The Virginia Gazette

To the Right Honourable the Lord BALTIMORE.

Lo! W, in the gloomy vale of Thought, confin'd
(The dreary mansion of a lab'ring Mind,)
Where darkness spreads, and Stygian Waters flow,
Thick Vapours rise, and hollow Tempests blow;
Where wan Anxiety with Terror strays,
To search the Path, within the thorny Maze;
Close in her Steps, with equal Care, I tread,
Long us'd to toil, but hopeless to succeed.
Yet urg'd by Choice, who dares not to aspire?
To lay what Justice bids, what you inspire:
By Heav'n exalted, by your Prince caress'd,
By Nature favour'd, and by Fortune bless'd;
Compleat in Person, in Address polite,
Fashion'd to please, to polish and delight,
Courteous to all, beneficent and good;
(The best and surest Marks of noble Blood,)
True Friend to Science, and in Taste refin'd;
To ev'ry Study, ev'ry Art inclin'd;
By all Advantages of Mind improv'd;
Admir'd, honour'd, courted, and belov'd.
In Climes remote, where Indian Virtue lives,
And honest Labour, by your influence, thrives;
Where your Dominion, with indulgence always,
To give them Plenty, Peace, and happy Days;
No Savage there, but in his Bosom finds
A Zeal to worship, and a Love that binds;
Alike inclin'd, with suppliant Gestures bend,
The ardent Vot'ry and the humble Friend.
Thus, the bright Sun, with genial Warmth replete,
Revives his tender Flow'r, with kindly heat;
The grateful Plant, his gen'rous Aid explores,
Turns to the God, and while it lives, adores.