O fool! to deem That He, whofe thought muft vifit every theme, Or deal their vengeance with a woman's hand! I care not that in Arno's plain, Or on the sportive banks of Seine, From public themes the Mufe's quire Where priests the ftudious head command, To vile ambition's aim, Say, what can public themes afford, Save venal honours to an hateful lord, Referv'd for angry heaven and scorn'd of honest fame ? IV. 2. But here, where freedom's equal throne To all her valiant fons is known; Where all are confcious of her cares, And each the power, that rules him, shares ; Leaves public arguments unfung, Bid Bid public praise farewell : Let him to fitter climes remove, Far from the heroe's and the patriot's love, And lull mysterious monks to flumber in their cell. O HASTINGS, not to all' Can ruling heav'n the same endowments lend : That to one general weal their different powers they bend, Inform the bofom of the Mufe's fon ; Though with new honours the patrician's line Whofe lays the foul with nobleft paffions move. But thee, O progeny of heroes old, Thee to feverer toils thy fate requires : The fate which form'd thee in a chofen mould, The grateful country of thy fires, Or thy own EDWARD teach his race, V. I. From rich domains and fubject farms, They led the ruftic youth to arms; B 3 And And kings their stern atchievements fear'd;" Where, long foretold, The People reigns: And judgeth what he fees; and, as he judgeth, wills, Here be it thine to calm and guide The fwelling democratic tide; To watch the ftate's uncertain frame, To quell that fervile band, who kneel That monster, which is daily found Expert and bold thy country's peace to wound ; Yet dreads to handle arms, nor manly counsel knows. V. 3. 'Tis highest heaven's command, That guilty aims fhould fordid paths pursue; That what enfnares the heart should curb the hand, For For Albion well have conquer'd. Let the strains Which now refound Where Scarfdale's cliffs the fwelling paftures bound, They plann'd for freedom this her aweful reign. This reign, thefe laws, this public care, Which Naffau gave us all to share, Had ne'er adorn'd the English name, Could fear have filenc'd freedom's claim. But fear in vain attempts to bind Those lofty efforts of the mind Which focial good inspires ; Where men, for this, affault a throne, Each adds the common welfare to his own; And each unconquer'd heart the strength of all acquires. VI. 2. Say, was it thus, when late we view'd Our fields in civil blood imbrued? When fortune crown'd the barbarous hoft, And half the aftonish'd ifle was loft? Did one of all that vaunting train, Durft one in counfels pledge his life? Or lend his boafted name his vagrant friends to cheer? Yet, HASTINGS, thefe are they, Who challenge to themselves thy country's love : Ingenuous youth: But, fought from cowards and the lying mouth, Difpofe of honour and of scorn; Difcern the patriot from the flave; And write the good, the wife, the brave, For leffons to the maltitude unborn. ODE |