I ask'd of creatures there contained all, They with one voice proclaime That none amongst them challeng'd such a name. I ask'd the Seas, and all the Deeps belowe I ask'd the Reptils, and whatever is Ev'n from the Shrimp to the Leviathan But in those desarts where no line can soundc, The God I sought for was not to be found. I ask'd the Heav'ns, Sun, Moone, and Starres; but they Said-we obey The God thou seek'st.-I ask'd what eye or eare Could see or heare What in the world I might descrie or knowe Above, belowe ? With voice unanimous all those things saide, We are not God, but we by him were made. I ask'd the World's great universal masse What God was? Who with a mightie and strong voice replide, (As stupifide) I am not He, O man, for know that I By Him on highe Was fashion'd first of nothing; thus instated And sway'd by Him, by whom I was created. I thought then I might find him out in Warre: As at the first; for in Revenge and Rage, Where unjust quarrells are commenc'd; and Takes place of Right, Where Zeal and Conscience yield way to Sedition, There can be made of God no Inquisition. I thought then I might find Him out in Peace: But soon 'gan cease; For in the Citie there was selling and buying, Swearing and lying; In the Countrie Craft in Simpleness arraied. And then I said Vaine is my search, altho' my pains be greate, WHERE MY GOD IS, THERE CAN BE NO DECEATE. * Strages, slaughter. Latin. NO. II. “O'er Roslin all that dreary night It ruddied all the copse-wood glen; SCOTLAND, always foremost in the progress of civilization, the inseparable attendant on intellectual light, while mental darkness was brooding over Britain, early began to shew her scintillations of talent. At first a few scattered and unconnected sparks twinkled with a fixed, though feeble, glimmer; one, indeed, brilliant in a Royal diadem. Then more regular signs of science formed a kind of pcetic zodiac, adorned with a galaxy of undistinguished and nebulous lights. At length that highly and variously illumined country became a sort of celestial sphere of constellated Genius.-The planet of BEAUTY set, for a time, with Dr. Beattie; and with Burns (often retrograde) that of POWER: yet both now seem to have re-ascended in conjunction (the latter with all its belts and satellites, and the former at greatest splendour) on the clear and expansive mind of Sir Walter Scott, who, as he gloriously glides o'er the firmament of Fancy, is the moving cynosure of our souls, while millions of minds sparkle with extacy "Like the silent stars, that wink and listen While Heaven's eternal harmonies roll.". But I am led astray, and a star-gazing by my enthusiasm: I must hastily select my intended specimen from Wm. Drummond, of "classic Hawthornden;" a very fine poet, born 1585, of whom, with a future extract, I purpose giving some further account. 19th March, 1822. Thrice happie he, who by some shadie grove, Farre from the clamorous world, dothe live his owne, Tho' solitarie, who is not alone, But doth converse with Thee, Eternal Love... O! how more sweetc is hirdes' harmonious mone, Or the hoarse sobbings of the widowed dove, Than those smoothe whisperings near Prince's throne, Which make GOOD doubtful, doe the Evi approve! O! how more sweete is zephyrs' wholesome brethe, And breeze embalm'd, when new-borne flowres unfolde, Than that applause vaine Honour doth hequethe! How sweetc are streams to poison drank in golde! The worlde is full of horrours, troubles, slightes: Woods' harmlesse shades have oniie true de lites. NO. III. "Daffodils, "That come before the swallow dares, and take The winds of March with beauty.” ROBERT HERRICK was born 1591, and becaine one of those bright and beautiful stars |