She fung the godlike principle of thought,
And how, from objects by the senses brought,
The intellectual imagery is wrought;
How the the modes of beings can discern,
A nice respect, a meer relation learn;
Can all the thin abstracted notions reach,
Which Grecian wits, or, Britain, thine can teach.
Thus has the Mufe Arove to display a part
Of those unnumber'd miracles of art,
Of prudence, conduct, and of wise design,
Which to th' attentive thought confpicuous fhine.
Still, vanquish'd Atheifts! will you keep the field,
And, hard in error, still refuse to yield?
See, all your broken arms lie fpread around,
And ignominious rout deforms the ground;
Be wife, and once, admonish'd by a foe,
Where lies your ftrength, and where your weakness, know;
No more at Reafon's folemn bar appear,
Hardy no more scholastic weapons bear;
Difband your feeble forces, and decline
The war; no more in tinfel armour shine;
Nor shake your bullrush spears, but swift repair
To your ftrong place of arms, the fcoffer's chair;
And thence, fupported with a mocking ring,
Sarcaftic darts and keen invectives fling
Against your foes, and fcornful at your feasts
Religion vanquish with decifive jefts;
Arm'd with refiftlefs laughter, Heaven assail,
Relinquish Reason, and let Mirth prevail.

655

665

Good Heaven! that men, who vaunt difcerning fight, And arrogant from wisdom's distant Leight

Look

}

340

645

650

660

Look down on vulgar mortals, who revere

}

A Caufe Supreme, fhould their proud building rear
Without one prop the ponderous pile to bear!
How much the Judge, who does in Heaven prefide
Re-mocks the fcoffer, and contemns his pride!
Behold, the fad unfufferable hour
Advances near, which will his error cure;

}

When he compell'd fhall drink the wrathful bowl,
And ruin'd feel immortal vengeance roll
Through all his veins, and drench his inmoft foul.
O'erwhelm'd with horror, funk in deep despair,
And loft for ever, will the wretch forbear
To curse his madness, and blafpheme the power
Of his juft Sovereign, which he mock'd before?
Hail, King Supreme! of Power Immenfe Abyss!
Father of Light! Exhaustless Source of Blifs!
Thou uncreated, Self-exiftent Cause,
Control'd by no fuperior Being's laws,
Ere infant light effay'd to dart the ray,
Smil'd heavenly fweet, and try'd to kindle day:
Ere the wide fields of æther were display'd,
Or filver ftars coerulean fpheres inlaid ;
Ere yet the eldest child of Time was born,
Or verdant pride young Nature did adorn;
Thou art; and didft eternity employ
In unmolefted peace in plenitude of joy,

In its ideal frame the world, defign'd
From ages paft, lay finish'd in thy mind.
Conform to this divine imagin'd plan,
With perfect art th' amazing work began.

680

685

690

695

Thy

Thy glance furvey'd the folitary plains,
Where shapeless shade inert and filent reigns;
Then in the dark and undistinguish'd space,
Unfruitful, uninclos'd, and wild of face,
Thy compass for the world mark'd out the deftin'd

place.

Then didst Thou through the fields of barren Night
Go forth, collected in Creating Might.
Where Thou almighty vigour didft exert,
Which emicant did this and that way dart
Through the black bofom of the empty space :
The gulphs confefs th' omnipotent embrace,
And, pregnant grown with elemental feed,
Unfinish'd orbs and worlds in embryo breed.
From the crude mass, Omniscient Architect,
Thou for each part materials didst select,
And with a mafter-hand thy world erect.
Labour'd by Thee, the globes, vaft lucid buoys,
By Thee uplifted, float in liquid fkies:

By Thy cementing word their parts cohere,

And roll by Thy impulfive nod in air.
Thou in the vacant didft the earth fufpend,
Advance the mountains, and the vales extend;

People the plains with flocks, with beafts the wood,
And store with fcaly colonies the flood.

Next, Man arose at Thy Creating Word,
Of Thy terreftial realms vicegerent lord.
His foul, more artful labour, more refin'd,
And emulous of bright Seraphic Mind,
e

725

Ennobled

Ennobled by Thy Image, fpotlefs fhone,
Prais'd Thee her author, and ador'd Thy throne:
Able to know, admire, enjoy her God,
She did her high felicity applaud.

Since Thou didst all the fpacious worlds display,
Homage to Thee let all obedient pay.
Let glittering stars, that dance their deftin'd ring
Sublime in fky, with vocal planets fing

or King! }

Let the thin diftricts of the waving air,
Conveyancers of found, Thy fkill declare.
Let winds, the breathing creatures of the skies,
Call in each vigorous gale, that roving flies
By land or fea; then one loud triumph raise,
And all their blasts employ in fongs of praise.

While painted herald-birds Thy deeds proclaim,
And on their spreading wings convey Thy fame :
Let Eagles, which in Heaven's blue concave foar,
Scornful of earth fuperior feats explore,
And rife with breasts erect against the fun,
Be minifters to bear Thy bright renown,
And carry ardent praises to Thy throne.

Ye fish, affume a voice; with praises fill
The hollow rock, and loud reactive hill.
Let lions with their roar their thanks express,
With acclamations fhake the wilderness.

Let thunder clouds, that float from pole to pole,
With falvos loud falute Thee as they roll.
Ye monfters of the fea, ye noify waves,
Strike with applaufe the repercuffive caves.

755

}

Let

Let hail and rain, let meteors form'd of fire,
And lambent flames, in this bleft work confpire.
Let the high cedar and the mountain pine
Lowly to thee, Great King, their heads incline,
Let every spicy odoriferous tree

Prefent its incenfe and its balm to Thee.

And thou, Heaven's viceroy o'er this world below,
In this blest task fuperior ardour show :
To view thyself, inflect thy reason's ray,
Nature's replenish'd theatre furvey;
Then all on fire the Author's skill adore,
And in loud fongs extol Creating Power.

Degenerate minds, in mazy error loft,
May combat Heaven, and impious triumphs boast;
But, while my veins feel animating fires,
And vital air this breathing breast inspires,
Grateful to Heaven, I'll ftretch a pious wing,

And fing His praise, who gave me power to fing. 773.