To chace the charms of found, the pomp of fhow, For useful mirth, and falutary woe; Bid fcenic virtue form the rifing age, And truth diffuse her radiance from the stage. XXXXX XXXX Of ACTIVE and RETIRED LIFE. A N EPISTLE to H. C. Esq; Meo quidem judicio neuter culpandus, alter dum expetit debitos titulos, dum alter mavult videri contempfile. By WILLIAM MELMOTH, Efq; PLIN. Ep. First printed in the Year MDCCXXXV. YES, you condemn those sages too refin❜d, That gravely lecture ere they know mankind; Who whilst ambition's fiercer fires they blame, Would damp each useful spark that kindles fame. 'Tis in false estimates the folly lies; The paffion's blameless, when the judgment's wife. In vain philofophers with warmth conteft, Life's fecret fhade, or open walk is best: Each has its feparate joys, and each its use: This calls the patriot forth, and that the Muse. Hence not alike to all the fpecies, heav'n An equal thirst of public fame has giv❜n: Patrius it forms to fhine in action great; While Decio's talents best adorn retreat. If where Pierian maids delight to dwell, The haunts of filence, and the peaceful cell, Had, fair Aftræa! been thy Talbot's choice, Could lift'ning crowds now hang upon his voice? And thou, blest maid, might'st long have wept in vain The distant glories of a second reign, In exile doom'd yet ages to complain. Were high ambition ftill the power confess'd That rul'd with equal fway in every breast, Say where the glories of the facred nine? Where Homer's verfe fublime, or, Milton, thine? Nor thou, fweet bard! who "turn'd the tuneful art, "From found to fenfe, from fancy to the heart." Thy lays inftructive to the world hadft giv'n, Let fatire blast with every mark of hate, (Wife but to get, and active but to save) Where virtue regulates this juft defire, 'Twere dangerous folly to fuppress its fire. Say, whence could fame fupply (its force unknown) Her roll illuftrious of fair renown? What What laurels prompt the hero's useful rage Each public paffion bound to endless frost, O! may the Muse inspire the love of praise, Raise the bright paffion, but with judgment raife! Call'd forth the patriot, and approv'd his choice; He too fhall reach it who but well intends. a See 'midft the vanquifh'd virtuous, Falkland lies; His gen'rous efforts vain, and vain his sighs; Yet true to merit faithful records tell, To distant ages how the patriot fell: Bleft youth! infur❜d the sweetest voice of praise, Grave precepts fleeting notions may impart, From active life what various bleffings flow. He was killed in the civil wars: fee his character at large in Clarendon's hiftory. In In him a just ambition ftands confefs'd; } Juft |