OME then, my Soul: I call Thee by that Name,
Thou bufie Thing, from whence I know I am:
For knowing that I am, I know Thou
Since That must needs exift, which
But how Thou cam'ft to be, or whence Thy Spring: For various of Thee Priefts and Poets fing.
Hearst Thou fubmiffive, but a lowly Birth,
Some fep'rate Particles of finer Earth,
A plain Effect, which Nature must beget,
As Motion orders, and as Atoms meet;
Companion of the Body's Good or Ill,
From Force of Inftinct more than Choice of Will;
Confcious of Fear or Valor, Joy or Pain,
As the wild Courfes of the Blood ordain ;
Who as Degrees of Heat and Cold prevail,
In Youth doft flourish, and with Age fhalt fail;
'Till mingl'd with thy Part'ner's latest Breath
Thou fly'ft, diffolv'd in Air, and loft in Death.
Or if Thy great Existence would aspire
To Caufes more fublime; of Heav'nly Fire
Wer't Thou a Spark ftruck off, a fep'rate Ray,
Ordain'd to mingle with Terreftrial Clay;
With it condemn'd for certain Years to dwell,
To grieve it's Frailties, and it's Pains to feel;
To teach it Good and Ill, Difgrace or Fame;
Pale it with Rage, or redden it with Shame:
To guide it's Actions with informing Care,
In Peace to Judge, to Conquer in the War;
Render it Agile, Witty, Valiaht, Sage,
As fits the various Courfe of human Age;
Till as the Earthly Part decays and falls,
The Captive breaks Her Prifon's mould'ring Walls;
Hovers a-while upon the fad Remains,
Which now the Pile, or Sepulchre contains;
And thence with Liberty unbounded flies,
Impatient to regain Her native Skies;
Whate'er Thou art, where-e'er ordain'd to go:
(Points which We rather may difpute, than know)
Come on, Thou little Inmate of this Breast,
Which for Thy Sake from Paffions I diveft:
For these, Thou fay'ft, raife all the ftormy Strife,
Which hinder Thy Repofe, and trouble Life.
Be the fair Level of Thy Actions laid,
As Temp'rance wills, and Prudence may perfwade ;
Be Thy Affections undisturb'd and clear,
Guided to what may Great or Good appear;
And try if Life be worth the Liver's Care.
Amafs'd in Man there justly is beheld What thro' the whole Creation has excell'd:
The Life and Growth of Plants, of Beafts the Senfe,
The Angel's Forecaft and Intelligence:
Say from thefe glorious Seeds what Harveft flows
Recount our Bleffings, and compare our Woes.
In it's true Light let cleareft Reafon fee
The Man dragg'd out to Act, and forc'd to Be;
Helpless and Naked on a Woman's Knees
To be expos'd or rear'd as She may pleafe;
Feel her Neglect, and pine from her Difeafe.
His tender Eye by too dired a Ray
Wounded, and flying from unpractis'd Day;
His Heart affaulted by invading Air,
And beating fervent to the vital War;
To his Young Senfe how various Forms appear;
That ftrike his Wonder, and excite his Fear?
By his Distortions he reveals his Pains;
He by his Tears, and by his Sighs complains;
'Till Time and Ufe affift the Infant Wretch,
By broken Words, and Rudiments of Speech,
His Wants in plainer Characters to fhow,
And paint more perfect Figures of his Woe.
Condemn'd to facrifice his childifh Years
To babling Ign'rance, and to empty Fears;
To pass the riper Period of his Age,
Acting his Part upon a crowded Stage;
To lasting Toils expos'd, and endless Cares,
To open Dangers, and to fecret Snares;
To Malice which the vengeful Foe intends,
And the more dangerous Love of feeming Friends.
His Deeds examin'd by the People's Will,
Prone to forget the Good, and blame the Ill:
Or fadly cenfur'd in their curs'd Debate,
Who in the Scorner's, or the Judge's Seat
Dare to condemn the Virtue which They hate.
Or would he rather leave this frantic Scene;
And Trees and Beafts prefer to Courts and Men?
In the remotest Wood and lonely Grott
Certain to meet that worst of Evils, Thought;
Diff'rent IDEAS to his Mem'ry brought:
Some intricate, as are the pathless Woods;
Impetuous fome, as the defcending Floods:
With anxious Doubts, with raging Paffions torn,
No sweet Companion near with whom to mourn;}; }
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