The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-11-24
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
80
II POEM ON CHILTERN MILLS.
INSCRIBED TO WILLIAM JACKSON.

YE NIuGes daughters of the Poets brain,
Poor nieagre Bards, who knew no OF grain,
While themes Of fold food in numbers iliine,
And well fed genius forms the nervous line,
fcorH to ak your aid, your flights purdue,
Or own the help of fuch ftarving crew.
Some nobler thoughts of Bards, more noby fed,
Some dextrous hand that feels the frength of bread
Should guide the pen, and all the arts reveal,
OF Mill-wr:g hts, Miers, and the works of Meal.
o thou whole cares DER Chiltern Mills prefde,
Where fwift Souyhanna roll. her rapid tide,
While magic work before thy fight appears
And whriins ihafts are laundering round thy ears,
Obterve, o Jacklon, how thele notes agree,
One ruling genius moves the Mill and me,
Difpels my dulnefs, clears thy duffy fogs,
Rhymes heavy thoughts, & wheels the rolling cogs.
Amaz'd view the fchenes in ev'ry part,
And pleas'd behold the woRd'rous works of art:
All moving art the great machine inIpires,
Art pours the golden grain on moving wires,
Makes life!eis forms their fated motions know
Collects the winds and points them where to blow.
As when III air autumnal clouds prevail,
And thick defending pours the rafting hail,
Fierce drive. the form along the d=rl,e:.'! G-
And drifted leaves thro' all the foreR fly;
So falls the gram the fan temper brings,
And drives the chaf before its whirling wings
Now pure from dutf the grain defends below,
Where the whirl'd lhaft reiitlefs motion feels,
And foan1ing waters dafh around the wheels.
There near the hopper Rands induGrious Moore
His hat, his hair, his body powdered DER:
Now with difcernng touch, the -four he tries,
Now to the boult his lkilful hand applies;
All parts alike his aid and prefence claim,
For art and Ilaac are in mills the fame.
He moves gate-life leems DER all to rage,
Wheels turn on wheels, & cogs with cogs engage,
Thick flights of chaf before the fan are feen,
And clouds of duff involve the rolling kreen
What gait me, William, in my loftieft brain!
" The Wagons waiting with load Of grai,i---
III back again--but run and fix the fcsies---
" "A moments lois may ipoil the fneit iaies -
Now ev'ry hand his proper Office knows,
Some pole the balance, fone the corn dilpofe;
1hoie bear the burdens, thele the meaiures fill,
And keen induitry moves thro' all the mill
The barrel too, that from the roof inpends,
intorm'd by art, mounts upward, and defends
Takes the large tribute of the farmers bag,
And bears it onward like living Gag
Myfriends, If Tafo's genius now could rife,
Or modern Bards could fee with Ta1o's eyes;
That fight would loon the wond'rous cauie reveal,
Find active demons turning evry wheel
And lait conclude the glazing iprights in view,
The Mill enchanted, and the witches you.
But |, who all the various parts have feen
And trae'd pure Nature thro' the whole machine;
Have found the fecret lpring--it mutt be faid--
The life, the foul, the moving cauls i5--byead.
But, noble art, all own thy needful aid,
The Pompous tate arouod tie rich d.lplay'd;
The iweet content that decks the humble fcene,
The placid imle that keeps the brow ferene;
The bloom OF health that gives the lively grace,
The roiy tint that paints the virgins face;
The pleAiing charms the hands Of Plenty ipread
And life, and rength are all luAain'd with 81 adj
Whirl on, ye Mills, nor let your fame defend,
I'll oopous fields IN wider bounds extend
Til barren lands with Ring verdure fpring,
Till ufeleis woods with founding axes ring;
Till thoufand BurrS the forming Peck lhall feel,
And ev'ry cream be pour'd upon a wheel.
For you, their feeds ndunrious farmers iov,
And duffy fniths the roaTing bellows blow;
Carts, drays and Wagons lha your works employ
Aud hardy drivers inseh their whips for 10Y.
See from his l4ll, brought forth, the pamperp
feed,
OF Celen's race, or Blaze'' noble breed
Whole curry'd lides once hione agauR the fun,
And ON Whole freed were thoufands LOT and won
Feet IN the hunt, as rapid IN the race,
With hounds add men he urg'd the flying ohafe;
Now ftript OF honors, fed with mules aud Geers,
He falls victim TO the drivers geers
Go on, ye Mills, and ali ye Eiiiicrs, bail
May all your plans and honet lchcues prevail;
Protecting Rates fhall lend their helping laws,
And hungry Poets glory in the eaufe.
. Usgc If>s,s .siN,y