Pity's altars, bear
The chrystal incense of each falling tear!
There lives the poet's praise; no critic art
Can match the comment of a feeling heart!

When general plaudits speak the fable o'er,
Which mute attention had approv'd before;
Though under spirits love th' accustomed jest,
Which chases sorrow from the vulgar breast;
Still hearts refin'd their sadden'd tints retain--
The sigh gives pleasure and the jest is pain:
Scarce have they smiles to honour grace or wit,
Though Roscius spoke the verse himself had writ.

Thus, through the time when vernal fruits receive
The grateful showers that hang on April's eve;
Though every coarser stem of forest birth
Throws with the morning beam its dews to earth,
Ne'er does the gentle rose revive so soon,
But, bath'd in nature's tears, it drops till noon.

O could the Muse one simple moral teach,
From scenes like these, which all who hear might reach;
Thou child of sympathy, whoe'er thou art,
Who with Assyria's queen hast wept thy part;
Go search where keener woes demand relief,
Go, while thy heart yet beats with fancied grief.
Thy breast, still conscious of the recent sigh,
The graceful tear still ling'ring on the eye;
Go, and on real misery bestow
The blest effusions of fictitious wo,
So shall our muse, supreme of all the nine;
Deserve indeed the title of divine,
Virtue shall own her favoured from above,
And Pity greet her with a sister's love.

* * * * *

_A few words of advice, extracted from a London magazine._

TO THE CONDUCTOR.

Mr. CONDUCTOR,

I am a sort of literary _Lounger_, though no _Connoisseur_, yet an
_Idler_, like myself, will always assume a right to turn _Observer_ upon
every _Adventurer_; and, whether you may subscribe to my opinions or
not, yet, as I mean to subscribe to your work, I shall offer them very
freely.

Too many publications promise much at their outset, and perform little
in the sequel; great expectations will be formed of what may be produced
by the members of a British _Cabinet_; and in case of failure every
_Guardian_ of his own rights will become a _Tatler_; you will be accused
as a _Rambler_ from your engagements, and, at your downfal, the _World_
will be an unconcerned _Spectator_; while, on the contrary, by proper
polish and reflection, you may be styled the _Mirror_ o