The pow'r that animates the stars on high, How OCEAN's tides are swelled by Luna's rays? 155 160 Whence rainy clouds?the hail and flaky snow?- 165 YOUR ship was now at anchor safely placed: And laws, for want of due attention, failed. A veil she o'er her modest features threw ; From gates of AUTUMN suddenly withdrew, 170 175 Where, in the SOUTH, the Zodiack downward bends, IN silence she Liguria's city* gained: The mansion entered that, her friend, contained, Those calculations which, amid surprise, 185 Th' ingenious Memphis viewed with eager eyes: 190 The shades of darkness o'er the SUN's bright ray; And Phoebe's phases, when her brother's sight Ar length Astræa's fulgent face he spied, f 195 Advanced; and from the sand effaced his plan. 200 To him th' IMMORTAL thus herself addressed: "O Mallius !-goodness glowing in thy breast, "In whom the ancient equity is found, "And manners of a better age abound, .66 Enough of study ;-leave the TUNEFUL THRONG: 205 "From me already thou hast been too long. "The laws recall thee: come, resume thy pow'r, And, on thy former bays, fresh lustre show'r. "Who bounds e'er set to serving human kind? Herself, to limits, PRUDENCE ne'er resigned. "With many, thou hast early honours viewed; "But solely merit finds the same renewed: "The repetition approbation shows, "And VIRTUE fondly claims what FORTUNE chose. 2 M 210 * Milan. "Dost think that NATURE opes a finer field, 215 Plunged EASTERN navies in the deep profound, 220 "The citizens in vessels bore away, "And Athens saved from flames and Persian sway? 66 66 "And years of silence anxiously maintained, Disgraceful luxury was unrestrained. "To such a prince, who service would deny? "Could merit better for reward rely? Of highest folly he should be accused, 225 230 235 "Who, joined with Stilicho, his pow'rs, refused. "In council, or where floats the martial crest, "What former age another such possessed? "Stern Brutus would be pleased beneath his sway; "Fabricius easily the court obey; 240 "And e'en the rigid Catos feel inclined, "To subjugate their independent mind. "Our sister, CLEMENCY, thou may'st observe, To blunt the cruel sword, strains ev'ry nerve; * Themistocles. "And PIETY is lifted from the ground, "With PEACE, triumphantly FAITH shows delight: "To quit the solitude in which I dwell? 1 245 250 255 "Must I beneath your standards move once more? 260 "I solely have, a length of time, with toil, 66 My cares employed to furrow up the soil; "To learn its nature:-study rocks and trees; "And sloping hills for fruitful vines alone. "Shall I, a veteran, again be found, 265 "Where clarions' roar spreads trembling terrours round? "An aged seaman, from the seas, retired, "To plough, as formerly, the DEEP, required! "Must I once more to FORTUNE trust my fame; "Risk glories safe and place in doubt my name? 270 "Brisk steeds contemn the feeble guide's command, 275 "And bows, awhile unstrung, resist the hand. "But JUSTICE to refuse, I will avow, "There's no excuse: her claims we must allow. " 'Twas you, mankind, from woods and caves first drew, "And made them turpitude with horrour view: "The laws respect; and banish from the mind, May bo.dly rush through flames or liquid plains: A second, Carthage, ruled, and Libya's shore : And triforked Sicily's rich fields and rills, 280 285 290 295 Or sounds with dashing of th' Ionian wave. Th' extended sway and burden of affairs, Nor shook your firmness, nor perplexed your cares. 300 But, like Olympus' summit, raised on high, Which leaves a space below, where tempests fly, No low'ring clouds intrude their sullen mien ; Unmoved, the mount hears rain in torrents pour, 305 |