Classic Poem

Spoken by two Young Ladies in the Habits of Sherperdesses, at an Entertainment Perform'd at Mrs. Carey's School by Several of her Scholars

S ERAPHINA

Now say, my dear, if Seraphina's glade
Is not for pleasure and retirement made?

D ODONA

I willingly confess it, and rejoice
In Seraphina's company and choice.

S ERAPHINA

What, then, forbids that we should jointly raise
Our blooming fancies, and employ our lays
To sing and celebrate our Maker's praise?

D ODONA

What can forbid when inclinations move,
When we are prompted by seraphick love?
When in a glade so pleasant, so retir'd,
That I believe myself to be inspir'd.

S ERAPHINA

'Tis then your right, Dodona, to begin,
For surely one inspir'd can better sing
Than such a thoughtless, simple maid as I,

D ODONA

Leave, Seraphina, leave your raillery.
Tho' of yourself you humbly may conceive,
I know too well to say I but believe
You have a soul short only of divine,
In which such wond'rous excellencies shine,
They far exceed each nymph's, much more
Inferior mine. ...

S ERAPHINA

Is this the language of a country maid!
'Tis fitter for a court than for a glade:
Forbear, my dear Dodona, since you know
My thoughts are humble, and my station low,
Then should not my discourse and life be so?
We came not here to praise ourselves, but Him
Whose wond'rous goodness is a boundless theme.

D ODONA

Forgive me, Seraphina, and begin;
You challeng'd first, and you the first should sing

S ERAPHINA

Tell, nymph, by whom this most delightful shade,
These lovely greens, these fragrant flow'rs were made;
By whom we live and move, say, nymph, who gives
A source to all our thoughts, and nurture to our lives?

D ODONA

That sacred pow'r whose boundless essence rolls
Far, far above the skies, as far beyond the poles,
He gives a verdant tincture to the fields,
And all these various dyes which nature yields:
He fills the bank with violets, and bestows
A fragrant odour to the blushing rose:
By Him our tender lambs are taught to bleat;
He gives the motion to their nimble feet.
In short, birds, beasts, and ev'rything that moves.
Thro' realms aerial, or terrestial groves;
Fishes and monsters, whatsoe'er they be
That sport in crystal streams, or salter sea;
Being unknown, unseen, each thing and all
We may the most minute existence call,
Whether in Heav'n or air, or sea, or land,
Were fram'd by God's omnipotent command,
Who still upholds the same; for still they bear
The mark of their Creator's pow'r and care.

S ERAPHINA

That bounteous God, Dodona, is the theme
On which my tongue, like fruitful Nilus stream,
Could now, and ever, flow with grateful praise
To Him of whom the very thoughts can raise
My rural muse much more sublimely high
Than any heathen bard can dare to fly.

D ODONA

But O, my Seraphina, is not He
A subject too sublime for you and me?

S ERAPHINA

How dare you doubt the goodness of the Lord?
He is not yet too great to be ador'd:
For O, He shows in the most lively sense
His mercy, equally His omnipotence;
Else had mankind been punish'd for their sin,
Else had this world a second chaos been;
But He, supremely good, supremely wise,
Sits high enthron'd, and with indulgent eyes
Beholds his creatures bow, and hears them breathe
Their grateful thanks, and songs of praise beneath.
When Phoebus at the morning's dawn displays
O'er all the earth his bright, his genial rays,
All creatures rouse to bless the infant sun,
And nature puts her gayest habits on.

A golden lustre crowns the mountain's heads,
And gives a splendour to the painted meads;
A brilliant warm profusely fills the fields,
And silver streams a dazzling brightness yield;
A splendid tincture gilds the laden trees,
And shines triumphant in the glitt'ring seas.

Thus ev'ry morn, with charms entirely new,
Nature prepares for the Almighty's view;
Who, full of mercy and of pleasure sees
The stately lion bend his kingly knees,
And bow with humble zeal his awful head;
While subject brutes, by his example led,
Declare with eyes elate, and bended knee,
They feel within themselves the God they see.

This done, the whole creation does prepare,
With grateful sounds to charm its Maker's ear:
And now all beings vigorously join
To make the entertainment more divine.

Now chirping birds, whose tender pinions bear
The flutt'ring songsters thro' the yielding air,
In loudest, sweetest strains, essay to sing
Eternal anthems to their heavenly King.
Then ev'ry species takes its proper part;
But Oh, the utmost pitch of human art
Or pow'rful rhetorick can ne'er express
That killing harmony, that soft excess,
That soul of musick, nature's charming voice,
Which makes both God and man and all rejoice

If, then, to please their God all beings join,
Why should distinguish'd we alone decline,
Tell me, O, tell me, dear Dodona, why
Should we alone despise celestial majesty?

D ODONA

Forbid it, Heav'n! and Thou, eternal God,
Who dwell'st in yon empereal abode,
Forbid that anything proceed from me
Offensive to Thy sacred majesty.
Come, Seraphina, join with me in pray'r,
Our joint petitions God will surely hear;
His sacred pardon freely he'll dispense,
Since ignorance occasion'd my offence.

S ERAPHINA

But see, the day begins to disappear,
And darkness with her gloomy train draws near;
Night now ascending in a sable shade
Begins to veil the heav'ns; and dark the glade;
Then come, my dear Dodona, haste away,
We safer now may in our cottage pray.

D ODONA

Bless me! how we've beguil'd the hours away!
Here's not the smallest glimpse of cheerful day;
That sun which lately smil'd on ev'ry field,
Is now in Thetis' watery lap conceal'd;
The sable vestment of thick darkness shrouds
The azure beauties of the lofty clouds;
The lambkins to their cotes affrighted run,
The meads in which they sported now they shun;
The warbling songsters of the feather'd choir
To their warm nests securely now retire.
The gloomy shades that fill this hateful place
Make all things here to wear another face;
Then home let's fly on swiftest wings of fear,
For nought but horror smiles on all things here.