Content with ease, ambitious to despise Illuftrious vanity, and glorious vice!
Come thou chafte maid, here ever let me ftray, While the calm hours fteal unperceiv'd away ; Here court the Mufes, while the fun on high Flames in the vault of heaven, and fires the sky; Or while the night's dark wings this globe furround, And the pale moon begins her folemn round; Bid my free foul to starry orbs repair,
Thofe radiant worlds that float in ambient air, And with a regular confusion stray
Oblique, direct, along th' aërial way:
Or when Aurora, from her golden bowers, Exhales the fragrance of the balmy flowers, Reclin'd in filence on a moffy bed,
Confult the learned volumes of the dead:
Fall'n realms and empires in defcription view, Live o'er past times, and build whole worlds anew, Or from the burfting tombs in fancy raise
The fons of fame, who liv'd in ancient days: And lo! with haughty ftalk the warrior treads! Stern legiflators frowning lift their heads!
I fee proud victors in triumphal cars,
Chiefs, kings, and heroes, feam'd with glorious fears! Or listen till the raptur'd soul takes wings, While Plato reasons, or while Homer fings.
Charm me, ye facred leaves *, with loftier themes, With opening heavens, and angels robe'd in flames:
Ye restless paffions, while I read, he aw'd: Hail ye myfterious oracles of God!
Here I behold how infant time began, How the dust mov'd and quicken'd into man; Here through the flowery walks of Eden rove, Court the foft breeze, or range the spicy grove; There tread on hallow'd ground where angels trod, And reverend patriarchs talk'd as friends with God; Or hear the voice to flumbering prophets given, Or gaze on vifions from the throne of heaven.
But nobler yet, far nobler fcenes advance! Why leap the mountains? why the forefts dance? Why flashes glory from the golden fpheres ? Rejoice, O earth, a God, a God appears! A God, a God, defcending angels fing, And mighty Seraphs fhout, Behold your King! Hail virgin-born lift, lift ye blind your eyes! Sing ! ye dumb! and O! ye dead arife! Tremble ye gates of hell! in nobleft strains Tell it aloud, ye heavens! the Saviour reigns!
Thus lonely, thoughtful, may I run the race Of tranfient life, in no unufeful ease! Enjoy each hour, nor, as it fleets away, Think life too short, and yet too long the day; Of right obfervant, while the foul attends Each duty, and makes heaven and angels friends. And thou, fair peace, from the wild floods of war Come dove-like, and thy blooming olive bear;
Tell me, ye victors, what strange charms ye find In conqueft, that deftruction of mankind! Unenvy'd may your laurels ever grow, That never flourish but in human woe, If never earth the wreath triumphal bears, Till drench'd in heroes blood, or orphans tears.
Let Ganges from afar to flaughter train His fable warriors on th' embattled plain; Let Volga's fons in iron fquadrons rise, And pour in millions from her frozen skies; Thou, gentle Thames, flow thou in peaceful ftreams, Bid thy bold fons restrain their martial flames; In thy own laurel's fhade great Marlborough ftay, There charm the thoughts of conquer'd worlds away; Guardian of England! born to fcourge her foes, Speak, and thy word gives half the world repofe; Sink down, ye hills, eternal rocks fubfide, Vanish ye forts, thou ocean drain thy tide; We safety boast, defended by thy fame, And armies in the terror of thy name! Now fix o'er Anna's throne thy victor blade, War be thou chain'd! ye streams of blood be stay'd! Though wild ambition her just vengeance feels, She wars to fave, and where fhe ftrikes, fhe heals.
So Pallas with her javelin fmote the ground, And peaceful olives flourish'd from the wound.
To the Right Honourable CHARLES Lord CORNWALLIS, Baron of Eye, Warden, Chief Juftice, and Juftice in Eyre of all His Majesty's Forefts, Chases, Parks and Warrens on the South Side of Trent.
Thou whofe virtues fanctify thy state,
O great, without the vices of the great! Form'd by a dignity of mind to please, To think, to act with elegance and ease! * Say, wilt thou liften while I tune the ftring, And fing to thee, who gav'ft me ease to fing? Unfkill'd in verfe, I haunt the filent grove, Yet lowly fhepherds fing to mighty Jove; And mighty Jove attends the shepherds vows, And gracious what his fuppliants ask bestows: So by thy favour may the Mufe be crown'd, And plant her laurels in more fruitful ground; The grateful Muse shall in return bestow Her spreading laurels to adorn thy brow.
Firm to thy king, and to thy country brave;
Loyal, yet free; a subject, not a slave; Say, &c.
Thus, guarded by the tree of Jove, a flower Shoots from the earth, nor fears th' inclement shower; And, when the fury of the ftorm is laid,
Repays with sweets the hospitable shade.
Severe their lot, who when they long endure
The wounds of fortune, late receive a cure!
Like fhips in ftorms o'er liquid mountains toft, Ere they are fav'd muft almost first be loft; But you with speed forbid distress to grieve: He gives by halves *, who hefitates to give.
Thus when an angel views mankind distrest, He feels compaffion pleading in his breast; Inftant the heavenly guardian cleaves the skies, And, pleas'd to fave, on wings of lightning flies. †
+ Few know to aík, or decently receive ; And fewer ftill with dignity to give: If earn'd by flattery, gifts of highest price Are not a bounty, but the pay of vice, Some wildly lavish, yet no friend obtain Nor are they generous, but abfurd and vain. Some give with furly pride and boisterous hands, As Jove pours rain in thunder o'er the lands. When merit pleads, you meet it and embrace, And give the favour luftre by the grace; So Phoebus to his warmth a glory joins, Bleffing the world, and while he blesses shines.
*The Lord Cornwallis, in a moft obliging manner, recommended the author to the rectory of Pulham.
« SebelumnyaLanjutkan » |