While  profperous  fcenes  the  monarch's  thoughts

beguile,

Too  little  warn'd  of  Fortune's  tranfient  fmile,
'Mid  the  dark  moments  of  the  boding  night
A  horrid  vifion  feem'd  to  meet  his  fight,
With  dying  mien  his  ATYS  flood  confefs'd,
Transfix'd  by  horrid  fleel  his  bleeding  breaft— -
Swift  from  his  couch  he  fiarts,  while  wild  defpair
Contracts  his  eye-balk,  and  uplifts  his  hair.
In  vain  the  orient  morn's  reviving  power
Chas'd  the  pale  phantoms  of  the  midnight  hour;
The  recollected  fcene  his  peace  annoys,
Sinks  in  his  heart,  and  poifons  all  his  joys;

Around


SHOOTING.  127

Around  him  vifionary  falchions  gleam

In  aft  to  realize  his  dreadful  dream;

And  if  by  chance  loud  rumor  wafts  from  far

Uncertain  clamors  of  intended  war,

His  laboring  bread  foretels  the  fatal  deed,

And  fees  in  fancied  fights  his  ATYS  bleed.
What  mail  his  fears  invent,  or  how  control
The  generous  ardor  of  the  hero's  foul  ? —
His  mind  to  gentler  thoughts  he  tries  to  move,
And  conquer  ftfong  renown  by  ftronger  love.
The  faireft  maid  of  LYDIA'S  glowing  dames,
Whofe  beauteous  form  the  manly  youth  inflames,
With  eaftern  rofes  crown'd,  is  bluming  led
In  Hymeneal  pomp,  to  ATYS'  bed.
To  cares  of  empire,  and  to  toils  of  fight,
Succeed  the  feftal  day,  and  genial  night  :

Soft


128  SHOOTING.
Soft  Pleafure  fpreads  around  her  blooming  flow'rs,
And  wanton  CUPID  leads  the  laughing  hours.
Amid  thefe  joys,  from  MYSIA'S  fubjecl;  plain,
Before  the  throne,  behold  a  fuppliant  train !
c  O  mighty  prince!'  they  cry,  '  we  now  repair
c  To  claim  the  aid  of  thy  paternal  care ;
c  A  favage  monfter  of  portentous  fize,
c  Whofe  cruel  flrength  our  utmoft  force  defies,
c  Ranges  our  fields,  fpreads  devaftation  round,
c  And'roots  the  unripen'd  harveft  from  the  ground.
