Revolving o'er and o'er and o'er,
And foaming on the rocky shore,
Whose caverns echo to their roar.

The Sight sublime enrapts my thought, And swift along the past it strays, And much of strange event surveys, What History's faithful tongue has taught, Or Fancy form'd, whose plastic skill The page with fabled change can fill Of ill to good, or good to ill.

But can my soul the scene enjoy, That rends another's breast with pain? O hapless he, who, near the main, Now sees its billowy rage destroy! Beholds the foundering bark descend, Nor knows, but what its fate may end The moments of his dearest friend!

A LANDSCAPE.

[IBID.]

On the eastern hill's steep side

Spreads the rural hamlet wide;
'Cross the vale, where willows rise,
Further still another lies;.
And, beneath a steeper hill,

Lies another further still:

Near them many a field and groveScenes where Health and Labour rove!

Northward swelling slopes are seen, Clad with corn-fields neat and green; There, through grassy plains below, Broad and smooth the waters flow; While the town, their banks along, Bids its clustering houses throng, In the sunshine glittering fair; Haunts of business, haunts of care!

Westward o'er the yellow meads

Wind the rills through waving reeds;

From dark elms a shadow falls
On the abbey's whiten'd walls:
Wide the park's green lawns expand;
Thick its tufted lindens stand:

Fair retreat! that well might please
Wealth, and elegance, and ease.

Hark! amidst the distant shades Murmuring drop the deep cascades; Hark, amidst the rustling trees Softly sighs the gentle breeze: And th' Eolian harp, reclin'd Obvious to the stream of wind, Pours its wildly-warbled strain, Rising now, now sunk again.

How the view detains the sight! 'How the sounds the ear delight!

Sweet the scene! but think not there

Happiness sincere to share;

Reason still regrets the day
Passing rapidly away;

Lessening life's too little store;

Passing, to return no more!

MESSIAH.

A SACRED ECLOGUE.

[POPE.]

Yε Nymphs of Solyma! begin the song:
To heav'nly themes sublimer strains belong.
The mossy fountains, and the sylvan shades,
The dreams of Pindus and th' Aonian maids,
Delight no more-O thou my voice inspire,
Who touch'd Isaiah's hallow'd lips with fire!

Rapt into future times, the bard begun: A virgin shall conceive, a virgin bear a Son! From Jesse's root behold a branch arise, Whose sacred flow'r with fragrance fills the skies: Th' ethereal Spirit o'er its leaves shall move, And on its top descends the mystic dove. Ye heav'ns! from high the dewy nectar pour, And in soft silence shed the kindly show'r! The sick and weak the healing plant shall aid, From storms a shelter, and from heat a shade.

All crimes shall cease, and ancient fraud shall fail;
Returning justice lift aloft her scale;

Peace o'er the world her olive wand extend,
And white-rob'd innocence from heav'n descend.
Swift fly the years, and rise th' expected morn!
Oh spring to light, auspicious babe, be born!
See nature hastes her earliest wreaths to bring,
With all the incense of the breathing spring:
See lofty Lebanon his head advance,
See nodding forests on the mountains dance,
See spicy clouds from lowly Saron rise,
And Carmel's flow'ry top perfumes the skies!
Hark! a glad voice the lonely desert cheers!
Prepare the way! a God, a God appears!
A God! a God! the vocal hills reply,
The rocks proclaim th' approaching Deity.
Lo, earth receives him from the bending skies!
Sink down, ye mountains, and, ye vallies, rise;
With heads declin'd, ye cedars, homage pay;
Be smooth, ye rocks; ye rapid floods, give way!
The Saviour comes! by ancient bards foretold;
Hear him, ye deaf, and, all ye blind, behold!.
He from thick films shall purge the visual ray,
And on the sightless eye-ball pour the day:
'Tis he th' obstructed paths of sound shall clear,
And bid new music charm th' unfolding ear: