But ill apply'd to such a rugged task; Here ceas'd the youth: yet stil his speaking eye THE UNIVERSAL PRAYER. BY POPE. Father of all! in ev'ry age In ev'ry clime ador'd, Jehovah, Jove, or Lord! Thou great first cause, least understood; Who all my sense confin'd And that myself am blind. Yet gave me, in this dark estate, To see the good from ill; And, binding-nature fast in fate, Left free the human will. What conscience dictates to be done, Or warns me not to do, That more than heaven pursue. What blessings thy free bounty gives, Let me not cast away; T' enjoy is to obey. Yet not to earth's contracted span Thy goodness let me bound, When thousand worlds are round : Let not this weak, unknowing hand Presume thy bolts to throw, On each I judge thy foe. If I am right, thy grace impart, Still in the right to stay; To find that better way. Save me alike from foolish pride, Or impious discontent, Or aught thy goodness lent. Teach me to feel another's woe, To hide the fault I see; That mercy I to others show, That mercy show to me. Mean though I am, not wholly so, Since quicken’d by thy breath; O lead me wheresoe'er I go, Through this day's life or death. This day, be bread and peace my lot: All else beneath the sun, Thou know'st if best bestow'd or not, And let thy will be done. To thee, whose temple is all space, Whose altar, earth, sea, skies! One chorus let all beings raise! All nature's incense rise! A FATHER'S ADVICE TO HIS SON. BY 6. COOPEP.. Deer in a grove by cypress shaded, Where mid-day sun has seldom shone, Or noise the solemn scene invaded, Save some afflicted Muse's moan. A swain, tow'rds full-ag'd manhood wending, Sat sorrowing at the close of day, At whose fond side a boy, attending, Lisp'd half his father's cares away. The father's eyes po object wrested, But on the smiling prattler hung, 'Till what his throbbing heart suggested, These accents trembled from bis tongue. My youth's first hope, my manhood's treasure, My dearest innocent, attend, A father's loveliest name is Friend. “Some truths from long experience flowing, Worth more than royal grants, receive; For truths are wealth of Heaven's bestowing, Which kings have seldom power to give. & Since from an ancient race descended, You boast an unattainted blood, And claim by birthright— to be good. " In love for every fellow-creature Superior rise above the crowd; What most ennobles human nature Was ne'er the portion of the proud. " Be thine the generous heart that borrows From other's joys a friendly glow, Throbs with a sympathetic woe. "This is the temper most endearing, Though wide proud pomp her banner spread; And heavenly pow'r Good-nature bearing, Each heart in willing thraldom leads. • Taste not from Fame's uncertain fountain The peace-destroying streams that flow, Look down upon the world below. "The princely pine on hills exalted, Whose lofty branches cleave the sky, Is headlong whirl'd in dust to lie; |