The Poetical Works of John Armstrong. [With] the Poetical Works of Edmund Smith (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1781 Excerpt: ...Nature more or less demands As custom sorms her, and ail ludden change 465 She hates os habit ev'c srom bad to good. Is saults in lise or new emergencies From habits urge you by long time consirmed, Slow may the change arrive, and stage by stage, Siow as the shadow o'cr the dial moves, 470 Slow as the steahrg progress ot the year. Observe the circling year, how unperceiv'd Her seasons change behold by slow degrees Stern winter tam'd into a ruder spring, The ripen'd spring a mil.ler summer glows, 475 Departing summer sheds Pomona's store, And aged Autumn brews the winter storm. Slow as they come these changes come not void Os mortal shocks: the cold and torrid reigns, The two great periods os th' important year, 480 Are in their sirst approaches seldom sase: Funereal Autumn all the sickly dread, Ao, d the black Fates desorm the lovely spring. He well advis'd who taught our wiser sires Early to borrow Museovy's warm spoils 485 Ere the sirst srost hastouch'd the tender blade, And late resign them, tho' the wanton Spring Should deck her charms with all her sister's rays; For while th' esfluence os the ikin maintains Its native measure the pleuritick Spring 490 Glides harmless by, and Autumn, sick to death With sallow quartans, no contagion breathes. I in prnphetick numbers could unsold The omens os the year, what seasons teem With what diseases, what the humid south 4 95 Piepares, and what the demon os the east; Eut you perhaps resuse the ttriious song. Besides, whatever plagues in hcat or cold, Or drought or moisture, dwell, they hurt not you, SkiJl'd to correct the vices os the skyi 5CO And taught already how to each extrcme To bend your lise. But shouid the publick bane Insect you, orsome trespass os your oivn, Or flaw os nature hint nvortality, Soon as...