The Works of Horace In English Verse :: :: University of Virginia Library

The Man that's resolute and just,
Firm to his Principles and Trust,
Nor Hopes, nor Fears, can bind:
No Passions his Designs controul;
Nor Love, that Tyrant of the Soul,
Can shake his steady Mind.

2

Nor Parties, for Revenge engag'd;
Nor Threatenings of a Court enrag'd;
Nor Storms where Fleets despair:
Not Thunder pointed at his Head;
The shatter'd World may strike him dead,
Not touch his Soul with Fear.

3

From this the Grecian Glory rose;
By this the Romans aw'd their Foes;
Of this their Poets sing:

249

These were the Paths their Heroes trod;
These Arts made Hercules a God,
And great Nassau a King.

4

Firm on the rolling Deck he stood,
Unmov'd he saw the breaking Flood,
With blackening Storms combine:
‘Virtue, he cry'd, will force its Way;
‘The Wind may for a while delay,
‘Not alter our Design.

5

‘The Man, whom selfish Hopes inflame,
‘Or Vanity allures to Fame,
‘May be to Fears betray'd:
‘But here a Church for Succour flies;
‘Insulted Law expiring lies,
‘And loudly calls for Aid.

6

‘Yes, Britons, yes, with ardent Zeal,
‘I come, the wounded Heart to heal,
‘The wounding Hand to bind.
‘See! Tools of arbitrary Sway,
‘And Priests, like Locusts, scour away
‘Before the Western Wind.

250

7

‘Law shall again her Force resume,
‘Religion, clear'd from Clouds of Rome,
‘With brighter Rays advance.
‘The British Fleet shall rule the Deep;
‘The British Youth, as rous'd from Sleep,
‘Strike Terror into France.

8

‘Nor shall these Promises of Fate
‘Be limited to my short Date;
‘When I from Cares withdraw,
‘Still shall the British Sceptre stand,
‘Still flourish in a Female Hand,
‘And to Mankind give Law.

9

‘She shall Domestic Foes unite;
‘Monarchs beneath her Flags shall fight;
‘Whole Armies drag her Chain:
‘She shall lost Italy restore,
‘Shall make th'Imperial Eagle soar,
‘And give a King to Spain.

10

‘But know, these Promises are given,
‘These great Rewards impartial Heaven

251

‘Does on these Terms decree;
‘That, strictly punishing Mens Faults,
‘You let their Consciences and Thoughts
‘Rest absolutely free.

11

‘Let no false Politics confine,
‘In narrow Bounds, your vast Design
‘To make Mankind unite;
‘Nor think it a sufficient Cause
‘To punish Men by penal Laws,
‘For not believing right.

12

‘Rome, whose blind Zeal destroys Mankind;
‘Rome's Sons shall your Compassion find,
‘Who ne'er Compassion knew.
‘By nobler Actions theirs condemn:
‘For what has been reprov'd in Them,
‘Can ne'er be prais'd in You.’

13

These Subjects suit not with the Lyre;
Muse! to what Height dost Thou aspire?
Pretending to rehearse
The Thoughts of Gods and godlike Kings.
Cease, cease, to lessen lofty Things
By mean ignoble Verse.

1707