Each bird of various plume that haunts the wood,
Or wings the heath, or dives the liquid flood,
The fpreading fea fish and the scaly fry

Contiguous coafts or neighbouring ftreams fupply.
Thus Art and Nature join in friendly strife,
To fhower on Bath the blandifhments of life.

Oh Bath! thrice happy if to man 'twere given
To enjoy with temperate use the gifts of heaven!
Didft thou thy partial fate but truly prize,
Didft thou increase in virtue as in fize;
Were Luxury banish'd with each baneful Vice,
Th' infernal arts of Scandal, Cards, and Dice;
The vagrant herds that every street infest,
And Infolence, with vigorous care fupprefs'd;
Did no bafe mifcreants, to themfelves unjust,
By mean exactions liberal minds difguft;
From diftant counties Thanes in crowds should fly,
Proud in thy domes to fhun the wint'ry sky.
Augufta's felf fhould have deferted stand,

And Bath poffefs the riches of the land.

** ***
X

THE

THE GREAT SHEPHERD.

A SACRED PASTORAL.

BY MR. BARFOR D.

F

PART I.

ROM the fair gardens of the blooming East
The rofy hours lead forth the purple Spring,
And the North brightens with a warmer blush.
From heav'n defcending, thro' the foft'ring deeps
The vegitative Spirit breathes her pow'rs,

And Earth prepares her fragrance. Now, ye fwains,
Now feize the happy feafon: urge your toils;
And pour the future harveft c'er the fields.

care;

And ye, bleft youths, and virgins of the lawn,
Who watch the pastures, and make flocks your
And taste the joys a golden world might boast,
By murm'ring rivers, and by warbling groves;
Hear, while the Shepherd tunes his rural reed
With ftrains he learn'd from venerable Seers,
Whom the great Shepherd lov'd, and taught to fing.
With love the fang begins, with love it ends.

O come,

O come, ye chafte and fair; come old and young,
Whofe ears are ready, and whofe hearts are pure;
Drink deep of Happiness, drink Health and Peace,
From the sweet fountains of eternal Love.

See the bright bleflings ftreaming from the skies!
Hear the glad waters murm'ring as they flow!
Ye defarts, fing! ye groves, fresh garlands wear!
Ye hills remurmur, and ye vales refound!

Ere the Almighty in his balance weigh'd
The pond'rous heav'ns and earth; before the stars
Flam'd thro' the glowing concave, and the mass
Of recent matter own'd th' IMPERIAL WORD,
In all its virgin forms, WISDOM DIVINE
Presented gracious to the SOVEREIGN SIRE
The great Idea. He, pure fource of love,
For ever gracious, righteous, and the fame;
Delighting always in the beauteous works

Of Wisdom, his bleft offspring, pleas'd, confefs'd
The filial Godhead; everlasting glory

And pow'r ordaining for the lamb, and peace
For man's predeftin'd race: Heav'n's awful thrones
Confirm'd th' eternal covenant, and Grace
Celestial fmil'd. The all-creating Word
Then iffu'd forth; he gave the high command,
And the bright image of the voice appear'd
Completely fair and good, reflecting full
The ftrong Ideas in th' eternal mind.

The Word was Love; Love was the facred law,
Which form'd, and held the whole in fweet accord;

And

And still had held: But Hate, infernal Hate 6,
Dire oppofite! elate with dragon Pride,
Arming Confufion, evil against good,
Obfcur'd the fair Creation, and defac'd

Heav'n's beauteous image; till the arm of God
Drove Darkness to her place, the facred Light,
Gracious, reftoring: often ftain'd, but ftill
With brighter beams reftor'd. Victorious, he
Renew'd th' immortal image loft, renew'd
In greater glory; and, fuperior, fill
Working, controuls Confufion with his laws.
O fhun the felon fiend, ye gentle fwains;
Ye nymphs, preferve your bofoms from his rage.
A foe to Innocence and Peace he comes;
A foe to Beauty, Harmony, and Heav'n.
Envy and Luft, Defpair and Death he brings;
And low Self-love, and long enduring pain.
O watch, ye Silvans, left the favage boar
Deface your lawns, and stain your filver springs.
Ye nymphs, watch well your gardens' vernal pride;
Left blights and reptiles, and intemp❜rate heats
Lay waste your lilies, and defile your blooms.
High Heav'n your fair endeavours shall approve,
And speed your labours, and reward your cares.
Mild ev❜ning funs fhall gild your profp'rous groves;

Hate, infernal Hate, dire Oppofite !] From the name Satau; the Enemy; Adverfary; Oppofer; he who hates.

Soft

Soft show'rs descending shall refresh your plains:
With sweeter mufic fhall your fountains flow,
And Autumn heap his golden bounties round.
In vain the wolf shall haunt your nightly folds;
In vain fell lions fhall your herds annoy.

No grief fhall burden, and no loss distress
Your morning labours, or your ev'ning fongs.
Sweet-fmiling Hope fhall fow your fruitful fields;
Your flocks shall flourish, and your herds shall thrive.
But bring, ye Shepherds, bring an off'ring due:
Bring righteous Heav'n the facrifice requir'd:
Bring honour, truth; bring gentleness of heart,
Unbroken vows, and love for ever pure.

Ye graceful virgins, join the feftive train,
With all the sweet fimplicity of dress,
And fwell the votive song, and joyful bring
Unfpotted faith and innocence of heart.

Hear the glad voice! the Prince of Shepherds bids;
Attend the bridegroom at the joyous feast.

See Beauty rifing, fair without a stain ©,

From living lakes, and confecrated streams!

Age fmiles renew'd: the wint'ry storms are o'er,
And a mild spirit breathes along the sky.

The olive fhoots; the vine expands her gems;

And the dove murm'ring wakes the groves to love.

Here, where tall beeches fpread, and glitt'ring ftreams Glance a cool radiance on the wand'ring eye;

• Emblems of baptifm, and the Chriftian state.

Where