An EPISTLE from FLORENCE . To T. A. Esq ; Tutor to the Earl of P— . Written in the Year 1740. By the Honourable — . WHEN flourish'd with their state th' ATHENIAN name , And Learning and Politeness were the same , Philosophy with gentle art refin'd The honest roughness of th' unpractis'd mind : She call'd the latent beams of Nature forth , Guided their ardour , and insur'd their worth . She pois'd th' impetuous Warrior's vengeful steel , Mark'd true Ambition from destructive Zeal , Pointed what lustre on that laurel blows , Which Virtue only on her sons bestows . Hence clement CIMON of unspotted fame , Hence ARISTIDES' ever fav'rite name ; Heroes , who knew to wield the righteous spear , And guard their native tow'rs from foreign fear ; Or in firm bands of social Peace to bind Their Country's good , and benefit mankind . She trim'd the thoughtful Statesman's nightly oil , Confirm'd his mind beneath an empire's toil , Or with him to his silent villa stole , Gilded his ev'ning hours , and harmoniz'd his soul . To woods and caves she never bade retreat , Nor fix'd in cloyster'd monkeries her seat : No lonely precepts to her sons enjoin'd , Nor taught them to be men , to shun mankind . CYNICS there were , an uncouth selfish race , Of manners foul , and boastful of disgrace : Brutes , whom no Muse has ever lov'd to name , Whose Ignominy is their only fame , No hostile Trophies grace their honour'd urn , Around their tomb no sculptur'd Virtues mourn ; Nor tells the marble into emblems grav'd , An Art discover'd , or a City sav'd . Be this the goal to which the Briton-Peer Exalt his hope , and press his young career ! Be this the goal to which , my Friend , may you With gentle skill direct his early view ! Artful the various studies to dispense , And melt the schoolman's jargon down to sense . See the pedantick Teacher , winking dull , The letter'd Tyrant of a trembling school ; Teaching by force , and proving by a frown , His lifted fasces ram the lesson down . From tortur'd strains of eloquence he draws Barbarick precepts and unmeaning laws , By his own sense wou'd TULLY'S word expound , And a new VANDAL tramples classick ground . Perhaps a Bigot to the learned page , No modern custom can his thoughts engage ; His little farm by GEORGICK rules he ploughs , And prunes by metre the luxuriant boughs , Still from ARATUS' sphere or MARO'S signs , The future calm or tempest he divines , And fears if the prognostick Raven's found Et sola in sicca secum spatiatur arena . VIRG. Expatiating alone along the dreary round . What scanty precepts ! studies how confin'd ! Too mean to fill your comprehensive mind : Unsatisfy'd with knowing when or where Some Roman Bigot rais'd a Fane to FEAR ; On what green medal VIRTUE stands express'd , How CONCORD'S pictur'd , LIBERTY how dress'd ; Or with wise KEN judiciously define , When Pius marks the honorary coin Of CARACALLA , or of ANTONINE . Thirsting for knowledge , but to know the right , Thro' judgment's optick guide th' illusive sight , To let in rays on Reason's darkling cell , And Prejudice's lagging mists dispel ; For this you turn the Greek and Roman page , Weigh the contemplative and active Sage , And cull some useful flow'r from each heroick Age . Thence teach the Youth the necessary art , To know the Judge's from the Critick's part ; Show how ignoble is the passion , FEAR , And place some patriot Roman's model near ; Their bright examples to his soul instil , Who knew no Fear , but that of doing ill . Tell him , 'tis all a cant , a trifle all , To know the folds that from the TOGA fall , The CLAVUS' breadth , the BULLA'S golden round , And ev'ry leaf that ev'ry VIRTUE crown'd ; But shew how brighter in each honest breast Than in her shrine , the Goddess stood confess'd . Tell him , it is not the fantastick Boy , Elate with pow'r and swell'd with frantick joy , 'Tis not a slavish Senate , fawning , base , Can stamp with honest fame a worthless race ; Tho' the false Coin proclaim him great and wise , The tyrant's life shall tell that Coin , it lies . But when your early Care shall have design'd To plan the Soul and mould the waxen Mind ; When you shall pour upon his tender Breast Ideas that must stand an Age's test , Oh ! there imprint with strongest deepest dye The lovely form of Goddess LIBERTY ! For her in Senates be he train'd to plead , For her in Battles be he taught to bleed . Lead him where Dover's rugged cliff resounds With dashing seas , fair Freedom's honest bounds , Point to yon azure Carr bedropp'd with gold , Whose weight the necks of Gallia's sons uphold ; Where proudly sits an iron-scepter'd Queen , And fondly triumphs o'er the prostrate scene , Cry , That is Empire ! shun her baleful path , Her Words are Slavery , and her Touch is Death ! Thro' wounds and blood the Fury drives her way , And murthers half , to make the rest her prey . Thus spoke each Spartan matron , as she dress'd With the bright cuirass the young soldier's breast ; On the new warrior's tender-sinew'd thigh , Girt Fear of Shame and Love of Liberty . Steel'd with such precepts , for a cause so good , What scanty bands the Persian host withstood ! Before the sons of Greece let Asia tell How fled her Xerxes . Monarch , how her Millions fell ! When arm'd for LIBERTY , a Few how brave ! How weak a Multitude , where each a Slave ! No welcome Faulchion fill'd their fainting hand , No Voice inspir'd of favourite Command : No Peasant fought for wealthy lands possess'd , No fond remembrance warm'd the Parent's breast : They saw their lands for royal riot groan , And toil in vain for banquets , not their own ; They saw their infant Race to bondage rise , And frequent heard the ravish'd Virgin's cries , Dishonour'd but to cool a transient gust Of some luxurious Satrap's barb'rous lust . The greatest curses any Age has known , Have issued from the Temple or the Throne ; Extent of ill from Kings at first begins , But Priests must aid , and consecrate their sins . The tortur'd Subject might be heard complain , When sinking under a new weight of chain , Or more rebellious might perhaps repine , When tax'd to dow'r a titled Concubine , But the Priest christens all a Right Divine . When at the altar a new Monarch kneels , What conjur'd awe upon the people steals ! The chosen HE adores the precious oil , Meekly receives the solemn charm , and while The Priest some blessed nothings mutters o'er , Sucks in the sacred grease at ev'ry pore : He seems at once to shed his mortal skin , And feels Divinity transfus'd within . The trembling Vulgar dread the royal Nod , And worship God's anointed more than God . Such Sanction gives the Prelate to such Kings ! So Mischief from those hallow'd fountains springs . But bend your eye to yonder harrass'd plains , Where King and Priest in one united reigns ; See fair Italia mourn her holy state , And droop oppress'd beneath a papal weight : Where fat Celibacy usurps the soil , And sacred Sloth consumes the peasant's toil : The holy Drones monopolize the sky , And plunder by a vow of Poverty . The Christian Cause their lewd profession taints , Unlearn'd , unchaste , uncharitable Saints . Oppression takes Religion's hallow'd name , And Priest-craft knows to play the specious game . Behold how each enthusiastic fool Of ductile piety , becomes their tool : Observe with how much art , what fine pretence , They hallow Foppery and combat Sense . Some hoary Hypocrite , grown old in sin , Whose thoughts of heav'n with his last hours begin , Counting a chaplet with a bigot care , And mumbling somewhat 'twixt a charm and pray'r , Hugs a dawb'd image of his injur'd Lord , And squeezes out on the dull idol-board A sore-ey'd gum of tears ; the flannel Crew With cunning joy the fond repentance view , Pronounce Him bless'd , his miracles proclaim , Teach the slight crow'd t' adore his hallow'd name , Exalt his praise above the Saints of old , And coin his sinking conscience into Gold . Or when some Pontiff with imperious hand Sends forth his edict to excise the land , The tortur'd Hind unwillingly obeys , And mutters curses as his mite he pays ! The subtle Priest th' invidious name forbears , Asks it for holy use or venal pray'rs ; Exhibits all their trumpery to sale , A bone , a mouldy morsel , or a nail : Th' indolatrous Devout adore the show , And in full streams the molten off'rings flow . No pagan object , nothing too profane , To aid the Romish zeal for Christian gain . Each Temple with new weight of idols nods , And borrow'd Altars smoke to other Gods . PROMETHEUS' Vultur MATTHEW'S Eagle proves ; And heav'nly Cherubs sprout from heathen Loves ; Young GANYMEDE a winged Angel stands By holy LUKE , and dictates God's commands : St. Apollos . APOLLO , tho' degraded , still can bless , Rewarded with a Sainthood , and an S . Each convert Godhead is apostoliz'd , And JOVE himself by At St. Peter's an old statue of Jupiter is turned into one of St. Peter . PETER'S name baptiz'd . ASTARTE shines in Jewish MARY'S fame , Still Queen of heav'n , another and the same . While the proud Priest the sacred Tyrant reigns Of empty cities and dispeopled plains , Where fetter'd Nature is forbid to rove In the free commerce of productive Love : Behold imprison'd with her barren kind , In gloomy cells the votive Maid confin'd ; Faint streams of blood , by long stagnation weak , Scarce tinge the fading damask of her cheek ; In vain she pines , the holy Faith withstands , What Nature dictates and what God commands : But if some sanguine He , some lusty Priest Of jollier morals taste the tempting feast , From the strong grasp if some poor babe arise , Unwelcome , unindear'd , it instant dies ; Or poisons blasting soon the hasty joy , Th' imperfect seeds of infant life destroy , Fair Modesty , thou virgin tender-ey'd , From thee the Muse the grosser acts must hide , Nor the dark cloister's mystick rites display , Whence num'rous brawny Monkhoods waste away , And unprolifick , tho' forsworn , decay . BRITANNIA smiling , views her golding plains From mitred bondage free and papal chains ; Her jocund Sons pass each unburthen'd day Securely quiet , innocently gay : Lords of themselves the happy Rusticks sing , Each of his little tenement the King . Twice did usurping Rome extend her hand , To reinslave the new-deliver'd land ; Twice were her sable bands to battle warm'd , With pardons , bulls , and texts , and murthers arm'd ; Addit & Herculeos Arcus Hastamque Minervae , Quicquid habent telorum armamentaria Coeli . JUV. With PETER'S sword and MICHAEL'S lance were sent , And whate'er stores supply'd the Church's armament . Twice did the gallant Albion race repell The Jesuit legions to the gates of hell ; Or whate'er Angel , friend to Britain , took Or WILLIAM'S or ELIZA'S guardian look . Arise , young Peer ! shine forth in such a cause ! Who draws the sword for Freedom , justly draws . Reflect how dearly was that Freedom bought ; For that , how oft your ancestors have fought ; Thro' the long series of our princes down , How wrench'd some right from each too potent Crown . See abject JOHN , that vassal-Monarch , see ! Bow down the royal neck , and crouch the supple knee ! Oh ! prostitution of imperial State ! To a vile Romish Priest's vile The Pope's Nuncio . Delegate . Him the bold Barons scorning to obey , And be the subjects of a subject sway ; Heroes whose names to latest fame shall shine , Aw'd by no visions of a Right Divine , That bond by eastern Politicians wrought , Which ours have learnt , and Rabbi Doctors taught , To straiter banks restrain'd the Royal Will , That great prerogative of doing ill . To late example and experience dead , See Henry III . HENRY in his Father's footsteps tread . Too young to govern , immature to pow'r , His early follies haunt his latest hour . His nobles injur'd , and his realms oppress'd , No violated Senate's wrongs redress'd , His hoary age sinks in the feeble wane Of an inglorious , slighted , tedious reign . The Muse too long with idle glories fed , And train'd to trumpet o'er the warlike dead , The wanton fain on giddy plumes would soar , To Gallic Loire and Jordan's humbled shore ; Again would teach the Saracen and Gaul , At Edward I. and II . EDWARD'S and at Henry V. HENRY'S name to fall ; Romantick heroes ! prodigal of blood ; What numbers stain'd each ill-disputed flood ! Tools to a Clergy ! warring but to feast With spoils of provinces each pamper'd Priest . Be dumb , fond Maid ; thy sacred ink nor spill On specious Tyrants , popularly ill ; Nor be thy comely locks with Roses dight Of either victor colour , Red or White . Foil'd the assassin Richard III . King , in union blow The blended flow'rs on seventh HENRY'S brow . Peace lights again on the forsaken strand , And banish'd Plenty re-assumes the land . No nodding crest the crouching infant frights , No clarion rudely breaks the bride's delights ; Reposing sabres seek their ancient place To bristle round a gaping Medusa's head in the armory at the Tower . GORGON'S face . The wearied arms grotesquely deck the wall , And tatter'd trophies fret the Royal Westminster-Hall . hall . But Peace in vain on the blood-fatten'd plains From her exuberant horn her treasures rains : She deals her gifts ; but in an useless hour , To glut the iron hand of griping Pow'r : Such LANCASTER , whom harrass'd Britain saw , Mask'd in the garb of antiquated Law : More politick than wise , more wise than great : A legislator to enslave the state ; Coolly malicious ; by design a knave ; More mean than false , ambitious more than brave ; Attach'd to Interest's more than Honour's call ; More strict than just , more covetous than all . Not so the Reveller profuse , his Henry VIII . Son , His contrast course of tyranny begun ; Robust of limb , and flush'd with florid grace , Strength nerv'd his youth , and squar'd his jovial face . To feats of arms and carpet-combats prone , In either field the vig'rous monarch shone : Mark'd out for riot each luxurious day In tournaments and banquets danc'd away . But shift the scene , and view what slaughters stain Each frantick period of his barb'rous reign : A Tyrant to the people whom he rul'd , By ev'y potentate he dealt with , fool'd : Sold by one Cardinal Woolsey , minister , to all unjust ; Sway'd by each dictate of distemper'd lust ; Changing each worship that controul'd the bent Of his adult'rous will , and lewd intent ; Big in unwieldy majesty and pride , And smear'd with Queens and Martyrs blood , He dy'd . Pass we the pious Edward VI . Youth too slightly seen ; The murd'rous zeal of a weak Romish Mary . Queen : Nor with faint pencil , impotently vain , Shadow the glories of ELIZA'S reign , Who's still too great , tho' some few faults she had , To catalogue with all those Royal bad . Arise , great JAMES ! thy course of wisdom run ! Image of David's philosophick Son ! He comes ! on either hand in seemly state , Knowledge and Peace , his fondled handmaids wait : Obscurely learn'd , elaborately dull , Of quibbling cant and grace fanatick full , Thron'd in full senate , on his pedant tongue , These for six hours each weighty morning hung ; For these each string of royal pow'r he strain'd , For these he sold whate'er ELIZA gain'd ; For these he squander'd ev'ry prudent store The frugal Princess had reserv'd before , On pension'd sycophants and garter'd boys , Tools of his will , and minions of his joys . For these he let his beggar'd Queen of Bohemia . daughter roam ; Bubbled , for these , by Spanish art at home ; For these , to sum the blessings of his reign , Poison'd one Son Prince Henry , and Charles I. and t' other sent to Spain . Retire , strict Muse , and thy impartial verse In pity spare on CHARLES'S bleeding herse ; Or all his faults in blackest notes translate To tombs where rot the authors of his fate ; To lustful HENRIETTA'S Romish shade , Let all his acts of lawless pow'r be laid ; Or to the Archbishop Laud . Priest , more Romish still than her ; And whoe'er made his gentle virtues err . On the next Charles II . Prince , expell'd his native land , In vain Affliction laid her iron hand ; Fortune , or fair or frowning , on his soul Cou'd stamp no virtue , and no vice controul : Honour , or morals , gratitude , or truth , Nor learn'd his ripen'd age , nor knew his youth ; The care of Nations left to whores or chance , Plund'rer of Britain , pensioner of France ; Free to buffoons , to ministers deny'd , He liv'd an atheist , and a bigot dy'd . The reins of Empire , or resign'd or stole , Are trusted next to JAMES'S weak controul ; Him , meditating to subvert the laws , His Hero William III . Son in Freedom's beauteous cause Rose to chastise : Infelix utcumque ferent ea facta minores ! VIRG. unhappy still ! howe'er Posterity the gallant action bear . Thus have I try'd of Kings and Priests to sing , And all the ills that from their vices spring ; While victor GEORGE thunders o'er either Spain , Revenges Britain and asserts the Main ; To — Volentes Per populos dat jura viamque affectat Olympo . VIRG. willing Indians deals our equal laws , And from his Country's voice affects applause ; Illo Virgilium me tempore dulcis alebat Parthenope , studiis florentem ignobilis otî. VIRG. What time fair Florence on her peaceful shore , Free from the din of war and battle's roar , Has lap'd me trifler in inglorious ease , Modelling precepts that may serve and please ; Yours is the task — and glorious is the plan , To build the Free , the Sensible , Good Man .