THE PLEASURES O F MEMOR Y.* PART II. SWEET MEMORY, wafted by thy gentle gale, Oft up the tide of Time I turn my fail, To view the fairy-haunts of long-loft hours, Bleft with far greener fhades, far fresher flowers. Ages and climes remote to Thee impart What charms in Genius, and refines in Art; 5 Thee, in whofe hand the keys of Science dwell, The penfive portress of her holy cell; Whofe conftant vigils chafe the chilling damp Oblivion steals upon her vestal-lamp. 10 The friends of Reafon, and the guides of Youth, Whofe language breath'd the eloquence of Truth; Whofe life, beyond preceptive wisdom, taught The great in conduct, and the pure in thought; Thefe ftill exift, by Thee to Fame confign'd, 15 Still speak and act, the models of mankind. From Thee sweet Hope her airy colouring draws; And Fancy's flights are fubject to thy laws. From Thee that bofom-fpring of rapture flows, Which only Virtue, tranquil Virtue, knows. 20 When Joy's bright fun has shed his evening-ray, And Hope's delufive meteors cease to play; When clouds on clouds the fmiling profpect clofe, Still thro' the gloom thy ftar ferenely glows: Like yon fair orb, fhe gilds the brow of night 25 With the mild magic of reflected light. The beauteous maid, that bids the world adieu, Oft of that world will fnatch a fond review; Some focial scene, fome dear, familiar face, Forgot, when first a father's stern controul 30 Chas'd the gay vifions of her opening foul: Oft will her warm and wayward heart revive, 35 To love and joy ftill tremblingly alive; The whisper'd vow, the chafte caress prolong, Weave the light dance, and swell the choral fong; With rapt ear drink the enchanting serenade, And, as it melts along the moonlight-glade, To each foft note return as soft a figh, And bless the youth that bids her slumbers fly. 40 But not till Time has calm'd the ruffled breast, Are these fond dreams of happiness confest. Not till the rushing winds forget to rave, Is heav'n's fweet fmile reflected on the wave. 45 From Guinea's coaft purfue the leffening fail, And catch the founds that fadden every gale. Tell, if thou canft, the fum of forrows there; Mark the fixt gaze, the wild and frenzied glare, 50 The racks of thought, and freezings of defpair! But pause not then-beyond the western wave, Go, view the captive barter'd as a flave! Crush'd till his high, heroic spirit bleeds, And from his nervelefs frame indignantly recedes. 55 Yet here, ev'n here, with pleasures long refign'd, `LO! MEMORY bursts the twilight of the mind: Her dear delufions footh his finking foul, When the rude fcourge prefumes its base controul; And o'er Futurity's blank page diffuse бо The full reflection of their vivid hues. 'Tis but to die, and then, to weep no more, Then will he wake on Congo's distant shore; |