:

To him each neighbour fafe refers his claim,
The right he fettles, and abates the flame.
Nor arts nor worth to Patrius fue in vain,
Nor unreliev'd the injur'd e'er complain.
For him the hand unfeen, are pray'rs prefer'd,
And grateful vows in diftant temples heard;
Like nature's bleffings to no part confin'd,
His well-pois'd bounty reaches all mankind;
That infolence of wealth, the pomp of ftate
Which crowds the mansions of the vainly great,
Flies far the limits of his modeft gate.

Juft what is elegantly ufeful's there;

Of aught beyond he fcorns th' unworthy care;
Nor would, for all the trim that pride can show,
One fingle act of focial aid forego;

For this he labours to improve his ftore,],
For this he wishes to enlarge his pow'r;
This is his life's great purpose, end, and aim
Such true ambition is, and worthy fame.

How different Rapax spent his worthless hour!
With treasure indigent, a flave with pow'r :
Large fums o'erlooking, ftill intent on more,
He wafted, not enjoy'd, his tafteless store.
His growing greatness rais'd his hopes the high'r,
And fan'd his reftlefs pride's increafing fire.
'Twas thus amidst profperity he pin'd;
For what can fill the falfe ambitious mind?

}

With all the honours that his prince could give,
With all the wealth his av'rice could receive,
'Midft outward opulence, but inward care,
Reproach and want were all he left his heir.

'Tis true, the patriot well deferves his fame, And from his country just applause may claim. But what avails it to the world befide,'

That Brutus bravely ftab'd, or Curtius dy'd ?
While Tully's merit, unconfin'd to place,
Diffufes bleffings down through all our race';
Remoteft times his learned labours reach,

And Rome's great moralist ev'n now fhall teach, med en f

Averse to public noise, ambition's strife,

And all the fplendid ills of bufy life,

Through latent paths, unmarked by vulgar eye,

Are there who wish to pass unheeded by ?
Whom calm retirement's facred pleafares move,
The hour contemplative, or friend they love;
Yet not by spleen, or fuperftition led,
Forbear ambition's giddy heights to tread ;
Who not inglorious spend their peaceful day,
Whilft fcience, lovely ftar! directs their way?
Flows there not fomething good from fuch as thefe▸
No useful product from the men of ease ?
And fhall the Mufe no focial merit boast ?
Are all her vigils to the public loft?
Though noisy pride may scorn her filent toil,
Fair are the fruits which blefs her happy foil:

'There

There every plant of useful produce grows,
There science sprang, and thence instruction flows;
There true philofophy erects her school,

There plans her problem, and there forms her rule ;
There every feed of every art began,

And all that eases life, and brightens man.

'Twas hence great Newton, mighty genius! foar'd,
And all creation's wond'rous range explor'd.
Far as th' Almighty ftretch'd his utmost line,
He pierc'd in thought, and view'd the vaft defign.
Too long had darker ages fought in vain
The secret scheme of nature to explain;
Too long had truth escap'd each fage's eye,
Or faintly fhone through vain philofophy.
Each shapely offspring of her feeble thought,
A darker veil o'er genuine fcience brought;
Sill ftubborn facts o'erthrew their fruitless toil;
For truth and fiction who fhall reconcile
But Britain's fons a farer guide purfue;

Thread safe the maze, fince Newton gave the clue.
Where-e'er he turn'd true Science rear'd her head,
While far before her puzzled Ign'rance fled :
From each bleft truth these noble ends he draws,
Ufe to mankind, and to their God applaufe.
Taught by his rules fecure the merchant rides,
When threat'ning feas roll high their dreadful tides;
And either India fpeeds her precious stores,
'Midst various dangers fafe to Britain's fhores.

Long

Long as thofe orbs he weigh'd fhall fhed their
rays,
His truth fhall guide us, and fhall last his praife.
Yet if fo juft the fame, the ufe fo great,"
Systems to poife, and fpheres to regulate;
To teach the fecret well-adapted force,

That fteers of countless orbs th' unvaried courfe;
Far brighter honours wait the nobler part,
To balance manners, and conduct the heart.
Order without us, what imports it feen,
If all is reftlefs anarchy within ?

Fir'd by this thought great Afhley, gen'rous fage,
Plan'd in sweet leifure his inftructive page.

Not orbs he weighs, but marks, with happier skill,
The scope of actions and the poife of will:
In fair proportion here defcrib'd we trace
Each mental beauty, and each moral grace ;
Each useful paffion taught, its tone defign'd,
In the nice concord of a well-tun'd mind.
Does mean felf-love contract each focial aim?
Here public transports fhall thy foul inflame.
Virtue and Deity fupremely fair,

Too oft delineated with looks fevere,

Refume their native fmiles and

graces here':

* Anthony Ashley Cowper, third Earl of Shaftesbury.'

f See the Characteristics, particularly the Enquiry concerning Virtue

and the Moralifts.

Sooth'd

3

Sooth'd into love relenting foes admire,

And warmer raptures every friend infpire.

Such are the fruits which from retirement spring Thefe bleffings cafe and learned leisure bring.

Yet of the various tasks mankind employ, 'Tis fure the hardeft, leifure to enjoy.

For one who knows to tafte this god-like blifs,
What countless fwarms of vain pretenders mifs?
Though each dull plodding thing, to ape the wife,
Ridiculously grave, for leisure fighs,

(His boafted with from bufy fcenes to run)
Grant him that leifure, and the fool's undone.
The gods, to curfe poor Demea, heard his vow,
And bufinefs now no more contracts his brow:
Nor real cares, 'tis true, perplex his breast,
But thousand fancied ills his peace moleft;
The flightest trifles folid forrows prove,

And the long ling'ring wheel of life fcarce feems to move.
Ufelefs in business, yet unfit for ease,

Nor skill'd to mend mankind, nor form'd to please,
Such fpurious animals of worthless race
Live but the public burthen and difgrace :
Like mean attendants on life's ftage are seen,
Drawn forth to fill, but not conduct the scene.
The mind not taught to think, no useful store

To fix reflection, dreads the vacant hour.
Turn'd on its felf its numerous wants are seen,
And all the mighty void that lies within.