liarities of personal habits are only superficial dyes, bright and pleasing for a little while, yet soon fading to a dim tinct, without any remains of former lustre; but the discriminations of true pas sion are the colors of nature; they pervade the whole mass, and can only perish with the body that exhibits them. The accidental compositions of heterogeneous modes are dissolved by the chance which combined them; but the uniform simplicity of primitive qualities neither admits increase, nor suffers decay. The sand heaped by one flood is scattered by another; but the rock always continues in its place. The stream of time, which is continually washing the dissoluble fabrics of other poets, passes without injury by the adamant of Shakspeare. Preface to Shakspeare. THE FATE OF POVERTY. By numbers here from shame or censure free, This, only this, the rigid law pursues, This, only this, provokes the snarling muse. The sober trader at a tatter'd cloak Wakes from his dream, and labors for a joke; Of all the griefs that harass the distress'd, London. CARDINAL WOLSEY. In full-blown dignity see Wolsey stand, To him the church, the realm, their powers consign, Turn'd by his nod, the stream of honor flows, His smile alone security bestows; Still to new heights his restless wishes tower, Till conquest, unresisted, ceased to please, And rights submitted left him none to seize. 1 The Spaniards had at this time laid claim to several of the English provinces in America. At length his sovereign frowns-the train of state Vanity of Human Wisher. CHARLES XII.' On what foundation stands the warrior's pride, No dangers fright him, and no labors tire; And one capitulate, and one resign; Peace courts his hand, but spreads her charms in vain; He comes, nor want nor cold his course delay;- He left a name, at which the world grew pale, Vanity of Human Wishes. 1 Charles XII., King of Sweden, having Invaded Russia, was totally defeated at the battle of Pub towa, and forced to seek refuge in Turkey. He was afterwards killed at the siege of a little fort in Norway. OBJECTS OF PETITION. Where then shall Hope and Fear their objects find? Must dull suspense corrupt the stagnant mind? Must helpless man, in ignorance sedate, Roll darkling down the torrent of his fate? Must no dislike alarm, no wishes rise; Which Heaven may hear, nor deem religion vain. But leave to Heaven the measure and the choice These goods for man the laws of Heaven ordain, These goods He grants, who grants the power to gain; With these celestial Wisdom calms the mind, And makes the happiness she does not find. Vanity of Human Wishes THE FOLLY OF PROCRASTINATION. To-morrow's action! can that hoary wisdom, Tragedy of Irene. MRS. GREVILLE. Or Mrs. Greville, whose "Prayer for Indifference" has been so much admired, I cannot, after the greatest search, give the least account. PRAYER FOR INDIFFERENCE. Oft I've implored the gods in vain, Sweet airy being, wanton sprite If e'er thy pitying heart was moved, And for th' Athenian maid' who loved, O deign once more t' exert thy power! Sovereign as juice of western flower, I ask no kind return of love, No tempting charm to please; Nor peace, nor ease, the heart can know, Turns at the touch of joy or woe, Far as distress the soul can wound, 'Tis pain in each degree. "Tis bliss but to a certain bound; Then take this treacherous sense of mine O haste to shed the sovereign balın, At her approach, see Hope, see Fear, And Disappointment in the rear, 1 See Midsummer Night's Dream. The tear which Pity taught to flow, The wounds which now each moment bleed, And tranquil days shall still succeed O Fairy Elf! but grant me this, So may the glow-worm's glimmering light To some new region of delight, And be thy acorn goblet fill'd With heaven's ambrosial dew, From sweetest, freshest flowers distill'd, And what of life remains for me, ROBERT LOWTH, a distinguished prelate in the English church, was born In the year 1710. He was educated at Winchester School, and at Oxford, and after leaving the university he entered into the church, in which he rose by regular gradations, till he became, in 1777, Bishop of London. He died in 1787, in the seventy-seventh year of his age. The writings by which Bishop Lowth is most known, are, "A Short Introduction to English Grammar," for many years a text-book in the schools and colleges in England and in this country; his "Translation of the Prophet Isaiah," with a large body of valuable notes; and his "Lectures on the Poe 1 "I was educated," says Bishop Lowth, "in the University of Oxford. I enjoyed all the advantages, both public and private, which that famous seat of learning so largely affords. I spent many years in that illustrious society, in a well-regulated course of useful discipline and studies, and in the agreeable and improving commerce of gentlemen and of scholars; in a society where emulation without envy, ambition without jealousy, contention without animosity, incited industry and awakened genius; where a liberal pursuit of knowledge, and a genuine freedom of thought, were raised, encouraged, and pushed forward by example, by commendation, and by authority. I breathed the same atmosphere that the HOOKERS, the CHILLINGWORTHS, and the LOCKES had breathed before whose benevolence and humanity were as extensive as their vast genius and comprehensive know ledge." With reference to this encomium of Lowth upon his Alma Mater, Gibbon, the historian, makes the following beautiful remark: "The expression of gratitude is a virtue and a pleasure: a liberal mind will delight to cherish and celebrate the memory of its parents; and THE TEACHERS OF SCIENCE ARD THE PARENTS OF THE MIND." |