LXXXI. Bethink you then, my children, of the truft But nobly roufe you to the task affign'd, But if (to All or Moft I do not speak) You chiefly, who like me in fecret mourn The prevalence of CUSTOм lewd and vain ; And you, who, though by the rude torrent borne Unwillingly along you yield with pain To his behefts, and act what you disdain, Yet nourish in your hearts the gen'rous love Of piety and truth, no more restrain The manly zeal; but all your finews move The present to reclaim, the future race improve! Eftfoons by your joint efforts shall be quell'd Who where he cannot dictate strait obeys. Ne for th' atchievement of this great emprize In Learning's various writ: by whom y-led Thro' each well-cultur'd plot, each beauteous grove, Where antique Wisdom whilom wont to tread, With mingled glee and profit may ye rove, [prove. And cull each virtuous plant, each tree of knowledge LXXXVI. Your LXXXVI. Yourselves with virtue thus and knowledge fraught Of what, in ancient days of good or great Hiftorians, bards, philosophers have taught; Join'd with whatever elfe of modern date Maturer judgment, fearch more accurate Discover'd have of Nature, Man, and God, May by new laws reform the time-worn state Of cell-bred difcipline, and smoothe the road That leads thro' Learning's vale to Wisdom's bright abode. LXXXVII. By you invited to her fecret bow'rs, Then fhall PÆDIA reafcend her throne "The knowledge of the world, and man's great business LXXXVIII. On this prime fcience, as the final end Of all her difcipline, and nurturing care, Her eye PÆDIA fixing aye shall bend Her every thought and effort to prepare [there." Her tender pupils for the various war, Which Vice and Folly shall upon them wage, As on the perilous march of life they fare, With prudent lore fore-arming every age 'Gainst Pleasure's treacherous joys, and Pain's embattled LXXXIX. Then shall my youthful fons, to Wisdom led By fair example and ingenuous praise, Through the world's intricate or rugged ways rays; Whofe foul-invigorating influence Shall purge their minds from all impure allays Of fordid selfishness and brutal sense, [rage. And fwell th' ennobled heart with bleft benevolence. XC. Then alfo fhall this emblematic pile, By magic whilom fram'd to fympathize With all the fortunes of this changeful ifle, Still, as my fons in fame and virtue rise, Grow with their growth, and to th' applauding fkies Of worthies fhall fucceed, with equal pace Aye following their fires in virtue's glorious race. XCI. Fir'd XCI. Fir'd with th' idea of her future fame She rose majestic from her lowly fted; Who for their various merit erst renown'd, In this bright fane of glory fhrines of honour found. On thefe that royal dame her ravish'd eyes Thofe fculptur'd chiefs did fhew, and their great lives ex[plain". "Great lives explain.] I cannot forbear taking occafion from these words to make my acknowledgments to the writers of Biographia Britannica, for the pleasure and profit I have lately received from perufing the two first volumes of that useful and entertaining work, of which the monumental structure above-men D 4 tioned, |