The Poems of Ambrose Philips :: :: University of Virginia Library

Who, much distinguish'd, yet is bless'd?
Who, dignified above the rest,
Does, still, unenvied live?
Not to the Man whose wealth abounds,
Nor to the man whose fame resounds,
Does heaven such favour give,
Nor to the noble-born, nor to the strong,
Nor to the gay, the beautiful, or young.

II

Whom then, secure of happiness,
Does every eye beholding bless,
And every tongue commend?
Him, Pulteney, who possessing store
Is not solicitous of more,
Who, to mankind a friend,
Nor envies, nor is envied by, the great,
Polite in courts, polite in his retreat:

III

Whose unambitious, active, soul
Attends the welfare of the whole,
When publick storms arise,
And, in the calm, a thousand ways
Diversifies his nights and days,
Still elegantly wise;
While books, each morn, the lightsom soul invite,
And friends with season'd mirth improve the night.

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IV

In him do men no blemish see;
And factions in his praise agree,
When most they vex the state:
Distinguish'd favorite of the skies,
Belov'd he lives, lamented dies:
Yet, shall he not to fate
Submit entire; the rescuing muse shall save
His precious name, and win him from the grave.

V

Too frail is brass and polish'd stone;
Perpetual fame the muse alone
On merit can bestow:
Yet, must the time-enduring song,
The verse unrival'd by the throng,
From nature's bounty flow:
The ungifted tribe in meter pass away,
Oblivion's sport, the poets of a day.

VI

What laws shall o'er the Ode preside?
In vain would art presume to guide
The chariot-wheels of praise,
When fancy, driving, ranges free,
Fresh flowers selecting like the bee,
And regularly strays,
While nature does, disdaining aids of skill,
The mind with thought, the ears with numbers, fill.

VII

As when the Theban hymns divine
Make proud Olympian victors shine

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In an eternal blaze,
The varying measures, ever new,
Unbeaten tracks of fame pursue,
While through the glorious maze
The poet leads his heroes to renown,
And weaves in verse a never-fading crown.