University of Virginia Library

The feather'd Herald of loud Fame I sing;
Love's sweetest Friend and Satyr's sharpest sting.
The fierce Denouncer of devouring Arms,
The soft Proposer of mild Peace's charms:
That o're the Troops of Proudest Monarchs sways,
That rules the Sword, which Heaven and Earth obeys:
That charm'd the Barbarous World, and brought the Rude
And Savage Troops from lonely Solitude:
That made them down in Peace together lie,
And molded them into Civility:
Their yeilding Hearts with secret Joy did move,
With tyes of Friendship and of mutual Love:
First shew'd the Service, we to Heaven did owe,
The Rev'rence we should unto Justice show,
And Rules of Converse, and what e're we know.
Earth's Distant parts the Nimble Pen doth bind,
And to remotest Nations bears the Mind.
Thou wondrous Gift of Heaven! that can'st dispence
Immortall favours and eternall Sence.
Thou to dark Ages dost full Luster give;
By Thee Great Homer and Great Maro live!
Those, we ne're saw, yet by thy Help we know;
And Friendship can at greatest distance show.
Thou needfull Rules for Government dost give.
And from Oppression dost the Weak relieve.
The Reins of all things in thy power do lie,
And He rules All, who well can govern Thee.
The peacefull Mind thou canst to War excite,
And sink the Warriour down into delight,
Great Revolutions on thy power depend,
And Fates of Kings thy Motion do attend.

What secret spell doth in thy Letters ly?
What Magick Powers do from thy figures fly?
What wonders do the Savages relate
Of thine all-wise, all-wonderfull Estate?
That Characters, which from our Pens do stray,
To distant Climates should our thoughts convey.
Well might the Indian think the Letter spoke,
When by its help He in his theft was took.