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

The Poet praises Hiero for his justice, his wisdom, and his skill in musick. He likewise celebrates the horse that won the race, and the place where the Olympick Games were performed. From the place (namely Peloponnesus) he takes an occasion of digressing to the known fable of Tantalus and Pelops; whence, returning to Hiero, he sets forth the felicity of the Olympian Victors. Then he concludes by praying to the gods to preserve the glory and dignity of Hiero, admonishing him to moderation of mind, in his high station, and, lastly, glories in his own excellency in compositions of this kind.

STROPHE I. Measures 18.

Each element to water yields;
And gold, like blazing fire by night,
Amidst the stores of wealth that builds
The mind aloft, is eminently bright:
But if, my soul, with fond desire
To sing of games thou dost aspire,
As thou by day canst not descry,
Through all the liquid waste of sky,
One burnish'd star, that like the sun does glow,
And cherish every thing below,
So, my sweet soul, no toil divine,
In song, does like the Olympian shine:

141

Hence do the mighty poets raise
A hymn, of every tongue the praise,
The son of Saturn to resound,
When far, from every land, they come
To visit Hiero's regal dome,
Where peace, where plenty, is for ever found:

ANTISTROPHE I. Measures 18.

Lord of Sicilia's fleecy plains,
He governs, righteous in his power,
And, all excelling while he reigns,
From every lovely virtue crops the flower:
In musick, blossom of delight,
Divinely skill'd, he cheers the night,
As we are wont, when friends design
To feast and wanton o'er their wine:
But from the wall the Dorian harp take down,
If Pisa, city of renown,
And if the fleet victorious steed,
The boast of his unrival'd breed,
Heart-pleasing raptures did inspire,
And warm thy breast with sacred fire,
When late, on Alpheus' crouded shore,
Forth-springing quick, each nerve he strain'd,
The warning of the spur disdain'd,
And swift to victory his master bore,

EPODE I. Measures 16.

The lov'd Syracusian, the prince of the course,
The king, who delights in the speed of the horse:
Great his glory, great his fame,
Throughout the land where Lydian Pelops came
To plant his men, a chosen race,

142

A land the ocean does embrace,
Pelops, whom Neptune, ruler of the main,
Was known to love, when into life again,
From the reviving cauldron warm,
Clotho produc'd him whole, his shoulder-blade,
And its firm brawn, of shining ivory made:
But truth, unvarnish'd, oft neglected lies,
When fabled tales, invented to surprise,
In miracles mighty, have power to charm,
Where fictions, happily combin'd,
Deceive and captivate the mind:

STROPHE II. Measures 18.

Thus Poësy, harmonious spell,
The source of pleasures ever new,
With dignity does wonders tell;
And we, amaz'd, believe each wonder true.
Day, after day, brings truth to light,
Unveil'd, and manifest to sight;
But, of the bless'd, those lips, which name
Foul deeds aloud, shall suffer blame.
Thee, son of Tantalus, my faithful song
Shall vindicate from every wrong,
The glories of thy house restore,
And baffle falshoods told before:
Now, in his turn, thy sire prepar'd
A banquet; when the gods appear'd
At Sipylus, his sweet abode,
To grace the due proportion'd feast:
There, first, the trident-bearing guest
Beheld thy lovely form; and now, he glow'd;

143

ANTISTROPHE II. Measures 18.

And now, his soul subdued by love,
Thee in his golden car he bore
Swift to the lofty towers of Jove,
Whose name the nations all around adore:
Thus Ganymede was caught on high,
To serve the power who rules the sky.
When thou no longer did'st appear,
And those, who sought a pledge so dear,
Without thee to thy widow'd mother came,
Some envious Neighbour, to defame
Thy father's feast, a rumour spread,
The rumour through the country fled,
That thou, to heighten the repast,
Wast into seething water cast,
Fierce bubbling o'er the raging fire,
Thy limbs without compassion carv'd,
Thy sodden flesh in messes serv'd,
To gorge the gods and a voracious fire:

EPODE II. Measures 16.

But, in thought ever pure, shall I deem it amiss,
Vile Gluttons to call the partakers of bliss:
Let me then refrain, and dread:
A curse hangs over the blasphemer's head.
If they, who supervise and ward
The heavens, did ever shew regard
To mortal man this Tantalus might boast,
Of mortal men that he was honour'd most:
But he was not able to digest
The glut, the surfeit, of immortal joys,
One heinous forfeit all his bliss destroys:
For over him the godhead hung, in air,

144

A ponderous stone, a dreadful poise of care!
From his head to remove it, with terror oppress'd,
In vain he tries, and seeks in vain
One cheerful moment to regain:

STROPHE III. Measures 18.

A life of woe, beyond relief,
His portion now; ordain'd before
To torments of a three-fold grief,
This fourth was added to compleat his store,
Since, high presuming in his soul,
He nectar and ambrosia stole,
To give to men; by which he knew
That, tasting, he immortal grew:
But be not man deceiv'd: the gods reveal
What most we labour to conceal:
For this the powers, who deathless reign,
To earth sent down his son again,
To dwell with men, a short-liv'd race,
Whose sudden fate comes on apace.
His flowery age in all its pride,
When, o'er his chin, a blackening shade
Of down was cast, a vow he made,
Deep in his soul, to win the proffer'd bride

ANTISTROPHE III. Measures 18.

Hippodamia, boasted name,
From her great sire the Pisan proud.
Alone, by night, the lover came
Beside the hoary sea, and call'd aloud
On him who sways the triple spear,
And fills with din the deafen'd ear;
When, at his feet, the god arose:

145

Then Pelops, eager to disclose
His mighty care, “O Neptune, if thy mind
“In love did ever pleasure find,
“Let not Oenomaüs prevail,
“And let his brazen javelin fail:
“Oh! bear me hence, on wheels of speed,
“To Elis, to the glorious meed:
“To victory Oh! whirl me, strait:
“Since, after ten, and other three,
“Bold suiters slain, yet still we see,
“From year to year, the promis'd nuptials wait

EPODE III. Measures 16.

“Of his daughter. No perilous toil can excite
“The dastard in heart, who despairs of his might.
“Since we all are born to dy,
“Who, overcast, would in oblivion ly,
“In unreputed age decay,
“And meanly squander life away,
“Cut off from every praise? Then let me dare
“This conflict, in the dusty lists, to share;
“And prosper thou my glowing wheels.
Thus Pelops spoke; nor was his fervent pray'r
Pour'd forth in fruitless words, to waft in air:
The deity his whole ambition grants;
Nor shining car, nor coursers, now he wants:
In the golden bright chariot new vigour he feels,
Exulting in the horses' feet,
Unwearied ever, ever fleet:

STROPHE IV. Measures 18.

Oenomaüs, he triumphs o'er
Thy prowess, and, to share his bed,

146

Claims the bright maid; who to him bore
Six princely sons, to manly virtues bred.
Now, solemniz'd with steaming blood,
And pious rites, near Alpheus' flood
Intomb'd, he sleeps, where the altar stands,
That draws the vows of distant lands:
And round his tomb the circling racers strive;
And round the wheeling chariots drive.
In thy fam'd courses, Pelops, rise
The Olympian glories to the skies,
And shine afar: there we behold
The stretch of manhood, strenuous, bold,
In sore fatigues, and there the strife
Of winged feet. Thrice happy he,
Who overcomes! for he shall see
Unclouded days, and taste the sweets of life,

ANTISTROPHE IV. Measures 18.

Thy boon, O victory! thy prize.
The good that, in a day obtain'd,
From day to day fresh joy supplies,
Is the supreme of bliss to man ordain'd:
But let me now the rider raise,
And crown him with Æolian lays,
The victor's due: and I confide,
Though every welcome guest were try'd,
Not one, in all the concourse, would be found
For fairest knowledge more renown'd,
Nor yet a master more to twine,
In lasting hymns, each wreathing line.
The guardian god, who watchful guides
Thy fortunes, Hiero, presides
O'er all thy cares with anxious pow'r:

147

And soon, if he does not deny
His needful aid, my hopes run high
To sing more pleasing, in the joyful hour,

EPODE IV. Measures 16.

On thy chariot, triumphant when thou shalt appear,
And fly o'er the course with a rapid career,
Tracing paths of language fair,
As I to Cronion's sunny mount repair.
Even now the muse prepares to raise,
Her growth, the strongest dart of praise,
For me to wield. Approv'd in other things,
Do others rise, conspicuous: only Kings,
High mounting, on the summit fix:
There bound thy view, wide-spread, nor vainly try
Farther to stretch the prospect of thine eye:
Be, then, thy glorious lot to tread sublime,
With steady steps, the measur'd tract of time:
Be mine, with the prize-bearing worthies to mix,
In Greece, throughout the learned throng,
Proclaim'd unrival'd in my song.

148

THE SECOND OLYMPIONIQUE.

To Theron of Agrigentum, victorious in the Chariot Race.

The ARGUMENT.

He praises Theron king of Agrigentum, on account of the victory obtained in the Olympic Games, with a chariot and four horses, likewise for his justice, his hospitality, his fortitude, and the illustriousness of his ancestors; whose adventures are occasionally mentioned: then he interweaves digressions to Semele, Ino, Peleus, Achilles, and others, and describes the future state of the righteous and of the wicked. Lastly, he concludes with extolling his own skill in panegyrick, and the benevolence and liberality of Theron.

STROPHE I. Measures 16.

Sovereign hymns, whose numbers sway
The sounding harp, what god, what hero, say,
What man, shall we resound?
Is not Pisa Jove's delight?
And did not Hercules, with conquest crown'd,
To him ordain
The Olympiad for an army slain,
Thank-offering of the war?
And must we not, in Theron's right,
Exert our voice, and swell our song?
Theron, whose victorious car
Four coursers whirl, fleeting along,
To stranger-guests indulgent host,
Of Agrigentum the support and boast,
Cities born to rule and grace,
Fair blossom of his antient race,

149

ANTISTROPHE I. Measures 16.

Worthies fore perplex'd in thought,
Till wandering far they found, what long they sought,
A sacred seat, fast by
Where the stream does rapid run,
And reign'd, of Sicily the guardian eye,
When happy days,
And wealth, and favour, flow'd, and praise,
That in-born worth inflames.
Saturnian Jove, O! Rhea's Son,
Who o'er Olympus dost preside,
And the pitch of lofty games,
And Alpheus, of rivers the pride,
Rejoicing in my songs, do thou
Incline thine ear, propitious to my vow,
Blessing, with a bounteous hand,
The rich hereditary land

EPODE I. Measures 10.

Through their late lineage down. No power can actions pass'd,
Whether deeds of right or wrong,
As things not done recall,
Not even time, the father, who produces all;
Yet can Oblivion, waiting long,
Gathering strength
Through the length
Of prosperous times, forbid those deeds to last:
Such force has sweetly-healing joy
The festering smart of evils to destroy,

STROPHE II. Measures 16.

When felicity is sent
Down by the will supreme with full content:

150

Thy Daughters, Cadmus, they
Greatly wretched here below,
Bless'd ever more, this mighty truth display.
No weight of grief,
But, whelm'd in pleasures, finds relief,
Sunk in the sweet abyss.
Thou, Semele, with hair a-flow,
Thou by thunder doom'd to dy,
Mingling with the gods in bliss,
Art happy, for ever, on high:
Thee Pallas does for ever love,
Thee chiefly Jupiter, who rules above;
Thee thy son holds ever dear,
Thy son with the ivy-wreathed spear.

ANTISTROPHE II. Measures 16.

Beauteous Ino, we are told,
With the sea-daughters dwells of Nereus old,
And has, by lot, obtain'd
Lasting life, beneath the deep,
A life within no bounds of time restrain'd.
The hour of death,
The day when we resign our breath,
That offspring of the sun,
Which bids us from our labours sleep,
In vain do mortals seek to know,
Or who destin'd is to run
A life unintangled with woe;
For none are able to disclose
The seasons of the uncertain ebbs and flows
Now of pleasures, now of pains,
Which hidden fate to men ordains:

151

EPODE II. Measures 10.

Thus providence, that to thy ancestry, long-famed,
Portions out a pleasing share
Of heaven-sprung happiness,
Does, ceasing in another turn of time to bless,
Distribute some reverse of care,
As from years
Pass'd appears,
Since the predestin'd son, at Pytho named,
Did Laius, blindly meeting, kill,
And the oracle, of old pronounc'd, fulfil:

STROPHE III. Measures 16.

Fell Erinnys, quick to view
The deed, his warlike sons in battle slew,
Each by the other's rage:
But to Polynices slain
Surviv'd Thersander, glory of his age,
For feats of war,
And youthful contests, honour'd far,
The Scion, kept alive
To raise the Adrastian house again:
From whence Ænesidamus' heir
Does his spreading root derive,
To branch out a progeny fair;
Who, springing foremost in the chace
Of fame, demands we should his triumph grace,
Tuning lyres to vocal lays,
Sweet union of melodious praise;

ANTISTROPHE III. Measures 16.

For not only has he borne
The Olympian prize, but, with his brother, worn

152

The garland of renown
At Pytho and at Isthmus; where,
Victorious both, they shar'd the allotted crown,
Joint-honour, won
In twelve impetuous courses, run
With four unwearied steeds.
To vanquish in the strife severe
Does all anxiety destroy:
And to this, if wealth succeeds
With virtues enamell'd, the joy
Luxuriant grows; such affluence
Does glorious opportunities dispense,
Giving depth of thought to find
Pursuits which please a noble mind,

EPODE III. Measures 10.

Refulgent star! to man the purest beam of light!
The possessor of this store,
Far-future things discerning, knows
Obdurate wretches, once deceas'd, to immediate Woes
Consign'd, too late their pains deplore;
For below
'E're they go,
Sits one in judgment, who pronounces right
On crimes in this wide realm of Jove;
Whose dire decree no power can e'er remove:

STROPHE IV. Measures 16.

But the good, alike by night,
Alike by day, the sun's unclouded light
Beholding, ever bless'd,
Live an unlaborious life,
Nor anxious interrupt their hallow'd rest

153

With spade and plow,
The earth to vex, or with the prow
The briny sea, to eat
The bread of care in endless strife.
The dread divinities among
The few unaccustom'd to wrong,
Who never broke the vow they swore,
A tearless age enjoy for ever-more;
While the wicked hence depart
To torments which appall the heart:

ANTISTROPHE IV. Measures 16.

But the souls who greatly dare,
Thrice try'd in either state, to persevere
From all injustice pure,
Journeying onward in the way
Of Jupiter, in virtue still secure,
Along his road
Arrive at Saturn's rais'd abode;
Where soft sea-breezes breathe
Round the island of the bless'd; where gay
The trees with golden blossoms glow;
Where, their brows and arms to wreathe,
Bright garlands on every side blow;
For, springing thick in every field,
The earth does golden flowers spontaneous yield;
And, in every limpid stream,
The budding gold is seen to gleam:

EPODE IV. Measures 10.

Fair heritage! by righteous Rhadamanth's award;
Who, coëqual, takes his seat
With Saturn fire divine,
Thy consort, Rhea, who above the rest dost shine,

154

High-thron'd, thou matron-goddess great:
These among
(Blissful throng!)
Does Peleus and does Cadmus find regard;
And, through his mother's winning prayer
To Jove, Achilles dwells immortal there:

STROPHE V. Measures 16.

He who Hector did destroy,
The pillar firm, the whole support, of Troy,
And Cycnus gave to dy,
And Aurora's Æthiop son.
My arm beneath yet many darts have I,
All swift of flight,
Within my quiver, sounding right
To every skilful ear:
But, of the multitude, not one
Discerns the mystery unexplain'd.
He transcendent does appear
In knowledge, from nature who gain'd
His store: but the dull-letter'd croud,
In censure vehement, in nonsense loud,
Clamour idly, wanting skill,
Like crows, in vain, provoking still

ANTISTROPHE V. Measures 16.

The celestial bird of Jove:
But, to the mark address thy bow, nor rove.
My soul: and whom do I
Single out with fond desire,
At him to let illustrious arrows fly?
My fix'd intent,
My aim, on Agrigentum bent,

155

A solemn oath I plight,
Sincere as honest minds require,
That through an hundred circling years,
With recorded worthies bright,
No rivalling city appears
To boast a man more frank to impart
Kind offices to friends with open Heart,
Or, with hand amidst his store,
Delighting to distribute more

EPODE V. Measures 10.

Than Theron: yet foul calumny, injurious blame,
Did the men of rancour raise
Against his fair renown,
Defamers who by evil Actions strove to drown
His good, and to conceal his praise.
Can the sand,
On the strand,
Be number'd o'er? Then, true to Theron's fame,
His favours showering down delight
On thousands who is able to recite?

156

The First ODE of Anacreon.

On his Lute.

The line of Atreus will I sing;
To Cadmus will I tune the string:
But, as from string to string I move,
My lute will only sound of Love.

The cords I change through every screw,
And model the whole lute anew.
Once more, in song, my voice I raise,
And, Hercules, thy toils I praise:
My lute does still my voice deny,
And in the tones of love reply.

Ye heroes then, at once farewel:
Loves only echo from my shell.

The SECOND ODE.

On WOMEN.

Nature the bull with horns supplies,
The horse with hoofs she fortifies,
The fleeting foot on hares bestows,
On lions teeth, two dreadful rows!
Grants fish to swim, and birds to fly,
And on their skill bids men rely.

Women alone defenceless live,
To women what does nature give?
Beauty she gives instead of darts,
Beauty, instead of shields, imparts;
Nor can the sword, nor fire, oppose
The fair, victorious where she goes.

157

The THIRD ODE.

On LOVE.

One midnight when the bear did stand
A-level with Boötes' hand,
And, with their labour sore oppress'd,
The race of men were lay'd to rest,
Then to my doors, at unawares,
Came Love, and tried to force the bars.

Who thus assails my doors, I cry'd?
Who breaks my slumbers? Love reply'd,
Open: a child alone is here!
A little child!—you need not fear:
Here through the moonless night I stray,
And, drench'd in rain, have lost my way.

Then mov'd to pity by his plight,
Too much in haste my lamp I light,
And open: when a child I see,
A little child, he seem'd to me;
Who bore a quiver, and a bow;
And wings did to his shoulders grow.

Within the hearth I bid him stand,
Then chafe and cherish either hand
Between my palms, and wring, with care,
The trickling water from his hair.

Now come, said he, no longer chill,
We'll bend this bow, and try our skill,
And prove the string, how far its pow'r
Remains unslacken'd by the show'r.

158

He bends his bow, and culls his quiver,
And pierces, like a Breez, my liver:
Then leaping, laughing, as he fled,
Rejoice with me, my host, he said:
My bow is sound in every part,
And you shall rue it at your heart.

The Fourth Ode of ANACREON.

On HIMSELF.

Hither Loves and Myrtles bring;
Tender Harvest of the Spring:
Soft and cool, my Limbs recline;
While I give my Self to Wine.
LOVE (his flowing Mantle bound,
With a Sedge, his Neck around)
LOVE Himself shall fill the Bowl:
For Life, hastening to the Goal,
Passes with a rapid Trill;
Swift, as whirls the Chariot Wheel:
And, our Bones to moulder lain,
We, a little Dust, remain.

Why Ointments on my Stone bestow?
Vainly, why, the Ground bestrow?
Ointments on Me Living shed;
Roses cluster round my Head;
And, oh, bring my Charmer here!
Let me, e'er I disappear,
E'er, O LOVE , I Thither go,
Where they sing and dance, Below;
Let me, while I live, prepare;
Let me banish e'ery Care.

159

ANACREON. Ode 34.

Why so Coy, my lovely Maid?
Why of Age so much Afraid?
Your Cheeks, like Roses, to the Sight;
And my Hair, as Lillies white;
In Love's Garland, we'll suppose
Me the Lilly, you the Rose.

ANACREONTIQUE.

Beneath the Covert of a Grove,
The conscious Scene of all my Love,
Careless, and supinely lay'd,
I took my Lute, and Sung and Play'd.
Of Love's soft Passion did I sing,
And Cupid; Love's Almighty King;
When lo! a String, that would have spoke,
Beneath my Finger, sighing broke;
It broke, and said, methoughts, to me,
Think on thy own Mortality,—

[Thou speakest always ill of me]

Thou speakest always ill of me,
I speak always well of thee:
But, spite of all our noise and pother,
The world believes nor one nor t'other.

160

An Hymn to VENUS, from the Greek of SAPPHO.

I

O Venus , beauty of the skies,
To whom a thousand temples rise,
Gayly false in gentle smiles,
Full of love-perplexing wiles,
O goddess! from my heart remove
The wasting cares and pains of love.

II

If ever thou hast kindly hear'd
A song in soft distress prefer'd,
Propitious to my tuneful vow,
O gentle goddess! hear me now.
Descend thou bright, immortal, guest,
In all thy radiant charms confess'd.

III

Thou once didst leave almighty Jove,
And all the golden roofs above:
The car thy wanton sparrows drew;
Hov'ring in air they lightly flew;
As to my bower they wing'd their way,
I saw their quiv'ring pinions play.

IV

The birds dismiss'd (while you remain)
Bore back their empty car again:
Then you, with looks divinely mild,
In ev'ry heav'nly feature smil'd,
And ask'd, what new complaints I made,
And why I call'd you to my aid?

161

V

What frenzy in my bosom rag'd,
And by what care to be asswag'd?
What gentle youth I would allure,
Whom in my artful toils secure?
Who does thy tender heart subdue,
Tell me, my Sappho, tell me who?

VI

Tho now he shuns thy longing arms,
He soon shall court thy slighted charms;
Tho now thy off'rings he despise,
He soon to thee shall sacrifice;
Tho' now he freez, he soon shall burn,
And be thy victim in his turn.

VII

Celestial visitant, once more
Thy needful presence I implore!
In pity come and ease my grief,
Bring my distemper'd soul relief:
Favour thy suppliant's hidden fires,
And give me all my heart desires.

162

A Fragment of Sappho.

I

Bless'd as the immortal gods is he,
The youth who fondly sits by thee,
And hears and sees thee all the while
Softly speak and sweetly smile.

II

'Twas this depriv'd my soul of rest,
And rais'd such tumults in my breast;
For while I gaz'd, in transport toss'd,
My breath was gone, my voice was lost.

III

My bosom glow'd; the subtle flame
Ran quick through all my vital frame;
O'er my dim eyes a darkness hung,
My ears with hollow murmurs rung.

IV

In dewy damps my limbs were chill'd,
My blood with gentle horrors thrill'd;
My feeble pulse forgot to play,
I fainted, sunk, and dy'd away.

163

The TEA-POT; or, The Lady's Transformation.

A new Poem By Mr. Philips.

Soft Venus, Love's too anxious Queen.
In fit of Vapours or of Spleen,
Because, perhaps, a fav'rite God
Fail'd to return her smile or nod,
Or that Her Mars of late groun cold,
Behav'd less Kindly than of old,
With inward sullen discontent,
To Juno utter'd this Complaint.
“There lives a Nymph below the Skies,
“That Carries Witchcraft in her Eyes,
“No fond Addresses will she take
“From Lovers of a Mortal make:
“But turns her haughty Looks above
“Perhaps to Mars, perhaps to Jove;
“Disdaining Men she seems to mark
“None less than an Aetherial Spark,
“And of't you know We've born Disgrace,
“Despis'd for those of Human Race.
“If more such Nymphs get leave to Reign,
“Our Empire we shall ne'er maintain,
“But Goddesses resign their Birth,
“To the bright Morts who ply on Earth.
So Venus spoke with Envy fir'd—
The other Jealousie inspir'd,
And red with Rage, and big with Hate,
She thus pronounc'd the Virgin's fate,
“She whose aspiring thoughts can rise,
“To Tempt a Rival in the Skies,
“Who thus with Stubborn Pride neglects
“Th'Addresses of the Kindred Sex.

164

“Into a Tea-pot's Figure throun
“Shall still attend and serve her Own.
When now, her Doom was fix'd the Maid,
Before a Glass her Form survey'd.
Her Eyes that o'er her beauties range,
Too soon perceive the fatal Change;
She sees, she feels the dire Decay;
Grows cold and stiffens into Clay;
Extinguish'd bye the vital Fires,
And every crimson Blush retires.
The Well turn'd Waste in Canvas bound,
Shrunk to a little hollow round:
The Iv'ry Arm that in her side,
By chance she plac'd with comely Pride.
By Fate was in that Posture held
And in a Handle's form congeal'd—
Amaz'd with Horror and Surprise
She Lifts to Heaven her Watry Eyes;
Unpitying Heaven—and Oh! She cried—
Her Mouth grew circular and wide
Her Lips, that once outvied the Rose,
Turn pale and in a Cover Close.
Her Tongue, which last in health remain'd,
And last its Suppleness retain'd.
With usual Pliance nimbly slips
To feel the Change, between her Lips,
But loosing there all Power to move,
Appears a Little knob above,
Which Helps as formerly to hide,
Seldom to hide the interior Side.
But what was chang'd in to the Spout,
The cautious Muse resolves with Doubt.
Uncertain whether 'twere the Nose,
Because from thence a Liquid flows.

165

Or Eyes because they oft reveal'd,
What hidden things the Lips conceal'd—
Howe'r it was, by Juno's Hand,
The Nymph a finish'd Teapot stands.
Now from the High Coelestial Plain
The Goddesses Confederate lean,
And with malitious Triumph they
Their Monument of Wrath survey;
Upon a stricter View they find
Some Parts remain unchang'd behind,
And with those Relicts of their Rage,
They furnish out an Equipage—
Part of the Scull, well temper's Clay,
Fell off and in a Slop-Dish lay:
Her polish'd Forehead being thought
Good Mettal, into Spoons were wrought.
Holes in the Heart where Secrets lay,
Became Receptacles for Tea,
The Tea as Secrets did of old
Drops out again before 'tis cold.
Her Lungs another Form receive
And in respiring Bellows heave
The Bellows still delight to blow
Coals that beneath the Kettle Glow.

166

The DEATH of the JUST.

Oh happy Hour, when the unshackled Soul
Free from the clog of dull mortality
Shall leave this muddy earth and soar to Heaven
Soon as the Appointed term of Life expires
Fixed in the Records of Eternity.
The Sovereign Arbiter of Heaven and Earth
Strait calls a bright angelick squadron forth
And gives the great Command “Ye sons of Light
“Bring home yon dying Saint.” With joy they go
Immediate, with immeasurable speed,
From heavens eternal Domes they wing.

Meanwhile the Soul on the thin Edge of Life,
Sits ready to receive the heavenly summons.
The dying Pulse now beats the last alarm
Then fails at once. And now the soul forsakes
Th'untenantable Abode, and takes its Flight.
With joy the Angelick convoy strait receive
And guard it round. The Prince of Hell in vain
Gnashes his iron teeth; and all the Powers
Of Darkness filled with Rage behold and pine:
Fain would they intercept the heavenly Flight
But dare not, quell'd with terror from above.
Now th'unembodied Saint leaves this low Earth
Which lessens in the view, with Joy and Wonder
And Pity on this grovelling World looks down
From the exalted Height; “Farewell vain World
And ye delusive Joys: Are these the things
That charm fond Mortals? Farewell all my Sorrows,
Gladly I leave with you my Sins behind.”

Then Joyful it ascends. Its noblest powers
All in a Moment strength'ned and enlarg'd
Free from each claim of Sin and full of God.

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The scales that here spread o'er the mortal Eye
Fall off at once; the now enlightened love
Sees far and wide, beyond the utmost ken
Of Mortal Flight, still bright'ning as it goes.

Thousands of new Ideas sudden throng
Into th'enlarged Mind; the Universe
In its capacious sphere all open lies.
A thousand shining worlds at once appear.
The disencumbered soul with vast Delight
Now wonders at itself; then looks about
Wondering at all things round; the lucid skies
Which here on Earth like twinkling atoms seem'd
Fix'd in the azure Firmament of Heaven,
Now nigh at hand appear huge worlds of light
Hanging in fluid Aether; while around
Attendant Planets in bright order move
With Mutual Attractions, and observe
Constant, God's great original command.

And now arriv'd upon the milky way
(So mortals call the high aethereal Road)
All pav'd with bright innumeral stars
Which mingling Blazes cast a doubtful Light
To those that from Earth's distant turret's gaze,
There the triumphant Soul astonished flies
From Orb to Orb; nor yet does lose its way;
Born by its heavenly Guide with swiftest speed
Safe through the vast immensity of Space;
Whilst all along the airy Habitants,
That in the boundless Fields of Aether stray
Salute th'illustrious stranger as it goes.

168

And now behold the Empyreal Haven appears
Resplendent Palace of the eternal being;
For though his mighty Essence infinite
Transcends all Bounds of Space, he there displays
His brightest Beams, there keeps his blessed Court
With millions of adoring Angels crown'd.

All far and wide the dazzling glories shine:
Transported with the view, the eager soul
Still as it nearer draws its joyful Pace
Quickens, and with seraphic ardour burns.
Hark now the heavenly music fills its ears
It feels unwonted Vigor and afresh
Springs up, enchanted with the new Delight.

Now the celestial convoy safe arriv'd
Deliver their blessed charge, which straight appears
Accountable before the Throne of God,
And there with awful Reverence prostrate fall
Meanwhile the great Emmanuel who enthroned
In sociate glory with the Father sits
To him presents the joyful trembling soul
And now the sovereign Power gives the word;
“Well done thou faithful Servant, enter now
Into the Master's Joy: here safe abide
In these resplendent Mansions full of light,
Waiting the glorious Resurrection day.

The happy sentence past, without delay
Th'enfranchised soul its joyful station takes
Among the perfect Spirits of the Just
Bless'd seraphs now rejoice and kindred saints
Sing holy anthems: This they did before,
Upon its first conversion here on Earth.

169

And now again with heightened joys they sing
Ten thousand Welcomes to the happy Guest
Then all in grateful Hallelujahs join
To God and to the Lamb. The new come Soul
Soon learns the heavenly airs and bears its part
In that celestial Concert, all inflam'd
With pure Immortal Love; It's Life is Love.

No longer now it tastes the distant stream
But, glad, approaches to the Fount of Life
There sweetly plunges in extatick joys,
Lost in a vast immensity of Bliss.
There God is All in All, Supreme of Beings
Whose Glories who can tell? The Great Three-One
Before Whose Throne the prostrate seraphim
Veiling their dazzled Eyes with gorgeous Wings
Intranced in everlasting Raptures lie.

And there Divine Immanuel sits enthron'd
Bless'd Image of paternal Deity
In whom th'insufferable Glory shines
Sweetly attempted to created view,
And fills the boundless Realms with Light and Joy.

No sun is there to shine, or did the sun
Mere shed its Beams, he soon would disappear
Lost in superior splendours and abashed
Hide his diminish'd Head like the dim Light
Of earthly glowworms, or the glimmering Blaze
Of Tapers in the Sun's meridian Ray.

In these bless'd Regions th'unembody'd soul
Triumphant dwells, waiting the happy time
When the deserted Body, its Partner dear

170

Which now lies smouldering in gloomy grave
Death's Captive, shall incorruptible arise
In Glory with celestial Radiance clad.

All after that is one eternal Day,
An undisturbed scene of endless joys
And bless'd seraphic Raptures ever new.

And now all Praise be to that Saviour given
Who when the earthly Eden we had lost
To new transcendent glories hath advanc'd
Our fallen nature and hath open'd wide
Heaven's everlasting Doors: cheerful to Thee
I yield myself; Make me for ever Thine
Apply the glorious Merit of Thy Blood
And the sweet Powers of Thy Celestial Grace.

Then welcome Death, the short but gloomy Path
To that bright World above. Shall I now fear thee?
Where is thy sting? The grisly Terror once
Of Nature, now becomes the highest Gain.
O for a lively Faith! some sweet foretaste
Of those celestial Joys! Then will I bid
This flatt'ring world adieu and take my flight,
Leaving my Sins and Sorrow in Thy Grace.