To milder shores in vain these pinions sped,
Their beauty blasted, and their vigor fled.
Thus the poor peasant, struggling with distress,
Whom rig'rous laws and rigid hunger press,
In western regions seeks a milder state,
Braves the broad ocean, and resigns to fate;
Scarce well arriv'd, and lab'ring to procure
Life's free subsistence, and retreats secure,
Sudden he sees the roving Indian nigh,
Fate in his hand, and ruin in his eye-
Scar'd at the sight, he runs, he bounds, he flies,
'Till, arrow-pierc'd, he falls-he faints-he dies.
Unhappy man! who no extreme could shun,
By tyrants banish'd, and by chance undone ;
In vain fair virtue fann'd the free-born flame!
Now fall'n alike to fortune and to fame.
But why, my Muse! when livelier themes I sought, Why change the rural scenes to sober thought? Why rouse the patriot ardor in my breast, Useless it's glow, when FREEDOм droops deprest ? Not mine to combat luxury's lordly stride, My humble lot forbids th' aspiring pride; Forbids to stop depopulation's hand That crushes industry, and frights the land; That robs the poor of half their little store, And insurrection spreads from shore to shore.
These to prevent, be still the statesman's end, And this the task of sovereigns to attend ;
Be mine the care to range this ample field,
Try what it's springs, and what it's thickets yield,
Pursue the game that to the skies aspire,
And purge the aether with successive fire,
Spring o'er the fence that bars my active mind,
And rouse my friend that lingering stays behind.
Guard the steep bank, to catch with eager pains,
The forward bound, that scarce the margin gains;
Or loudly laugh, when diligently nice,
He backward slides, and bumps the crackling ice.
Oh, Friendship name for ever lov'd, ador'd,
Thou richest gift, which heaven for man has stor❜d,
To me more dear, congenial to my breast,
Than all the hoards and honors of the east ;
Whene'er through life's more arduous paths I bend,
Be there to guide, and aid me to my end;
Or when the sports of rural scenes I try,
With converse sweet each interval supply;
In all extremes of business or of ease,
Be there to comfort, and be here to please;
Unlock the sluices of my flowing heart,
And to it's course thy genial warmth impart,
Augment its stream, refine it as it flows,
'Till fair creation it's clear current shows-
May no rude passions toss it into foam;
Nor restless commerce on its bosom roam;
But cheer'd by brightning science may it
No cares to ruffle, and no rocks to shun;
Or glide sequester'd through SILVANUS' shades,
The flocks of PAN, and FLORA's flowery meads,
While the pleas'd MUSES, with auspicious smile,
Breathe pastoral music, and the time beguile.
And thou, dear spaniel! friend in other form!
Obsequious come, thy duty to perform,
Whose fond affection ever glows the same,
Lives in each look, and vibrates through thy frame;
And thou, dear pointer I never devious stray,
But search the plains inquisitively gay ;
With length'ned side and sapient nose inhale
The floating vapor of the scented gale-
Cft' have I seen thee, when the balanc'd year
By LIBRA weigh'd, rewarded CERES' care,
Through new-shorn fields with active vigor bound,
Snuff the fresh air, and traverse all the ground;
Or cautious tread, and step by step survey,
With keenest attitude, the timorous prey;
Then, statue like, with lifted foot proclaim
The Partridge near, and certify the game-
Where'er I range, whatever sports pursue,
Be still attendant, and be still in view.
Now had the sun, in noon-tide robes array'd Of fleecy clouds, the subject world survey'd ; Onward we move, to gain the mountain's side,
That east and west attends in solemn pride,
With lofty head that breathes the gelid gale,
Browbeats the city, and o'erlooks the vale ;
Adown its face the trickling riv❜lets run,
Spread at his feet, and bathe them in the sun;
These to disclose we trace the rugged soil,
And many a shot repays the pleasing toil;
'Till tir'd at length with new-discover'd game,
We mark the course reserv'd for future fame.
As when the Spaniards, with unceasing pains, Through Chili rov'd to Charcas' barren plains, Approach'd Potosi's arduous height, that boasts The richest treasures of the southern coasts; The latent veins they labor to explore
Of pregnant mines that teem with sparkling ore,
With rising rapture spring them into day,
And, flush'd with pleasure, plan their future sway.
The day advanc'd, and waning to the west,
Demands a thought for respite and for rest;
Back to the city calls a sudden eye,
Where vary'd beauties all in prospect lie;
The pointed steeples menacing the skies;
The splendid domes, that emulously rise;
The lowly hamlets scatter'd here and there,
That scarcely swell to breathe refreshing air;
The hedge-row'd hills, and intermingled vales;
The distant villas fann'd by floating gales;
And eastward still, the wide extended main,
By commerce cover'd, awes the solemn scene.
These to behold may please the vacant mind; More pleasing far the cottage of the hind, That yonder smokes by russet hawthorn hedg'd, By hay-yard back'd, and side-long cow-house edg'd; Oft' have I there my thirst and toil allay'd, Approach'd as now, and dar'd the dog that bay'd; The smiling matron joys to see her guests, Sweeps the broad hearth, and hears our free requests, Repels her little brood that throng too nigh, The homely board prepares, the napkin dry, The new. made butter, and the rasher rare, The new-laid egg, that 's dress'd with nicest care; The milky store, for cream collected first, Crowns the clean noggin, and allays our thirst; While crackling faggots brightening as they burn, Show the neat cupboard, and the cleanly churn; The plaintive hen, the interloping goose, The lambkin dear that frisks about the houseThe modest maiden rises from her wheel, Who unperceiv'd a silent look would steal ; Call'd she attends, assists with artless graceThe bloom of nature flushing on her face ; That scorns the dye which pallid pride can lend, And all the arts which luxury attend.
With fuel laden from the brambly rock, Lol forward comes the father of his flock,
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