Fame he desired, and talents he possessed, But loved not labor, though he could not rest, Nor firmly fix the vacillating mind, Then cares domestic rush upon his mind, And half the ease and comfort he enjoys, Is when surrounded by slates, books, and boys. [From Schools.] LEARNING IS LABOR. To learning's second seats we now proceed, Where humming students gilded primers read; That, ever working, could no centre | Or books with letters large and pic find. [From Schools.] THE TEACHER. HE, while his troop light-hearted leap and play, Is all intent on duties of the day; No more the tyrant stern or judge severe, tures gay, To make their reading but a kind of play "Reading made Easy," so the titles tell: But they who read must first begin to spell; There may be profit in these arts, but still, Learning is labor, call it what you will; Upon the youthful mind a heavy load, He feels the father's and the hus-Nor must we hope to find the royal road. Some will their easy steps to science show, And some to heaven itself their byway know; Ah! trust them not, who fame or bliss would share, Must learn by labor, and must live by care. [From the Gentleman Farmer.] WHO would by law regain his plundered store, Would pick up fallen mercury from the floor; If he pursue it, here and there it slides, He would collect it, but it more divides; He sees his native village with delight: The house, the chamber, where he once arrayed His youthful person; where he knelt and prayed; Then too the comforts he enjoyed at home, The days of joy: the joys themselves are come; The hours of innocence; -the timid look Of his loved maid, when first her hand he took, And told his hope; her trembling joy appears, Her forced reserve, and his retreating fears. All now is present; -'tis a moment's gleam Of former sunshine-stay, delightful dream! Let him within his pleasant garden walk, Give him her arm; of blessings let them talk. Yes! all are with him now, and all the while Life's early prospects and his Fanny's smile: Then come his sister, and his villagefriend, And he will now the sweetest moments spend Life has to yield;― No! never will he find Again on earth such pleasures in his mind: He goes through shrubby walks these friends among, Love in their looks and honor on their tongue: [From The Lover's Journey.] EXTERNAL IMPRessions depEN DENT ON THE SOUL'S MOODS. IT is the Soul that sees: the outward eyes Present the object, but the Mind descries; And thence delight, disgust, or cool indifference rise: When minds are joyful, then we look around, And what is seen is all on fairy ground; Again they sicken, and on every view Cast their own dull and melancholy hue; Or, if absorbed by their peculiar cares, The vacant eye on viewless matter glares, Our feelings still upon our views attend, And their own natures to the objects lend; [sure, Sorrow and joy are in their influence Long as the passion reigns th' effects endure: But Love in minds his various changes makes, And clothes each object with the change he takes; His light and shade on every view he throws, And on each object, what he feels, bestows. |