FROM THE LOYAL GENERAL.

FRIENDSHIP'S the privilege

Of private men; for wretched greatness knows
No blessing so substantial.

Secure and free they pass their harmless hours,
Gay as the birds that revel in the grove
And sing the morning up.

SONG: DAMON'S MELANCHOLY.

RETIRED from any mortal's sight,
The pensive Damon lay;

He blessed the discontented night
And cursed the smiling day.
The tender sharers of his pain,
His flocks no longer graze,
But sadly fixed around the swain,
Like silent mourners gaze.

He heard the music of the wood,
And with a sigh reply'd;

He saw the fish sport in the flood,
And wept a deeper tide :

In vain the summer bloom came on,

For still the drooping swain,

Like autumn winds, was heard to groan,
Outwept the winter's rain.

"Some ease," said he, some respite give,
Ah, mighty powers! Ah, why
Am I too much distressed to live,
And yet forbid to die?"

Such accents from the shepherd flew

Whilst on the ground he lay;

At last so deep a sigh he drew
As bore his life away.

ECLOGUE OF VIRGIL.

(The shepherd Corydon woos Alexis; but finding he could not prevail, resolves to follow his affairs, and forget his passion.)

A HOPELESS flame did Corydon destroy,
The lov'd Alexis was his master's joy,

No respite from his grief the shepherd knew,
But daily walk'd where shady bushes grew;

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Where, stretch'd on earth, alone he thus complains,
And in these accents tells the groves his pains:
Cruel Alexis! has thou no remorse?

Must I expire, and have my songs no force?
'Tis Pan preserves the sheep and shepherd too.
Disdain not then the tuneful reed to ply,
Nor scorn the pastime of a deity.

What talk would not Amyntas undergo,
For half the noble skill I offer you?

Come to my arms, thou lovely boy, and take
The richest presents that the spring can make.
See how the nymphs with lilies wait on thee;
Fair Naïs, scarce thyself so fair as she,
With poppies, daffodils, and violets join'd,
A garland for thy softer brow has twin'd.
Myself with downy peaches will appear,
And chestnuts, Amaryllis' dainty cheer;
I'll crop my laurel, and my myrtle tree,
Together bound, because their sweets agree.

THE TEAR.

I WILL convert

This tear to a gem-'tis feasible;
For laid near Julia's broken heart
'Twill to a diamond congeal :

And yet if I consider well,

These tears of Julia can forbode no ill—

The frost is breaking when such drops distil,

THE UPRIGHT MAN.

THOUGH whirled by storms the racking clouds are seen, His unmolested breast is all serene.

THE BIRTH OF CHRIST.

WHILE shepherds watch'd their flocks by night,
All seated on the ground,

The angel of the Lord came down,

And glory shone around.

"Fear not," said he (for mighty dread
Had seized their troubled mind);

"Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all mankind.

To you, in David's town this day,
Is born of David's line,

The Saviour, who is Christ the Lord,
And this shall be the sign.

"The heavenly Babe you there shall find To human view display'd,

All meanly wrapped in swathing bands,
And in a manger laid."

Thus spake the Seraph; and forthwith
Appear'd a shining throng
Of angels, praising God, and thus
Address'd their joyful song:

"All glory be to God on high,

And to the earth be peace;

Good will henceforth from Heaven to men Begin, and never cease!"

HYMN.

THROUGH all the changing scenes of life,

In trouble and in joy,

The praises of my God shall still
My heart and tongue employ.

The hosts of God encamp around
The dwellings of the just;
Deliverance he affords to all

Who on His succour trust.

Oh, make but trial of His love,
Experience will decide,

How blest are they, and only they,

Who in His truth confide.

Fear Him, ye saints, and you will then
Have nothing else to fear;
Make you His service your delight,
Your wants shall be His care.

For God preserves the souls of those
Who on His truth depend,
To them and their posterity

His blessings shall descend.