The Monument Or, The Muse's Motion: To the Right Honourable Sir Robert Walpole, Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter, Upon Occasion of the Death of Sir Richard Steele [by Joseph Mitchell] |
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 | The Monument |  |
THE MONUMENT:
OR, THE MUSE's MOTION
To the Right Honourable
Sir ROBERT WALPOLE,
Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter,
Upon Occasion of the Death of
Sir RICHARD STEELE, Knt.
Multis Ille flebilis occidit:
Nulli flebilior quam Tibi,—
Hor.
Nulli flebilior quam Tibi,—
Hor.
1
Crown'd with the Wreath of universal Praise,
In Peace and Honour, and with Length of Days,
The Bard, the Patriot, Soldier, and the Sage,
The Friend of Men, and Glory of our Age,
The peerless Steele his Spirit hath resign'd,
And left in Tears a wretched World behind.
Yes, He too, subject to imperial Fate,
Is fal'n! Alas! how transient mortal State!
But are the Muses all, at once, struck dumb?
Yet unadorn'd remains the silent Tomb?
Is Pope confounded with uncommon Woe?
No more does Young's high Inspiration flow?
Quite is the laurel'd Eusden's Lyre unstrung?
And Tickell's Harp on rueful Willows hung?
Ungenerous Tribe!—But let the Sons of Verse,
Whose studied Elegiacs would prove Farce,
Continue silent, as the gloomy Grave—
Walpole, who lives but to support and save,
Alone, will better do the Hero Right,
And fix his Friend in everlasting Light.
In Peace and Honour, and with Length of Days,
The Bard, the Patriot, Soldier, and the Sage,
The Friend of Men, and Glory of our Age,
The peerless Steele his Spirit hath resign'd,
And left in Tears a wretched World behind.
Yes, He too, subject to imperial Fate,
Is fal'n! Alas! how transient mortal State!
But are the Muses all, at once, struck dumb?
Yet unadorn'd remains the silent Tomb?
2
No more does Young's high Inspiration flow?
Quite is the laurel'd Eusden's Lyre unstrung?
And Tickell's Harp on rueful Willows hung?
Ungenerous Tribe!—But let the Sons of Verse,
Whose studied Elegiacs would prove Farce,
Continue silent, as the gloomy Grave—
Walpole, who lives but to support and save,
Alone, will better do the Hero Right,
And fix his Friend in everlasting Light.
A Monument, becoming thy great Mind,
Wou'd pay, at once, the Vows of All Mankind.
And, while It kept alive his Worth and Fame,
Who wou'd not bless the kind Preserver's Name?
Honours to Steele wou'd thy own Glory raise,
And grave on every grateful Heart thy Praise:
Faction and Malice Then wou'd turn thy Friends—
Such Rev'rence on such Godlike Deeds attends!
Wou'd pay, at once, the Vows of All Mankind.
And, while It kept alive his Worth and Fame,
Who wou'd not bless the kind Preserver's Name?
Honours to Steele wou'd thy own Glory raise,
And grave on every grateful Heart thy Praise:
Faction and Malice Then wou'd turn thy Friends—
Such Rev'rence on such Godlike Deeds attends!
And sure, O Steele, (if Souls from Flesh set free
Their Friends' last, pious, Offices can see)
Thou'dst look on This illustrious Instance, pleas'd;
And boast, among the Shades, that It was rais'd,
(In Honour of thy Merit, Mind, and Pen)
By th' ablest Judge and truest Friend of Men.
Well, to the dead, may Walpole stretch his Care,
Whose great Protection all the living share.
Their Friends' last, pious, Offices can see)
Thou'dst look on This illustrious Instance, pleas'd;
And boast, among the Shades, that It was rais'd,
3
By th' ablest Judge and truest Friend of Men.
Well, to the dead, may Walpole stretch his Care,
Whose great Protection all the living share.
But had'st thou liv'd in letter'd Greece of old,
Thy Statue had been form'd of massy Gold,
Thy Self among thy Country's Gods enroll'd!
Nor wou'd the Genius of the ancient Rome
Been satisfy'd to lodge Thee in a Tomb,
But, with the Honours due to Patriot Flame,
The Publick had immortaliz'd thy Name.
Thy Statue had been form'd of massy Gold,
Thy Self among thy Country's Gods enroll'd!
Nor wou'd the Genius of the ancient Rome
Been satisfy'd to lodge Thee in a Tomb,
But, with the Honours due to Patriot Flame,
The Publick had immortaliz'd thy Name.
Be hush, my Muse, and Providence revere—
Steele was reserv'd to act the Hero Here,
In doubtful Days for Liberty to stand,
Maintain the British Rights, and Save the Land.
Like Hercules, to rid our Earth He rose
Of publick Monsters and domestic Foes,
By Reason's Force to vindicate the Law,
And make the Sons of Slavery stand in Awe;
Nor breath'd a Vice or Folly in the Crowd,
By his facetious Satyr unsubdu'd.
When, when again, Britannia, wilt thou boast
A Son more Godlike than our Guardian lost?
When shall we see so many Virtues met?
Such glorious Gems in one small Circle set?
Steele was reserv'd to act the Hero Here,
In doubtful Days for Liberty to stand,
Maintain the British Rights, and Save the Land.
Like Hercules, to rid our Earth He rose
Of publick Monsters and domestic Foes,
By Reason's Force to vindicate the Law,
And make the Sons of Slavery stand in Awe;
Nor breath'd a Vice or Folly in the Crowd,
By his facetious Satyr unsubdu'd.
4
A Son more Godlike than our Guardian lost?
When shall we see so many Virtues met?
Such glorious Gems in one small Circle set?
Shou'd (Heav'n avert it!) Walpole leave us too,
And his lov'd Steele to Realms of Light pursue,
How soon, Britannia, wou'd thy Beauty fade?
What equal Hand wou'd hasten to thy Aid?
Long, very long, Ye Pow'rs, suspend his Fate;
On Him depends the Safety of the State.
While He, our Atlas, its vast Burden bears,
What need to fear the Falling of the Spheres?
And his lov'd Steele to Realms of Light pursue,
How soon, Britannia, wou'd thy Beauty fade?
What equal Hand wou'd hasten to thy Aid?
Long, very long, Ye Pow'rs, suspend his Fate;
On Him depends the Safety of the State.
While He, our Atlas, its vast Burden bears,
What need to fear the Falling of the Spheres?
Life of thy Country, be it still thy Care;
Long let the Realm thy happy Influence share,
Ev'n in their own Despite make Mortals blest,
Live to conclude thy Schemes, of Schemes the Best!
Then, crown'd with Honour, late retire to Rest.
But, O! amid the Business of the State,
Still may the Muses own Thee good as great;
Ev'n to their Dust thy guardian Zeal extend,
And let Steele's Shade confess Thee still his Friend.
Long let the Realm thy happy Influence share,
Ev'n in their own Despite make Mortals blest,
Live to conclude thy Schemes, of Schemes the Best!
Then, crown'd with Honour, late retire to Rest.
But, O! amid the Business of the State,
Still may the Muses own Thee good as great;
Ev'n to their Dust thy guardian Zeal extend,
And let Steele's Shade confess Thee still his Friend.
5
Methinks, Already given is thy Command,
And artful Gibbs applys the skilfull Hand!
What mimick Features does the Marble show?
With Life and Beauty how the Figures glow?
Breathes not that Image? seems it not to speak?
Does not this Busto give the Tatler back?
By Walpole's Bounty, Bickerstaff revives,
Refines our Language, and reforms our Lives!
Ages, unborn, the Blessing shall enjoy;
Nor, till the Volumes of the spacious Sky
Blaze in one Flame, shall one or t'other die!
And artful Gibbs applys the skilfull Hand!
What mimick Features does the Marble show?
With Life and Beauty how the Figures glow?
Breathes not that Image? seems it not to speak?
Does not this Busto give the Tatler back?
By Walpole's Bounty, Bickerstaff revives,
Refines our Language, and reforms our Lives!
Ages, unborn, the Blessing shall enjoy;
Nor, till the Volumes of the spacious Sky
Blaze in one Flame, shall one or t'other die!
Thrice happy Poets by such Patrons grac'd,
And, after Death, in such Distinction plac'd!
Cou'd I but hope such Honours to obtain,
How eager I'd attempt a nobler Strain,
Make an Eternity of Fame my Strife,
And Spurn, at once, corroding Cares and Life.
But vain th' Ambition!—Then be This my Boast,
(So shall my Name be not entirely lost!)
“Mitchell to Walpole first this Motion made,
“And first to Steele Poetic Honours paid.
And, after Death, in such Distinction plac'd!
Cou'd I but hope such Honours to obtain,
How eager I'd attempt a nobler Strain,
Make an Eternity of Fame my Strife,
And Spurn, at once, corroding Cares and Life.
But vain th' Ambition!—Then be This my Boast,
(So shall my Name be not entirely lost!)
“Mitchell to Walpole first this Motion made,
“And first to Steele Poetic Honours paid.
FINIS.
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