Oh thou my guardian, confident, and friend,
To what thy hand-maid now reveals attend :
No longer now the gift of Health implore,
• The curtain drops, and thy short scene is o'er;
Yet ere thy feeling fpirit takes its flight,

Yet ere I'm robb'd of (all my bliss) thy fight, • Some fond endearment to ELIZA fhew,

• And thy last bleffing on thy Child bestow.'

The vifion ceas'd-yet then the fhaul the spread*

To raise compaffionate his drooping head,

And (from her eyes as beads of forrow fell)
Low on her knees receiv'd his last farewell.

IV.

Oft playful Fancy fheds a brighter beam,
And prompts the fplendid allegoric dream:
Thus late while Sleep my clofing eyelids feal'd
This vifionary scene fhe then reveal'd:
Methought, encompass'd by a brilliant train,
I reach'd the steps of bright Minerva's fane;
Full in the midst a myftic vase I view'd,

Round which the Mufes new-blown flow'rets ftrew'd:

Arm'd with the lyre I saw a youthful band

Who wak'd the founding chords, with skilful hand:

*See the Letters to Eliza.

Unnumber'd

Unnumber'd beauties filent flood around,

Who grac'd as fofter priefts the hallow'd ground:
There Virtue wore her most attractive mien,
And in the form of MARLBOROUGH was feen.
The Graces, fkill'd the cultur'd mind to win,
Knock'd at the door, and BAMFYLDE let them in.
This vifionary scene by Fancy bred,

Remov'd, and thro' the gates of Morning fled.
I care not that the vision fought the skies
While MILLER's dome Minerva's fane fupplies:
Ye Youths! ye Fair, accept the verse that's due,
The fplendid Dream is realized in you.

ALBINA,

AL BIN N A.

WOU'D genius to my fond demand

My earnest bold request bestow, A vivid pencil to this hand,

Dipt in the brilliant vernal bow:

How eager wou'd I then engage
(With faithful and unerring aim)
To paint on the poetic page

ALBINA's elegance of frame!

Her treffes-dark with auburn hue:

Her brow ferene-young Candour's throne:

Her timid eye-whofe languid blue

Sheds charms peculiarly its own.

Her cheek that wears a lively glow:

Not after the fresh morning show'r

Can Italy's rich fummer fhew,

On all her banks fo bright a flow'r.

Her cherry lip-inviting bliss,
Where Love deliciously repofes,
Accompanied by many a kiss

On fragrant leaves of breathing roses.

Yet who can paint her beauteous mind?
There Innocence has fix'd her feat;

There eafy wit, and tafte refin'd,

And fentiment and knowledge meet.

Love, who oft whelms the fair in woe,
Soon robb'd her guilelefs mind of reft:
Affection's flame diffolved the fnow

That lodg'd within her spotless breast,

As ftill the Eaft the morn-beams streak
And gild the portal of the Day,

So did her morning thought ftill break

On the fame Youth with Ardour's ray:

As the laft glimm'rings of the sky

Paufe on the lake, ere they expire,

Each night her thought (as clos'd her eye)

Died on the Youth of her defire.

I

The

The nuptials eager to profanevo 8

The bold unfeeling treach'rous Youth,

Led the chafte Maiden to the fane

With all the mockery of Truth.

There a domestic in disguise

The office of a priest supplied;" While the deceiver, led by Vice, Religion's dread reproach defied.

Hypocrify with down-cast air,
Profaneness with an atheift eye,

And Luft with a malignant leer,
Remark'd the mock-connubial tie.

No fooner had the youth prevail'd,
Successful in his impious aim,

He left the drooping fair affail'd
By Grief, by Infamy, and Shame.

"Twas then the beauteous mourner woo'd

Meek Quiet in her lonely feat,

Where Competency watchful ftrew'd

Her fober treasures at her feet.