Page:A poetic survey round Birmingham - James Bisset - 1800.pdf/40

 Then grac'd each shoe—then fancy reign'd, And honors crown'd the laurels labor gain'd: 0!  then triumphd— smil'd, And Vulcan's sons from morn till ev'ning toild: Then whirling, and ' tremendous sound, With tinkling, were in concert found; Illuminations, grand, burt on the sight, When workmens' lamps illum'd each shop at night. children carol'd songs, devoid of guile, Responsive to the sound of forge or file. Then Art and Science, hand in hand were found, And Vulcan seem'd to toil on magic ground.

O sad reverse—how many rue the day, Aince fickle wrought a 's decay? A —from whence the poor deriv'd A constant bread—and thousands daily thriv’d.

Let not the, who now in splendor roll, On fastidious gaze, with narrow soul; O let not Av'rice sway the nobler mind! To works of Art and Genius be not blind; The poor look up, with confidence, to you, Then grant to modest worth whate'er is due.

How many Men of Talents oft you'll meet, With pensive looks, bare clothes and shoeles feet, Who ne'er knew penury till trade grew dead, Forlorn and wretched, pining now for bread: How many Wives, alas, their Husbands mourn, How many Children, pant their Sires' return;