There lies obfcur'd the ripening diamond's ray,
And thence red-branching coral 's rent away.
In conic form there gelid cryftal grows;
Through fuch the palace lamp, gay luftre throws! 140
Lustre, which, through dim night, as various plays
As play from yonder fnows the changeful rays!
For nobler ufe the crystal's worth may rise,
If tubes perspective hem the spotless prize;
Through these the beams of the far-lengthen'd eye 145
Measure known ftars, and new remoter fpy.
Hence Commerce many a shorten'd voyage fteers,
Shorten'd to months, the hazard once of years;
Hence Halley's foul etherial flight essays ;
Inftructive there from orb to orb the strays;
Sees, round new countless funs, new systems roll!
Sees God in all! and magnifies the whole !
Yon rocky fide enrich'd the fummer fcene,
And peasants search for herbs of healthful green;
Now naked, pale, and comfortless it lies,
Like youth extended cold in death's disguise.
There, while without the founding tempest swells,
Incav'd fecure th' exulting eagle dwells;
And there, when Nature owns prolific fpring,
Spreads o'er her young a fondling mother's wing. 160
Swains on the coaft the far-fam'd fish descry,
That gives the fleecy robe the Tyrian dye;
While fhells, a scatter'd ornament bestow,
The tinctur'd rivals of the showery bow.
Yon limeless fands, loose-driving with the wind, 165
In future cauldrons useful texture find,
Till, on the furnace thrown, the glowing mafs
Brightens, and brightening hardens into glass.
When winter halcyons, flickering on the wave,
Tune their complaints, yon sea forgets to rave;
Though lafh'd by ftorms, which naval pride o'erturn,
The foaming deep in fparkles feems to burn,
Loud winds turn zephyrs to enlarge their notes,
And each fafe neft on a calm furface floats.
Now veers the wind full eaft; and keen, and fore, 175 Its cutting influence aches in every pore!' How weak thy fabric, Man!-A puff, thus blown, Staggers thy ftrength, and echoes to thy groan. A tooth's minuteft nerve let anguish feize, Swift kindred fibres catch! (so frail our ease!) Pinch'd, pierc'd, and torn, enflam'd, and unaffuag'd, They fmart, and fwell, and throb, and fhoot enrag'd! From nerve to nerve fierce flies th' exulting pain! -And are we of this mighty fabric vain ?
Now my blood chills! scarce through my veins it glides!
Sure on each blast a shivering ague rides!
Warn'd let me this bleak eminence forsake,
And to the vale a different winding take!
Half I defcend: my fpirits faft decay';
A terrace now relieves my weary way.
Clofe with this ftage a precipice combines ;
Whence ftill the fpacious country far declines!
The herds feem infects in the distant glades,
And men diminish'd, as, at noon, their fhades!
Thick on this top o'ergrown for walks are seen
Grey leafless wood, and winter-greens between!
The reddening berry, deep-ting'd holly shows,
And matted miftletoe, the white, bestows!
Though loft the banquet of autumnal fruits,
Though on broad oaks no vernal umbrage fhoots! 200
Thefe boughs, the filenc'd fhivering fongfters feek!
Thefe foodful berries fill the hungry beak.
Beneath appears a place, all outward bare,
Inward the dreary mansion of Despair!
The water of the mountain-road, half-ftray'd,
Breaks o'er it wild, and falls a brown cascade.
Has Nature this rough, naked piece defign'd,
To hold inhabitants of mortal kind?
She has. Approach'd, appears a deep descent,
Which opens in a rock a large extent !
And hark!-its hollow entrance reach'd, I hear
A trampling found of footsteps hattening near!
A death-like chilinefs thwarts my panting breast:
Soft! the wifh'd object stands at length confeft!
Of youth his form!-But why with anguish bent? 215
Why pin'd with fallow marks of difcontent?
Yet Patience, labouring to beguile his care,
Seems to raife hope, and fmiles away despair.
Compassion, in his eye, furveys my grief,
And in his voice invites me to relief.
Preventive of thy call, behold my hate,
(He fays,) nor let warm thanks thy fpirits wafte!
All fear forget--Each portal I poffefs,
Duty wide-opens to receive diftrefs.
Oblig'd, I follow, by his guidance led;
The vaulted roof re-echoing to our tread!
And now, in fquar'd divifions, I furvey
Chambers fequefter'd from the glare of day;
Yet needful lights are taught to intervene,
Through rifts; each forming a perspective scene. 230
In front a parlour meets my entering view;
Oppos'd, a room to sweet refection due.
Here my chill'd veins are warm'd by chippy fires,
Through the bor'd rock above, the smoke expires;
Neat, o'er a homely board, a napkin 's spread,
Crown'd with a heapy canister of bread.
A maple cup is next difpatch'd, to bring
The comfort of the falutary fpring:
Nor mourn we abfent bleflings of the vine,
Here laughs a frugal bowl of roly wine;
And favoury cates, upon clear embers cast,
Lie hifling, till fnatch'd off; a rich repaft!
Soon leap my spirits with enliven'd power,
And in gay converfe glides the feastful hour.
The Hermit, thus: Thou wonder'it at thy fare: 245
On me, yon city, kind, bellows her case:
Meat for keen famine, and the generous juice,
That warms chill'd life, her charities produce:
Accept without reward; unafk'd 'twas mine;
Here what thy health requires, as free be thine. 250
Hence learn that GOD, (who, in the time of need,
In frozen deferts can the raven feed)
Well-fought, will delegate fome pitying breaft,
His fecond means, to fuccour man diftreft.
He paus'd. Deep thought upon his afpect gloom'd; 255
Then he, with fmile humane, his voice refum'd.
*form'd, (and laugh me not to scorn) we wilken by thee, thou'rt English-born. Vam 1-To me the British state
* Gear memorial, ever great!
de haut we confcious:-Diffidence suspend!
Fa tow our words !-Did ne'er thy Muse extend
+ grots, where Contemplation fmiles ferene,
1* * angels vili', and where joys convene ?
groves, where more than mortal voices rise, 265 Cris: the rapt foul, and waft it to the skies?
k cave I-Yon walks!-But, ere I more unfold, What artful scenes thy eyes shall here behold, Think fubjects of my toil: nor wondering gaze! What cannot Industry completely raise? Be the whole earth in one great landscape found, By Industry is all with beauty crown'd ! He, he alone, explores the mine for gain, Hues the hard rock, or harrows up the plain;
He forms the fword to fmite; he sheaths the feel, 275 Draws health from herbs, and fhews the balm to heal;
Or with loom'd wool the native robe supplies;
Or bids young plants in future forests rife ;
Or fells the monarch oak, which, borne away,
Shall, with new grace, the diftant ocean fway;
Hence golden Commerce views her wealth encrease,
child of Liberty and Peace.
Rubborn Alps, and, ftill employ'd, Fertile mould, the fteril void; rerocks, fmall, yellow harvefts grow, 285
on terrac'd stages, vineyards blow!
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