EXPLANATION OF THE OBSOLETE WORDS USED IN THIS POEM

[As given in 2nd ed. 1748.]

Archimage, the chief, or greatest | Noyance, harm.

Bale, sorrow, trouble, misfortune. Prick'd through the forest, rode

through the forest.

Sear, dry, burnt up.

Sheen, bright, shining.
Sicker, sure, surely.
Soote, sweet, or sweetly.

often, Sooth, true, or truth.

Stound, misfortune, pang.

Gear (or Geer), furniture, equip- Sweltry, sultry, consuming with

Noursling, a nurse, or what is Yode (preter tense of yede),

LIBERTY: A POEM

IN FIVE PARTS

[First published 1735 and 1736. The text here followed bears

date 1738.]

SIR,

TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS FREDERICK,

PRINCE OF WALES

When I reflect upon that ready condescension, that preventing generosity, with which your Royal Highness received the following poem under your protection, I can alone ascribe it to the recommendation and influence of the subject. In you the cause and concerns of Liberty have so zealous a patron, as entitles whatever may have the least tendency to promote them to the distinction of your favour. And who can entertain this delightful reflection without feeling a pleasure far superior to that of the fondest author, and of which all true lovers of their country must participate? To behold the noblest dispositions of the prince and of the patriot united-an overflowing benevolence, generosity, and candour of heart joined to an enlightened zeal for Liberty, an intimate persuasion that on it depends the happiness and glory both of kings and people-to see these shining out in public virtues, as they have hitherto smiled in all the social lights and private accomplishments of life, is a prospect that cannot but inspire a general sentiment of satisfaction and gladness, more easy to be felt than expressed.

If the following attempt to trace Liberty from the first ages down to her excellent establishment in Great Britain can at all merit your approbation, and prove an entertainment to your Royal Highness; if it can in any degree answer the dignity of the subject, and of the name under which I presume to shelter it— I have my best reward, particularly as it affords me an opportunity of declaring that I am, with the greatest zeal and respect,

SIR,

Your Royal Highness's

most obedient

and most devoted servant, JAMES THOMSON.

THE CONTENTS OF PART I

THE following Poem is thrown into the form of a Poetical Vision. Its scene the ruins of ancient Rome. The Goddess of Liberty, who is supposed to speak through the whole, appears, characterized as British Liberty, to verse 44. Gives a view of ancient Italy, and particularly of Republican Rome, in all her magnificence and glory, to verse 106. This contrasted by modern Italy, its valleys, mountains, culture, cities, people; the difference appearing strongest in the capital city, Rome, to verse 227. The ruins of the great works of Liberty more magnificent than the borrowed pomp of Oppression; and from them revived Sculpture, Painting, and Architecture, to verse 249. The old Romans apostrophized, with regard to the several melancholy changes in Italy: Horace, Tully, and Virgil, with regard to their Tibur, Tusculum, and Naples, to verse 285. That once finest and most ornamented part of Italy, all along the coast of Baiae, how changed, to verse 315. This desolation of Italy applied to Britain, to verse 338. Address to the Goddess of Liberty, that she would deduce from the first ages, her chief establishments, the description of which constitutes the subject of the following parts of this Poem. She assents, and commands what she says to be sung in Britain; whose happiness, arising from freedom and a limited monarchy, she marks, to verse 378. An immediate Vision attends, and paints her words. Invocation.

LIBERTY

PART I

ANCIENT AND MODERN ITALY COMPARED

[First published early in 1735.]

O MY lamented Talbot! while with thee
The muse gay roved the glad Hesperian round,
And drew the inspiring breath of ancient arts;
Ah little thought she her returning verse
Should sing our darling subject to thy shade.
And does the mystic veil, from mortal beam,
Involve those eyes where every virtue smiled,
And all thy father's candid spirit shone ?
The light of reason, pure, without a cloud;
Full of the generous heart, the mild regard;
Honour disdaining blemish, cordial faith,
And limpid truth, that looks the very soul.
But to the death of mighty nations turn
My strain; be there absorbed the private tear.
Musing, I lay; warm from the sacred walks,
Where at each step imagination burns:
While scattered wide around, awful, and hoar,
Lies, a vast monument, once glorious Rome,
The tomb of empire! ruins! that efface
Whate'er, of finished, modern pomp can boast.

ΙΟ

20

Snatched by these wonders to that world where

thought

Unfettered ranges, fancy's magic hand

Led me anew o'er all the solemn scene,