Poems on Several Occasions :: :: University of Virginia Library

In Time's wide-wasting Walk with backward Thread,
Through Fancy's Retrospect I journey'd far,
Where human Glory in her Piles lay spread,
The Arch triumphal and the trophy'd Car.

Deep in th'Abyss of that mysterious Gloom
Where Embryon Years and dire Contingents grow,
Like Twins matur'd in Time's all-teeming Womb,
Whence Pride's fell Progeny and Discord flow.

There laurel'd Chiefs and Heroes old I saw,
A headlong, hardy, dread, destructive Train,
Their God Ambition, and their Will their Law,
Tremendous Prodigies and Nature's Bane.

102

By Pride impell'd and Fame's fallacious Blast,
In Virtue's Garb, which Madmen Glory call,
At destin'd Life the deathful Spear they cast,
And tore the Vitals of this wounded Ball.

O Shame of Reason and her boastful Sons;
Instinct they scorn, whose Footstep never strays;
Yet she unerring to her Purpose runs:
Her Ends are certain, tho' unmark'd her Ways.

Let human Arrogance from hence be taught
How wide from Rectitude her Passions roam;
Passions abroad for Happiness have sought:
But Happiness with Nature dwells at home.

Pensive I view'd through deep Reflection's Ken
Excentric Reason and the Rounds of Time,
With all the mazy Labyrinths of Men,
Opinion's Frenzy, and Ambition's Crime.

With Eyes averted from th'unsocial Scene,
The Muses led me to a sacred Shade,
Where laurel'd Grottos bloom'd for ever green,
And peaceful Olives in the Zephyrs play'd.

Secure, inwrap'd beneath th'embracing Wing
Of solemn Science and serene Repose,
Celestial Transports in my Fancy spring,
And glorious Visions to my Soul disclose.

103

Wafted, methought, where blissful Shades up-grow,
Amidst a flow'ry Vale intranc'd I lay,
Where winding Streams in limpid Mazes flow,
And crested Swans down Silver Currents stray.

There high-hung Rocks by Crimson Fragrance crown'd,
With gentle Force reflect the Noon-tide Beams,
Whilst gushing Springs from Chrystal Caverns sound,
And floating Rills diffuse their falling Streams.

To pierce the Clouds th'aspiring Cliffs uprose
From boist'rous Storms and savage Man secure,
Beneath all Nature's Wealth uninjur'd grows,
Her Bounty blesses, and her Charms endure.

One downward Walk slow winding from on high,
By Virtue's Hand and willing Nature made,
Invites the curious Mind and searching Eye,
To seek with cautious Steps fair Wisdom's Shade.

But see the Goddess heav'nly bright appears,
Persuasion pleading in her Smile serene;
A thousand Charms her graceful Form endears,
And Peace exults and Pleasure in her Mien.

A Crown, unfading on her Brow she bore
With Virtue's Emblems, and her Gems inlaid;
The Crown, immortal, which of old she wore;
Ere yet Ambition had the World dismay'd.

104

Her favour'd Sons from 'midst the madding Crowd,
Her Sons select with gentle Hand she drew,
Secreted timely from th'austere and proud,
Their Fame wide-spreading, tho' their Numbers few.

Great Nature's Secrets in the Shade they sought,
Nor gaz'd attentive on the deep-hid Store
Of treasur'd Mischiefs in her Bosom wrought,
The dazzling Diamond and th'inticing Ore.

Guiltless as yet within its darksome Bed,
Unrifl'd in the Virgin Globe it lay;
No sordid Fancy on its Splendors fed,
Nor dragg'd the deep Infection forth to Day.

Now by a Chrystal Fountain's pure Expanse
They view the Windings of the starry Train,
That through th'etherial Concave nightly dance,
Or rise refulgent from the purple Main.

So Wisdom's Sons sequester'd from the Throng
Of Custom's Captives, and her Slaves misled,
In Freedom happy, and in Virtue strong,
From Crimes were shielded, and from conscious Dread.

Thus bloom'd the Goddess in her Reign retir'd,
To Triumphs fell and fatal Fields unknown;
Her gentle Sway no sanguine Wreath requir'd;
In Halcyon Hearts she fix'd her friendly Throne.

105

Now mighty Monarchs by her Charms are won,
Who gaze enamour'd on her Face Divine,
And Slaves and Tyrants to her Temples run,
Embrace her Altars, and adore her Shrine.

The Muse attendant in her radiant Way,
Beholds her shining like the Morning Star,
Herself unfolding in a Flood of Day,
Diffusing Science and her Light from far.

From Egypt beaming, and the splendid East,
To Greece she travell'd on the Wings of Fame;
Their op'ning Gates receive the glorious Guest,
And lofty Pyramids her Praise proclaim.

Behold, on high th'immortal Bard appears,
In every Region like the Sun survey'd,
Whose Fame shall vanquish Time's remotest Years,
When Brass and Marble are to Dust decay'd.

What Laurel Wreaths at letter'd Athens grew,
What Science there dispens'd her sacred Store;
Desire was dazzl'd at the splendid View;
Ambition pall'd, and Pride could ask no more.

Who on his Country's Bosom gently trod?
Who fetter'd Freedom in his silken Bands?
Imperial Cæsar,—Rome's Desire and Rod,
With Tyrant Trophies in his Patriot Hands.

106

The World's dread Lord, Augustus, great in Fame
With open Arms embrac'd the Muses Lore;
The grateful Muse adorns th'immortal Name,
And gilds the Stains his Conquests left before.

Through far-stretch'd Years by Rage and Rapine spread
The guilty Streams with human Slaughter swell,
The Muse from Discord hides her harmless Head,
And seeks the lonely Shade and pensive Cell.

In dismal Damps long Ages there she lay,
'Mid Glooms envellop'd and congenial Night,
Till Leo's lucid Beams brought back the Day,
And call'd forth Learning to her native Light.

With her each Virtue to the World return'd,
And Truth once more unveil'd her heav'nly Face;
Usurping Error from her Throne was spurn'd,
And awful Justice fill'd her ancient Place.

In Britain's Isle, by Heav'n's directing Voice,
Her best lov'd Dwelling, and her Home she made;
Britain of old was Virtue's early Choice;
For Freedom nurs'd her in the friendly Shade.

Now op'ning wide an ambient Cloud retir'd,
When, lo! a Form in Female Pomp appears,
An awful Form with regal Robes attir'd;
Her Mien majestic, and mature her Years.

107

Her Head a Crown, a Scepter grac'd her Hand,
And public Care sat comely on her Face;
She look'd Dominion and austere Command,
With Mercy temper'd, and with manly Grace.

Her Throne of azure Gems and Pearl was made,
With Indian Gold and dazzling Diamonds grac'd;
Old Ocean's Trident at her Feet was laid;
Her Feet on vanquish'd Spain were firmly plac'd.

Before her Throne Britannia's Genius bows,
Obsequious waiting at her pow'rful Hand,
Whilst kneeling Millions offer ardent Vows,
The fervent Incense of a grateful Land.

On yonder distant Shore behold a Pile,
A solemn Pile from sacred Ruins rise.
Eliza's Glory gilds the joyful Isle,
She bids the stately Structure pierce the Skies.

The noble Mass in solemn Form ascends,
The Muses Mansions charm my ravish'd Sight;
Ierne's Angel like the Noon descends,
And fills the lofty Dome with sacred Light.

I see! I see! the mystic Leaves unfold,
And Time's vast Volume to my Eyes expand;
Rejoic'd, I read th'illustrious Names enroll'd,
The Boast of Science and their native Land.

108

Great Ussher's Fame his early Fame outspread,
Has reach'd the Limits of the rising Morn;
He drinks with Wisdom at her Fountain's Head,
Whilst orient Wreaths his awful Brows adorn.

In far-stretch'd Views with fainter Rays I see
Through Years remote and distant Clouds descry'd
The Patriot-Genius, doom'd by Heav'n to be
The Muse's Glory, and his Country's Guide:

Immortal Swift, with Wit's true Radiance crown'd;
Near him bright Congreve and Roscommon shine;
There Parnel treads through Life's mysterious Round,
His Hermit leading in his Hand Divine.

With these a Train of laurel'd Sages spring,
Deserving Honours and unspotted Fame,
Surrounding Angels wait on miter'd King,
And sacred Wisdom bows to Berkeley's Name.

Wide, and more wide, my raptur'd Mind surveys
Auspicious Prospects dawning from afar,
The Joy and Triumph of succeeding Days,
Britannia's rising Hope, and Virtue's Star.

A promis'd Prince rejoicing Time shall bring,
Assisting Heav'n shall haste th'important Hour;
On his just Brow no lawless Wreath shall spring,
Nor guilty Glory stain his temper'd Pow'r:

109

Religion's Charms shall all his Soul possess,
Her Charms unchanging, and celestial Hue,
His great Ambition shall be still to bless,
And Honour's Prize in Virtue's Path pursue.

Triumphant Justice on his Throne shall wait,
His Throne on Truth's eternal Base shall stand;
Meekness on high shall lift his glorious State,
And God-like Mercy guide his scepter'd Hand.

On him the Seasons shall their Bounty shed,
And smiling Plenty pour her teeming Horn;
His Fame with Time's descending Stream shall spread
To distant Years and Ages yet unborn.

See Learning's Sons the laurel'd Trophy bring,
See Arts exult in his prolific Beam,
Each raptur'd Muse the genial Power shall sing,
And Wisdom's Voice adorn th'immortal Theme.

Virtue once more her drooping Head shall raise,
And smile secure within th'Embrace of Pow'r:
Merit reviv'd shall meet with more than Praise,
And Genius then to glorious Heights shall tow'r.

Thou too, Hibernia, hail th'approaching Year,
Prepare thy Voice, attune thy ancient Lyre;
Triumphant Notes thy echoing Vales shall chear,
Augustus' Fame shall fill thy grateful Choir.

110

Sacred to thee, indulgent Heav'n bestows
The Pledge prophetic of thy promis'd Day,
For thee on high th'imperial Portrait glows,
Which Genius warms, and Godlike Arts array.

From Fancy's Eye, lo! Time's historic Hand
With gentle Force the mystic Veil updrew,
Behold serene the gracious Semblance stand
In awful Radiance to my raptur'd View.

Homer.

Queen Elizabeth founded the University of Dublin.