Content of spirit, harmony of mind,
Hopes well directed, and a will refign'd,
Shone in thy face; in ev'ry look was seen
The innocence and peace that smil'd within.
Greece to thy fearch its fecret ftores difplay'd,
Its learning, but without its pride, convey'd,
Thy easy foul inglorious filence pleas'd,
Thy fame neglected was by others feiz'd:
What names by thy unknown affistance shine?
Theirs all the praise, but all the labour thine.
Thus tributary fprings obfcurely glide,
And fecret currents fwell the rifing tide;
Proudly the celebrated waters flow,
But to fome nameless urns their fulness owe.
The dang'rous blafts of cold inclement air Could not divert thee from the house of pray'r : Religion warm'd thy breast, whose pious flame The fnow of winter and of time o’ercame : Sober thy gesture, and thy mind intent, Whilft ev'ry vow to heav'n in quiet went. No holy guft of clam'rous zeal burst out; Good without noife, and filently devout. Hoary and ftill thus Etna's top appear'd, No rushing fires were seen, no tumult heard;
No ftroke amaz'd the world with outward din,
Whilft heavenly armour was prepar'd within,
Such liv'd he, fuch we mourn, refery'd, retir'd,
Who virtue only, not his praife, admir'd;
'Till the vex'd foul, with aged limbs oppreft,
A new retirement fought, and fled to endless reft.
On reading a fcurrilous Epigram reflecting on Him and the Duke of MARLBOROUGH.
S fome unpractis'd maid, when mutual truth
Has fixt her faith to one deferving youth;
If publick praises found the much-lov'd name,
Affents in filence only to his fame ;
Her conscious cheek, perhaps, betrays her glad
Her secret soul has yet a praise to add ;
But if fome fland'rous tongue her choice affails,
O'er all referve th' extorted truth prevails:
With warmth fhe vindicates the best of men,
And thinks what once was favour, justice then.
G 6
Thus, converfant with friends, from envy free,
And true to merit in applauding thee;
Convinc'd and pleas'd I thought mankind the fame
Nor knew one fuffrage wanting to thy fame;
'Tis true, conceal'd amidft the publick vote,
I found no language to exprefs my thought;
(Not e'en example could my zeal provoke,
Tho' much was left to fay, when all had spoke :)
For graceful praise depends on rigid laws,
Nice merit ever naufeates grofs applause;
But let not now my just design offend,
And fince thou canft have foes, accept a friend.
Since wretched flander can its force exert,
And baneful envy feeds upon defert,
In their despight thy triumph let me raise,
And lead their malice captive to thy praise;
Colleagu'd with his, their calumny has join'd;
Thy country's pride, the pattern of mankind,
Thy fecond name pofterity fhall find;
Where-e'er mature and full his fame shall spread,
There shall thy mingled laurel lift its head;
In their defpight the parallel fhall hold ;
The chymic muse refines their dirt to gold.
'T' applaud the name of thy congenial foul, Fitted like thee to act, or to controul;
Eager to dare, yet able to conduct,
And midst the rage himself inspir'd-calm to instruct.
Vain is their hope, and impotent their aim,
To fix detraction on immortal fame :
The growing oak, the foreft's future grace,
Thus bears a while the ivy's false embrace;
But ftrong with time th' invidious grafp defies,
Burfts its tough bands, and tow'ring feeks the skies.
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