The poetical works of William Falconer ... / With the life of the author. Cooke's ed. ... Embellished with superb engravings.

  • William Falconer
Date:
[1798?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The poetical works of William Falconer ... / With the life of the author. Cooke's ed. ... Embellished with superb engravings. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    *5re yet the deep’ning incidents prevail, 'Till rous’d attention fed our plaintiv.e tale, .Record whom, chief among the gallant crew, ITh’ unbleft purfuit of fortune hither drew ! -an fons of Neptune, generous, brave, and bold, n pain and hazard toil for fordid gold ? They can ! for gold, too-oft', with magic art, subdues each nobler impulfe of the heart; IThis crowns the profperous villain with applaufe, To whom, in vain, fad Merit pleads her caufe : This ftrews with rofes life’s perplexing road, ‘'V.nd leads the way to Pleafure’s bleft abode ; i/Vith flaughter’il vidims fills the weeping plain, “ijtd fmooths the furrows of the treacherous main. O’er the gay vcflcl and her daring band, experienc’d Albert held the chief command } Tho’ train’d in boifterous elements, his mind i.Vas yet by fofc humanity refin’d. Eiach joy of wedded love at home he knew ; Abroad confeft the father of his crew ! Brave, liberal, juft, the calm domeftic feene Had o’er his temper breath’d a gay ferene. Him fcience taught by myftic lore to trace The planers wheeling in eternal race ; To mark the fhip in floating balance held. By earth attra6fed and by feas repell’d j Or point her devious track, thro’ climes unknown, That leads to every Ihore and every zone. He faw the moon thro’ heaven’s blue concave glide, And into motion charm rh’ expanding tide ; While earth impetuous round her axle rolls, Exalts her wat’ry zone, and finks the poles. Light and attraftion, from her genial fource, He faw ftill wandering vith diminifh’d force ; While on the margin of declining day, Night's ftiadoivy cone reludtant melts away. Inur’d to peril, with unconquer’d foul. The chief beheld tempeftuous oceans roll; His genius, ever for the event prepar’d, Rofe with the ftorm, and aliits dangers lhar’d.
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