The Works of the Late Aaron Hill ... In Four Volumes. Consisting of Letters on Various Subjects, And of Original Poems, Moral and Facetious. With An Essay on the Art of Acting |
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The Northern Star.
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 | The Works of the Late Aaron Hill |  |
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The Northern Star.
Born in an age, when virtue veils her face,
And bold corruption turns the blush on grace;
Where reptile genius winds, at pow'rs controul,
And fortune's whelmy tides engulph the soul:
Where sense, by flatt'ry; shame, by want, is weigh'd,
And servile poets make their art a trade,
Rise, gen'rous muse! out-soar the venal view;
For, praise is insult, where 'tis giv'n undue.
Tho' pension'd fame can fawn, 'till fools are taught
To boast th'imputed wit, their brib'ry bought;
Yet, man, to man's respect, is rais'd, not born,
And dullness, dignify'd, but doubles scorn.
Ah! narrow hearts! that know not wisdom's weight,
But, impudently, call the proud, the great.
And bold corruption turns the blush on grace;
Where reptile genius winds, at pow'rs controul,
And fortune's whelmy tides engulph the soul:
Where sense, by flatt'ry; shame, by want, is weigh'd,
And servile poets make their art a trade,
Rise, gen'rous muse! out-soar the venal view;
For, praise is insult, where 'tis giv'n undue.
Tho' pension'd fame can fawn, 'till fools are taught
To boast th'imputed wit, their brib'ry bought;
Yet, man, to man's respect, is rais'd, not born,
And dullness, dignify'd, but doubles scorn.
Ah! narrow hearts! that know not wisdom's weight,
But, impudently, call the proud, the great.
Spread the broad wings of truth, impartial muse!
Dare a new theme—nor, now, let fancy chuse.
Serious, and sad, the faults of custom mend,
To friendless genius fame's due succour lend.—
If, in some dusky corner, thou shalt find
A ragged fortune hide a noble mind,
Disperse the cloud; and be the labour thine,
To teach the shame-fac'd virtue, how to shine.
Dare a new theme—nor, now, let fancy chuse.
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To friendless genius fame's due succour lend.—
If, in some dusky corner, thou shalt find
A ragged fortune hide a noble mind,
Disperse the cloud; and be the labour thine,
To teach the shame-fac'd virtue, how to shine.
Or, should some wealth-encumber'd churl with-hold
Th' enliv'ning use of un-partaken gold,
If, meanly proud, the wretch disdains to weigh
The wise man's wants, against the treasur'd clay,
With ceaseless satire, goad his sneaking soul,
'Till his pride, suff'ring, gives his taste controul.
Th' enliv'ning use of un-partaken gold,
If, meanly proud, the wretch disdains to weigh
The wise man's wants, against the treasur'd clay,
With ceaseless satire, goad his sneaking soul,
'Till his pride, suff'ring, gives his taste controul.
Then, muse! from life's low wrongs, indignant, turn,
With loftier flame, for suff'ring nations, burn.
On flatter'd statesmen, scowl a patriot eye;
Strip their badg'd poets, when they write, to lie.
If, rais'd by chance, some tarnisher of sway,
Blund'ring through shifts, mistakes th' unwinding way,
If, lumb'ring clogg'd, he drags, be-mir'd, along,
Cow'rs, to be safe—yet, injures, to be strong,
Tell him,—that hair-breadth 'scapes, and life-long fear,
Buy pow'r, and pomp, and infamy, too dear.
With loftier flame, for suff'ring nations, burn.
On flatter'd statesmen, scowl a patriot eye;
Strip their badg'd poets, when they write, to lie.
If, rais'd by chance, some tarnisher of sway,
Blund'ring through shifts, mistakes th' unwinding way,
If, lumb'ring clogg'd, he drags, be-mir'd, along,
Cow'rs, to be safe—yet, injures, to be strong,
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Buy pow'r, and pomp, and infamy, too dear.
Pass, pass, these sulph'ry meteors, of a day;
Their blaze too dang'rous! and too lost, their way!
On suns, not comets, fix thy eagly ken,
Touch the proud hearts of monarchs, into men.
Thence, flows contagion: light must generate light,
Or mimic millions catch the royal blite:
Kings, who are kings, shed lustre o'er mankind;
But dim-ey'd princes make whole nations blind.
—So, god-like Cæsar rul'd ungrateful Rome,
And short-liv'd virtue shot a blasted bloom:
But, when lewd Nero stain'd imperial sway,
Vice, with a rapid stream, swept shame away.
Their blaze too dang'rous! and too lost, their way!
On suns, not comets, fix thy eagly ken,
Touch the proud hearts of monarchs, into men.
Thence, flows contagion: light must generate light,
Or mimic millions catch the royal blite:
Kings, who are kings, shed lustre o'er mankind;
But dim-ey'd princes make whole nations blind.
—So, god-like Cæsar rul'd ungrateful Rome,
And short-liv'd virtue shot a blasted bloom:
But, when lewd Nero stain'd imperial sway,
Vice, with a rapid stream, swept shame away.
Let the low muse, that strikes the venal strings,
Tune her tame lyre, and swell the pomp of kings.
Undreading, thou, where'er the censure falls,
Enter proud Palaces imperious walls.
There,—good, or evil—seize th' unshadow'd fact,
And call truth, truth, however princes act.
Tune her tame lyre, and swell the pomp of kings.
Undreading, thou, where'er the censure falls,
Enter proud Palaces imperious walls.
There,—good, or evil—seize th' unshadow'd fact,
And call truth, truth, however princes act.
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Sublimely fir'd, I snatch the glorious aim!
'Twere great, indeed, to give the royal, fame!
But,—where, O spotless light, of reason's eye!
Where, among princes, wilt thou greatness spy?
Shall Britain's boast o'erload my lab'ring lines?
No—with known force, domestic glory shines!
Flatt'ry were base: and needless the design,
To say, (to angels) heav'n is all divine.
'Twere great, indeed, to give the royal, fame!
But,—where, O spotless light, of reason's eye!
Where, among princes, wilt thou greatness spy?
Shall Britain's boast o'erload my lab'ring lines?
No—with known force, domestic glory shines!
Flatt'ry were base: and needless the design,
To say, (to angels) heav'n is all divine.
Northward, departing muse, extend thy flight;
There, a new sun inflames the land of night;
There, arts and arms, the worlds fisth empire raise;
There, dateless times shall hail my prophet praise:
Thy line, great Czar! shall stretch that shorten'd name,
To more than Cæsar's pow'r, and all his fame.
Taught, by thy plans, to reign, victorious, still,
And length'ning down, through time, thy deathless skill,
Legions of kings, shall wait their doom-ful nod,
As hosts, from Moses, watch'd th' inspiring God!
There, a new sun inflames the land of night;
There, arts and arms, the worlds fisth empire raise;
There, dateless times shall hail my prophet praise:
Thy line, great Czar! shall stretch that shorten'd name,
To more than Cæsar's pow'r, and all his fame.
Taught, by thy plans, to reign, victorious, still,
And length'ning down, through time, thy deathless skill,
Legions of kings, shall wait their doom-ful nod,
As hosts, from Moses, watch'd th' inspiring God!
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O! pride, celestial, of my muse's praise!
Thou! best invok'd!—inspire my rising lays,
Kindle my glowing soul, with fires, like thine,
And lend me light, to make my off'ring shine!
Tho' right to mark, how tow'ring eagles fly,
Asks the try'd sharpness of an eagle's eye;
Tho' high-rais'd view can, best, a prospect show,
Which he but ill describes, who stands too low;
Yet, if, aspiring to the theme,—I feel
Thy glory's love propel my trembling zeal,
O, prince! the grateful arrogance forgive;
No genuine muse, so charm'd, can, silent, live.
Thou! best invok'd!—inspire my rising lays,
Kindle my glowing soul, with fires, like thine,
And lend me light, to make my off'ring shine!
Tho' right to mark, how tow'ring eagles fly,
Asks the try'd sharpness of an eagle's eye;
Tho' high-rais'd view can, best, a prospect show,
Which he but ill describes, who stands too low;
Yet, if, aspiring to the theme,—I feel
Thy glory's love propel my trembling zeal,
O, prince! the grateful arrogance forgive;
No genuine muse, so charm'd, can, silent, live.
Perish the pride, in poor distinction shewn,
That makes man blind, to blessings not his own!
Briton and Russian differ, but in name:
In nature's sense, all nations are the same.
One world, divided, distant brothers share,
And man is reason's subject—every where.
That makes man blind, to blessings not his own!
Briton and Russian differ, but in name:
In nature's sense, all nations are the same.
One world, divided, distant brothers share,
And man is reason's subject—every where.
So, does dark Nile's mysterious torrent stray,
And oozy wealth, in annual flood, convey.
Memphia's rich plains imbibe th'impregnate flow,
And pleas'd Egyptians see proud harvests grow.
Yet, while, on Egypt, partial harvests smile,
Egypt's glad sons engross not all their Nile.
Egypt, and all the world, the river claim:
Egypt, in influence, and the world, in fame.
So, Russia feels her Czar's intensest heat:
But, the warm'd world his distant brightness, greet.
And oozy wealth, in annual flood, convey.
Memphia's rich plains imbibe th'impregnate flow,
And pleas'd Egyptians see proud harvests grow.
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Egypt's glad sons engross not all their Nile.
Egypt, and all the world, the river claim:
Egypt, in influence, and the world, in fame.
So, Russia feels her Czar's intensest heat:
But, the warm'd world his distant brightness, greet.
Ages, obscurely lost to slighted fame,
Robb'd the dim empire of its bury'd name!
One city's bounds usurp'd her monarch's rights,
And shrunk his thousand states, to Muscovites.
Un-measur'd realms lay hid, in noiseless reign,
And Russia cover'd half the world in vain!
'Till rip'ning time this giant-genius sent;
Divinely siz'd—to suit his crown's extent!
He breath'd prolific soul, inspir'd the land,
And call'd forth order, with directive hand.
Then, pow'r's whole energy, at once, spread wide,
And old obstruction sunk, beneath its tide.
Then, shad'wing all, the dread dominion rose,
Which, late, no hope, and now, no danger knows!
Robb'd the dim empire of its bury'd name!
One city's bounds usurp'd her monarch's rights,
And shrunk his thousand states, to Muscovites.
Un-measur'd realms lay hid, in noiseless reign,
And Russia cover'd half the world in vain!
'Till rip'ning time this giant-genius sent;
Divinely siz'd—to suit his crown's extent!
He breath'd prolific soul, inspir'd the land,
And call'd forth order, with directive hand.
Then, pow'r's whole energy, at once, spread wide,
And old obstruction sunk, beneath its tide.
Then, shad'wing all, the dread dominion rose,
Which, late, no hope, and now, no danger knows!
Did not, O prince! thy love of art's soft charms
Suspend the keener influence of thy arms,
Astonish'd Europe, envious of thy sway,
Must wink malignant, in thy stream of day!
But 'tis thy generous task, to steer thy reign,
'Twixt the two wide extremes, of mean and vain.
To teach fierce conq'rors, all, that arts bestow,
Yet hold back arms, 'till justice names the foe.
Suspend the keener influence of thy arms,
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Must wink malignant, in thy stream of day!
But 'tis thy generous task, to steer thy reign,
'Twixt the two wide extremes, of mean and vain.
To teach fierce conq'rors, all, that arts bestow,
Yet hold back arms, 'till justice names the foe.
Not so, of old, when, stern, in horrid arms,
The needy north pour'd forth her Gothic swarms;
Roughly, they warr'd, on arts, they could not taste,
And, blindly, laid the tracks of learning waste.
This heav'n remember'd, and, with kind command,
Call'd for atonement, from the barb'rous land.
The prince, disdainful of his country's crime,
Guiltless, springs forward, to un-curse the clime:
And, nobly just, has taught the nations more,
Than the world's empire ruin'd—lost, before!
The needy north pour'd forth her Gothic swarms;
Roughly, they warr'd, on arts, they could not taste,
And, blindly, laid the tracks of learning waste.
This heav'n remember'd, and, with kind command,
Call'd for atonement, from the barb'rous land.
The prince, disdainful of his country's crime,
Guiltless, springs forward, to un-curse the clime:
And, nobly just, has taught the nations more,
Than the world's empire ruin'd—lost, before!
How
vast the engine!—and the force, how great!
That could, so swiftly, move such pond'rous weight!
Enormous boast of kings! who,—tho' his reign
Stretch'd empire's endless line, from main to main,
Counts not his greatness, by his country's length,
Nor from dependent millions, steals his strength,
But, to himself (like heav'n) his effluence owes,
And gives—not takes—what pow'r from number flows.
That could, so swiftly, move such pond'rous weight!
Enormous boast of kings! who,—tho' his reign
Stretch'd empire's endless line, from main to main,
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Nor from dependent millions, steals his strength,
But, to himself (like heav'n) his effluence owes,
And gives—not takes—what pow'r from number flows.
Born, for eternal growth—and stor'd with schemes,
For whit'ning time, with ever-blooming themes.
Wonders on wonders gild a glowing land,
That, almost, ow'd distinction to his hand!
From frozen climes, where nature, stiff with cold,
Nourish'd no hope; and time in tears grew old:
Warm'd by the monarch's worth, we rising saw
Springs of gay virtue—and ripe fruits of law!
For whit'ning time, with ever-blooming themes.
Wonders on wonders gild a glowing land,
That, almost, ow'd distinction to his hand!
From frozen climes, where nature, stiff with cold,
Nourish'd no hope; and time in tears grew old:
Warm'd by the monarch's worth, we rising saw
Springs of gay virtue—and ripe fruits of law!
Doubly supreme! Thy unrestrain'd controul
Directs the body, and impow'rs the soul!
While vulgar kings their views supinely scan,
And limit what they would, by what they can,
Thy nobler pow'r, with more than mortal sway,
Commands—and makes men able, to obey!
Directs the body, and impow'rs the soul!
While vulgar kings their views supinely scan,
And limit what they would, by what they can,
Thy nobler pow'r, with more than mortal sway,
Commands—and makes men able, to obey!
Transporting thought!—let me indulge it long,
Hence, realms grow mighty, and their influence strong.
Ah! why, by civil broils, should patriots bleed,
For parts in pow'r, they nor enjoy, nor need?
Less factious subjects happier freedom share;
Mis-reckon'd slaves, in such a sov'reign's care.
Slaves are blind bust'lers, who, deceiv'd by names,
Promote, unknowingly, their spoiler's aims:
Who (told, sedition sets a nation free)
Hug the new chain—and call it liberty.
Then—walking gall'd, beneath th' incumbent weight,
Grind a curb'd curse, and bear th' impos'd deceit.
Hence, realms grow mighty, and their influence strong.
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For parts in pow'r, they nor enjoy, nor need?
Less factious subjects happier freedom share;
Mis-reckon'd slaves, in such a sov'reign's care.
Slaves are blind bust'lers, who, deceiv'd by names,
Promote, unknowingly, their spoiler's aims:
Who (told, sedition sets a nation free)
Hug the new chain—and call it liberty.
Then—walking gall'd, beneath th' incumbent weight,
Grind a curb'd curse, and bear th' impos'd deceit.
If just Athenians, by a Theseus, led,
Their scatter'd country's strength-uniting head!
To lasting praise, consign'd his cherish'd fame,
And, conscious of his bounty, bless'd his name;
If hard Lycurgus, now, immortal grown,
Sheds deathless glory round a realmless throne:
If, Romulus! thy mem'ry triumps, still,
For teaching Rome to rob, with safer skill;
For reining rapine in, from private harms,
To mightier mischief, in confed'rate arms:
What praise, prodigious Czar! shall dare to tread,
In aweful circles, near thy sacred head?
To whom, not one small portion, singly, kneels,
In thanks for sep'rate benefits, it feels:
But nations, numberless, as Lybian sands,
Share the long bounties of thy reaching hands—
Thy hands! to whom, delighted with thy praise,
God gave not thrones, to reign on—but to raise.
Their scatter'd country's strength-uniting head!
To lasting praise, consign'd his cherish'd fame,
And, conscious of his bounty, bless'd his name;
If hard Lycurgus, now, immortal grown,
Sheds deathless glory round a realmless throne:
If, Romulus! thy mem'ry triumps, still,
For teaching Rome to rob, with safer skill;
For reining rapine in, from private harms,
To mightier mischief, in confed'rate arms:
What praise, prodigious Czar! shall dare to tread,
In aweful circles, near thy sacred head?
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In thanks for sep'rate benefits, it feels:
But nations, numberless, as Lybian sands,
Share the long bounties of thy reaching hands—
Thy hands! to whom, delighted with thy praise,
God gave not thrones, to reign on—but to raise.
Thy catching lustre fires the north's wide soul;
And thaws the icy influence of the pole.
The shaggy Samoid, shaking off his snow,
Warms his cold breast, with new desire, to know.
The rugged Tartar, from whose swarthy bands
A gloom of horror us'd to shade thy lands,
Charm'd, by thy gen'rous daring, checks his own,
Assumes new nature, and adorns thy throne.
Beams of young learning, active as the wind,
Radiant, flame out, and light up half mankind:
Stern superstition's misty cloud, dispell'd,
Quits her chief throne, through long, dark, ages, held:
And Russian arms glitt'ring terror cast,
O'er realms, where scarce the Russian name had past!
And thaws the icy influence of the pole.
The shaggy Samoid, shaking off his snow,
Warms his cold breast, with new desire, to know.
The rugged Tartar, from whose swarthy bands
A gloom of horror us'd to shade thy lands,
Charm'd, by thy gen'rous daring, checks his own,
Assumes new nature, and adorns thy throne.
Beams of young learning, active as the wind,
Radiant, flame out, and light up half mankind:
Stern superstition's misty cloud, dispell'd,
Quits her chief throne, through long, dark, ages, held:
And Russian arms glitt'ring terror cast,
O'er realms, where scarce the Russian name had past!
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Blush, ye bought bards! of our degen'rate days,
Whom pension prostitutes, to high-way praise:
Who fear it fruitless, for a muse to roam,
Thence, poorly, pin your venal hearts, at home!
The world's my country: born, no matter where,
Man is a denizen of earth and air.
Native to truth, 'tis his, all worth, to show,
And love the hostile virtues of a foe.
Whom pension prostitutes, to high-way praise:
Who fear it fruitless, for a muse to roam,
Thence, poorly, pin your venal hearts, at home!
The world's my country: born, no matter where,
Man is a denizen of earth and air.
Native to truth, 'tis his, all worth, to show,
And love the hostile virtues of a foe.
Ah! how too weak my willing verse pursues,
And flags, beneath new heights, of op'ning views!
Touch my charm'd heart, thou! God! that did'st inspire
His force! and let me feel th' impulsive fire.
Sunk, amid fens, in fortune's stagnate tract,
And curs'd myself, with want of pow'r, to act,
Let me, at least describe, with conscious blaze,
And, from another's triumph, force some praise.
And flags, beneath new heights, of op'ning views!
Touch my charm'd heart, thou! God! that did'st inspire
His force! and let me feel th' impulsive fire.
Sunk, amid fens, in fortune's stagnate tract,
And curs'd myself, with want of pow'r, to act,
Let me, at least describe, with conscious blaze,
And, from another's triumph, force some praise.
O! great, eternal pow'r, that bounds our minds,
What circling darkness human foresight, blinds!
Where are the lost effects of statesmen's dreams?
Whose erring envy spun such cobweb schemes!
Long—each vain terror beat one devious road;
And sigh'd, at growing France, with false forebode:
While, un-observ'd, th' exulting northern bear
Grin'd over gen'ral empire, rising, there.
What circling darkness human foresight, blinds!
Where are the lost effects of statesmen's dreams?
Whose erring envy spun such cobweb schemes!
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And sigh'd, at growing France, with false forebode:
While, un-observ'd, th' exulting northern bear
Grin'd over gen'ral empire, rising, there.
Henceforth, let none the strength of states compare:
Nor what they may be, judge, from what they are.
Low the lord's genius, all his realms the same:
The king's breast wid'ning, swells his throne to fame.
Then, pow'r effulging, distanc'd equals find,
That man's whole, boundless, diff'rence dwells in Mind.
This truth,—dread dark'ner of each rival throne!
Well has thy life's long tract of wonders shown;
What sudden fleets have shadow'd distant seas,
With flags, that start to pow'r, and scorn degrees;
Glooming at pleasure, ev'ry hostile shore,
Far-trembling nations hear new thunders roar;
Th' intrepid Swede does fortune's change upbraid,
And sees th' assaulted enemy invade!
The Dane finds gratitude too weak for fear,
And hates his helper's strength, display'd too near.
The furrow'd Baltic a new lord obeys,
And to strange keels, reluctant homage pays.
The virgin Caspian, he, bold lover! woos;
Nor vainly, for her envy'd favour sues:
Grasp'd to his wish, she has her love confess'd,
And giv'n him leave to wander o'er her breast.
Persia's heap'd wealth shall her huge portion be,
And India's sovereigns give her lord the knee.
Nor what they may be, judge, from what they are.
Low the lord's genius, all his realms the same:
The king's breast wid'ning, swells his throne to fame.
Then, pow'r effulging, distanc'd equals find,
That man's whole, boundless, diff'rence dwells in Mind.
This truth,—dread dark'ner of each rival throne!
Well has thy life's long tract of wonders shown;
What sudden fleets have shadow'd distant seas,
With flags, that start to pow'r, and scorn degrees;
Glooming at pleasure, ev'ry hostile shore,
Far-trembling nations hear new thunders roar;
Th' intrepid Swede does fortune's change upbraid,
And sees th' assaulted enemy invade!
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And hates his helper's strength, display'd too near.
The furrow'd Baltic a new lord obeys,
And to strange keels, reluctant homage pays.
The virgin Caspian, he, bold lover! woos;
Nor vainly, for her envy'd favour sues:
Grasp'd to his wish, she has her love confess'd,
And giv'n him leave to wander o'er her breast.
Persia's heap'd wealth shall her huge portion be,
And India's sovereigns give her lord the knee.
From nameless outlets, endless naval hosts,
Black'ning, still more, the sable Euxine's coasts,
Shall teach the Porte's imperial walls to shake,
And the fell sultan's iron scepter break.
Grecia's lost soul shall be restor'd, by thee!
Great saver! setting empire's genius free!
Then, Hellespont, whose stream indignant glides,
And a subjected world's two bounds divides;
Shall feel, while reaching both, thy thunder roars,
Europe and Asia, trembling, to her shores.
Then, may thy floating empire's conq'ring sweep
New-greet vast Russia, round th' Atlantic deep.
Black'ning, still more, the sable Euxine's coasts,
Shall teach the Porte's imperial walls to shake,
And the fell sultan's iron scepter break.
Grecia's lost soul shall be restor'd, by thee!
Great saver! setting empire's genius free!
Then, Hellespont, whose stream indignant glides,
And a subjected world's two bounds divides;
Shall feel, while reaching both, thy thunder roars,
Europe and Asia, trembling, to her shores.
Then, may thy floating empire's conq'ring sweep
New-greet vast Russia, round th' Atlantic deep.
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So, spring the seeds of pow'r, when wisely sown!
So, pregnant genius plans the future throne!
Mean while, great founder! gath'ring strength, from blows,
They spread thy glory, who thy arms oppose.
The self-priz'd lords of China's boastful land,
Feel their pride shrink, beneath thy bord'ring hand!
The trackless wilds, which both vast states disjoin,
Are, ev'n when arm'd with shiv'ring winter, thine!
O'er realms of snow, thy furry squadrons fly:
And bring, at ease, the dreadful distance nigh!
In vain oppos'd, th' enormous Wall they see;
Proclaim'd defiance can but quicken Thee.
So, pregnant genius plans the future throne!
Mean while, great founder! gath'ring strength, from blows,
They spread thy glory, who thy arms oppose.
The self-priz'd lords of China's boastful land,
Feel their pride shrink, beneath thy bord'ring hand!
The trackless wilds, which both vast states disjoin,
Are, ev'n when arm'd with shiv'ring winter, thine!
O'er realms of snow, thy furry squadrons fly:
And bring, at ease, the dreadful distance nigh!
In vain oppos'd, th' enormous Wall they see;
Proclaim'd defiance can but quicken Thee.
ZEMBLA's white cliffs—eternal hoards of frost,
Where proud discov'ry has, so oft, been lost;
Thro' every period of the world, 'till now,
Have check'd all keels, that would those oceans plow:
Nature's last barrier! they all search withstood,
And bound ambition up, in freezing blood.
Reserv'd, by heav'n, and, for thy reign, design'd,
Thy piercing eye shall that dark passage find.
Or, east's and west's embracing confines, shown,
Join two emerging worlds; and both, thy own.
Where proud discov'ry has, so oft, been lost;
Thro' every period of the world, 'till now,
Have check'd all keels, that would those oceans plow:
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And bound ambition up, in freezing blood.
Reserv'd, by heav'n, and, for thy reign, design'd,
Thy piercing eye shall that dark passage find.
Or, east's and west's embracing confines, shown,
Join two emerging worlds; and both, thy own.
Stop, headlong muse!—Ah! whither woud'st thou go?
Look down, with caution, on the depths below:
Prospects, too vast, the rash presumer fright;
And, dazzling, wound an uncollected sight.
Congratulate, a while, our church's gain,
And, mingling joy, relax thy wonder's strain.
Look down, with caution, on the depths below:
Prospects, too vast, the rash presumer fright;
And, dazzling, wound an uncollected sight.
Congratulate, a while, our church's gain,
And, mingling joy, relax thy wonder's strain.
Shall, then, at last, beneath propitious skies,
The cross, triumphant, o'er the crescent rise?
Shall we behold earth's long-sustain'd disgrace
Reveng'd, in arms, on Osman's haughty race?
Shall christian Greece shake off a captive's shame,
And look, un-blushing, at her pagan fame?
'Twill be.—Prophetic Delphos claims her own:
Hails her new Cæsars on the Russian throne.
Athens shall teach, once more! once more, aspire!
And Spartan breasts re-glow, with martial fire:
Still, still, Bizantium's bright'ning domes shall shine,
And rear the ruin'd name of Constantine.
The cross, triumphant, o'er the crescent rise?
Shall we behold earth's long-sustain'd disgrace
Reveng'd, in arms, on Osman's haughty race?
Shall christian Greece shake off a captive's shame,
And look, un-blushing, at her pagan fame?
'Twill be.—Prophetic Delphos claims her own:
Hails her new Cæsars on the Russian throne.
Athens shall teach, once more! once more, aspire!
And Spartan breasts re-glow, with martial fire:
196
And rear the ruin'd name of Constantine.
Transcendent prince! how happy must thou be!
What can'st thou look upon, unbless'd, by thee?
What inward peace must that calm bosom know,
Whence conscious virtue does so strongly flow!
Each fame, of ages past, in ruins lies:
How timely, therefore, does thy greatness rise,
To fire forgetful thrones, with thirst of praise;
And build example, for these feeble days!
What can'st thou look upon, unbless'd, by thee?
What inward peace must that calm bosom know,
Whence conscious virtue does so strongly flow!
Each fame, of ages past, in ruins lies:
How timely, therefore, does thy greatness rise,
To fire forgetful thrones, with thirst of praise;
And build example, for these feeble days!
Such, are the kings, who make God's image shine,
Nor blush to dare assert their right divine!
No earth-born byas warps their climbing will;
No pride, their pow'r—no av'rice whets their skill.
They poise each hope, which bids the wise obey,
And shed broad blessings, from their wid'ning sway.
To raise th' afflicted, stretch the healing hand,
Drive crush'd oppression from each rescu'd land.
Bold in alternate right, or sheathe, or draw,
The sword of conquest, or the sword of law.
Spare, what resists not; what opposes, bend;
And govern, cool, what they, with warmth, defend.
Nor blush to dare assert their right divine!
No earth-born byas warps their climbing will;
No pride, their pow'r—no av'rice whets their skill.
They poise each hope, which bids the wise obey,
And shed broad blessings, from their wid'ning sway.
To raise th' afflicted, stretch the healing hand,
Drive crush'd oppression from each rescu'd land.
197
The sword of conquest, or the sword of law.
Spare, what resists not; what opposes, bend;
And govern, cool, what they, with warmth, defend.
How bless'd were man! would heav'n, hereafter, please,
That all earth's princes should be form'd like these!
Wish it, O muse! howe'er the wish be vain;
It gives some joy, to hope th' unlikeliest gain.
That all earth's princes should be form'd like these!
Wish it, O muse! howe'er the wish be vain;
It gives some joy, to hope th' unlikeliest gain.
Adieu—dread flame! that bids the pole outshine
The torrid brightness of the burning line!
Drawn by thy beamy force, I still would gaze:
But my eyes ake beneath the' oppressive blaze.
Descend, rash muse!—'tis decent to retire;
Thy fall were dang'rous, if thy flight were higher.
The torrid brightness of the burning line!
Drawn by thy beamy force, I still would gaze:
But my eyes ake beneath the' oppressive blaze.
Descend, rash muse!—'tis decent to retire;
Thy fall were dang'rous, if thy flight were higher.
Thou, too, great prince! forbear th' ador'd excess!
Rest—for thy life: and make thy glory less.
Heav'n must reclaim thee—nor thy absence bear,
When earth yields no new wonder, worth thy care.
Rest—for thy life: and make thy glory less.
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When earth yields no new wonder, worth thy care.
Mourn'd, the near prospect! yet not mourn'd by all!
There are, whose humbler glory waits thy fall.
When thou, great sun of royalty! shalt set,
And pay sad nature's last and surest debt:
Then, earth's low lords may boast their poor designs,
And ev'ry upstart twinkler think—he shines.
There are, whose humbler glory waits thy fall.
When thou, great sun of royalty! shalt set,
And pay sad nature's last and surest debt:
Then, earth's low lords may boast their poor designs,
And ev'ry upstart twinkler think—he shines.
Then, when no more thy wonders wake mankind,
But dying envy leaves delight behind,
Here, while thy steps admiring ages trace,
Where shall amazement, first, encomium place?
Arduous decision! which most honour won?
Thy actions, or the speed, with which they're done.
But dying envy leaves delight behind,
Here, while thy steps admiring ages trace,
Where shall amazement, first, encomium place?
Arduous decision! which most honour won?
Thy actions, or the speed, with which they're done.
When Rome, that glitt'ring, that immortal name!
Aspir'd to rule, and panted after fame;
Age copying age, spun length of patient will,
And ek'd th' oft-breaking thread, with lab'ring skill.
Nor, 'till sev'n hundred hard-press'd years were past,
The late propitious fortune smil'd at last.
Not such slow rise, O prince! thy Russia fears:
Thou dragg'st not glory from such depth of years.
At once resolv'd, at once, the columns rise,
Which lift thy dreadful fabrick to the skies.
Form and degrees, let bounded spirits need:
Thy soul, excentric, moves with in-bred speed!
Makes nature shake, and raises, in a day,
What, with less ease, in ages, shall decay.
Aspir'd to rule, and panted after fame;
Age copying age, spun length of patient will,
And ek'd th' oft-breaking thread, with lab'ring skill.
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The late propitious fortune smil'd at last.
Not such slow rise, O prince! thy Russia fears:
Thou dragg'st not glory from such depth of years.
At once resolv'd, at once, the columns rise,
Which lift thy dreadful fabrick to the skies.
Form and degrees, let bounded spirits need:
Thy soul, excentric, moves with in-bred speed!
Makes nature shake, and raises, in a day,
What, with less ease, in ages, shall decay.
So, when young Time its first great birth-day kept,
And huddled nature, yet, in chaos slept;
Th' eternal Word, to set distinction free,
But spoke th' almighty fiat—Let there be.
Millions of ways, the starting atoms flew;
Like clung to like—and sudden order grew:
Struggling in clouds, a while, confusion lay,
Then died, at once, and lost itself in day.
And huddled nature, yet, in chaos slept;
Th' eternal Word, to set distinction free,
But spoke th' almighty fiat—Let there be.
Millions of ways, the starting atoms flew;
Like clung to like—and sudden order grew:
Struggling in clouds, a while, confusion lay,
Then died, at once, and lost itself in day.
| The Works of the Late Aaron Hill | |