v. 493.

Discriminating Features of Bardism.

And converse held with Nature in her walks,*
Mark the true Bard, and constitute his choice:
But not such Bards as unreflecting crouds
Are seen t' admire, whose "common places" blunt
The edge of genius, or whose "syren song"
Haply might pall attention soon to sleep:
Nor such whose twanging lyres, reverse of these,
Confound all harmony; whose daring Muse,
With Pegasean wing, o'erleaps all bounds,
All measures, and all precedents; as bold
As Phaeton, who snatch'd the solar rein,
And set the world on fire. From cadences
Of such dith'rambique + lyres, the ear of taste
Confounded turns, delighted more to hear
The simple minstrelsey of woodland choirs.
It seems proverbial, ‡ and experience proves
That poets oft are poor; as if the Muse
And Fortune swore to wage eternal war.
'Tis true that Bards have elevated minds,
And,slighting worldly views, the world slights them:
Yet, competence is genial to the Muse.

* Nam quod naturale est, sponte fluit.

+ Dithyrambiques were wild, enthusiastic, and irregular odes, composed in honour of Bacchus, and descriptive of his fanatic rites: hence, such measures as are confined by neither rule, nor precedent, if we except Pindar, are the next in kind to these; and hence arose the Greek proverb, AlupaμBo νῦν ἔχεις ἐλάτονα.

Insanis; omnes gelidis quicunque lacernis

Sunt tibi, Nasones Virgiliosque vides. MART.

The Poet's precarious Lot commiserated.

v. 514.

Whatever sparks of genius may be given,
Depriv'd of Fortune's warmth, they lack the power
Of kindling to a flame. The vital seeds
Of innate worth, in many a noble breast,
True to its king, and to its country's weal,
Lie latent, frozen by chill penury;

No fruitful harvest can succeed the toil.
The busy cares, which throng attendant round
The dwellings of dependant hostages,
Are quite ungenial to the liberal Muse,
Damp all her fires, distract her harmonies-
All-save the tones of elegiac lyres.

Hapless the Bard whose fate dependant hangs
On the perverted and capricious taste
Of vicious or incompetent decision.

Meantime, should the poor wight's ill-omen'd stars
Shed influence malign, and should he lack
Life's cheering beverage, thrice hapless he!
The vigour of a soul like his must sink,
Chill'd in the frigid zone-a winter's day!

And such, to Bards remov'd from Fortune's smiles,
The day of Life. Ah! what avails to them
That Nature kindled sparks of vital fire
Within their breast, the Muse's sacred flame?
If they lack oil-a competent supply-
The genial flame must languish and expire.

THE

VOYAGE OF LIFE.

BOOK TENTH.

Q 2

THE ARGUMENT.

This Book exhibits contrasted Views and Prospects of Nature, and of Human Life.-Evening Scenes depicted, as they appear from the Thames; as they affect the Senses, and delight the contemplative Mind-Striking Contrast of sublime Scenes' in Wales.-Succeeding Night opens new Prospects. -In what Light these Prospects are viewed by Philosophy. —Nature's universal Temple—The Stars its Lamps—They are outshone by the "Star of Bethlehem”—Eclipsed by the * "Sun of Righteousness."-Matin addressed to Him.—Approaching Morn.-Incitement to early Rising, and to Industry.-Apostrophe to Religion-Irreligion considered as the highest Instance of Ingratitude.-The Vanity of Earthly Attachments.-Stimulus to higher Attainments.—The Muse's Adherence to Virtue-Her Apology.—Life's short Tenure -Its Retrospect from Infancy to Age.-The Grave, an Asylum.-Gehenna.-Heaven our Port.-Review of the Subject. -The Voyage triumphantly closed.

THE

VOYAGE OF LIFE.

BOOK X.

Life is like a Vessel on the Stream. YOUNG.

W

HAT time the lavish year his bounty pours
In rich and plentiful profusion round,

The flow'r of Albion's sons, embark'd, glide smooth.
Adown the learned Isis' gentle stream,

And breathe the evening gales, that sport around
In wanton frolic, and are seen to kiss

The surface soft and clear. While Flora breathes,
Odoriferous, her sweets to greet the sense,
From off the fragrant fields, or open lawns,
Or meads of new-mown hay; and industry
Exerts his every nerve, with busy toil,

Through all the country round, how gay the scene!
How wonted to inspire! Soft music pours
"Her native wild notes" from the copsy brink
Of each meand'ring stream: the concert flows,
Commix'd with dulcet chime of distant bells,