Was one, whom Justice, on an equal plan 515 What are they now?-Morality may spare Her grave concern, her kind suspicions there : The wretch, who once sang wildly, danc'd, and laugh'd, And suck'd in dizzy madness with his draught, Has wept a silent flood, revers'd his ways, Is sober, meek, benevolent, and prays, Feeds sparingly, communicates his store, Abhors the craft he boasted of before, And he that stole has learn'd to steal no more. Well spake the prophet-Let the desert sing, 520 Where sprang the thorn, the spiry fir shall spring, 525 And where unsightly and rank thistles grew, Shall grow the myrtle and luxuriant yew. On what foundation virtue is to stand, 530 535 The common care that waits on all beside, (Yet charge not heavenly skill with having plann d 1881 540 545 Hard task indeed o'er arctick seas to roam! It hurts our pride, and moves our envy less. Leuconomus, (beneath well-sounding Greek, I slur a name, a poet must not speak,) Stood pilloried on Infamy's high stage, 550 555 And bore the pelting scorn of half an age: For ev'ry dart that Malice ever shot. The man that mention'd him at once dismiss'd 560 565 570 The curtain drawn by Prejudice and Pride, 475 And he that forg'd, and he that threw the dart, Paul's love of Christ, and steadiness unbrib'd, 480 Were copied close in him, and well transcrib'd. Like him, cross'd cheerfully tempestuous seas, 585 Like him he labour'd, and like him content 590 Which, aim'd at him, have pierc'd th' offended skies! No blinder bigot, I maintain it still, Than he who must have pleasure, come what will : He laughs, whatever weapon Truth may draw, 596 Scripture indeed is plain; but God and he On Scripture ground are sure to disagree ; Some wiser rule must teach him how to live, 600 605 And where his danger and God's wrath begin. 610 With what materials, on what ground you please; 615 Your hope shall stand unblam'd, perhaps admir'd, If not that hope the Scripture has requir'd. The strange conceits, vain projects, and wild dreams, (Though other follies strike the publick eye, 620 · With all Elijah's dignity of tone, And all the love of the beloved Jolin, To storm the citadels they build in air, And smite the untemper'd wall; 'tis death to spare 625 And place, instead of quirks themselves devise, 630 To prove, that without Christ all gain is loss, Throughout mankind, the Christian kind at least, There dwells a consciousness in ev'ry breast, 636 That folly ends where genuine hope begins, And he that finds his Heav'n must lose his sins. Nature opposes with her utmost force This riving stroke, this ultimate divorce; 640 And, while religion seems to be her view, 645 But makes him, if at all, completely free; Sounds forth the signal, as she mounts her car, Of an eternal, universal war; Rejects all treaty, penetrates all wiles, 649 Scorns with the same indiff'rence frowns and smiles; Drives through the realms of Sin, where Riot reels, And grinds his crown beneath her burning wheels! Hence all that is in man, pride, passion, art, Pow'rs of the mind, and feelings of the heart, Insensible of Truth's almighty charms, 655 Starts at her first approach, and sounds to arms! While Bigotry, with well-dissembled fears, His eyes shut fast, his fingers in his ears, Pretends a zeal for godliness and grace, Parent of Hope, immortal Truth! make known And none can teach them, but whom thou hast taught. O see me sworn to serve thee, and command A painter's skill into a poet's hand. 670 That while I trembling trace a work divine, Fancy may stand aloof from the design, And light, and shade, and ev'ry stroke be thine. If ever when he sigh'd, hast sigh'd again; 675 If ever on thy eyelid stood the tear That pity had engender'd, drop one here. This man was happy-had the World's good word, Friendship and love seem'd tenderly at strife, 680 Which most should sweeten his untroubled life ; Politely learn'd, and of a gentle race, Good breeding and good sense gave all a grace, And whether at the toilette of the fair He laugh'd and trifled, made him welcome there; 685 Or if in masculine debate he shar'd, Ensur'd him mute attention and regard. Alas, how chang'd! Expressive of his mind, He now perceives where earthly pleasure ends 690 695 |