A SPECIMEN OF MORAL SONGS. 215 2 Yet the Rose has one powerful virtue to boast, Above all the flowers of the field : When its leaves are all dead, and fine colours are lost, Stillhow sweet a perfume it will yield ! 3 So frail is theyouth and the beauty of man, Tho' they bloom and look gay like the Rose : But all our fond care to preserve them is vain ; Time kills'them as fast as he goes. 4 Then I'll not be proud of my youth or my beauty, Since both of them wither and fade, But gaina good name by well -doing my duty: This will scent like a Rose when Pin dead. IV. The Thief. I WHY should I deprive my neighbour Of his goods against his will. Hands were made for honest labo ur, Not to plunder or to steal. 2 'Tis a foolish self - deceiving, By such tricks to hope for gain ; All that's ever get by Thieving Turns to sorrow, shame, and pain. a Have not Eve and Adam taught us Their sad profit to compute ? To what dismal state they brought us When they stole forbidden fruit ? 4 Oft we see ayoung beginner Practise little pilfering ways, Till grown up a harden'd sinner; Then the gallows ends his days. 5 Theft will not be always hidden, Tho' we fancy none can spy When we take a thing forbidden, God beholds it with his eye. a Guard my heart, O God of heaven, Lest I covet what's not mine : Lest I steal what is not given : Guard my heart and hands from sin. V . The Ant or Emmet. 3 I THESE Emmets, how little they are in our eyes ! We tread them to dust, and a troop of them dies Without our regard or concern Yet, as wise as we are, if we went to their school, There's many a sluggard, and many a fool, Some lessons of wisdom might learn. 4 They don'ts wear .. their time out in sleeping or play, But gather up corn in a sun- shiny day, And for winter they lay up their stores They manage their work in such re- galas forms, 4 One wou'd think they foresaw all the frost and the storms, And so brought their food within doors. But I have less than a poor creep- ing Ant, If I take no doe care for the things I shall want, Nor provide against dangers in time: When death, or old age, shall stare in my face, What a wretch shall I be in the end of my days, If I trifle away all their prime ! Now, now, while my strength and my youth are in bloom. Let me think what will Serve me when sickness shall come, And pray that my sins be forgiven Letme read in good boolçs, and be - lieve, and obey, That when death turns me out of this cottage of clay, I may'dwell in a palace in heaven. VI. Good Resolutions. 1 THO' I. am now in younger days, Nor can tell what shall befal me, I'll prepare for -ev'ry place Where my growing age shall call me, 2 Should I e'er be rich or great, Others shall partake my goodness ; I'll supply the poor with meat, Never shewing scorn nor rudeness. 3 Where I see the blind or lame,. Deaf or dumb, I'llkindly treat them; I deserve to feel the same, If I mock, or hurt, or cheat them, 4 If I meet with railing tongues, Why should I return them railing. Since I best revenge my wrongs By my patience never failing ; 5 When I hear them telling lies, Talking foolish, cursing, swearing, First I'll try to make them wise. Or I'll soon go out of hearing. 6 What tho' I below and mean, I'll engage the rich to love me, While I'm modest, neat, and clean ;: And submit when they reprove me. 7 If I should be poor and sick, I shall meet, I hope, with pity, Since I love to help the weak, Tho' they're neither fair nor witty. a I'll not willingly offend, Nor be easily offended ; What's amiss I'll strive to mend, And endure what can't be mended. 9 May I be so watchful still O'er my humours and my passion, As to speak and do no ill, Tho' it should be all the fashion.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=