'en the savage tenants of the cave, Wou'd, shelter'd by thy covering, soundly sleep, Nor stir the rustling leaves of their thick wood, In gloomy prowl, or fright with hideous yell, Or sieze their victim with exulting roar; Did not insatiate hunger's lawless call, By day, subservient to the monster man, (Of other monsters the commanding Lord) And fearful of his ire, at length break forth, Preying where'er licentious impulse leads.For this superior terror and controul, Thanks to the form erect, the active mind, And limbs thereto obedient-firm; Ready to hurl the pond'rous rock; or shoot With certain aim the winged shaft of fateImage of him who animated all! And surely thence his undisputed sway; For ah! his perfect nature how unlike! (So may our conscious frailties well presume,) Tho' to the eye of brute, of power to tame Their savage wills, and make them keep their caves. But monsters deadlier-far more to be fear'd, Than fiercest tenants of the craggy wilds, Usurp thy silence and befriending shade -Dæmons of Hell! (if such a place there be, And with such spectres stor'd,-or rather man's Ideal Bridewell for unpunish'd guilt; Withdraws his beams-those strong restraining bars The station'd guard on the exposed strand, With every one who hourly comes and goes, Thro' strait Necessity's unsocial door. The general good must sacrifice the few:- To keep the universal flame alive ; And watch must some, if that the rest wou'd snore. t No! those alone my censure shall pursue Then say my Muse, for thou hast well observ'd, And trac'd each scene with clear impartial eye; Liberal and general as thy ample veil, That wraps in one wide shade the one half world, At one still moment gliding slow o'er all; Where stalks black vice, where couchesconscious worth, Where horrors startle, pleasures soothe, and where Slides the soft step and sounds sweet music's tongue, Yet not alarms, or pains thy tender ear, Thrice welcome gracious goddess-soft-ey'd NIGHT. From lengthen'd toil the lab'ring HIND implores Thy kind return to close the tedious day, And give his falt'ring limbs a short repose; And ne'er thy starry robe or blanket dark, Hung o'er his head, but that his rest was sound; Oh happy state! when no foul fiend breaks in, To jog the mind or body's gentle sleepHe on a winter night, when all is dark And dreary round, retires within his cot,And when he shuts his wicket, shuts out care. There on a bench, a settle, or a stool, Much more for use, than ornament design'd; Substantial proofs of his ingenious hand, He sits him down-and howsoe'er fatigu'd, Thinks his seat soft, nor feels the idle want Of sattin covering, and elastic spring; But us'd to hardy rest, as healthy toil, In social converse takes a little hour, And eats the frugal meal. His wife, meanwhile, Surveys her manly mate with inward pride, As to his arms he strains the homely boy, Healthy and strong-pledge of their mutual loves; In nature's full untainted tide begot, In hard'ning penury born and coarsely bredOffspring of parents, whose entwining arms, Ne'er knew the nauseate of a foul embrace; Into whose veins disease ne'er found its way, Nor on whose well-strung, nervous, sinewy frames,Debility, lame child of sleepy slath, |