The hermit. A poem:

The Hermit A POEM.

Now taught by this, confess th' Almighty just, And where thou can't unravel, learn to trust.

FAR in a Wild, remote from publick view, From Youth to Age, a rev'rend Hermit grew, The Moss his Bed, the Cave his humble Cell, His Food the Fruits, his Drink the Chrystal Well: Unknown to Man, with God he pass'd the Days, Pray'r all his Bus'ness, all his Pleasure Praise. A life so sacred, such serene Repose Seem'd Heaven itself; till one Suggestion rose; That Vice should triumph, Virtue Vice obey, Hence sprung some Doubts of Providence's Sway; His Hopes no more a certain Prospect boast, And all the Tenor of his Soul is lost: To clear this Doubt, to know the World by Sight, To find if Books or Swains report it right; He with the Sun a rising Journey went, Sedate to think and watching each Event. The Morn was wasted in the Pathless Grass, And long and lonesome was the Wild to pass; But when the southern Sun had warm'd the Day A Youth came posting o'er a crossing Way. His rayment decent, his complexion fair, And soft in graceful Ringlets wav'd his Hair, Then near approaching, Father, Hail! he cry'd, And Hail, my son, the rev'rend Sire reply'd. Words followed Words, from Questions Answers flow'd And Talk of various kind deceiv'd the Road. Till each with other pleas'd and loth to part, While in their Age they differ, join in Heart, Thus stands an aged Elm in Ivy bound; Thus youthful Ivy clasps an Elm around. Now sunk the Sun, the closing Hour of Day Came onward mantled o'er with Sober gray, Nature in Silence bid the World repose, When near the Road a stately Palace rose, It chanc'd the generous Master of the Dome Still made his House the wand'ring Strangers Home Yet still the Kindness, from a thirst of Praise Prov'd the vain flourish of expensive Ease. The Pair arrive: The liv'ry'd Servants wait, Their Lord receives them at the pompous Gate The Table groans with costly Piles of Food, And all is more than hospitable good.

Then led to rest, the Day's long Toil they drown Deep sunk in sleep and Silk and Heaps of Down. At length 'tis Morn; and at the Dawn of Day Along the wide Canals the Zephyrs play, Up rise the Guests obedient to the call, An early Banquet deck't the splendid Hall. Rich luscious Wine a golden Vessel grac'd Which the kind Master forc'd the Guests to taste; Then pleas'd and thankful, from the Porch they go And, but the Landlord, none had cause of Woe: His Cup was vanish'd, for in secret Guise The younger Guest purloin'd the glittering Prize. As one who spies a Serpent in his Way Glist'ning and basking in the summers Ray, Disorder'd stops, to shun the Danger near, Then walks with Faintness on, and looks with Fear So seem'd the Sire when far upon the Road The shining spoil his wiley Partner show'd; He stopp'd with Silence, walk'd with trembling Heart, And much he wish'd but durst not ask to part, Murmuring he lifts his Eyes and thinks it hard That generous Actions meet a base Reward. While thus they pass the Sun his Glory shrouds The changing Skies hang out their Sable Clouds, A Sound in Air presag'd approaching Rain And Beasts to Covert scud a-cross the Plain: Warn'd by the Signs the wand'ring Pair retreat To seek for Shelter at a neighbouring Seat; 'Twas built with Turrets on a rising Ground, And strong and large and unimprov'd around, Its Owner's Temper, timorous and severe Unkind and griping caus'd a Desart there. As near the Miser's heavy Doors they drew Fierce rising Gusts with sudden Fury blew, The nimble Light'ning mix'd with Showers began And o'er their Heads loud rolling Thunder ran. Here long they knock', but knock or call in vain, Driv'n by the Wind and batter'd by the Rain; At length some Pity warm'd the Master's Breast 'Twas then his Threshold first receiv'd a Guest, Slow creaking turns the Door with jealous Care And half he welcomes in the shivering Pair; One frugal Faggot lights the naked Walls And Natur's Fervor thro' their Limbs recalls, Bread of the coarsest Sort with eager Wine Each hardly granted, serv'd them both to dine: And when the Tempest first appear'd to cease A ready Warning bid them part in Peace▪

With still Remark the pond'ring Hermit view'd, In one so rich, a Life so poor and rude, And why should such, within himself he cry'd, Lock the lost Wealth, a Thousand want beside. But what new Marks of Wonder soon took place In every settling Feature of his Face When from his Vest the young Companion bore That Cup the gen'rous Landlord own'd before, And paid profusely with the precious Bowl. The stinted Kindness of this churlish Soul. But now the Clouds in airy Tumult fly, The Sun emerging ope's an azure Sky, A fresher green the smelling Leaves display, And glitt'ring as they tremble cheer the Day, The Weather courts them from the Poor retreat, And the glad Master bolts the wary Gate. While hence they walk, the Pilgrim's Bosom wrought, With all the Travel of uncertain Thought, His Partner's Acts without their Cause appear, 'Twas there a Vice, and seemed a Madness here; Detesting that, and pitying this, he goes Lost and confounded with the various Shows. Now Night's dim Shades involve the azure Sky, Again they search and find a Lodging nigh. The Soil improv'd around the Mansion neat, And neither poorly low nor idly great, It seem'd to speak its Master's turn of Mind, Content, and not for Praise, but Virtue kind; Hither the Walkers turn with weary Feet, Then bless the Mansion and the Master greet, Their Greeting fair bestow'd with modest Guise, The courteous Master hears and thus replies; Without a vain, without a grudging Heart To him who gives us all, I yield a Part, From Him you come, for Him accept it here A frank and sober more than costly Cheer. He spoke, and bid the welcome Table spread. Then talk'd of Virtue till the Time of Bed; When the grave Houshold round his Hall repair, Warn'd by a Bell, and close the Hours with Prayer, At length the World renew'd by calm Repose, Was strong for Toil; the dappled Morn arose. Before the Pilgrims part, the Younger crept Near the clos'd Cradle, where an Infant slept, And writh'd his Neck, the Landlords little Pride O strange Return! grew black and gasped, and dy'd, Horror of Horrors! What his only Son? How look'd our Hermit when the Fact was done?

Not Hell, tho' Hell's black Jaws in sunder Part, And breathe blue Fire, could more assault his Heart, Confus'd and struck with Silence at the Deed, He flies, but trembling fails to fly with speed; His Steps the Youth pursues, the Country lay Perplex'd with Roads, a Servant show'd the Way; A River cross'd the Path, the Passage o'er Was nice to find, the Servant trod before; Long Arms of Oaks an open Bridge supply'd, And deep the Waves beneath them bending Glide. The Youth who seem'd to watch a time to Sin, Approach'd the careless Guide and thrust him in: Plunging he falls, and rising lifts his Head, Then flashing turns and sinks among the Dead. Wild sparkling Rage inflames the Fathers Eyes He bursts the Bands of Fear and madly cries, Detested Wretch—But scarce his Speech began When the strange Partner seem'd no longer Man; His youthful Face grew more serenely sweet, His Robe turn'd white and flow'd upon his Feet Fair Rounds of radiant Points invest his Hair, Celestial Odours breath'd thro' purple Air; The Form Etherial bursts upon his Sight And moves in all the Majesty of Light: Tho' loud at first the Pilgrim's Passion grew, Sudden he gaz'd and wist not what to do. Surprize in secret Chains his Words suspends And in a Calm his settling Temper ends. But Silence here the beauteous Angel broke The Voice of Musick ravish'd as he spoke, Thy Prayer, thy Praise, thy Life to Vice unknown In sweet Memorial rise before the Throne, These Charms Success in our bright Region find And force an Angel down to calm thy Mind; For this commission'd I forsook the Sky, Nay cease to kneel—Thy Fellow-Servant I; Then know the Truth of Government Divine, And let these Scruples be no longer thine; The Maker justly claims that World he made, In this the Right of Providence is laid; Its sacred Majesty thro' all depends On using second Means to Work his Ends, Tis thus withdrawn in State from human Eye The Power exerts his Attributes on high; Your Actions uses, nor controuls your Will And bids the doubting Sons of Men be still: What strange Events can strike with more Surprise Than those which lately struck thy wandering Eyes?

Yet taught by these confess th' Almighty just And where thou can't unriddle, learn to trust, The great Vain Man who far'd on costly Food, Whose Life was too luxurious to be good, Who made his Ivory Stands with Goblets shine, And forc'd his Guests to morning Draughts of Wine, Has with the Cup, the graceless Custom lost, And still he welcoms, but with less of Cost. The mean suspicious Wretch whose bolted Door Ne'er mov'd in Duty to the wandering Poor, With him I left the Cup, to teach his Mind, That Heaven can bless, if Mortals will be kind, Conscious of wanting worth he views the Bowl, And feels Compassion touch his grateful Soul; Thus Artists melt the sullen Oar of Lead, With heaping Coals of Fire upon its Head, In the kind Warmth the Metal learns to glow, And loose from Dross the Silver runs below. Long had our pious Friend in Virtue trod, But now this Child half wean'd his Heart from God, Child of his Age, for him he liv'd in Pain, And measur'd back his Steps to Earth again: To great Excesses had his Dotage run? But God to save the Father, took the Son, To all, but thee, in Fits he seem'd to go, And 'twas my Ministry to deal the Blow. The poor, fond Parent humbled in the Dust, Now owns, in Tears, the Punishment is just. But how had all his Fortune felt a Wreck Had that false Servant sped in Safety back? This Night his treasured Heaps he meant to steal, And what a Fund of Charity would fail? Thus Heaven instructs thy Mind; this Tryal o'er Depart in Peace, resign and sin no more. On sounding Pinions here the Youth withdrew, The Sage stood wond'ring as the Seraph flew; Thus look't Elisha when to mount on high His Master took the Chariot of the Sky, The fiery Pomp ascending left the View, The Prophet gaz'd and wish'd to follow too. The Hermit, bending, here a Prayer begun, "Lord as in Heaven on Earth thy Will be done; Then gladly turning sought his ancient Place And pass'd a Life of Piety and Peace.