DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16158#0011
To the Countess of Eglintoim.
The peaceful houshold fill'd with dire alarms,
The ravish'd virgin mourns her slighted charms 3
The voie£ of impious mirth is heard around ;
In guilt they feast, in guilt the bowl is crown'd :
Unpunish'd violence "lords it o'er the plains,
Arid Hctppbiefs forsakes the guilty svvain-s.
Oh Happinejs ! from human (earch retir'd,
Where art thou to be found by alldehVd )
Nun sober and devout! why art thou ssed,
To hide in shades thy meek con'ented head J
Virgin of aspect mild ! ah why unkind^
Fly'st thou displeas'd, the commerce of mankind?
O! teach our fle ps to find the secret cell,
"Where, with thy sire Content, thou lov'st to dwell.
Or sav, dost thou a duteous handmaid wait
Tamiiiar atthe chambers of the great ?
Dost thou pursue the voice of them that call
To noisy revel, and to midnight ball ?
Or the full banquet when we feast our sour,
Dost thou inspire the mirth, or mix the bowl ?
Or, with th' industrious planter, dost thou talk,
Conversing freely in an eveningwalk ?
Say, does the miser e'er thy face behold"
Watchful and studious of the treasurcd gold :
Seeks Kncvolelge, not in vain, thy much loy'd pow'r,
Still rnusing silentatthe morning hour?
May we thy presencehope in war'salarms,
In Stair's wisdom, or in Erskine's charms.
In vain our ssatt'ring hopes our steps beguile,
The flying good eludes the searcher's toil:
In vain we seek the city or the cell,
A'one wjth vertue knows the pow'r to dwell.
Nor need mankind despair these joys to know,
The gift themlelves may onthemselves bestow.
Soon, soon we might the precious blesiing boast 5
But many pasfions rnust the blelling cost :
Infernal malice, inly pining hate,
And envy, grieving at another's state.
Revenge no more must in our hearts remain,,
Or burning lust, or avarice of gain,
A> Wl:
The peaceful houshold fill'd with dire alarms,
The ravish'd virgin mourns her slighted charms 3
The voie£ of impious mirth is heard around ;
In guilt they feast, in guilt the bowl is crown'd :
Unpunish'd violence "lords it o'er the plains,
Arid Hctppbiefs forsakes the guilty svvain-s.
Oh Happinejs ! from human (earch retir'd,
Where art thou to be found by alldehVd )
Nun sober and devout! why art thou ssed,
To hide in shades thy meek con'ented head J
Virgin of aspect mild ! ah why unkind^
Fly'st thou displeas'd, the commerce of mankind?
O! teach our fle ps to find the secret cell,
"Where, with thy sire Content, thou lov'st to dwell.
Or sav, dost thou a duteous handmaid wait
Tamiiiar atthe chambers of the great ?
Dost thou pursue the voice of them that call
To noisy revel, and to midnight ball ?
Or the full banquet when we feast our sour,
Dost thou inspire the mirth, or mix the bowl ?
Or, with th' industrious planter, dost thou talk,
Conversing freely in an eveningwalk ?
Say, does the miser e'er thy face behold"
Watchful and studious of the treasurcd gold :
Seeks Kncvolelge, not in vain, thy much loy'd pow'r,
Still rnusing silentatthe morning hour?
May we thy presencehope in war'salarms,
In Stair's wisdom, or in Erskine's charms.
In vain our ssatt'ring hopes our steps beguile,
The flying good eludes the searcher's toil:
In vain we seek the city or the cell,
A'one wjth vertue knows the pow'r to dwell.
Nor need mankind despair these joys to know,
The gift themlelves may onthemselves bestow.
Soon, soon we might the precious blesiing boast 5
But many pasfions rnust the blelling cost :
Infernal malice, inly pining hate,
And envy, grieving at another's state.
Revenge no more must in our hearts remain,,
Or burning lust, or avarice of gain,
A> Wl: