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And hush'd the hubbub of the rabblement, SIR INDUSTRY the first calm moment stole. "There muft, (he cry'd), amid fo vaft a fhoal, "Be fome who are not tainted at the heart, "Not poifon'd quite by this fame villain's bowl; "Come then, my bard, thy heavenly fire impart ; "Touch foul with foul, till forth the latent fpirit start." XLVI. JAZ,

The bard obey'd; and taking from his fide,.
Where it in feemly fort depending hung,
His British harp, its fpeaking strings he try'd,
The which with skilful touch he deffly ftrung,
Till tinkling in clear fymphony they rung.
Thén, as he felt the mufes come along,
Light o'er the chords his raptur'd hand he flung,
And play'd a prelude to his rifing fong:

The whilft, like midnight mute, ten thousands round

him throng.

XLVII.

Thus, arlent, burft his ftrain..

"Ye hapless race,

"Dire-labouring here to fmother reafon's ray,.
That lights our Maker's image in our face,
"And gives us wide o'er earth unquestion'd fway;
"What is th' ador'd SUPREME PERFECTION, fay
"What, but eternal never-refting foul,

"Almighty power, and all-directing day "By whom each atom stirs, the planets roll "Who fills, furrounds, informs, and agitates the whole.

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"Come, to the beaming Gon your hearts unfold! "Draw from its fountain life! Tis thence, alone, "We can excel. Up from unfeeling mold,» Toferaphs burning round th' ALMIGHTY's throne, "Life

M m 3

"Life rifing ftill on life, in higher tone,.
"Perfection forms, and with perfection blifs.
"In univerfal nature this clear fhewn,

"Not needeth proof: to prove it were, I wiś,

"To prove the beauteous world excels the brute abyss. XLIX.

"Is not the field, with lively culture green, "A fight more joyous than the dead morass? "Do not the skies, with active aether clean, "And fan'd by fprightly Zephyrs, far furpafs "The foul November-fögs, and flumbrous mas "With which fad nature veils her drooping face? "Does not the mountain-stream, as clear as glass, "Gay-dancing on, the putrid pool disgrace? "The fame in all holds true, but chief in human race, L.

"It was not by vile loitering in eafe,

"That GREECE obtain❜d the brighter palm of art, "That soft yet ardent ATHENS learn'd to please, "To keen the wit, and to sublime the heart, In all fupreme ! compleat in every part! "It was not thence majestic ROME arose, "And o'er the nations shook her conquering dart: "For fluggard's brow the laurel never grows; Renown is not the child of indolent repose.

LI.

“Had unambitious mortals minded nought, "But in loose joy their time to wear away;

Had they alone the lap of dalliance fought, "Pleas'd on her pillow their dull heads to lay, "Rude nature's ftate had been our state to-day;

No cities e'er their towery fronts had rais'd, "No arts had made us opulent and gay ;

"With brother-brutes the human race had grazid ;"None e'er had foar'd to fame, none honour'd beeny none prais❜d.

LII.

"Great HOMER's fong had never fir'd the breast"To thirst of glory, and heroic deeds; "Sweet MARO's mufe, funk in inglorious reft, "Had filent flept amid the Mincian reeds :...ƒ "The wits of modern time had told their beads, "And monkish legends been their only strains: “Our MILTON's Eden had lain wrapt in weeds, "Our SHAKESPEAR stroll'd and laugh'd with Warr wick (wains,

"Ne had my master SPENSER charm'd his Mulla's.

plains.

LIII.

"Dumb too had been the sage historic muse, "And perish'd all the fons of antient fame ; "Thofe ftarry lights of virtue, that diffuse "Through the dark depth of time their vivid flame, "Had all been loft with fuch as have no name. "Who then had fcorn'd his ease for others' good? "Who then had toil'd rapacious men to tame? "Who in the public breach devoted food,

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"And for his country's caufe been prodigal of blood?? LIV.

"But should to fame your hearts unfeeling be, "If right I read, you pleasure all require: "Then hear how best may be obtain'd this fee, "How best enjoy'd this nature's wide desire, "Toil, and be glad! let industry inspire "Into your quicken'd limbs her buoyant breath! "Who does not act is dead; absorpt entire

"Ta miry floth, no pride no joy he hath

"O leaden-hearted men, to be in love with death ! LV.

“Ah! what avail the largest gifts of HEAVEN,
"When drooping health and spirits go amiss?
"How tasteless then whatever can be given ?
"Health is the vital principle of blißs," -
"And exercife of health. In proof of this, H
"Behold the wretch, who flags his life away,
"Soon swallow'd in disease's fad abyss;

"While he whom toil has brac'd, or manly play, "Has light as air each limb, each thought as clear as day. LVI...

"O who can speak the vigorous joys of health "Unclogg'd the body, unobfcur'd the mind: "The morning rifes gay with pleafing ftealth, "The temperate evening falls ferene and kind.. "In health the wifer brutes true gladness find. "See! how the younglings frisk along the meads, "As May comes on, and wakes the balmy wind; "Rampant with life, their joy all joy exceeds ? "Yet what but high-ftrung health this dancing plea faunce breeds? *

LVII.

33

But here, inftead, is fafter'd every illy' "Which or distemper'd minds or bodies know. "Come then, my kindred fpirits I do not spill "Your talents here. This place is but a fhew, "Whose charms delude you to the den of woè: "Come, follow me, I will direct you right, "Where pleasure's rofes, void of ferpents, grow, «Sincere as fweet; come, follow this good knight, "And you will blefs the day that brought him to your

"fight.

LVIII. "Some

LVIII,

"Some he will lead to courts, and some to camps; "To fenates fome, and public fage debates,

"Where, by the folenin gleam of midnight lamps, "The world is pois'd, and manag'd mighty ftates; "To high difcovery some, that new-creates

"The face of earth; fome to the thriving mart;
"Some to the rural reign, and fofter fates;
"To the sweet muses some, who raise the heart:
All glory fhall be yours, all nature, and all'art.

LIX.

" There are, I fee, who listen to my lay, "Who wretched figh for virtue, but despair. A "All may be done, (methinks I hear them fay), "Even death defpis'd by generous actions fair; "All, but for those who to thefe bowers repair, "Their every power diffolv'd in luxury, "To quit of torpid fluggishness the lair, "And from the powerful arms of floth get free. "'Tis rifing from the dead-Alas!—It cannot be! LX.

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"Would you then learn to diffipate the band
"Of thefe huge threatning difficulties dire,
"That in the weak man's way like lions stand,
"His foul appall, and damp his rifing fire?
"Refolve, refolve, and to be men aspire.
“Exert that noblest privilege, alone,

"Here to mankind indulg'd: controul defire: "Let godlike reafon, from her fovereign throne, "Speak the commanding word-Iwill!anditis done.

LXI.

"Heavens! can you then thus wafte, in shameful wife, "Your few important days of tryal here?

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