In thofe unfading islands of the bleft, Where facred bards abide. Hail, honour'd Nymphs; Behold, I touch, revering. To my songs Be present ye with favourable feet, And all profaner audience far remove. HE wife and great of every clime, Through all thy spacious walks of Time, Where'er the Muse her power display'd, With joy have liften'd and obey'd. For, taught of heaven, the facred Nine To mortal fenfe impart : They beft the foul with glory fire; They nobleft counfels, boldeft deeds infpire; And high o'er Fortune's rage inthrone the fixed heart. I. 2. Nor I. 2. Nor lefs prevailing is their charm No, HASTINGS. Thou my words wilt own : The Mufe's awful art, And the fair function of the poet's tongue, Move Thee to fpurn the heavenly Mufe's reign. And other themes From her prophetic fhades and hallow'd streams To hear the fweet inftructress tell (While (While men and heroes throng'd around) And how, by glory, virtue shall be crown'd. Such was the * Chian father's strain Had cheer'd the reverend pilgrim's foul: With equal bounty to requite, He ftruck his magic ftrings; And pour'd fpontaneous numbers forth, And feiz'd their ears with tales of ancient worth, Now oft, where happy fpirits dwell, The feeds of Græcian fame : Who first the race with freedom fir'd ; From whom Lycurgus Sparta's fons inspir'd ; From whom Platean palms and Cyprian trophies came. VOL. VI. * Homer. B II. 3. O II. 3. O nobleft, happiest age! When Ariftides rul'd, and Cimon fought; Was proud to unfold What thy base rulers trembled to behold; The Mufe's law didst rightly know ; Muft feel his own with all her spirit glow. Alas! not one polluted bard, No, not the ftrains that Mincius heard, Or Tibur's hills reply'd, Dare to the Mufe's ear afpire ; Save that, inftructed by the Græcian lyre, With freedom's ancient notes their shameful task they hide. III. 2. Mark, how the dread Pantheon ftands, Amid the domes of modern hands: Amid the toys of idle state, Hów fimply, how feverely great! Then turn, and, while each western clime So mark thou Milton's name; And add, "Thus differs from the throng "The spirit which inform'd thy aweful song, "Which bade thy potent voice protect thy country's fame." III. 3. Yet hence barbaric zeal His memory with unholy rage pursues While from thefe arduous cares of public weal She bids each bard begone, and reft him with his Mufe. Muft grafp at all that yonder ftars survey ; Unmov'd or cold ! B 2 O fool! |