Not private rights resign'd: Through various nature's wide extent, Thee justice guides, thee right maintains, Thy warmest passions soon subside, Each instance of thy vengeful rage, But thine has been imputed blame, Avails it thee, if one devours, Far other shone fair Freedom's hand, When Hampden fought for thee : They snatch'd from rapine's gripe thy spoils, On thee yet foams the preacher's rage, Tears stream adown the martyr's tomb ; Thy thousands strow the plain. These had no charms to please the sense, Thy foes, a frontless band, invade; And yield up half the right. On man's too feeble sight. Hence are the motley systems fram'd, Wise nature mocks the wrangling herd; While law the royal agent moves, We bow through him to you. But change, or cease the' inspiring choice, Shall then the wretch, whose dastard heart Shrinks at a tyrant's nobler part, And only dares betray; With reptile wiles, alas! prevail, Where force, and rage, and priestcraft fail, To pilfer pow'r away? O! shall the bought, and buying tribe, So Indian murd'rers hope to gain "Avert it, heav'n! you love the brave, "You hate the treach'rous, willing slave, "The self-devoted head. "Nor shall an hireling's voice convey "That sacred prize to lawless sway, "For which a nation bled." Vain pray'r, the coward's weak resource! Directing reason, active force, Propitious Heaven bestows. But ne'er shall flame the thund'ring sky, In names there dwell no magic charms, Unloos'd our father's band: Say, Greece and Rome! if these should fail, Far, far from us such ills shall be, Whose title speaks a people's choice, SAMUEL BISHOP. BORN 1731.-DIED 1795. SAMUEL BISHOP was a clergyman, and for many years the head master of Merchant Tailors' school. He wrote several essays and poems for the Public Ledger, and published a volume of Latin pieces, entitled "Feriæ Poetica." A volume of his sermons, and two volumes of his poetry, were published after his death. |