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5

What is Fame, bidding Envy defiance?
The idol and bane of mankind;

What is Wit, what is Learning, or Science,
To the heart that is steadfast and kind?

6

E'en Genius may weary the sight

By too fierce and too constant a blaze ; But affection, mild planet of night! Grows lovelier the longer we gaze.

7

It shall thrive when the flattering forms
That encircle creation decay ;

It shall live 'mid the wide-wasting storms
That bear all undistinguish'd away.

8

When Time, at the end of his race,
Shall expire with expiring mankind,

It shall stand on its permanent base,
It shall last till the wreck of the mind.

N

XV.

SMILES AND TEARS.

BY MR. DIBDIN.

1

THE weather, the land, and all those that dwell in it,

Like our minds that are chequer'd by hopes and by fears,

In rapid succession change every minute,
A constant rotation of smiles and of tears.

But the smiles and the tears the same motive revealing,

Tho' opposite, similar passions excite,

One the offspring of bounty, the other of feeling, Take different tacks to the road of delight,

2

When pants the parch'd earth, as its wounds require healing,

For the shower, to put forward fresh blossoms

and leaves;

Nature, parent to all, with affectionate feeling,

Benignly sheds tears as its wants she relieves.

And when kindly refresh'd, as new beauties are springing,

And the sun, in rich smiles, glads the gratified sight;

Thankful birds on the glistening verdure are

singing,

And the smiles and the tears expand equal

delight.

3

And so, 'twixt friend and friend, when a heartwounding sorrow

Resolution o'ercomes, and sinks deep in the

mind;

From the tears of a friend flattering comfort we

borrow,

For the motive's sincere, and the action is

kind:

Nor when friendship's warm efforts o'ercome the vexation,

Do our smiles, howe'er grateful, more pleasure excite,

For they both have their source in the same sweet sensation,

And convey to, the mind the same generous delight.

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INSPIR'D by so grateful a duty,
In terms strongest art can devise,
Bards have written those raptures on beauty,
That Lovers have wafted on sighs:

I, to fill the sweet theme more completely,
Sing the beauty of goodness the while,
For every face is dress'd sweetly,

Where beams a benevolent smile.

2

While the heart some beneficent action
Contemplates, with joy the eyes speak,
On the lip quivers mute satisfaction,
And a glow of delight paints the check.
Bliss pervades ev'ry feature completely,
Adding beauty to beauty the while,
And the loveliest face looks more sweetly,
Where beams a benevolent smile.

O there I retreat from the sun's scorching ray, Or taste the fresh breeze in the cool of the day; There the black bird o'er head pours his sweet mellow song,

The nightingale his varied notes will prolong; At morning or noon, in the evening or night, My Arbour is still the lov'd scene of delight.

2

With a book there I often my leisure employ,
Or in friendship convivial an hour I enjoy ;
There tea its society sweet will afford,
Or supper present its plain plentiful board.
We behold in her glory the bright silver moon,
As majestic she rides in her journey's high
noon ;*

In the morning, &c.

3

The cares of the world never trouble my mind, All is calm and serene-to my lot I'm resign'd; War's murmurs are hush'd ere my Arbour they reach,

Or are heard but the lesson of pity to teach.†

* To behold the wand'ring moon,

Riding near her highest noon.

IL PENSEROSO.

+ Thus sitting, and surveying thus at ease

The globe and its concerns, I seem advanc'd

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