A Collection of Poems on Various Subjects :: :: University of Virginia Library

Not can a State worse Mischiefs feel, than those
Caus'd by her own Domestick, impious Foes.
Should Men believe no Self-existent Cause
Created Man, nor rules him by his Laws;
Of Faith and Truth they would regardless grow,
Of solemn Vows no Veneration show.
If Right and Wrong, if moral Good and Ill,
Are empty Names, Men may pursue their Will,
Steal without Fraud, and without Murder kill.

270

Free from a Crime, they may betray their Trust,
Nor were it in their Pow'r to be Unjust.
Suppose no God; then no Decree divine
To ruling Pow'ers, Obedience can enjoyn;
And giddy Crowds may guiltless then disown
The best of Soveraigns, and usurp his Throne.
Nor could the Subject in the Prince confide,
By sacred Vows, and solemn Compact ty'd:
For not by Oaths restrain'd, with lawless Might,
Strip them he may, but can't invade their Right;
Since publick Rights on no Foundation stand,
If Oaths oblige not by divine Command;
Then from her Seat Men Justice may release,
Belief and Trust reciprocal must cease;
Leagues were in vain by Neighbour Monarchs sign'd,
Honour would sink, nor would our Promise bind.
Depriv'd of common Faith's cementing Pow'r,
What Kingdoms could cohere? what States endure?

271

Where Providence supream the Tribes deny,
And fearless dare Almighty Pow'r defy,
Law-Fences soon are levell'd all around,
And Guardian Virtue flys the hateful Ground;
While at the Breach, the num'rous hostile Train
Of complicated Woes, free Entrance gain,
Which the licentious Pow'r of Vice attend,
And sap the State, or by Distraction rend.

Muse, to compleat this tuneful Labour, tell
How Rome to Empire rose, and how she fell.

As yet the Tyber in the Latian Plains,
Possess'd by Flocks, and Herds, and peaceful Swains,
A pastoral Scene, unconscious of the Bar,
The Pomp of Empire, and the Spoils of War,
Roll'd to the Main his undistinguish'd Stream,
As yet unsung, and scarcely known to Fame;

272

Till, hither guided by auspicious Fate,
Wise Romulus erects his recent State,
At first obscure; at once the Walls arround,
Did his new City, and Dominions bound.
While Rome in Embryo, rude and shapeless lay,
Wisdom and Law did thro' the Mass convey
Such generous Ferments, that the State inspir'd
With active Heat, soon Life and Growth acquir'd:
Th' heroick Infant did with Vigour move,
Stretcht out its mighty Martial Limbs, and strove
With Force unusual at an Age so young,
Like great Alcides, in his Cradle strong.

Still at the Helm, Directors skilful sate,
Who steer'd secure the fluctuating State;
Form'd with deep Thought, their Maxims, and intent
On publick Glory, and their Pow'rs Extent,
Just Schemes of lasting Greatness did invent.
With ardent Zeal supported Virtue's Cause,
Fixt wise Decrees, and salutary Laws:

273

Did guard the Throne of Justice, and command
The Reins of Empire with a steddy Hand.
Nor did their Wisdom less conspicuous shine,
While Temples they ordain'd, and Rites Divine.

Now while her Natives Law and Right upheld,
And gen'rous Love of Publick Good reveal'd,
Patient of Toil, and ignorant of Rest,
In Pow'r and Wealth the frugal State encreast.

The Realms around, with Envy now behold
The growing Roman, virtuous, rich, and bold;
And, justly jealous, dread a rising Pow'r,
Not fear'd, unheeded, or contemn'd before.
The Volscians, Sabines, and the Tuscan Lords,
In vain their single, or confed'rate Swords,
Against this well-establish'd State employ'd,
Whose Strength at first they might have soon destroy'd.

274

Her gen'rous Sons, with Martial Virtue fir'd,
Repell'd encroaching Force, and then aspir'd
To Fame and Pow'r, which soon her Arms acquir'd.
Adult in War, and ripe in Counsel grown,
She triumph'd far, and still new Laurels won;
Beheld, elated from her lofty Tow'rs,
Her Chiefs advance, and fair Hesperia's Pow'rs
Before her Ensigns quit th' inglorious Field,
And to her Yoke their Necks submissive yield.

So brave in Arms, the Roman does advance,
Such is his Conduct, such his Vigilance;
To Discipline he shews such wise Regard,
Studious alike to punish and reward,
That in the Stages of his glorious Course,
He meets no Task unequal to his Force.
In her heroick Virtue's perfect Bloom,
Hard and athletick grown by Labour, Rome
Intrepid fac'd the blackest Storm of State,
And vig'rous, stem'd all Tides of adverse Fate.

275

Is she unprosp'rous, plac'd on Ruin's Brink?
Does she distrest, in deep Misfortunes sink?
Boyant she'll upward strive, and to her Height
Elastick spring, and claim her Virtue's Right.
Witness at Cannæ that disastrous Day,
Which shook the Props of Rome's Imperial Sway;
While Punick Pow'rs, encamp'd beneath her Wall,
Promis'd their Lords their Rival's sudden Fall;
Beaten, not vanquish'd, with unbroken Mind,
See, Rome do's still sufficient Spirit find,
To free her Bowels from th' Invader's Sword,
And finds her Wounds by strength of Nature cur'd.
Nor did their Arms decide these Rivals Fate,
But Roman Union Punick Discord beat,
And sober Life did Luxury defeat.

The Africk Tempest o'er the Alpes retir'd,
To more extensive Empire she aspir'd,
And still the more oppos'd, more Force acquir'd.

276

As when a Torrent from dissolving Snows
Down Alpine Hills abrupt, impetuous flows,
If Woods or Rocks withstand its rapid Course,
It swells indignant, and with mighty Force,
Collected in its Waves, it breaks the Way,
O'erturns the Woods, and makes the Rocks obey;
Then stronger grows, and with its conqu'ring Tide,
Rolls to the Vales the ruin'd Mountain's Pride,
And o'er the Plains, does unresisted ride.
So Rome—And now Hesperia's Regions own
Her Soveraign Sway, and Kingdoms yet unknown
Revere the potent Nation of the Gown.

Had here, O Rome! thy Lust of Empire stay'd,
While all Ausonia's Towns thy Will obey'd;
If the high Alpine Hills, rough Adria's Waves,
And adverse Sea, which fair Hesperia laves,
The Bounds which then did thy Dominions screen,
Of thy Ambition had the Frontier been;

277

Thou might'st have long surviv'd the fatal Time,
Which punish'd, with thy Fall, thy Aim to climb.
But now, imperious grown by long Success,
She, scornful of Restraint, did forward press;
To foreign Kingdoms did her Wrath transfer,
And unprovok'd affect ambitious War.

See her proud Eagles o'er the Mountains soar,
New Seats, new Scenes of Glory to explore!
The Seine, the Rhone, the Danube, and the Rhine,
Tyber, submit their humble Streams to thine.
Numidia's Towns, and Mauritania's Lands,
The Yoke receiv'd, and own'd her high Commands.
In vain Euphrates, thy opposing Flood,
Tygris, in vain, the Victor's Course withstood:
Asia's proud Monarchs trembled at her Frowns,
While she at Will bestow'd Imperial Crowns,
And plac'd precarious Kings on Tributary Thrones.
The Spicy Realms, and Nabathæa's Soil,
Reward the Roman's Military Toil.

278

Thus stretcht, and rising to uncommon Height,
Rome bends beneath her own unweildly Weight.
The more she won, the less she grew secure,
Weak and disabled by Excess of Pow'r.
She did in Bulk, but not in Strength encrease,
Hydropick swell'd, augmented by Disease.
Their active Force so subtile Spirits loose,
Which thro' too great a Mass their Stock diffuse;
She her own Armies could not long withstand,
Nor the fierce Demons, which she rais'd, command.

Thus sunk proud Rome: And what auspicious Fate
Can from its Guardian Legions save a State?
The hardy Youth too long in Gallia fed,
Forgetting Rome, own as their Regal Head
The valiant Cæsar, who their Army led.
The Rebel Hero, aided by their Swords,
Invades Hesperia, drives his lawful Lords,

279

And, with usurp'd Authority enthron'd,
Gave gasping Liberty her mortal Wound.

'Tis true, enormous Crimes, and Disregard
Of ancient Virtue, for the Change prepar'd;
Flagitious Customs, and unpunish'd Vice,
Riot, Excess, and sordid Avarice,
In every Quarter unobstructed reign'd,
Vanquish'd the Victor, and wide Empire gain'd.
Now Magistrates let loose the Reins of Law,
And powerful Guilt do's weak Tribunals awe;
Plung'd in th' impurest Dregs the Nation lies,
Wise Precepts break, and sober Rules despise.
And as these Manners dissolute prevail'd,
The noble Spirit of the People fail'd:
Degenerate Life, and Luxury immense,
Weaken'd at once their Valour, and their Sense.
While at their ancient Discipline they spurn'd,
The generous Courage of the Roman turn'd

280

To cruel Rage, and now the bloody Prize
And barb'rous Scenes delight the People's Eyes.

Oft hence engender'd Discord vig'rous grew,
The Fury hence infernal Fewel drew
To feed her fatal Torch, which livid flam'd
In her Left-Hand, and gath'ring Wrath proclaim'd:
While with her Right she brandish'd high in Air,
Her threat'ning Fauchion, and commenc'd the War,
With mournful Triumphs fills Hesperia's Soil,
And urg'd her Warriors to ignoble Toil.

But no Commotions did her State invade,
Which rag'd so long, or such vast Havock made,
As those the Factions rais'd, who firm remain'd
To Marius' Cause, or Sylla's Pow'r sustain'd:
While fierce in Arms each other they assail'd,
By Turns were vanquish'd, and by Turns prevail'd.
A crimson Deluge drench'd the Latian Plains,
Now from Plebeian, now Patrician Veins.

281

The raving Vulgar, and revengeful Lords
With desperate Malice sheath'd their furious Swords
Deep in the Bosom of their Parent Rome,
Thus did her Glory sink, and Strength consume:
Whoe'er with Conquest crown'd from Fight return'd,
Rome lost the Battle, and the Triumph mourn'd.

Thus Vice, and Discord, and Domestick War
With treach'rous Force united, did unbar
Her Gates inglorious to the Victor's Car.
Now mourn, unhappy State! thy Freedom lost,
The god-like Gift, which at so vast a Cost
Thy Patriots long preserv'd, whose glorious Aim
Was thy Dominion, and Immortal Fame.
Henceforth despotick Will thou must obey,
For thy mild Senate's Rule in vain wilt pray,
And curse in vain the Tyrant's cruel Sway.
Mean Time by Steps thy boasted Force will break,
Thy Root will wither, and thy Limbs grow weak:

282

And blasted by th' Oppressor's Breath, thy Head
Will its rich Fruit, and blooming Honours shed.

Some greater Minds, who did the Yoke disdain,
At once impatient of the Shame and Pain,
Made vig'rous Efforts to prevent their Fate,
The Throws and Strugglings of a dying State.

'Tis true the Genius, and heroick Fire,
The generous Thoughts which Freedom did inspire,
Some Years retain'd their Force, nor greatly fail'd,
While those, who born while Liberty prevail'd,
Applauded Worthies, trod the Roman Stage,
Supported and adorn'd th' Augustan Age.

But let us, Rome! thy modern State survey;
Where are the Chiefs, who held superior Sway
O'er Subject Kings, and made the World obey?
Is this soft Tribe dissolv'd in shameful Ease,
Is this thy genuine Martial Race? Can these

283

To the great Line of Romulus pretend?
From Pompey's Blood, or Cæsar, thine descend?
Be wise, O Rome, thy Monuments erase,
The Boast of ancient Times, but thy Disgrace:
Nor let those proud triumphal Honours stand
T' upbraid with Fame extinct, and tell of lost Command.

Produce thy Maros, who in lofty Lays
Could praise thy Chiefs, if thou had'st Chiefs to praise:
Art thou of tuneful Genius quite bereft?
Is there no Horace, not a Lucan left?
Scarce could one Tasso stretch his feebler Wing
In Epick Verse inferiour Acts to sing:
For Bards and Heroes both at once expire,
Great Deeds alone can feed Poetick Fire.

Now can'st thou only on the Mimick-Stage
Revive the Glory of some Martial Age;
Act ancient Heroes to th' Effeminate Ring,
Paint their fam'd Battles, and their Triumphs sing.

284

Should Tully this degenerate Rome behold,
So prais'd for Conduct once, in Arms so bold,
How would the Patriot blush with Shame, and scorn
A Stock so base, in that proud City born,
Which once the brightest Virtues did adorn?
With sharper Rage he'd this new Nation wound,
Than Anthony did sting, and Cataline confound.

Look down, great Genius, see thy Tusculum
Now made a soft melodious Eunuch's Home.
Where thou did'st form thy Philosophick Schemes,
And write divinely on immortal Themes,
Musicians play, and to the melting Lire
Sing wanton Airs, and kindle wild Desire,
Unbind the Soul, and false Delights inspire.
Look where the Palace of great Cæsar stood,
Sloth reigns supine amidst a yawning Brood
Of superstitious Monks; and on the Place
The Scipios with their Residence did grace,

285

A rich Procurer Virgins Honour sells;
Where Cato liv'd severe, a loose Comedian dwells.

Such Power have Vice and Discord to debase
Th' exalted Genius of a matchless Race
And sink a mighty State, tho' long rever'd,
With Wisdom fram'd, and by slow Labour reer'd.