• Well may your hearts believe the truths I tell; Or taught the fwains that fureft blifs to find, Ye Perfian dames,' he faid, to you belong, Boaft but the worth Balfora's * pearls display: • Drawn from the deep, we own the surface bright; But, dark within, they drink no luftrous light. • Such are the maids, and fuch the charms they boak; By fenfe unaided, or to virtus lost. Self-flatt'ring fex! your hearts believe in vain, That Love fhall blind, when once he fires the fwain; • Or hope a lover by your faults to win, As fpots on ermin beautify the fkin: The gulph of that name, famous for the pearl fishery, < Who • Who feeks fecure to rule, be firft her care • Each fofter virtue that adorns the fair; Each tender paffion man delights to find, The lov'd perfection of a female mind! • Blefs'd were the days, when Wisdom held her reign, • With Truth fhe wedded in the fecret grove, By Ind excell'd, or Araby, no more. • Loft to our fields, for fo the Fates ordain, 'The dear deferters fhall return again. ⚫ Come thou, whofe thoughts as limpid fprings are clear; To lead the train, fweet Modesty, appear: Here make thy court amidst our rural scene, And shepherd-girls shall own thee for their queen. • With thee be Chastity, of all afraid, Diftrufting all, a wife fufpicious maid; But man the moft-not more the mountain doe • Cold is her breast, like flowers that drink the dew ; < No wild defires amidst thy train be known, But Faith, whofe heart is fix'd on one alone : • And Love the laft.. By these your hearts approve; Thus fung the fwain; and ancient legends fay, The maids of Bagdat verify'd the lay: Dear to the plains, the Virtues came along ; ECLOGUE IN ECLOGUE II. HASSAN; OR, THE CAMEL DRIVER. SCENE, THE DESART.-TIME, MID-DAY. 'N filent horror, o'er the boundless wafte, • When first from Schiraz' walls I bent my way! Sad was the hour, and luckless was the day, Curs'd be the gold and filver which perfuade • Weak men to follow far-fatiguing trade! The lily Peace outfhines the filver store, • And Life is dearer than the golden ore : Yet money tempts us o'er the defart brown, To ev'ry diftant mart and wealthy town. • Full oft we tempt the land, and oft the sea; And are we only yet repaid by thee? Ah! why this ruin fo attractive made ? Or why, fond man, fo eafily betray'd? Why heed we not, while mad we haste along, The gentle voice of Peace, or Pleasure's fong? • Or wherefore think the flow'ry mountain's fide, • The fountain's murmurs, and the valley's pride; Why think we these less pleasing to behold ⚫ Than dreary defarts, if they lead to gold? Sad was the hour, and luckless was the day, • When firft from Schiraz' walls I bent my way! • O ceafe, my fears !—all frantick as I go, • When thought creates unnumber'd scenes of woe. • What if the lion in his rage I meet! G Oft in the duft I view his printed feet: And, fearful! oft, when Day's declining light • Yields her pale empire to the mourner Night, By hunger rouz'd, he fcours the groaning plain, • Gaunt wolves and fullen tigers in his train; Before them Death, with fhrieks, directs their way! Sad was the hour, and lucklefs was the day, • Or some swoln serpent twist his scales around, And wake to anguish with a burning wound. Thrice happy they, the wife, contented poor; • From luft of wealth, and dread of death secure! They They tempt no defarts, and no griefs they find; * Peace rules the day, where reason rules the mind. • Sad was the hour, and lucklefs was the day, • When firft from Schiraz' walls I bent my way! O hapless youth! for the thy love hath won, The tender Zara, will be most undone! Big fwell'd my heart, and own'd the powerful maid, 'When fast she dropp'd her tears, and thus fhe faid: "Farewel the youth, whom fighs could not detain ; "Whom Zara's breaking heart implor'd in vain! "Yet as thou go'ft, may ev'ry blast arife, "Weak and unfelt as thefe rejected fighs! "Safe o'er the wild, no perils may'st thou fee; Say, with a kifs, fhe muft not, fhall not mourn! ECLOGUE III. ABRA; OR, THE GEORGIAN SULTANA. SCENE, A FOREST.-TIME, THE EVENING. N Georgia's land, where Tefflis' tow'rs are seen, IN In diftant view along the level green; |