The fetting fun's effulgence, not a strain
From all the tenants of the warbling shade
Afcends, but whence his bofom can partake
Fresh pleasure, unreprov'd. Nor then partakes
Fresh pleasure only: for th' attentive mind
By this harmonious action on her pow'rs,
Becomes herfelf harmonious: wont fo oft
In outward things to meditate the charm
Of facred order, foon fhe feeks at home
To find a kindred order, to exert
Within herself this elegance of love,

This fair-infpir'd delight: her temper'd pow'rs
Refine at length, and every paffion wears
A chafter, milder, more attractive mien.
But if to ampler profpects, if to gaze
On nature's form, where negligent of all
These leffer graces, fhe affumes the port
Of that eternal Majefty that weigh'd
The world's foundations; if to thefe the mind
Exalts her daring eye; then mightier far

Will be the change, and nobler. Would the forms
Of fervile cuftom cramp her gen'rous pow'rs?
Would fordid policies, the barb'rous growth
Of ignorance and rapine, bow her down
To tame pursuits, to indolence and fear?

Lo fhe appeals to nature, to the winds
And rolling waves, the fun's unwearied courfe,
The elements and feafons: all declare

For what th' eternal Maker has ordain'd
The pow'rs of man: we feel within ourselves
His energy divine: he tells the heart,
He meant, he made us to behold and love

What

What he beholds and loves, the general orb
Of life and being; fo be great like him,

Beneficent and active. Thus the men

Whom nature's works can charm, with God himself
Hold converfe; grow familiar, day by day,
With his conceptions; act upon his plan ;
And form to his, the relish of their fouls.

AKENSIDE,

CHA P. XXVII

SLAVERY.

ARK! heard ye not that piercing cry,

H waves

Which fhook the waves and rent the sky!

E'en now, e'en now, on yonder Western fhores-
Weeps pale Defpair, and writhing Anguish roars:
E'en now in Afric's groves with hideous yell
Fierce SLAVERY stalks, and flips the dogs of hell;
From vale to vale the gathering cries rebound,
And fable nations tremble at the found!-
-YE BANDS OF SENATORS! whose suffrage sways
Britannia's realms, whom either Ind obeys;
Who right the injured, and reward the brave,
Stretch your strong arm, for ye have
power to fave !
Throned in the vaulted heart, his dread refort
Inexorable CONSCIENCE holds his court;
With ftill fmall voice the plots of Guilt alarms,
Bares his mask'd brow, his lifted hand disarms;
But, wrapp'd in night with terrors all his own,
He speaks in thunder, when the deed is done.

Hear

Hear him, ye Senates! hear this truth fublime,

HE, WHO ALLOWS OPPRESSION, SHARES THE CRIME. No radiant pearl, which crefted Fortune wears, No gem, that twinkling hangs from Beauty's ears, Not the bright stars, which Night's blue arch adorn, Nor rifing fun, that gild the vernal morn,

Shine with fuch luftre as the tear, that breaks

For other's woe down Virtue's manly cheeks.

DARWING

BOOK

BOOK IV.

ARGUMENTATIVE PIECES.

CHAP. I.

ON ANGER.

QUESTION. WHETHER Anger ought to be suppressed entirely, or only to be confined within the

bounds of moderation?

THOSE who maintain that refentment is blameable only in the excess, support their opinion with fuch arguments as these.

SINCE Anger is natural and useful to man, entirely to banish it from our breaft, would be an equally foolish and vain attempt for as it is difficult, and next to impoffible, to oppose nature with fuccefs; so it were imprudent, if we had it in our power, to cast away the weapons with which

fhe has furnished us for our defence. The beft armour against injustice is a proper degree of fpirit, to repel the wrongs that are done, or defigned against us: but if we divest ourselves of all refentment, we shall perhaps prove too

irrefolute

irrefolute and languid, both in refifting the attacks of injuftice, and inflicting punishment upon thofe, who have commited it. We' fhall therefore fink into contempt, and by the tameness of our fpirit, fhall invite the malicious to abuse and affront us. Nor will others fail to deny us the regard which is due from them, if once they think us incapable of resentment. To remain unmoved at grofs in. juries, has the appearance of ftupidity, and will make us who are not to despicable and mean, in the eyes many be influenced by any thing but their fears.

of

AND as a moderate fhare of refentment is ufeful in its effects, fo it is innocent in itself, nay often commendable. The virtue of mildness is no lefs remote from infenfibility, It implies, on the one hand, than from fury on the other. that we are angry only upon proper occafions, and in a due degree; that we are never transported beyond the bounds of decency, or indulge a deep and lafting refentment; that we do not follow, but lead our paffion, governing it as our fervant, not submitting ourselves to it as our master. Under these regulations it is certainly excufable, when moved only by private wrongs: and being excited by the injuries which others suffer, it befpeaks a generous mind, and deserves commendation. Shall a good man feel no indignation against injustice and barbarity? not even when he is witness to fhocking instances of them? when he sees a friend bafely and cruelly treat; when he obferves

Th' oppreffor's wrong, the proud man's contumely,
The infolence of office, and the spurns

That patient merit of th' unworthy takes ;

fhall he ftill enjoy himself in perfect tranquillity? Will it be a crime, if he conceives the leat refentment? Will it not rather be fomewhat criminal, if he is destitute of it? In

fuch