The ceafelefs winds blow ice, be my retreat,.
Between the groaning forest and the fhore
Beat by the boundless multitude of waves,
A rural, fhelter'd, folitary, fcene;
Where raddy fire and beaming tapers join,
To cheer the gloom. There ftudious let me fit,
And hold high converfe with the MIGHTY DEAD;
Sages of ancient time, as gods rever'd,
As gods beneficent, who bleft mankind
With arts, with arms, and humaniz'd a world. 435-
Rous'd at th' infpiring thought, I throw afide
The long-liv'd volume; and, deep-mufing, hail-
The facred fhades, that flowly-rifing pass
Before my wondering eyes. Firft SOCRATES,
Who, firmly good in a corrupted state,
Against the rage of tyrants figle ftood,.
Invincible! calm Reason's holy law,
That Voice of GOD within th' attentive mind,
Obeying, fearless, or in life, or death;
Great moral teacher! Wifeft of Mankind!
SOLON the next, who built his common-weal
On equity's wide bafe; by tender laws
A lively people curbing, yet undamp'd
Preferving ftill that quick peculiar fire,
Whence in the laurel'd field of finer arts,
And of bold freedom, they unequal'd fhone,
The pride of fmiling GREECE, and human-kind.
LYCURGUS then, who bow'd beneath the force
Of ftricteft difcipline, feverely wife,
All human paffions. Following him, I fee,
As at Thermopyla he glorious fell,
The firm * DEVOTED CHIEF, who prov❜d by deeds
'The hardest leffon which the other taught.
Then ARISTIDES lifts his honest front;
Spotless of heart, to whom th' unflattering voice 460.
Of freedom gave the noblest name of Just ;
In pure majestic poverty rever'd;
Who, even his glory to his country's weal
Submitting, fwell'd a haughty + Rival's fame.
Rear'd by his care, of fofter ray appears
CIMON fweet-foul'd; whofe genius, rifing ftrong,
Shook off the load of young debauch; abroad
The scourge of Perfian pride, at home the friend
Of every worth and every fplendid art;
Modeft, and fimple, in the pomp of wealth.
Then the laft worthies of declining GREECE,
Late call'd to glory, in unequal times,
Penfive, appear. The fair Corinthian boast,
TIMOLEON, happy temper! mild, and firm,
Who wept the Brother while the Tyrant bled.
And, equal to the best, the ‡ THEBAN PAIR,
Whofe virtues, in hercic Concord join'd,
Their country rais'd to freedom, empire, fame.
He too, with whom Athenian honour funk,
And left a mafs of fordid lees behind,
PHOCION the Good; in public life fevere,
To virtue ftill inexorably firm;
But when, beneath his low illuftrious roof,
Sweet peace and happy wisdom smooth'd his brow,
Not friendship softer was, nor love more kind.
And he, the last of old LYCURGUS' fons,
The generous victim to that vain attempt,
To fave a rotten State, AGIS, who faw
Even SPARTA's felf to fervile avarice funk.
The two Achaian heroes close the train.
ARATUS, who a while relum'd the foul
Of fondly lingering liberty in GREECE:
And he her darling as her latest hope,
The gallant PHILOPOEMEN; who to arms
Turn'd the luxurious pomp he could not cure;
Or toiling in his farm, a fimple swain ;
Or, bold and skilful, thundering in the field.
Of rougher front, a mighty people come ! A race of heroes! in those virtuous times Which knew no ftain, save that with partial flame 500 Their dearest country they too fondiy lov'd : Her better Founder firft, the light of ROME, NUMA, who foften'd her rapacious fons : SERVIUS the King, who laid the folid base On which o'er earth the vaft republic fpread. Then the great confuls venerable rife.
The *PUBLIC FATHER who the Private quell'd,
As on the dread tribunal sternly fad.
He, whom his thanklefs country could not rose,
CAMILLUS, only vengeful to her foes.
FABRICIUS, fcorner of all-conquering gold;
And CINCINNATUS, awful from the plough.
Thy WILLING VICTIM, Carthage, burfting loofe
From all that pleading Nature could oppose,
From a whole city's tears, by rigid faith
Imperious call'd, and honour's dire command.
SCIPIO, the gentle chief, humanely brave,
Who foon the race of spotlefs glory ran,
And, warm in youth, to the Poetic shade
With Friendship and Philosophy retir'd.
TULLY, whofe powerful eloquence a while
Reftrain'd the rapid fate of rushing ROME.
Unconquer'd CATO, virtuous in extreme.
And thou, unhappy BRUTUS, kind of heart,
Whofe fteady arm, by awful virtue urg'd,
Lifted the Roman feel against thy Friend.
Thousands befides the tribute of a verse
Demand; but who can count the ftars of heaven? Who fing their influence on this lower world?
BEHOLD, Who yonder comes! in fober state, 530"
Fair, mild, and strong, as is a vernal fun :
'Tis Phabus' felf, or else the Mantuan Swain!
Great HOMER too appears, of daring wing,
Parent of fong! and equal by his fide,
The BRITISH MUSE; join'd hand in hand they walk,
Darkling, full up the middle steep to fame.
Nor abfent are those shades, whose skilful touch
Pathetic drew th' impaffion'd heart, and charm'd
Transported Athens with the MORAL SCENE:
Nor those who, tuneful, wak'd th' enchanting LYRE.
FIRST of your kind! fociety divine!
Still vifit thus my nights, for you referv'd,
And mount my foaring foul to thoughts like yours.
Silence, thou lonely power! the door be thine;
See on the hallowed hour that none intrude,
545
Save a few chofen friends, who sometimes deign..
To blefs
my humble roof, with fense refin'd,
Learning digefted well, exalted faith,
Unftudy'd wit, and humour ever gay.
Or from the Muses' hill will POPE descend,
To raise the facred hour, to bid it smile,
And with the focial spirit warm the heart:
For tho' not fweeter his own HOMER fings,
Yet is his life the more endearing fong..
WHERE art thou,HAMMOND? thou the darling pride,
The friend and lover of the tuneful throng!
Ah why, dear youth, in all the blooming prime
Of vernal genius, where difclofing fast
Each active worth, each manly virtue lay,
Why wert thou ravish'd from our hope fo foon? 560
What now avails that noble thirst of fame,
Which ftung thy fervent breaft? that treasur'd store
Of knowledge, early gain'd? that eager zeal
To ferve thy country, glowing in the band
Of YOUTHFUL PATRIOTS, who fuftain her name ? :
What now, alas! that life-diffufing charm
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