Your neighbour's hatred would you shun? His talents to surpass beware! And still the higher your attainments run, Conceal them still with greater care. For though, at first, the voice of fame Shall sound your praises to the sky: Anon shall Envy blast your name, And turn your fairest arts to crimes of deepest dye.
_Port Folio_, I-400, Dec. 12, 1801, Phila.
BENEVOLENCE. A FABLE. Imitated from the German of Galleret.
_Balance and Columbian Repos._, I-132, Apr. 27, 1802, Hudson (N. Y.).
[Gellert, _Die Gutthat_. Also in _Amer. Universal Mag._, I-28, Jan. 2, 1797, Phila.]
_Weekly Visitor or Ladies' Misc._, I-20, Oct. 23, 1802, N. Y.
[S. Gessner, _Daphne_. Mary Collyer, _Gessner's Idyls_, 1802, Liverpool. II-121, _Aminta_.]
Say, who could mope in joyless plight, While youth and spring bedeck the scene, And scorn the profer'd gay delight, With thankless heart and frowning mien? See Joy with becks and smiles appear, While roses strew the devious way; The feast of life she bids us share, Where'er our pilgrim footsteps stray.
And still the grove is cool and green, And clear the bubbling fountain flows, Still shines the night's resplendent queen, As erst in Paradise she rose: The grapes their purple nectar pour, To 'suage the heart that griefs oppress; And still the lonely ev'ning bow'r Invites and screens the stolen kiss.
Still Philomela's melting strain, Responsive to the dying gale, Beguiles the bosom's throbbing pain, And sweetly charms the list'ning vale; Creation's scene expanded lies:-- Blest scene! how wond'rous bright and fair! Till Death's cold hand shall close my eyes, Let me the lavish'd bounties share!
_Weekly Visitor or Ladies' Misc._, I-64, Nov. 27, 1802, N. Y.
For the Port Folio. THE AMERICAN LOUNGER. By SAMUEL SAUNTER, Esq. No. XLIII.
Et vos, O lauri, carpam, et te proxima myrtus, Sic positae, quoniam suaves miscetis odores.
As I perceive your plan, like that of Coleman and Thornton, in the "Connoisseur," and like that of your relation, _Solomon_ Saunter, in "Literary Leisure," admits Poetry as well as Prose, which one may feed upon alternately, as we eat bread and cheese, I send you a translation, from the German of Lessing, and some fugitive originals.
I ask'd my fair, one happy day, What should I call her in my lay, By what sweet name, from Rome or Greece, Iphigenia, Clelia, Chloris, Laura, Lesbia, Delia, Doris, Dorimene or Lucrece?