The hoary grandfire smiles the hour away,
Won by the charm of Innocence at play;

He bends to meet each artless burst of joy,
Forgets his age, and acts again the boy.

What tho' the iron school of War erase

265

Each milder virtue, and each softer grace;
What tho' the fiend's torpedo-touch arrest
Each gentler, finer impulse of the breast;
Still fhall this active principle prefide,
And wake the tear to Pity's felf denied.

270

The intrepid Swifs, that guards a foreign shore, Condemn'd to climb his mountain-cliffs no more, If chance he hears the fong fo fweetly wild 12

Which on those cliffs his infant hours beguil'd,

Melts at the long-loft scenes that round him rife, 275

And finks a martyr to repentant fighs.

Afk not if courts or camps diffolve the charm:

Say why VESPASIAN lov'd his Sabine farm; 13

Why great NAVARRE, when France and freedom

bled, 4

Sought the lone limits of a forest-shed.

When DIOCLETIAN'S felf-corrected mind 15

The imperial fafces of a world refign'd,

280

Say why we trace the labours of his spade,

In calm Salona's philofophic fhade.

284

Say, when ambitious CHARLES renounc'd a throne, 16

To mufe with monks unletter'd and unknown,

What from his foul the parting tribute drew?

What claim'd the forrows of a laft adieu ?

The ftill retreats that footh'd his tranquil breast, Ere grandeur dazzled, and its cares opprefs'd. 290

Undamp'd by time, the generous Instinct glows

Far as Angola's fands, as Zembla's fnows;

Glows in the tiger's den, the ferpent's neft,

On every form of varied life imprest.

The focial tribes its choiceft influence hail :- 295

And, when the drum beats briskly in the gale,

The war-worn courfer charges at the found,

And with young vigour wheels the pasture round.

Oft has the aged tenant of the vale

Lean'd on his staff to lengthen out the tale ;

300

Oft have his lips the grateful tribute breath'd,
From fire to fon with pious zeal bequeath'd.

When o'er the blafted heath the day declin'd,

And on the scath'd oak warr'd the winter wind;

When not a distant taper's twinkling ray 305

Gleam'd o'er the furze to light him on his

way;

When not a fheep-bell footh'd his listening ear,
And the big rain-drops told the tempeft near;
Then did his horse the homeward track descry, 17
The track that shunn'd his fad, inquiring eye; 310

And win each wavering purpose to relent,

With warmth fo mild, fo gently violent,

That his charm'd hand the careless rein refign'd,

And doubts and terrors vanifh'd from his mind.

Recall the traveller, whofe alter'd form

Has borne the buffet of the mountain-ftorm;

And who will first his fond impatience meet?

His faithful dog's already at his feet!

315

Yes, tho' the porter fpurn him from his door,

Tho' all, that knew him, know his face no more, 320

His faithful dog fhall tell his joy to each,

With that mute eloquence which paffes fpeech.

And fee, the mafter but returns to die!

Yet who fhall bid the watchful fervant fly?

The blafts of heav'n, the drenching dews of earth, 325

The wanton infults of unfeeling mirth,

Thefe, when to guard Misfortune's facred grave,

Will firm Fidelity exult to brave.

Led by what chart, transports the timid dove The wreaths of conqueft, or the vows of love? 330 Say, thro' the clouds what compass points her flight? Monarchs have gaz'd, and nations blefs'd the fight. Pile rocks on rocks, bid woods and mountains rise, Eclipse her native fhades, her native skies ;—