Once, Man entirely free, alone and wild, Was blest as free for he was Nature's child.

He, all superior but his God disdained, Walked none restraining, and by none restrained

Confessed no law but what his reason taught, Did all he wished, and wished but what he ought.

As man in his primeval dower arrayed
The image of his glorious Sire displayed, 440
Even so, by faithful Nature guarded, here
The traces of primeval Man appear;
The simple dignity no forms debase;
The eye sublime, and surly lion-grace:
The slave of none, of beasts alone the lord,
His book he prizes, nor neglects his sword.
Well taught by that to feel his rights, pre-
pared

With this "the blessings he enjoys to guard."

And, as his native hills encircle ground For many a marvellous victory renowned, The work of Freedom daring to oppose, 451 With few in arms, innumerable foes, When to those famous fields his steps are led, An unknown power connects him with the dead:

For images of other worlds are there; Awful the light, and holy is the air. Fitfully, and in flashes, through his soul, Like sun-lit tempests, troubled transports roll;

His bosom heaves, his Spirit towers amain, Beyond the senses and their little reign. 460 And oft, when that dread vision hath past

500

If dairy-produce, from his inner hoard,
Of thrice ten summers dignify the board.
-Alas! in every clime a flying ray
Is all we have to cheer our wintry way;
And here the unwilling mind may more than
trace

The general sorrows of the human race;
The churlish gales of penury, that blow
Cold as the north-wind o'er a waste of snow,
To them the gentle groups of bliss deny
That on the noon-day bank of leisure lie.
Yet more ;-compelled by Powers which
only deign

That solitary man disturb their reign,
Powers that support an unremitting strife
With all the tender charities of life,
Full oft the father, when his sons have
grown

511

To manhood, seems their title to disown; And from his nest amid the storms of heaven Drives, eagle-like, those sons as he was

driven;