**

BRITAIN:

Being the FOURTH PART of

LIBERTY,

A

Ρ Ο . Ε

E M.

**

DE

IFFERENCE betwixt the Ancients and Mo

derns slightly touched upon; to Ver. 30. Defcription of the dark ages. The Goddess of LIBERTY, who, during these, is supposed to have left earth, returns, attended with Arts and Science; to Ver. 1oo. She first descends on Italy. Sculpture, Painting, and Architecture fix at Rome, to revive their several arts by the great models of antiquity there, which many barbarous invasions had not been able to destroy. The revival of these arts marked out. That sometimes arts may flourish for a while under despotic governments, though never the natural and genuine production of them ; to Ver. 254. Learning begins to dawn. The Muse and Science attend LIBERTY, who, in her progress towards GREAT BRITAIN, raises several free pates and cities. These enumerated ; to Ver. 381. Author's exclamation of joy, upon seeing the British seas and coasts rise in the Vision, which painted whatever the Goddess of LiBERTY faid. She refumnes her narration.

The Genius of the Deep appears, and, addressing LIBERTY, affociates Great Britain into his dominion; to Ver. 451. LIBERTY received and congratulated by BRITANNIA, and the Native Genii or Virtues of the island. These described. Animated by the presence of LIEERTY, they begin their operations. Their beneficent influence con. trafted with the quorks and delusions of opposing Demons ; to Ver. 626. Concludes with an abstract of the English history, marking the several advances of LIBERTY, down to her compleat establishment at the Revolution.

S

TRUCK with the rising scene, thus I, amaz'd.

“Ah, GODDESS, what a change! Isearth the same?
« Of the same kind the ruthless race the feeds?
“ And does the same fair fun and aether spread,
“ Round this vile Spot, their all-enlivening foul ?
“Lo! beauty fails ; lost in unlovely forms
“ Of little pomp, magnificence no more
“ Exalts the mind, and bids the public smile :
“ While to rapacious interest Glory leaves
“ Mankind, and every grace of life is gone.". IO

To this the Power, whose vital radiance calls
From the brute mass of man an order'd world.

“Wait till the morning shines, and from the depth
“Of Gothic darkness fprings another day.
" True, Genius droops ; the tender antiept taste 15
“Of Beauty, then fresh-blooming in her prime,
" But faintly trembles thro* the callous foul
« And Grandeur, or of morals, or of life,
“ Sinks into lafe pursuits, and creeping cares.
“ Even cautious Virtue seems to stoop her flight, 2Q
" And aged life to deem the generous deeds.
“Of youth romantic. Yet in cooler thought
“Well-reason'd, in researches piercing deep
“Through nature's works, in profitable arts,

1

30

« And all that calm Experience can disclose, 25

(Slow guide, but sure) behold the world anew
“ Exalted rise, with other honours crown'd ;
“ And, where My Spirit wakes the finer powers,
" Athenian laurels still afresh shall bloom.”

Oblivious ages pass’d; while earth, forsook
By her best GENII, lay to Demons fouly
And unchain’d Furies, an abandon'd prey.
CONTENTION led the van ; first small of Gize,
But soon dilating, to the skies she towers :
Then, wide as air, the livid Fury spread, 35
And high her head above the stormy clouds,
She blaz'd in omens, swell’d the groaning winds
With wild furmizes, battlings, sounds of war :
From land to land the mad'ning trumpet blew,
And pour'd her venom thro' the heart of man. 40
Shook to the pole, the North obey'd her call.
Forth rulh'd the bloody Power of GOTHIC WAR,
War against human-kind : RAPINE, chat led
Millions of raging robbers-in his train :
Uplistening, barbarous FORCE, to whom the sword: 45.
Is reason, honour, law : the Foe of ARTS
By monsters follow'd, hideous to behold,
That claim'd their place. Outragious mix'd with these
Another species of * tyrannic rule;
Unknown before, whose cancrous shackles feiz'd 50,
Thenvenom'a foul ; a wilder Fury, SHE
Even o'er her I ELDER Sister tyranniz'd;
Or, if perchance agree'd, inflam'd her rage:
Dire was her train, and loud : the SABLE BAND,
Thundering,-“ Submit ye Laity! Yo prophane! 55
“ Earth is the LORD's, and therefore OURS ; let kings
w Allow the common claim, and half be theirs ;
Church power, or ecclesiastical tyranny. † Civil tyranny.

“ If not, behold! the facred lightning flies :"
SCHOLASTIC DISCORD, with an hundred tongues,
For science uttering jangling words obscure, 60
Where frighted reason never yet.could dwell::
Of peremptory feature, CLERIC PRIDB,
Whose reddening cheek no contradiction bears ;
And HOLY SLANDER, his associate firm,
On whom the Lying Spirit still defcends :

65
Mother of tortures! PERSECUTING ZEAL,
High-flashing in her hand the ready torch,
Or ponyard bath'd in unbelieving blood;
Hell's fiercest fiend ! of faintly brow demure,
Assuming a celestial seraph's name,

70 While she beneath the blasphemous pretence Of pleasing PARENT HEAVEN, the Source of Love! Has wrought more horrors, more detested deeds, Than all the rest combin’d. Led on by her, And wild of head to work her fell designs,.. 75 Came idiot SUPERSTITION; round with ears Innumerous (trow'd, ten thousand monkish forms With legends ply'd them, and with tenets, meant To charm or scare the simple into llaves, And poison reason; gross, She swallows all, The most absurd believing ever most. Broad o'er the whole her universal night, The gloom still doubling, IGNORANCE diffus’d.

Nought to be seen but vigionary monks To councils strolling, and embroiling creeds ; * Banditti Saints, disturbing distant lands; And unknown nations, wandering for a home. All iay revers'd : the sacred arts of rule Turn'd to flagitious leagues against mankind, And arts of plunder more and more avow'd ; 90 * Crusades.

Pure

85