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The thirty plain. The fainting fwain would drop
His lifelefs limbs; the world of water stand

Stagnant and putrid; and the fell-eyed Plague
(Like that which walks o'er Afia's fultry fields)
Would raise an arm of terror, waste the earth,
Tremendous in his course; and from the globe
Sweep half its people as he roam'd along.

Hence heav'n's great Father fends the rushing winds
Abroad, and bids the fwelling tempest roar
Wide o'er the howling wilderness. Afar
The tower all naked, where the fhrieking owl
Broods o'er her young, fuftains the fierce affault
That fhakes its dome. The mother fear'd within,
Oft as the shock'd wall totters, ftarting, leaves
Her nest, and oft returning, as the voice
Of parent love perfuades, fhe fits alone,
And fcreams, wild-wailing to the wafteful winds.
Oft from the caverns of the hollow'd earth
Bursts the rude storm, or from the breezy lake
Shapes its broad circuit, gathering as it rolls
Collected force. Oft from the jarring clouds
Dafhing in dizzy whirl, tempeftuous rolls
The deep-mouth'd thunder thro' the darkfome vault
Of heaven the winds attend it, and the fkies
From their wide fluices pour a torrent down,
Rafhing impetuous.

Oft too the whirlwind's rapid wheel involves Th' incumber'd foreft in its round; the trees Rent from the cliff precipitating, load

The wings of air; the harmless flock that roam

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Secure, nor dream the fudden death so near,
Give to the eddying whirl their fhiver'd limbs.
The city feels it, and the tottering domes
Rock from their inmoft bafe; or loose, affright
The pale inhabitant, that skulks within,
Panting, and fhudders as the roaring winds
Around him bellow; left the cracking beam
Should burst, and o'er him the broad roof defcend.

DR. OGILVIE.

YET

SE C T. XLV.

A PANEGYRIC UPON BRITAIN.

ET not o'er nature spread the general traits
Of imperfection. On fome happier climes.
The hand of Heav'n hath fhower'd its richest spoils,
Profufe of bounty. Though the juicy grape
Tempts not the lip of luxury, the pine

Feels not the scorching fun, nor on the bough
Hangs cloth'd in mantling gold, and ripe to tafte,
The mellow orange; yet their plains can boast
A nobler produce. In Britain's blissful ifle
Gay plenty reigns!

Britannia hail! O! from the world disjoin'd,
As nature's hand had form'd the foft retreat
Of happiness and love! no fevering sun
Blasts thy gay meads: no deep volcano boils
With inward fire; nor thro' the cave beneath
Walks the dire earthquake. The tremendous fhock,

That

That from their loose bafe heaves the works of man,
Juft vibrates on thy bofom; as the voice

Of distant thunder moves the trembling ground,
And murmurs in the air. Thy fields rejoice
With cheerful Plenty. On yon waving plain,
I fee the goddess walk! her loosen'd robe
Floats on the gale redundant; on her cheek,
In full luxuriance, fwells the blushing fpring,

And scents her breath with myrrh. Mark how she

rears

Her horn aloft, and liberal o'er the field

Pours all her treafures. Man's enliven'd foul
And all the groves are transport. Hark the voice
Of mufic warbles from the bough! the hind
Feels his heart leaping as he looks around,
And joy's bright ray bursts o'er the kindling mind.
These are the bleffing's Heaven's all bounteous hand
Showers on her favourite isle. Thrice happy they,
Who know their worth, and, kindling at the view
With love, with gratitude, adore the Power,
Who fhap'd this wondrous frame, and wrought its parts
To fuch perfection. Nor less beauteous form'd
His moral plan. But this to trace at large,
Requires a fitter feafon. The flow fun
Already finks behind yon crimfon'd cloud,
And gives the world to night.

DR. OGILVIE.

SECT.

SECT.

XLVI.

A DESCRIPTION OF EGYPT, AND THE INUNDATION

HIG

OF THE NILE.

[IGH o'er broad lawns with broider'd vesture gay,
Where Nature's liberal hand had fhower'd pro
fufe

Her richest treasures, and the young-eyed Spring
Walk'd in loose luxury; we mark'd fublime
A fpacious theatre, whose round inclos'd
Proud fanes, the boast of science; obelisks
That touch'd the blue horizon; towering domes
Piled in rude grandeur; and the dizzy height
Of sky-topt pyramids, whofe fteepy fpires
O'erlook'd a wafte of empire. "Twas in all
A mighty city; round whofe ample skirts
A circling terras ran, broad, firm, and ftrong,
To ftand the dash of torrents. From the brow
Of a steep hill, we view'd the scattering throngs
That roam'd at large. Some from the terras' height
Breath'd the cool breeze, whofe lily-fcented wing
Perfum'd the ambient air. Some o'er the mead
Wanton'd in easy indolence, and cull'd
The sports of fummer; while a few retir'd
Sat on a tower's proud top, emboss'd around
With myftic figures; and in thought elate
Mark'd the declining fun; describ'd the course
Of planetary orbs; and when the ray
Of thy Aurora ting'd the glowing east,
Eyed the first beam that gilds the morning ftar,
And view'd its courfe along the bright'ning fkies.
E

Not

Not far a river, o'er its pebbled bed
Roll'd a majestic ftream; along its bank
Bloom'd the fair herbage of the mantling lawn,
Whofe living hues illum'd th' unbounded scenes
With rich variety. Spontaneous glow'd,
In gay affemblage, all the blushing tribe
Whofe forms still varying crown the smiling year.
Charm'd as I look'd, bewilder'd thought survey'd
This scene of wonders bursting on its view,
Perplex'd; nor knew to clear th' entangling maze.
Chief on the figures dwelt my dubious fearch
In deep suspense, and scann'd their mystic shapes;
Their parts incongruous, where the wither'd hand
Of bent deformity had caft the moulds,

And wildly freak'd with beauty. Strow'd o'er all,
These forms unfeemly rouz'd th' inquiring mind,
And couch'd fome truth myfterious. The fhort glance
Of mist-eyed reason darken'd as it view'd;
Nor fancy's lightning-beam could pierce the veil.
While thus wild pastime o'er the inviting fcenes
Amufive roam'd;-lo, from his fecret cell,
Up rofe the River Genius! In his hand
A trident wav'd, and o'er his form fublime
Floated the mantling azure. On a car
Of pearl, inlaid with fhells, whofe polish shone
Refplendent to the fun; led by the train
Of sporting Naiads, fat the godlike power ;
His blue locks waving to the fluttering breeze
That wanton'd as he came. Gay Plenty near
Shook her bright wings, and eyed the laughing mead
With fmiles afkance, and o'er the landskip held

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