Your fex, he cry'd, as cuftom bids, behaves;
In forms the tyrant ties fuch haughty flaves.
To do nice conduct right, you nature wrong;
Impulses are but weak, where reafon's ftrong.
Some want the courage; but how few the flame!
They like the thing, that startle at the name.
The lonely Phoenix, though profefs'd a nun,
Warms into love, and kindles at the fun;
Thofe tales of spicy urns and fragrant fires
Are but the emblems of her fcorch'd defires.

Then, as he ftrove to clafp the fleeting fair,
His empty arms confefs'd th'impaffive air.
From his embrace th' unbody'd spectre flies,
And, as fhe mov'd, fhe chid him with her eyes.
They haften now to that delightful plain,
Where the glad manes of the blefs'd remain:
Where Harvey gathers fimples, to bestow
Immortal youth on heroes' fhades below.
Soon as the bright Hygeia was in view,
The venerable fage her prefence knew:
Thus he-

285

-290

Hail, blooming goddess! thou propitious power, 305
Whose bleffings mortals more than life implore!
With fo much luftre your bright looks endear,
That cottages are courts where thofe appear.
Mankind, as you vouchfafe to fmile or frown,
Finds ease in chains, or anguish in a crown.
With juft refentments and contempt you fee
The foul diffenfions of the Faculty;

310

How your fad fickening art now hangs her head,
And, once a science, is become a trade.
Her fons ne'er rifle her myfterious store,
But ftudy nature lefs, and lucre more.
Not fo when Rome to th' Epidaurian rais'd
A temple, where devoted incense blaz'd.
Oft' father Tiber views the lofty fire,

315

As the learn'd fon is worship'd like the fire;
The fage with Romulus like honours claim;
The gift of life and laws were then the fame.
I show'd of old, how vital currents glide,
And the meanders of the refluent tide.

320

Then, Willis, why spontaneous actions here,

325

And whence involuntary motions there:

And how the spirits, by mechanic laws,

In wild careers tumultuous riots caufe.

Nor would our Wharton, Bates, and Gliffon, lie
In the abyss of blind obscurity.

330

But now fuch wondrous fearches are forborn,

And Pæan's art is by divifions torn.

Then let your Charge attend, and I'll explain

How her loft health your fcience may regain,

Hafte, and the matchless Atticus address,

From Heaven and great Naffau he has the mace.

Th' opprefs'd to his afylum ftill repair;

Arts he fupports, and learning is his care.

He foftens the harsh rigour of the laws,

335

Blunts their keen edge, and grinds their harpy claws; And graciously he cafts a pitying eye

On the fad state of virtuous, poverty.

340

Whene'er he fpeaks, Heaven! how the liftening throng
Dwells on the melting mufic of his tongue!

345

Mild, but not faint, and forcing, though ferene;
And, when the power of eloquence he'd try,
Here lightning ftrikes you; there foft breezes figh.
To him you must your fickly ftate refer,
Your charter claims him as your visiter.

Your wounds he'll clofe, and fovereignly restore
Your science to the height it had before.

350

Then Naffau's health fhall be your glorious aim;
His life should be as lasting as his fame.

Some princes' claims from devaftations fpring; 355
He condefcends in pity to be king;

And, when amidst his olives plac'd he stands,

And governs more by candour than commands;
Ev'n then not lefs a hero he appears,

Than when his laurel-diadem he wears.

360

Would Phoebus, or his Granville, but infpire

Their facred vehemence of poetic fire;

364

To celebrate in fong that god-like power,
Which did the labouring universe restore:
Fair Albion's cliffs would echo to the ftrain,
And praise the arm that conquer'd, to regain
The earth's repose, and empire o'er the main.
Still th' immortal man his cares repeat,
may
To make his bleffings endless as they're great:
Whilft malice and ingratitude confefs

They've ftrove for ruin long without fuccess.

370

When, late, Jove's eagle from the pile fhall rife
To bear the victor to the boundless skies,
Awhile the god puts off paternal care,

Neglects the earth, to give the heavens a ftar.
Near thee, Alcides, fhall the hero fhine;
His rays resembling, as his labours, thine.
Had fome fam'd patriot, of the Latian blood,
Like Julius great, and like Octavius good,
But thus preferv'd the Latian liberties,
Afpiring columns foon had reach'd the skies
Loud Io's the proud capitol had shook,
And all the ftatues of the gods had spoke.

No more the Sage his raptures could purfue:

375

380

He paus'd; and Celfus with his Guide withdrew. 385

CLAREMONT:

ADDRESSED TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

THE EARL OF

CLARE,

AFTERWARDS DUKE OF NEWCASTLE.

"Dryadum fylvas, faltufque fequamur
"Intactos, tua, Mæcenas, haud mollia juffa." VIRG.

T

PREFACE.

HEY that have feen those two excellent poems of Cooper's-hill and Windfor-foreft; the one by Sir J. Denham, the other by Mr. Pope; will fhew a great deal of candour if they approve of this. It was written upon giving the name of Claremont to a villa now belonging to the Earl of Clare. The fituation is fo agreeable and furprizing, that it inclines one to think fome place of this nature put Ovid at first upon the story of Narciffus and Echo. It is probable he had obferved fome fpring arifing amongst woods and rocks, where echos were heard; and fome flower bending over the stream, and by consequence reflected from it. After reading the ftory in the third book of the Metamorphofis, it is obvious to object (as an