When 'mid the polish'd circle ye rejoice,
Or roving join fantastic Pleasure's train,
Unheard perchance the nurfling lifts his voice,
His tears unnotic'd, and unfooth'd his pain.
Ah! what avails the coral crown'd with gold?
In heedlefs infancy the title vain?
The colours gay the purfled fcarfs unfold?
The fplendid nurs'ry, and th' attendant train ?
Far better hadft thou first beheld the light,
Beneath the rafter of fome roof obscure;
There in a mother's eye to read delight,
And in her cradling arm repofe fecure.-
Nor wonder, fhould Hygeia, blissful Queen!
Her wonted falutary gifts recall,
While haggard Pain applies his dagger keen,
And o'er the cradle Death unfolds his pall.
The flow'ret ravifh'd from its native air,
And bid to flourish in a foreign vale,
Does it not oft elude the planter's care,
And breathe its dying odors on the gale ?
For you, ye plighted fair, when Hymen crowns
With tender offspring your unfhaken love,
Behold them not with Rigor's chilling frowns,
Nor from your fight unfeelingly remove.
Unfway'd by Fashion's dull unfeemly jeft,
Still to the bofom let your infant cling,
There banquet oft, an ever-welcome gueft,
Unblam'd inebriate at that healthful spring.
With fond folicitude each pain affuage,
Explain the look, awake the ready smile;
Unfeign'd attachment fo fhall you you engage,
To crown with gratitude maternal toil :
So fhall your daughters in affliction's day,
When o'er your form the gloom of age shall spread,
With lenient converse chase the hours away,
And smooth with Duty's hand the widow'd bed:
Approach, compaffionate, the voice of grief,
And whisper patience to the closing ear:
From Comfort's chalice minifter relief,
And in the potion drop a filial tear.
So fhall your fons, when beauty is no more,
When fades the languid luftre in your eye,
When Flatt'ry fhuns her dulcet notes to pour,
The want of beauty, and of praise, fupply:
Ev'n from the wreath that decks the warrior's brow, Some chofen leaves your peaceful walks shall strew : And ev'n the flow'rs on claffic ground that blow, Shall all unfold their choiceft fweets for you.
When to th' embattled host the trumpet blows,
While at the call fair ALBION's gallant train
Dare to the field their tripple-number'd foes,
And chase them speeding o'er the martial plain :
The mother kindles at the glorious thought,
And to her fon's renown adjoins her name;
For, at the nurt'ring breaft, the Hero caught
The love of virtue, and the love of fame.
Or in the fenate when Britannia's caufe, With gen'rous themes, infpires the glowing mind, While lift'ning Freedom grateful looks applause, 'Pale Slav'ry drops her chain, and fculks behind:
With confcious joy the tender parent fraught,
Still to her fon's renown adjoins her name;
For, at the nurt'ring breast, the patriot caught
The love of Virtue, and the love of Fame.
Ou font les entrailles, les cris, les emotions puiffantes de la Nature ? C'eft dans l'ame brulante et paffionnée des Meres.
Monfieur Thomas, Effai fur les femmes.
Outrageous did the loud wind blow
Across the founding main:
The veffel toffing to and fro,
Could scarce the ftorm fuftain.
MATILDA to her fearful breast,
Held clofe her infant dear,
His prefence all her fears increas'd,
And wak'd the tender tear.
Now nearer to the grateful fhore,
The fhatter'd veffel drew:
The daring waves now ceas'd to roar,
Now fhout the exulting crew.
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