Whether where equinoctial fervours glow, Or winter wraps the polar world in snow, Still let thy voice, prevailing over time, Redress the rigours of the inclement clime. Aid slighted truth: with thy persuasive strain Teach erring man to spurn the rage of gain; Teach him that states, of native strength possess’d, Though very poor, may still be very bless’d; That trade’s proud empire hastes to swift decay, As ocean sweeps the labour’d mole away-- While self-dependent power can time defy, As rocks resist the billows and the sky.[7] [Illustration] FOOTNOTES: [5] The river Alatamaha, in the United States. [6] Tornea, a river of Sweden. Pambamarca, a mountain of Mexico. [7] The last four lines were written by Johnson. [Illustration: THE HERMIT A BALLAD ] [A correspondent of the _St. James’s Chronicle_ having accused Goldsmith of imitating a ballad by Percy, he addressed the following letter to the Editor. In a later edition of the “Reliques,” Percy vindicated his friend from the charge, and said, “If there is any imitation in the case, they will be found both to be indebted to the beautiful old ballad, ‘Gentle Herdsman,’ which the Doctor had much admired in manuscript, and has finely improved.” SIR,--A correspondent of yours accuses me of having taken a ballad, I published some time ago, from one (the “Friar of Orders Gray”) by the ingenious Mr. Percy. I do not think there is any great resemblance between the two pieces in question. If there be any, his ballad is taken from mine. I read it to Mr. Percy, some years ago; and he (as we both considered these things as trifles at best) told me, with his usual good humour, the next time I saw him, that he had taken my plan to form the fragments of Shakspere into a ballad of his own. He then read me his little cento, if I may so call it, and I highly approved it. Such petty anecdotes as these are scarce worth printing; and, were it not for the busy disposition of some of your correspondents, the public should never have known that he owes me the hint of his ballad, or that I am obliged to his friendship and learning for communications of a much more important nature. I am, Sir, yours, &c. OLIVER GOLDSMITH.] [Illustration] “Turn, gentle hermit of the dale, And guide my lonely way, To where yon taper cheers the vale With hospitable ray; “For here, forlorn and lost, I tread, With fainting steps and slow-- Where wilds, immeasurably spread, Seem lengthening as I go.” “Forbear, my son,” the hermit cries, “To tempt the dangerous gloom; For yonder faithless phantom flies To lure thee to thy doom. “Here to the houseless child of want My door is open still; And, though my portion is but scant, I give it with good will.