On pleasure's glitt'ring ftream ye gaily steer Your little courfe to cold oblivion's fhore; They dare the storm, and thro' th'inclement year Stemthe roughfurge, and brave the torrent'sroar. Is it for glory? That juft Fate denies : Long muft the warrior moulder in his fhroud, Ere from her trump the heav'n-breath'd accents Thatlift the hero from the fighting crowd! [rife, Is it his grafp of empire to extend? To curb the fury of infulting foes? Ambition, cease! the idle contest end: 'Tis but a kingdom thou canft win or lofe. And why muft murder'd myriads lofe their all (If life be all); why defolation lowr With famifh'd frown on this affrighted ball, That thou may'st flame the meteor of an hour? Go, wifer ye, that flutter life away, Crown with the mantling juice the goblet high! Weave the light dance, with feftive freedom gay, And live your moment, fince the next ye die! Yet know, vain sceptics! know th'Almighty Mind, Who breath'd on man a portion of his Sire, Bade his free foul, by earth nor time confin'd, To heav'n, to immortality afpire. Nor fhall the pile of hope his mercy rear'd, §66. Elegy to a young Nobleman leaving the Univerfity. MASON. FRE yet, ingenuous youth, the fteps retire [vale, And this let voluntary friendship pay. There, if ambition, peftilent and pale, Or luxury fhould taint their vernal glow; If cold felf-intereft, with her chilling gale, [blow; Should blaft th'unfolding bloffoms ere they If mimic hues, by art or fashion spread, Their genuine fimple colouring fhould fupply, O may with them thefe laureate honours fade, And with them (if it can) my friendship die! Then do not blame, if, tho' thyfelf infpire, Cautious I strike the panegyric ftring; The mufe full oft purfues a meteor fire, And, vainly ven'trous, foars on waxen wing: Too actively awake at friendship's voice, The poet's bofom pours the fervid ftrain, Till fad reflection blames the hafty choice, And oft invokes oblivion's aid in vain. Call we the fhade of Pope from that blefs'd bow'r, Where thron'd he fits with many a tuneful fage; Ask if he ne'er bemoans that hapless hour When St. John's name illumin'd glory's page. Afk, if the wretch, who dar'd his mem❜ry ftain; Afk, if his country's, his religion's foc, Deferv'd the meed that Marlbro' fail'd to gain; The deathlefs meed he only could bestow: The bard will tell thee, the mifguided praife Clouds the celeftial funfhine of his breaft; E'en now, repentant of his erring lays, He heaves a figh amid the realms of reft. If Pope thro' friendship fail'd, indignant view, Yet pity, Dryden-hark, whene'er he fings, How adulation drops her courtly dew On titled rymers and inglorious kings! See, from the depths of his exhaustlefs mine, His glitt'ring ftores the tuneful spendthrift throws: Born with too gen'rous, or too mean a heart, Thy strongest diction idly eloquent. Was Parnell's modeft fame, and may be mine. Go then, my friend, nor let thy candid breast Condemn me, if I check the plaufive fring: Go to the wayward world; complete the reft; Be what the pureft mufe would wish to fing. Be ftill thyself; that open path of truth, Which led thee here, let manhood firm purfue; Retain the sweet fimplicity of youth, And all thy virtue dictates dare to do. Still fcorn, with confcious pride, the mask of art; On vice's front let fearful caution lowr, And teach the diffident difcreeter part [pow'r. Of knaves that plot, and fools that fawn for So, round thy brow when age's honours fpread, When death's cold hand unftrings thy Mafon's When the green turf lies lightly on his head,[lyre, Thy worth fhall fome fuperior bard infpire: He to the ampleft bounds of time's domain On rapture's plume thall give thy name tofly; For truft, with rev'rence truft, this Sabine ftrain, 'The Mufe forbids the virtuous man to die.' § 67. The Choice of Hercules: from the Greek of way. In the pure mind, at thofe ambiguous years, By juft degrees: fair bloom of fairest fruit! For, if on youth's untainted thought impreft, The gen'rous purpofc ftill fhall warm the manly breaft. As on a day, reflecting on his age For higheft deeds now ripe, Alcides fought Retirement, nurfe of contemplation fage, Step following step, and thought fucceeding Mufing, with fteady pace the youth purfu'd Converfing; while intent his mind furvey'd The dubious path of life: before him lay [way. Here virtue's rough afcent, there pleasure's flow'ry Much did the view diz.de his waving mind : Now glow'd his breaft with gen'rous thift of Now love of cafe to fufter thoughts inclin'd fame; His yielding foul, and quench'd the ringiame: When, lo! far off two female forms he 'ipies; Dired to him their steps they feem to bear; Both large and tall, exceeding human fize; Both, far exceeding human beauty, fair. Graceful, yet each with diffrent grace they move; This striking facred awe; that, fofter winning love. The firft in native dignity furpafs'd; Artless and undoin'd the pleas'd the more; Health o'er her looks a genuine luftre caft; A veft more white than new-fall'n fhow the Auguft the trod, yet modeft was her air, [wore: Serene her eye, yet darting heav'nly fire. Still he drew near; and nearer ftill more fair, More mild, appear'd: yet fuch as might infpire Pleafure, corrected with an awful fear; Majeftically fweet, and a.niably fevere. The other dame feem'd ev'n of fairer hue; But bold her mien, unguarded rov'd her eye, And her flush'd checks confefs'd at nearer view The borrow'd bluthes of an artful dye. All foft and delicate, with airy fwim, Lightly fhe danc'd along; her robe betray'd Thio' the clear texture every tender limb, Height'ning the charms it only feem'd to fhade: And as it flow'd adown, fo loofe and thin, kin. Horftature fhew'd more tall,more nowy white her Oft with a fmile the view'd herflf afkance; Ev'n on b. thade a confcious look the thiew: Then all around her caft a careless glance. To mark what gazing eyes her beauty drew: As they came near, before that other maid Approaching decent, eagerly the prefs'd With hefty ftop; nor of repulfe afraid, [drefs'd; With freed im brand the wondhing youth adWith winning fondaefs or his neck the hung; Sweet as the honey-dew flow'd her enchanting With me retire from noife, and pain, and care, Embath'd in blifs, and wrapt in endless ease: Rough is the road to fame, thro' blood and war; Smooth is my way, and all my paths are peace. With me retire, from toils and perils free; Leave honour to the wretch! pleasures were made for thee. Then will I grant thee all thy foul's defire; All that the thought can frame, or with require, The fragrant bow'r, cool fountain, shady grove; Frefh flow'rs to ftrew thy couch, and crown thy [thy bed. head: Joy fhall attend thy steps, and ease shall smooth There will I freely, conftantly supply, Pleafures, not earn'd with toil, nor mix'd with Far from thy reft repining want fhall fly, [woe; Nor labour bathe in fweat thy careful brow. Mature the copious harveft fhall be thine, Let the laborious hind fubdue the toil; Leave the rath foldier fpoils of war to win, Won by the foldier thou shalt fhare the spoil: Thefe fofter cares my best allies employ, New pleafures to invent, to wifh, and to enjoy." Her winning voice the youth attentive caught: He gaz'd impatient on the fmiling maid; Still gaz'd, and liften'd; then her name befought: "My name, fair youth, is Happiness," the faid: "Well can my friends this envied truth maintain; They thare my blifs, they beft can speak my praife: Tho' Slander call me Sloth (detraction vain!) name." By this, arriv'd the fair majeftic maid: (She all the while, with the fame modeft pace, Compos'd advanc'd)" Know, Hercules," the faid, With manly tone, "thy birth of heav'nly race, Thy tender age that lov'd inftruction's voice, Promis'd thee generous, patient, brave,and wife: When manhood fhould confirm thy glorious Now expectation waits to fee thee rife. [choice; Rife, youth exalt thyfelf, and me; approve Thy high defcent from heaven,-and dare be worthy Jove. But what truth prompts, my tongue shall not difguife: The fleep afcent must be with toil subdu'd; Watching and cares muft win the lofty prize Propos'd by Heav'n; true blifs and real good. Honour rewards the brave and bold alone; She fpurns the timorous, indolent, and base: Danger and toil stand stern before her throne, And guard(foJove commands) the facred place: Who fecks her muft the mighty coft fuftain, And pay the price of fame-labour, and care, and pain. Wouldft Wouldft thou engage the gods peculiar care? Her voice in council, in the fight her fword: In peace, in war, purfue thy country's good; For her bare thy bold breaft, and pour thy generous blood. Wouldst thou, to quell the proudand lift th'oppreft, In watches wafte; in painful march, the day: Congeal'd amidst the rigorous winter's fnows, Scorch'd by the fummer's thirft-inflaming ray. Thy harden'd limbs fhall boaft fuperior might: Vigour thall brace thine arm,refiftlefs in the fight." "Hear'ft thou what monfters then thou muft engage? [prove," What dangers, gentle youth, the bids thee (Abrupt, fays Sloth) "ill fit thy tender ageTumult and wars; fit age for joy and love. Turn, gentle youth, to me, to love and joy! To thefe I lead: no monfters here fhall stay Thine cafy courfe; no cares thy peace annoy : I lead to blifs a nearer, finoother way: Short is my way, fair, eafy, smooth, and plain: Turn, gentle youth-with me eternal pleafures reign." "What pleasures, vain mistaken wretch, are thine? (Virtue with fcorn replied)"who fleep'ft in cafe Infenfate; whofe foft limbs the toil decline That feafons blifs, and makes enjoyment please : Draining the copious bowl ere thirst require: Feafting ere hunger to the feaft invite; Whofe taftelefs joys anticipate defire, Whom luxury fupplies with appetite: Yet nature loaths, and you employ in vain Variety and art to conquer her difdain. The fparkling nectar, cool'd with fummer fnows, The dainty board with choiceft viands ipread, To thee are taftelefs all! fincere repofe Flies from thy flow'ry couch and downy bed. For thou art only tir'd with indolence; Nor is thy fleep with toil and labour bought, Th'imperfect fleep, that lulls thy languid fenfe In dull oblivious interval of thought; That kindly fteals th'inactive hours away [the day. From the long ling'ring ipace, that lengthens out From bounteous nature's unexhausted stores Flows the pure fountain of fincere delights: Averfe to hear, you wafte the joyless hours; Sleep drowns thy days, and riot rules thy nights. Immortal tho' thou art, indignant Jove [place, Hurl'd thee from heav'n, th'immortal's blissful For ever banish'd from the realms above, To dwell on earth with man's degenerate race: Fitter abode on earth alike difgrac'd ;. / Rejected by the wife, and by the fool embrac'd. Fond wretch, that vainly weeneft all delight To gratify the fenfe, referv'd for thee! Yet the moft pleasing object to the fight, Thine own fair action, never didft thou fee. Tho' lull'd with fofteft founds thou lieft along, Soft mufic, warbling voices, melting lays;[fong Ne'er didft thou hear, more fweet than fweetest Charming thefoul, thou ne'erdidft hearthy praife! No-to thy revels let the fool repair; To fuch go finooth thy fpeech; and fpread thy tempting fnare. Vaft happiness enjoy thy gav allies! A youth of follies, an old age of cares; Young yet enervate, old yet never wife, Vice waftes their vigour,and their minds impairs. Vain, idle, delicate, in thoughtless eafe, Referving woes for age, their prime they spend; All wretched, hopelefs, in the evil days, With forrow to the verge of life they tend Griev'd with the prefent, of the past afham'd, They live and are defpis'd; they die, nor more are nam'd. But with the gods, and godlike men, I dwell; All, or divine, or human, I infpire. Nor need my friends the various coftly feast; Hunger to them th'effects of art fupplies; Labour prepares their weary limbs to reft; [rife. Sweet is their fleep, light, cheerful, ftrong, they Thro'health,thro' joy, thro' pleafure, and renown, They tread my paths; and by a foft defcent, At length to age all gently finking down, Look back with tranfport on a life well spent ; In which no hour flew unimprov'd away; [day. In which fome generous deed diftinguifl'd ev'ry And when, the deftin'd term at length complete, Their afhes reft in peace, eternal fame Sounds wide their praise: triumphant over fate, In facred fong for ever lives their name. This, Hercules, is happinefs! obey My voice, and live: Let thy celestial birth Lift and enlarge thy thoughts: behold the way That leads to fame, and raifes thee from earth Immortal! Lo, I guide thy steps. Arife, [fkies. Purfue the glorious path, and claim thy native Her words breathe fire celeftial, and impart New vigour to his foul, that fudden caught The generous flame: with great intent his heart Swells full, and labours with exalted thought. The mift of error from his eyes difpell'd, Thro' all her fraudful arts, in cleareft light, Sloth in her native form he now beheld; Unveil'd the ftood confefs'd before his fight: Falfe Siren!-All her vaunted charms, that shone So freth erewhile and fair, now wither'd, pale and gone. No No more the rofy bloom in fweet difguife Livid and funk, and paffions dim her face. Her wat'ry arch, with gaudy painture gay, While yet we gaze the glorious colours fade, And from our wonder gently fteal away: Where thonethe beauteous phantom erst so bright, Now lowrs the low-hung cloud, all gloomy to the fight. But Virtue, more engaging, all the while From thee, O never, never let me ftray !" While ardent thus the youth his vows addrefs'd, With all the goddefs fill'd, already glow'd his breaft. The heav'nly maid with ftrength divine endu’d His daring foul; there all her pow'rs combin'd: Firm conftancy, undaunted fortitude, Enduring patience, arm'd his mighty mind. Uninov'd in toils, in dangers undifmay'd, By many a hardy deed and bold emprize, From fierceft monfters, thro' her pow'rful aid, He freed the earth thro' her he gain'd the fkies. 'Twas virtue plac'd him in the blest abode; Crown'd with eternal youth, among the gods a god. 668. The Hermit. PARNELL. FAR in a wild, unknown to public view, A life to facred, fuch ferene repofe, The morn was wafted in the pathlefs grafs, And talk of various kind deceiv'd the road; Now funk the fun; the closing hour of day Deep funk in fleep, and filk, and heaps of down. At length 'tis morn, and at the dawn of day And, but the landlord, none had cause of woe: And much he wifh'd, but durft not ask, to part: While thus they pafs, the fun his glory fhrouds; The changing fkies hang out their fable clouds; A found in air prefag'd approaching rain, And beafts to covert fcud across the plain. Warn'd by the figns, the wand'ring pair retreat To feek for fhelter at a neighb'ring feat : 'Twas built with turrets on a rifing ground, And strong, and large, and unimprov'd around; Its owner's temper tim'rous and fevere, Unkind and griping, caus'd a defart there. As As near the mifer's heavy doors they drew, But now the clouds in airy tumult fly; With all the travel of uncertain thought; Hither the walkers turn with weary feet, Horror of horrors! what! his only fon; Confus'd, and ftruck with filence at the deed, Tho' loud at firft the Pilgrim's paffion grew, Sudden he gaz'd, and wift not what to do; Surprize in fecret chains his words fufpends, And in a calm his fettling temper ends. But filence here the beauteous angel broke (The voice of mufic ravish'd as he spoke). Thy pray'r, thy praife, thy life to vice unknown, In fweet memorial rife before the throne: These charms fuccefs in our bright region find, And force an angel down to calm thy mind; For this commiffion'd, I forfook the fky ;Nay, cease to kneel !—thy fellow-fervant I. Then know the truth of government divine, And let thefe fcruples be no longer thine. The Maker juftly claims that world he made, In this the right of Providence is laid; Its facred majesty through all depends On ufing fecond means to work his ends; 'Tis thus, withdrawn in ftate from human eye, The Pow'r exerts his attributes on high, Your actions ufes, nor controuls your will, And bids the doubting fons of men be ftill. What ftrange events can ftrike with more furprize, [eyes? Than thofe which lately ftruck thy wond'ring Yet, taught by thefe, confefs th'Almighty just, And where you can't unriddle, learn to trust. The great, vain man, who far'd on coftly food, Whofe life was too luxurious to be good; Who made his iv'ry ftands with goblets fhine, And forc'd his guefts to morning draughts of wine, Has, with the cup, the graceless custom loft, And still he welcomes, but with lefs of coft. The mean fufpicious wretch, whose bolted door Ne'er mov'd in pity to the wand'ring poor, |