ODES But 't is not furely of fo fair renown To fpill another's blood as to expose our own. 70 Of all that's ours we cannot give too much, But what belongs to friendship, oh! 't is facrilege to V.. Can we ftand by unmov'd, and fee Our mother robb'd and ravifh'd? can we be [touch. 75 Pleas'd with the strength and beauty of the ravisher? Or that its beauty and its grace were lefs. It were but vain to plead a willing rape; 80 85 A valiant fon would be provok'd the more; A force we therefore must confefs, but acted long be A marriage fince did intervene, With all the folemn and the facred scene; Loud was the Hynienean fong; The violated dame * walk'd fmilingly along, [fore; go *Rome. Often fhe caft a kind admiring glance Who afterwards appear'd fo moderate and cool, .VI. But, oh! that this were all which we can urge And that fair, truth permitted us to purge His fact of what appears fo foul! Friendship, that facred and sublimest thing! (In this dull age scarce underfood) Infpires us with unusual warmth her injur'd rites to Affift, ye Angels! whose immortal blifs, [fing: Tho' more refin'd, chiefly confifts in this. That all the excellence of human-kind Concurr'd to make of both but one united mind, $20 That tie which holds our mortal frame, Which poor unknowing we a foul and body name, Seems not a compofition more divine, Or more abftrufe, than all that does in friendship fhine. From mighty Cæfar and his boundless grace Where friendship so poffeffes all the place 125 130 Who fo obliges is more pleas'd than his fav'd friend Juft in the midft of all this noble heat, [can be. While their great hearts did both so kindly beat That it amaz'd the lookers-on, And forc'd them to fufpe& a father and a fon *; 135 (Tho' here ev'n Nature's self still seem'd to be outFrom fuch a friendship unprovok'd to fall Is horrid, yet I wish that fact were all [done) Which does with too much caufe ungrateful Brutus VIII. In coolest blood he laid a long defign Against his best and dearest friend; Did ev'n his foes in zeal exceed To spirit others up to work fo black a deed, * Cæfar was fufpected to have begotten Brutus. [call. 140 Cæfar, mean-time, fearless, and fond of him, Was as induftrious all the while To give fuch ample marks of fond efteem As made the gravest Romans smile 145 To fee with how much eafe love can the wife beguile. He, whom thus Brutus doom'd to bleed, 150 Did, fetting his own race afide, Nothing lefs for him provide Than in the world's great empire to fucceed; Is all-fufficient proof to fhow That Brutus did not ftrike for his own fake; 155 And if, alas! he fail'd, 't was only by mistake. 157 ODE ON THE DEATH OF HENRY PURCELL. GooD angels fnatch'd him eagerly on high; Joyful they flew, finging and foaring thro' the sky, Teaching his new-fledg'd foul to fly, While we, alas! lamenting lie. He went mufing all along, Compofing new their heav'nly fong. 5 A while his skilful notes loud hallelujahs drown'd, But foon they ceas'd their own to catch his pleasing David himself improv'd the harmony, [found. David, in facred ftory fo renown'd 10 No lefs for mufic than for poetry! ~ Genius fublime in either art! Crown'd with applause surpaffing all desert! A man juft after God's own heart! If human cares are lawful to the bleft, Already fettled in eternal reft, Needs must he wish that Purcell only might With the frail body never dies, But with the foul afcends the skies, From whence at first it came. "Tis fure no little proof we have That part of us furvives the grave, 35 20 And in our fame below ftill bears a share; 25 And death defpis'd for fame by all the wife and brave? Oh, all ye blefs'd harmonious Choir! Who pow'r almighty only love, and only that admire! Look down with pity from your peaceful bow'r 31 On this fad ifle perplex'd, And ever, ever vex'd With anxious care of trifles, wealth and pow'r : |