An Irregular ODE,

To Mr. WALTER BOWMAN, Profeffor of the Mathematicks. Occafion'd by his objecting against my giving the Name of HiLLARIUS to Aaron Hill Efq;

I

Own the Name, which to my Muse
(owes Birth,
Is far beneath the mighty Wearer's worth
But fay, what Means can tortur'd Wit invent,
Charms to defcribe which in Idea pain?
Can Reading fhow a Word of fuch extent,
To grafp a Glory Thought can fcarce contain?
To me, impoffible it seems :

But Thou! alas! art far remov'd from Me by vaft

Unskill'd in Science, in rude Ignʼrance bred,
Unhappy that I am,

(For mine is not the Blame)

Learning's fweet Paths I ne'er was taught to

(tread. But if fuch Force in well-plac'd Letters dwells Which can all Heaven Epitomize, Contract Immenfity to narrow Space,.

Wide different Beauties in one Round comprize, And blend their Luftre in a mix'd Embrace; Thine is the Art, great Bard! and thine the pow'r(ful Spells.

Thou! who canft travel Nature's Secrets o'er, And all Philofophy's dark Depths explore! Thou! who to Worlds unknown canft point' (the way,

L

And to benighted Reafon lend a Ray,
To guide the Wand'rer led too long astray,
Do Thou exert thy oft-try'd Skill !
And what might thousand Volumes fill
(Yet Language feem unable to discharge)
In one all-meaning Fiat fpeak at large.
By thy infpective Power,
Defcry fome lucky Hour,

When the floth-fhedding Sway of Saturn yields
To Mercury's infpiring Reign,

When vigorous Planets rule the Azure Fields,' And warmly actuate Man's inventive Brain; Study can know no nobler Aim,

Than to find out fome comprehenfive Name For Him, whom to admire, is the best Plea for

(Fame.

A Name it must be, which implies
At once the Wonders of his Soul and Eyes!

Several OCCASIONS.

Cherubial Sweetnefs! Godlike Majefty!
Numberless Myriads of Divinities,

3

Which, fparkling, in his Looks, his Words, his

(Works, we fee:

Harmonious let it be in Sound,

Yet with Solemnity abound;

With Heaven-tun'd Notes adorn the nervous

(Senfe,

Soft as his Voice, but lofty as his Mien:
Each thrilling Syllable pleas'd-Awe impart,
Which thro' the Ear, may strike the Heart
With rapt'rous Tremblings; touch the Strings
(of Life,

Make Extafy within it felf at ftrife "Twixt Tenderness and Reverence: To the Mind's Eye make every Glory seen, And the wrapt Soul feel all his Force, tho' Worlds (fhould rush between!

But if thou feekft what Learning cannot fhow,
For all in vain, I fear, is human Art,
To the great Source of perfect Knowledge go;
Shake off Mortality, and on a Beam

Of tow'ring Thought, fwift thro' the Æther dart,
Where blazing Galaxies of Light,

Strike the aw'd Eye, and dazzle vulgar Sight; Nor, till thou reach the Throne of the Supreme, Let meaner Views retard th' advent'rous Flight. There, MOSES! DAVID! GIDEON! and the rest

Of the immortal Bleft,

Who by his deathlefs Lays more glorious Shine,
Will hail thy glad Approach in fhoutingThrongs,
And bid thee welcome to the Realms divine;
Both Saints and Angels forward thy Request.
(Angels are his Admirers too,

And copy Hallelujahs from his Songs)
Nor fhall thy Wishes vainly fue;
A 2,

Thi

Th' Almighty's Self will fmile with pleas'd re

And give thy daring Genius this reward:
Of all who Tribute paid,
Of Thee it fhall be faid,

(gard,

Heaven's darling Care ftands all to thee confeft, Thou know'ftHim moft, and can't defcribeHim (beft. But till that Day, my boastful Pride fhall live! A Pride, fo vaft, as Empire could not give ! Far as Creation reaches, fhall the Name Eliza chofe, tune the whole Voice of Fame; The wafting Air fhall bear the Accents round, And all the wide Expanfe echo the rapt'rous (Sound: Thro' every Orb, HILLARIUS fhall be heard, And Altars to his fhining Virtues rear'd ; HILLARIUS there, as here, be understood, By all theWife, the Brave, the Great, and Good.