Occasional Poems Translations, Fables, Tales, &c. By William Somervile |
 |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
Mahomet Ali Beg: or, The Faithful Minister of State. |
 | Occasional Poems |  |
347
Mahomet Ali Beg: or, The Faithful Minister of State.
A long Descent, and noble Blood,
Is but a vain fantastick Good,
Unless with inbred Virtues join'd,
An honest, brave, and gen'rous Mind.
All that our Ancestors have done,
Nations reliev'd, and Battels won;
The Trophies of each Bloody Field,
Can only then true Honour yield:
When, like Argyle, we scorn to owe,
And pay, that Lustre they bestow;
But, if a mean degen'rate Race,
Slothful we faint, and slack our Pace,
Lag in the glorious Course of Fame,
Their great Atchievements we disclaim.
Some bold Plebeian soon shall rise,
Stretch to the Goal, and win the Prize.
For, since the forming Hand of old,
Cast all Mankind in the same Mold;
Since no distinguish'd Clan, is blest
With finer Porcelin than the rest;
And since in all the ruling Mind
Is of the same celestial kind;
'Tis Education shows the way
Each latent Beauty to display;
Each happy Genius brings to light,
Conceal'd before in Shades of Night:
So Diamonds from the gloomy Mine,
Taught by the Workman's Hand to shine,
On Cloe's Iv'ry Bosom blaze,
Or grace the Crown with brilliant Rays.
Merit obscure shall raise its Head,
Tho' dark obstructing Clouds o'er-spread:
Heroes, as yet unsung, shall fight
For Slaves oppress'd, and injur'd Right;
And able Statesmen prop the Throne,
To Battel-Abbey-Roll unknown.
Is but a vain fantastick Good,
Unless with inbred Virtues join'd,
An honest, brave, and gen'rous Mind.
All that our Ancestors have done,
Nations reliev'd, and Battels won;
The Trophies of each Bloody Field,
Can only then true Honour yield:
When, like Argyle, we scorn to owe,
And pay, that Lustre they bestow;
But, if a mean degen'rate Race,
Slothful we faint, and slack our Pace,
Lag in the glorious Course of Fame,
Their great Atchievements we disclaim.
348
Stretch to the Goal, and win the Prize.
For, since the forming Hand of old,
Cast all Mankind in the same Mold;
Since no distinguish'd Clan, is blest
With finer Porcelin than the rest;
And since in all the ruling Mind
Is of the same celestial kind;
'Tis Education shows the way
Each latent Beauty to display;
Each happy Genius brings to light,
Conceal'd before in Shades of Night:
So Diamonds from the gloomy Mine,
Taught by the Workman's Hand to shine,
On Cloe's Iv'ry Bosom blaze,
Or grace the Crown with brilliant Rays.
Merit obscure shall raise its Head,
Tho' dark obstructing Clouds o'er-spread:
Heroes, as yet unsung, shall fight
For Slaves oppress'd, and injur'd Right;
349
To Battel-Abbey-Roll unknown.
Sha Abbas, with supreme Command
In Persia reign'd, and bless'd the Land;
A mighty Prince, Valiant, and Wise,
Expert, with sharp, discerning Eyes,
To find true Virtue in Disguise.
Hunting (it seems) was his Delight,
His Joy by Day, his Dream by Night:
The Sport of all the Brave, and Bold,
From Nimrod, who in Days of old,
Made Men as well as Beasts his Prey,
To mightier George; whose milder Sway,
Glad happy Crouds with pride obey.
In quest of his fierce Savage Foes,
Before the Sun the Monarch rose,
The griezly Lion to engage,
By baying Dogs provok'd to Rage;
In the close Thicket to explore,
And push from thence the bristled Boar:
Or to pursue the flying Deer,
While deep-mouth'd Hounds the Valleys chear;
And Eccho from repeating Hills
His Heart with Joy redoubled fills.
In Persia reign'd, and bless'd the Land;
A mighty Prince, Valiant, and Wise,
Expert, with sharp, discerning Eyes,
To find true Virtue in Disguise.
Hunting (it seems) was his Delight,
His Joy by Day, his Dream by Night:
The Sport of all the Brave, and Bold,
From Nimrod, who in Days of old,
Made Men as well as Beasts his Prey,
To mightier George; whose milder Sway,
Glad happy Crouds with pride obey.
In quest of his fierce Savage Foes,
Before the Sun the Monarch rose,
350
By baying Dogs provok'd to Rage;
In the close Thicket to explore,
And push from thence the bristled Boar:
Or to pursue the flying Deer,
While deep-mouth'd Hounds the Valleys chear;
And Eccho from repeating Hills
His Heart with Joy redoubled fills.
Under a Rock's projecting Shade,
A Shepherd Boy his Seat had made,
Happy, as Crœsus on his Throne,
The Riches of the World his own.
Content on Mortals here below,
Is all that Heaven can bestow.
His Crook, and Scrip, were by him laid,
Upon his Oaten Pipe he play'd;
His Flocks securely couch'd around,
And seem'd to listen to the Sound.
Returning from the Chace one day,
The King by chance had lost his Way;
Nor Guards, nor Nobles, now attend,
But one young Lord his Bosom Friend.
Now tire'd with Labour, spent with Heat,
They sought this pleasant cool Retreat;
The Boy leap'd active from his Seat,
And with a kind obliging Grace,
Offer'd the King unknown his Place.
The Persian Monarch, who so late,
Lord of the World, rul'd all in State;
On Cloth of Gold, and Tissue trod,
Whole Nations trembling at his Nod;
With Diamonds, and Rubies crown'd,
And girt with fawning Slaves around;
Behold him now: His Canopy
Th' impending Rock, each Shrub, each Tree,
That grew upon its shaggy Brow,
To their great Prince observant bow;
Yield, as in Duty bound, their Aid,
And bless him with a friendly Shade.
On the bare Flint, he sits alone,
And oh! wou'd Kings this Truth but own,
The safer, and the nobler Throne:
But where do I digress? 'tis time
To check this Arrogance of Rhime.
As the judicious Monarch view'd
The Stripling's Air, nor bold, nor rude,
With native Modesty subdu'd;
The Blush that glow'd in all its pride,
Then trembled on his Cheeks, and dy'd.
He grew inquisitive to trace
What Soul dwelt in that lovely Case:
To ev'ry Question serious, gay,
The Youth reply'd without delay;
His Answers for the most part right,
And taking, if not apposite:
Unstudy'd, unaffected Sense,
Mix'd with his native Diffidence.
The King was charm'd with such a Prize,
And stood with wonder in his Eyes;
?ommits his Treasure to the care
Of the young Lord; bids him not spare
For Cost, or Pains, t'enrich his Breast
With all the Learning of the East.
He bow'd, obey'd, well-cloath'd, well-fed,
And with his Patron's Children bred;
Till every day the Youth improv'd,
By all admir'd, by all belov'd.
A Shepherd Boy his Seat had made,
Happy, as Crœsus on his Throne,
The Riches of the World his own.
Content on Mortals here below,
Is all that Heaven can bestow.
His Crook, and Scrip, were by him laid,
Upon his Oaten Pipe he play'd;
His Flocks securely couch'd around,
And seem'd to listen to the Sound.
351
The King by chance had lost his Way;
Nor Guards, nor Nobles, now attend,
But one young Lord his Bosom Friend.
Now tire'd with Labour, spent with Heat,
They sought this pleasant cool Retreat;
The Boy leap'd active from his Seat,
And with a kind obliging Grace,
Offer'd the King unknown his Place.
The Persian Monarch, who so late,
Lord of the World, rul'd all in State;
On Cloth of Gold, and Tissue trod,
Whole Nations trembling at his Nod;
With Diamonds, and Rubies crown'd,
And girt with fawning Slaves around;
Behold him now: His Canopy
Th' impending Rock, each Shrub, each Tree,
That grew upon its shaggy Brow,
To their great Prince observant bow;
352
And bless him with a friendly Shade.
On the bare Flint, he sits alone,
And oh! wou'd Kings this Truth but own,
The safer, and the nobler Throne:
But where do I digress? 'tis time
To check this Arrogance of Rhime.
As the judicious Monarch view'd
The Stripling's Air, nor bold, nor rude,
With native Modesty subdu'd;
The Blush that glow'd in all its pride,
Then trembled on his Cheeks, and dy'd.
He grew inquisitive to trace
What Soul dwelt in that lovely Case:
To ev'ry Question serious, gay,
The Youth reply'd without delay;
His Answers for the most part right,
And taking, if not apposite:
Unstudy'd, unaffected Sense,
Mix'd with his native Diffidence.
353
And stood with wonder in his Eyes;
?ommits his Treasure to the care
Of the young Lord; bids him not spare
For Cost, or Pains, t'enrich his Breast
With all the Learning of the East.
He bow'd, obey'd, well-cloath'd, well-fed,
And with his Patron's Children bred;
Till every day the Youth improv'd,
By all admir'd, by all belov'd.
Now the first curling Down began
To give the Promise of a Man;
To Court he's call'd, employ'd, and train'd,
In lower Posts, yet still he gain'd
By Candour, Courtesy, and Skill,
The Subjects Love, the King's Good-Will.
Employ'd in greater Matters now,
No Flatteries, no Bribes cou'd bow
His stubborn Soul; true to his Trust,
Firm, and inexorably just,
In Judgment ripe, he soon became
A Walpole, or a Walsingham;
And wakeful for the publick Peace,
No Dragon guards the Golden Fleece
With half that Vigilance, and Care,
His busy Eyes kenn'd ev'ry where;
In each dark Scheme knew how to dive,
Tho' cunning Dervises contrive
Their Plots, disguis'd with Shams, and Lyes,
And cloak'd with real Perjurys.
To give the Promise of a Man;
To Court he's call'd, employ'd, and train'd,
In lower Posts, yet still he gain'd
By Candour, Courtesy, and Skill,
The Subjects Love, the King's Good-Will.
Employ'd in greater Matters now,
No Flatteries, no Bribes cou'd bow
354
Firm, and inexorably just,
In Judgment ripe, he soon became
A Walpole, or a Walsingham;
And wakeful for the publick Peace,
No Dragon guards the Golden Fleece
With half that Vigilance, and Care,
His busy Eyes kenn'd ev'ry where;
In each dark Scheme knew how to dive,
Tho' cunning Dervises contrive
Their Plots, disguis'd with Shams, and Lyes,
And cloak'd with real Perjurys.
Now high in Rank the Peer is place'd,
And Ali Beg with Titles grace'd;
No Bounds his Master's Bountys know,
His swelling Coffers overflow,
And he is puzzled to bestow;
Perplex'd, and studious, to contrive
To whom, and how, not what to give;
His pious Frauds conceal the Name,
And skreen the modest Man from Shame.
Who e'er would heav'nly Treasures raise,
Must grant the Boon, escape the Praise.
But his immense, and endless Gain,
No private Charitys cou'd drain:
On publick Works he fix'd his Mind,
The zealous Friend of Human Kind.
Convenient Inns on each great Road,
At his own proper Costs endow'd,
To weary Caravans afford
Refreshment, both at Bed, and Board.
From Thames, the Tiber, and the Rhine,
Nations remote with Ali dine;
In various Tongues his Bounty's blest,
While with Surprise the stranger Guest,
Does here on unbought Dainties feast:
See stately Palaces arise,
And gilded Domes invade the Skies.
Say Muse, what Lords inhabit here?
Nor fav'rite Eunuch, Prince, nor Peer:
The Poor, the Lame, the Blind, the Sick,
The Idiot, and the Lunatick.
He curb'd each River's swelling Pride,
O'er the reluctant murm'ring Tide
From Bank to Bank his Bridges stride.
A thousand gracious Deeds were done,
Bury'd in silence and unknown.
And Ali Beg with Titles grace'd;
No Bounds his Master's Bountys know,
His swelling Coffers overflow,
And he is puzzled to bestow;
Perplex'd, and studious, to contrive
To whom, and how, not what to give;
355
And skreen the modest Man from Shame.
Who e'er would heav'nly Treasures raise,
Must grant the Boon, escape the Praise.
But his immense, and endless Gain,
No private Charitys cou'd drain:
On publick Works he fix'd his Mind,
The zealous Friend of Human Kind.
Convenient Inns on each great Road,
At his own proper Costs endow'd,
To weary Caravans afford
Refreshment, both at Bed, and Board.
From Thames, the Tiber, and the Rhine,
Nations remote with Ali dine;
In various Tongues his Bounty's blest,
While with Surprise the stranger Guest,
Does here on unbought Dainties feast:
See stately Palaces arise,
And gilded Domes invade the Skies.
356
Nor fav'rite Eunuch, Prince, nor Peer:
The Poor, the Lame, the Blind, the Sick,
The Idiot, and the Lunatick.
He curb'd each River's swelling Pride,
O'er the reluctant murm'ring Tide
From Bank to Bank his Bridges stride.
A thousand gracious Deeds were done,
Bury'd in silence and unknown.
At length, worn out with Years, and Care,
Sha Abbas dy'd; left his young Heir
Sha Sefi, unexperienc'd, raw,
By his stern Father kept in awe;
To the Seraglio's Walls confin'd,
Barr'd from the Converse of Mankind.
Strange Jealousy! a certain Rule,
To breed a Tyrant, and a Fool.
Still Ali was Prime Minister,
But had not much his Master's Ear;
Walk'd on unfaithful, slipp'ry Ground,
Till an Occasion cou'd be found
To pick a Quarrel; then no doubt,
As is the mode at Court—turn out.
Sha Sefi, among Eunuchs bred,
With them convers'd, by them was led;
Beardless, Half-men! in whose false Breasts,
Nor Joy, nor Love, nor Friendship rests.
There Spight, and pineing Envy, dwell,
And rage as in their native Hell;
For conscious of their own Disgrace,
Each Excellence they would debase,
And vent their Spleen on Human Race.
This Ali found. Strange senseless Lyes,
And inconsistent Columnies,
They buz into the Monarch's Ears,
And he believes all that he hears.
Great Prince (said they) Ali, your Slave—
Whom we acknowledge Wise and Brave—
Yet pardon us—We can't but see
His boundless Pride, and Vanity:
His Bridges triumph o'er each Tide,
In their own Channels taught to glide.
Each Beggar, and each lazy Drone,
His Subject, more than yours, is grown:
And for a Palace leaves his Cell,
Where Xerxes might be proud to dwell.
His Inns for Travellers provide,
Strangers are listed on his side:
In his own House how grand the Scene!
Tissues, and Velvets, are too mean,
Gold, Jewels, Pearls, unheard Expence!
Suspected, bold, Magnificence!
Whence can this Flood of Riches flow?
Examine his Accounts, you'll know:
Your Eye on your Exchequer cast,
The Secret will come out at last.
Sha Abbas dy'd; left his young Heir
Sha Sefi, unexperienc'd, raw,
By his stern Father kept in awe;
To the Seraglio's Walls confin'd,
Barr'd from the Converse of Mankind.
Strange Jealousy! a certain Rule,
To breed a Tyrant, and a Fool.
Still Ali was Prime Minister,
But had not much his Master's Ear;
357
Till an Occasion cou'd be found
To pick a Quarrel; then no doubt,
As is the mode at Court—turn out.
Sha Sefi, among Eunuchs bred,
With them convers'd, by them was led;
Beardless, Half-men! in whose false Breasts,
Nor Joy, nor Love, nor Friendship rests.
There Spight, and pineing Envy, dwell,
And rage as in their native Hell;
For conscious of their own Disgrace,
Each Excellence they would debase,
And vent their Spleen on Human Race.
This Ali found. Strange senseless Lyes,
And inconsistent Columnies,
They buz into the Monarch's Ears,
And he believes all that he hears.
Great Prince (said they) Ali, your Slave—
Whom we acknowledge Wise and Brave—
358
His boundless Pride, and Vanity:
His Bridges triumph o'er each Tide,
In their own Channels taught to glide.
Each Beggar, and each lazy Drone,
His Subject, more than yours, is grown:
And for a Palace leaves his Cell,
Where Xerxes might be proud to dwell.
His Inns for Travellers provide,
Strangers are listed on his side:
In his own House how grand the Scene!
Tissues, and Velvets, are too mean,
Gold, Jewels, Pearls, unheard Expence!
Suspected, bold, Magnificence!
Whence can this Flood of Riches flow?
Examine his Accounts, you'll know:
Your Eye on your Exchequer cast,
The Secret will come out at last.
359
Ali next Morn (for 'twas his way
To rise before the Dawn of Day,)
Went early to the Council-Board,
Prostrate on Earth, his King ador'd.
The King with Countenance severe,
Look'd sternly on his Minister:
Ali (said he) I have been told,
Great Treasures, both in Gems, and Gold,
Were left, and trusted to your care;
'Mong these, one Gem exceeding rare,
I long to view; which was, (they said
A Present from the Sultan made,
The finest that the World e'er saw,
White, large, and fair, without a flaw.
Th' unblemish'd Ali thus reply'd,
Great Sir! it cannot be deny'd,
'Tis brillant, beautiful, and clear,
The Great Mogul has not its peer.
Please it your Majesty, to go
Into the Treasury below,
You'll wonder at its pierceing Ray,
The Sun gives not a nobler Day.
Together now they all descend;
Poor Ali had no other Friend,
But a Soul faithful to its Trust,
The sure Asylum of the Just.
In proper Classes now are seen
The Diamonds bright, and Emraulds green;
Pearls, Rubies, Saphirs next appear,
Dispos'd in Rows with nicest Care.
The King views all with curious Eyes,
Applauds with wonder, and surprize,
Their Order, and peculiar Grace,
Each thing adapted to its place;
The rest with envious Leer behold,
And stumble upon Bars of Gold.
Next in an Amber Box, is shown
The noblest Jewel of the Crown:
This, Sir, said he, (believe your Slave)
Is the fine Gem the Sultan gave;
Around it darts its Beams of Light,
No Comet e'er was half so bright.
The King with Joy the Gem admires,
Well-pleas'd, and half-convinc'd, retires.
Ali (said he) with you I dine,
Your Furniture (I'm told) is fine.
Wise Ali for this Favour show'd,
Humbly with lowest Rev'rence bow'd.
To rise before the Dawn of Day,)
Went early to the Council-Board,
Prostrate on Earth, his King ador'd.
The King with Countenance severe,
Look'd sternly on his Minister:
Ali (said he) I have been told,
Great Treasures, both in Gems, and Gold,
Were left, and trusted to your care;
'Mong these, one Gem exceeding rare,
I long to view; which was, (they said
A Present from the Sultan made,
The finest that the World e'er saw,
White, large, and fair, without a flaw.
Th' unblemish'd Ali thus reply'd,
Great Sir! it cannot be deny'd,
'Tis brillant, beautiful, and clear,
The Great Mogul has not its peer.
Please it your Majesty, to go
Into the Treasury below,
360
The Sun gives not a nobler Day.
Together now they all descend;
Poor Ali had no other Friend,
But a Soul faithful to its Trust,
The sure Asylum of the Just.
In proper Classes now are seen
The Diamonds bright, and Emraulds green;
Pearls, Rubies, Saphirs next appear,
Dispos'd in Rows with nicest Care.
The King views all with curious Eyes,
Applauds with wonder, and surprize,
Their Order, and peculiar Grace,
Each thing adapted to its place;
The rest with envious Leer behold,
And stumble upon Bars of Gold.
Next in an Amber Box, is shown
The noblest Jewel of the Crown:
This, Sir, said he, (believe your Slave)
Is the fine Gem the Sultan gave;
361
No Comet e'er was half so bright.
The King with Joy the Gem admires,
Well-pleas'd, and half-convinc'd, retires.
Ali (said he) with you I dine,
Your Furniture (I'm told) is fine.
Wise Ali for this Favour show'd,
Humbly with lowest Rev'rence bow'd.
At Ali's House now ev'ry Hand
busy, at their Lord's Command;
Where at th' appointed Hour resort
The King, and all his splendid Court.
Ali came forth his Prince to meet,
And lowly bowing, kiss'd his Feet.
On all his Compliments bestows,
Civil alike to Friends, and Foes.
The King impatient to behold
His Furniture of Gems, and Gold,
From Room to Room the Chace pursu'd,
With curious Eyes each Corner view'd,
Ransack'd th' Apartments o'er and o'er,
Each Closet search'd, unlock'd each Door;
But all he found was plain, and coarse,
The meanest Persian scarce had worse:
These Ali for convenience bought,
Nor for expensive Trifles sought.
One Door a prying Eunuch spy'd,
With Bars and Locks well fortify'd,
And now secure to find the Prize,
Show'd it the King with joyful Eyes.
Ali (said he) that Citadel,
Is strong, and barricaded well;
What have you there? Ali reply'd,
Oh, Sir, there's lodg'd my greatest Pride;
There are the Gems I value most,
And all the Treasures I can boast.
All now convinc'd of his Disgrace,
Triumph appear'd in ev'ry Face.
The Monarch doubted now no more,
The Keys are brought, unlock'd the Door,
When lo! upon the Wall appear,
His Shepherd's Weeds hung up with Care,
Nor Crook, nor Scrip, was wanting there;
Nor Pipe that tune'd his humble Lays,
Sweet Solace of his better Days!
Then bowing low, he touch'd his Breast,
And thus the wond'ring King addrest:
Great Prince! your Ali is your Slave,
To you belong whate'er I have,
Goods, House, are yours, nay yours this Head,
For speak the Word, and I am dead:
These Moveables, and these alone,
I may with justice call my own.
Your Royal Sire, Abbas the Great,
Whom Nations prostrate at his Feet,
On Earth ador'd; whose Soul at rest,
In Paradise a welcome Guest,
Enjoys its full, in fragrant Bow'rs,
Or wantons upon Beds of Flow'rs,
While the pure Stream, in living Rills,
From Rocks of Adamant distils,
And black-ey'd Nymphs attend his Nod,
Fair Daughters of that blest Abode:
By his Command, I left the Plain,
An humble, but contented Swain.
Nor sought I Wealth, nor Pow'r, nor Place,
All these were owing to his Grace;
'Twas his meer Bounty made me great,
And fix'd me here, in this high Seat,
The Mark of Envy. Much he gave,
But yet of nought depriv'd his Slave:
He touch'd not these. Alas! whose Spite,
Whose Avarice, would these excite?
My old, hereditary Right.
Grant me but these (Great Prince) once more,
Grant me the Pleasure to be Poor,
This Scrip, these homely Weeds I'll wear,
The bleating Flocks shall be my Care;
Th' Employ, that did my Youth engage,
Shall be the Comfort of my Age.
The King amaz'd at such a Scorn
Of Riches, in a Shepherd born;
How soars that Soul (said he) above
The Courtier's Hate, or Monarch's Love!
No Pow'r such Virtue can efface,
No jealous Malice shall disgrace.
Wealth, Grandeur, Pomp, are a meer Cheat,
But this, is to be truly Great.
While Tears ran trickling down his Face,
He clasp'd him in a close Embrace;
Then caus'd himself to be undrest,
And cloath'd him in his Royal Vest:
The greatest Honour he cou'd give,
Or Persian Subjects can receive.
busy, at their Lord's Command;
Where at th' appointed Hour resort
The King, and all his splendid Court.
Ali came forth his Prince to meet,
And lowly bowing, kiss'd his Feet.
On all his Compliments bestows,
Civil alike to Friends, and Foes.
The King impatient to behold
His Furniture of Gems, and Gold,
362
With curious Eyes each Corner view'd,
Ransack'd th' Apartments o'er and o'er,
Each Closet search'd, unlock'd each Door;
But all he found was plain, and coarse,
The meanest Persian scarce had worse:
These Ali for convenience bought,
Nor for expensive Trifles sought.
One Door a prying Eunuch spy'd,
With Bars and Locks well fortify'd,
And now secure to find the Prize,
Show'd it the King with joyful Eyes.
Ali (said he) that Citadel,
Is strong, and barricaded well;
What have you there? Ali reply'd,
Oh, Sir, there's lodg'd my greatest Pride;
There are the Gems I value most,
And all the Treasures I can boast.
All now convinc'd of his Disgrace,
Triumph appear'd in ev'ry Face.
363
The Keys are brought, unlock'd the Door,
When lo! upon the Wall appear,
His Shepherd's Weeds hung up with Care,
Nor Crook, nor Scrip, was wanting there;
Nor Pipe that tune'd his humble Lays,
Sweet Solace of his better Days!
Then bowing low, he touch'd his Breast,
And thus the wond'ring King addrest:
Great Prince! your Ali is your Slave,
To you belong whate'er I have,
Goods, House, are yours, nay yours this Head,
For speak the Word, and I am dead:
These Moveables, and these alone,
I may with justice call my own.
Your Royal Sire, Abbas the Great,
Whom Nations prostrate at his Feet,
On Earth ador'd; whose Soul at rest,
In Paradise a welcome Guest,
364
Or wantons upon Beds of Flow'rs,
While the pure Stream, in living Rills,
From Rocks of Adamant distils,
And black-ey'd Nymphs attend his Nod,
Fair Daughters of that blest Abode:
By his Command, I left the Plain,
An humble, but contented Swain.
Nor sought I Wealth, nor Pow'r, nor Place,
All these were owing to his Grace;
'Twas his meer Bounty made me great,
And fix'd me here, in this high Seat,
The Mark of Envy. Much he gave,
But yet of nought depriv'd his Slave:
He touch'd not these. Alas! whose Spite,
Whose Avarice, would these excite?
My old, hereditary Right.
Grant me but these (Great Prince) once more,
Grant me the Pleasure to be Poor,
365
The bleating Flocks shall be my Care;
Th' Employ, that did my Youth engage,
Shall be the Comfort of my Age.
The King amaz'd at such a Scorn
Of Riches, in a Shepherd born;
How soars that Soul (said he) above
The Courtier's Hate, or Monarch's Love!
No Pow'r such Virtue can efface,
No jealous Malice shall disgrace.
Wealth, Grandeur, Pomp, are a meer Cheat,
But this, is to be truly Great.
While Tears ran trickling down his Face,
He clasp'd him in a close Embrace;
Then caus'd himself to be undrest,
And cloath'd him in his Royal Vest:
The greatest Honour he cou'd give,
Or Persian Subjects can receive.
| Occasional Poems | |