*The living Throne, the faphire-blaze, Where Angels tremble, while they gaze, He faw; but blafted with excess of light, +Closed his eyes in endless night. Behold, where Dryden's lefs prefumptuous car, Wide o'er the fields of Glory bear Two Courfers of ethereal race, With necks in thunder cloath'd, and long-re [founding pace. * For the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels→ And above the firmament, that was over their heads, was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a faphire-ftone. This was the appearance of the glory of the Lord. Ezekiel i. 20, 26, 28. HOMER. Od. * Οφθαλμῶν μὲν ἄμερσε· δίδου δ ̓ ἡδεῖαν ἀοιδήν. Meant to exprefs the ftately march and founding energy of Dryden's rhimes. Haft thou cloathed his neck with thunder? Job. III. 3. Hark, his hands the lyre explore! Bright-eyed Fancy hovering o'er Scatters from her pictur'd urn * Thoughts, that breath, and words, that burn. +But ah! 'tis heard no more * Words, that weep, and tears, that speak. Cowley. + We have had in our language no other odes of the fublime kind, than that of Dryden on St. Cecilia's day for Cowley (who had his merit) yet wanted judgment, ftyle, and harmony, for fuch a task. That of Pope is not worthy of so great a man. Mr. Mason indeed of late days has touched the true chords, and with a masterly hand, in some of his Chorufes,-above all in the laft of Caractacus, Hark! heard ye not yon footftep dread ? &c. Oh! Lyre divine, what daring Spirit Wakes thee now? tho' he inherit Nor the pride, nor ample pinion, *That the Theban Eagle bear Sailing with fupreme dominion Thro' the azure deep of air: Yet oft before his infant eyes would run Such forms, as glitter in the Mufe's ray With orient hues, unborrow'd of the Sun: Yet shall he mount, and keep his diftant way Beyond the limits of a vulgar fate, Beneath the Good how far-but far above the [Great. * Διὸς πρὸς ὄρνιχα θεῖον. Olymp. 2ο Pindar compares himself to that bird, and his enemies to ravens that croak and clamour in vain below, while it purfues its flight, regardless of their noife. THE |