THE BIRTH OF GENIUS.

THE BIRTH OF GENIUS . ANALYSIS OF THE BIRTH OF GENIUS .

Genius , the offspring of Judgement and Wit , is attended at his birth by the Power who instills virtuous dispositions , and by the liberal endowments of Nature : also by the Sciences , who enrich him with their gifts . As he advances in life , he is instructed in the proper use of them . A preceptor becoming necessary , Pleasure and Assiduity offer themselves . The mother prefers the first , the father the second . The mother , though defeated in her intention , contrives to place her son under the influence of Pleasure ; in consequence of which , he is lost for a time to every good purpose ; but on the repentance of the parents , the justice of the Divine Being restores their son , who , placed under the care of Assiduity , arrives at the excellence of his nature .

GENIUS and learning tho' we gain , Genius and learning bless in vain ; How shared with error and with woe , The progress of my tale would shew , Till application call'd them forth , And virtue gives its labours worth . A pair of heavenly origin , O'er empire once were born to shine ; The king received from Jove's high hand , His skill profound , his just command ; And from a ray of ether's flame , The queen deriv'd her dazzling frame . One child they had alone to bless , With hopes of an extended race . To hail the stranger's dawning hours , Assembled all the gifted powers : As rank prescrib'd they now resort , And first , Carmenta paid her court . I come , she said , oh ! most rever'd , Accept the offering I've prepar'd ; The brilliant presents others give From mine shall higher worth receive . Behold ! this phial's limpid juice , In every scene of sovereign use . From the pure lily's virgin breast , I charm'd the chrystal dew , The beam which first Aurora drest , As faithfully I drew . With these a zephyr's breath infus'd , Then pierc'd the briny wave ; And thence this beauteous pearl produc'd , From Ocean's richest cave . While thus to form and more refine , I heavenly fire impell'd , Within my essence I confine , Hermetically seal'd . This essence still from chance secure , No time or use shall waste ; And prayers shall best extract it pure , And leave its fountain chaste . As other graces issue forth , To raise the prince's name , My gift conveys them richer worth , And yields them pure to fame . The next the prince's birth had drawn , To hail with gifts his early dawn ; Advanced with step of easy grace , And half unveil'd her lovely face ; While beauteous flowers adorn'd her head , A sun was on her breast display'd . A cabinet and key she bore , And thus set forth her offer'd store : While freely all the gifted train , Adorn your offspring , bless your reign , My works which have for ages been , And yet , alas ! but dimly seen , And careless view'd by common sight , My works , this key displays to light : And if applied with skilful hand , By these five doors my stores command . This door unfolded , charms the sight . From this the powers of sound delight . Here Flora has her perfumes drest . And here Pomona meets the taste . But ah ! the fifth essay with care , Angels , or fiends inhabit there . From this my works their worth receive : Here it expires , or here shall live . Here lives offence ! here high reward ! Carmenta's phial is your guard ! The next an endless scroll had brought . The next a vase with wonder wrought , Form'd to receive and to produce , Amazing stores to instant use . These gifts insured the royal pair . A joy disdaining fear to share ; They scarcely call'd in Hope to see , The honours of their progeny . E'en now around his infant frame , The beams of future glory flame ; Yet of the fates they wish'd to know , The happy future sanction'd now . Sanguine , they strike their magic rod , To draw them from their dark abode ; Where far removed from mortal ken , Decrees of gods they write for men : Their brazen pens , their juices lave , From Cocytus's inky wave ; And straight th' irrevocable word , On adamantine leaves record . With wond'rous skill the distaff's wound , And soon the wheel of life goes round ; The sheers suspend , the thread is spun , Tis cut — and mortal life is done . The royal pair these prayers repeat , To draw them from their awful seat ; Dread sisters of the rosy hours , Daughters of Jove ! relentless powers ! Who write with an eternal pen , The firm decree of gods on men , Sisters three , enrob'd in white , Appear , and sanction our delight . Ascend , and from your dark abodes , Shew us the bright decrees of Gods : And lo ! dark clouds obscure the light , With semblance premature of night . Tempest succeeds the Zephyr's breeze , And troubled waves to glassy seas : Confusion thunders thro' the skies , And stern the destinies arise . Earth cleaves , and , at their near approach , Fair Order shudders from their touch . Tell us , they cry , why we must rise , To trouble earth and vex the skies ; While we by partial call are staid , The work of worlds remains delay'd ; Summon'd by you we yet are come , Then hear our words , for they are doom : The Prince , from many potent pow'rs , Has brilliant gifts to gild his hours ; But all is vain they might display , If shorten'd life forbid their stay ; And ah ! his wheel of life appears Inclin'd to stop at eighteen years ; But ere our work decisive prove , Still we must join in hate and love ; If firm the thread of life shall keep , The wheel may stop , death is but sleep , And even from that sleep to free , Admits of possibility ; But circumstance will so obtain , That scarce a ray from hope we gain , One hint observe and well receive , ( All alas that we can give ; ) Virtuous pursuits wait glorious ends , And much depends on choice of friends . Hastening th' attendant shades away , This said , they quit the glare of day ; Ghastly they smiled , their torch they fir'd , And with the jar of elements retir'd . For shades , shines Phoebus ' radiant beam , And what the niggard fates scarce deem , As possible to human skill , Hope enters ready to fulfil . A thousand schemes their minds prepare , Sanguine in each to shun the snare . Their orders issue thro' the land , And all the wise before them stand ; The mystic presents to explain , That nought might be bestow'd in vain ; These give Carmenta's gift it's force , And shew religion virtue's source : All other means prove insecure , To leave it safe and draw it pure . The Cabinet they next explore , Of various charms , a wondrous store ; From the first door to vision rise , What nature's curious hand supplies ; Expanding all the wond'ring sense , To beauty and benevolence ; And here — the masters skill'd to teach , Explain what human pow'rs can reach . The fine gradations far they see , Till lost in vast infinity . Immense , till distance shades their light , Minute , they lessen from the sight ; The second door unfolds to cheer With pleasing sounds th' enraptur'd ear ; Here intercourse , its bliss receives , And heav'nly conversation lives ; Nor here the master's skill is less , The force of language to impress ; Than wake the sounds that touch the heart , And all their power to charm impart . The two succeeding doors display , What lib'ral nature can convey . Our pleasures with our wants can sort , And lure us to our own support ; And ever faithful to her rights , From harm repels , to good incites . The masters shew the prudent care , That ought these bounteous gifts to share ; And punishment she will exert , O'er those who waste or who pervert . The skilful masters next unroll The windings of the awful scroll , And teach , tho' earth her dust will claim , Deeds shall retain their place in fame , And actions , vicious or sublime , Shall live accurs'd , or blest , thro' time . Next , the internal world they view , And there their pupils ' wonder drew , And more minutely to explore , Open the last , th' important door ; It they approach with sacred awe , And first Carmenta's phial draw , Whose sacred essence can refine , All mortal gift by aid divine ; Then , straight they touch those springs to wake , From which all deeds their merit take , Above cold maxims , there they shew , The generous act exalted glow ; Here precept takes its force to warm , And virtues wear a living charm ; For faint assent , here faith has given , To ardent hope her absent heaven ; For forms here warm devotions Devotion , that can bind th' Almighty's arm , And of its thunder his right hand disarm , She passes quick Heav'ns lofty chrystal walls , And the high gates fly open when she calls ; Her voice did once the sun's swift chariot stay , And on the verge of Heav'n held back the day . BLACKMORE . rise , To wrest the blessing from the skies ; Here justice melts at mercy's charms , And guilt by penitence disarms ; For tardy alms cold duties guide , Here nameless charities reside ; Here tenderest sympathies are found , And nature seals her firmest bond ; By these , impell'd to deeds of fame , The hero spreads his awful name , The sacred guardians of the land , 'Tis here that patriot minds expand ; Where human laws are weak to bind , Here sense of honour leads the mind , 'Tis Liberty , 'tis nature's school , Where virtue's unconfin'd to rule ; And here arise those arts with grace , Which learning is so proud to dress ; Beyond the critic line she draws , Here warm imagination glows ; Her rules may harmony impart , Here rise the sounds that warm the heart . Sweet poetry ! the charms are thine , That here the sister arts combine ; And here deserve thy tripple wreathe , Where music speaks , and paintings breathe ; And let th' according chaplet be , Inscrib'd to heav'nly harmony ; For Liberty and Nature's school , Teach graces unattain'd by rule . The prince was quickly skill'd to reach , Th' extent of all that art could teach ; To each he gave a master's claim , And for a trophy sign'd his name ; And soon their easy task was o'er , For Learning could inform no more . The parents , with exulting strains , Declare a friend alone remains ; And early there their care shall be , And well observ'd their far decree , That all who can adorn a court , From earth's far peopl'd climes resort , That for their son with high reward , They choose a friend his youth to guard ; The oracle they thus pursu'd , And hop'd their evil fate subdu'd , Among the first resorting there , Two equally divide their care ; Tutor'd by fashion and by art , One won the queen's consenting heart ; The other , veil'd by modesty , Yet gain'd the king's approving eye ; The first , with self-assuring mein , Gaily approach'd the brilliant queen ; No modest doubts her claims prevent , No aukward fears produced restraint ; By art , with lilies vied her neck , And borrow'd roses stain'd her cheek , With soften'd voice , and studied smiles , She thus the easy queen beguiles — You spoke your wishes , charming queen , And lo ! th' accomplish'd world are seen . So with the first my claims are brought , And more than all , with justice fraught ; The hours of joy bright queen are mine , And I with youth and beauty shine ; No drudging labour can oppress , Whenever I am call'd to bless ; Perhaps your Lord , by means severe , Will try to shun the fate you fear ; With joy repelling eye will blast , The time of pleasure youth should taste . If there thou yield , thy son with grief , Will court his fate as wish'd relief ; Steady , a kindred pow'r defend , In me fair queen protect a friend . Her polish'd grace the queen approv'd , And thought a kindred pow'r she lov'd , One that could fortune's gifts employ , To brighten every hour with joy . Vainly the king she would ensnare , For him , her words dissolv'd in air ; His modest suppliant he view'd , Who silent yet before him stood ; An hour-glass in her hand she bore , An amaranth in her hair she wore ; But doubtful by her dress display'd , Its folds were form'd of light and shade ; She stood thus dubious in her worth , Waiting till Judgment call'd her forth ; Nor , till a favouring look she caught , Own'd the pretensions she had brought ; And then in words of simple frame , She thus advanc'd her modest claim — I have no brilliant parts to boast , Nor was I train'd with art or cost ; I seldom with the gay am seen , The great dislike my humble mien ; But those who have me most carest ; Will say I grateful am at least ; And own thro' me it was they shone , And tell of wonders I have done ; By you directed , mighty lord , Wonders again they shall record ; No lazy spell infests the ground , Where I am lov'd and I am found ; If your protection I may ask , To guard from evil be my task . Friendship unchang'd resides above , And there alone dwells equal love ; While other blessings strew our road , Faith points to these as promis'd good ; E'en wedlock may this evil share , And Wit and Judgment sometimes jar . Our monarchs , tho' of heav'nly birth , Must here partake the lot of earth ; Their different tastes opinion guides , An interest dear their heart divides ; Their counsels each themselves obey , And leave disputes to vulgar clay . Invested with supreme command , Which open force could ne'er withstand , The king with public honours grac'd , And near his son his favorite plac'd ; To her confided all his stores , And named her guardian of his hours . The queen these counsels did not share , And opposition would not dare ; In wiles she trusted for her cause , To render vain the monarch's laws ; To give persuasion to her tongue , She tun'd her favorite's syren song ; If flattering praise could not secure , She dazzling interest gave to lure ; Luxuriant charms around her spread , With her own roses crown'd her head , And all seducing to command , With honour's palms she grac'd her hand ; In each some lurking spell there lay , Potent to charm and to betray ; The first alluring as she draws , She baited with the world's applause ; Then specious as the theme she sung , The syren song flow'd from her tongue ; Virtue she sung a cheating dream ; High sounding honours were her theme ; She sung , that names thro' time rever'd , Thro' toils and death had madly err'd ; Her grateful palms she then display'd , A meed for favorites fortune made ; These too enchanting snares she spread , Her soft temptations artful laid , To draw the Prince to leave the bound , Which Judgment fix'd to safety's ground , No orisons now pierce the skies , For aught Carmenta's gift supplies ; Its gay exterior all its merit , Its form alone without its spirit . And now the pride of all his store , The prince but as a bauble wore ; A trinket , taking reputation , As pearls of price were gems of fashion ; And led by that capricious guide , Thrown by the changing mode aside . Often the prince now pass'd the bound , His father gave to safety's ground ; Lost to the pow'r which should defend , His guardian is no more a friend ; Nor doubtful longer she appears , All sable is the robe she wears . 'Twere endless here to name the train , That took from hence a mortal stain ; Grant them the boon , forgot to lie , Remember'd , it were infamy . Needful supply for luxury's food , The charms of interest next subdu'd ; The hoards of avarice stood display'd , Gaily the golden stores were spread : There cheerless nature sunk in gloom , 'Twas virtue and affection's tomb ; There nought of value now remains , In aught the cabinet contains ; For sordid interest's transient claim , He sold the glories of his name . Oh avarice ! were thy deeds forgot , 'Twould save humanity a blot ; Peru nor Mexico should tell , India or Africa reveal ; Hide in the silence of the grave ; Passions which nature never gave . The injurer and the injur'd sleep , Let memory then no vigils keep ; Oblivion ! their foul deeds receive , But ah ! condemn'd by fame they live ; History unsparing tells thro' time , The savage wonders of their crime . By pleasure's fascinating pow'r , The rosy garland next he wore ; No more he visits safety's ground , No guardian for his hours is found ; His mother's favorite takes the reins , And binds him in her pleasing chains ; Silky and soft , and ting'd with gold , But there was magic in their mold ; Than adamantine bonds more strong , To hold the hapless captive long ; Their pow'r resistless they impart , The mind to crush and bind the heart ; Furies that into storms awake , For influence dread dominion take ; Chaos of elemental strife ! Here work your tragedies of life . If to that fatal scene she lead , I would not with my favorite tread ; Let darkness veil its kindred scene , Unseen the horrors wrought within ; Dread gulfs are hid in fairy bowers , And poisons lurk in beauteous flowers ; Who near their precincts dare to stray , Contagions meet , or wild dismay . There nothing curious be my choice , To shun the daring forms of vice ; But some unaw'd your haunts shall view , And mark that vengeance dwells with you ; With gifts most meet for actions foul , Her worms of conscience for the soul ; If error's labyrinth I must show , Thro' scenes less guilty let me go ; Not interest fell , nor vain applause , Nor where tempestuous passion draws , But rather where the drowsy sense , Is lull'd by pamper'd indolence ; There sunk in unaspiring ease , I mourn my favorite lost to please ; No good or ill incites his powers , Lost to the guardian of his hours ; He festive wreathes alone desires , Whose magic , damps his nobler fires ; Their sweets his senses all compose , While music its soft aid bestows ; The goblet fair and downy couch , Thus with his threaten'd fate approach ; Languid — scarce moves life's lazy thread , It ceases now , the wheel is staid , Unbroken firm , the thread to keep , The wheel is stay'd , and death is sleep . Reclin'd upon an ebon throne , The drowzy god whom poppies crown , Receives him in his silent shade , With hanging juniper o'erspread ; The lizard and the dormouse there , Forget the rigour of the year ; Around them lulling vapours rise , From incense , mortals ' sacrifice , Attracting vapours to renew , The cowslip and the mandrake's dew ; Clouds wrought in twilight's doubtful doom , Inclose the borders of the gloom ; Nor moon's calm beam , nor sun's bright ray , There draw the herald of the day ; But oft the beetle wheels around , And there the moping owl is found . The royal pair here weeping turn , And past divisions deeply mourn ; They own the justice of their fate , And mercy thus they supplicate — As error and distress are ours , Be pardon yours Almighty powers ; And while our humble prayers we pour , And all your Providence adore , If past offence we may repair , To our repentance , oh ! declare ! Mercy remitting sorrow's date , Thus answers by relenting fate — For crimes be true repentance yours , And for repentance pardon ours . Tho' won by penitential tears , She melts the sternness which he wears ; Mercy thus potent to subdue , Were weak not join'd by justice too ; Attend the mandate of the skies , So may your humbled hopes arise ; For you bright queen to heaven allied , Be duty to your Lord your guide ; Where those would lead who should obey , Disorders rule for equal sway ; You sire who boast celestial birth , Jove's mighty attribute on earth , 'Tis yours to clear the misty way , And lead your son to life and day ; Directed by your mighty powers , Recall the guardian of his hours : To execute th' important scheme , Her labor lightly she shall deem ; Tis yours to seal her doubtful worth , And well instructed send her forth ; For ere the wheel of life goes round , Some worthy offering must be found . He ceas'd , and well his words imprest , An ardour in the monarch's breast ; His hasten'd step he instant bent , To trace the path his favorite went ; He saw her on a rock reclin'd , Where persevering ivy twin'd ; And as an hour-glass now she turn'd , Its wasting sands she deeply mourn'd . Soon as the king appear'd in view , Her garments lost their sable hue : For as the shades dispell'd by light , The black dissolv'd in spotless white . Soon as the king her eye had caught , A sprig of amaranth she brought ; And wav'd it with triumphant air , And plac'd it in her flowing hair ; Whilst prostrate at his feet she fell , Her artless words her raptures tell ; Prostrate she says — hail mighty Lord ! By you neglected I have err'd , Oh guide me that I may restore , The Prince whose loss we all deplore ; The creeping ivy climbs to height , And insects lofty trees invite . Deeds impossible to thought , Are by application wrought ; By you directed mighty Lord , Wonders again they shall record . Her worth neglected touch'd his heart , Relenting thoughts these words impart . Thy pardon give and mine receive , Cherish'd by me in future live ; Me to decree the gods inspire , Thee they endow with active fire ; With winged feet then speed thy skill To gain the summit of the hill . Twelve sisters , sent on high import , ( The shining nymphs of Phoebus ' court ; ) Move in swift succession there , Swift as they move , oh ! watch with care ; Ardent the aid of each implore , For ah ! they will return no more . The monarch ceas'd , and while the sound Yet vibrates in the air around , She flew with more than mortal speed , Over the intervening mead . And soon she gains th' important hill , Chosen her trials to fulfil ; No more , she says , my weaken'd sense Is lull'd by charms of indolence , Nor driv'n by guilt to misery ; Yet worse than useless shall I be , For judgment now decides my worth , And leads me to call genius forth . Essaying then the rising ground , Twelve nymphs of heav'nly form she found ; And fair they were , of heav'nly show , And locks of gold stray'd o'er their brow . Their locks of gold , they wav'd in air , And tears bedew'd their faces fair ; With varied hues each garment shines , Their girdles shew'd the circling signs ; And short their dress , and fleet their course , Not stay'd by courtesy or force . Oh nymphs divine ! our heroine cry'd ; That heed me not but onward glide , To mortals sure your errands be , And each some treasure has for me . Mortal attend , they quick return'd , For not unsought our gifts are earn'd : Let every trifling thought give place , And strive to conquer , in thy race . They said , and bid the fair pursue , In swift succession as they flew , Then Application quick pursued ; Temptations nobly she subdued ; Tho' indolence her downy bed , And pleasure , flaunting roses spread . — The steady nymph disdainful ey'd Their tempting sweets , and thus replied , I see the stings thro' pleasure's snare , And quick she pass'd each heavenly fair . With wonder working influence fraught , Some fair occasion still she caught , From the wing'd speed of HOURS to take , Spells that Genius might awake ; With some the path of glory treads , And there collects his shining deeds ; While some Carmenta's gift supplies , With song to charm the destinies ; From some she takes and learns to wield , Virtue's secure protecting shield . Thus , arm'd to conquer , on she sped , By Virtue guarded , Judgment led ; She soon the dusky borders found , Where Genius in soft chains was bound ; And soon her burnish'd shield she shew'd , Quick thro' the gloom its radiance glow'd ; The gloom receiv'd its influence bright , And shade dissolv'd in radiant light ; She pure Carmenta's phial draws ; On high the meek petition rose ; And to appease the destinies , To Genius all its aids supplies ; To softest notes she tun'd her tongue , And thus she sung Carmenta's song : Ye nymphs of Pluto's dark domain Receive your drowzy God ; With gifts from Phoebus ' brilliant train , I visit this abode . If man , by selfish passion sway'd , Can pity , hear and spare ; With power and mercy Gods array'd , Accept an ardent prayer . Warm from the heart these words shall rise , That must conclude my song ; The Gods will own the sacrifice , And their own gifts prolong . Your gifts shall ever speak your praise , Bright attributes of power , And the rich bounties of your grace To your own glory soar . Wake Prince , she said , I call thee forth , Decided is my dubious worth ; My labours with thy presence crown , Labours that would be all thy own . Thy energy must spread the use , Of this fair phial's limpid juice ; My labours with thy presence crown , Labours that would be all thy own . Fancy would droop without thy aid , And all its op'ning flowers would fade ; If fates are sooth'd , to thee belong The notes that raise the heavenly song . Let deeds of glory thee inspire ; Without thee , deeds of fame expire ; He rose , his presence nature warms , For him extended all her charms . He cull'd her gaily op'ning flowers , And with them dress'd his beauteous bowers ; 'Twas he inspir'd the poet's dream , On northern hills , by Mulla's stream ; Or where the silver waters glide , Of Thames's deep majestic tide , When Spencer wrote and Sidney smil'd , And generous friendship care beguil'd ; Time them on Avon's banks receives , And amaranthine wreathes he gives ; There fairies frisk beneath the moon , In darkness witching spells are done . He touch'd with skill the awful band , And charmed there the Passions stand . He tun'd to harmony his tongue , And thro' the seasons Thomson sung . Scenes the sublimest thought could find , He open'd to a Milton's mind ; And oft by contemplation led , With pensive Grey he sought the shade ; Thro' many an age and many a clime , These flourish thro' enduring time ; He drew the phial's purest store , And gave to it a living pow'r ; Thence shone the patriot and the sage , Examples for the moral page ; Those with its lustre fame supplies , The rest , perennials of the skies ; Such worth may still Britannia boast , Tho' she has mourn'd her Howard lost ; Whate'er the favour'd spot of earth That gave exalted merit birth ; And , as its different lots were cast , In milder graces it surpass'd ; Or shone with aspect more severe , Still worth shall kindred worth revere . Immortal laurels to entwine , Virtue with Genius must combine ; And Application's active aid Perform the plan by Judgment laid ; Recorded wonders they can shew , And means of glorious heights bestow ; They different natures nearly join , And human make almost divine . For these to save , thro' wrecks of time belong , Th' historians faithful page , the muses ' heavenly song .