The praise of peace A poem. In Three cantos. From the Dutch of M. Van Haren, one of the Deputies of the Province of West-Friesland in the Assembly of their High Mightinesses the States General [by Samuel Boyse] |
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| 1. |
| II. | CANTO II. |
| III. |
 | The praise of peace |  |
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CANTO II.
“Hei mihi! qualis erat? quantum mutatus ab illo
“Hectore? quiredit exuvias indutus Achilleï,
“Vel Danaum Phrygios jaculatus puppibus ignes!
Virg. Æn. II.
“Hectore? quiredit exuvias indutus Achilleï,
“Vel Danaum Phrygios jaculatus puppibus ignes!
Virg. Æn. II.
Who rashly slights the Torch's friendly Ray,
And chuses in the darksome Night to stray!
Is neither more or less, by Wisdom's Rule,
Than half a Madman, or almost a Fool.
Instructed Belgian shun the blindfold State,
Bid Reason guide thee thro' the Rocks of Fate!
Fair Lamp of Heav'n, let her directing Light,
Thy Steps illumine, and conduct thee right!
Then see if Peace displays her heav'nly Beam,
Or if no vain Usurper boasts her Name!
Let no false Colours your Enquiry blind,
Be Truth your Guide! Peace, real Peace, to find.
As the chaste Virgin, who with down-cast Eyes,
At Love's first mention reddens with Surprize;
Differs from the experienc'd frontless Dame,
Whose Eyes confess a Messalina's Flame;
So learn from Peace, Security to know,
And guard your Safety from the wanton Foe!
And chuses in the darksome Night to stray!
Is neither more or less, by Wisdom's Rule,
Than half a Madman, or almost a Fool.
Instructed Belgian shun the blindfold State,
Bid Reason guide thee thro' the Rocks of Fate!
Fair Lamp of Heav'n, let her directing Light,
Thy Steps illumine, and conduct thee right!
Then see if Peace displays her heav'nly Beam,
Or if no vain Usurper boasts her Name!
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Be Truth your Guide! Peace, real Peace, to find.
As the chaste Virgin, who with down-cast Eyes,
At Love's first mention reddens with Surprize;
Differs from the experienc'd frontless Dame,
Whose Eyes confess a Messalina's Flame;
So learn from Peace, Security to know,
And guard your Safety from the wanton Foe!
Rome scarce o'er ruin'd Carthage rais'd her Head,
When with her Manners first her Fame decay'd;
No longer blameless Poverty her Boast,
Her Faith grew dubious, and her Honour lost!
Then first her rising Glory felt a Shade,
Her Valour cool'd:—No Rivals to invade.
Self-Interest grew, increasing Vice prevail'd;
Prosperity her heavy Eye-lids seal'd;
And she who rose in Arms and Virtue great,
Sunk the vast Prey of Luxury and Fate.
When with her Manners first her Fame decay'd;
No longer blameless Poverty her Boast,
Her Faith grew dubious, and her Honour lost!
Then first her rising Glory felt a Shade,
Her Valour cool'd:—No Rivals to invade.
Self-Interest grew, increasing Vice prevail'd;
Prosperity her heavy Eye-lids seal'd;
And she who rose in Arms and Virtue great,
Sunk the vast Prey of Luxury and Fate.
'Twas then Security,—a deadly Guest,
First stood beneath her Capitol confess'd:
“Romans (she cry'd) enough of War is pass'd,
“Let Peace your happy Altars bless at last;
“Commerce and rich Abundance both are mine,
“I give the Earth to smile, the Sun to shine!
“Safe in my guardian Care yourselves repose,
“Rome is too great to dread the Name of Foes;
“Her's be the Sweets of Riches and of Ease!
“Queen of the Earth, and Empress of the Seas!
First stood beneath her Capitol confess'd:
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“Let Peace your happy Altars bless at last;
“Commerce and rich Abundance both are mine,
“I give the Earth to smile, the Sun to shine!
“Safe in my guardian Care yourselves repose,
“Rome is too great to dread the Name of Foes;
“Her's be the Sweets of Riches and of Ease!
“Queen of the Earth, and Empress of the Seas!
Had Asia's Sons such Sophistry believed,
No Wonder if th'Impostress had deceiv'd!
But when such Sounds deluded Rome could hear,
Rome! that deriv'd her Majesty from War!
What Blushes, Mars, must have obscur'd thy Face?
To see the Shame of thy degenerate Race!
No Wonder if th'Impostress had deceiv'd!
But when such Sounds deluded Rome could hear,
Rome! that deriv'd her Majesty from War!
What Blushes, Mars, must have obscur'd thy Face?
To see the Shame of thy degenerate Race!
Yet see, how sooth'd by these inchanting Arts,
The curs'd Contagion spreads thro' Roman Hearts!
A feeble Frontier show'd her waning Pow'r,
Arms were forgot, and Glory was no more!
Her Tribunes in the Senate chose to jar,
Security awak'd domestic War:
No more her Consuls rose in Virtue great,
Wealth nurs'd Ambition; and Ambition State;
To rise to Honours by the purchas'd Voice,
Or make some distant Government their Choice;
Where the proud Prætor might the Nations fleece,
And glean the Spoils of Asia, and of Greece!
These were the Arts the Roman Youth were taught,
To buy, then sell the venal Herd they bought:
Those Limbs each manly Exercise disdain'd,
Now Vice enfeebled, and Dishonour stain'd;
Then foreign Eunuchs from the Memphian Shore,
Imported Rites obscene, unknown before.
And Virtue, Guardian of the Roman State,
Averse withdrew:—and left the rest to Fate!
The curs'd Contagion spreads thro' Roman Hearts!
A feeble Frontier show'd her waning Pow'r,
Arms were forgot, and Glory was no more!
Her Tribunes in the Senate chose to jar,
Security awak'd domestic War:
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Wealth nurs'd Ambition; and Ambition State;
To rise to Honours by the purchas'd Voice,
Or make some distant Government their Choice;
Where the proud Prætor might the Nations fleece,
And glean the Spoils of Asia, and of Greece!
These were the Arts the Roman Youth were taught,
To buy, then sell the venal Herd they bought:
Those Limbs each manly Exercise disdain'd,
Now Vice enfeebled, and Dishonour stain'd;
Then foreign Eunuchs from the Memphian Shore,
Imported Rites obscene, unknown before.
And Virtue, Guardian of the Roman State,
Averse withdrew:—and left the rest to Fate!
The Veteran, then in Arms untaught to yield,
If pensive as he cross'd the Martian Field;
From the lewd Sons of Wantonness and Ease,
Was forc'd to hear satyric Taunts like these.
“Go, useless Warrior! hide that batter'd Face,
“Thy Looks the Roman Elegance disgrace!
“Peace, and her softer Arts our Manners suit,
“What is the Soldier but a fighting Brute?
“War is no more!—we know no hostile Land!
“The beardless Boy our Legions may command;
“With harmless Pomp their Ensigns now may flow!
“What is an Army paid for, but for Show?
“Go bear thy Murmurs to the Thracian Shore,
“Where Discord reigns, and Waves eternal roar;
“There to the savage Natives point thy Scars!
“And teach Barbarians all thy boasted Wars;
“Recount thy Deeds, relate the tedious Fight;
“We want not to be valiant,—but polite!
“Or hast thou got a Hoard of Punic Gold?
“Go buy a Post,—for Posts are to be sold!
“Else—glad obey the Stripling you despise,
“This is no Age, my Friend, for you to rise!
If pensive as he cross'd the Martian Field;
From the lewd Sons of Wantonness and Ease,
Was forc'd to hear satyric Taunts like these.
“Go, useless Warrior! hide that batter'd Face,
“Thy Looks the Roman Elegance disgrace!
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“What is the Soldier but a fighting Brute?
“War is no more!—we know no hostile Land!
“The beardless Boy our Legions may command;
“With harmless Pomp their Ensigns now may flow!
“What is an Army paid for, but for Show?
“Go bear thy Murmurs to the Thracian Shore,
“Where Discord reigns, and Waves eternal roar;
“There to the savage Natives point thy Scars!
“And teach Barbarians all thy boasted Wars;
“Recount thy Deeds, relate the tedious Fight;
“We want not to be valiant,—but polite!
“Or hast thou got a Hoard of Punic Gold?
“Go buy a Post,—for Posts are to be sold!
“Else—glad obey the Stripling you despise,
“This is no Age, my Friend, for you to rise!
The Roman now, who once with scorn could view,
The Pomp of Kings, himself as sumptuous grew!
Then first prevail'd Magnificence and Dress,
And Luxury was heighten'd to Excess.
To please her Taste, and spread her costly Board,
Each Clime was plunder'd, and each Sea explor'd;
As when at Athens the Cottyttian Rite
In lawless Pleasure wak'd the tiresome Night,
While ruddy Bacchus shew'd his glowing Face,
And Venus wanton'd in the lewd Embrace.
So Vice at Rome triumphant rear'd her Head,
And every Shape of boundless Licence spread.
Had Curius from th'Elysian Fields return'd,
How had his Breast with Indignation burn'd?
To see a powder'd, dancing, motley Race,
Effeminacy mark'd in every Face!
Methinks I hear him, with a conscious Frown,
Ask, “Where is Rome's primæval Virtue gone?
Alas! their Ears are Strangers to its Name,
Their Silence speaks their Ignorance and Shame.
The Pomp of Kings, himself as sumptuous grew!
Then first prevail'd Magnificence and Dress,
And Luxury was heighten'd to Excess.
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Each Clime was plunder'd, and each Sea explor'd;
As when at Athens the Cottyttian Rite
In lawless Pleasure wak'd the tiresome Night,
While ruddy Bacchus shew'd his glowing Face,
And Venus wanton'd in the lewd Embrace.
So Vice at Rome triumphant rear'd her Head,
And every Shape of boundless Licence spread.
Had Curius from th'Elysian Fields return'd,
How had his Breast with Indignation burn'd?
To see a powder'd, dancing, motley Race,
Effeminacy mark'd in every Face!
Methinks I hear him, with a conscious Frown,
Ask, “Where is Rome's primæval Virtue gone?
Alas! their Ears are Strangers to its Name,
Their Silence speaks their Ignorance and Shame.
In early Days that bless'd the Roman State,
'Twas virtuous Poverty confirm'd her great:
But now Security has wrought her Bane,
And Wealth and Pride have darken'd all the Scene;
As sordid Interest sways your Passions move,
And Av'rice has expell'd the publick Love!
No Nation now can on your Faith rely,
When all is sold—your Idol-Gold can buy!
'Twas virtuous Poverty confirm'd her great:
But now Security has wrought her Bane,
And Wealth and Pride have darken'd all the Scene;
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And Av'rice has expell'd the publick Love!
No Nation now can on your Faith rely,
When all is sold—your Idol-Gold can buy!
If Truth a Quintus
or a Decius praise,
You cry'—such Patterns suit not modern Days!
“Those simple Manners Sabines might become,
“But ill befit the Majesty of Rome!
“A mere Chimera is the Patriot's Name,
“Ambition be our Guide! and Wealth our Aim!
“Riches each happy Quality include,
“Wit, Courage, Learning, Honesty, and Blood
“And he whom Lands or Pow'r distinguish great,
“Has all the Virtues useful to the State.
You cry'—such Patterns suit not modern Days!
“Those simple Manners Sabines might become,
“But ill befit the Majesty of Rome!
“A mere Chimera is the Patriot's Name,
“Ambition be our Guide! and Wealth our Aim!
“Riches each happy Quality include,
“Wit, Courage, Learning, Honesty, and Blood
“And he whom Lands or Pow'r distinguish great,
“Has all the Virtues useful to the State.
Thus publick Good by private Int'rest sway'd,
Neglected pin'd,—and dwindled to a Shade;
Corruption as it gain'd the venal Post,
Strove of its Bargain still to make the most;
Av'rice the wealthy Province chose her Prey,
Exaction, Rapine, liv'd beneath her Sway:
And the lax Sinews of a feeble State,
Were Marks of Rome's inevitable Fate.
Neglected pin'd,—and dwindled to a Shade;
Corruption as it gain'd the venal Post,
Strove of its Bargain still to make the most;
Av'rice the wealthy Province chose her Prey,
Exaction, Rapine, liv'd beneath her Sway:
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Were Marks of Rome's inevitable Fate.
Oh dire Effects of long lethargic Ease!
Did ever Peace produce such Ills as these?
Not War itself worse Dangers could create,
Not greater Mischiefs spring from a Defeat!
If Peace indeed attend such dreadful Harms,
Quick let the glorious Trumpet rouse to Arms!
Uncertain tho' the dubious Chance of Fight,
It throws the Dye, and Fate may turn it right!
Better at least in Arms the Life to lose,
Than dream it thus away in dull Repose!
While Senates sleep regardless of your Fame,
And Magistrates make Interest all their Aim:
Tribunes to rust in Indolence are paid,
And ev'n your Priests make Piety a Trade;
While Crimes unpunish'd are with Pride declar'd,
And Merit starves, unnotic'd by Reward;
While Impudence her brazen Front displays,
Sure the corrupt Majority to please!
Or if one Cato
rise to stem the Tide,
And combat single on the juster Side,
Envy pursues him with her secret Arts,
And whispers Jealousy to wing her Darts!
“Believe him not (the vile Detractress cries)
“His selfish Heart the Patriot Tongue belies!
“He only makes the publick Good his Theme,
“To catch the Vulgar, and to gain a Name!
“But when Preferment shall the Mask remove,
“You see how high he rates his Country's Love;
So snarls the Fiend,—till Truth victorious shine,
And gilds Integrity with Beams divine!
Pale Envy then recedes,—compell'd to yield,
And leaves fair Virtue Sov'reign of the Field!
Did ever Peace produce such Ills as these?
Not War itself worse Dangers could create,
Not greater Mischiefs spring from a Defeat!
If Peace indeed attend such dreadful Harms,
Quick let the glorious Trumpet rouse to Arms!
Uncertain tho' the dubious Chance of Fight,
It throws the Dye, and Fate may turn it right!
Better at least in Arms the Life to lose,
Than dream it thus away in dull Repose!
While Senates sleep regardless of your Fame,
And Magistrates make Interest all their Aim:
Tribunes to rust in Indolence are paid,
And ev'n your Priests make Piety a Trade;
While Crimes unpunish'd are with Pride declar'd,
And Merit starves, unnotic'd by Reward;
While Impudence her brazen Front displays,
Sure the corrupt Majority to please!
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And combat single on the juster Side,
Envy pursues him with her secret Arts,
And whispers Jealousy to wing her Darts!
“Believe him not (the vile Detractress cries)
“His selfish Heart the Patriot Tongue belies!
“He only makes the publick Good his Theme,
“To catch the Vulgar, and to gain a Name!
“But when Preferment shall the Mask remove,
“You see how high he rates his Country's Love;
So snarls the Fiend,—till Truth victorious shine,
And gilds Integrity with Beams divine!
Pale Envy then recedes,—compell'd to yield,
And leaves fair Virtue Sov'reign of the Field!
O Rome! who in thy Glory's cloudless Morn,
Couldst view the Tyrants of the Earth with Scorn!
When Kings beheld thy Senators with Awe,
And thy least Mandate gave the Nations Law!
Dejected now from Virtue's radiant Height,
Crush'd by thy own corrupted monstrous Weight,
See, like a dying Lamp, thy Freedom glow;
And wait Ambition's meditated Blow!
Far sooner would I tread Catanea's Shores,
Where Ætna all her fierce Explosions pours;
Than longer chuse, degenerate Rome, to rest,
A hopeless Native, in thy fatal Breast!
Couldst view the Tyrants of the Earth with Scorn!
When Kings beheld thy Senators with Awe,
And thy least Mandate gave the Nations Law!
Dejected now from Virtue's radiant Height,
Crush'd by thy own corrupted monstrous Weight,
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And wait Ambition's meditated Blow!
Far sooner would I tread Catanea's Shores,
Where Ætna all her fierce Explosions pours;
Than longer chuse, degenerate Rome, to rest,
A hopeless Native, in thy fatal Breast!
When Virtue once her sacred Sense withdraws,
Weak is the Rev'rence paid to slighted Laws!
Where Pow'r but courts the first advent'rous Hand,
Soon Liberty forsakes the dangerous Land;
So once the headstrong Courser breaks the Rein,
No Skill his boundless Fury can restrain;
O'er Earth he flies, impetuous as the Wind,
And leaves the Car in Fragments far behind!
Weak is the Rev'rence paid to slighted Laws!
Where Pow'r but courts the first advent'rous Hand,
Soon Liberty forsakes the dangerous Land;
So once the headstrong Courser breaks the Rein,
No Skill his boundless Fury can restrain;
O'er Earth he flies, impetuous as the Wind,
And leaves the Car in Fragments far behind!
If fell Diseases close besiege the Heart,
Self-preservation calls the Aids of Art;
So when bad Symptoms threat the publick Peace,
'Tis Time to bid all private Quarrels cease;
With Caution to consult the Common-weal,
And seek each great Restorative to heal;
Lest Civil-War, with Rage pleuretic rise,
And spread its Conflagration to the Skies!
Or wild Invasion like a Deluge sweep,
And bury all in its devouring Deep!
Self-preservation calls the Aids of Art;
So when bad Symptoms threat the publick Peace,
'Tis Time to bid all private Quarrels cease;
With Caution to consult the Common-weal,
And seek each great Restorative to heal;
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And spread its Conflagration to the Skies!
Or wild Invasion like a Deluge sweep,
And bury all in its devouring Deep!
Happy had Rome those useful Maxims known,
While yet her Strength and Vigour were her own;
But lull'd in false Security she lay,
And dos'd fair Freedom's last Remains away,
Till, not one Spark of Virtue left to save,
She sunk in Death,—Corruption dug her Grave!
While yet her Strength and Vigour were her own;
But lull'd in false Security she lay,
And dos'd fair Freedom's last Remains away,
Till, not one Spark of Virtue left to save,
She sunk in Death,—Corruption dug her Grave!
Then Clouds of Civil Discord thick arose,
Plagues follow'd Plagues, and Woes succeeded Woes!
Romans on Romans turn'd th'avenging Sword,
And millions fell, that one might be the Lord!
Till Cæsar, Victor on Pharsalia's Plain,
Beheld the World subjected to his Chain;
And Rome enslav'd, discover'd to her Cost,
That Peace was fled, when Liberty was lost!
Plagues follow'd Plagues, and Woes succeeded Woes!
Romans on Romans turn'd th'avenging Sword,
And millions fell, that one might be the Lord!
Till Cæsar, Victor on Pharsalia's Plain,
Beheld the World subjected to his Chain;
And Rome enslav'd, discover'd to her Cost,
That Peace was fled, when Liberty was lost!
The End of the second Canto.
| The praise of peace | |