And (greater far) the venerable band
Of elder heroes (fame's eternal theme!)
In splendid huts, and noble poverty,
Brave for their country liv'd, and fought, and died.
Heav'n! what firm Souls! who knew not gold had price,
Nor perfidy, nor baseness knew.-They, they,
The demi-gods of Rome! whose master voice,
Whose awe-commanding eye, more terror struck,
Than rods, and lictors, and Praetorian bands...
Could the pure crimson tide, the noblest blood
In all the world, to such pollution turn:
Like Jordan's river, pouring his clear flood
Into the black Asphaltus' slimy lake?
Patrons of wit, and victors of mankind,
Bards, warriors, worthies, (revolution strange!)
Are pimps, and fidlers, mountebanks, and monks.
In Tully's hive, rich magazine of sweets!
The lazy drones are buzzing, or asleep.
But we forgive the living for the dead;
Indebted more to Rome than we can pay :
Of a long dearth prophetic, she laid in
A feast for ages.-O thou banquet nice!
Where the soul riots with secure excess.
What heart-felt bliss! what pleasure-winged hours
Transported owe we to her letter'd sons !— .
We, by their favor, Tyber's banks enjoy,
Their temples trace, and share their noble games;
Enter the crowded theatre at will;
March to the forum; hear the consul plead ;
Are present in the thund'ring Capitol
When Tully speaks. At softer hours, attend
Harmonious Virgil to his Mantuan farm,
Or Baia's shore :-how often drink his strains,
Rural, or epic, sweet!-how often rove
With Horace, bard and moralist benign!
With happy Horace rove, in fragrant paths
Of myrtle bowers, by Tivoli's cascade.
Hail, precious pages! that amuse and teach,
Exalt the genius, and improve the breast.
Ye sage historians, all your stores unfold,
Reach your clear steady mirror;-in that glass
The forms of good and ill are well pourtray'd.
But chiefly thou, supreme Philosophy! Shed thy blest influence; with thy train appear Of graces mild: far be the Stoic boast, The Cynic's snarl, and churlish pedantry. Bright visitant, if not too high my wish, Come in the lovely dress you wore, a guest At Plato's table; or in studious walks, In green Frescati's academic groves, The Roman feasting his selected friends.
Tamer of pride! at thy serene rebuke
See crouching insolence, spleen, and revenge
Before thy shining taper disappear.
Tutor of human life! auspicious guide!
Whose faithful clue unravels ev'ry maze :
Whose skill can disengage the tangled thorn,
And smooth the rock to down! whose magic powers Controul each storm, and bid the roar be still.
FROM friendship's cradle up the verdant paths Of Youth, life's jolly spring; and now sublim'd To its full manhood and meridian strength, Her latest stage, (for friendship ever hale Knows not old age, diseases, and decay, But burning keeps her sacred fire, 'till death's Cold hand extinguish)-At this spot, this point, Here, Pratt, we social meet, and gaze about, And look back to the scenes our pastime trod In nature's morning, when the gamesome hours Had sliding feet, and laugh'd themselves away. Luxurious season! vital prime! where Thames Flows by Etona's walls, and cheerful sees Her sons wide swarming; and where sedgy Cam Bathes with slow pace his academic grove,
Pierian walks!-O never hope again,
(Impossible! untenable!) to grasp
Those joys again; to feel alike the pulse
Dancing, and fiery spirits boiling high:
Or see the pleasure that with careless wing
Swept on, and flow'ry garlands toss'd around
Disporting! Try to call her back—as well
Bid yesterday return, arrest the flight
Of Time; or, musing by a river's brink,
Say to the wave that huddles swiftly by
For ever, "from thy fountain roll anew."
The merriment, the tale, and heartfelt laugh
That echo'd round the table, idle guests,
Must rise, and serious inmates take their place;
Reflection's daughters sad, and world-born thoughts
Dislodging Fancy's empire-Yet who knows
Exact the balance of our loss and gain ?
Who knows how far a rattle may outweigh
The mace or sceptre ? But as boys resign
The play-thing, bauble of their infancy,
So fares it with maturer years: they, sage,
Imagination's airy regions quit,
And under Reason's banner take the field;
With Resolution face the cloud or storm,
While all their former rainbows die away.
Some to the palace with regardful step, And courtly blandisment resort, and there Advance obsequious; in the sunshine bask
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