The Village Muse

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1796 Excerpt: ...With zeal too hot, can't moderation see; Breathes mad rebellion (less a slave before), To drench her vallies in her people's gore! Or is Polonia, meanly-plunder'd, say, By tyrants shackled, whom she scorn'd t'obey Her unsubmitting patriots, do they moan Her pristine grandeur into ruins thrown? The sluggish nations, do they slight the call, When Freedom totters on her latest fall? Her mangled plains, to heal the common wound, Of rare abundance drain the kingdoms round: On Plenty's lap is haggard Famine born, Whose hands, that snatch'd it, hold her empty'd horn Still shall the Muse pretend, in strains of wo, More feats to paint of meagre Famine's jaw? Then, as she sings, may trembling Fancy own How grandly dreadful is JEHOVAH's frown! Poland. Mute are the sons of weeping Commerce now, And Ceres mourns her unrewarded plough: As wondering tongues the gloomy merchant meet, The empty market saddens in each street: The voice of Joy and busy Traffic done, Loud-thundering murmurs thro' the forums run. Self-love purloining, what by craft she can, Each heart beats vengeance on th' engrosser's plan. From hungry home, by yearning bowels led, A craving mother asks her children bread: What stops when hunger cannot find supplies? With sudden burst the rebel riots rise! Contagion fires! the gathering tumult swarms! And life's a forfeit, ere that hunger calms! Half-pitied! half-detested!--judge, thou sage, Caii Reason baffle lawless Nature's rage? Hard is the fate Necessity demands! Stern the quick grasp the public peace commands! Say, will they listen unto Reason's call, Ere martial Vengeance, stimulated, fall? Brother with brother urge the civil light, And watchful legions shall parade the night? Must life, sad thought! secure the common-weal, And frustrate Famine of his h...