ELEGY IV. To an OFFICER. Written at Rome, 1756. William Whitehead Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
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Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T131163 K104099.006 Dodsley, Robert, 1703-1764. A Collection of Poems in Six Volumes. By Several Hands. Vol. VI. London printed by J. Hughs, for R. and J. Dodsley 1763 [1st ed. 1758] pp. 50-53. 6v.: music; 8⁰.

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ELEGY IV . To an OFFICER . Written at Rome , 1756. FROM Latian fields , the mansions of Renown , Where fix'd the Warrior God his fated seat ; Where infant Heroes learnt the martial frown , And little hearts for genuine glory beat ; What for my friend , my soldier , shall I frame ? What nobly glowing verse that breathes of arms , To point his radiant path to deathless fame , By great examples , and terrific charms ? Quirinus first , with bold , collected bands , The sinewy sons of strength , for empire strove ; Beneath his thunder bow'd th' astonish'd lands , And temples rose to Mars , and to Feretrian Jove . War taught contempt of death , contempt of pain , And hence the Fabii , hence the Decii come : War urg'd the slaughter , tho' she wept the slain , Stern War , the rugged nurse of virtuous Rome . But not from antique fables will I draw , To fire thy feeling soul , a dubious aid , Tho' now , ev'n now , they strike with rev'rent awe , By Poets or Historians sacred made . Nor yet to thee the babling Muse shall tell What mighty Kings with all their legions wrought , What cities sunk , and storied nations fell When Caesar , Titus , or when Trajan fought , From private worth , and Fortune's private ways Whilst o'er yon hill th' exalted The trophies of Marius , now erected before the Capitol . Trophy shows To what vast heights of incorrupted praise The great , the self-ennobled Marius rose . From steep Arpinum's rock-invested shade , From hardy Virtue's emulative school His daring flight th' expanding Genius made , And by obeying nobly learnt to rule . Abash'd , confounded , stern Iberia groan'd , And Afric trembled to her utmost coasts ; When the proud land its destin'd Conqueror own'd In the new Consul , and his veteran hosts . Yet Chiefs are madmen , and Ambition weak , And mean the joys the laurel'd harvests yield , If Virtue fail . Let Fame , let Envy speak Of Capfa's walls , and Sextia's watry field . But sink for ever , in oblivion cast , Dishonest triumphs , and ignoble spoils . Minturnae's Marsh severely paid at last The guilty glories gain'd in civil broils . Nor yet his vain contempt the Muse shall praise For scenes of polish'd life , and letter'd worth ; The steel-rib'd Warrior wants not Envy's ways To darken theirs , or call his merits forth , Witness yon Cimbrian Trophies ! — Marius , there Thy ample pinion found a space to fly ; As the plum'd eagle soaring sails in air , In upper air , and scorns a middle sky . Thence too thy country claim'd thee for her own , And bade the Sculptor's toil thy acts adorn , To teach in characters of living stone Eternal lessons to the youth unborn . For wisely Rome her warlike Sons rewards With the sweet labours of her Artists' hands ; He wakes her Graces , who her empire guards , And both Minervas join in willing bands . O why , Britannia , why untrophied pass The patriot deeds thy godlike Sons display , Why breathes on high no monumental brass , Why swells no Arc to grace Culloden's Day ? Wait we till faithless France submissive bow Beneath that Hero's delegated spear , Whose light'ning smote Rebellion's haughty brow , And scatter'd her vile rout with horror in the rear ? O Land of Freedom , Land of Arts , assume That graceful dignity thy merits claim ; Exalt thy Heroes like imperial Rome , And build their virtues on their love of fame . So shall the modest worth , which checks my friend , Forget its blush when rous'd by Glory's charms ; From breast to breast the generous warmth descend , And still new trophies rise , at once , to Arts , and Arms .