From verdant mead, from shady lane,

Which charm'd erewhile, we now retire;

Still dearest joys for us remain

Assembled round the cheerful fire.

How oft, when wintry winds howl'd wild, The poet's or the historian's page,

The lingering evening hath beguil'd,

And baffled all the tempest's rage.

Thus, Mary, many an hour hath flown

Since Hymen's spell first fix'd thee here;

Bright was the planet sure which shone

On him to whom thou'rt justly dear.

Nor be that gentle maid forgot

To whom, inspir'd by friendship's flame,

I gave, though nature own'd it not,

In playful mood a sister's name.

She will not, by reserve estrang'd,

The tie fraternal reprehend;

Time hath the name of stranger chang'd

To that of brother or of friend.

And though, when spring again shall bloom, The friends, for whom I tune my lyre,

Must leave the bard in deepest gloom,

And far from Deben's banks retire;

Yet still shall friendship love to dwell

On golden hours not spent in vain, And flattering hope shall kindly tell How gladly we shall meet again.

L 3

AN ADDRESS

TO THE MEMBERS OF THE

British and Foreign Bible Society.

WHILE, o'er the ensanguin'd field, and ravag'd plain

The Dæmon War extends his ruthless sway;

Can aught inspire the gratulating strain,

Or wake the lyre to notes of transport gay?

Yes, Minstrel! yes; thou yet mayst pour the lay,

The song of praise and joy may yet be thine, Arise! to christian zeal thy tribute pay,

And hail the virtuous band who now combine

To spread through regions dark the light of truth divine.

Oh! for a "master's hand, and prophet's fire"

To strike with tenfold force the tuneful cord,

And sing that light, before whose beams retire
Enslaving ignorance, and vice abhorr❜d.

Before that quickening ray, that powerful word,
The clouds of superstition pass away;

The pure and peaceful kingdom of the Lord

The piercing eye of faith can then survey; Exulting feel its reign, and its decrees obey.

When Israel's sons, from Babylon return'd,

Had rais'd their city's walls so long o'erthrown; Replac'd the gates their fathers' foes had burn'd,

And made once more their fathers' home their own;

With what intense delight till then unknown,

Did they repair again with awe to hear

The Sacred Book, wherein was clearly shown
The Almighty's will; with what attentive ear

They heard its awful truths expounded by the seer.

E'en from the morning, 'till the mid-day sun

Shed his fierce radiance on the listening throng;

With holy zeal to weeping sire and son

Ezra reveal'd the law neglected long:

And when he op'd the Book, both old and young With pious reverence heard him bless the Lord; With hands uplifted, and assenting tongue,

They, as one man, combin'd with one accord To praise the gracious Power their inmost souls ador'd.

If such the transport felt in earlier time

When the mosaic law once more went forth;

What inexpressive joy, what bliss sublime,

To spread the Gospel through the awakening earth! To make that pearl of most transcendent worth

Free as the light, and common as the air; To give in harden'd hearts contrition birth,

To prompt the sigh, to raise the secret prayer, And make the slave of sin salvation's joyful heir!