ODE III. ON CLASSIC DISCIPLINE.
I
Down the steep abrupt of hills
Furious foams the head-long Tide;
Thro' the mead the Rivulet trills,
Swelling slow in gentle pride.
Ruin vast, and dread dismay,
Mark the clamorous Cataract's way;
Glad increase, and bloom benign
Round the Streamlet's margin shine.
II
Youth! with stedfast eye peruse
Scenes, to lesson thee display'd!
Yes,—in these the moral Muse
Bids thee know thyself portray'd!
Thou may'st rush with headstrong force,
Wasteful like the Torrent's course;
Or resemble Rills that flow,
Blest and blessing, as they go!
III
Infant sense to all our kind,
Pure the young ideas brings;
From within the fountain mind,
Issuing at a thousand springs.
Who shall make the current stray
Smooth along the destin'd way?
Who shall, as it runs, refine?
Who?—but Classic Discipline!
IV
She, whatever fond desire,
Stubborn deed, or ruder speech,
Inexperience might inspire,
Or absurd indulgence teach,
Timely cautious shall restrain;
Bidding childhood own the rein:
She with Sport shall Labour mix;
She, excursive Fancy fix.
V
Prime support of learned lore,
Perseverance joins her train;
Pages oft turn'd o'er and o'er,
Turning o'er and o'er again!
Giving, in due forms of school,
Sound, Significance, Utterance, Rule:
While the stores of Memory grow,
Great, tho' gradual; sure, tho' slow.
VI
Patient Care, by just degrees,
Word and Image learns to class;
Couples those; discriminates these,
As in strict review they pass:
Joins, as varying features strike,
Apt to apt; and like to like:
Till in meet array advance
Concord, Method, Elegance!
VII
Time meanwhile, from day to day,
Fixes deeper Virtue's root;
Whence, in long succession gay,
Blossoms many a lively fruit:
Meek Obedience, following still,
Frank and glad, a wiser will!
Modest Candour, hearing prone,
Every judgment—save it's own!
VIII
Emulation! whose keen eye,
Forward still, and forward strains;
Nothing ever deeming high,
Where a higher hope remains!
Shame ingenuous, native, free,
Source of manly dignity!
Zeal, impartial to pursue
Right and just, and good and true!
IX
These, and every kindred Grace,
More and more perfection gain;
While Attention loves to trace
Grave Record, or lofty Strain;
Noting, how in Virtue's pride
Sages liv'd; and Heroes died!
Conscious, how in Virtue's cause,
Genius gave, and claim'd applause!
X
Thus with early culture blest,
Thus to early toil inur'd,
Infancy's expanding breast
Glows with Sense and Powers matur'd;
Whence if future efforts raise
Moral, social, civil praise;
Thine is all th' Effect—be thine
The Glory—Classic Discipline!
