Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

AN

IMITATION OF THE SECOND CHORUS

IN THE

Second Act of Seneca's Thyestus.

When will the gods, propitious to our prayers compose our factions, and conclude our wars? Ye sons of Inachus, repent the guilt

of crowns usurp'd and blood of parents spilt; for impious greatness, vengeance is in store; short is the date of all ill-gotten power. Give ear, ambitious princes, and be wise; listen, and learn wherein true greatness lies: place not your pride in roofs that shine with gems, in purple robes, nor sparkling diadems;

nor in dominion, nor extent of land; he's only great, who can himself command, whose guard is peaceful innocence, whose guide is faithful reason; who is void of pride, checking ambition; nor is idly vain of the false incense of a popular train; who without strife, or envy, can behold his neighbour's plenty, and his heaps of gold; nor covets other wealth, but what we find in the possessions of a virtuous mind.

Fearless he sees, who is with virtue crown'd, the tempest rage, and hears the thunder sound; ever the same, let fortune smile or frown, on the red scaffold, or the blazing throne; serenely, as he liv'd, resigns his breath, meets destiny half way, nor shrinks at death. Ye sovereign lords, who sit like gods in state No. 78.

9

afterwards treasurer of the household. The death the queen caused him to be removed from his office but he remained attached to his friends, and stro ly protested against the attainting of Ormond Bolingbroke. Suspected of attachment to the tender's party he was arrested Sep. 26, 1715 and mitted to the tower, where he remained till On the breaking out of Atterbury's accusation tired to France. After an absence of 10 years ris, he returned to England, and published hi in 1732, with a vindication of his uncle sir Granville, against the misrepresentations of B Echard, and Clarendon, in 2 vols. 4to. The der of his life he passed in private repose an retirement. He died Jan. 30, 1735, aged days after his wife. He had 4 daughters bu issue, and the title became extinct.

-Waller's muse

in courteous Granville lives, and still we he
of Jove and Juno, Mercury and Mars;
and all the nauseous mythologic rout.
May he that loves hereafter, never win
the angel he adores, if in his song
he aught of pagan ornament display.
May he be curs'd, like you, unlucky bard
be Saccharissa's dupe, and Myra's scorn.

Hure

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

awing the world, and bustling to be great; lords but in title, vassals in effect,

whom lust controuls, and wild desires direct: the reins of empire but such hands disgrace, where passion, a blind driver, guides the race. What is this fame, thus crowded round with slaves? the breath of fools, the bait of flattering knaves: an honest heart, a conscience free from blame, not of great acts, but good, give me the name: in vain we plant, we build, our stores increase, if conscience roots up all our inward peace. What need of arms, or instruments of war, or battering engines that destroy from far? the greatest king, and conqueror is he, who lord of his own appetites can be; blest with a pow'r that nothing can destroy, and all have equal freedom to enjoy.

Whom worldly luxury, and pomps allure, they tread on ice, and find no footing sure; place me, ye powers! in some obscure retreat, O! keep me innocent, make others great: in quiet shades, content with rural sports, give me a life remote from guilty courts, where free from hopes or fears, in humble ease, unheard of, I may live and die in peace.

Happy the man who thus retir'd from sight, studies himself, and seeks no other light: but most unhappy he, who sits on high, expos'd to every tongue and every eye; whose follies blaz'd about, to all are known, but are a secret to himself alone:

worse is an evil fame, much worse than none.

OCCASIONED BY

Verses sent to the Author on his Retirement,

BY MRS. ELIZABETH HIGGINS.

Cease, tempting Siren, cease thy flattering strain, sweet is thy charming song, but sung in vain: when the winds blow, and loud the tempest roar, what fool would trust the waves, and quit the shore? early, and vain, into the world I came, big with false hopes, and eager after fame; till looking round me, ere the race began, madmen, and giddy fools, were all that ran; reclaim'd betimes, I from the lists retire, and thank the gods, who my retreat inspire. In happier times our ancestors were bred, when virtue was the only path to tread : give me, ye gods! but the same road to fame. Whate'er my fathers dar'd, I dare the same. Chang'd is the scene, some baneful planet rules an impious world, contriv'd for knaves and fools. Look now around, and with impartial eyes consider, and examine all who rise;

weigh well your actions and their teach'rous ends,

how

greatness grows, and by what steps ascends; what murders, treasons, purjuries, deceit;

how many crush'd, to make one monster great. Would you command? Have fortune in your power? hug when you stab, and smile when you deyour? be bloody, false, flatter, forswear, and lie, turn pander, pathic, parasite, or spy;

such thriving arts may your wish'd purpose bring, a minister at least, perhaps a king.

« ZurückWeiter »