.81 ( \ Advertifement. Thefe Three Volumes, with the \fatlers , Spectators] Guardians , Free¬ holder , and Remarks on feveral Parts of Italy, compleat Mr. Addifon% Works in Twelves. MISCELLANEOUS WORK I N Verse and P r o s e* Of the Late Right Honourable Jofeph Addifon , Efq; In THREE VOLUMES, Conftfting of fuch as were never before Printed in Twelves. With Tome Account of the Life and Wr i t i n g s of the Aut h or. By Mr. T I C K E L L. LONDON: Printed for J. and R. Tonson in the Strand*. MDCC XXXVI, M I S C E L L ANEOUS WORKS, I N Verse and Prose, O see Li:. ILsfx Hsncucxsc Jofepb Addifon, Eiq; Vr xh feme Account c: the L if 2 and V<*1ITISG$ of A V T H O R, By Mr. T I C K E L L. V O L U M E :E PIES T L O X D O X - ' l- : 7 T . y s r y -1 ek MDCCXXXE ' - • 11 . | IS k| . & . i . 5 ■ ' ‘ ; . To the Right Honourable JAMES GRAGGS ,% His Maj esty’s Principal Secretary of State. DEAR SIR , Cannot wifh that any of my writings fhould laft longer than the me¬ mory of our Friendfhip, and therefore I thus publickly be¬ queathe them to You, in return for the many valuable inftances of your Affe&ion. A That That they may come to you with as little difadvantage as pof- fible, I have left the care of them to one, whom, by the experience of feme years, I know well qua¬ lified to anfwer my intentions. He has already the honour and happinefs of being under your prote&ion; and, as he will very much ftand in need of it, I can- not with him better, than that he may continue to deferve the favour and countenance of fuch a Patron. I have no time to lay out in forming fuch compliments, as would but ill fuit that familiarity between between us, which was once my greateft pleafore, and will be my greateft honour hereafter. In- ftead of them, accept of my hearty wifhes, that the great re¬ putation, you have acquired fo early, may increafe more and more: and that you may long ferve your country with thofe ex¬ cellent talents, and unblemifhed integrity, which have fo power¬ fully recommended you to the moft gracious and amiable Mo¬ narch that ever filled a throne. May the franknefs and generofity of your fpirit continue to foften and fubdue your enemies, and A 5 gain [ iv ] gain you many friends, if pof- iible, as fincere as your felf. When you have found fuch, they cannot wifh you more true hap- pinefs than I, who am, with the greateft Zeal, Dear Sir, Tour moft Entirely Affectionate Friend , and Faithful Obedient Scwant , THE PREFACE, OSEPH ADDISON , the fon of Lancelot Addi- fon , D. D. and of Jane the daughter of Nathaniel Gul- Jton , D. D. and fitter of Dr. William Guljion Biflhop of Brijlol , was born at MUJlon near Ambrofebury , in the county of Wilts, in the year 1671. His father, who was of the county of Wejlmorland , and educated at Queen' s College in Oxford , paffed many years in his travels through Europe and Africa , where he joined, to the un¬ common and excellent talents of na¬ ture, a great knowledge of letters and things j of which leveral books pub- liflied vi The P R E F A C E. liflied by him are ample teftimonies. He was Redor of Miljion above- mentioned, when Mr. Flddifon his eldeft fon was born: and afterwards became Arch-deacon of Coventry , and Dean of Litchfield. Mr. Addifion received his firft edu¬ cation at the Chartreux , from whence he was removed very early to greens College in Oxford. He had been there about two years, when the ac¬ cidental fight of a paper of his verfes, •in the Hands of Dr. Lancafier then Dean of that houfe, occafioned his being eleded into Magdalen college. He employed his firft years in the ftudy of the old Greek and Roman .writers; whofe language and manner he caught at that time of life, as ftrongly as other young people gain a French accent, or a genteel air. An early acquaintance with the Claflics is what may be called the good-breed¬ ing of Poetry, as it gives a certain gracefulnefs which never forfakes a mind, that contraded it in youth, but The PREFACE. vii is feldom or never hit by thofe, who would learn it too late. He firft di- ftinguifhed himfelf by his Latin com- pofitions, publifhed in the MuJ'ce An - glicance y and was admired as one of the belt authors fince the Augujian age, in the two Univerfities, and the greateft part of Europe , before he was talked of as a Poet in Town. There is not perhaps any harder task than to tame the natural wildnefs of wit, and to civilize the fancy. The generality of our old Englijh Poets abound in forced conceits, and affect¬ ed phrafes; and even thofe, who are faid to come the neareft to exaCtnefs, are but too often fond of unnatural beauties, and aim at fomething better than perfection. If Mr. Addiforis ex¬ ample and precepts be the occafion, that there now begins to be a great demand for correCtnefs, we may jufUy attribute it to his being firff fafhioned by the ancient models, and familiarifed to propriety of thought, and chaftity of ityle. Our country owes it to him. viii The PREFACE. thcit the famous IVlonfleui Boileau firft conceived an opinion of the Fnglijh genius for. Poetry, by perufing the prefent he made him of the Mufa Anglican#. It has been currently re¬ ported, that this famous French Poet, among the civilities he Ihewcd IVlr. Addifon on that occafion, affirmed, that he would not have written againft Perrault , had he before feen fuch ex¬ cellent pieces by a modern hand. Such a faying would have been impertinent and unworthy Boileau , whofe difpute with Perrault turned chiefly upon fome paflages in the ancients, which he refcued from the mif-interpretations of his adverfary. The true and natu¬ ral compliment made by him, was, that thofe books had given him a very new Idea of the Englijh politenefs, and that he did not queftion but there were excellent compofitions in the native language of a country, that poflefled the Roman genius in fo emi¬ nent a degree. The IX the P RE F ACE. The firft Englijh performance made public by him, is a ftiort copy of ver- fes to Mr. Dryden , with a view par¬ ticularly to his tranflations. This was foon followed by a verfion of the fourth Georgic of Virgil , of which Mr. Dryden makes very honourable mention, in the poftfcript to his own tranflation of all Virgil's works: wherein I have often wondered that he did not, at the fame time, acknow¬ ledge his obligation to Mr. Addifon , for giving him the EJfay upon the Georgies , prefixed to Mr. Dryden’s tranflation. Left the honour of fo exquifite a piece of criticifm fhould hereafter be transferred to a wrong author, I have taken care to infert it in this collection of his works. Of fome other copies of verfes, printed in the Mifcellaniesy while he was young, the largeft is An Account of the great eft Englijh Poets ; in the clofe of which he infinuates a defign he then had of going into holy orders, to which he was ftrongly importuned X The P RE FAC E. by h is father. His remarkable feri- oufnefs and modefly, which might have been urged as powerful reafons for his choofing that life, proved the chief obftacles to it. Thefe qualities, by which the priefthood is fo much adorned, reprefented the duties of it as too weighty for him ; and rendered him hill the more worthy of that ho¬ nour, which they made him decline. It is happy that this very circumftance has lince turned fo much to the ad¬ vantage of virtue and religion, in the caufe of which he has bellowed his labours the more fuccefsfully, as they were his voluntary, not his neceffary employment. The world became in- fenfibly reconciled to wifdom and goodnefs, when they faw them recom¬ mended by him with at lead as much fpirit and elegance, as they had been ridiculed for half a century. He was in his twenty eighth year, when his inclination to fee France and Italy v/as encouraged by the great Lord-Chancellor Somers, one of that kind XI The P RE FAC E. kind of patriots, who think it no wade of the publick treafure to purchafe politenefs to their country. The Poem upon one of King Williams campaigns, addreft to His Lordfhip, was received with great humanity, and occaiioned a meffage from him to the author to defire his acquaintance. He foon after obtained, by his intereft, a yearly pen- lion of three hundred pounds from the Crown, to fupport him in his tra¬ vels. If the uncommonnefs of a fa¬ vour, and the diftinCtion of the per- fon who confers it, enhaunce its value: nothing could be more honourable to a young man of learning, than fuch a bounty from fo eminent a patron. How well Mr. AddiJ'on anfwered the expectations of my Lord Somers , cannot appear better, than from the book of Travels he dedicated to his Lordfhip at his return. It is not hard to conceive, why that performance was at firfl but indifferently relifhed by the bulk of readers; who expected an account, in a common way, of the cuftoms xii The P REF AC E. cuftoms and policies of the feveral governments in Italy t reflexions upon the genius of the people, a map of their provinces, or a meafure of their buildings. How were they difappoint- ed, when, inftead of fuch particulars, they were prefented only with a jour¬ nal of poetical travels, with remarks on the prefent picture of the country, compared with the landskips drawn by claflic authors, and others the like unconcerning parts of knowledge! One may eafily imagine a reader of plain fenfe, but without a fine tafte, turning over thefe parts of the vo¬ lume, which make more than half of it, and wondering how an author, who feems to have fo folid an under- ftanding, when he treats of more weighty fubjeds in the other pages, fhould dwell upon fuch trifles, and give up fo much room to matters of mere amufement. There are indeed but few men fo fond of the ancients, as to be tranfported with every little accident, which introduces to their in- . timate Xlll The PREFACE. timate acquaintance. Perfons of that caft may here have the fatisfaCtion of feeing annotations upon an old Roman Poem, gathered from the hills and vallies where it was written. The Tyher and the Po ferve to explain the verfes, that were made upon their banks; and the Alpes and Appejviines are made commentators on thofe authors, to whom they were fubjeCts fo many centuries ago.. Next to perfonal con- verfation with the writers themfelves, this is the fureft way of coming at their fenfe; a compendious and en¬ gaging kind of criticifm, which con¬ vinces at firft light, and (hews the va¬ nity of conjectures, made by antiqua¬ ries at a diftance. If the knowledge of polite literature has its ufe, there is certainly a merit in illuftrating the perfect models of it, and the learned world will think fome years of a man’s life not mif-fpent in fo elegant an em¬ ployment. I (hall conclude what I had to fay on this performance, by ob- ferving, that the fame of it increafed from xiv The PREFACE. from year to year, and the demand for copies was fo urgent, that their price rofe to four or five times the original value, before it came out in a fecond edition. ' The Letter from Italy to my Lord Halifax may be confidered as the text upon which the book of Travels is a large comment, and has been efteemed by thofe, who have a relilh for antiquity, as the mod exquifite of his poetical performances. A tranfla- tion of it by Signior Salvini y profeffor of the Greek tongue at Florence , is inferted in this edition, not only on the account of its merit, but becaufe it is the language of the country which is the fubje< 5 l of this Poem. The materials for the Dialogues upon Medals , now firfi: printed from a ma- nufcript of the Author, were collected in the native country of thofe Coins. The book it felf was begun to be caft into form at Vienna i as appears from a letter to Mr. Stepney , then minifter at that court, dated in November 1702. Some XV The P RE FACE. Some time before the date of this letter, Mr. Addifon had defigned to return to Engla?2d> when he receiv¬ ed advice from his friends, that he was pitched upon to attend the army under Prince Eugene , who had juft begun the war in Italy , as Secretary from His Majefty. But an account of the death of King William , which he met with at Geneva , put an end to that thoughts and as his hopes of ad¬ vancement in his own country were fallen with the credit of his friends, who were out of power at the begin¬ ning of Her late Majefty’s reign, he had leifure to make the tour of Ger~ many in his way home. He remained for fome time, after his return to England , without any publick employment, which he did not obtain till the year 1704, when the Duke of Marlborough arrived at the higheft pitch of glory, by deliver¬ ing all Europe from flavery, and fur¬ nished Mr. Addifon with a fubjedt worthy of that genius which appears xvi The P R E F A C E. in his Poem called The Cafnpaign. The Lord-Treafurer Godolphin , who was a fine judge of Poetry, had a fight of this work, when it was only carried on as far as the applauded fi- mile of the Angel j and approved the Poem, by bellowing on the Author, in a few days after, the place of Com- mifiioner of Appeals, vacant by the removal of the famous Mr. Locke to the council of Trade. His next advancement was to the place of Under-fecretary, which he held under Sir Charles Hedges , and the prefent Earl of Sunderland . The Opera of Rofamond was written, while he poflefled that employment. What doubts foever have been raifed about the merit of the mufick, which, as the Italian tafte at that time begun wholly to prevail, was thought fuffi- ciently inexcufable, becaufe it was the compofition of an Englifh- man; the Poetry of this piece has given as much pleafure in the clofet, as o- thers have afforded from the ftage, with The PREFACE. xvil with all the afliftance of voices and in- flruments. The Comedy called the Tender Huf- band appear’d much about the fame time, to which Mr. Addifon wrote the Prologue. Sir Richard Steele furprized him with a very handfome dedication of this play, and has fince acquainted the publick, that he owed fome of the moft taking feenes of it to Mr. Ad¬ difon. His next ftep in his fortune, was to the poft of Secretary under the late Marquefs of Wharton , who was ap¬ pointed Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland in the year 1709. As I have propofed to touch but very lightly on thofe parts of his life, which do not regard him as an Author, I (hall not enlarge upon the great reputation he acquired by his turn to bufinefs, and his unblemifhed integrity, in this and other employ¬ ments. It muft not be omitted here, that the falary of Keeper of the Re¬ cords in Ireland was confiderably rai- fed, and that poft beftowed upon him. xviii The PREFACE. at this time, as a mark of the Queen’s favour. He was in that kingdom, when he fird difeoverd Sir Rickard Steele to be Author of the Fatler , by an obfervation upon Virgil , which had been by him communicated to his Friend. The aitidance, he occafion- ally gave him afterwards in the courfe of the paper, did not a little contribute to advance its reputation j and, upon the change of the minidry, he found leifure to engage more condantly in that work, which however was dropt at lad:, as it had been taken up, with¬ out his participation. In the lad paper, which clofed thofe celebrated performances, and in the preface to the lad volume, Sir Rickard Steele has given to Mr. Addifon the ho¬ nour of the mod applauded pieces in that collection. But as that acknow¬ ledgment w r as delivered only in general terms, without directing the public to the feveral papers: Mr. Addifon , who was content with the praife arifing from his own works, and too delicate to XIX Vet PREFACE. to take any par: of that which belong¬ ed to others, afterwards thought ft to di(f inguilh his writings in the Specta¬ tors and Guardians , by inch marks, as might remove the leait poilibility of miltake in the mo if undifcernlng rea- L. ders. It was Decenary that his ihare in the Fa tiers ihould be ad'ufted in a complete collection of his works; for which reafon Sir Packard Steele , in compliance with the requelt of his de- ceafed friend, delivered to him by the editor, was pleaded to mark with his own hand thofe * Tatars, which are in¬ ferred in this edition, and even to point cot feveral, in the writing of which they both were concerned. The plan of the Spectator, as far as it regards the feigned perfon of the Author, and of the feveral characters that compofe his club, was projected in concert with Sir Rickard Steele. And, be car fe many pillages in the courie of the work would other wife be obfeure, I have taken leave to in- iert cne lanzle paper, written by Sir V oL. I. B Rickard xx 'fhe P R E FA C E . Richard Steele , wherein thofe chara¬ cters are drawn, which may ferve as a Dramatis Perfonce , or as fo many pi¬ ctures for an ornament and explication of the whole. As for the diftinCt pa¬ pers, they were never or feldom fhown to each other by their refpedtive au¬ thors ; who fully anfvvered the pro¬ -life they had made, and far out-went the expectation they had raifed, of purfuing their labour in the fame fpi- rit and ftrength, with which it was be¬ gun. It would have been impoflible for Mr. Addifon , who made little or no ufe of letters fent in by the nume¬ rous correfpondents of the Spectator, to have executed his large (hare of this task, in fo exquifite a manner; if he had not ingrafted into it many pieces, that had lain by him in little hints and minutes, which he from time to time collected, and ranged in order, and moulded into the form in which they now appear. Such are the eflays upon Wit , the Pleafures of the Imagination ,, the Critique upon Milton i and fome others, The P RE F A C E. xxi others, which I thought to have con¬ nected in a continued Series in this e- dition; though they were at firft putw' lifhed with the interruption of writings on different fubjects. But as fuclv a fcheme would have obliged me to cue off feveral graceful introductions gn d circumftances, peculiarly adapted Ko the time and occafion of printing ti\em, I durft not purfue that attempt. The Tragedy of Cato appe ared in public in the year 1713, when the greateft part of the laft Add was added by the Author to the foregoing, which he had kept by him for /many years. He took up a defign of writing a play upon this fubjedt, when ’ne was very young at the Univerfity., and even at¬ tempted fomething in ir there, though not a line as it now lVands. The work was performed by him in his travels, and retouched in F-ngland, without any formed refolution of bringing it upon the Stage, ’tiil his friends of the firft quality and diltindtion prevailed with him to put the laft finifhing to ir, at a B 2 time x xii Tie PREFACE. dime when they thought the do (fir rue of Liberty very feafonable. It is in every body’s memory, with what ap- plaufe it was received by the public; that the fir ft run of it lafted for % month; and then flopped, only be- caule one of the performers became incapable of afting a principal part. The Author received a meffage, that the Queen would be pleafed to have it dedicated to her : but as he had defigned that compliment clfewhere, he found himfelf obliged by his duty on the one fide, and his honour on the other, to fend it into the world without any dedication. The fame of this Tragedy foon fpread through J?.urope, and it has not only been tranflated, but afted in mo ft of the languages of Chriftendom. The tran- flat ion of it into Italian, by Signor Salvini, is very well known; but I have not been able to learn, whether that of Signor Valetta, a young Nea¬ politan nobleman, has ever been made If The PREFACE, xxiii If he had found time for the wri¬ ting of another tragedy, the Death of Socrates would have been the lftory. And, however unpromifing that fub- jed may appear, it would be pre- fumptuous to cenfure his choice, who was fo famous for railing the noble ft plants from the moft barren foil. It ferves to (hew, that he thought the whole labour of fuch a performance unworthy to be thrown away upon thole intrigues and adventures, to which the Romantic tafle has confined modern Tragedy; and, after the ex¬ ample of his predecelfors in Greece , would have employed the Drama to wear cut of our minds every thing that is mean , or little j to cherijh and cultivate that humanity which is the ornament of cur natureto foften in¬ dolence , to Jo&th affliction, and to fub- due our minds to the difpenfations of Providence . * Upon the death of the late Queen, the Lords Juftices, in whom the ad- miniftration was lodged, appointed B 3 him * Spectator. N° 39. xxiv The PREFACE. him their Secretary. Soon after his Majefty’s arrival in Great Britain , the Earl of Sunderland being conftituted Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland , Mr. Ad- dlfon * became a fecond time Secretary for the affairs of that Kingdom; and was made one of the Lords-Com- miffioners of Trade, a little after his Lordlhip refigned the poll of Lord- Lieutenant. The paper, called the Freeholder , was undertaken at the time, when the rebellion broke out in Scotland. The only works he left behind him for the public, are the Dialogues upon Medals^ and the Treatife upon the Chrijlian Religion. Some account has been already given of the former, to which nothing is now to be added, except that a great part of the Latin quotations were rendred into Englijh , in a very hafty manner, by the Edi¬ tor, and one of his friends, who had the good-nature to affift him, during his avocations of bufinefs. It was thought better to add thefe tranflati- ons, The PREFACE, xxv- ons, fuch as they are, than to let the work come out unintelligible to thofe who do not poffefs the learned lan¬ guages. The fcheme for the Treatife upon the Chrijlian Religion was formed by the Author, about the end of the late Queen’s reign; at which time he care¬ fully perufed the ancient writings, which furnifh the materials for it. His continual employment in bufinefs pre¬ vented him from executing it, ’till he refigned his office of Secretary of State; and his death put a period to it, when he had imperfectly perform¬ ed only one half of the dehgn; he having propofed, as appears from the introduction, to add the JewiJh to the Heathen tefti monies, for the truth of the Chriftian hiftory. He was more affiduous, than his health would well allow, in the purfuit of this work; and had long determined to dedicate his Poetry alfo, for the future, wholly to religious fubje&s. Soon* xxvi The P R E FA C E. Soon after he was, from being one of the Lords-Commiftioners of Trade, advanced to the port of Secretary of State, he found his health impaired by the return of that afthmatic indifpo- fition, which continued often to afhidt him during his exercife of that em¬ ployment, and at laft obliged him to beg His Majefty’s leave to refign. His freedom from tire anxiety of bu- fmefs fo far re-eftablifhed his health, that his friends began to hope he might 1 aft for many years; but (whe¬ ther it were from a life too fedenta- ry, or from his natural conftitution, in which was one circumftance very re¬ markable, that, from his cradle, he never had a regular pulfe) a long and painful relapfe into an afthma and dropfy deprived the world of this great man, on the 17th of Ju?ie y 1719. He left behind him only one Daughter, by the Countefs of War¬ wick ., to whom he was married in the year 171#. Not The P RE FA C E. xxvii x Not many days before his death, he gave me directions to colled his writings, and at the fame time com¬ mitted to my care the Letter addreft to Mr. Craggs (his fucceffor as Se¬ cretary of State) wherein he be¬ queaths them to him, as a token of friendfhip. Such a teftimony, from the firft man of our age, in fuch a point of time, will be perhaps as great and lafting an honour to that gentle¬ man, as any even he could acquire to himfelf; and yet is no more than was due from an affection, that juftly in- creafed towards him, through the inti¬ macy of feveral years. I cannot, with¬ out the utmofl tendernefs, refleCl on the kind concern, with which Mr. Addifon left Me as a fort of incum¬ brance upon this valuable legacy. Nor muft I deny mylelf the honour to ac¬ knowledge, that the gcodnefs of that great man to me, like many other of his amiable qualities, leemed not fo much to, be renewed as continued in his fucceffor 3 who made me an ex- 13 5 ample. xxviii The PREFACE . ample, that nothing could be indiffe¬ rent to him, which came recommend¬ ed by Mr. Addifon. Could any circumstance be more fevere to me, while I was executing thefe laft commands of the Author, than to fee the Perfon, to whom his works were prefented, cut oft in the flower of his age, and carried from the high office wherein he had fuc- ceeded Mr. Addifon , to be laid next him in the fame grave ! I might dwell upon fuch thoughts, as natu¬ rally rife from thefe minute refem- blances in the fortune of two per- fons, wffiofe names probably will be fel- dom mentioned afunder, while either our language or flory fubfift, were I not afraid of making this preface too tediousj especially fince I (hall want, all the patience of the reader for ha¬ ving enlarged it with the following verfes. r [ XXIX ) To the Right H o n o u r a b l e the EARL of WARWICK ,, &c.- I F, dumb too long , the drooping Mufe hath flay'd y/W left her debt to Addifon unpaid ; Blame not her ftlence , Warwick, bemoan , • ~ vfW judge , oh judge, my bofom by your own. What mourner ever felt poetic free ! Slow comes the verfe , that real ivoe infpires: Grief unujfeffedfuits but ill with art , Or flowing numbers with a bleeding heart. Can I forget the difmal nighty that gave My foul's befl part for-ever to the grave ! How fllent did his old companions tread , By mid-night lamps , the manflons of the dead y Hr o' breathing flatues, then unheeded things , Thro ’ rowes of warriors , and thro ’ of kings / did the flow folemn knell infpire •, The pealing organ , and the pauflng choir ; The duties by the lawn-robe'd prelate pay'd ; And the lafl words , that dufl to dufl convey'd! While fpeechlefs o'er thy cloflng grave we bendy Accept thefe tears , thou dear departed friend ? , 0 /; for-ever , /S 7 POEMS POEMS O N Several Qccafions, To Mr. DRYDEN. Provoke our Wonder, and tranfcend our Praife ? Can neither injuries of Time, or Age, Damp thy Pcetick Heat, and quench thy Rage ? Not fo thy Ovid in his Exile wrote. Grief chill’d his Brcail, and check’d his rifing Thought i Penfive and fad, his drooping Mufe betrays The Roman Genius in its laft Decays. Prevailing Warmth has hill thy mind pofleff. And fecond Youth is kindled in thy breaft ; Thou mak’ft the beauties of the Romans known, And England boalts of riches not her own ; Thy lines have heighten’d Virgil's Majeily, And Horace wonders at himfelf in Thee. Thou teacheft Pcrjius to inform our iflc In fmoothcr Numbers, and a clearer Style; O W long, great Poet, fhall thy facred Lays And 4 Poems on feveral Occafions . And Juvenal , inflru&ed in thy page, Edges his Satyr, and improves his Rage. Thy Copy cafts a fairer Light on all. And Rill out-lhines the bright Original. Now Ovid boafts th’ Advantage of thy Song, And tells his Story in the Britijh tongue; Thy charming Verfe, and fair Tranflations, Ihow How thy own Laurel firft began to grow; How wild Lycaon chang’d by angry Gods, And frighted at himfelf, ran howling through the Woods. O may’ll thou Hill the noble Task prolong. Nor Age, nor Sicknefs interrupt thy fong: Then may we wond’ring read, how Human Limbs Have water’d Kingdoms, and dilfolv’d in Streams; Of thofe rich Fruits that on the fertile mould Turn’d yellow by degrees, and ripen’d into Gold : How fome in Feathers, or a ragged Hide, Have liv’d a Second life, and dilFrent Natures try’d. Then will thy Ovid , thus transform’d, reveal A Nobler Change than he himfelf can tell. Magd. Coll. Oxon^ June 2. 1693. The ^Author* age 2Z. A POEM TO HIS *M A J E STY. Prefented to the Lord Keeper . 'William. Printed in ike Jt&r 1 69s. The Anther's art 24 , ' * »> r vf; ^ ■ Poems on federal Qccafions . To the Right Honourable Sir JOHN SOMERS, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal. p> your thoughts are loofe from St ate-Affairs, Nor feel the burden of a Kingdoms Cares, If yet your Time and A Elions are your own. Receive the prefent of a Mufe unknown : A Mufe that in Advent'rous numbersfings ‘The rout of Armies, and the fall of Kings, Britain advanc'd, and Europe’/ Peace Ref or'd, Ry Somers’ Counfels, and by NASSAU'/ Sword. To You, my Lord, thefe daring thoughts belong Who help'd to Raife the Subject of my fongi % To You the Hero of my verfe reveals His great Defgns, to You in Council tells His Inmof thoughts , determining the doom Of Towns XJnform'd, and Battels yet to come . And well cou'd You, in Your Immortal f rains, Defcribe his Conduit, and Reward his Pains: * But fince the State has all your Cares engrof, And Poetry in Higher thoughts is lof, Vol. I. c Attend <5 Poems on feveral Qccafions . Attend to what a lejfer Mnfe indites, Far don her Faults, and Countenance her Flights . On You, my Lord, with anxious Fear I wait , And from Your Judgment muft expeSl my Fate, Who, free from Vulgar paffions, are above Degrading Envy, or Mifguided Love ; If you, well-pleas'd, Jhall fmile upon my lays, Secure of Fame, my Voice Pll boldly raife, For next to what You write, is what You praife . T O Poems on federal Occafions. 7 _ , , J'nI- TO THE KING. W HEK now the bufinefs of the Field is o’er. The Trumpets deep, and Cannons ceafe to roar. When ev’ry difmal Echo is decay’d. And all the Thunder of the Battel laid; Attend, Aufpicious Prince , and let the Mufe In humble Accents Milder thoughts infufe. Others, in bold Prophetick numbers skill’d. Set thee in Arms, and led thee to the field; My Mufe expe&ing on the Britijh ftrand Waits thy Return, and welcomes thee to land: She oft has feen thee prefling on the Foe, When Europe was concern’d in ev’ry Blow; But durfl; not in Heroick drains rejoice; The Trumpets, Drums, and Cannons drown’d her Voice; She faw the Boyn run thick with Human gore, And floating Corps lie beating on the Shore : See faw thee climb the banks, but try’d in vain To trace her Hero through the dufly plain, When through the thick Embattel’d lines he broke. Now plung’d arnidft the foes, now loft in clouds of fmoke. C 2 O 8 Poems on fever al Occafions . O that Tome Mufe, renown’d for Lofty verfe. In daring numbers wou’d thy Toils rehearfe \ Draw thee Belov’d in peace, and Fear’d in wars. Inur’d to Noon-day fweats, and Mid-night cares! But Hill the God-like Man, by fome hard Fate, Receives the Glory of his toils too late; Too late the Verfe the mighty Aft fucceeds, One Age the Hero, one the Poet breeds. A Thoufand years in full fucceflion ran. Ere Virgil rais’d his voice, and fung the Man Who, driv’n by ftrefs of fate, fuch dangers bore On ftormy Seas, and a difaflrous Shore, Before he fettled in the Promis’d Earth, And gave the Empire of the World its birth. Troy Ioijg had found the Grecians bold and fierce, Ere Homer mufter’d up their Troops in Verfe; Long had Achilles quell’d the Trojans' Luft, And laid the Labour of the Gods in duft. Before the Tow’ring Mufe began her flight. And drew the Hero raging in the Fight, Engag’d in tented fields, and rolling floods. Or flaught’ring Mortals, or a Match for Gods. And here, perhaps, by Fate’s unerring doom. Some Mighty Bard lies hid in years to come. That Poems on fever al Occasions. 9 That fliall in WILLI AM's God-like Adis engage, And with his Battels warm a Future age. Hibernian fields fiiali here thy Conqueft Ihow, And Boyn be Sung, when it had ceas’d to Flow; Here Gallick labours fliall advance thy fame, * And here Seneffe fhall wear Another name. Our late PoSerity, with fecret dread. Shall view thy Battels, and with Pleafure read How, in the bloody field, too near advanc'd. The Guiltlefs Bullet on thy Ihoulder glanc’d. The Race of N ASS A US was by heav’n defign'd To curb the proud Opprefibrs of mankind. To bind the Tyrants of the Earth with laws. And fight in ev’ry Injur’d nation’s caufe, The World’s great Patriots ; they for Juftice call. And as they favour. Kingdoms rife or fall. * Our Britijh Youth, unus’d to rough Alarms, Carelefs of Fame, and negligent of Arms, Had long forgot to Meditate the foe, And heard unwarm’d the Martial Trumpet blow ; But now, infpir’d by Thee, with frefh delight, Their Swords they brandifh, and require the Fight, Renew their Ancient Conquefts on the Main, And adl their Fathers’ triumphs o’er again ; Fir’d, when they hear how Agincourt was flrow’d With Gallick corps, and CreJJi fwam in blood, C 3 With io Poems on feveraJ Occafions . With eager warmth they fight, Ambitious all Who firft fhall ftorm the Breach, or mount the Wall. In vain the thronging Enemy by force Would clear the Ramparts, and repel their courfe; 1 hey break through all, for WILLIAM leads the way. Where Fins rage moll, and loudefl Engines play. Namure 's late Terrours and Definition fhow, What WILLIAM, warm’d with juft Revenge, can do : W here once a thoufand Turrets rais’d on high Their gilded Spires, and glitter’d in the sky, An undiftinguifh’d heap of Dull is found. And all the pile lies fmoaking on the ground. His.Toils for no Ignoble ends defign’d, Promote the common welfare of mankind; No wild Ambition moves, but Europe s Fears, The Cries of Orphans, and the Widow’s Tears; Oppreft Religion gives the firft alarms. And injur’d Juftice fets him in his Arms; His Conquefts Freedom to the world afford, And nations blefs the Labours of his fword. Thus when the forming Mufe wou’d copy forth A perfect Pattern of Heroick worth, She fets a Man Triumphant in the field. O’er Giants cloven down, and Monfters kill’d, Reeking in blocd, and fmeer’d with dull and fweat, Whiift Angry Gods confpire to make him Great, Thy II Poems on feveral Oecajions, Thy Navy Rides on Seas before unpred. And drikes a terror through the Haughty Eaft ; Alg ■ers and Tunis from their fultry ihore With horror hear the Pritijh engines roar, Fain from the neighb’ring dangers wou’d they run. And widi themfclves kill Nearer to the Sun. The Gallick Ships are in their Ports confin’d. Deny’a the common ufe of Sea and Wind, Nor dare again the Britijh Strength engage; Still they remember that Deftru&ive rage Which lately made their trembling hod retire, Stucn’d with the noife, and wrapt in Smoke and Fire; The Waves with wide unnumber’d wrecks were drow’d, AndPlanks, and Arms, and Men, promifcuous flow'd. Spain 3 numerous Fleet that perifht on our coad, Cou’d fcarce a longer Line of battel boad. The Winds cou’d hardly drive ’em to their Fate, And all the Ocean labour’d with the weight. Where-e’er the Waves in redlefs errors rowle. The Sea lies open now to either Pole : Now may we fafely ufe the Northern gales. And in the Polar Circle fpread our fails ; Or deep in Southern climes, Secure from wars. New Lands explore, and fail by Other dars: Fetch Uncontroll’d each labour of the Sun, And make the product of the World our own. C 4 At . iz Poems on federal Occajlons . At length. Proud Prince, Ambitious Lewis, ceafe To plague mankind, and trouble Europe's peace; Think on the Stru&ures which thy Pride has rafe’d. On Towns unpeopled, and on Fields laid wafte; Think on the heaps of corps, and ftreams of blood. On every guilty plain, and purple flood. Thy Arms have made, and ceafe an impious War, Nor wafte the Lives entrufted to thy Care. Or if no Milder thought can calm thy mind, Eehold the great Avenger of mankind. See mighty NASSAU through the Battel ride. And fee thy Subje&s gafping by his fide : Fain wou’d the pious Prince refufe th’Alarm, Fain wou’d he check the Fury of his Arm; But when thy Cruelties his thoughts engage, The Hero kindles with becoming rage. Then Countries ftoln, and Captives unreftor’d. Give Strength to every blow, and edge his Sword. Behold with what refiftlefs force he falls On towns befieg’d, and thunders at thy walls ! Ask Villeroy , for Villeroy beheld The Town furrender’d, and the Treaty feal’d ; With what amazing ftrength the Forts were won, Whilft the whole Pow’r of France flood looking on. But flop not here : behold where Berkley ftands. And executes his injur’d King’s commands; Around Poems on federal Qccafions. Around thy coaft his burning Bombs he pours On flaming Cittadels, and falling Tow’rs; With hizzing ftreams of fire the air they ftreak. And hurl deftru&ion round ’em where they break. The Skies with long afcending Flames are bright, And all the Sea refle&s a quivering light. Thus AEtna, when in fierce Eruptions broke, Fills Heav’n with Allies, and the Earth with Smoke i Here Crags of broken Rocks are twirl’d on high. Here molten Stones and fcatter’d Cinders fly: Its fury reaches the remoteft coaft, And flrovvs the Afiatick fhore with Dulh Now does the Sailor from the Neighb’ring Mail* Look after Gallic Towns and Forts in vain; No more his wonted Marks he can defcry. But fees a long unmeafur’d Ruine lie ; Whilft, pointing to the Naked coafl, he fliows His wond’ring Mates where Towns and Steeples role. Where crowded Citizens he lately view’d. And Angles out the place where once St. Maloes flood,. Here RuJJel 's Actions fhould my Mufe require> And would my ftrength but fecond my defire. I’d all his boundleis Bravery rehearfe. And draw his Cannons thund’ring in my vcrfe; C 5. High. 14 Poems on feveral Occaftons. High on the deck fliou’d the great Leader Hand, Wrath in his Look, and Light’ning in his Hand; Like Homer s Heftor when he flung his Fire Amidft a thouiand Ships, and made all Greece retire,' But who can run the Britljh Triumphs o’er. And count the Flames difperft on ev’ry Shore? Who can defcribe the fcatter’d Vi&ory, And draw the Reader on from Sea to- Sea ? Fife who cou’d Ormond' s God-like A&s refufe, Ormond the theme of ev’ry Oxford Mufe? Fain wou’d I here his mighty Worth proclaim. Attend him in the noble chafe of fame, Through all the Noife and Hurry of the Fight, Obferve each blow, and keep him flill in light. Oh, did our Britljh Peers thus court Renown, And grace the Coats their great Fore-fathers won ? Our arms wou'd then triumphantly advance, Nor Henry be the laffc that conquer’d France. What might not England hope, if fuch abroad Purchas’d their country’s honour with their Blood: When {ach, detain’d at home, fupport our State In V/ ILL IA M's Head, and bear a Kingdom’s weight, 1 ne Schemes of Gallick Policy o’er-throw. And blaft the Counfels of the common Foe; Diiedl our Armies, and diftribute Right, And render our MAR I A 's Lofs more ligljt. Poems on feveral Occafions . if But flop, my Mufe, th’ungrateful iound forbear, MARIA' s name ft ill wounds each Britijh Ear: Each Britijb Heart MARIA ftill does wound. And Tears burft out unbidden at the found; MAR 1A ftill our rifing Mirth deftroys. Darkens our Triumphs, and forbids our Joys. But fee, at length, the Britijb Ships appear! Our NASSAU comes! and as his Fleet draws near. The rifing Marts advance, the Sails grow white. And all his Pompous Navy floats in fight. Come, mighty Prince, defir’d of Britain, come! May HeavVs propitious gales attend thee home ! Come, and let longing crowds behold that Look, Which fuch Confufion and Amazement ftrook Through Gal lick hofts : But, oh ! let Us defcry Mirth in thy Brow, and Pleafure in thy Eye r Let nothing Dreadful in thy face be found. But for a-while forget the Trumpet’s found ; Well-pleas’d, thy People’s Loyalty approve. Accept their Duty, and enjoy their Love. For as when lately mov’d with fierce delight, You plung’d amidft the Tumult of the fight. Whole heaps of Death encompafs’d you around. And Steeds o’er-turn’d lay foaming on the ground s So Crown’d with Laurels now, where-e’er you go. Around you blooming Joys, and peaceful Blelfmgs flow. 1 6 Poems on feveral Occafions. A Tran Hation of all VIRGIL^ Fourth Georgtck> ( Except the Story of Aristaus. Jj T H E R IA L fweets (hall next my Mufe engage. And this, Maecenas, claims your patronage. Of little creatures wondr’ous a&s I treat, ^ The ranks and mighty leaders of their ftate, Their laws, employments, and their wars relate. A trifling theme provokes my humble lays, Trifling the theme, not fo the Poet’s praife, If great Apollo and the tuneful Nine Join in the piece, and make the work divine. Firfl, for your Bees a proper ftation find, That’s fenc’d about, and Ihelter’d from the wind; For winds divert them in their flight, and drive The fvvarms, when loaden homeward, from their hive. Nor Iheep, nor goats, muft paflure near their ftores. To trample under foot the fpringing flowers; Nor frisking heifers bound about the place, To fpurn the dew drops off, and bruife the riling grafs: Nor muft the Lizard’s-painted brood appear. Nor Wood-pecks, nor the Swallow harbour near. They wafte the fwarms, and as they fly along Convey the tender morfels to their young. Let Poems on feveral Occafons\y Let purling dreams, and fountains edg’d with mofs, And (hallow rills run trickling through the grafs; Let branching Olives o’er the fountain grow, Or Palms (hoot up, and (hade the dreams below ; That when the youth, led by their princes, (hun The crowded hive, and fport it in the fun, Refrelhing fprings may tempt ’em from the heat. And (hady coverts yield a cool retreat. Whether the neighb’ring water (lands or runs. Lay twigs acrofs, and bridge it o’er with (tones ; That if rough dorms, or fudden blads of wind Should dip, or fcatter thofe that lag behind. Here they may fettle on the friendly done. And dry their reeking pinions at the fun. Plant all the ftow’ry banks with Lavender, With (tore of Sav’ry fcent the fragrant air. Let running Betony the Field o’erfpread, And fountains foak the Violet’s dewy bed. Tho’ barks or plaited willows make your hive, A narrow inlet to their cells contrive; For colds congele and freeze the liquors up. And, melted down with heat, the waxen buildings drop. The Bees, of both extremes alike afraid, Their wax around the whidling crannies fpread. And fuck out clammy dews from herbs and (lovv’rs. To fmear the chinks, and plaider up the pores: / For 18 Poems on fey oral Occafions . For this they hoard up glew, whofe dinging drops, Like pitch, or birdlime, hang in ftringy ropes. They oft, ’tis faid, in dark retirements dwell. And work in fubterraneous caves their cell; At other times th’induftrious infe&s live In hollow rocks, or make a tree their hive. Point all their chinky lodgings round with mud, And leaves muft thinly on your work be ftrow’d; But let no baleful eugh tree flourifli near. Nor rotten marfhes fend out fleams of mire; Nor burning crabs grow red, and crackle in the fire. Nor neighb’ring caves return the dying found. Nor echoing rocks the doubled voice rebound. y Things thus prepar’d- When th’ under-world is feiz’d with cold and night, And fummer here defcends in flreams of light. The Bees thro’ woods and forefts take their flight. * They rifle ev’ry flow’r, and lightly skim The cryftal brook, and fip the running flream; And thus they feed their young with flrange delight, And knead the yielding wax, and work the flimy fweet. But when on high you fee the Bees repair, Born on the vvind, thro’ diftant trails of air. And view the winged cloud allblackning from afar. While fhady coverts, and frefh flreams they chufe. Milfoil and common Honey-fuckles bruife. And fprinkle.. on^their Hives the fragrant juice. On A Poems on feveral Occafions . On brazen veiTels beat a tinkling found. And (hake the cymbals of the goddefs round; Then all will haflily retreat, and fill The warm refounding hollow of their cell. If once two rival kings their right debate, And fadions and cabals embroil tne ftate, The people’s actions will their thoughts declare ; All their hearts tremble, and beat thick with war; Hoarfe broken founds, like trumpets’ harfh alarms. Run thro* the hive, and call ’em to their arms; All in a hurry fpread their fhiv’ring wings, And ft their'claws, and point their angry flings: In crowds before the king’s pavilion meet. And boldly challenge out the foe to fight: At laft, when all the heav’ns are warm and fair, They rufh together out, and join; the air Swarms thick, and echo’s with the humming war. All in a firm round duller mix, and flrow With heaps of little corps the earth below ; As thick as hail-flones from the floor rebound, Or fhaken acorns rattle on the ground. No fenfe of danger can their kings controul, Their little bodies lodge a mighty foul : Each obftinate in arms purfues his blow, ’Till fhamcful flight fecures the routed foe. This hot difpute and all this mighty fray A little dull flung upward will allay. io Poems on feveral Occafions, But when both kings are fettled in their hive, Mark him who looks the work, and led he live Idle at home in eafe and luxury. The lazy monarch mull be doom’d to die; So let the royal infedt rule alone, V And reign without a rival in his throne. The kings are different; one of better note j All fpeckt with gold, and many a Ihining fpot, > Looks gay, and gliilens in a gilded coat; ^ But love of eafe, and floth in one prevails, That fcarce his hanging paunch behind him trails: The people’s looks are different as their kings. Some fparkle bright, and glitter in their wings; Others look loathfom and difeas’d with floth, Like a faint traveller whofe dully mouth V Grows dry with heat, and fpits a maukifh froth. ^ The firfl are belt— • From their o’erflowing combs, you’ll often prefs Pure lufcious fweets that mingling in the glafs Corrett the harfhnefs of the racy juice. And a rich flavour through the wine diffufe. But when they fport abroad, and rove from home, * i And leave the cooling hive, and quit th’unfinifli’d comb j Their airy ramblings are with eafe confin’d, Clip their king’s wings, and if they flay behind No bold ufurper dares invade their right, Nor found a march, nor give the fign for flight. $ Let 21 Poems on federal Occajions . Let flow’ry banks entice ’em to their ceils, And gardens all perfum’d with native fmells; Where carv’d Priapus has his fix’d abode. The robber’s terror, and the (care-crow god. Wild Tyme and Pine-trees from their barren hill Tranfplant, and nurfe ’em in the neighb’ring foil, Set fruit-trees round, nor e’er indulge thy (loth. But water ’em, and urge their (hady growth. And here, perhaps, were not I giving o’er. And linking fail, and making to the fhore. I’d (hew what art the Gardner’s toils require, Why rofy Pccjlum blufhes twice a year; What ftreams the verdant Succory fupply. And how the thirfty plant drinks rivers dry ; What with a chearful green does Parfly grace. And writhes the bellying Cucumber along the twilled grafs % Nor would I pafs the foft Acanthus o’er. Ivy nor Myrtle-trees that love the fhore; Nor Daffadils, that late from earth’s flow womb Unrumple their fwoln buds, and Ihow their yellow bloom. For once I faw in the Parentine vale. Where flow Galefus drencht the wafliy foil. An old Corician yeoman, who had got A few negledled acres to his lot. Where neither corn nor pallure grac’d the field. Nor would the Vine her purple harveft yield ; But 22 , Poems on fever al Occafions. But fav’ry herbs among the thorns were found, Vervain and Poppy flowers his garden crown’d, And drooping Lillies whiten’d all the ground. Bleft with thefe riches he cou’d empires flight. And when he relied from his toils at night, The earth unpurchas’d dainties would afford, And his own garden furnilh out his board: The fpring did firft his opening rofes blow, Firft ripening autumn bent his fruitful bough. When piercing colds had burft the brittle Hone, And freezing rivers ftiffen’d as they run, He then wou’d prune the tender’ll of his trees, Chide the late fpring, and lingring wellern breeze ; H is Bees firft fwarm’d, and made his veflels foam With the rich fqueezing of the juicy comb. Here Lindons and the fappy Pine increas’d ; Here, when gay flow’rs his fmiling orchard dreft. As many bloffoms as the fpring cou’d fhow, So many dangling apples mellow’d on the bough. In rows his elms and knotty pear-trees bloom. And thorns ennobled now to bear a plumb. And fpreading plane-trees, where fupinely laid He now enjoys the cool, and quaffs beneath the (hade. But thefe for want of room I mull omit. And leave for future Poets to recite. Now I’ll proceed their natures to declare. Which Jove himfelf did on the Bees confer; Becaufe, Poems on federal Occajions . Becaufe, invited by the timbrel’s found, Lodg’d in a cave th’almighty babe they found, And the young god nurft kindly under ground. Of all the wing’d inhabitants of air, Thefe only make their young the publick care ; In well-difpos’d focieties they live. And laws and ftatutes regulate their hive; Nor ftray, like other?, unconfin'd abroad. But know fet flations, and a fix’d abode: Each provident of cold in fumnier flies Thro’ fields, and woods, to feek for new fupplies, And in the common flock unlades his thighs. Some watch the food, fome in the meadows ply, Tafle ev’ry bud, and fuck each blofTom dry; Whilft others, lab’ring in their cells at home. Temper NarciJJus ’ clammy tears with gum, For the firft ground work of the golden comb; On this they found their waxen works, and raife The yellow fabrick on its glewy bafe. Some educate the young, or hatch the feed With vital warmth, and future nations breed; Whilft others thicken all the flimy Dews, And into pureft honey work the juice; Then fill the hollows of the comb, and fweli With lufcious Nettar ev’ry flowing cell. By turns they watch, by turns with curious eyes Survey the heav’ns, and fearch the clouded skies To find out breeding ftorms, and tell what tempefts rife. By 24 Poems on federal Occafions. / By turns they eafe the loaden fwarms, or drive The drone, a lazy infeft, frona their hive. The work is warmly ply’d through all the cells, And flrong with Tyme the new-made honey fmells. So in their caves the brawny Cyclops fweat. When with huge flrokes the ftubborn wedge they beat, > And all th’unfhapen thunder-bolt compleat; ' Alternately their hammers rife and fall; Whillt griping tongs turn round the glowing balk With puffing bellows fome the flames increafe, And fome in waters dip the hiffing mafs i Their beaten anvils dreadfully refound, And JE-tna {hakes all o’er, and thunders under ground* Thus, if great things we may with fmall compare. The bufie fwarms their different labours {hare. Defire of profit urges all degrees; The aged infe&s, by experience wife. Attend the comb, and fafhion ev’ry part. And ffiape the waxen fret-work out with art: The young at night, returning from their toils. Bring home their thighs clog’d with the meadows fpoils. On Lavender, and Saffron-buds they feed. On bending Ofiers, and the balmy Reed* From purple Violets and the Teile they bring Their gather’d fweets, and rifle all the fpring. AH Poems on federal Occflfions. if , All work together, all together reft. The morning ftill renews their labours paft; Then all rufh out, their different tasks purfue, Sit on the bloom, and fuck the rip’ning dew; Again when evening warns ’em to their home, With weary wings, and heavy thighs they come, And crowd about the chink, and mix a drowfie hum. 3 Into their cells at length they gently creep, ^ There all the night their peaceful ftation keep, £ Wrapt up in filence, and diflolv’d in fleep. J None range abroad when winds or ftorms are nigh. Nor truft their bodies to a faithlefs sky. But make fmall journeys, with a careful wing. And fly to water at a neighb’ring fpring; And left their airy bodies fhould be caft In reftlefs whirls, the fport of ev’ry blaft. They carry ftones to poife ’em in their flight. As ballaft keeps th’ unfteady veflel right. But of all cuftoms that the Bees can boaft, ’Tis this may challenge admiration moft; That none will Hymen's fofter joys approve. Nor wafte their fpirits in luxurious love. But all a long virginity maintain. And bring forth young without a mother’s pain : From herbs and flowers they pick each tender Bee, And cull from plants a buzzing progeny; From thefe they chufeout fubje&s, and create A little monarch of the riftng ftate; Then z6 Poems on fevered Occafions . Then build wax kingdoms for the infant prince. And form a palace for his refidence. But often in their journeys, as they fly, > On flints they tear their fllken wings, or lie > Grov’ling beneath their flow’ry load, and die. * Thus love of honey can an infedt fire. And in a Fly fuch generous thoughts infpire. Yet by repeopling their decaying ftate, Tho’ feven fhort fprings conclude their vital date. Their ancient flocks eternally remain. And in an endlefs race their childrens children reign. No proftrate vafial of the Eaft can more With flavifh fear his mighty Prince adore ; His life unites ’em all j but when he dies, All in loud tumults and diftradtions rife; They wafte their honey, and their combs deface. And wild confufion reigns in every place. Him all admire, all the great guardian own. And croud about his courts, and buzz about his throne. Oft on their backs their weary prince they bear, Oft in his caufe embattled in the air, . > Purfue a glorious death, in wounds and war. ' Some from fuch inflances as thefe have taught “ The Bees extradt is heavenly j for they thought “ The univerfe alive; and that a foul, “ Diffus’d throughout the matter of the whole, “ To Poems on federal Occafions. 27 “ To all the vaft unbounded frame was given, ^ eav ’ n . , \ v Soft Poems on feveral Occajiom . Soft moving founds and heav’nly airs Give force to ev’ry word, and recommend our prayers. When time it felf fhall be no more. And all things in confuhon hurl’d, Mufick fhall then exert its pow’r. And found furvive the ruins of the world : Then Saints and Angels fhall agree In one eternal jubilee : All heav’n fhall echo with their hymns divine. And God himfelf with pleafure fee The whole creation in a chorus join. CHORUS . Confecrate the place and day. To Mufick and Cecilia. Let no rough winds approach, nor dare Invade the hallow’d bounds, Nor rudely fhake the tuneful air. Nor fpoil the fleeting founds. Nor mournful figh nor groan be heard. But giadnefs dwell on ev’ry tongue; Whilft all, with voice and firings prepar’d. Keep up the loud harmonious fong, - ,, * And imitate the Bleft above, * In joy, and harmony, and love. An Poems on feveral Occafions, An Account cf the Great eft Englilh Poet s. To Mr. Henry Sach ever ell, April 3, 1694, S 1N f E f dear eft Hurry, you will needs requeft A Jbort account of all the Mufe-poffeft, That, down from ChaucerT days to DrydenV times. Have fpent their nolle rage in Briciih rhimes » Without more preface, writ in formal length. To fpeak the undertaker s want of ft rengtb. Til try to make their fev ral beauties known f And Jhow their nJsrfes worth, thd not my own » Long had our dull fore fathers flept fupine. Nor felt the raptures of the tuneful Nine; ’Till Chaucer firft, a merry Bard, arofe. And many a dory told in rhime, and profe. But age has ruded what the Poet writ, Worn out his language, and obfcur’d his wit; In vain he jells in his unpolifh’d drain, And tries to make his readers laugh in vain. In Old Spenfer next, warm’d with poetick rage, ancient tales amus’d a barb’rous age; D 4 An Poems on federal Occafions , An age that yet uncultivate and rude, Where-e’er the poet’s fancy led, purfu’d Thro’ pathlefs fields, and unfrequented floods. To dens of dragons, and enchanted woods. But now the myflic tale, that pleas’d of yore. Can charm an underflanding age no more; The long-fpun allegories fulfom grow, While the dull moral lies too plain below. We view well-pleas’d at diflance all the fights Of arms and paifries, battels, fields and fights. And damfels in diftrefs, and courteous knights. But when we look too near, the fhaaes decay. And all the pleaflng landfchape fades away. Great Cowley then (a mighty genius) wrote, O’er-run with wit, and lavifh of his thought: His turns too clofely on the reader prefs: He more had pleas’d us, had he pleas’d us lefs. One glittering thought no fooner flrikes our eyes W’ith fllent wonder, but new wonders rife. As in the milky-way a fhining white O’er-flows the heav’ns with one continued light; That not a Angle Star can (hew his rays, Whilft jointly all promote the common blaze. Pardon, great Poet, that I dare to name Th* unnumber’d beauties of thy verfe with blame Thy fault is only wit in its excefs: But wit like thine in any fliape will pleafe. $7 Poems on feveral Occafions . What Mufe but thine can equal hints infpire, And fit the deep-mouth’d Pindar to thy lyre: Pindar , whom others in a labour’d ltrain. And forc’d exprefiion imitate in vain ? Well-pleas’d in thee he foars with new delight, And plays in more unbounded verfe, and takes a nobler [flight. Bleft man ! whofe fpotlefs life and charming lays Employ’d the tuneful Prelate in thy praife ; Bleft man! who now fhalt be for ever known, In Sprat's fuccefsful labours and thy own. But Milton next, with high and haughty (talks. Unfetter’d in majeftick numbers walks t No vulgar hero can his Mufe ingage; Nor earth’s wide fcene confine his hallow’d rage; See ! fee 1 he upwards fprings, and tow’ring high- Spurns the dull province of mortality, Shakes heav’n’s eternal throne with dire alarms,- And fets th’ Almighty thunderer in arms. What-e’er his pen defcribes I more than fee, Whilft ev’ry verfe, array’d in majefly, Bold, and fublime, my whole attention draws, /\nd feems above the critick’s nicer laws. How are you flruck with terror and delight, When Angel with Arch-angel copes in fight t When great Mefliah’s out-fpread banner Ihines,. How does the chariot rattle in his lines! X> 5, What 3 8 Poems on fever al Occaftons. What founds of brazen wheels, what thunder, fcare. And Bun the reader with the din of war ! With fear my fpirits and my blood retire, . To fee the Seraphs funk in clouds of lire j But when, with eager Heps, from hence‘I rife. And view the frit gay fcenes of Paradife; What tongue, what words of rapture can exprefs A vifion fo profufe of pleafantnefs ? Oh had the Poet ne ? er profan’d his pen. To varnifh o’er the guilt of faithlefs men ; His other works might have deferv’d applaufe f But now the language can’t fupport the caufe; While the clean current, tho’ ferene and bright, Betrays a bottom odious to the light. But now, my Mufe, a fofter Brain rehearfe. Turn ev’ry line with art, and fmooth thy verfe; The courtly Waller next commands thy lays: Mufe tune thy verfe, with art, to Waller's praife. While tender airs and lovely dames infpire Soft melting thoughts, and propagate defire; So long fhall Waller % Brains our palfion move. And SacchariJja 's beauty kindle love. Thy verfe, harmonious Bard, and flatt’ring fong. Can make the vanqu : fh’d great, the coward Brong. Thy verfe can Blow ev’n Cromwell's innocence. And compliment the Bonn that bore him hence. Oh 39 Poems on feveral Occaftons. Oh had thy Mufe not come an age too Toon, But feen great Hajfau on the Briti[h throne ! H ow had his triumphs glitter’d in thy page. And warm’d thee to a more exalted rage! What fcenes of death and horror had we view’d. And how had Boins wide current reek’d in blood I Or if Maria's charms thou would ft rehearfe. In fmoother numbers and a fofter verfe ; Thy pen had well defcrib’d her graceful air. And Gloriana wou’d have feem’d more fair. Nor muft Rofcommon pafs negle&ed by. That makes ev’n Rules a noble poetry : Rules whole deep fenfe and heav’nly numbers ftiow The beft of criticks, and of poets too. Nor, Denham, muft we e’er forget thy drains. While Cooper's Hill commands the neighb’ring plains.’ But fee where artful Dryden next appears Grown old in rhime, but charming ev’n in years. Great Dryden next, whofe tuneful Mufe affords The fweeteft numbers, and the fitteft words. Whether in Comick founds or Tragick airs She forms her voice, (he moves our fmiles or tears. If Satire or heroick drains ihe writes. Her Hero pleafes, and her Satire bites. From her no harfti unartful numbers fall. She wears all dreftes, and fne charms in all. How 40 Poems on feveral Occasions. How might we fear our Englijh Poetry, That long has flourifh’d, fhou’d decay with thee % Did not the Mufes other hope appear, Harmonious Congreve, and forbid our fear: Congreve f whofe fancy’s unexhaufted ftore Has given already much, and promis’d more.! Congreve fhall ftill preferve thy fame alive. And Dry dens Mufe fhall in his Friend furvive. I’m tir’d with rhiming, and wou’d fain give o’er* But juftice hill demands one labour more: The noble Montague remains unnam’d. For wit, for humour, and for judgment fam’d i To Dorfet he dire&s his artful Mufe, Tn numbers fuch as Dorfet' s felf might ufe. How negligently graceful he unreins His verfe, and writes in loofe familiar Brains i How Najfaus godlike acts adorn his lines. And all the Hero in full glory fhines! We fee his army fet in juft array. And Boins dy’d waves run purple to the Sea. Nor Simois choak’d with men, and arms, and blood * Nor rapid Xanthui celebrated flood. Shall longer be the Poet’s higbeft themes* Tho’ gods and heroes fought promifcuous in their ftreams But now, to NaJ/aus fecret councils rais’d, He aids the Hero, whom before he prais’d . Poems on fever al Occafons. 45 Tve done at length; and now, dear Friend, receive The laft poor prefent that my Mufe can give . I leave the arts of poetry and verfs To them that prattife 'em voith more fuccefs . Of greater truths Til novo prepare to telly And fo at once } dear Friend and Mufe, farevoeL 1 ' LETTERA Poems o% ft r ocY&l Qcc&fious• LETTERA SCRITTA D'If ALIA AL MOLTO ONORABILE CARLO Conte HALIFAX 1 Dal Signore Giuseppe Addison V Anno MDCCI. In Verfi Ingle ft.) e tradotta in versi toscani.* Safot magna farms frugum Saturnia tellus , Magna JVI £ Ji Britannia dagli Ufici toltovi J\ r on fiu, cF a fuoi ingrati Figli fiaccia Per lor < vantaggio, *vo/ro ozio immolate i Mein ejleri Regni il Fato in via Entro genti fecor.de in carmi eterjii , U la dolce Jlagion, el -vago Clima fanno , che voftra quiete in verfe io. turbi. Ovunqut * By the Abbot Anton. Maiia Salvini Gr^Pr*/#r at Flo¬ rence, Poems on federal Occapons * 4£ A LETTER from ITALY,\ Tq the Right Honourable Charles Lord Halifax, In the Year MDCCL Sal-ve magna parens frugum Saturnia iellus, Magna "Arum ! tibi res antique laudis & artis Aggredm't fandlos aufus recludere fontss. Virg. Geor. 2 » W HILE you, my Lord, the rural lhades admire. And from Britannia s publick polls retire. Nor longer, her ungrateful fons to pleafe, For their advantage facrifke your eafe ; Me into foreign realms my fate conveys. Through nations fruitful of immortal lays. Where the foft feafon and inviting clime Confpire to trouble your repofe with rhime. For Poems on feveral Occafions ; Ovunque io giri i miei rapid lumi, Scene auree, liete, e cbiare vijle inalzanfi, Attorriianmi Tosdche Campagne , Tarmi ognor di calcar dajfico fuolo j Si fovente ivi Mufa accord 0 PArpa, Che non cant at o niun colie forgevi, Cehbre in verfi ivi ogni pianta cref :e> E in celefle armonia ciafcun rio corre. Come mi giova a cercar poggi, e h of chi Ter chiare fonti } e celehrati fiumi„ Alla Nera veder fiera in fuo cor Jo Tracciar Clitumno chiaro in fua for genre,- Veder cmdur fua fchiera dPacque il Mincio Per lunghi girt di feconda ripa, E d’Albula canuta il guado infetto Suo caldo 1st to di fumante fclfo. Di mille efiafi accefo io foprdveggio Correre il To per praterie fiorite De Fiumi Re, che fovra i pian fcorrendo, Le torreggianti Alpi in natia tmraglia Della met a di loro tmore afciuga: Superho, e gonfio dell ’ hiberne nevi V abbondanaa comp arte ov egli corre,. Talor fmarrito dal drappel fonoro 1 rii rimiro immortaiad in canto , Che giaccionfi in filenzjo, e obblio per dudj (Mutt i lor fond Jon , fecche lor vene) ~ " x Poems on federal Occafions. For wherefoe’er I turn my ravifh’d eyes, Gay gilded fcenes and fhining profpedls rife, Poetick fields encompafs me around, And kill I Teem to tread on Claflic ground; For here the Mufe fo oft her Harp has ftrung, That not a mountain rears its head unfung, Renown’d in verfe each fhady thicket grows. And ev’ry dream in heavenly numbers flows. Flow am I pleas’d to fearch the hills and woods For riling fprings and celebrated floods! To view the Nar , tumultuous in his courfe. And trace the fmooth Clitumnus to his fource. To fee the Mincio draw his watry ftore Through the long windings of a fruitful fhore. And hoary Albula s infedted tide O’er the warm bed of fmoaking fulphur glide. Fir’d with a thoufand raptures I furvey Eridanus through flowery meadows ftray. The king of floods ! that rolling o’er the plains — The towering Alps of half their moifture arains. And proudly fwoln with a whole winter’s fnows, Diflributes wealth and plenty where he flows. Sometimes, mifguided by the tuneful throng, I look for firearm immortaliz’d in fong, That loft in filence and oblivion lye, (Dumb are their fountains and their channels ary) 45 Poems on fever al Occaftom pur, per fenno di Mufe, el fon perenni, Per mormorio perenne In ter ft car mi. Talora al gen til Tebro to ml ritbo, Le vote ripe del gran Flume ammiro, Che privo di poter fuo corfo tragge D'una gretta ur -a, e jierile forgente ; Pur fuona n ne le bocche de Poeti, Slcche ’l mlro al Danubio, e al Nil far fc.rno Cost Mu fa immortde in a’to il leva. Tal' era il Bom povero, ignobil fiume,) Che nelle Hlberne va'li ofeuro errava, ■ E inojfnvato in fu i girt fcherzava. Qpuando per Vofiri Verfi, p per U Spada Di Nafso, rino ato, l orde fie Levate in ato pel Mon do rifuo ano Ovunque dello Erce le divin ’ opre, E ove andrd fama d immortal verfo , Oh /’ ejlatico mio petto infpirajfe Mu fa con un furor fimile al vofiro ! Infinite bel ezz'> avrh l mio verfo, Cederia di Virgilio a quel l' Italia . Mu a quad aree felve at tor no ridonmi > Che delli tempefiofa di Britannia lfola si ne fchivano la cofia , O trapiantate 7 e c n pe/tfier guardate Maledtcon la fredda Regime, < E nell aria del Norte illanguidifcono . Calor dolor il montante umor ne ■ lievita A nobil gufti, e pin efaltati odorL Poems on feveral Occafions . 47 Yet run for ever by the Mufe’s skill, And in the fmooth defcription murmur Hill. Sometimes to gentle Tiler I retire, And the fam’d river’s Empty ftiores admire. That deftitute of ftrength derives its courfe From thrifty urns and an unfruitful fource; Yet fung. fo often in poetick lays, With fcorn the Danube and the.M/, e SuA compartono, I rift di Natura, e i vezzi d'A tie, Mentre altiera Opprrjfton regna in fue Vai i, E Tirannia fuoi Plan jelici ufivga t Poems on-federal Occafions . fi In folemn fi’ence, a majcftick band. Heroes, and Gods, and Roman Confu’s (land. Stern tyrants, whom their cruelties renown, And emperors in Parian marble frown; While the bright dames, to whom they humbly fu’d. Still fhow the charms that their proud hearts fubdu’d. Fain would I Raphael's godlike art rehearfe. And (how th’ immortal labours in my verfe. Where from the mingled flrength ot (hade and light A new creation rifes to my fight. Such heav’nly figures from his pencil flow. So warm with life his blended colours glow. From theme to theme with fecret pleafure tod, Amidfl the foft variety I’m loft: Here pleating airs my ravifht foul confound With circling notes and labyrinths of found; Here domes and temples rile in diftant views. And opening palaces invite my Mufe. How has kind heav’n adorn’d the happy land. And fcatter’d blefhngs with a waiieful hand ! But W'hat avail her unexhauited ftores, Her blooming mountains, and her funny fhores, With all the gifts that heav’n and earth impart. The fmiles of nature, and the charms of art, While proud OpprefTion in her vallies reigns. And Tyranny ufurps her happy plains ? The f z Poems on feveral Occafions ll povreo Abitante mira indarno jl roffeggiante Arancto , e ’l pingue Grano, Crefcer dolente ei mira ed oil, e vini, E de mirti odorar iombra ft fdegna, Jn mezzo alia Bontd de la Natura Maledetto Imguifce, e dentro a cariche Di vino vigne muore per la fete. O Liberia, o Lea Celefte, e Be'la! Di ben profufa, e pregna di diletto Piaceri eterni te pref >nte regnario. Guida tuo gaio tren Beta dovizia Vien ml fuo pefo Suggezion put lieve; Poverta fembra al’egra in tua veduta ; Fat di Natura il vifo of euro gaio 5 Don't al Sole bellezza , al giorno gicia. Te Dea, te la Britannia Ifola adora, Come ha fovente ella ogni ben fuo efaufloj E fpejfo t ha di morte in campi cerco ! Niuno penfa il tuo poffente pregio A troppo caro prezzo offer comprato. Puo fopra efler 't monti il Sole i grappoli Per dolce fugo maturdre a vino 5 Di befehi di cedrati ornare il fuclo , Gonfiar la grajfa diva in flutti d olio j IS on invidiamo il pin fervente Clima Dell' Etere piu dolce in died gradi; Di noflro del maledizion non duolmi , JSe a Noi in capo Pteiadi ghiacciate, Poems on feveral Occajions. The poor inhabitant beholds in vain The red’ning Orange and the fweiling grain : Joylefs he fees the growing Oils and Wines, And in the Myrtle’s fragrant fhade repines: Starves, in the midd of nature’s bounty curd. And in the loaden vineyard dies for third. Oh Liberty, thou Goddefs heavenly bright,’ Profufe of blifs, and pregnant with delight! Eternal pleafures in thy prefence reign. And fmiling Plenty leads thy wanton train ; Eas’d of her load Subjection grows more light. And Poverty looks chearful in thy light; Thou mak’d the gloomy face of Nature gay, Giv’d beauty to the Sun, and pleafure to the Day. * • . Thee, Goddefs, thee, Britannia s Ille adores; How has (he oft exhauded all her dores, How oft in fields of death thy prefence fought, Nor thinks the mighty prize too dearly bought! Gn foreign mountains may the Sun refine The Grape’s foft juice, and mellow it to wine. With Citron groves adorn a didant foil. And the fat Olive fwell with floods of oil: We envy not the warmer clime, that lies In ten degrees of more indulgent skies. Nor at the coarfenefs of our heaven repine, j Tho’ o’er our heads the frozen Pleiads fhine : V o l. I. E f4 Poems on federal Qccajtons. Ct rona'Liberta la Britann ’ Ifola, E fa fue fteril biancke rupi rider e. * Le torreggmnti Moli altrui di’.ettino, E le fuperbe ambiuofe Cup olo 3 Vn gentil colpo a una vil tela dare , Od infegnar Saffi animati a vivere. D'Europa ful deflin vegliar Britannia Ha cur ay e biianciar gli Emuli Stati ; Hi oucrra minacciare arcliti Regi ; Hegli afflitti Vicini udire i prghi. Hano, e Sueco attaccati in fiere AlUrme Hi lor armi pietofe benedicono La prudwte Condotta 3 e ’/ buon Governo. Eefto che poi le noftre Flotte appaiono, Cefj'ano tutti i lor fpaventi, e in Pace Tutto il Setteotrional Mondo ft giace . • I.'ambiziofo Gallo con fegreto Tretnito vede alt * afpirante fua q'efla tnirar di lei il Gran 1 onante 3 E volentieri i fuoi divini Figli Voneble dijuniti per ft rani ero Oro, o pur }er d meftica contefa. Ma acquiftare, o dividers in van provafty Cut Carm^di Nafso, dl fenno guida. Hel norm acceft, cui fovente ho trove Femoti Climb t Ihgue rifonare. Con per.a imbriglio rnia lottante Mufa 3 Che ama lanchrft in pin ardita provM. Poems on fever al Occafions . f f Tis Liberty that crowns Britannia's Ifle, And makes her barren rocks and her bleak mountains [fmile. Others with towering piles may pleafe the fight, And in their proud afpiring domes delight; A nicer touch to the flretcht canvas give.. Or reach their animated rocks to live: *Tis Britain's care to watch o’er Europe's fate. And hold in balance each contending hate, Fo threaten bold prefumptuous kings with war. And anfwer her afflidled neighbours’ Pray’r. The Dane and Swede, rous’d up by fierce alarms, Blefs the wife condutt of her pious arms : Soon as her fleets appear, their terrors ceafe. And all the northern world lies hufh’d in peace. . Th’ ambitious Gaul beholds with fecret dread Her thunder aim’d at his afpiring head. And fain her godlike fons wou’d difunite By foreign. gold, or by domeflick fpite ; But flrives in vain to conquer or divide. Whom NaJJau's arms defend and counfels guide. Fir’d with the name, which I fo oft have found The diftant climes and different tongues refound, I bridle in my ftrugling Mufe with pain. That longs to launch into a bolder flrain. E 2 But Poems on fever al Occafions, Ma to di gin howi turbato ajfai, %\c tentar op un pin fublitno Canto. piU dolce Them* il hap verfo cbiedemi, Tioriti pratt, o gorgoglianti riv't, Malproprio per gli Eroi: che i Carmi eierni Gjual di Virgilio , o Vojtri onorar debbone. Poems on feveral Gccaftons . f/ But I’ve already troubled you too long Nor dare attempt a more advent’rous fong. My humble verfe demands a fofter theme, A painted meadow, or a purling ftream; Unfit for Heroes; whom immortal lays, And lines like Virgil's, or like yours, fiiou'd praife. > , . ' V E 3 MiJton’i Poms on feveral Occafions . Milton ’s Style imitated , in a Tranflation of a Story out of the Third iEneid. % ~|~ O S T in the gloomy horror of the night We flruck upon the coafl where JEtna lies. Horrid and walle, its entrails fraught with fire. That now calls out dark fumes and pitchy clouds, Vaft fhowers of alhes hov’ring in the fmoke } New belches molten Hones and ruddy flame Incenfi, or tears up mountains by the roots. Or flings a broken rock aloft in air. The bottom works with fmother’d fire, involv’d In peflilential vapours, flench and fmoke. *Tis faid, that thunder-ftruck Encelddus Groveling beneath th’incumbent mountain’s weight Lies flretch’d fupine, eternal prey of flames; And when he heaves againft the burning load, Relu&ant, to invert his broiling limbs, A fudden earthquake fhoots through all the Ifle, And Etna thunders dreadful under ground, Then pours out fmoke in wreathing curls convolv’d. And fliades the Sun’s bright orb, and blots out Day. Here Poems on feveral Occafions . Here in the fhelter of the woods we lodg’d, And frighted heard ftrange founds ard difmal yells. Nor faw from whence they came; for all the night A murky ftorm deep louring o’er our heads Hung imminent, that with impervious gloom Oppos’d itfelf to Cynthia & filver ray. And fliaded all beneath. But now the Sun With orient beams had chas’d the dewy night From earth and heav’n ; all nature flood difclos’d ; When looking on the neighb’ring woods we faw .The ghaflly vifage of a man unknown, An uncouth feature, meagre, pale, and wild * Affliction’s foul and terrible difmay Sate in his looks, his face impair’d and worn With marks of famine, fpeaking fore diftrefs; His locks were tangled, and his lhaggy beard Matted with filth; in all things elfe a Greek . He firfi advanc’d in hade; but when he faw Trojans and Trojan arms, in mid career Stopt ihort, he back recoil’d as one furpriz’d: But foon recovering fpeed, he ran, he flew Precipitant, and thus with piteous cries Our ears aflail’d: “ By heav’ns eternal fires, “ By ev’ry God that fits enthron’d on high, “ By this good light, relieve a wretch forlorn, “ And bear me hence to any diflant fhore, “ So I may Hum this favage race accurft. E 4 “ 6o Poems on fevered Occafions . “ ’Tis true I fought among the Greeks that late “ With fvvord and fire overturn’d Neptunian Troy, “ And laid the labour of the Gods in duft ; “ For which, if fo the fad offence deferves, <£ Plung’d in the deep, for ever let me lie “ Whelm’d under feas; if death mufl be my doom, • “ Let Man inflict it, and I die well-pleas’d. He ended here, and now profufe of tears In fuppliant mood fell proftrate at our feet: We bade him fpeak from whence, and what he WHS, And how by ftrefs of fortune funk thus low j Anchifes too with friendly afpedt mild Gave him his hand, fure pledge of amity ; When, thus encourag’d, he began his tale. I’m one, fays he, of poor defeent, my name Is Achremenides , my country Greece, Vlyjfes fad compeer, who, whilft he fled The raging Cyclops , left me here behind Difconfolate, forlorn ; within the cave He left me, giant Polypheme 's dark cave; A dungeon wide and horrible, the walls On all fides furr’d with mouldy damps, and hung With clots of ropy gore, and human limbs, His dire repaft: himfelf of mighty fize, Hoarfe in his voice, and in his vifage grim, Intradiable, that riots on the flefh . Of Poems on federal Occafions . 61 Of mortal Men, and fwills the vital blood. Him did I fee fnatch up with horrid grafp Two fprawling Greeks, in either hand a man: I faw him when with huge tempeftuous fway He dafht and broke ’em on the grundfil edge; The pavement fvvam in blood, the walls around Were fpatter’d o’er with brains. He lapt the blood,. And chew’d the tender flefti ft ill warm with life. That fvvell’d and heav’d it felf amidft his teeth As fenfible of pain. Not lefs mean-while Our Chief incens’d, and ftudious of revenge. Plots his deftrudion, which he thus efFeas. The giant, gorg’d with flefti, and wine, and bloody Lay ftretcht at length and fnoring in his den. Belching raw gobbets from his maw, o er~Ciiarg-~d With purple wine and cruddled gore confufed* We gather’d round, and to his fingle eye. The fingle eye that in his forehead glar’d Like a full moon, or a broad burnilh’d ftiield, A forky ftaffwe dext’roufty apply’d, Which, in .the fpacious focket turning round, Sc6opt out the big round gelly from its orb. But let me not thus interpofe delays; Fly, mortals, fly this curft dete.-ed race. A hundred of the fame ftupendous fize, A hundred Cyclops live among the hiLs, Gigantick brotherhood, that ftalk amng With horrid, ftrides o’er the high mountains tops, £ ~ Enormous.. 6t Poems on feveral Occafions* Enormous in their gait ; I oft have heard Their voice and tread, oft feen ’em as they paft, Sculking and fcowring down, half dead with fear. Thrice has the Moon wafh’d all her orb in light. Thrice traveli’d o'er, in her obfcure fojourn. The realms of Night inglorious, fmce I’ve liv’d Amidft thefe woods, gleaning-from thorns and Ihrubs A wretched fuflenance. As thus he fpoke. We faw defcending from a neighb’ring hill Blind Polypheme; by weary Heps and flow The groping giant with a trunk of Pine Explor’d his way; around, his woolly flocks Attended grazing ; to the well-known fliore He bent his courfe, and on the margin flood* A hideous monfter, terrible, deform’d; Full in the midft of his high front there gap’d The fpacious hollow where his eye-ball roll’d, A ghaflly orifice; he rins’d the wound. And wafli’d away the firings and clotted blood That cak’d within ; then flalking through the deep He fords the ocean, while the topmoft wave Scarce reaches up his.middle fide; we flood Amaz'd be fure, a fudden horror chill Ran through each nerve, and thrill’d in ev’ry vein, ’Till ufing all the force of winds and oars We fped away; he heard us in our courfe. And with his out-flretch’d arms around him grop’d. But finding nought within his reach, he rais’d Such Poems on feveral Occafions. 6 3 Such hideous Ihouts that all the ocean fhook. Ev’n Italy , tho’ many a league remote, In diftant echo’s anfwer’d ; JEtna roar’d. Through all its inmoft winding caverns roar’d. Rous’d with the found, the mighty family Of one-ey’d brothers haften to the fhore. And gather round the bellowing 1 Polypheme t A dire aflembly s we with eager hade Work ev’ry one, and from afar behold A hod of giants covering all the Ihore. So dands a fored tall of mountain oaks Advanc’d to mighty growth : the traveller Hears from the humble valley where he rides The hollow murmurs of the winds that blow Amidd the boughs, and at the didance fees The fha’dy tops of trees unnumber’d rife, A dately profpeft, waving in the clouds, j T H E ‘ •- * I . V. ♦ V w \»i y i • ' :■ . ; < ' ' ■ ' »i' " ■; i ■: ' yT: : \ ■ 1 . f . {p*. J . r . -J . ■ s 1 THE \ CAMTAIG N, A *i • * POEM, T o His GRACE the DUKE of MARLBOROUGH . - -- ■ Rheni pacator et Iftri. Omnis in hoc JJno varus difcordia ccjfit Ordinibus; Utatur Eqnes, plauditque Senator, Votaque Patricio cert ant Plebeia favor i. Claud, de Laud. Stilic. EJfe aliquam in tents gentem qua fud impenfd > fuo la- bore ac perieulo be'lla gerat pro libertate aliorum „ Nec hoc finitimis , ant propinqua vicinitatis hominibus , aut terris cohtinenti jmttis pr&ftet . Maria trajiciat ; ne quod toto orbe terrarum injujlum impermm fit, et ubiquejusffasj, lex,potentijfmafnt. Liy. Hift. lib. 3 3. I % 4 \ 'x *1 \ "Vs x r* k \ Poems on feveral Occafions. 6j THE CAMPAIGN, A P O E M. TTT'HILE crouds of Princes your deferts proclaim, * ' Proud in their number to enroll your name; While Emperors to you commit their caufe. And AN NJ's praifes crown the vaft applaufe; Accept, great leader, what the Mufe recites,. That in ambitious verfe attempts your fights, Fir'd and tranfported with a theme fo new. Ten thoufand wonders op’ning to my view Shine forth at once; fieges and ftorms appear. And war3 and conquers fill th’important year. Rivers of blood I lee, and hills of flain. An Iliad riling out of One campaign. The haughty Gaul beheld, with tow’ring pride, His ancient bounds enlarg’d on ev’ry fide, Pyrenes lofty barriers were fubdu’d. And in the midft of his wide empire ftood ; Aufonids r 68 Poems on federal Occafions . • ( Aufonias ftates, the vittor to reftrain, Oppos’d their Alpes and Apennines in vain, Nor found themfelves, with ftrength of rocks immur’d, Behind their everlafting hills fecur’d; The rifing Danube its long race began, And half its courfe through the new conquefts ran; Amaz’d and anxious for her Sovereign’s fates, Germania trembled through a hundred ftates; Great Leopold himfelf was feiz’d with fear ; He gaz’d around, but faw no fuccour near ; He gaz’d, and half abandon’d to defpair His hopes on heav’n, and confidence in pray’r. To Britain's Queen the Nations turn their eyes. On her refolves the weftern world relies. Confiding ftill, amidft its dire alarms, In ANNA's councils, and in Churchill’s arms* Thrice happy Britain, from the kingdoms rent. To fit the guardian of the continent! That fees her braveft fon advanc'd fo high, And fiouriftnng fo near her Prince’s eye ; Thy fav’rites grow not up by fortune’s fport, Or from the crimes, or follies of a court* On the firm bafis of defert they rife. From long-try’d faith, and friendfhip’s holy tyes: Their Sovereign’s well-diftinguifh’d fmiles they (hare. Her ornaments in peace, her ftrength in wars The Poems on feveral Occafions. 69 The nation thanks them with a publick voice, By ftiow’rs of bleflings heaven approves their choice; Envy it felf is dumb, in wonder loft, And factions flrive who ftiall applaud ’em moft. Soon as foft venal breezes warm the sky, Britannia's colours in the zephyrs fly > Her Chief already has his march begun, Crofting the provinces himfelf had won, ’Till the Mofelle , appearing from afar. Retards the progrefs of the moving war. Delightful ft ream, had Nature bid her fall In diftant climes, far from the perjur’d Gaul i But now a purchafe to the fword fhe lies, Her harvefts for uncertain owners rife. Each vineyard doubtful of its mailer grows, • And to the vigor’s bowl each vintage flows. The difcontented fhades of flaughter’d hofts, That wander’d on her banks, her heroes ghofts Hope’d, when they favv Britannia's arms appear. The vengeance due to their great deaths was near. Our god-like leader, ere the ftream he part. The mighty fcheme of all his labours caft. Forming the wond’rous year within his thought; His bofom glow’d with battles yet unfought. The long laborious march he firft furveys. And joins the diftant Danube to the Maefe , Between jo Poems • on federal Occafions. Between whofe floods fuch pathlefs forefls grow. Such mountains rife. To many rivers flow : The toil locks lovely in the heroe’s eyes, And danger ferves but to enhance the prize. ' ~ Big with the fate of Europe , he renews His dreadful courfe, and the proud foe purfues: Infe&ed by the burning Scorpion’s heat. The fultry gales round his chaf’d temples beat, ’Till on the borders of the Maine he finds Defenfive fhadows, and refirelhing winds. Our Britijh youth, with in-born freedom bold, Unnumber’d fcenes of fervitude behold, Nations of flaves, with tyranny debas’d, (Their maker’s image more than half defac’d) Hourly inftrudted, as they urge their toil, To prize their Queen, and love their native foil. Still to the riling- Sun they take their way Through clouds of dull, and gain upon the day* When now the Neckar on its friendly coaft With cooling flreams revives the fainting hoft. That chearfully his labours paft forgets. The midnight watches, and the noon day heats. f O’er proftrate towns and palaces they pafs, (Now cover’d o’er with woods, and hid in grafs} Breathing Poems on fever al Occafiom . 7* Breathing revenge; whilft anger and difdain Fire ev’ry bread, and boil in ev’ry vein: Here fnatter’d walls, like broken rocks, from far Rife up in hideous views, the guilt of war, Whrlft here the Vine o’er hills of r.uine climbs, Induilrious to conceal great Bourbon' s crimes. At length the fame of England's hero drew Eugenio to the glorious interview. Great fouls by inflinft to each other turn, Demand alliance, and in friendlhip burn ; A fudden friendlhip, while with ftretch d-out rayo They meet each other, mingling blaze with biaze* Polilh’d in courts, and harden’d in the field, Renown’d for ccnqued, and in council skill d, Their courage dwells not in a troubled flood Of mounting fpirits, and fermenting blood; Lodg’d in the foul, with virtue over-rul’d. Inflam’d by reafon, and by reafon cool’d. In hours of peace content to be unknown, ' And only in the field of battel Ihown: To fouls like thefe, in mutual friendlhip join’d* Heaven dares cntrufl the caufe of human kind. Britannia's graceful fons appear in arms, Her harras’d troops the heroe’s prefence warms, Whilft the high hills and rivers all around With thund’ring peals of Britijb fhouts refound . Doubling ji Poems on feveral Occafions . Doubling their fpeed they march with frelh delight, Eager for glory, and require the fight. So the ftanch Hound the trembling Deer purfues, And fmells his footfteps in the tainted dews, The tedious track unrav’iing by degrees: But when the fcent comes warm in ev’ry breeze. Fir’d at the near-approach, he fhoots away On his full ftretch, and bears upon his prey. * The march concludes, the various realms are paft, Th’immortal Scbellcnberg appears at laft: Like hills th’ afpiring ramparts rife on high. Like vallies at their feet the trenches lie $ Batt’ries on batt’ries guard each fatal pafs, Threat’ning deftrudlion; rows.of hollow brafs, Tube behind tube, the dreadful entrance keep, Whilft in their wombs ten thoufand thunders fleep: Great Churchill owns, charm’d with the glorious fight. His march o’er-paid by fuch a promis’d fight. i . , The weftern Sun now fhot a feeble ray, And faintly fcatter’d the remains of day, Ev’ning approach’d; but oh what holt of foes Were never to behold that evening clofe ! Thick’ning their ranks, and wedg’d in firm array. The clofe compared Britons win their way ; In vain the cannon their throng’d war defac’d With trails of death, and laid the battel wafte ; Still 75 Poems on federal Occafions. Still prefling forward to the fight, they broke, Through flames of fulphur, and a night of fmoke, ’Till flaughter’d legions fill’d the trench below. And bore their fierce avenger to the foe. High on the works the mingling hofts engage; The battel kindled into tenfold rage With fliow’rs of bullets and with Itorms of fire i Burns in full fury; heaps on heaps expire. Nations with nations mix’d confus’dly die, And loft in one promifcuous carnage lie. How many gen’rous Britons meet their doom. New to the field, and heroes in the bloom! Th’ illuftrious youths, that left their native fliore To march where Britons never march’d before, (O fatal love of fame! O glorious heat Only deflru&ive to the brave and great!) After fuch toils o’ercome, fuch dangers paft. Stretch’d on Bavarian ramparts breathe their lalk But hold, my Mufe, may no complaints appear. Nor blot the day with an ungrateful tear : While Marlbro lives Britannia 1 s ftars difpenfe * A friendly light, and lhine in innocence. Plunging thro’ feas of blood his fiery fteed Where-e’er his friends retire, or foes fucceed; Thofe he fupports, thefe drives to fudden flight. And turns the various fortune of the fight. Forbear, 74 Poems on feveral Occafions . Forbear, great man, renown’d in arms, forbear To brave the thickefl: terrors of the war. Nor hazard thus, confus’d in crouds of foes, Britannia s fafety, and the world’s repofe; Let nations anxious for thy life abate This fcorn of danger, and contempt of fate: Thou liv’d not for thy felf ; thy Queen demands Conqueft and peace from thy victorious hands; Kingdoms and empires in thy fortune join. And Europe's deftiny depends on thine. At length the long-difputed pafs they gain. By crouded armies fortify’d in vain; The war breaks in, the fierce Bavarians yield. And fee their cam*p with Britijh legions fill’d. So Belgian mounds bear on their fhatter’d fides The fea’s whole weight encreas’d with fwelling tides } But if the rufhing wave a paflage finds, Enrag’d by wat’ry moons, and warring winds. The trembling Peafant fees his country round Cover’d with tempefts, and in oceans drown’d. The few.furviving foes difperft in flight, (Refiire^of fwords, and gleanings of a fight) In ev’ry rufsling wind the victor hear, And Marlbro’s form in ev’ry Ihadow fear, ’Till the dark cope of night with kind embrace Befriends the rout, and covers their difgrace* To Poems on feveral Occafions. To Donavuert, with unrefifted force, "The gay victorious army bends its courfe. The growth of meadows, and the pride of fields, Whatever fpoils Bavaria s fummer yields, (The Danube's great increafe) Britannia (hares, . The food of armies and fiipport of wars : With magazines of death, deftruCtive balls. And cannon doom’d to batter Landau's walls. The viCtor finds each hidden cavern ftor’d, A lid turns their fury on their guilty Lord. ' Deluded Prince! how is thy greatnefs croft. And all the gaudy dream of empire loft. That proudly fet thee on a fancy’d throne, And made imaginary realms thy own! Thy troops, that now behind the Danube join. Shall fhortly feek for (belter from the Rhine , Nor find it there : Surrounded with alarms, Thou hope’ft th’ aififtance of the Gallic arms; The Gallic arms in fafety (hall advance. And croud thy ftandards with the power of France While to exalt thy doom, th’afpiring Gaul Shares thy deftruCtion, and adorns thy fall. 4 Unbounded courage and compafiion join’d, Temp’ring each other in the victor’s mind. Alternately proclaim him good and great, And make the Hero and the Man compleat. 7S Long 67 Poems on fevered Occafions . Long did he ftrive th’obdurate foe to gain By proffer’d grace, but long he ftrove in vain ; ’Till fir’d at length he thinks it vain to (pare His rifing wrath, and gives a loofe to war. In vengeance rous’d the foldier fills his hand With fword and fire, and ravages the land, A thoufand villages to afhes turns, In crackling flames a thoufand harvefts burns." To the thick woods the woolly flocks retreat. And mixt with bellowing herds confus’dly bleat; Their trembling lords the common fhade partake. And cries of infants found in ev’ry brake: The lifl’ning foldier fixt in forrow Hands, Loth to obey his leader’s juft commands; The leader grieves, by gen’rous pity fway’d. To fee his juft commands fo well obey’d. But now the trumpet terrible from far In fhriller clangors animates the war, Confed’rate drums in fuller confort beat, And echoing hills the loud alarm repeat: Gallia % proud ftandards, to Bavaria's join’d. Unfurl their gilded Lillies in the wind; The daring Prince his blafted hopes renews. And while the thick embattled hoft he views Stretcht out in deep array, and dreadful length. His heart dilates, and glories in his ftrength. The 77 Poems on federal Occafions . The fatal day its mighty courfe began. That the griev’d world had long defir’d in vain : States that their new captivity bemoan’d, Armies of martyrs that in exile groan’d. Sighs from the depth of gloomy dungeons heard. And prayers in bitternefs of foul prefer d, Europe* loud cries, that Providence avail’d. And ANNA'* ardent vows at length prevail’d; The day was come when Heav’n deflgn’d to Ihovv His care and conduct of the word below. Behold in awful march and dread array T. he long-extended fquadrons lhape their way ! Death, in approaching terrible, imparts An anxious horrour to the bra veil hearts; Yet do their beating breads demand the drife. And third of glory quells the love of life. No vulgar fears can Britijb minds controul: Heat of revenge, and noble pride of foul O’er-look the foe, advantag’d by his pod, Lelfen his numbers, and contrail his hod: Tho’ fens and floods poflefl the middle fpace, That unprovok’d they would have fear’d to pafs; Nor fens nor floods can flop Britannia 's bands. When her proud foe rang’d on their borders dands. But O, my Mufe, what numbers wilt thou find To fing the furious troops in battel join’d ! V©l. I. F Methinks 7 8 Poems on federal Occafions. I Methinks I hear the drum's tumultuous found The viftdr’s Ihouts and dying groans confound. The dreadful burh of cannon rend the skies, And all the thunder of the Battel rife. ’Twas then great Marlero’s mighty foul was prov’d. That, in the (hock of charging holts unmov’d, Arnidft confufion, horror, and defpair. Examin’d all the dreadful fcenes of war: In peaceful thought the field of death furvey’d. To fainting fquadrons fent the timely aid, Infpir’d repuls’d battalions to engage. And taught the doubtful battel where to rage. So when an Angel by divine command With riling tempells lhakes a guilty land. Such as of late o’er pale Britannia pall. Calm and ferene he drives the. furious blall; And, pleas’d th’ Almighty’s orders to perform, Tides in the whirl-wind, and directs the Itorm. But fee the haughty houlhold-troops advance ! The dread of Europe , and the pride of France. The war’s whole art each private foldier knows. And with a Gen’ral’s love of conqueft glows j Proudly he marches on, and void of fear Laughs at the lhaking of the Britijh fpear : Vain infolence! with native freedom brave The meaneft Briton fcorns the higheft Have; Contempt Poems on feveral Occafions. 79 Contempt and fury., fire their fouls by turns. Each nation’s glory in each warriour burns. Each lights, as in his arm th’ important day And ali the fate o t his great monarch lay : A thoufand glorious adtions, that might claim Triumphant laurels, and immortal fame. Confus’d in crouds of glorious adtions lie. And troops of heroes undillinguilh’d die. O Dormer , how can I behold thy fate. And not the wonders of thy youth relate ? How can I fee the gay, the brave, the young. Fall in the cloud of war, and lie unfung ! In joys of conqueil he refigns his breath. And, fill’d with England's glory, fmiies in death. The rout begins, the Gallic fquadrons run, Compell’d in crouds to meet the fate they lhun; Thoufands of fiery Heeds with wounds transfix’d. Floating in gore, with their dead mailers mixt, Midi! heaps of fpears and ftandards driv’n around. Lie in the Danube's bloody whirl pools drown’d. Troops of bold youths, born on the dillant Soane , Or founding borders of the rapid Rhone , Or where the Seine her flow’ry fields divides, Or where the Loire through winding vineyards glides, In heaps the rolling billows fweep away, And into Scythian feas their bloated corps convey. F 2 From So Poems on feveral Occafions . .From Bleinheims tow’rs the Gaul , with wild afFright, Beholds the various havock of the light; His waving banners, that fo oft had flood Planted in fields of death, aud flreams of blood. So wont the guarded enemy to reach, And rife triumphant in the fatal breach. Or pierce the broken foe’s remoteft lines, The hardy veteran with tears refigns. Unfortunate Mallard! Oh who can name The pangs of rage, of forrow, and of fhame, That with mixt tumult in thy bofom fwell’d, When flrfl thou faw’ft thy bravefl troops repell’d, Thine only fon pierc’d with a deadly wound,, Choak’d in his blood, and gafping on the ground. Thy ‘felf in bondage by the vi&or kept! The Chief, the Father, and the Captive wept. An Englijh Mule is touch’d with gen’rous woe. And in th’ unhappy man forgets the foe. Greatly diflrefl ! thy loud complaints forbear. Blame not the turns of fate, and chance of war; Give thy brave foes their due, nor blufli to own The fatal held by fuch great leaders won. The held whence fam’d Eugenio bore away Only.the fecond honours of the day. With floods of gore that from the vanquiiht fell The marlhes flagnate, and the rivers fwell. Mountains Poems on feveral Occafions. 8r Mountains of flain lie heap’d upon the ground. Or ’midfl the roarings of the Danube drown’d i Whole captive hofls the conqueror detains In painful bondage, and inglorious chains; Ev’n thofe who ’fcape the fetters and the fword, Nor feek the fortunes of a happier lord,, Their raging King dithonours, to compleat Ma rlbro’s great work, and finifli the defeat. From Memmingben s high domes, and Ausburg s walls, The diftant battel drives th’infulting Gauls , Free'd by the terror of the vigor’s name The refcu’d hates his great protedion claim ; Whilft Ulme th’ approach of her deliverer waits. And longs to open her obfequious gates. The Hero’s break hill fwells with great defigns. In ev’ry thought the tow’ring genius fhines: If to the foe his dreadful courfe he bends, O’er the wide continent his march extends; If fieges in his lab’ring thoughts are form’d. Camps are aflaulted, and an army korm’d; If to the fight, his adive foul is bent, The fate of Europe turns on its event. What diftant land, what region can afford An adion worthy his vidorious fword: Where will he next the flying Gaul defeat. To make the feriesofhis toils compleat? Where Sz Poems on fever al Qccafions . Where the fwoln Rhine rufliing with all its force Divides the hoflile nations in its courfe. While each contrails its bounds, or wider grows Enlarg’d or draiten’d as the river flows. On Gallia's fide a mighty bulwark (lands. That all the wide extended plain commands; Twice, fince the war was kindled, has it try’d The vidor’s rage, and twice has chang’d its fide 3 As oft whole armies, with the prize o’erjoy’d, Have the long fummer on its walls employ’d. Hither our mighty Chief his arms directs. Hence future triumphs from the war experts; And, tho’ the dog-flar had its courfe begun. Carries his arms kill nearer to the Sun : Fixt on the glorious a&ion, he forgets The change of feafons, and increafe of heats: No toils are painful that can danger (how. No climes unlovely, that contain a foe. The roving Gaul , to his own bounds reftrain’d, Learns to encamp within his native land, But foon as the victorious hod he fpies. From hill to hill, from dream to dream he flies: Such dire impreffions in his heart remain Of Marlbro’s fword, and Hoc/let's fatal plain: In vain Britannia's mighty chief befets Their fhady coverts, and obfcure retreats; They fly the conqueror’s approaching fame. That bears the force of armies in his name. Auflria's Poems on feveral Occajions. 85 Aujlria s young monarch, whofe imperial {way Scepters and thrones are deftin’d to obey, Whofe boalted anceftry fo high extends That in the pagan gods hislineage ends, Comes from a-far, in gratitude to own The great fupporter of his father’s throne : What tides of glory to his bofom ran,. Clafp’d in th’embraces of the god like man! How were his eyes with pleafing wonder fixe To fee fuch. fire with fo much fweetnefs mixt. Such eafy greatnefs, fuch a graceful port, So turn’d and finifn’d for the camp or court! Achilles thus was form’d with ev’ry-grace, And Nireus {hone but in the fecond place; Thus the great father of Almighty Rome (Divinely flufht with an immortal bloom That Cytherea's fragrant breath bellow’d) In all the charms of his bright mother glow’d. The royal youth by Marlbro’s prefence charm’d, Taught by his counfels, by his actions warm’d. On Landau with redoubled fury falls, Difcharges all his thunder on its walls, O’er mines and caves of death provokes the fight. And learns to conquer in the Hero’s fight. The Britijb Chief, for mighty toils renown’d. Increas’d in titles, and with conquefls crown’d, F 4 . To 84 Poms on feveral Occafions . To Belgian coafts his tedious march renews. And the long windings of the Rhine purfues. Clearing its borders from ufurping foes. And bleft by refcu’d nations as he goes. Treves fears no more, free’d from its dire alarms; And Traerhacb feels the terror of his arms. Seated on rocks her proud foundations fhake, While Marlbro prefles to the bold attack, Plants all his batt’ries, bids his cannon roar, And fhows how Landau might have fall’n before. Scar’d at his near approach, great Louis fears Vengeance referv’d for his declining years, Forgets his thirft of univerfal fway. And fcarce can teach his fubjetts to obey; His arms he finds on vain attempts employ’d, Th’ ambitious projects for his race deftroy’d. The works of ages funk in One campaign. And lives of millions facrific’d in vain. Such are th’ effe&s of ANNA's royal cares: \ By her, Britannia , great in foreign wars, Ranges through nations, wherefoe’er disjoin’d, Without the wonted aid of fea and wind. By her th’ unfetter’d Ijler' s ftates are free. And take the fweets of Englijh liberty : But who can tell the joys of thofe that lie Beneath the conftant influence of her eye! Whilft in diffufive Ihow’rs her bounties fall Like heaven’s indulgence, and defcend on all. Secure Poems on fever al Occafions. 85 Secure the happy, fuccour the difireft. Make ev’ry fubjed glad, and a whole people bleft. Thus wou’d I fain Britannia $ wars rehearfe, * In the fmooth records of a faithful verfe; That, if fuch numbers can o’er time prevail. May tell pollerity the wond’rous tale. When adions, unadorn’d, are faint and weak. Cities and Countries muft be taught to fpeak j Gods may defcend in fadions from the skies. And rivers from their oozy beds arife; Fidion may deck the truth with fpurious rays, And round the Hero call a borrow’d blaze. Marlbro’s exploits appear divinely bright. And proudly fhine in their own native light; Rais’d of themfelves, their genuine charms they boaft,, And thofe who paint ’em tr.ueft praife ’em moil. R 0 S A MO NT>. A N O P E R A. I Infcribed to her GRACE the Dutchefs of MARLBOROUGH . * Jiic quos durus At*or crudeli tabe per edit Secreti celant Cables , et Myrtea circum Sylva tegit. Virg. ^n»6. Poems on federal Occafions. $9 A Copy of Verses in the Sixth Mifcellany,, T O T H E AUTHOR O F R 0 S A M 0 N D. • ■ ' ■ ■ Ne forte pudori Sit tibi Mufa Lyrce filers, et Cantor Apollo. By Mr . T I C K E L L. cjHE Opera frjl Italian mafers taught , Enrich'd with fongs , hut innocent of thought . Britannia’.* learned theatre difdains Melodious trijles, and enervate Jirains } And hlujhes on her injur'd Jlage to fee Nonfenfe well-tun d, and fweet fupidity. No charms are wanting to thy artful fong, Soft as Corelli, hut as Virgil frong , Front po Poems 071 feveral Occajions . From words fo fweet new grace the notes receive. And Mufick borrows helps, Jhe us'd to give. Fhy Jlyle hath match'd what ancient Romans knew, - I love thee fo I cannot go. Sir T R U S T Y. Fly from my pafiion, Beldame, fly ! GRIDELINE . Why fo unkind. Sir Trufy , why ? Sir joo ROSAMOND . Sir TRUST T. Thou’rt the plague of my life. GRIDELINE. I'm a foolilh, fond wife. Sir T R U S T Y. Let us part, Let us part. GRIDELINE . Will you break my poor heart ? Will you break my poor heart ? Sir T R U S T Y. I will if I can. GRIDELINE. O barbarous man ! From whence doth all this paflion flow? sir r r u s t r. Thou art ugly and old y And a njtllanous /cold. ' GRIDELINE. Thou art a rujlick to call me fo. Tm not ugly nor old , Nor a njWanOHS jcold , But thou art a rujlick to call me fo. Thou, Traitor, adieu ! Sir T R U S T Y. Farenvely thou Shrew ! GRIDELINE. Thou Traitor. Sir ROSAMOND. iox 5/rTRUST Y. Thou /brew* BOTH. Adieu ! Adieu ! [Exit Grid, sir r r u s rr t foius. How hard is our fate, Who ferve in the hate, And fhould lay out our cares On publick affairs; When conjugal toils. And family broils Make all our great labours mifcarry! Yet this is the lot Of him that has got Fair Rofamond 's bower. With the clew in his power. And is courted by all. Both the great and the fmall. As principal pimp to the mighty King Harry. But fee, the penfive fair draws near : I’ll at a diflance hand and hear. SCENE IV. ROSAMOND and Sir TRUSTY, ( ROSAMOND, From walk to walk, from (hade to (hade. From ftream to purling ftream convey 1, Vol. I, G Through 102 ROSAMOND . Through all the mazes of the grove, Through all the mingling tra&s I rove, Turning, Burning, Changing, Ranging, Full of grief and full of love. Impatient for my Lord’s return I ligh, I pine, I rave, I mourn. Was ever pafftion croft'd like mine ? To rend my breaf , And break my reft, A thoufand thoufand Ills combine . Abfence wounds me. Tear fturrounds me. Guilt confounds me. Was ever paffton crofts'd like mine? Sir T R u s r r. What heart of Hone Can hear her moan, And not in dumps fo doleful join ! ROSAMOND. How does my conllant grief deface The pleafures of this happy place ! In vain the fpring my fenfes greets In all her colours, all her fweets; To me the Rofe No longer glows. [Apart. Every R 0 S A M 0 N D. 103 Every plant Has loft his fcent : The vernal blooms of various hue. The blofloms frelh with morning dew. The breeze, that fweeps thefe fragrant bowers. Fill’d with the breath of op’ning flow’rs, Purple fcenes. Winding greens. Glooms inviting, Birds delighting, {Nature’s fofteft, fweeteft ft ore) Charm my tortur’d foul no more. Te powers, I rave, I faint, I die : Why fo flow ! great Henry, why ! From death and alarms Fly, fly to my Arms, Fly to my Arms , my Monarch fly ! Sir T RU s r r. How much more blefs’d would lovers be, Did all the whining fools agree > To live like Grideline and me ! \Apart . ' ROSAMOND . O Rofamond, behold too late. And tremble at thy future fate! Curfe this unhappy, guilty face. Every charm, and every grace. That to thy ruin made their way. And led thine innocence aftray : G 2 At ro4 R 0 S A M O N D. At home thou feeft thy Queen enraged, Abroad thy abfent Lord engaged In wars, that may our love6 disjoin. And end at once his life and mine. Sir T R U S T Y. Such cold complaints befit a Nun : If Hie turns honeft, I’m undone ! [ Apart , ROSAMOND. Beneath fotne hoary mountain Til lay me down and weep , Or near fome warbling fountain Bewail my felf afeep ; Where feather'd choirs combining With gentle murmring f reams. And winds in confort joining , Rafe fadly pleafing dreams. [Ex. Rof. Sir TRUST T, folus . What favage tiger would not pity A damfel fo diltreh’d and pretty ! But hah ! a found my bower invades, [Trumpets fiourifh . And echo's through the winding ftiades; ’Tis henry's march !• the tune I know t A Mdil-nger ! It mull be fo. / SCENE ROSAMOND . io 5 SCENE Y. A MESSENGER and Sir TRUSTY. MESSENGER. Great Henry comes ! with love oppreft; °repare to lodge the royal gueft. From purple fields with {laughter fpread. From rivers choak’d with heaps of dead, prom glorious and immortal toils, Loaden with honour, rich with fpoils, Great Henry comes 1 Prepare thy bower To lodge the mighty conquerour. sir r r u s r r. The bower and Lady both are dreft, And ready to receive their gueft. MESSENGER . Hither the vidlor flies, (his Queen And royal progeny unfeen;) Soon as the Britijh Ihores he reached. Hither his foaming courfer ftretched : And fee ! his eager fteps prevent The Meflfage that himfelf hath lent! Sir T R U S T r. Here will I ftand With hat in hand, Obfequioufly to meet him. And muft endeavour At behaviour. That’s fuitable to greet him* G 3 SCENE ioiJ ROSAMOND, SCENE VI. Enter King Henry after, a flourijb of Trutnpet:. KING. Where is my love! my Rofamond ! Sir TRUST T. Firfi, as in ftri&eft duty bound, I kifs your rova! hand, KING. Where is my life ! my Rcfiwiond / Sir T R U S T T. Next with fubmifiion moil profound, I welcome you to land. KING. Where is the tender, charming fair! Sir T RU S T T. Let me appear, great Sir, I pray. Methodical in what I fay. KING. Where is my love, O tell me where ! Sir T R U S T T. For when we have a Prince’s ear. We ihould have wit. To know what’s fit For us to fpeak, and him to hear, KING. Thefe dull delays I cannot bear. Where is my love, O tell me where ! Sir io7 ROSAMOND . sir r r u s r r 1 fpeak, great Sir, with weeping eye?. She raves, alas! {he faints, {he dies. KING. What doft thou fay ? I {hake with fear. sir r r u srr. Nay, good my Liege, with patience hear. She raves, and faints, and dies, ’cis true ; But raves, and faints, and dies for you. KING. Was ever Nymph like Rofamond, So fair, fo faithful , and fo fond, Adorn d with ev ry charm and grace ! r/n all defre ! My heart's on fre. And leaps and fprings to her embrace. Sir T R U S T T. At the fight of her lover She’ll quickly recover. What place will you chufe For firh interviews ? KING, Full in the center of the grove. In yon pavilion made for love. Where Woodbines, Rofes, Jeflamines, Amaranths, and Eglantines, With intermingling fw r eets have wove The particolour’d gay Alcove. G 4 Sii io8 ROSAMOND. sir r r u s rr. Your Highnefs, Sir, as I prefume, i Has chofe the moll convenient gloom; There’s not a (pot in all the park Has trees To thick, and (hades fo dark. KING.. Mean-while with due attention wait To guard the bower, and watch the gate; Let neither envy, grief, nor fear. Nor love-lick .jealoufie appear j Nor fcnfelefs pomp, nor noife intrude On this delicious folitudy ; Lut pleafure reign through all the grove, And all be peace, and all be love. O the pleafng pleajing anguijh When woe love , and when we 1 anguijh l Wijhes rijing ! Thoughts fur pricing Pleafure courting ! Charms tran/porting ! Fancy viewing Joys enfuing ! O the pleafng , pleafng anguijh ! [Exeunt. ACT ROSAMOND. io 9 ! A C T II. S C E N E I. A Pavilion in the middle cf the Bower. KING and ROSAMOND. KING. npH U S let my weary foul forget Reftlefs glory, martial ftrife. Anxious pleafures of the great. And gilded cares of life. ROSAMOND. Thus let me lofe/ in riling joys. Fierce impatience, fond defires, Abfence that flatt’ring hope deftroys. And life-confuming fires. L KING. Not the loud Britijh Ihout that warm3 The warrior’s heart, nor ciaihing arms. Nor fields with hoitile banners ftrow’d. Nor life on proltrate Gauls bellow’d, Give half the joys that fill my bread, While with my Rofamond I’m blett. i. G S ROSA- \ 110 ROSAMOND . R 0 S A M Q N D. My Henry is my foul’s delight, My vvifh by day, my dream by night. *Tis not in language to impart The fecret meltings of my heart. While I my conqueror furvey. And look my very foul away. KING . O may the prefent blifs endure. From fortune, time, and death fecure : BOTH. O may the prefent blifs endure ! K I N G. My eye cou’d ever gaze, my ear Thofe gentle founds cou’d ever hear: But oh ! with noon-day heats oppreft. My aking temples call for reft ! In yon cool grotto’s artful night Refrefhfog lumbers I’ll invite, 'Then feek again my abfent fair, With all the love a heart can bear. ROSAMOND foia. [Exit King. From whence this fad prefaging fear. This fudden figh, this falling tear ? Oft in my filent dreams by night With fuch a look I’ve feen him fly, Wafted by angels to the' sky, And loft in endlefs tracks cf light; While — R 0 S A M O N D. iii While I, abandon’d and forlorn, To dark and difmal defarts born, Through lonely wilds have feem’d to ilray, A long, uncomfortable way. They're fantoms all \ Tll think no more: My life has endlefsjoys in fore. Farerjjel forronu , fare*wel fear> They'refantoms all! my HenryV here. SCENE II. A Pojiern Gate of the Bower. GRIDELINE and PAGE. . GUIDELINE. My ftomach fwells with fecret fpight. To fee my fickle, faithlefs Knight, With upright gefture, goodly mien. Face of olive, coat of green, , That charm’d the Ladies long ago. So little his own worth to know, On a meer girl his thoughts to place. With dimpled cheeks, and baby face; A child ! a chit! that was not born. When I did town and court adorn. i v ■ P A G E , 112 ROSAMOND. PAGE. Can any man prefer fifteen To venerable Grideline? GRIDELINE. He does, my child; or tell me why With weeping eyes fo oft I fpy His whiskers curl’d, and fhoe-ftrings ty’d, A new Toledo by his fide. In (houlder-belt fo trimly plac’d. With band fo nicely fmooth’d and lac’d. PAGE. If Rofamond his garb has view’d. The Iinight is falfe, the Nymph fubdu’d. GRIDELINE. * My anxious boding heart divines His falfhood by a thoufand figns: Oft o’er the lonely rocks he walks, And to the foolifh Echo talks; Oft in the glafs he rolls his eye. But turm and frowns if I am by ; Then my fond eafie heart beguiles, And thinks of Rofamond , and fmiles. PAGE. Well may you feel thefe foft alarms. She has a heart- GRIDELINE. —— And he has charms. PAGE. ✓ ROSAMOND. n* PAGE. Your fears are too juft .—— GRIDELINE. -——Too plainly IVe prov’d. . v BOTH. He loves and is lov'd. G R I D E L I N E. O mercilefs fate ! PAGE. Deplorable fate! GRIDELINE. To die ■ -.- PAGE. » To be fain GRIDELINE. By a barbarous fwain, BOTH. That laughs at your pain. GRIDELINE. How fhou’d I att ? canft thou advife ? PAGE. Open the gate, if you are wife ; I, in an unfufpe&ed hour. May catch ’em dallying in the bower. Perhaps their loofe amours prevent. And keep Sir Trufy innocent. GRIDELINE . Thou arc in truth A forward youth. Of 114 ROSAMONDi Of wit and parts above thy age; Thou know’ll our fex. Thou art a Page. PAGE. I’ll do what I can To furprize the falfe man. GRIDELINE. > Of fuch a faithful fpy I’ve need ; * v Go in, and if thy plot fucceed. Fair youth, thou may’ll depend on this, I’ll pay thy fervice with a kifs. {Exit Page, GRIDELINE fila. Prythee Cupid no more Hurl thy darts at threcfcore 7 'To thy girls and thy hoys Give thy pains and thy joys t Let Sir Trufty and -me Front thy frolicks he free. [Ex. Grid\ SCENE III. PAGE folus. O the foft delicious view. Ever charming, ever new ! Greens of various fhades arife, Deck’d with flovv’rs of various dies; Paths by meeting paths fire croft. Alleys in winding alleys loft; Fountains opening fetne difeovers Anyth*? view of the Brwer^ ROSAMOND f iig Fountains playing through the trees. Give coolnefs to the pafling breeze. .v • ^ thoufand fairy /cents appear, Here a grove, a grotto here, I Here a rock, and here a freatn , Sweet dclnfon. Gay confufion. All a vifen, all a dream ! SCENE IV. Q^U E E N and PAGE. QU E £ N. At length the bow’ry vaults appear f My bofom heaves, and pants with fear: A thoufand checks my heart controul, A thoufand terrours ihake my foul. PAGE. Behold the brazen gate unbarr’d! She’s fixt in thought, I am not heard— 8 [Apart* QUEEN. I fee, I fee my hands embru’d In purple dreams of reeking blood : I fee the vi&im gafp for breath, And dart in agonies of death ; l ii6 ROSAMOND.- I fee my raging dying Lord, And O, I fee my felf abhorr’d! P A G E. My eyes o’erftow, my heart is rent , To hear Britannia's Queen lament. [AJide, QJJ'Q E N. What fhall my trembling foul purfue ? PAGE, Behold, great Queen, the place in view ! 4L U E E N. Ye pow’rs inftruft me what to do ! PAGE . That Bow’r will fhow The guilty foe. QUEEN. •- It is decreed - it fhall be fo ; [After a f*ufe. 1 cannot fee my Lord refbie (O that 1 could call him mine !) Why have not they moft charms to move, Y/hofe hofoms burn with purejl love t PAGE. Her heart with rage and fondnefs glows, O jealoufie ! thou hell of woes ! [ Afide . That confcious fcene of love contains ' The fatal caufe of all your pains: In yonder flow’ry vale fhe lies. Where thofe fair-bloflbm’d arbours rife. QUEEN, XI7 ROSAMOND . Let us hade to deftroy Her guilt and her joy. Wild and frantick is my grief l Fury driving, Mercy ft riving. Heaven in pity fend relief! The pangs of love Ye povj'rs remove, Or dart your thunder at my head: Love and defpair What heart can bear ! Eafe my foul, or frike me dead l [Exeunt. SCENE V. The Scene changes to the Pavilion as before . ROSAMOND fola . Tran/porting pleafure ! vjho can tell it l When our longing eyes difcover The kind, the dear, approaching lover, Who can utter , or conceal it ! A fudden motion (hakes the grove: I hear the heps of him I love ; Prepare, my foul, to meet thy blifs ! — . Death to my eyes; what fight is this ! The Queen, th’offended Queen I fee! -- Open, O earth ! and fvvallow me ! SCENE ii 8 ROSAMOND. ' - 4 * SCENE VI. Enter to her the QU E E.N with a Bowl hand , and a Dagger in the other, 4 V 1 , * QUE E N: Thus arm’d with double death I come: Behold, vain wretch, behold thy doom l Thy crimes to their full period tend. And foon by This, or This, {ball end. R O S A M O N D. What fhall I fay, or how dy To threats of injur’d MajdT QU E t N. *TIs guilt that does thy tongue controul. Or quickly drain the fatal Bowl, Or this right hand perform* its part. And plants a Dagger in thy heart. ROSAMOND. Can Britain's Queen give fuch commands. Or dip in blood thofe facred hands ? In her fhall fuch revenge be feen ? Far be that from Britain's Queen ! QUEEN. How black does my defign appear! Was ever mercy fo fevere ? ROSAMOND. When tides of youthful blood run high , And fanes of promis'd joys are nigh , in one * A %s [Aftde. Health ROSAMOND. 119 Health prefuming , Beauty hlooming, Oh how dreadful 'tis. to die f E E N, To thofe whom foul diflicnours Life it felf lhould be a pain. ROSAMOND, Who could refift great Henry's charms, And drive the hero from her arms ? Think on the fifty the tender fires t Melting thoughts, and gay defines, That in your own warm hofim rife , When languifhing with Lovefick eyes That great, that charming man you fet Think on your felfi and pity me! EfiU E E N. ' And doft thou thus thy guilt deplore ! [Offering the dagger to her hreafi, Prefumptuous woman ! plead no more! ROSAMOND', O Queen, your lifted arm reftrain ! Behold thefe tears ! ■ ^U E E N. —• They flow in vain. ROSAMOND, Look with compaflion on my fate ! O hear my flghs!- E E N. — They rife too late. Hope 120 ROSAMOND. Hope not a day’s, an hour’s reprieve. ROSAMOND. Tho’ I live Wretched, let me Live. In fome deep dungeon let me lie. Cover’d from ev’ry human eye, Banifh’d the day, debarr’d the light; Where fhades of everlalting night May this unhappy face difarm. And call a veil o’er ev’ry charm : Offended heaven I’ll there adore. Nor fee the Sun, nor Henry more. Q^U E E N. Moving language , Jhbung tears, Glowing guilt, and graceful fears, Kindling pity , kindling rage, At once provoke me, and ajfwage. [Afide. ROSAMOND, What (hall I do to pacihe Your kindled vengeance ? Q^U E E N. —— Thou lhalt die. [Offering dagger. ROSAMOND. Give me but one fhort moment’s flay. --O Henry , why fo far away ? [ Afide . QUEEN. Prepare to welter in a flood Of dreaming gore. [.Offering the dagger. ROSAMOND. — O fpare my blood. And I IT . ROSAMOND. And let me grafp the deadly bowl. [Takes the bowl in her hand. <^U E E N. Ye powYs, how pity rends my foul f [Afide. ROSAMOND. Thus proftrate at your feet I fall. O let me kill for mercy call ! [Falling cn her knees. Accept, great Hhieen, like injur d heaven. The foul that begs to be forgiven : If in the latef gafp of breath , If in the dreadful pains of death, When the cold damp bedews your brow, You hope for mercy, fiow it now. E E N. Mercy to lighter crimes is due, Hon ors and death {hall thine purfue. [Offering the dagger. ROSAMOND. Thus I prevent the fatal blow, [Drinks. -Whither, ah! whither fhall I go! E E N. Where thy pall life thou {halt lament, And wifh thou hadft been innocent. ROSAMOND. Tyrant! to aggravate the ftroke, ^nd wound a heart, already broke! Vly dying foul with fury burns, And flighted grief to madnefs turns. Think not, thou author of my woe , That Rofamond will leave thee fo : At 122 ROSAMOND. At dead of night. At glaring fpright , With hideous jcreams I'll haunt thy dreams ; And when the painful night withdraws] My Henry Jhall revenge my caufe. .. O whither does my frenzy drive! Forgive my rage, your wrongs forgive. My veins are froze ; my blood grows chill; The weary fprings of life Hand Hill ; The deep of death benumbs all o’er My fainting limbs, and I’m no more. [Falls on the couch E E N. Hear and obferve your Queen’s commands. [To her attendants , Beneath thofe hills a Convent Hands, ' Where the fam’d ftreams of Ifis ftray; Thither the breathlefs coarfe convey, And bid the cloifter’d maids with care The due folemnities prepare. [Exeunt with the Body, When vanquijb'dfoes beneath us lie , How great it is to bid them Die ! But how much greater to forgive , And bid a vanquijh'd foe to Live ! SCENE ROSAMOND.. lz l SCENE VII. Sir TRUSTY in a Fright . A breathlefs corps! what have I fecn ! And follow’d by the jealous Queen! it mull be ihe ! my fears are true : 1 he bowl of pois’nous juice I view. [dow can the fam’d Sir Frujty live 1 o hear his Mailer chide and grieve ? Vo ! tho’ I hate fuch bitter beer, 7air Rofamond , I’ll pledge thee here. [ Drinks. The King this doleful news ihall read In lines of my inditing : ; Great Sir, [Writes, * ( Your Rofamond is dead Hence grief and hate ! Ye pains that wait On jealoufie, the rage of love. My Henry jhall be mine alone , *Ibe Hero J,ball be all my own i Nobler joys poffefs my heart Than crowns and fcepters can impart. ACT ' ACT III. SCENE I. SCENE a Grotto , HENRY afleep , a cloud de¬ fend r, in it two Angels fuppos'd to be the Guardian Spirits of the Eritifh Kings in War and in Peace . i ANGEL. J^E HOLD th’ unhappy Monarch there. That claims our tutelary care ! 2 A N G E L. In fields of death around his head A ihield of Adamant I fpread. i ANGEL. In hours of peace, unfeen, unknown, I hover o’er the Britijh throne. z A N G E L. When hofts of foes with foes engage, And round th’ anointed Hero rage, The cleaving fauchion I mifguide, And turn the feather’d ihaft afide. i ANGEL. When dark fermenting fa&ions fwell. And prompt th’ ambitious to rebell, _ j A thoufand terrors I impart, And damp the furious traitor’s heart. Vol. I. H BOTH , xi6 R 0 S A M O N D, BOTH. But oh what influence can remove The pangs of grief, and rage of love! 2 A N G E L. I’ll fire his foul with mighty themes, ’Till Love before Ambition fly. 1 ANGEL. Til (both his cares in pleafing dreams, ’Till grief in joyful raptures die. 2 angel. Whatever glorious and renown'A In Britifh annals can he found* Whatever actions Jhall adorn Britannia’r heroes , yet unborn , In dreadful vifions Jhall fucceedi On fancy' d fields the G^n\ Jhall bleed , Creflfy Jhall fiand before his eyes , And Agincourt and Blenheim rife . i A N G E L. See, fee, he (miles amidft his trance. And lhakes a vifionary lance, pi is brain is fill’d with loud alarms. Shouting armies, clalhing arms. The fofter prints of love deface ; And trumpets found in ev’ry trace. both. Glory ftrives f I hi field is won ! fame revives , And love is gone. i AN' 127 ROSAMOND . 1 ANGEL. To calm thy grief, and lull thy cares, Lcok up and fee What, after long-revolving years. Thy Bower {hall be ! When time its beauties /hall deface. And only with its ruines grace The future, profpett of the place. Behold the glorious pile afcending ! * Columns fwelling, arches bending. Domes in awful pomp arifing. Art in curious ftrokes furprizing. Foes in figur’d fights contending. Behold the glorious pile afcending 1 2 A N G E L. He fees, he fees the great reward For Anna's mighty Chief prepar’d: His growing joys no meafure keep. Too vehement and fierce for fleep, 1 A N G E L, Let grief and love at once engage. His heart is proof to cell their pain » Love may plead —- 2 A N G E L. — And grief may rage --— BOTH. But both Jhall pllad and rage in vain, [The Angels afeend, and the vilion difappears, H 2 'HENRY, * Scene changes to the PUn ef Blenheim Cnfile, < 32.5 R 0 S A M 0 N D. HENRY, fl anting from the Couch. Where have my ravifli’d lenfes been ! What joys, what wonders, have I feen ! The feene yet Hands before my eye,. A thoufand glorious deeds that lie In deep futurity obfeure, Fights and triumphs immature. Heroes immers’d in time’s dark womb. Ripening for mighty years to come. Break forth, and, to the day difplay’d. My foft inglorious hours upbraid. Tranfported with fo bright a fcheme. My waking life appears a dream. Adieu , ye wanton Jhades and bowers, Wreath of myrtle, beds offlowers, Rofee brakes, Silver lakes , fo love and you A long adieu ! O Rofamond! O rifing woe ! Why do my weeping eyes o’erflow ? O Rofamond l O fair diftrefs’d! How fhall my heart, with grief opprefs’d. Its unrelenting purpofe tell; And take the long, the laft farewel ? Rife, Glory, rife in all thy charms. Thy wa ving crefl, and burnifldd arms. Spread thy gilded banners round, JMjtke thy thundering courfer bound, / Bid ROSAMOND. Bid the drum and trumpet join , Warm my foul with rage divine; All thy pomps around thee call: To co::quer Love will ask them all. 12 $' [Exit, SCENE II. The Scene changes to that part of the Bower where Sir Tnifty lies upon the ground , with the Bowl and Dagger on the table . Enter QUEEN. Every ilar, and every pow’r, Look down on this important hour: Lend your prote&ion and defence Every guard of innocence ! Help me my Henry to afivvage, To gain his love, or bear his rage. Myferious love y uncertain treafure y Haji thou more of pain or pleafure l Chill'd with tears, Kill'd with fears t Endlefs torments dwell about thee : ■ Yet who would live, and live without thee f But oh the fight my foul alarms : My Lord appears, I’m all on fire! Why am I baniih’d from his arms ? My heart’s too full, I mull retire. f Retires to the end of the Jlage H 3 SCENE 130 ROSAMOND. SCENE HI. KING and Q_U E E N, KING. Some dread fu? birth of fate is near : Or Vv'hv, my foul, unus’d to fear, "With fecret horror - doft thcu lhake ? Can Dreams fuch dire imprefiions make 1 Tv hat means this folemn, blent lhow ? This pomp of death, this fcene of woe ! Support me, heaven ! what’s this I read ? Gh horror i Rcfamond is dead. TV.at fhall I fay, or whither turn? V/ith grief, and rage, and love, I burn r From thought to thought my foul is toft, And in the whirle of paflion loft. Why did I not in battel fail, Crulh’d by the thunder of the Gaul? Why did the fpear my bofom mifs ? Ye pow’rs, was I referv’d for this 1 DijiraEied nxith woe Pll rufb on the foe Tofeek my relief: Phe fword or the dart Shall pierce my fad hearty Andfnijh my grief! E E N. RO S A MO N D. 131 QU E E N. Fain won* d my tongue Ti griefs arpeaie. And g: ve his ;er:ar~d be Am ea'e. [‘^ F r / A" g. Bat fee ! the can's cf all my fea-s. The focrce of uh my grief arrears ! No unexpected gued ii here , The fata; bow! Inform'd my foci Elnsvra was too near. L E AT Why dc I here my Lord receive r JT I X G. Is this the welcome that voa give : And Ny mphs,and Streams,andWoods,and rural Deities- ' O’er all, the Heav’n’s refulgent Image fhines j On either gate were fix engraven figns. Here Phaeton, ftill gaining on th’afcent. To his fufpe&ed father’s palace went, ’Till preffing forward through the bright abode, He faw at diftance the illuftrious God : He faw at diftance, or the dazling light Had fiafil’d too ftrongiy on his aking fight, The God fits high, exalted on a throne Of blazing gems, with purple garments on; The Hours, in order rang’d on either hand. And Days, and Months, and'Years, and Ages, ftand. Here Spring appears with flow’ry chaplets bound; Here Summer in her vvheaten garland crown’d ; Here Autumn the rich trodden grapes befmear; And hoary Winter fhivers in the rcer. Phcebus beheld the youth from off his throne; That eye, which looks on all, was fix’d on one. Vol. I. I He * 150 Poems on fever al Occafions. He faw the boy’s confuflon in his face. Surpriz’d at all the wonders of the place ; And cries aloud, “ What wants my Son r for know “ My Son thou art, and I muft call thee fo. “ Light of the world, the trembling youth replies “ Illuftrious Parent! fmee you don’t defpife “ The Parent’s name, fome certain token give, “ That I may ClytnenY s proud boaft believe, “ Nor longer under falfe reproaches grieve. The tender fire was touch’d with what he faid. And flung the blaze of glories from his head. And bid the youth advance : “ My Son, faid he, “ Come to thy Father’s arms f for Clymene “ Has told thee true ; a Parent’s name I own, <£ And deem thee worthy to be call’d my Son. ** As a fure proof, make fo'me requefl, and I, “ Whate’er it be, with that requefl comply; By Styx I fwear, whofe waves are hid in night, e< And roul impervious to my piercing fight. The youth tranfported, asks without delay, To guide the Sun’s bright chariot for a day. The God repented of the oath he took, For anguifh thrice his radiant head he fhook: Poems on fever al Occafions . ?5r e ‘ My Ton, fays he, fome other proof require; “ Rafh was rny promife, rafh is thy defire. “ I’d fain deny this wi(h which thou haft made, “ Or, what I can’t deny, would fain diflwade. ■ e< Too vaft and hazardous the task appears, “ Nor fuited to thy ftrength, nor to thy years. “ Thy lot is mortal, but thy wifties fly “ Beyond the province of mortality : “ There is not one of all the Gods that dares “ (However skill’d in other great affairs) ** To mount the burning axle-tree, but I; ** Not Jove himfelf, the ruler of the sky, e ‘ That hurles the three-fork’d thunder from above, “ Dares try his ftrength; yet who fo ftrong as Jove? “ The fteeds climb up the firft afeent with pain: And when the middle firmament they gain, -** If downwards from the heavens my head I bow, “ And fee the earth and ocean hang below, « Ev’n I am feiz’d with horror and affright, « And my own heart mifgives me at the fight. “ A mighty downfal fteeps the ev’ning ftage, << And fteddy reins muft curb the horfes’ rage. “ Tethys her felf has fear’d to fee me driv’n “ Down headlong from the precipice of heav’n. “ Befides, confider what impetuous force “ Turns ftars and planets in a different courfe : “ I fleer againft their motions; nor am I “ Born back by all the current of the sky. I 2 “ The fcorching fire, that in their entrails glows. ' 41 Ev'n I their head-firong fury fcarce refirain, * ( When they grow warm and refiiff to the rein. “ Let not my Son a fatal gift require, “ But, O ! in time, recall your rafli defire ; You ask a gift that may your Parent tell, * s Let thefe my Fears your parentage reveal; “ And learn a Father from a Father’s care : - 44 Look on my face; or if my heart lay bare, C “ Could you but look, you’d read the Father there. 3 Chufe out a gift from feas, or earth, or skies, ec For open to your wifh all nature lies, « Only decline this one unequal task. For ’tis a Mifchief, not a Gift, you ask; f< You Poems on feveral Occafions, 15} “ You ask a real Mifchief, Phaeton : ‘‘ Nay hang not thus about my neck, my Son : tf T * I grant your wifli, and Styx has heard my voice, ** Chufe what you will, but make a wifer choice, \ Thus did the God th’ unwary youth advife ; But he Hill longs to travel through the skies. When the fond Father (for in vain he pleads) At length to the Vulcanian chariot leads, A golden axle did the work uphold, Gold was the beam, the wheels were orb’d with gold. The fpokes in rows of filver pleas’d the fight, } The feat with parti-colour’d gems was bright v Apollo (hin’d amid the glare of light. j The Youth with fecret joy the work furveys ; When now the morn difclos’d her purple rays j The flars were fled j for Lucifer had chafe’d The ftars away, and fled himfeif at lad. Soon as the Father faw the rofy morn. And the moon (billing with a blunter horn. He bid the nimble Hours without delay Bring forth the deeds $ the nimble Hours obey: From their full racks the gen’rous deeds ie:ire. Dropping ambrofial foams, and fnorting fire. Still anxious for his Son, the God of day. To make him proof againfl the burning ray,. I His temples with celedial ointment wet, Of fov’reign virtue to repel the heat; I 3 Then 154 Poems on federal Occajtons . Then fix’d the beamy circle on his head. And fetch’d a deep foreboding figh, and faid, “ Take this at leaft, this lafl advice, my Son: “ Keep a {lift rein, and move but gently on: The courfers of themfelves will run too fail, «< Your art muft be to moderate their hafte. Dfive ’em not on Directly through the skies, “ But where the Zodiacs winding circle lies. Along the midmoft Zone ; but fally forth “ Nor to the diftant fouth, nor flormy north. “ The horfes’ hoofs a beaten track will fhow, (( But neither mount too high, nor fink too low, “ That no new fires or heav’n or earth infeft; *• Keep the mid way, the middle way is belt. “ Nor, where in radiant folds the Serpent twines, “ Dirett your courfe, nor where the Altar fhines. “ Shun both extremes ; the reft let Fortune guide, ts And better for thee than thy felf provide ! “ See, while I fpeak, the {hades difperfe away, f ‘ Aurora gives the promife of a day j “ I’m call’d, nor can I make a longer ftay. “ Snatch up the reins ; or ftill th’attempt forfake, “ And not my Chariot, but my Counfel take, Si While yet fecurely on the earth you ftand ; “ Nor touch the horfes with too rafti a hand. “ Let Me alone to light the world, while you “ Enjoy thofe beams which you may fafely view. Poems on federal Occajions . He fpoke in vain; the youth with a&ive heat And fprightly vigour vaults into tne feat; And joys to hold the reins, and fondly gives Thofe thanks his Father with remorfe receives. Mean while the redlefs horfes neigh’d aloud, Breathing out fire, and pawing where they flood. *Tethys , not knowing what had pail, gave way. And all the wafle of heaven before ’em lay. They fpring together out, and fvviftly oear The flying youth through clouds and yielding an With wingy fpeed outflrip the eaftern wind, And leave the breezes of the morn behind. The Youth was light, nor could he fill the ieat, Or poife the chariot with its wonted weight. But as at fea th’unballafs d vefTel rides, Cad to and fro, the fport of winds and tides; So in the bounding chariot tofs’d on high, The Youth is hurry’d headlong through the sky Soon as the deeds perceive it, they forfake Their dated courfe, and leave the beaten track. The Youth was in a maze, nor did he know Which way to turn the reins, or where to go; Nor wou’d the horfes, had he known, obey. Then the Seven jiars firft felt Apolfo s ray, And wifh’d to dip in the forbidden fea. The folded Serpent next the frozen pole, Stiff and benum’d before, began to roll, I 4 156 Poems on feveral Occafions, And rage’d with inward heat, and threaten’d war. And Ihot a redder light from every liar; Nay, and’tis faid, Bootes too, that fain Thou would’ll have fled, tho’ cumber’d with thy Wain, Th’ unhappy Youth then, bending down his head. Saw earth and ocean far beneath him fpread : His colour chang’d, he liartled at the fight. Ai d his.eyes darken’d by too great a light. Now could he wilh the fiery Heeds untry’d. His birth obfcure, and his requell deny’d : Now would he Merops for his Father own. And quit his boalied kindred to the Sun. So fares the Pilot, when his fhip is toft In troubled Teas, and all its fteerage loft, He gives her to the winds, and in defpair Seeks his laft refuge in the Gods and Prayer. What cou’d he do ? his eyes, if backward call, Find a long path he had already paft ; If forward, Hill a longer path they find : Both he compares, and meafures in his mind ; And fometimes calls an eye upon the Eaft, And fometimes looks on the forbidden Weft. The horfeo’ Names he knew not in the fright: Nor wou’d he loofe the reins, nor cou’d he hold ’em tight. Now poems on feveral Occafions. if 7 Now all the horrors of the heavens he fpies, And monftrous fhadows of prodigious fize. That, deck’d with liars, lie fcatter’d o’er the skies. There is a place above, where Scorpio bent In tail and arms furrounds a vafl extent ; In a wide circuit of the heavens he fhines. And fills the fpace of two celeflial figns. Soon as the Youth beheld him, vex’d with heat, Brandifh his fling, and in his poifon fweat. Half dead with hidden fear he dropt the reins j The horfes felt ’em loofe upon their mains. And, flying out through all the plains above, Kan uncontroul’d where-e’er their fury drove; Kufh’d on the flars, and through a pathlefs way Gf unknown regions hurry’d on the day. And now above, and now below they flew, And near the Earth the burning chariot drew. The clouds difperfe in fumes, the wond’ring Moon Beholds her brother’s heeds beneath her own ; The highlands fmoak/ cleft by the piercing rays, Or, clad with woods, in their own fewel olaze. Next o’er the plains, where ripen’d harvefts grow* ■ The running conflagration fpreads below. But thefe are trivial ills: whole cities burn, And peopled kingdoms into afnes turn. The mountains kindle as the Car draws near, Atbos and : Tmoius ltd with fires appear > is Oeagrian 15 S Poems on federal Occajtom . Oeagrian litmus (then a Tingle name) And virgin Helicon increafe the flame; Taurus and Oete glare amid the sky. And Ida , Tpight of all her fountains, dry. Eryx, and Othrys, and Citheeron, glow ; And Rhodope, no longer cloath’d in fnow; High PIndus, Mimas, and Parnajfus, fweat. And JEtna rages with redoubled heat. Even Scythia, through her hoary regions warm’d. In vain with all her native frofl was arm’d. Cover’d with flames, the tow’ring Apptnninz, And Caucafus , and proud Olympus, ihine And, where the long-extended Alpes afpire. Now Hands a huge continu’d range of fire, Th’ afionilht Youth, where-e’er his eyes cou’d turn. Beheld the Univerfe around him burn: The World was in a blaze; nor could he bear The fultry vapours and the fcorching air. Which from below, as from a furnace, flow’d ; And now the axle-tree beneath him glow’d : Loll in the whirling clouds, that round him broke. And white with afnes, hov’ring in the fmoke. He flew where-e’er the Horfes drove, nor knew Whither the Horfes drove, or where he flew. ’Twas then, they fay, the fwarthy Moor begun To change his hue, and Blacken in the fun. Then / 1 59 Poems on federal Occafions . Then Libya firft, of all her mcifture drain’d. Became a barren wafte, a wild of Sand. The Water nymphs lament their empty urns, Beeotia, robb’d of Silver Dirce, mourns, Corinth Pyrene's wafted fpring bewails, And Argos grieves whilft Amy none fails. The floods are drain’d from every diftant ccaft. Even Tanais, tho’ fix’d in ice, was loft. Enrage’d Cdicus and Lycormas roar, And Xanthus , fated to be burnt once mere. The fam’d Haander, that unweary’d ftrays Through mazy windings, fmokes in every maze. From his lov’d Babylon Euphrates flies; ^ ^ The big-fwoln Ganges and the Danube rife . t In thick’ning fumes, and darken half the skies. In flames Ifmenos and the Phqfis roul’d. And Tagus floating in his melted gold. The Swans, that on Cayfler often try’d Their tuneful fongs, now fung their laft, and dy a. The frighted Nile ran off, and under ground Conceal’d his head, nor can it yet be found : His feven divided currents are all dry, And where they roul’d, feven gaping trenches lie. No more the Rhine or Rhone their coune maintain. Nor Tiber, of his promis'd empire vain. The ground, deep cleft, admits the daz.ing ray, And ftartles Pluto with the flalh of cay. The 1 60 Poems on feveral Occafions. The Teas Ihrink in, and to the light difclofe Wide naked plains, where once their billows rofe ; Their rocks are all difcover’d, and increafe The number of the fcatter’d Cyclades. The fifh in Iholes about the bottom creep, Nor longer dares the crooked Dolphin leap : Gafping for breath, th’unfhapen Phocce die. And on the boiling wave extended lie. Nereus , and Doris with her virgin train. Seek out the laft recedes of the main; Beneath unfathomable depths they faint. And fecret in their gloomy caverns pant. Stern Neptune thrice above the waves upheld His face, and thrice was by the flames repelLd. The Earth at length, on every fide embrac’d Withfcalding feas, that floated round her waift. When now fhe felt the fprings and rivers come. And crowd within the hollow of her womb. Up-lifted to the heavens her blalted head. And clapt her hand upon her brows, and faid; (out Ark, impatient of the fultry heat. Sunk deeper down, and fought a cooler feat:) “ If you, great King of Gods, my death approve. And I deferve it, let me die by Jove\ ts If I mull perifh by the force of Are, «' Let me transfix’d with thunderbolts expire. • See, whilft I fpcak, my breath the vapours choke, " See Poem on feveral Occajions. iGY « See my finge’d hair, behold my faded eye, «« And wither’d face, where heaps of cinders lie ? “ And does the plow for this my body tear ? «« This the reward for all the fruits I bear, « Tortur’d with rakes, and harafs'd all the year ? “ That herbs for cattle daily I renew, « And food for man, and frankincer.fe for you ? “ But grant Me guilty ; what has Neptune done ? « Why are his waters boiling in the fun ? ** The wavy empire, which by lot was given, «« Why does it wafle, and further ihrink from heaven? “ Jf I nor He your pity can provoke, “ See your own Heavens, the heavens begin to fmoke! “ Shou’d once the fparkles catch thofe bright abodes, “ Deftrudlion feizes on the heavens and gods; “ Atlas becomes unequal to his freight, Here fell a wheel, and here a Fiver fpoke. Here were the beam and axle tern away ; And, fcatter’d o’er the earth, the Aiming fragments lay. j The breathlefs Phaeton , with flaming hair, Shot from the chariot, like a falling Far, That in a fummer’s evening from the top Of heaven drops down, or feems at leaF to drop; ’Till on the Po his blaFed corps was hurl’d. Far from his country, in the weFern world. Phaeton 9 s Sifters transform'd into Trees* ; u ■ , The Latian nymphs came round him, and amaz’d On the dead youth, transfix’d with thunder, gaz’d ; And, 1 Poems on federal Occafions, And, whilft yet fmoaking from the bolt he lay, His fhatter’d body to a tomb convey, And o’er the tomb an epitaph devife : •* Here he who drove the Sun’s bright chariot lies; “ His Father’s fiery deeds he could not guide, “ But in the glorious enterprize he dy’d. Apcllo hid his face, and pin’d for grief. And, if the dory may deferve belief, The fpace of One whole day is faid to run. From morn to wonted even, without a Sun ; The burning ruines, with a fainter ray. Supply the Sun, and counterfeit a day, A day, that dill did nature’s face difclcfe: This comfort from the mighty mifchief rofe. But Clymene , enrage’d with grief, laments, And as her grief infpires, her padion vents: Wild for her Son, and frantick in her woes. With hair difhevel’d, round the world die goes. To feek where-e’er his body might be cad j ’Till, on the borders of the Po, at lad The name infcrib’d on the new tomb appears. The dear dear name die bathes in flowing tears > Hangs o’er the tomb, unable to depart, And hugs the marble to her throbbing heart. % Her daughters too lament, and flgh, and mourn (A fruitlefs tribute to their brother’s urn) 164. Poems on feveral Occafions . And beat their naked bofoms, and complain, And call aloud for Phaeton in vain : All the long night their mournful watch they keep* And all the day Hand round the tomb, and weep. «F Clo Four times, revolving, the full Moon return’d; So long the mother, and the daughters mourn’d: When now the eldeft, Phaethufa , ftrove To reft her weary limbs, but could not move $ Lampetia would have help’d her, but fne found Her felf with-held, and rooted to the ground: A third in wild affii&ion, as Ihe grieves, Would rend her hair, but fills her hand with Leaves; One fees her thighs transform’d, another views Her arms {hot out, and branching into boughs. And now their legs, and breafts, and bodies flood Crufted with bark, and hard’ning into wood; But ftill above were female Heads difplay’d, And mouths, that call’d the Mother to their aid. What could, alas! the weeping mother do ? From this to that with eager hafte fhe flew, And kifs’d her fprouting daughters as they grew. She tears the bark that to each body cleaves, And from their verdant fingers ftrips the leaves.: The blood came trickling, where ihe tore away . The leaves and bark : The maids were heard to fayy « Forbear, miftaken Parent, Oh ! forbear ; A wounded daughter in each tree you tear; W1 bi T1 M S a Poems on fever at Oceafions ; i % < Farewel for ever.” Here the bark encreas’d. Clos’d on their faces, and their words fupprefs’d. The new-made trees in tears of Amber run. Which, harden’d into value by the Sun, Didill for ever on the dreams below : The limpid dreams their radiant treafure diow, Mixt in the fand j whence the rich drops convey’d Shine in the drefs of the bright Latian maid. The Transformation of C ycnus into a Swan . Cycnus beheld the Nymphs transform’d, ally’d To their dead brother, on the mortal fide, In friendfhip and affedtion nearer bound, He left the cities and the realms he own’d, Thro’ pathlefs fields and lonely fhores to range. And woods, made thicker by the Ciders’ change. Whilft here, within the difmal gloom, alone, The melancholy Monarch made his moan, His voice was leflen’d, as he try’d to ipeak, And ififu’d through a long extended neck; l His hair transforms to down, his fingers meet In skinny films, and fiiape his oary feet; From both his fides the wings and feathers break i And from his mouth proceeds a blunted beak : All Cycnus now into a Swan was turn’d. Who, dill remembring how his kinfman burn d. id# Poems on federal Occafions , To folitary pools and lakes retires, And loves the waters as oppos’d to fires. Mean-while Jpollo in a gloomy fhade (The native Iufire of his brows decay’d) Indulging forrow, fickens at the fight Of his own Sun-fhine, and abhors the light: The hidden griefs, that in his bofom rife. Sadden his looks, and over-call his eyes. As when fome dusky orb obllrudls his ray, And fullies, in a dim eclipfe, the day. Now fecretly with inward griefs he pain’d, - Now warm refentments to his grief he joyn’d, C And now renounc’d his office to mankind. j “ E’er fince the birth of Time, faid he. I’ve born “ A long ungrateful toil without return ; “ Let now fome other manage, if he dare, €t The fiery fteeds, and mount the burning Carr j ** Or, if none elfe, let Jove his fortune try, c( And learn to lay his mura’ring thunder by ; u Then will he own, perhaps, but own too late, u My Son deferv’d not fo fevere a fate. The Gods Hand round him, as he mourns, and pray He would refume the conduct of the day. Nor let the world be loll in endlefs ni°;ht : Jove too himfelf, defeending from his height. Excufes Poms on fever aTOccafims. \&7 Hxcufes what had happen d, and intreats, vlajedically mixing prayers and thieats. Prevail’d upon at length, again he took rhe harnefs’d deeds, that dill with horror fliook. And plies ’em with the lalh, and whips em on. And, as he whips, upbraids em with his Son. The Story c/Calisto. The day was fettled in its courfe ; and Jonje Walk’d the wide circuit of the heavens above. To fearch if any cracks or daws were made ; But all was fafe: The earth he then furvey’d, And cad an eye on every different coad, And every land ; but on Arcadia mod. Her fields he cloath’d, and chear’d her blafted face With running fountains, and with fpringing grafs. No tracks of heaven’s dedrudtive dre remain, The delds and woods revive, and Nature fmiles again But as the God walk’d to and fro the earth, And rais’d the plants, and gave the fpring its birth, By chance a fair Arcadian Nymph he view d. And felt the lovely charmer in his blood. The Nymph nor fpun, nor drefs’d with artful pride; Her ved was gather’d up, her hair was ty d ; ! Now in her hand a dender fpear (he bore, Now a light quiver on her dioulders woit. i68 Poems on feveral Occafionsl To chafte Diana from her youth inclin’d The fprightly warriors »of the wood {he join’d. Diana too the gentle huntrefs lov’d. Nor was there one of all the nymphs that rov’d O'er Mmnalus , amid the maiden throng, More favour’d once; but favour lads not long. The Sun now {hone in all its ftrength, and drovfr The heated virgin panting to a grove; The grove around a grateful fliadow cad: She dropt her arrows, and her bow unbrace’d ; She flung her felf on the cool grafly bed ; And on the painted quiver rais’d her head. Jove faw the charming huntrefs unprepar’d. Stretch’d on the verdant turf, without a guard. “ Here I am fefe, he cries, from Juno 's eye; “ Or fhould my jealous Queen the theft defcryv “ Yet would I venture on a theft like this, “ And fland her rage for fuch, for fuch a blifs! Diana's fhape and habit flrait he took, ^ Soften’d his brows, and fmooth’d his awful look, -C And mildly in a female accent fpoke. 3 His filver bow and feather’d fhafcs he took, ' And lodg’d an arrow in the tender breaft. That had fo often to his own been preft. Down fell the wounded Nymph, and fadly groan’d. And pull’d his arrow reeking from the wound ; And weltring in her blood, thus faintly cry’d, “ Ah cruel God ! tho’ 1 have juftly dy’d, ! “ What has, alas ! my unborn Infant done, “ That He fhould fall, and two expire in one? This faid, in agonies Ihe fetch’d her breath. K 3 The ijS Poems on federal Occafions . The God diffolves in pity at her death; , He hates the bird that made her falfhood known. And hates himfelf for what himfelf had dene* The feather'd lhafe, that fent her to the fates, And his own hand, that fent the fhaft, he hates. Fain would he heal the wound, and eafe her pain. And tries the compafs of his art in vain. Soon as he favv the lovely Nymph expire, The pile made ready, and the kindling fire. With fighs and groans her cbfequies he kept, And, if a God could Weep, the God had Wept. Her corps he kifs’d, and heavenly incenfe brought. And folemniz’d the death himfelf had wrought. But, left his off-fpring fhould her fate partake, Spight of th’immortal mixture in his make. He ript her womb, and fet the child at large. And gave him to the Centaur Chiron s charge; Then in his fury Black’d the Raven o’er. And bid him prate in his White plumes no more, Ocyrrhoe transform'd to a Mare < Old Chiron took the babe with fccret joy. Proud of the charge of the celeftial boy. His daughter too, whom on the fandy ihore The Nymph Chariclo to the Centaur bore. With hair diihevel’d on her ftioulders came To fee the child, Ocyrrhoe was her name ; Poems on feveral Occafions. ~iJ 9 She knew her father’s art, and coaid rehearfe The depths of prophecy in founding verfe. Once, as the facred infant die furvey’d, The God was kindled in the raving Maid, And thus (he utter’d her prophetick tale-; “ Hail, great Phyfician of the word, all-hail « Hail, mighty infant, who in years to come “ Shalt heal the nations, and defraud the tomb; «< Swift be thy growth ! thy triumphs unconfin’d ! “ Make kingdoms thicker, and ir.ereale mankind. «* Thy daring art fliall animate the Dead, «* And draw the Thunder on thy guilty head: « Then ihalt thou die ; but from the dark abode “ Rife up victorious, and be Twice a God. « And thou, my Sire, not deitin’d by thy birth “ To turn to duft, and mix with common earth, “ How wilt thou tofs, and rave, and long to die,. •< And quit thy claim to immortality ; « When thou Ihalt feel, enrag’d with inward pains, « The Hydras venom rankling in thy veins? *« The Gods, in pity, ftiall contract thy date, “ And give thee over to the. power of Fate. Thus, entering into defliny, the maid The fecrets of offended Jo-ve betray’d : | More had fhe dill to fay; but now appears Opprefs’d with fobs and fighs, and drown’d in tears. “ My voice, fays Ihe, is gone, my language fails i “ Through every limb my kindred drape prevails: K 4 “ Why 18o Poems on feveral Occafons . “ Why did the God this fatal gift impart, “ And with prophetick raptures fwell my heart! “ What new defires are thefe ? I long to Pace “ O'er flow’ry meadows, and to feed on Grafs ; '* I haflen to a Brute, a Maid no more; “ But why, alas ! am I transform’d all o’er ? “ My Sire does Half a human fhape retain, “ And in his upper parts preferves the Man. Her tongue no more diflinft complaints affords, But in fhrill accents and mif-lhapen words Pours forth fuch hideous wailings, as declare The Human form confounded in the Mare : ’Till by degrees accomplifh’d in the Bead, She neigh’d outright, and all the Steed expreft. Her Hooping body on her hands is born, Her hands are turn’d to hoofs, and fhcd in horn; Her yellow trefles ruffle in a mane. And in a flowing tail fhe frisks her train. * The Mare was finilh’d in her voice and look. And a new name from the new figure took. The Transformation of Battus to a Touch-flone . Sore wept the Centaur, and to Phoebus pray’d ; But hew could Phoebus give the Centaur aid ? Degraded of his power by angry Jove, In Elis then a herd of Beeves he drove; Poems on feveral Occajions. i81 And wielded in his hand a ftaff of Oake, And o’er his (houlders threw the Shepherd’s cloak; On feven compared reeds he -us’d to play, And on his rural pipe to wade the day. As once, attentive to his pipe, he play’d, The crafty Hermes from the God convey’d A Drove, that fep’rate from their fellows ftray’d. 3 The theft an old inlidious Peafant view’d, (They call’d him Battus in the neighbourhood) Hire’d by a wealthy Pylian Prince tc feed His favourite Mares, and watch the generous breed. The thievifh God fufpe&ed him, and took The Hind afide, and thus in whifpers fpoke; “ Difcover not the theft, whoe’er thou be, “ And take that milk-white heifer for thy fee. “ Go, ftranger, cries the clown, fecurely on, “ That (lone (hall fooner tell;” and (how’d a (lone. The God withdrew, but (irait return’d again. In fpeech and habit like a country Swain ; And cries out, “ Neighbour, haft thou feen a ftray “ Of Bullocks and of Heifers pafs this way? “ In the recovery of my cattle join, “ A Bullock and a Heifer (hall be thine. The Peafant quick replies, “ You’ll find ’em there “ In yon dark vale: ” and in the vale they were. The Double bribe had his falfe heart beguil’d : The God, fuccefsful in the fryal, fmil’d ; K 5 “ And 18 2, Poems on feveral Occafions. “ And doll thou thus betray my felf to me ? Me to my felfdoll thou betray \ fays he: Then to a Toucb-Jlone turns the faithlefs Spy, And in liis name records his infamy. The Story of Aglauros, transform'd into a Statue . / This done, the God flew up on high, and pafs’d O’er lofty Athens , by Minerva, grac’d, And wide Munichia, whilll his eyes furvey All the vail region that beneath him lay. ’Twas now the feaft, when each Athenian Maid Her yearly homage to Minerva paid; In caniflers, with garlands cover’d o’er, High on their heads their myftick gifts they bore j And now, returning in a folemn train. The troop of fhining Virgins fill’d the plain. The God well pleas’d beheld the pompous ftrow. And faw the bright proceflion pafs below ; Then veer’d about, and took a wheeling flight. And hover’d o’er them : As the fpreading Kite, That fmells the flaughter’d vidlim from on high. Flies at a diftance, if the P'riefts are nigh. And fails around, and keeps it in her eye j So kept the God the Virgin choir in view. And in flow winding circles round them flew. i Poems on feveral Occafions . As Lucifer excells the meaneft flar. Or, as the full-orb’d Phaebe Lucifer ; So much did Herse all the reft outvy. And gave a grace to the folemnity. Hermes was fir’d, as in the clouds he hung . So the cold Bullet, that with fury flung From Balearick engines mounts on high, Glows in the whirl, and burns along the sky. At length he pitch’d upon the ground, and fliow’d The form divine, the features of a God. Fie knew their virtue o’er a female heart, - And yet he ftrives to better them by art. He hangs his mantle loofe, and fets to ihovv- The golden edging on the Team below ; Adjufts his flowing curls, and m his hand Waves, with an air, the fleep-procuring wand; The glittering fandals to his feet appnes, And to each heel the well-trim’d pinion ties. His ornaments with nicefl'art 'difpiay’d. He feeks th’ apartment of the royal maid. The roof was all with poliflfd Ivory line d, That, richly mix’d, in clouds of Tortoife ihined. Three rooms, contiguous, in a range were place J, The midmoft by the beauteous Herse grace d j Her virgin fillers lodg’d on either nde. Aglauros firft th’ approaching God delay’d, And, as he crofs’d her chamber, ask’d his name, And what his bufinefs was, and whence he came. a T 184 Poems on federal Occafions . “ I come, reply’d the God, from Heaven, to woo “ Your Sifter, and to make an aunt of you ; “ I am the fon and meftfenger of Jove, “ My name is Mercury, my bufinefs Love; “ Do you, kind damfel, take a lover’s part, “ And gain admittance to your filler's heart. She ftar’d him in the face with looks amaz’d. As when fhe on Minerva's fecret gaz’d. And asks a mighty treafure for her hire, And, till he brings it, makes the God retire. Minerva griev’d to fee the Nymph fucceed; And now remembring the late impious deed, When, difobedient to her firi& command, She touch’d the chcft with an unhallow’d hand ; * In big fwoln fighs her inward rage exprefs’d. That heav’d the rifing JEgis on her breaft; Then fought out Envy in her dark abode. Defil’d with repy gore and clots of blood : Shut from the winds, and from the vvholfom skies, In a deep vale the gloomy dungeon lies, Difmal and cold, w here not a beam of light Invades the winter, or difturbs the night. Dire&ly to the cave her courfe fhe fleer’d ; Againft ihe gates her martial lance fhe rear’d ; The gates flew open, and the Fiend appear’d. A pois’nous morfel in her teeih fhe chew’’d, And gorg’d the flefh of Vipers for her food. Poem on feveral Occafions. 185 Minerva loathing, turn’d away her eye ; The hideous monder, rifing heavily. Came dalking forward with a fullen pace. And left her mangled offals on the place. Soon as (he faw the Goddefs gay and bright. She fetch’d a groan at fuch a chearful fight. Livid and meagre were her looks, her eye In foul didorted glances turn’d awry; A hoard of gall her inward parts poffefs’d. And fpread a greennefs o’er her canker’d bread ; Her teeth were brown with rud; and from her tongue. In dangling drops, the dringy poifon hung. She never fmiles but when the wretched weep. Nor lulls her malice with a moment’s deep, Redlefs in fpite : while watchful to deftroy. She pines and fickens at another’s joy; Foe to her felf, didreding and diftred. She bears her own tormenter in her bread. The Goddefs gave (for fhe abhorr’d her fight) A fhort command: “ To Athens fpeed thy flight; “ On curd Aglauros try thy utmod art, “ And fix thy ranked venoms in her heart. This faid, her fpear fhe pufh’d againd the ground, L And mounting from it with an a&ive bound. Flew cff to Heaven: The hag with eyes askew Look’d up, and mutter’d curfes as fhe flew; For fore fhe fretted, and began to grieve At the fuccefs which fhe her felf mud give. Then i %6 Poems on feveral Occafions. Then takes her ftaff, hung round with wreaths of tho;, And fails along, in a black whirlwind born, O’er fields and flowery meadows: where flie fleers-^ ^ Her baneful courfe, a mighty blaft appears, Mildews and blights; the meadows are deface’d. The fields, the flowers, and the whole year laid wafii On mortals next, and peopled towns fhe falls. And breathes a burning plague among their walls. When Athens (he beheld, for arts renown’d. With peace made happy, and with plenty crown’d. Scarce could the hideous Fiend from tears forbear. To find out nothing that deferv’d a tear. Th’ apartment now flie enter’d, where at reft Aglauros lay, with gentle fleep oppreft. To execute Minerva's dire command, She ftroak’d the virgin with her canker’d hand. Then prickly thorns into her breaft convey’d. That flung to madnefs the devoted maid: Her fubtle venom ftill improves the fmart. Frets in the blood, and fellers in. the heart. - To make the work more fure, a fcene Ihe drevty- And place’d before the dreaming virgin’s view Her Sifter’s Marriage, and her glorious fate; Th’ imaginary Bride appears in irate; The Edde-groom with unwonted beauty gloW3£ For Envy magnifies whate’er fhe. Aiows. Fa! Poems on feveral Occafions. 187" Full of the dream, Jglauros pine’d away In tears all night, in darknefs all the day ; Confirm'd like ice, that juft begins to run. When feebly fmitten by the diftant Sun; Or like unwholefome weeds, that fet on fire Are flowly wafted, and in fmoke expire. Given up to envy (for in every thought The thorns, the venom, and the vifion wrought) Oft did fhe call on death, as oft decreed. Rather than fee her fitter’s wiih fucceed. To tell her awful father what had paft : At length before the door her felf ftie caft ; And, fitting on the ground with fullen pride, A paflage to the love-fick God deny’d. The God carefs’d, and for admifiion pray’d. And footh’d in fofteft words th’ envenom’d Maid, In vain he footh’d j “ Begone ! the Maid replies, « Or here I keep my feat, and never rife. “ Then keep thy feat for ever, cries the God, And touch’d the door, wide opening to his rod. Fain would Ihe rife, and ftop him, but file found Her trunk too heavy to forfake the ground ; tier joynts are all benum’d, her hands are pale. And Marble now appears in every nail. As when a Cancer in the body feeds. And gradual death from limb to limb proceeds; So does the chilnefs to each vital part Spread by degrees, and creeps into her heart 5 ’Till i88 Poems on feveral Occafons. ’Till hard’ning every where, and fpeechlefs grown. She fits unmov’d, and freezes to a Stone. But Hill her envious hue and fullen mien Are in the fedentary figure feen. % Eu r o p a 9 s Rape . When now the God his fury had allay’d. And taken vengeance of the ftubborn Maid, From where the bright Athenian turrets rife He mounts aloft, and re-afcends the skies. Jove faw him enter the fublime abodes. And, as he mix’d among the crowd of Gods, Beckon’d him out, and drew him from the reft. And in foft whifpers thus his will expreft. W 0 * ( My trnfty Hermes , by whofe ready aid « Thy Sire’s commands are thro’ the world convey’d, “ Refume thy wings, exert their utmoft force, • ‘ And to the walls of Sidon fpeed thy courfe; “ There find a herd of Heifers wand’ring o’er * ( The neighbouring hill, and drive ’em to the ihore. Thus fpoke the God, concealing his intent. The trufty Hermes on his meflage went. And found the herd of Heifers wand’ring o’er A neighbouring hill, and drove ’em to the /here 5 Where Poems on feveral Oceafions] 189 Where the King’s Daughter with a lovely train Of Fellow-Nymphs, was fporting on the plain* The dignity of empire laid afide, ( For love but ill agrees with kingly pride.) The ruler of the skies, the thundering God, Who ihakes the world’s foundations with a nod. Among a herd of lowing Heifers ran. Frisk’d in a Bull, and bellow’d o’er the plain. Large rolls of fat about his ihoulders clung. And from his neck the double dewlap hung. His skin was whiter than the fnow that lies Unfully’d by the breath of fouthern skies; Small Alining horns on his curl’d forehead Hand, As turn’d and polifh’d by the work-man’s hand; His eye-balls roll’d, not formidably bright. But gaz’d and languifh’d with a gentle light. His every look was peaceful, and expreft The foftnefs of the Lover in the Bead. Agencr 's royal daughter, as (he play’d Among the fields, the milk-white Bull furvey’d. And view’d his fpotlefs body with delight. And at a difiance kept him in her fight. At length fhe pluck’d the rifing flowers, and fed 1 The gentle beaft, and fondly ftroak’d his head. He flood well-pleas’d to touch the charming fair, ; But hardly could confine his pleafure there. And 190 Poems on feveral OccafionP. And now he wantons o’er the neighbouring flrand. Now rowls his body on the yellow fand ; And now, perceiving all her fears decay'd* 4 , Comes tolfing forward to the royal Maid; Gives her his bread to ftroke, and downward turns His grifly brow, and gently hoops his horns. In flowery wreaths the royal Virgin dreft His bending horns, and kindly clapt his bread. ’Till now grown wanton, and devoid of fear. Not knowing that flie prefl the Thunderer, She plac’d her felf upon his back, and rode O’er felds and meadows, heated on the God. • He gently march’d along, and by degrees Left the dry meadow, and approach’d the fcas; Where now h-e dips his hoofs, and wets his thighs^ Now plunges in, and carries off the prize. The frighted Nymph looks backward on the Ihoar,, And hears the tumbling billows round her roar ; But dill (he holds him fad : one hand is born Upon his back; the other grafps a horn: Her train of ruffling garments flies behind. Swells in the air, and hovers in the wind. Through dorms and tempefls he the Virgin bore. And lands her fafe on the Difieati fhore ; Where now, in his divined form array’d. In his True frape he captivates the Maid.; Poems on feveral Occafions, * 9 * Who gazes on him, and with wond’ring eyes Beholds the new majeftick figure rife, His glowing features, and celeftial light. And all the God difcover’d to her fight,. ■> OF ID’s. 192 Poems on feveral Occafions . O V I D’s METAMORPHOSES , BOOK. III. Sthe Story of Cadmus. T7H EN now Agenor had his daughter loft, * * He fent his fon to fearch on every coaft i And fternly bid him to his arms reftore The darling maid, or fee his face no more, But live an exile in a foreign clime ; Thus was the father pious to a crime. The reftlefs youth fearch’d all the world around; But how can Jove in his amours be found ? When tir’d at length with unfuccefsful toil. To fnun his angry Sire and native foil, j Ke goes a fuppliant to the Delphick dome; There asks the God what new-appointed home Should Poems on federal Occafions . 193 Should end his wand’rings, and his toils relieve. The Delphick oracles this anfwer give. “ Behold among the fields a lonely Cow, * Unworn with yokes, unbroken to the plow; 4 Mark well the place where firft fhe lays her down, * There meafure out thy walls, and build thy town, ‘ And from thy guide Baeotia call the land, ‘ In. which the deflin’d walls and town fhall Hand. No fooner had he left the dark abode,’’ 3 ig with the promife of the Delphick God, When in the fields the fatal Cow he view’d, Slor gall’d with yokes, nor worn with fervitude: > Ter gently at a diltance he purfu’d; J \nd, as he walk’d aloof, in filence pray’d To the great Power whofe counfels he obey’d. Ter way through flowery Panope Ihe took, \nd now, Cephifus , crofs’d thy filver brook ; When to the Heavens her fpacious front fhe rais’d, \nd bellow’d thrice, then backward turning gaz’d Dn thofe behind, ’till on the deftin’d place She floop’d, and couch’d amid the rifing gra r s. Cadmus falutes the foil, and gladly hails The new-found mountains, and the namelefs vales, Ind thanks the Gods, and turns about his eye To fee his new dominions round him lie ; Then 194 Poems on federal Occafions. Then fends his fervants to a neighbouring grove For living ftreams, a facrifice to Jove. O’er the wide plain there rofe a fhady wood Of aged trees; in its dark bofom flood A bufhy thicket, pathlefs and unworn, O’er-run with brambles, and perplex’d with thorn s A mid ft the brake a hollow den was found, With rocks and fhelving arches vaulted round. Deep in the dreary Den, conceal’d from day. Sacred to Mars, a mighty Dragon lay. Bloated with poifon to a monflrous fize; Fire broke in flalhes when he glance’d his eyes: His towering crefl was glorious to behold, His fhoulders and his fides were fcal’d with gold ; Three tongues he brandifh’d when he charg’d his foes: His teeth flood jaggy in three dreadful rows. The Tyrians in the Den for water fought. And with their urns explor’d the hollow vault : From fide to fide their empty urns rebound. And roufe the fleepy Serpent with the found. Strait he befiirs him, and is feen to rife ; ^ And now with dreadful hidings fills the skies, - And darts his forky tongues, and rouls his glaring eyes. J The Tyrians drop their veffeis in the fright, All pale and trembling at the hideous fight. Spire above fpire uprear’d in air he flood, And gazing round him, over-lock’d the wood : Then Poems on fever al Occafions . 195 ''hen floating on the ground, in circles rowl’d; hen leap’d upon them in a mighty fold. )f fuch a bulk, and fuch a montlrous ftze, ~ "he Serpent in the polar circle lies, 'hat flretches over half the Northern skies. J 1 vain the Tyrians on their arms rely, I vain attempt to fight, in vain to fly : II their endeavours and their hopes are vain; )me die entangled in the winding train; 3me are devour’d; or feel a Ioathfom death, ,voIn up with blafls of peftilential breath. And now the fcorching Sun was mounted high, i all its luftre, to the noon-day sky ; r hen, anxious for his friends, and fill’d with cares, o fearch the woods th’impatient Chief prepares. Lion’s hide around his loins he wore, he well-pois’d Javelin to the field he bore ur’d to blood ; the far-dellroying Dart, nd, the belt weapon, an undaunted Heart. Soon as the youth approach’d the fatal place, e faw his fervants breathlefs on the grafs; he fcaly foe amid their corps he view’d, l.sking at eafe, and feafting in their blood, I Such friends, he cries, deferv’d a longer date ; But Cadmus will revenge, or fiiare their fate. Then 196 Poems on feveral Occafions. Then heav’d a Stone, and rifing to the throw. He fent it in a whirlwind at the foe : A tower, afiaulted by fo rude a ilroke. With all its lofty battlements had (hook; But nothing here th’ unwieldy rock avails. Rebounding harmlefs from the plaited feales. That, firmly join’d, preferv’d him from a wound With native armour crufted all around. With more fuccefs the Dart unerring flew. Which at his back the raging warriour threw; Amid the plaited feales it took its courfe. And in the fpinal marrow fpent its force. The monitor hifs’d aloud, and rage’d in vain, And writh’d his body to and fro with pain; And bit the fpear, and wrench’d the wood away The point kill buried in the marrow lay. And now his rage, increafing with his pain. Reddens his eyes, and beats in every vein; Churn’d in his teeth the foamy venom rofe, Whilft from his mouth a blalt of vapours flows. Such as th’ infernal Stygian waters call; The plants around him wither in the blalt. Now in a maze of rings he lies enrowl’d. Now all unravel’d, and without a fold; Now, like a torrent, with a mighty force Bears down the foreft in his boifterous courfe. Cadmus gave back, and on the Lion’s fpoil Suttain’d the Ihock, then forc’d him to recoil; Poems on feveral Occafions. 19/ The pointed Jav’lin warded off his rage: Mad with his pains, and furious to engage, The Serpent champs the fteel, andbites the fpear, ’Till blood and venom all the point befmear. But ftill the hurt he yet receive’d was flight; For, whilft the Champion with redoubled might Strikes home the Jav’lin, his retiring foe Shrinks from the wound, and difappoints the blow. The dauntlefs Heroe ftill purfues his ftroke, And preffes forward, ’till a knotty Oak Retards his foe, and ftops him in the rear; Full in his throat he plung’d the fatal fpear. That in th’ extended neck a paffage found. And pierce’d the folid timber through the wound. Fix’d to the reeling trunk, with many a ftroke Of his huge tail, he lafti’d the fturdy Oak; ’Till fpent with toil, and labouring hard for breath. He now lay twilling in the pangs of death. Cadmus beheld him wallow in a flood Of fwimming poifon, intermix’d with blood; When fuddenly a fpeech was heard from high, (The fpeech was heard, nor was the fpeaker nigh) “ Why doft thou thus with fecret pleafure fee, ( “ Infulting Man ! what thou thy felf lhalt be ? Aftonifh’d at the voice, he flood amaz’d, : And all around with inward horror gaz’d: L When tyS Poems on feveral Occafions. When Pallas fwife descending from the Skies, Pallas , the guardian of the bold and wife. Bids him plow «p the field, and fcatter round The Dragon's Teeth o’er all the furrow’d ground 5 Then tells the youth how to his wond’rlng eyes Embattled armies from the field ftiould rife. He fovvs the Teeth at Pallas' s command. And flings the Future People from his hand. The clods grow warm, and crumble where he fows; And now the pointed fpears advance in rows; Now nodding plumes appear, and fhining crefts. Now the broad fhoulders and the rifing breafts ; O’er all the field the breathing harvefl fwarms, A growing hold, a crop of men and arms. So through the parting ftage a figure rears Its body up, and limb by limb appears By juft degrees ; ’till all the Man arife, 1 And in his full proportion ftrikes the eyes. Cadmus furpriz’d, and ftartled. at the fight Of his new foes, prepar’d himfelf for fight :• When one cry’d out, “ Forbear, fond man, forbear 4 ‘ To mingle in a blind promifeuous war. This faid, he ftruck his Brother to the ground, Himfelf expiring by Another’s wound ; 199 Poems on feveral Occafions . Nor did the Third his conqueft long furvive. Dying ere fcarce he had begun to live. The dire example ran through all the field, ’Till heaps of brothers were by brothers kill’d ; The furrows fwam in blood: and only five " Of all the vaft increafe were left alive. Echion one, at Pallas's command. Let fall the guiltlefs weapon from his hand; And with the reft a peaceful treaty makes. Whom Cadmus as his friends and partners takes: So founds a city on the promis’d earth. And gives his new Boeotian empire birth. Here Cadmus reign’d; and now one would have guefs’d The royal founder in his exile bleft : Long did he live within his new abodes, Ally’d by marriage to the deathlefs Gods; And, in a fruitful wife’s embraces old, A long increafe of children’s children told : But no frail man, however great or high. Can be concluded bleft before he die. Aftaon was the firft of all his race. Who griev’d his Grandfire in his borrow'd face ; Condemn’d by ftern Diana to bemoan JThe branching horns, and vifage not his own ; L 2 To aoo Poems on fever al Occafions . To faun his once-lov’d dogs, to bound away, Th Ana from their Huntfman to become their Prey. If; And yet confider why the change was wrought, A You’ll find it his misfortune, not his fault; V Or if a fault, it was the .fault of chance : F For how can guilt proceed from ignorance ? J |1 The Transformation of Action into t 1 a Stag , In afairChace a fnady mountain flood. Well ftore’d with game, and mark’d with trails of blood. Here did the huntl'men ’till the heat of day Purfue the Stag, and load themfelves with prey ; When thus Afl&on calling to the reft: li My friefads, fays he, our fport is at tne beft. “ The Sun is high advance’d, and downward faeds “ His burning beams diredly on our heads; “ Then by confent abftain from further fpoils, “ Call off the dogs, and gather up the toiles ; “ And ere to-morrow’s Sun begins his race, « Take the cool morning to renew the chace. They all confent, and in a chearful train ^ The jolly huntfmen, loaden with the fUin, > P v eturn in triumph from the fultry plain. * Down in a vale with Pine and Cyprefs clad, p r Yefa’d with gentle winds, and brown with faade. The 201 Poems on feveral Occafions. The chafte Dianas private haunt, there flood Full in the centre of the darkfome wood A fpacious Grotto, all around o’er-grown With hoary mofs, and arch’d with Pamice-flone, From out its rocky clefts the waters flow. And trickling fw'ell into a lake below. Nature had every where fo play’d her part. That every where Ihe feem’d to vie with Art. Here the bright Goddefs, toil’d and chafe’d with W r as wont to bathe her in the cool retreat. Here did lhe now’ with all her train refort. Panting with heat, and breathlefs from the fport; Her armour-bearer laid her bow afide, Some loos’d her fandals, fome her veil unty’d ; Each bufy Nymph her proper part undreft; While Crocale , more handy than the red, Gather’d her flowing hair, and in a noofe Bound it together, whilft her own hung loofe. Five of the more ignoble fort by turns Fetch up the water, and unlade their urjis. Now all undreft the Ihining Goddeis flood, When young Attaon, wilder’d in the wood. To the cool grott by his hard fate betray’d, The fountains fill'd with naked Nymphs furvey'd. The frighted virgins Ihriek’d at the furprize, (The foreft echo’d with their piercing cries.) L 3 Then 201 Poems on feverd Occafions • Then in a huddle round their Goddefs preft: She, proudly eminent above the reft. With blulhes glow’d; fuch blufhes as adorn The ruddy welkin, or the purple morn : And tho’ the crowding Nymphs her body hide. Half backward Ihrunk, and view’d him from afide. Surpriz’d, at iirft Ihe would have fnatch’d her Bow But fees the circling waters round her flow; Thefe in the hollow of her hand fhe took. And dalh’d ’em in his face, while thus Ihe fpoke: “ Tell, if thou can’ft, the wond’rous fight difclos’d “ A Goddefs Naked to thy view expos’d. This faid, the Man begun to difappear By flow degrees, and ended in a Deer. A riflng horn on either brow he wears. And ftretches cut his neck, and pricks his ears; Rough is his skin, with fudden hairs o’er-grovvn, His bofom pants with fears before unknown. Transform’d at length, he flies away in hafte. And wonders %vhy he flies away fo fall. But as by chance, within a neighb’ring brook. He faw his branching horns and alter’d look, Wretched Action ! in a doleful tone He try’a to fpeak, but only gave a groan ; And as he wept, within the wat’ry glafs He faw the big round drops, with fllent pace. Run trickling down a favage hairy face. Poems on federal Occafions. 203 What fhould he do? Or feek his old abodes, Or herd among the Deer, and skulk in woods ? Here fhame difluades him, there his fear prevails. And each by turns his aking heart aflails. As he thus ponders, he behind him fpies His opening Hounds, and now he hears their cries: A generous pack, or to maintain the cnace, Or fnuff the vapour from the fcented grafs. He bounded off with fear, and fwiftly ran Q’er craggy mountains, and the flowery plain ; Through brakes and thickets forc’d his way, and flew Through many a ring, where once, he did purfuc. In vain he oft endeavour’d to proclaim His new misfortune, and to tell his name; Nor voice nor words the brutal tongue {applies ; From fhouting men, and horns, and dogs he flies, Deafen’d and ftunn’d with their promifcuous cries. When now the fleeted of the pack, that prelb Clofe at his heels, and fprung before the reft, Had faflen’d on him, ftraight another pair Hung on his wounded haunch, and held him there, ’Till all the pack came up, and every hound Tore the fad Huntfman grov’ling on the ground, Who now appear’d but one continu’d wound. ! With dropping tears his bitter fate he moans. And fills the mountain with his dying grQans. I_» A, His 204 Poems on feveral Occafions . His fervants with a piteous look he fpiea, And turns about his fupplicating eyes. His fervants, ignorant of what had chance’d,’ With eager hake and joyful fhouts advance d. And call’d their Lord ASiaon to the game; He {hook his head in anfwer to the name; He heard, but wiih’d he had indeed been gone, Or only to have Hood a looker-on. But, to his grief, he finds himfelf too near. And feels his rav’nous dogs with fury tear Their wretched maker panting in a Deer. fhe Birth of Bacchus. Aftaon's fufferings, and Diana's rage, Did all the thoughts of Men and Gods engage; Some call’d the evils, which Diana wrought. Too great, and difproportion’d to the fault; Others again ekeem’d AElceon 's woes Fit for a Virgin Goddefs to impofe. The hearers into different parts divide, . And reafons are produce’d on either fide. Juno alone, of all that heard the news. Nor would condemn the Goddefs, nor excufe : She heeded not thejukice of the deed, But joy’d to fee the race of Cadmus bleed ; Poem oft feveral Occafions . 205 For ftill Ihe kept Europa in her mind. And, for her fake, detefted all her kind,] Befides, to aggravate her hate, Ihe heard How Semele , to Jove 's embrace preferr’d, Was now grown big with an immortal load, And carry’d in her womb a future God. Thus terribly incens’d, the Goddefs broke To fudden fury, and abruptly fpoke. “ Are my reproaches offo fmall a force ? “ ’Tis time I then purfue another courle : It is decreed the guilty wretch lhall die, « If I’m indeed the Miftrefs of the Sky; «« If rightly ftyl’d among the powers above “ The Wife and Sifter of the thund’ring Jove, *' (And none can fure a Sifter’s right deny) “ It is decreed the guilty wretch ftiall die. “ She boafts an honour I can hardly claim; “ Pregnant (he rifes to a Mother’s name; “ While proud and vain Ihe triumphs in her Jove, “ And (hows'the glorious tokens of his love : 1 “ But if I’m ftill the miftrefs of the skies, 4 u By her own lover the fond beauty dies. This faid, defending in a yellow cloud. Before the gates of Semele Ihe ftood. Old Bern's decrepit fhape (he wears. Her wrinkled vifege, and her hoary hairs; L s Whilft 2o6 Poems on feveral Occafions . Whilfl in her trembling gait (he totters on, And learns to tattle in the Nurfe’s tone. The Gcddefs, thus difguis’d in age, beguil’d With pieafmg ftories her falfe Fofter-child. Much did (he talk of love, and when (he came To mention to the Nymph her lover’s name. Fetching a figh, and holding down her head, “ ’Tis well, fays (he, if all be true that’s faid. “ But trull me, child, I’m much inclin’d to fear e ‘ Some counterfeit in this your Jupiter. “ Many an honed well-defigning maid, “ Has been by thefe pretended Gods betray’d. “ But if he be indeed the thund’ring Jove, ;; Bid him, when next he courts the rites of love, Defcend triumphant from th’etherial sky, “ In all the pomp of his divinity; «« Encompafs’d round by thofe celellial charms. With which he fils th’ immortal Juno 's arms. Th’unwary Nymph, enfnar’d with what (he faid, Defir’d of Jove , when next he fought her bed. To grant a certain gift which (he would chufe ; “ Fear net, reply’d the God, that I’ll refufe “ Whate'er you ask: May Styx confirm.my voice, Chufe what you will, and you (hall have your choice. “ Then, fays the Nymph, when next you feek my Arms, “ May you defcend in thofe celeftial charms. “ With Poems on feveral Occajions. 2.07 « With which your Juno's bofcm you cnrkme, t( And fill with tranfport Heaven’s immortal dam3. The God furpriz’d would fain have Hopp’d her voice ; But he had iworn, and fire had made her cnoice. To keep his promife he afcends, and fhrov.ds His awful brow in whirlwinds and in clonus » Whiifl all around, in terrible array. His thunders rattle, and his lightnings play. And yet, the dazling luflre to abate, He fet not out in all his pomp and Hate, Clad in the mildefl lightning ol the skies, And arm’d with thunder of the fmaLcit rze • Not thofe huge bolts, by which the Giants fiaia Lay overthrown on the Phlegrean plain. 'Twas of a lefler mould, and lighter weight > They call it Thunder of a Second rate. For the rough Cyclops, who by Jove s command Temper’d the bolt, and turn’d it to his hand. Work’d up lefs flame and fury in its make. And quench’d it fooner in the Handing lake. Thus dreadfully adorn’d, with horror bright, Th’illuHrious God, defending from his height, 4 Came rulhing on her in a Horra of light. The mortal dame, too feeble to engage The light’ning’s flafhes, and the thunders rage, Comum'd 2o8 Poems on feveral Occafeons . Confum’d am id ft the glories fhe defir’d. And in the terrible embrace expir’d. But, to preferve his off-fpring from the tomb, Jo