Posthumous Works of Dr. George Sewell ... To which are added Poems on Several Occasions, Published in his Life-Time |
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WALPOLE:
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 | Posthumous Works of Dr. George Sewell |  |
43
WALPOLE:
OR, THE PATRIOT.
------ Est Animus Tibi
Rerumque prudens, & Secundis
Temporibus, Dubiisque rectus;
Vindex Avaræ Fraudis, & abstinens
Ducentis ad se Cuncta Pecuniæ
Hor.
Rerumque prudens, & Secundis
Temporibus, Dubiisque rectus;
Vindex Avaræ Fraudis, & abstinens
Ducentis ad se Cuncta Pecuniæ
Hor.
A Patriot
Soul by Nature is design'd
To rescue Nations, and to save Mankind;
His Principles on sure Foundations fixt,
With no Alloy of Private Int'rest mixt,
Even, and uniform to Virtue tend,
And all concenter in the Publick End.
To rescue Nations, and to save Mankind;
His Principles on sure Foundations fixt,
With no Alloy of Private Int'rest mixt,
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And all concenter in the Publick End.
While the vast Wheel of Government turns round
In equal Circles, and in lawful Bound;
While the Great Goddess on the Top presides,
And all the lower Springs of Action guides;
When each Subordinate with proper Grace
Adjusts the Motion, and adorns his Place,
Contented then the Patriot Spirit Smiles,
And joins with Pleasure to reward their Toils;
If Envy then disturb the Common-Weal,
Boldly he rises with an Active Zeal,
Fixt against Rage, and Malice to contend,
And in her Friends his Country's Cause defend.
In equal Circles, and in lawful Bound;
While the Great Goddess on the Top presides,
And all the lower Springs of Action guides;
When each Subordinate with proper Grace
Adjusts the Motion, and adorns his Place,
Contented then the Patriot Spirit Smiles,
And joins with Pleasure to reward their Toils;
If Envy then disturb the Common-Weal,
Boldly he rises with an Active Zeal,
Fixt against Rage, and Malice to contend,
And in her Friends his Country's Cause defend.
But if an Outward Gloss, and gaudy Show,
Conceal the Rancour of Intestine Woe;
If from bad Principles, and latent Seeds,
Inward Corruption on her Vitals feeds,
Cautious and gentle He the Wound explores,
Scorning with Art to skin the growing Sores;
The Cause once found some Pain she must endure,
Tho' slow the Progress, certain is the Cure.
Barefac'd Oppression then shall stand in Sight,
And Fraud detected tremble at the Light:
Tho' long the Thread, tho' intricate the Clue,
Tho' Magic Gold assist the stubborn Crew,
Gold which unlawfully deriv'd from Court
Secures the Cheat, and is its own Support:
So Perjur'd Guardians, while the Heir is Young,
Amass a Treasure to protect the Wrong.
Conceal the Rancour of Intestine Woe;
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Inward Corruption on her Vitals feeds,
Cautious and gentle He the Wound explores,
Scorning with Art to skin the growing Sores;
The Cause once found some Pain she must endure,
Tho' slow the Progress, certain is the Cure.
Barefac'd Oppression then shall stand in Sight,
And Fraud detected tremble at the Light:
Tho' long the Thread, tho' intricate the Clue,
Tho' Magic Gold assist the stubborn Crew,
Gold which unlawfully deriv'd from Court
Secures the Cheat, and is its own Support:
So Perjur'd Guardians, while the Heir is Young,
Amass a Treasure to protect the Wrong.
Nor does his Breast a private Heat conceal,
To leaven, or corrupt a Publick Zeal,
Malice and Guilt this Engine have employ'd,
Unsafe theirselves till others are destroy'd.
But Crimes and Persons closely are ally'd,
Which Publick Justice only can divide,
To this the Patriot Spirit Bravely calls,
Unmov'd where-e're the Fatal Sentence falls.
To leaven, or corrupt a Publick Zeal,
Malice and Guilt this Engine have employ'd,
Unsafe theirselves till others are destroy'd.
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Which Publick Justice only can divide,
To this the Patriot Spirit Bravely calls,
Unmov'd where-e're the Fatal Sentence falls.
No Party Heats his Just Designs Controul,
Or Over-rule the Purpose of his Soul,
Him Reason guides, and no wild Passion draws,
To give a random Vote against the Laws;
Which After-Wisdom would correct in vain,
For Folly register'd's a lasting Stain.
Poor, Senseless Party Engines! Who are taught
To act by Mechanism, not by Thought,
Who speak by rote, and sell their venal Words,
To please Grandees, and smooth Intriguing Lords!
Or like a Judge unknowing what has past,
Gravely consent to him who spoke the last,
Or He who thro' a whole Debate had Snor'd,
And wak'd in time to give the Damning Word.
Or Over-rule the Purpose of his Soul,
Him Reason guides, and no wild Passion draws,
To give a random Vote against the Laws;
Which After-Wisdom would correct in vain,
For Folly register'd's a lasting Stain.
Poor, Senseless Party Engines! Who are taught
To act by Mechanism, not by Thought,
Who speak by rote, and sell their venal Words,
To please Grandees, and smooth Intriguing Lords!
Or like a Judge unknowing what has past,
Gravely consent to him who spoke the last,
Or He who thro' a whole Debate had Snor'd,
And wak'd in time to give the Damning Word.
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Not so the Patriot, who dares Boldly give
In Spite of Crouds a Single Negative;
Faction in vain her Thousand Heads shall rear,
Their idle Clamours may offend his Ear,
But not affect his Heart, or touch his Soul with Fear.
Thus once of Old Alone Great CATO stood
Fixt for the State, and obstinately Good.
In Spite of Crouds a Single Negative;
Faction in vain her Thousand Heads shall rear,
Their idle Clamours may offend his Ear,
But not affect his Heart, or touch his Soul with Fear.
Thus once of Old Alone Great CATO stood
Fixt for the State, and obstinately Good.
He never makes Religion's Honour bend
To gain a Politic Unlawful End:
Nor would He have her Guardian Patrons Steer
With too remiss a Hand, or too Severe:
Careful of ev'ry Right, for One deny'd
Gives room for more, and makes the Passage wide
To dreaming Ignorance and doating Pride.
Thus while by Him her Sacred Temples shine,
The Church Primæval shall the World refine,
Deeply shall fix her Root, shall rise her Head,
Her Stem shall flourish, and her Branches spread.
To gain a Politic Unlawful End:
Nor would He have her Guardian Patrons Steer
With too remiss a Hand, or too Severe:
Careful of ev'ry Right, for One deny'd
Gives room for more, and makes the Passage wide
To dreaming Ignorance and doating Pride.
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The Church Primæval shall the World refine,
Deeply shall fix her Root, shall rise her Head,
Her Stem shall flourish, and her Branches spread.
His Judgment duly pois'd abhors Extreams,
Averse to Tyrant and Republic Schemes;
For these Extreams become each other's Prey,
Republics rise as Tyrannies decay;
From their ill Government they first advance,
Depend on Fortune, and subsist by Chance,
Till some great Genius tow'ring to Renown,
Pulls the vain Babel on the Builders down,
And on the ruin'd Heap confirms his rising Crown.
Thus CÆNEUS, as the Tale informs, began
With Bearded Aspect, and the Strength of Man:
Next smoother Looks and finer Tone betray'd
A Female Weakness, and the Man decay'd;
And last, revers'd by a capricious Fate,
He held the Man, and re-assum'd his State.
Averse to Tyrant and Republic Schemes;
For these Extreams become each other's Prey,
Republics rise as Tyrannies decay;
From their ill Government they first advance,
Depend on Fortune, and subsist by Chance,
Till some great Genius tow'ring to Renown,
Pulls the vain Babel on the Builders down,
And on the ruin'd Heap confirms his rising Crown.
Thus CÆNEUS, as the Tale informs, began
With Bearded Aspect, and the Strength of Man:
Next smoother Looks and finer Tone betray'd
A Female Weakness, and the Man decay'd;
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He held the Man, and re-assum'd his State.
When gath'ring Clouds assume a threat'ning Form,
He warns the State to shun the coming Storm;
If slighted, silently prepares to moan
His Country's Injuries, and not his own;
Forbid it Heav'n that Virtue should not find
This last sad Comfort of an Honest Mind!
But conscious Guilt suspects a Pious Tear,
And quick Removals justify its Fear.
Thus CÆSAR likes not CASSIUS in the Play,
But ANTHONY the Lewd, the Sot, the Gay;
Such Vices ne'er a Tyrant's Empire touch,
But CASSIUS reads, observes, and thinks too much .
Thus have I seen a Factious Crew grow strong,
With Debauchees and Atheists in the Throng,
Secure they stood while able Statesmen fell
For Speaking bravely, and for Acting well.
He warns the State to shun the coming Storm;
If slighted, silently prepares to moan
His Country's Injuries, and not his own;
Forbid it Heav'n that Virtue should not find
This last sad Comfort of an Honest Mind!
But conscious Guilt suspects a Pious Tear,
And quick Removals justify its Fear.
Thus CÆSAR likes not CASSIUS in the Play,
But ANTHONY the Lewd, the Sot, the Gay;
Such Vices ne'er a Tyrant's Empire touch,
But CASSIUS reads, observes, and thinks too much .
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With Debauchees and Atheists in the Throng,
Secure they stood while able Statesmen fell
For Speaking bravely, and for Acting well.
Behold the Patriot in Retirement great,
And watching carefully the Steps of Fate!
See giddy Zeal, and restless Fury burn!
See Virtue sighing for his quick Return!
Which he not urges, nor will long delay,
His Foes assist him, and prepare the Way;
Self-ruin'd They to mean Expedients fly,
And all the Arts of falling Greatness try;
Vain is the Stratagem, the Succour small,
That not prevents, but only breaks, the Fall;
Such is Physician's Aid amidst the Strife
Of struggling Nature and departing Life.
And watching carefully the Steps of Fate!
See giddy Zeal, and restless Fury burn!
See Virtue sighing for his quick Return!
Which he not urges, nor will long delay,
His Foes assist him, and prepare the Way;
Self-ruin'd They to mean Expedients fly,
And all the Arts of falling Greatness try;
Vain is the Stratagem, the Succour small,
That not prevents, but only breaks, the Fall;
Such is Physician's Aid amidst the Strife
Of struggling Nature and departing Life.
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Not with more Joy Old Exil'd Heroes came
To raise the Roman or Athenian Name,
To fix the shatter'd State, and reunite the Frame.
Than He recall'd by Royal Voice to bear
The Weight of Nations, and the Public Care,
And all the Waste of War and Fraud repair.
Rapine, a Monster of Harpeyan Race,
Of Brutal Appetite, but Human Face;
Her glutton Progeny o'er all had spread;
And on the Vitals of the Public fed;
Her Hunger still renewing as before,
Still hov'ring round the Relicts of the Store;
But now at his Approach She wings away,
And leaves repining her unfinish'd Prey.
To raise the Roman or Athenian Name,
To fix the shatter'd State, and reunite the Frame.
Than He recall'd by Royal Voice to bear
The Weight of Nations, and the Public Care,
And all the Waste of War and Fraud repair.
Rapine, a Monster of Harpeyan Race,
Of Brutal Appetite, but Human Face;
Her glutton Progeny o'er all had spread;
And on the Vitals of the Public fed;
Her Hunger still renewing as before,
Still hov'ring round the Relicts of the Store;
But now at his Approach She wings away,
And leaves repining her unfinish'd Prey.
In Him behold unblemish'd Faith succeed,
And Courage daring for that Faith to bleed!
Antient Integrity of Soul, untaught
To act Himself, or hide another's Fault;
Friendship experienc'd much in Evil Days,
From Foes extorting an unwilling Praise;
To Thrones a Duty ever found sincere,
Above base Flatt'ry, or distrustful Fear.
Let others their dissembled Wisdom place
In a Proud Brow, or a distorted Face;
Truth needs no borrow'd Features, but is seen
Best in her Native and Unclouded Mien;
But Actions only Virtue can express,
And shew the Patriot in his proper Dress.
Jealous of all the Honours of the Throne,
He makes its Pow'r, as well as Mercy known,
And scorns to see the British Scepter bend
To the Proud Insults of a Foreign Friend;
For such Concessions must Betray at length,
Or want of Courage, or defect of Strength.
Britain tenacious of her Spotless Fame,
Reveng'd with Streams of Blood her injur'd Name.
For this have Kings and Nations felt their Doom,
And Pontiffs trembled at Imperial Rome.
And doubt we to assert our Fathers Deeds?
Or are we chang'd, and a new Soul succeeds?
But how unlike that Spirit which of old
Scorn'd that her Kings precarious Crowns should hold;
Or meanly from their State descending hear
A Pow'r inferior regulate their Sphere?
Or do we partial blame, and is this Crime,
The Native Product of our English Clime?
From hence was first the Fatal Poison brought,
And Foreign States but speak as they were taught?
O Britain! How unhappy were thy Sway,
If Subjects Rule, and Monarchs must Obey;
If groundless Bold Complaints presume to tell
A Faction's Will, and only not Rebel.
And Courage daring for that Faith to bleed!
Antient Integrity of Soul, untaught
To act Himself, or hide another's Fault;
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From Foes extorting an unwilling Praise;
To Thrones a Duty ever found sincere,
Above base Flatt'ry, or distrustful Fear.
Let others their dissembled Wisdom place
In a Proud Brow, or a distorted Face;
Truth needs no borrow'd Features, but is seen
Best in her Native and Unclouded Mien;
But Actions only Virtue can express,
And shew the Patriot in his proper Dress.
Jealous of all the Honours of the Throne,
He makes its Pow'r, as well as Mercy known,
And scorns to see the British Scepter bend
To the Proud Insults of a Foreign Friend;
For such Concessions must Betray at length,
Or want of Courage, or defect of Strength.
Britain tenacious of her Spotless Fame,
Reveng'd with Streams of Blood her injur'd Name.
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And Pontiffs trembled at Imperial Rome.
And doubt we to assert our Fathers Deeds?
Or are we chang'd, and a new Soul succeeds?
But how unlike that Spirit which of old
Scorn'd that her Kings precarious Crowns should hold;
Or meanly from their State descending hear
A Pow'r inferior regulate their Sphere?
Or do we partial blame, and is this Crime,
The Native Product of our English Clime?
From hence was first the Fatal Poison brought,
And Foreign States but speak as they were taught?
O Britain! How unhappy were thy Sway,
If Subjects Rule, and Monarchs must Obey;
If groundless Bold Complaints presume to tell
A Faction's Will, and only not Rebel.
54
While WAR is Necessary, Just, and Fair,
He thinks that War becomes a Patriot's Care.
But who would always riot it in Blood,
Unpeopling Nations for Another's Good?
Who would protract Campaigns upon Campaigns
For real Losses, and uncertain Gains?
If Heroes at so Dear a Rate are made,
And Laurels flourish in so Dark a Shade,
In other Climes ye Mighty Heroes rise,
Flourish ye Laurels far in distant Skies.
He thinks that War becomes a Patriot's Care.
But who would always riot it in Blood,
Unpeopling Nations for Another's Good?
Who would protract Campaigns upon Campaigns
For real Losses, and uncertain Gains?
If Heroes at so Dear a Rate are made,
And Laurels flourish in so Dark a Shade,
In other Climes ye Mighty Heroes rise,
Flourish ye Laurels far in distant Skies.
Soon may the Sons of Peace their Voices raise!
And as they taste the Gift, the Givers praise.
To such a Work what Prudence must be brought?
What Depth of Knowledge, and what Reach of Thought?
What Steddiness of Spirit to engage
With Foreign Policy, and Party Rage?
That Rage which vainly and profusely cast,
But helps the Blessing, which it strives to blast,
While the Great Work its own Completion brings,
Moving by secret Weights, and hidden Springs.
Thus in the Womb of Earth Great NATURE lies,
Mixing her Causes far from Human Eyes:
Tempests and Storms upon her Surface blow,
Whose Fury more promotes the Work below;
By silent Steps the Fair Effects appear,
Herb, Flow'r, and Tree, their various Beauties rear,
And SPRING leads on the New revolving Year.
And as they taste the Gift, the Givers praise.
To such a Work what Prudence must be brought?
What Depth of Knowledge, and what Reach of Thought?
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With Foreign Policy, and Party Rage?
That Rage which vainly and profusely cast,
But helps the Blessing, which it strives to blast,
While the Great Work its own Completion brings,
Moving by secret Weights, and hidden Springs.
Thus in the Womb of Earth Great NATURE lies,
Mixing her Causes far from Human Eyes:
Tempests and Storms upon her Surface blow,
Whose Fury more promotes the Work below;
By silent Steps the Fair Effects appear,
Herb, Flow'r, and Tree, their various Beauties rear,
And SPRING leads on the New revolving Year.
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In this short Copy of the Patriot's Mind,
A faint Resemblance of the True you find.
Imperfect Draughts give Pleasure to some Eyes,
Where what the Picture wants, the Thought supplies.
All know the Man whom FACTION once remov'd,
Admir'd in Senate, and in Court Belov'd;
Of whose Deserts Envy will be the Test,
That always aims her Arrows at the Best,
And let the Tower Walls proclaim the rest.
A faint Resemblance of the True you find.
Imperfect Draughts give Pleasure to some Eyes,
Where what the Picture wants, the Thought supplies.
All know the Man whom FACTION once remov'd,
Admir'd in Senate, and in Court Belov'd;
Of whose Deserts Envy will be the Test,
That always aims her Arrows at the Best,
And let the Tower Walls proclaim the rest.
FINIS.
| Posthumous Works of Dr. George Sewell | |