LIBERTY. PART V.

LIBERTY . PART V. HERE interposing , as the GODDESS paus'd , — " Oh blest BRITANNIA ! in THY Presence blest , " THOU Guardian of Mankind ! whence spring , alone , " All human Grandeur , Happiness and Fame : " For Toil , by THEE protected , feels no Pain ; " The poor Man's Lot with Milk and Honey flows ; " And , gilded with Thy Rays , even Death looks gay . " Let other Lands the potent Blessings boast " Of more exalting Suns . Let Asia's Woods , " Untended , yield the vegetable Fleece : " And let the little Insect-Artist form , " On higher Life intent , it's silken Tomb . " Let wondering Rocks , in radiant Birth , disclose , " The various-tinctur'd Children of the Sun . " From the prone Beam let more delicious Fruits " A Flavour drink , that in one piercing Taste " Bids each combine . Let Gallic Vineyards burst " With Floods of Joy , with mild balsamic Juice " The Tuscan Olive . Let Arabia breathe " Her spicy Gales , her vital Gums distill . " Turbid with Gold , let southern Rivers flow ; " And orient Floods draw soft , o'er Pearls , their Maze . " Let Afric vaunt her Treasures ; let Peru , " Deep in her Bowels her own Ruin breed , " The yellow Traitor that her Bliss betray'd , — " Unequall'd Bliss ! — and to unequall'd Rage ! " Yet nor the gorgeous East , nor golden South , " Nor , in full Prime , that new-discover'd World , " Where flames the falling Day , in Wealth and Praise , " Shall with BRITANNIA vie , while , GODDESS , she " Derives her Praise from THEE , her matchless Charms . " Her hearty Fruits the Hand of Freedom own ; " And , warm with Culture , her thick-clustering Fields " Prolific teem . Eternal Verdure crowns " Her Meads ; her Gardens smile eternal Spring . " She gives the Hunter-Horse , unquell'd by Toil , " Ardent , to rush into the rapid Chace : " She , whitening o'er her Downs , diffusive , pours " Unnumber'd Flocks : She weaves the fleecy Robe , " That wraps the Nations : She , to lusty Droves , " The richest Pasture spreads ; and Her's deep-wave " Autumnal Seas of pleasing Plenty round . " These her Delights : And by no baneful Herb , " No darting Tyger , no grim Lion's Glare , " No fierce-descending Wolf , no Serpent roll'd " In Spires immense progressive o'er the Land , " Disturb'd . Enlivening These , add Cities , full " Of Wealth , of Trade , of chearful toiling Crowds : " Add thriving Towns : add Villages and Farms , " Innumerous fow'd along the lively Vale , " Where bold unrival'd Peasants happy dwell : " Add ancient Seats , with venerable Oaks " Embosom'd high , while kindred Floods below " Wind thro' the Mead ; and Those of modern Hand , " More pompous , add , that splendid shine afar : " Need I her limpid Lakes , her Rivers name , " Where swarm the finny Race ? Thee , chief , O Thames ! " On whose each Tide , glad with returning Sails , " Flows in the mingled Harvest of Mankind ? " And thee , thou Severn , whose prodigious Swell , " And Waves , resounding , imitate the Main ? " Why need I name her deep capacious Ports , " That point around the World ? And why her Seas ? " All Ocean is her own , and every Land " To whom her ruling Thunder Ocean bears . " She too the Mineral feeds : th' obedient Lead , " The Warrior-Iron , nor the Peaceful less , " Forming of Life art-civiliz'd the Bond ; " And Tin. That the Tyrian Merchant sought of old , " Not dreaming then of BRITAIN's brighter Fame . " She rears to Freedom an undaunted Race : " Compatriot zealous , hospitable , kind , " Her's the warm CAMBRIAN : Her's the lofty SCOT , " To Hardship tam'd , active in Arts and Arms , " Fir'd with a restless an impatient Flame , " That leads him raptur'd where Ambition calls : " And ENGLISH MERIT Her's ; where meet , combin'd , " Whate'er high Fancy , sound judicious Thought , " An ample generous Heart , undrooping Soul , " And firm tenacious Valour can bestow . " Great Nurse of Fruits , of Flocks , of Commerce , SHE ! " Great Nurse of Men ! by THEE , O GODDESS , taught , " Her old Renown I trace , disclose her Source " Of Wealth , of Grandeur , and to BRITONS sing " A Strain the Muses never touch'd before . " " But how shall this THY mighty KINGDOM stand ? " On what unyielding Base ? how finish'd shine ? " At this HER Eye , collecting all it's Fire , Beam'd more than human ; and HER awful Voice , Majestic , thus SHE rais'd — " To BRITONS bear " This closing Strain , and with intenser Note " Loud let it sound in their awaken'd Ear . " On VIRTUE can alone MY KINGDOM stand , On PUBLICK VIRTUE , EVERY VIRTUE JOIN'D . For , lost this social Cement of Mankind , The greatest Empires , by scarce-felt Degrees , Will moulder soft away ; 'till , tottering loose , They prone at last to total Ruin rush . Unblest by VIRTUE , Government a League Becomes , a circling Junto of the Great , To rob by Law ; Religion mild a Yoke To tame the stooping Soul , a Trick of State To mask their Rapine , and to share the Prey . What are without IT Senates , save a Face Of Consultation deep and Reason free , While the determin'd Voice and Heart are sold ? What boasted Freedom , save a sounding Name ? And what Election , but a Market vile Of Slaves self-barter'd ? VIRTUE ! without THEE , There is no ruling Eye , no Nerve , in States ; War has no Vigour , and no Safety Peace : Even Justice warps to Party , Laws oppress , Wide thro' the Land their weak Protection fails , First broke the Ballance , and then scorn'd the Sword . Thus Nations sink , Society dissolves ; Rapine and Guile and Violence break loose , Everting Life , and turning Love to Gall ; Man hates the Face of Man , and Indian Woods And Lybia's hissing Sands to him are tame . By those THREE VIRTUES be the Frame sustain'd , Of BRITISH FREEDOM : INDEPENDENT LIFE ; INTEGRITY IN OFFICE ; and , o'er all Supreme , A PASSION FOR THE COMMON-WEAL . Hail ! INDEPENDANCE , hail ! HEAVEN's next best Gift , To that of Life and an immortal Soul ! The Life of Life ! that to the Banquet high And sober Meal gives taste ; to the bow'd Roof Fair-dream'd Repose , and to the Cottage Charms . Of publick Freedom , hail , thou secret Source ! Whose Streams , from every Quarter confluent , form MY better Nile , that nurses human Life . By Rills from Thee deduc'd , irriguous , fed , The private Field looks gay , with Nature's Wealth Abundant flows , and blooms with each Delight That Nature craves . It's happy Master there , The ONLY FREE-MAN , walks his pleasing Round : Sweet-featur'd Peace attending ; fearless Truth ; Firm Resolution ; Goodness , blessing all That can rejoice ; Contentment , surest Friend ; And , still fresh Stores from Nature's Book deriv'd , Philosophy , Companion ever-new . These chear his rural , and sustain or fire , When into Action call'd , his busy Hours . Mean time true-judging moderate Desires , Oeconomy and Taste , combin'd , direct His clear Affairs , and from debauching Fiends Secure his little Kingdom . Nor can Those Whom Fortune heaps , without these Virtues , reach That Truce with Pain , that animated Ease , That Self-Enjoyment springing from within , That INDEPENDANCE , active , or retir'd , Which make the soundest Bliss of Man below : But , lost beneath the Rubbish of their Means , And drain'd by Wants to Nature all unknown , A wandering , tasteless , gaily-wretched Train , Tho' rich , are Beggars , and , tho' noble , Slaves . Lo ! damn'd to Wealth , at what a gross Expence , They purchase Disappointment , Pain and Shame . Instead of hearty hospitable Chear , See ! how the Hall with brutal Riot flows ; While in the foaming Flood , fermenting , steep'd , The Country maddens into Party-Rage . Mark ! those disgraceful Piles of Wood and Stone ; Those Parks and Gardens , where , his Haunts be-trimm'd , And Nature by presumptuous Art oppress'd , The woodland Genius mourns . See ! the full Board That steams Disgust , and Bowls that give no Joy : No Truth invited there , to feed the Mind ; Nor Wit , the Wine rejoicing Reason quaffs . Hark ! how the Dome with Insolence resounds , With those retain'd by Vanity to scare Repose and Friends . To tyrant Fashion mark ! The costly-Worship paid , to the broad Gaze Of Fools . From still delusive Day to Day , Led an eternal Round of lying Hope , See ! self-abandon'd , how they roam adrift , Dash'd o'er the Town , a miserable Wreck ! Then to adore some warbling Eunuch turn'd , With Midas ' Ears they crowd ; or to the Buzz Of Masquerade unblushing : or , to show Their Scorn of Nature , at the Tragic Scene They mirthful sit , or prove the Comic true . But , chief , behold ! around the rattling Board , The civil Robbers rang'd ; and even the Fair , The tender Fair , each Sweetness laid aside , As fierce for Plunder as all-licens'd ' Troops At some sack'd City . Thus dissolv'd their Wealth , Without one generous Luxury dissolv'd , Or quarter'd on it many a needless Want , At the throng'd Leve bends the venal Tribe : With fair but faithless Smiles each varnish'd o'er , Each smooth as Those that mutually deceive , And for their Falshood each despising each ; 'Till shook their Patron by the wintry Winds , Wide flies the wither'd Shower , and leaves him bare . O far superior Afric's sable Sons , By Merchant pilfer'd , to these willing Slaves ! And , rich , as unsqueez'd Favourite , to them , Is he who can his Virtue boast alone ! BRITONS ! be firm ! — nor let Corruption sly Twine round your Heart indissoluble Chains ! The Steel of BRUTUS burst the grosser Bonds By Cesar cast o'er ROME ; but still remain'd The soft enchanting Fetters of the Mind , And other Cesars rose . Determin'd , hold Your INDEPENDANCE ; for , That once destroy'd . Unfounded , FREEDOM is a Morning Dream , That flits aerial from the spreading Eye . Forbid it HEAVEN ! that ever I need urge INTEGRITY IN OFFICE on MY Sons ; Inculcate common Honour — not to rob . — And whom ? — the gracious the confiding Hand , That lavishly rewards ; the toiling Poor , Whose Cup with many a bitter Drop is mixt ; The Guardian Publick ; every Face they see , And every Friend ; nay , in Effect , themselves . As , in familiar Life , the Villain's Fate Admits no Cure ; so , when a desperate Age At This arrives , I the devoted Race Indignant spurn , and hopeless soar away . But , ah too little known to modern Times ! Be not the noblest Passion past unsung ; That Ray peculiar , from UNBOUNDED LOVE Effus'd , which kindles the heroic Soul ; DEVOTION TO THE PUBLIC . Glorious Flame ! Celestial Ardor ! in what unknown Worlds , Profusely scatter'd thro' the blue Immense , Hast Thou been blessing Myriads , since in ROME , Old virtuous ROME , so many deathless Names From Thee their Lustre drew ? since , taught by Thee , Their Poverty put Splendor to the Blush , Pain grew luxurious , and even Death Delight ? O wilt Thou ne'er , in thy long Period , look , With Blaze direct , on this MY last Retreat ? 'Tis not enough , from Self right understood Reflected , that thy Rays inflame the Heart : Tho' VIRTUE not disdains Appeals to Self , Dreads not the Trial ; all her Joys are true , Nor is there any real Joy save Her's . Far less the tepid the declaiming Race , Foes to Corruption , to it's Wages Friends , Or those whom private Passions , for a while , Beneath MY Standard list , can they suffice To raise and fix the Glory of MY REIGN ? An active Flood of universal Love Must swell the Breast . First , in Effusion wide , The restless Spirit roves Creation round , And seizes every Being : Stronger then It tends to Life , whate'er the kindred Search Of Bliss allys : then , more collected still , It urges Human-kind : a Passion grown , , At last , the central Parent-Public calls It's utmost Effort forth , awakes each Sense , The Comely , Grand and Tender . Without This , This awful Pant , shook from sublimer Powers Than those of Self , this HEAVEN-infus'd Delight , This moral Gravitation , rushing prone To press the public Good , MY System soon , Traverse , to several selfish Centers drawn , Will reel to Ruin : while for ever shut Stand the bright Portals of desponding Fame . From sordid Self shoot up no shining Deeds , None of those ancient Lights , that gladden Earth , Give Grace to Being , and arrouse the Brave To just Ambition , VIRTUE's quickening Fire ! Life tedious grows , an idly-bustling Round , Fill'd up with Actions animal and mean , A dull Gazette ! Th' impatient Reader scorns The poor historic Page ; 'till kindly comes Oblivion , and redeems a People's Shame . Not so the Times when , Emulation-stung , GREECE shone in Genius , Science , and in Arts , And ROME in Virtues dreadful to be told ! To live was Glory then ! and charm'd Mankind , Thro' the deep Periods of devolving Time , Those , raptur'd , copy ; These , astonish'd , read . True , a corrupted State , with every Vice And every Meanness foul , this Passion damps . Who can , unshock'd , behold the cruel Eye ? The pale inveigling Smile ? The ruffian Front ? The Wretch abandon'd to relentless Self , Equally vile if Miser or Profuse ? Powers not of GOD , assiduous to corrupt ? The fell deputed Tyrant , who devours The Poor and Weak , Lord MOLESWORTH in his Account of Denmark says , — It is observed , that in limited Monarchies and Commonwealths , a Neighbourhood to the Seat of the Government is advantageous to the Subjects ; whilst the distant Provinces are less thriving , and more liable to Oppression . at Distance from Redress ? Delirious Faction bellowing loud MY Name ? The false fair-seeming Patriot's hollow Boast ? A Race resolv'd on Bondage , fierce for Chains , MY sacred Rights a Merchandize alone Esteeming , and to work their Feeder's Will By Deeds , a Horror to Mankind , prepar'd , As were the Dregs of Romulus of old ? Who These indeed can undetesting see ? — But who unpitying ? To the generous Eye Distress is Virtue ; and , tho' Self-betray'd , A People struggling with their Fate must rouze The Hero's Throb . Nor can a Land , at once , Be lost to Virtue quite . How glorious then ! Fit Luxury for Gods ! to save the Good , Protect the Feeble , dash bold Vice aside , Depress the Wicked , and restore the Frail . Posterity , besides , the Young are pure , And Sons may tinge their Father's Cheek with Shame . Should then the Times arrive ( which HEAVEN avert ! ) That BRITONS bend unnerv'd , not by the Force Of Arms , more generous , and more manly , quell'd , But by Corruption's Soul-dejecting Arts , Arts impudent ! and gross ! by their own Gold , In Part bestow'd , to bribe them to give All . With Party raging , or immers'd in Sloth , Should they BRITANNIA's well-fought Laurels yield To slily-conquering Gaul ; even from her Brow Let her own Naval Oak be basely torn , By such as tremble at the stiffening Gale , And nerveless sink while others sing rejoic'd . Or ( darker Prospect ! scarce one Gleam behind Disclosing ) should the broad corruptive Plague Breathe from the City to the farthest Hut , That sits serene within the Forest-Shade ; The sever'd People fire , inflame their Wants , And their luxurious Thirst , so gathering Rage , That , were a Buyer found , they stand prepar'd To sell their Birthright for a cooling Draught . Should shameless Pens for plain Corruption plead ; The hir'd Assassins of the Commonweal ! Deem'd the declaiming Rant of GREECE and ROME , Should Public Virtue grow the Public Scoff , 'Till Private , failing , staggers thro' the Land : 'Till round the City loose mechanic Want , Dire-prowling nightly , makes the chearful Haunts Of Men more hideous than Numidian Wilds , Nor from it's Fury sleeps the Vale in Peace ; And Murders , Horrors , Perjuries abound : Nay , 'till to lowest Deeds the Highest stoop ; The Rich , like starving Wretches , thirst for Gold ; And those , on whom the vernal Showers of HEAVEN All-bounteous fall , and that prime Lot bestow , A Power to live to Nature and Themselves , In sick Attendance wear their anxious Days , With Fortune , joyless , and , with Honours , mean . Meantime , perhaps , Profusion flows around , The Waste of War , without the Works of Peace ; No Mark of Millions in the Gulph absorpt Of uncreating Vice , none but the Rage Of rouz'd Corruption still demanding more . That very Portion , which ( by faithful Skill Employ'd ) might make the smiling Public rear Her ornamented Head , drill'd thro' the Hands Of mercenary Tools , serves but to nurse A Locust-Band within , and in the Bud Leaves starv'd each Work of Dignity and Use . I paint the worst . But should these Times arrive , If any nobler Passion yet remain , Let all MY Sons all Parties fling aside , Despise their Nonsense , and together join ; Let Worth and Virtue , scorning low Despair , Exerted full , from every Quarter shine , Commix'd in heighten'd Blaze . Light flash'd to Light , Moral , or Intellectual , more intense By giving glows . As on pure Winter's Eve , Gradual , the Stars effulge ; fainter , at first , They , straggling , rise ; but when the radiant Host , In thick Profusion pour'd , shine out immense , Each casting vivid Influence on each , From Pole to Pole a glittering Deluge plays , And Worlds above rejoice , and Men below . But why to BRITONS this superfluous Strain ? — Good-nature , honest Truth even somewhat blunt , Of crooked Baseness an indignant Scorn , A Zeal unyielding in their Country's Cause , And ready Bounty , wont to dwell with them . — Nor only wont — Wide o'er the Land diffus'd , In many a blest Retirement still they dwell . To softer Prospect turn we now the View , To laurel'd SCIENCE , ARTS , and PUBLIC WORKS , That lend MY FINISH'D FABRIC comely Pride , Grandeur and Grace . Of sullen Genius he ! Curs'd by the Muses ! by the Graces loath'd ! Who deems beneath the Public's high Regard These last enlivening Touches of MY Reign . However puff'd with Power , and gorg'd with Wealth , A Nation be ; let Trade enormous rise , Let East and South their mingled Treasure pour , 'Till , swell'd impetuous , the corrupting Flood Burst o'er the City and devour the Land : Yet These neglected , These recording Arts , Wealth rots , a Nusance ; and , oblivious , sunk , That Nation must another Carthage lie . If not by Them , on monumental Brass , On sculptur'd Marble , or the deathless Page Imprest , Renown had left no Trace behind : In vain , to future Times , the Sage had thought , The Legislator plann'd , the Hero found A beauteous Death , the Patriot toil'd in vain . Th' Awarders They of Fame's immortal Wreathe , They rouze Ambition , they the Mind exalt , Give great Ideas , lovely Forms infuse , Delight the general Eye , and , drest by Them , The moral Venus glows with double Charms . SCIENCE , MY close Associate , still attends Where-e'er I go . Sometimes , in simple Guise , She walks the Furrow with the Consul-Swain , Whispering unletter'd Wisdom to the Heart , Direct ; or , sometimes , in the pompous Robe Of Fancy drest , She charms Athenian Wits , And a whole sapient City round Her burns . Then o'er her Brow MINERVA'S Terrors nod : With XENOPHON , sometimes , in dire Extremes , She breathes deliberate Soul , and makes The famous Retreat of the Ten Thousand was chiefly conducted by XENOPHON . Retreat Unequal'd Glory : with the Theban Sage , EPAMINONDAS , First and Best of Men ! Sometimes She bids the deep-embattled Host , Above the vulgar Reach , resistless form'd , March to sure Conquest , — never gain'd before ! Epaminondas , after having beat the Lacedemonians and their Allies , in the Battle of Leuctra , made an Incursion at the head of a powerful Army , into Laconia , It was now six hundred Years since the Dorians had possessed this Country , and in all that time the Face of an Enemy had not been seen within their Territories . Plutarch in Agesilaus . Nor on the treacherous Seas of giddy State Unskilful She : when the triumphant Tide Of high-swoln Empire wears one boundless Smile , And the Gale tempts to new Pursuits of Fame , Sometimes , with SCIPIO , She collects her Sail , And seeks the blissful Shore of rural Ease , Where , but th' Aonian Maids , no Syrens sing . Or should the deep-brew'd Tempest muttering rise , While Rocks and Shoals perfidious lurk around , With TULLY She her wide-reviving Light To Senates holds , a Catiline confounds , And saves awhile from Cesar sinking ROME . Such the kind POWER , whose piercing Eye dissolves Each mental Fetter , and sets Reason free ; For ME inspiring an enlighten'd Zeal , The more tenacious as the more convinc'd How happy Freemen , and how wretched Slaves . To BRITONS not unknown , to BRITONS full The GODDESS spreads her Stores , the secret Soul That quickens Trade , the Breath unseen that wafts To them the Treasures of a ballanc'd World . But FINER ARTS ( save what the MUSE has sung , In daring Flight , above all modern Wing ) Neglected droop the Head ; and PUBLIC WORKS , Broke by Corruption into private Gain , Not ornament , disgrace , not serve , destroy . Shall BRITONS , by their own JOINT WISDOM rul'd Beneath one ROYAL HEAD , whose vital Power Connects , enlivens and exerts the WHOLE ; In FINER ARTS , and PUBLIC WORKS , shall They To Gallia yield ? — yield to a Land that bends , Deprest , and broke , beneath the Will of One ? Of One — who , should th' unkingly Thirst of Gold , Or tyrant Passions , or Ambition , prompt , Calls Locust-Armies o'er the blasted Land : Drains from it's thirsty Bounds the Springs of Wealth , His own insatiate Reservoir to fill : To the lone Desart Patriot-Merit frowns , Or into Dungeons Arts , when They , their Chains , Indignant , bursting , for their nobler Works All other Licence scorn but TRUTH's and MINE . Oh shame to think ! shall BRITONS , in the Field Unconquer'd still , the better Laurel lose ? Even in that Lewis XIV . Monarch's Reign , who vainly dreamt , By giddy Power , betray'd , and flatter'd Pride , To grasp unbounded Sway ; while , swarming round , His Armies dar'd all Europe to the Field ; To hostile Hands while Treasure flow'd profuse , And , that great Source of Treasure , Subjects ' Blood , Inhuman squander'd , sicken'd every Land ; From BRITAIN , chief , while MY superior Sons , In Vengeance rushing , dash'd his idle Hopes , And bad his agonizing Heart be low : Even then , as in the golden Calm of Peace , What PUBLIC WORKS , at home , what ARTS arose ! What various SCIENCE shone ! what GENIUS glow'd ! 'Tis not for ME to paint , diffusive shot O'er fair Extents of Land , the shining Road ; The Flood-compelling Arch ; the long The Canal of Languedoc . Canal , Thro' Mountains piercing , and uniting Seas ; The The Hospital for Foundlings Dome resounding sweet with Infant Joy , From Famine sav'd , or cruel-handed Shame , And The Hospital for Invalids . That where Valour counts his noble Scars ; The Land where social Pleasure loves to dwell , Of the fierce Demon , Gothic Duel , freed ; The Robber from his farthest Forest chas'd ; The turbid City clear'd , and , by Degrees , Into sure Peace the best Police refin'd , Magnificence , and Grace , and decent Joy . Let Gallic Bards record , how honour'd ARTS , And SCIENCE , by despotic Bounty bless'd , At Distance flourish'd from MY PARENT-EYE . Restoring ancient Taste , how BOILEAU rose . How the big ROMAN Soul shook , in CORNEILLE , The trembling Stage . In elegant RACINE , How the more powerful tho' more humble Voice Of Nature-painting GREECE , resistless , breath'd The whole awaken'd Heart . How MOLIERE's Scene , Chastis'd and regular , with well-judg'd Wit , Not scatter'd wild , and native Humour , grac'd , Was Life itself . To public Honours rais'd , How Learning in warm The Academies of Sciences , of the Belles Lettres and of Painting . Seminaries spread ; And , more for Glory than the small Reward , How Emulation strove . How their pure Tongue Almost obtain'd what was deny'd their Arms . From Rome , awhile , how PAINTING , courted long , With POUSSIN came ; Ancient Design , that lifts A fairer Front , and looks another Soul . How the kind Engraving . Art , that , of unvalu'd Price , The fam'd and only Picture , easy , gives , Refin'd her Touch , and , thro' the shadow'd Piece , All the live Spirit of the Painter pour'd . Coyest of Arts , how Sculpture northward deign'd A Look , and bad her GIRARDON arise . How lavish Grandeur blaz'd ; the barren Waste , Astonish'd , saw the sudden Palace swell , And Fountains spout amid it's arid Shades . For Leagues , bright Vistas opening to the View , How Forests in majestic Gardens smil'd . How menial Arts , by their gay Sisters taught , Wove the deep Flower , the blooming Foliage train'd In joyous Figures o'er the silky Lawn , The Palace chear'd , illum'd the Story'd Wall , And with the Pencil vy'd the glowing Loom The Tapestry of the Gobelins . . These Laurels , LOUIS , by the Droppings rais'd Of thy Profusion , it's Dishonour shade , And , green thro' future Times , shall bind thy Brow ; While the vain Honours of perfidious War Wither abhorr'd , or in Oblivion lost . With what prevailing Vigour had they shot , And stole a deeper Root , by the full Tide Of War-sunk Millions fed ? Superior still , How had they branch'd luxuriant to the Skies , In BRITAIN planted , by the potent Juice Of Freedom swell'd ? Forc'd is the Bloom of ARTS , A false uncertain Spring , when Bounty gives , Weak without ME , a transitory Gleam . Fair shine the slippery Days , enticing Skies Of Favour smile , and courtly Breezes blow ; 'Till ARTS , betray'd , trust to the flattering Air Their tender Blossom : — then malignant rise The Blights of Envy , of those Insect-Clouds , That , blasting Merit , often cover Courts : Nay , should , perchance , some kind MOECENAS aid The doubtful Beamings of his PRINCE's Soul , His wavering Ardor fix , and unconfin'd Diffuse his warm Beneficence around ; Yet Death , at last , and wintry Tyrants come , Each Sprig of Genius killing at the Root . But when with ME IMPERIAL BOUNTY joins , Wide o'er the Public blows eternal Spring ; While mingled Autumn every Harvest pours Of every Land ; whate'er Invention , Art , Creating Toil and Nature can produce . Here ceas'd the GODDESS ; and HER ardent Wings , Dipt in the Colours of the heavenly Bow , Stood waving Radiance round , for sudden Flight Prepar'd , when thus , impatient , burst my Prayer . " Oh forming Light of Life ! Oh better Sun ! " Sun of Mankind ! by whom the cloudy North , " Sublim'd , not envies Languedocian Skies , " That , unstain'd Ether all , diffusive smile : " When shall we call these ancient Laurels Ours ? " And when THY WORK complete ? " Strait with HER Hand , Celestial red , SHE touch'd my darken'd Eyes . As at the Touch of Day the Shades dissolve , So quick , methought , the misty Circle clear'd , That dims the Dawn of Being here below : The Future shone disclos'd , and , in long View , Bright rising Aeras instant rush'd to Light . " THEY come ! GREAT GODDESS ! I the TIMES behold ! " The TIMES our Fathers , in the bloody Field , " Have earn'd so dear , and , not with less Renown , " In the warm Struggles of the Senate-Fight . " The TIMES I see ! whose Glory to supply , " For toiling Ages , Commerce round the World " Has wing'd unnumber'd Sails , and from each Land " Materials heap'd , that , well-employ'd , with ROME " Might vie our Grandeur , and with GREECE our Art . " Lo ! PRINCES I behold ! contriving still , " And still conducting firm some brave Design ; " KINGS ! that the narrow joyless Circle scorn , " Burst the Blockade of false designing Men , " Of treacherous Smiles , of Adulation fell , " And of the blinding Clouds around them thrown : " Their Court rejoicing Millions ; Worth , alone , " And Virtue dear to them ; their best Delight , " In just Proportion , to give general Joy ; " Their jealous Care THY KINGDOM to maintain ; " The public Glory Theirs ; unsparing Love " Their endless Treasure ; and their Deeds their Praise . " With THEE They work . Nought can resist YOUR Force : " Life feels it quickening in her dark Retreats : " Strong spread the Blooms of Genius , Science , Art ; " His bashful Bounds disclosing Merit breaks ; " And , big with Fruits of Glory , Virtue blows " Expansive o'er the Land . Another Race " Of GENEROUS YOUTH , of PATRIOT-SIRES , I see ! " Not those vain Insects fluttering in the Blaze " Of Court and Ball and Play ; those venal Souls , " Corruption's veteran unrelenting Bands , " That , to their Vices Slaves , can ne'er be free . " I see the FOUNTAIN's purg'd ! whence Life derives " A clear or turbid Flow ; see the young Mind . " Not fed impure by Chance , by Flattery fool'd , " Or by scholastic Jargon bloated proud , " But fill'd and nourish'd by the Light of Truth . " Then beam'd thro' Fancy the refining Ray , " And pouring on the Heart , the Passions feel " At once informing Light and moving Flame ; ' " Till moral , public , graceful Action crowns " The Whole . Behold ! the fair Contention glows , " In all that Mind or Body can adorn , " And form to Life . Instead of barren Heads , " Barbarian Pedants , wrangling Sons of Pride , " And Truth-perplexing metaphysic Wits , " Men , Patriots , Chiefs and Citizens are form'd . " Lo ! JUSTICE , like the liberal Light of Heaven , " Unpurchas'd shines on All , and from her Beam , " Appalling Guilt , retire the savage Crew , " That prowl amid the Darkness they themselves " Have thrown around the Laws . Oppression grieves , " See ! how her Legal Furies bite the Lip , " While YORKS and TALBOTS their deep Snares detect , " And seize swift Justice thro' the Clouds they raise . " See ! social LABOUR lifts his guarded Head , " And Men not yield to Government in vain . " From the sure Land is rooted ruffian Force , " And , the lewd Nurse of Villains , idle Waste ; " Lo ! raz'd their Haunts , down dash'd their maddening Bowl , " A Nation's Poison ! Beauteous Order reigns ! " Manly Submission , unimposing Toil , " Trade without Guile , Civility that marks " From the foul Herd of brutal Slaves THY Sons , " And fearless Peace . Or should affronting War " To slow but dreadful Vengeance rouse the Just , " Unfailing Fields of Freemen I behold ! " That know , with their own proper Arm , to guard " Their own blest Isle against a leaguing World . " Despairing Gaul her boiling Youth restrains , " Dissolv'd her Dream of Universal Sway : " The Winds and Seas are BRITAIN's wide Domain ; " And not a Sail , but by Permission , spreads . " Lo ! swarming southward on rejoicing Suns , " Gay COLONIES extend ; the calm Retreat " Of undeserv'd Distress , the better Home " Of Those whom Bigots chase from foreign Lands . " Not built on Rapine , Servitude and Woe , " And , in their turn , some petty Tyrant's Prey ; " But , bound by social Freedom , firm they rise ; " Such as , of late , an OGLETHORPE has form'd , " And , crowding round , the charm'd Savannah fees . " Horrid with Want and Misery , no more " Our Streets the tender Passenger afflict . " Nor shivering Age , nor Sickness without Friend , " Or Home , or Bed to bear his burning Load , " Nor agonizing Infant , that ne'er earn'd " It's guiltless Pangs , I see ! The Stores , profuse , " Which British Bounty has to These assign'd , " No more the sacrilegious Riot swell " Of Cannibal Devourers ! Right apply'd , " No starving Wretch the Land of Freedom stains : " If poor , Employment finds ; if old demands , " If sick , if maim'd , his miserable Due ; " And will , if young , repay the fondest Care . " Sweet sets the Sun of stormy Life , and sweet " The Morning shines , in Mercy's Dews array'd . " Lo ! how they rise ! THESE FAMILIES OF HEAVEN ! " An Hospital for Foundlings . That ! chief , ( but why — ye Bigots ! — why so late ? ) " Where blooms and warbles glad a rising Age : " What Smiles of Praise ! And , while their Song ascends , " The listening Seraph lays his Lute aside . " Hark ! the gay MUSES raise a nobler Strain , " With active Nature , warm impassion'd Truth , " Engaging Fable , lucid Order , Notes " Of various String , and heart-felt Image fill'd . " Behold ! I see the dread delightful School " Of temper'd Passions , and of polish'd Life , " Restor'd : behold ! the well-dissembled Scene " Calls from embellish'd Eyes the lovely Tear , " Or lights up Mirth in modest Cheeks again . " Lo ! vanish'd Monster-land . Lo ! driven away " Those that Apollo's sacred Walks profane : " Their wild Creation scatter'd , where a World " Unknown to Nature , Chaos more confus'd , " O'er the brute Scene it's A Creature which , of all Brutes , most resembles Man. — See Dr. Tyson's Treatise on this Animal . Ouran-Outangs pours ; " Detested Forms ! that , on the Mind imprest , " Corrupt , confound and barbarize an Age . " Behold ! all thine again the SISTER-ARTS , " Thy Graces They , knit in harmonious Dance . " Nurs'd by the Treasure , from a Nation drain'd " Their Works to purchase , They to Nobler rouze " Their untam'd Genius , their unfetter'd Thought ; " Of pompous Tyrants , and of dreaming Monks , " The gaudy Tools , and Prisoners , no more . " Lo ! Numerous DOMES a BURLINGTON confess : " For Kings and Senates fit , the Palace see ! " The Temple breathing a religious Awe ; " Even fram'd with Elegance the plain Retreat , " The private Dwelling . Certain in his Aim , " Taste , never idly working , saves Expence . " See ! SYLVAN SCENES , where Art , alone , pretends " To dress her Mistress , and disclose her Charms : " Such as a POPE in Miniature has shown ; " A BATHURST o'er the widening Okely-Woods , near Cirencester . Forest spreads ; " And such as form a RICHMOND , CHISWICK , STOWE . " August , around , what PUBLIC WORKS I see ! " Lo ! stately Streets , lo ! Squares that court the Breeze . " In spite of Those to whom pertains the Care , " Ingulphing more than founded Roman Ways , " Lo ! ray'd from Cities o'er the brighten'd Land , " Connecting Sea to Sea , the Solid Road . " Lo ! the Proud Arch ( no vile Exactor's Stand ) " With easy Sweep bestrides the chafing Flood . " See ! long Canals , and deepen'd Rivers join " Each Part with each , and with the circling Main " The whole enliven'd Isle . Lo ! Ports expand , " Free as the Winds and Waves , their sheltering Arms . " Lo ! streaming Comfort o'er the troubled Deep , " On every pointed Coast the Light-house tow'rs ; " And , by the broad imperious Mole repell'd , " Hark ! how the baffled Storm indignant roars . " As thick to View THESE VARIED WONDERS rose , Shook all my Soul with Transport , unassur'd , The VISION broke ; And , on my waking Eye , Rush'd the still RUINS of dejected ROME .