Peace courts his hand, but spreads her charms in vain ;

Think nothing gain'd, he cries, till nought remain,

On Moscow's walls till Gothic standards fly, And all be mine beneath the polar sky." The march begins in military state, And nations on his eye suspended wait; Stern Famine guards the solitary coast, And Winter barricades the realms of Frost ; He comes, nor want nor cold his course delay;Hide, blushing Glory, hide Pultowa's day The vanquish'd hero leaves his broken bands, And shows his miseries in distant lands, Condemn'd a needy supplicant to wait, While ladies interpose, and slaves debate. But did not Chance at length her error mend? Did no subverted empire mark his end? Did rival monarchs give the fatal wound? Or hostile millions press him to the ground? His fall was destin'd to a barren strand, A petty fortress, and a dubious hand; He left the name, at which the world grew pale, To point a moral, or adorn a tale.

All times their scenes of pompous woes afford, From Persia's tyrant, to Bavaria's lord. In gay hostility, and barb'rous pride, With half mankind embattl'd at his side, Great Xerxes comes to seise the certain prey, And starves exhausted regions in his way; Attendant Flatt'ry counts his myriads o'er, Till counted myriads sooth his pride no more; Fresh praise is try'd till madness fires his mind, The waves he lashes, and enchains the wind; New pow'rs are claim'd, new pow'rs are still bestow'd,

Till rude resistance lops the spreading god ;
The daring Greeks deride the martial show,
And heap their vallies with the gaudy foe;
Th' insulted sea with humbler thoughts he gains,
A single skiff to speed his flight remains:
Th' incumber'doar scarce leaves the dreaded coast
Thro' purple billows and a floating host.

The bold Bavarian, in a luckless hour,
Tries the dread summits of Cæsarean pow'r,
With unexpected legions bursts away,
And sees defenceless realms receive his sway,
Short sway! fair Austria spreads her mournful
charms,

Time hovers o'er, impatient to destroy,
And shuts up all the passages of joy :
In vain their gifts their bounteous seasons pour,
The fruit autumnal, and the vernal flow'r-
With listless eyes the dotard views the store,
He views, and wonders that they please no more;
Now pall the tasteless meats, and joyless wines,
And Luxury with sighs her slave resigns.
Approach, ye minstrels, try the soothing strain,
Diffuse the tuneful lenitives of pain:

No sounds, alas! would touch th'impervious ear,
Though dancing mountains witness'd Orpheus
Nor lute nor lyre his feeble pow'rs attend, [near;
Nor sweeter music of a virtuous friend:
But everlasting dictates crowd his tongue,
Perversely grave, or positively wrong.
The still returning tale, or ling ring jest,
Perplex the fawning niece and pamper'd guest,
While growing hopes scarce awe the gathering
And scarce a legacy can bribe to hear; [sneer,
The watchful guests still hint the last offence,
The daughter's petulance, the son's expence,
Improve his heady rage with treach'rous skill,
And mould his passions till they make his will.

Unnumber'd maladies his joints invade,
Lay siege to life, and press the dire blockade;
But unextinguish'd Av'rice still remains,
And dreaded losses aggravate his pains;
He turns, with anxious heart and crippled hands,
His bonds of debt, and mortgages of lands;
Or views his coffers with suspicious eyes,
Unlocks his gold, and counts it till he dies.

The queen, the beauty, sets the world in arms;
From hill to hill the beacon's rousing blaze
Spreads wide the hope of plunder and of praise;
The fierce Croatian, and the wild Hussar,
With all the sons of ravage crowd the war;
The baffled prince in honor's flatt'ring bloom
Of hasty greatness finds the fatal dooin,
His foes derision, and his subjects blame,
And steals to death from anguish and from shame.
Enlarge my life with multitude of days;'
In health, in sickness, thus the suppliant prays;
Hides from himself his state, and shuns to know,
That life protracted is protracted woe.

C

Ver. 168---187.

Ver. 188---288.

But grant, the virtues of a temp'rate prime Bless with an age exempt from scorn or crime; An age that melts with unperceiv'd decay, And glides in modest innocence away; Whose peaceful day Benevolence endears, Whose night congratulating Conscience cheers; The gen'ral fav'rite as the gen'ral friend: Such age there is, and who shall wish its end?

Yet ev'n on this her load Misfortune flings, To press the weary minutes flagging wings; New sorrow rises as the day returns, A sister sickens, or a daughter mourns. Now kindred Merit fills the sable bier, Now lacerated Friendship claims a tear. Year chases year, decay pursues decay, Still drops some joy from with'ring life away; New forms arise, and diff'rent views engage, Superfluous lags the vet'ran on the stage, Till pitying Nature signs the last release, And bids afflicted worth retire to peace.

But few there are whom hours like these await, Who set unclouded in the gulphs of Fate. From Lydia's monarch should the search descend, By Sofon caution'd to regard his end, In life's last scene what prodigies surprise, Fears of the brave, and follies of the wise! From Marlb'rough's eyes the streams of dotage And Swift expires a driv'ler and a show. [flow,

The teeming mother, anxious for her race, Begs for each birth the fortune of a face ;.

Ver. 289-345.

Yet

Know, ye were form'd to range von azure field,
In yon ethereal founts of bliss to lave:
Force then, secure in faith's protection shield,
Thesting from death, the vict'ry from the grave!
Is this the bigot's rant? Away, ye vain! [steep:
Your hopes, your fears, in doubt, in dullness
Go sooth your souls in sickness, grief, or pain,
With the sad solace of eternal sleep!

Yet will I praise you, triflers as you are,
More thanthose preachers of your fav ritecreed,
Who proudly swell the brazen throat of war,

Who from the phalanx, bid the battle bleed, Nor wish for more; who conquer bnt to die.

Hear, Folly, hear, and triumph in the tale! Like you they reason, not like you enjoy

:

The breeze of bliss, that fills your silken sail On pleasure's glitt'ring stream ye gaily steer

Your little course to cold oblivion's shore; They dare the storm, and thro' th' inclement year Stem the rough surge, and brave the torrent's

roar.

Who breath'd on man a portion of his fire, Bade his free soul, by earth nor time confin'd, To heav'n, to immortality aspire.

Nor shall the pile of hope his mercy rear'd By vain philosophy be e'er destroy'd: Eternity, by all or wish'd or fear'd,

Shall be by all or suffer'd or enjoy'd!

Is it for glory? That just Fate denies;

Long must the warrior moulder in his shroud, Ere from her trump the heaven-breath'd accents That lift the hero from the fighting crowd! [rise Is it his grasp of empire to extend?

To curb the fury of insulting foes? Ambition, cease! the idle contest end:

"Tis but a kingdom thou canst win or lose. And why must murder'd myriads lose their all (If life be all), why desolation low'r With famish'd frown on this affrighted ball,

That thou mayst flame the meteor of an hour? Go, wiser ye, that flutter life away,

Crown with the mantling juice the goblet high? Weave the light dance, with festive freedom gay,

And live your moment, since the next ye die! Yet know, vain sceptics! know, th' Almighty Mind,

Yet know, the time arrives, the dang`rous time, When all those virtues, 'op'ning now so fair, Transplanted to the world's tempestuous clime, Must learn each passion's hoist'rous breath to bear;

There, if ambition, pestilent and pale,

Or luxury should taint their vernal glow ; If cold self-interest, with her chilling gale, [blow; Should blast th' unfolding blossoms ere they If mimic hues, by art or fashion spread,

Their genuine simple coloring should supply; O may with them these laureate honors fade,

And with them (if it can) my friendship die! Then do not blame, if, tho' thyself inspire, Caution strike the panegyric string; The Muse full oft pursues a meteor fire, And, vainly vent'rous, soars on waxen wing: Too actively awake at friendship's voice,

The poet's bosom pours the fervent strain, Till sad reflection blames the hasty choice,

And oft invokes oblivion's aid in vain. Call we the shade of Pope from that blest bow'r, Where thron'd he sits with many a tuneful sage; Ask, if he ne'er bemoans that hapless hour

When St. John's naine illumin'd glory's page. Ask, if the wretch, who dar'd his mem'ry stain;

Ask, if his country's, his religion's foe, Deserv'd the need that Marlbro' fail'd to gain; The deathless meed he only could bestow: The hard will tell thee, the misguided praise

Clouds the celestial sunshine of his breast; Ev'n now, repentant of his erring lays,

He heaves a sigh amid the realms of rest. If Pope thro" friendship fail'd, indignant view, Yet pity, Dryden-hark, whene'er he sings, How adulation drops her courtly dew

On titled rhymers and inglorious kings! See, from the depths of his exhaustless mine. His glitt'ring stores the tuneful spendthrift

throws:

Where fear or int'rest bids, behold they shine; Now grace aCromwell's, now aCharles'sbrows. Born with too gen'rous or too mean a heart, Dryden! in vain to thee those stores were lent; Thy

$77. The Choice of Hercules: from the
Greek of Prodicus. Bp. Lowth.
Now had the son of Jove, mature, attain'd
The joyful prime; when youth, elate and gay,
Steps into life, and follows unrestrain'd [way.
Where passion leads, or prudence points the
In the pure mind, at those ambiguous years,
Or vice, rank weed, first strikes her pois'nous
Or haply virtue's op'ning bud appears [root;
By just degrees, fair bloom of fairest fruit!
For, if on youth's untainted thought imprest,
The gen'rous purpose still shall warm the manly

breast.

As on a day, reflecting on his age

For highest deeds now ripe, Alcides sought Retirement, nurse of contemplation sage, Step following step, and thought succeeding thought; Musing, with steady pace the youth pursued His walk, and lost in meditation stray'd Far in a lonely vale, with solitude

Conversing; while intent his mind survey'd The dubious path of life: before him lay, [way. Herevirtue's rough ascent, there pleasure's flow'ry Much did the view divide his wav'ring mind: Now glow'd his breast with gen'rous thirst of Nowlove of ease to softer thoughts inclin'd [fame; His yielding soul,and quench'd the rising flame: When, lo! far off two female forms he spics: Direct to him their steps they seem to bear; Both large and tall, exceeding hunan size; Both, far exceeding human beauty, fair.

Graceful, yet each with different grace they move This striking sacred awe; that, softerwinning love. The first in native dignity surpass'd;

Artless and unadorn'd she pleas'd the more; Health o'er her looks a genuine lustre cast;

A vest more white than new-fallen snow she

August she trod, yet modest was her air; [wore :
Still she drew near, and nearer still more fair,
Serene her eye, yet darting heavenly fire;

Pleasure corrected with an awful fear;
More mild, appear'd: yet such as might inspire
The other dame seein'd even of fairer hue;
Majestically sweet, and amiably severe.

But bold her mien, unguarded rov'd her eye,
And her flush'd checks confess'd at nearer view
The borrow'd blushes of an artful dye.
All soft and delicate, with airy swim

Lightly she danc'd along; her robe betray'd Thro' the clear texture every tender limb,

Heightning the charms it only seem'd to shade. And as it flow'd adown, so loose and thin, [skin. Her stature show'd more tall, more nowywhiteher Oft with a smile she view'd herself askance;

Even on her shade a conscious look she threw: Then all around her cast a careless glance,

To mark what gazing eyes her beauty drew. As they came near, before that other maid

Approaching decent, eagerly she press'd With hasty step; nor of repulse afraid, [dress'd;

With freedom bland the wond'ring youth adWith winning fondness on his neck she hung; Sweet as the honey-dew flow'd her enchanting

tongue :

"Dear Hercules, whence this unkind delay? Dear youth, what doubts can thus distract thy Securely follow where I lead the way, [mind?

And range thro' wilds of pleasure unconfin'd. With me retire from noise, and pain, and care,

Embath'd in bliss, 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 honor to the wretch! pleasures were made for thee.

"Then will I grant thee all thy soul's desire; All that may charm thine ear, and please thy sight;

All that the thought can frame, or wish require,
To steep thy ravish'd senses in delight:
The sumptuous feast, enhanc'd with music's
Fittest to tune the melting soul to love, [sourd,
Rich odors, breathing choicest sweets around;

The fragrant bow'r, cool fountain, shady grove; Fresh flow'rs to strew thy couch, and crown thy [thy bed. Joy shall attend thy steps, and case shall smooth

head:

These will I freely, constantly supply, Pleasure's not earn'd with toil, nor mix'd with Far from thy rest repining want shall fly, [woe; Nor labor bathe in sweat thy careful brow. Mature the copious harvest shall be thine, Let the laborious hind subdue the soil;

F2

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