LXXXI.

Bethink you then, my children, of the truft
In you repos'd; ne let your heav'n-born mind
Confume in pleasure, or unactive rust;

But nobly roufe you to the task affign'd,
The godlike task to teach and mend mankind:
Learn that ye may instruct: to virtue lead
Yourselves the way: the herd will crowd behind,
And gather precepts from each worthy deed:
"Example is a leffon, that all men can read."
LXXXII.

But if (to All or Moft I do not speak)
In vain and fenfual habits now grown old,
The strong Circean charm you cannot break,
Nor re-affume at will your native & mould,
Yet envy not the state, you could not hold :
And take compaffion on the rifing age:
In them redeem your errours manifold;
And, by due difcipline and nurture fage,
In Virtue's lore betimes your docile fons engage.
LXXXIII.

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!
LXXXIV.

Eftfoons by your joint efforts shall be quell'd
Yon haughty GIANT, who fo proudly sways
A fceptre by repute alone upheld;

Who where he cannot dictate strait obeys.
Accuftom'd to conform his flattering phrase
To numbers and high-plac'd authority,
Your party he will join, your maxims praise,
And drawing after all his menial fry,
Soon teach the general voice your act to ratify.
LXXXV.

Ne for th' atchievement of this great emprize
The want of means or counsel may ye dread;
From my TWIN-DAUGHTERS' fruitful wombs fhallrife
A race of letter'd fages, deeply read

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
With vivid laurels girt, and fragrant flow'rs;
While from their forked mount defcending down
Yon fupercilious pedant train fhall own
Her empire paramount, ere long by Her
Y-taught a leffon in their schools unknown,
"To Learning's richest treasures to prefer

"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,
With willing feet the paths of Duty tread;

Through the world's intricate or rugged ways
Conducted by Religion's facred

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
Its radiant cross up-lift; the while, to grace
The multiplying niches, fresh fupplies

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;
While from her vivid eyes a sparkling flame
Out-beaming, with unwonted light o'erspread
That monumental pile; and as her head
To every front fhe turn'd, difcover'd round
The venerable forms of heroes dead;

Who for their various merit erst renown'd,

In this bright fane of glory fhrines of honour found.
XCII.

On thefe that royal dame her ravish'd eyes
Would often feaft; and ever as she spy'd
Forth from the ground the length'ning ftructure rise
With new-plac'd statues deck'd on every side,
Her parent-breast would fwell with gen'rous pride.
And now with her in that fequefter'd plain,
The Knight awhile constraining to abide,
She to the Fairy Youth with pleasure fain

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,