ODE ON THE VINDICATION OF LIBERTY. And the Lord said unto Moses, I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host. Exodus. STROPHE. FAR from their hallowed land, In sad captivity for many a year, The stern Egyptian's cruel hand Afflicted Israel were assign'd to bear. They knew the tyrant's whip and taunt†, With many a keen heart-piercing want, While in the Sun's ferocious blaze, They pass'd their long laborious days. When from unfriendly Earth no hope was giv'n, They rais'd their troubled thoughts to Heav'n; And smarting with th'oppressor's rod, They pour'd their fervent pray'rs to Jacob's faithful God. ANTISTROPHE. Affliction's honest pray'r Can mount like pleasing incense to the skies, Hear, and to aid insulted Virtue rise. He sent a patriot and a chief, To plead and to enforce relief; They fear'd not its protracted fall; Tyrant and host beneath the roaring waves were lost. + The Israelites were required to make the same number of bricks without straw, as when straw was given to them, and were called idle when they repined. Sir George Staunton, in his Account of China, says, that in the East they use straw in making bricks, for the same purpose that we use sand, to prevent the bricks from ad hering to one another. EPODE. O raise to God the joyful song! Whose bow will reach his foe from far. Yet the Earth shows his great beneficence. Then let the Earth resound with songs of love, Responsive to the blest immortal choirs above. The Lord is a man of war. Exodus. E ODE ON SPRING. RELENTLESS Winter now is o'er, The rapt'rous lay pour forth. Nor shall the kind and social muse, In sullen apathy, refuse To join this chorus gay; But shall her free unlabour'd song, Hail, offspring beauteous of the Sun, Favonius now his gentle airs Diffusing genuine fragrance wide, And now in youthful vigour green Yet is its seed decay'd; The body thus in earth that's plac'd, And rising from its transient tomb, ODE ON ADVERSITY. O THOU dread pow'r, whose ruthless sway The gen'ral race of men obey! Full many a keen vindictive dart Of thine has pierc'd my lab'ring heart; Which my faults urg'd, or others' spite, To point, has ta'en unkind delight. Yet many of thy stings and scorn Right manfully for years I've borne. O grant that I henceforth may know (For oft these gifts thou deign'st bestow) A feeling, yet a patient mind, Which is delib'rate and resign'd; Which keeps a firm and equal state, Though tender not effeminate; That always for another's woe The tear of Sympathy may flow; But let me weakly ne'er lament, With heart-corroding Discontent, The Heav'n-appointed cares of man, Which is as impious as 'tis vain. Yet when I feel the chast'ning rod Of my Friend, Father, and my God, Let me, dejected in the dust, Confess the punishment is just: And may it happily improve My filial reverence and love! Thus Hope from Piety that's bred, Shall rise upon thy footstool head; Above this vale of tears aspire, Like great Elijah in his car of fire, And in exultant joy be driv'n To all the deathless bliss of Heav'n. ON THE Recovery of a Scotch Young Lady from Sickness. PALE sickness spread o'er Delia's face of late, Threaten'd her brilliant charms t'obliterate; Dimm'd was the lustre of that beauteous eye, Which apathy might warm to ecstasy. They fear'd, who knew the highly valu’d maid, THE JASMIN; A YOUNG LADY GOING INTO A NUNNERY. GO, flow'r, more beauteous than the garish rose, But say, when thou art seen in honour there, Say that her bloom is like thy fragrance sweet, |