The Works of the English Poets: With Prefaces, Biographical and Critical

500

"Religion crowns the statesman and the man,
"Sole fource of public and of private peace."
This truth all men must own, and therefore will,
And praise and preach it too:-and when that's done,
Their compliment is paid, and 'tis forgot.

What highland pole-axe half fo deep can wound? 505
But how dare I, fo mean, presume so far?
Affume my feat in the Dictator's chair?
Pronounce, predict (as if indeed inspir'd),
Promulge my cenfures, lay out all my throat,
Till hoarfe in clamour on enormous crimes?
Two mighty columns rife in my support;
In their more awful and authentic voice,

Record profane and facred, drown the Muse,

510

Though loud, and far out-threat her threatening fong.
Still farther, Holles! fuffer me to plead
That I speak freely, as I fpeak to thee.

515

Guilt only startles at the name of guilt;

And truth, plain truth, is welcome to the wife.
Thus what feem'd my prefumption is thy praise.

Praife, and immortal praise, is Virtue's claim;

520

And Virtue's fphere is action: yet we grant
Some merit to the trumpet's loud alarm,
Whofe clangor kindles cowards into men.
Nor fhall the verfe, perhaps, be quite forgot,
Which talks of immortality, and bids,
In every British breast, true glory rise,
As now the warbling lark awakes the morn.

525

To close, my Lord! with that which all should close And all begin, and strike us every hour,

Though

535

Though no war wak'd us, no black tempest frown'd.—
The morning rises gay; yet gayest morn
Lefs glorious after night's incumbent shades;
Less glorious far bright Nature, rich array'd
With golden robes, in all the pomp of noon,
Than the first feeble dawn of Moral day?
Sole day, (let those whom statesmen serve attend)
Though the fun ripens diamonds for their crowns;
Sole day worth his regard whom heaven ordains,
Undarken'd, to behold noon dark, and date,
From the fun's death, and every planet's fall,
His all-illuftrious and eternal year;

540

Where statesmen and their monarchs, (names of awe And distance here) shall rank with common men, Yet own their glory never dawn'd before.

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