But God alone with unimpassion'd sight,
Surveys the nice barrier of wrong and right;
And while subservient, as his will ordains,
Obedient Nature yields the present means;
While neither force nor passions guide his views,
Ev'n Evil works the purpose he pursues!
That bitter spring, the source of human pain!
Heal'd by his touch, does mineral health contain ;
And dark affliction, at his potent rod,
Withdraws its cloud, and brightens into good.
Thus human justice (far as man can go)
For private safety strikes the dubious blow;
But Rectitude divine, with nobler soul,
Consults each individual in the whole!
Directs the issues of each moral strife,
And sees creation struggle into life!
And you, ye happier souls! who in his ways
Observant walk, and sing his daily praise;
Ye righteous few! whose calm unruffled breasts
No fears can darken, and no guilt infests,
To whom his gracious promises extend,
In whom they centre, and in whom shall end,
Which (bless'd on that foundation sure who build)
Shall with eternal justice be fulfill'd :
Ye sons of life, to whose glad hope is giv'n
The bright reversion of approaching Heav'n,
With greatful hearts his glorious praise recite,
Whose love from darkness call'd you out to light;
So let your piety reflective shine,
As men may thence confess his truth divine!
And when this mortal veil, as soon it must,
Shall drop, returning to its native dust;
The work of life with approbation done,
Receive from God your bright immortal crown.
But oh, advent'rous Muse, restrain thy flight,
Dare not the blaze of uncreated light!
Before whose glorious throne with dread surprise
Th' adoring seraph veils his dazzled eyes;
Whose pure effulgence, radiant to excess,
No colours can describe, or words express!
All the fair beauties, all the lucid stores,
That Sun himself withdraws his lessen'd beam
From thee, the glorious Author of his frame !
Transcendent Power! sole arbiter of fate!
How great thy glory! and thy bliss how great!
To view from thy exalted throne above,
(Eternal source of light, and life, and love)
Unnumber'd creatures draw their smiling birth,
To bless the Heav'ns, or beautify the Earth;
While systems roll, obedient to thy view,
And worlds rejoice-which Newton never knew.
Then raise the song, the gen'ral anthem raise,
And swell the concert of eternal praise!
Assist, ye orbs, that form this boundless whole,
Which in the womb of space unnumber'd roll;
Ye planets who compose our lesser scheme,
And bend, concertive, round the solar frame;
Thou eye of Nature! whose extensive ray
With endless charms adorns the face of day;
Consenting raise th' harmonious joyful sound,
And bear his praises through the vast profound!
His praise, ye winds that fan the cheerful air,
Swift as they pass along your pinions bear!
His praise let ocean through her realms display,
Far as her circling billows can convey!
His praise, ye misty vapours, wide diffuse,
In rains descending, or in milder dews!
His praises whisper, ye majestic trees,
As your tops rustle to the gentle breeze!
His praise around, ye flow'ry tribes, exhale,
Far as your sweets embalm the spicy gale!
His praise, ye dimpled streams, to earth reveal,
As pleas'd ye murmur through the flow'ry vale!
His praise, ye feather'd choirs, distinguish'd sing,
As to your notes the vocal forests ring!
His praise proclaim, ye monsters of the deep,
Who in the vast abyss your revels keep!
Or ye, fair natives of our earthly scene,
Who range the wilds, or haunt the pasture green!
Nor thou, vain lord of Earth, with careless ear
The universal hymn of worship hear!
But ardent in the sacred chorus join,
Thy soul transported with the task divine!
While by his works th' Almighty is confess'd,
Supremely glorious, and supremely bless'd!
Great Lord of life! from whom this humble frame
Which o'er thy works thy hand resplendent pours, Derives the pow'r to sing thy holy name,
Feeble, thy brighter glories to display,
Pale as the Moon before the solar ray!
See on his throne the gaudy Persian plac'd,
In all the pomp of the luxuriant East!
While mingling gems the borrow'd day unfold,
And the rich purple waves emboss'd with gold;
Yet mark this scene of painted grandeur yield
To the fair lily that adorns the field!
Obscur'd, behold that fainter lily lies,
By the rich bird's inimitable dyes;
Yet these survey confounded and outdone
By the superior lustre of the Sun;
Forgive the lowly Muse, whose artless lay
Has dar'd thy sacred attributes survey!
Delighted oft through Nature's beauteous field
Has she ador'd thy wisdom bright reveal'd;
Oft have her wishes aim'd the secret song,
But awful rev'rence still withheld her tongue.
Yet as thy bounty lent the reas'ning beam,
As feels my conscious breast thy vital flame,
So, bless'd Creator, let thy servant pay
His mite of gratitude this feeble way;
Thy goodness own, thy providence adore,
And yield thee only-what was thine before.
[Since the preceding sheets were printed, the Editor has procured from Mr. Reed's library, the scarce volume of Boyse's Poems, mentioned in p. 517. They are now added to his works, except a few written by other persons whose assistance he appears to have obtained to make up the volume, and two or three already printed.]
Standing on Earth, not rapt above the skies,
More safe I sing with mortal voice, unchang'd
To hoarse or mute; tho' fallen on evil days,
On evil days tho' fallen, and evil tongues!
In darkness, and with dangers compass'd round,
And solitude ;-yet not alone, whilst thou
Visit'st my slumbers nightly, or when morn
Purples the east, still govern thou my soug,
Urania! and fit audience find, tho' few!
FRANCIS DUKE OF BUCCLEUGH,
KNIGHT OF THE MOST ANCIENT AND NOBLE ORDER OF THE THISTLE.
POWER without goodness implies only an unlimited capacity of doing mischief; goodness without power is to a generous mind but a painful and barren possession! But when these two qualities unite, they bless mankind in proportion to their degrees, and conspire to form that character, which of all others is the most amiable, and worthy of our imitation and esteem!
However mistaken the point has been, it must be confessed, my lord, that panegyric is neither the talent of every writer, nor the property of every patron. There is here, as in painting, a delicacy in disposing the lights, and placing the figures with propriety, which few of the pretenders to either art are masters of. From hence it arises that, on these occasions, praise has been so unjustly as well as ungracefully lavished, that those, who are most entitled to it, scorn to receive it in a way that has been so liable to prostitution.
For this reason, my lord, I shall forbear to offend you with any compliments of this nature, which, however well intended they might be, would to your friends appear inferior to your grace's merit, and to strangers might seem like adulation. I shall only say, that if the humane and benevolent exercise of wealth and power can describe the noblest disposition, or bestow the truest happiness, your grace is justly rewarded in the cheerful service and affection of all who more immediately depend on you, and in the sincere esteem and respect of all who have the honour to know you. That easy grandeur you possess of accommodating yourself to those below you, without losing your dignity, effectually procures you that veneration which pride, with all its ostentation, can never really obtain.
As most of the pieces, which form this collection, were wrote in that part of Britain from whence your grace derives your title, and which has often felt the kind influences of your presence: as some of them have been formerly honoured with your grace's generous notice and protection, I flatter myself your grace will not refuse them a shelter under your auspicious
patronage. The love of learning is inseparable from all truly great and noble minds. It is the first love which produces the love of virtue! of liberty! of every thing that is in reality valuable and praiseworthy! If any of these productions, my lord, bear these impressions, it is from thence only they can merit your grace's favourable regard. Such as they are, my lord, you will condescend to receive them as the dutiful offerings of a heart sincerely affectionate to your illustrious family, ardent for your grace's personal prosperity and honour, and whose author is, with the highest esteem and veneration,
your grace's most obliged,
and most devoted faithful servant,
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