Then let the boobies stay at home;'

"Twould cost him, I dare say, Less trouble taking twice the sum,

Without the clowns that pay.

SONNET ADDRESSED TO HENRY COWPER, ESQ. On his emphatical and interesting delivery of the Defence of Warren

Hastings, Esq. in the House of Lords. CowPER, whose silver voice, task'd sometimes hard,

Legends prolix delivers in the ears

(Attentive when thou read'st) of England's peers, Let verse at length yield thee thy just reward, Thou wast not heard with drowsy disregard,

Expending late on all that length of plea Thy gen'rous pow'rs; but silence honour'd thee, Mute as e'er gaz’d on orator or bard. Thou art not voice alone, but hast beside Both heart and head; and couldst with music sweet

Of Attic phrase and senatorial tone, Like thy renown’d forefathers, far and wide Thy fame diffuse, prais'd not for utt’rance meet

Of others' speech, but magic of thy own.

LINES
ADDRESSED TO DR. DARWIN,

Author of “ The Botanic Garden."
Two Poets* (poets, by report,

Not oft so well agree),
Sweet Harmonist of Flora's court!

Conspire to honour Thee,
They best can judge a poet's worth,

Who oft themselves have known
The pangs of a poetic birth

By labours of their own. * Alluding to the poem by Mr. Hayley, which accompanied these lines

We, therefore, pleas'd extol thy song,

Though various yet complete,
Rich in embellishment as strong,

And learned as 'tis sweet.
No envy mingles with our praise,

Though, could our hearts repine
At any poet's happier lays,

They would—they must at thine.
But we, in mutual bondage knit

Of friendship’s closest tie,
Can gaze on even Darwin's wit

With an unjaundic'd eye;
And deem the Bard, whoe'er he be,

And howsoe:er known,
Who would not twine a wreath for Thee,

Unworthy of his own.

ON

MRS. MONTAGU’S FEATHER-HANGINGS.
The birds put off their ev'ry hue,
To dress a room for Montagn.

The Peacock sends his heav'nly dyes,
His rainbows and his starry eyes ;
The Pheasant-plumes, which round infold
His mantling neck with downy gold;
The Cock his arch'd tail's azure show;
And, river-blanch'd, the Swan his snow.
All tribes beside of Indian name,
That glossy shine, or vivid flame,
Where rises, and where sets the day,
Whate'er they boast of rich and gay,
Contribute to the gorgeous plan,
Proud to advance it all they can.
This plumage neither dashing show'r,
Nor blasts, that shake the dripping bow'r,
Shall drench again or discompose,
But, screen’d from ev'ry storm that blows,

1

a

It boasts a splendour ever new,
Safe with protecting Montagu.

To the same patroness resort,
Secure of favour at her court,
Strong Genius, from whose forge of thought
Forms rise, to quick perfection wrought,
Which, though new born, with vigour move,
Like Pallas springing arm’d from Jove-
Imagination scatt'ring round
Wild roses over furrow'd ground,
Which Labour of his frown beguile,
And teach Philosophy a smile-
Wit flashing on Religion's side,
Whose fires, to sacred Truth applied,
The gem, though luminous before,
Obtrude on human notice more,
Like sunbeams on the golden height
Of some tall temple playing bright-
Well-tutor'd Learning, from his books
Dismiss'd with grave, not haughty, looks,
Their order on his shelves exact,
Not more harmonious or compact
Than that, to which he keeps confin'd
The various treasures of his mind
All these to Montagu's repair,
Ambitious of a shelter there.
There Genius, Learning, Fancy, Wit,
Their ruffled plumage calm refit,
(For stormy troubles loudest roar
Around their flight who highest soar)
And in her eye, and by her aid,
Shine safe without a fear to fade.

She thus maintains divided sway
With yon bright regent of the day;
The plume and poet both, we know,
Their lustre to his influence owe;
And she the works of Phoebus aiding,
Both poet saves and plume from fading.

VERSES Supposed to be written by Alexander Selkirk, during his solitary

abode in the island of Juan Fernandez. I am monarch of all I survey,

My right there is none to dispute ; From the centre all round to the sea,

I am lord of the fowl and the brute. 0, Solitude ! where are the charms

That sages have seen in thy face? Better dwell in the midst of alarms,

Than reign in this horrible place. I am out of humanity's reach,

I must finish my journey alone, Never hear the sweet music of speech,

I start at the sound of my own. The beasts, that roam over the plain,

My form with indifference see; They are so unacquainted with man,

Their tameness is shocking to me, Society, friendship, and love,

Divinely bestow'd upon man, 0, had I the wings of a dove,

How soon would I taste you again! My sorrows I then might assuage

In the ways of religion and truth, Might learn from the wisdom of age,

Ånd be cheer'd by the sallies of youth. Religion! what treasure untold

Resides in that heavenly word!
More precious than silver and gold,

Or all that this earth can afford.
But the sound of the church-going bell

These valleys and rocks never heard,
Never sigh’d at the sound of a knell,

Or smil'd when a sabbath appear'd.