ESTC- 
 
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 v o v ac; i: q f lii 
 
 A P o K M. 
 IN NINE BOOKS. 
 
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 THE REVERES D D. LLOYD, 
 
 LANBIS I 
 
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 179 2. 

 
 PR 
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 THE Author of the following Poem 
 is not infenfibfe to its defects : What claim 
 it may have to patronage, the public have the 
 (blc right to determine. The fubject is uni- 
 vcrfi!, and may prove interefting to the candid 
 reader. If the execution be deftitute of in- 
 trinijc merit, no apology to the public can be 
 available j K otherwife, no apology is needful. 
 
 LtVftMi May i, 1792. 
 
 A 2 
 
 i5694
 
 DESIGN OF THE FRONTISPIECE. 
 
 VIEW of a rough tempeftuous bay, bounded by rocks 
 and precipices. Upon the fandy beach a few bold Artifts are 
 employed in erecting a tower; oppofed, indeed, to Superftition, 
 but dedicated to Error. One of the party appears digging, to 
 undermine a venerable Gothic pile confecrated, to Religion — 
 Another boafts of * gunpowder, and bears a flaming torch in his 
 right hand. At the foot of a mountain, in a grotto, or cawe, 
 lies the Scene of the Poem — whence a fhip appears, launching 
 out into the ocean, tofled dreadfully with the boiftcrous billows. 
 Time ftands aloft on a precipice, commanding the whole fcene — 
 while Hope directs down a golden chain, from its celeftial 
 anchor, and extends it to men. At a diftant profpeft, over the 
 main, a ftately veffel appears, riding under ful fail, into the de- 
 lightful haven : beyond which may be faintly difcovered, Ely- 
 fian Groves—emblems of Paradife, penetrated by the cheering 
 beams of an immortal fun. 
 
 * Vide p. 54.
 
 
 THE 
 
 VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 BOOK T 
 
 B
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 Introduction and Invocation of the Supreme Being. Ihe 
 Subject propofed. Life's Voyage univerfaL A View 
 of the Chr'rfiian making his Port in Safety ; — whence 
 the Author's Wifh. 'The moji confpicuous among the 
 various Voyagers briefly particularized under the dif- 
 ferent Denominations o/PRlNCES,ST ATESMEN, HE- 
 ROES, politicians i— : their Claim to an Immor- 
 tality of Fame ajprted in each of thefe Characters , who 
 are not more confpicuous on account of elevated Statists 
 than they arejtgnalfor eminent Virtues. 
 
 " i
 
 THE 
 
 VOYAGE OF LIFE, 
 J POEM. 
 
 BOOK 1. 
 
 i— 
 
 LIFE, and its fates I fing. Arul Life abound 
 With ever-changiag fates of good and ill. 
 The great Proprietor has phe'd the good 
 Againft the evil, in Life's pond'rous feale, 
 And counterbalanced all our joys and woes 
 ne proportion to the prcicnt Hate. 
 
 BE(j N the fonr; : Awhile be far remote, * 
 Ye fons of jan ng Dil t draw near, 
 
 And give attention, yc whofc fouls arc form'd 
 
 • ♦*>•(.,*«, «< -;*«** fitrtmv -Otr. 
 
 •Ba To
 
 4 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 To wake to raptures with the living lyre ! ifc 
 
 And you of high degree, attend the mufe ! 
 Think not her theme beneath your nice regard : 
 The theme belongs to you : nor one exempt 
 Of all the human face. "Where'er the drain 
 Shall audience meet, be pure the lift'ning ear, 
 And fway'd by truth the heart with fov'reign rule t 
 For truth attention claims, and pure regard, 
 From fenators and kings. Urania ! ftoop, 
 And modulate my elfe difcordant fong — 
 Stoop from Parnaffus' lofty brow, and raife 20 
 An humble fuppliant all to thoughts fublime ! 
 Butchiefly THOU, ETERNAL SOURCE OK light! 
 Supreme Dictator of divined truth! 
 Whofe fole infpiring spirit from above 
 True wifdom iheds on heav'n- directed minds, 
 Propitious hear ! And with thy facred beams 
 Illume my inward parts ! Thy kindly aid 
 Afford, to plan Life's Voyage. Teach me how 
 Its devious dangers and ill-boding blafts, 
 Myfelf to fhun, and point the fafer way 30 
 
 To heedlefs man : fo (ball the tuneful drain, 
 By Folly's flippant fons howe'er dei'pis'd, 
 From all the wife and good attention claim. 
 
 Unless the lute deceive my wakeful ear, 
 Which pays attention to the pleafing found 
 C)f tuneful accents, in melodious chime, 
 
 The
 
 HOOK !. 4 
 
 The fong, heroic number* (lull exalt, 
 
 • mfooancc harmonious to the fcnley*. uo\ . 
 Soft as the lighing gale in fun pic themes ; 
 But when fublimc the tul jee!, -then the vcrlc |C 
 Shall emulate the loud refounding main I — 
 That mighty world of waters oft I deem 
 Of Life fit emblem, and its boiftcroui blafts, 
 ©ppofing tempcih, and conflicting waves. 
 
 The mufe full-oft old Ocean txaverfes; 
 Or coolly fits befide the lucid ft ream ; 
 Or woos reflection in the mountain grot. 
 From rivers, dclls„and rock*;, the vocal lay 
 Shall pour refponfivc to the plaintive lyre — 
 The Theme (as yet unittn&te vocal reeds) 
 "Life's VovAct !— itsdclufive pr^efts, hcrp«4 
 Surrounding dangers, wrecks—and final end." \ 
 The thcme is copious, and my kindling mule 
 
 »i ardour bids me " write i" 1 he fubjeel teems 
 Not lefs capacious than the rolling floods, 
 
 ..ch claming on the cliff— ftruck back — recoil 
 la madding, foaming, fury furging round. 
 
 Like tbat t St. John in holy vinon faw, 
 The world's a "glafly fea," a perilous deep, 
 
 « Omnia fed nuaeris vocam coucordibui, 
 Atquc fcno quaxunq. cinunt imitantur, ct apt a 
 
 ■ ->rutn facie, ct qu*(jto camuau ore ViDA.
 
 6 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 By tumults tofs'd arid huge difafters dire ! 60 
 
 Its proud tempeftuous billows oft arc heard, 
 Refounding far, in Contemplation's- car ! 
 More mutinous- and mad, iri Reafon*s eye, 
 Than Ocean ii a ftorm, appear the crews 
 Embark'd wit6 frantic Folly — fraught with hopes, 
 Steering o'er all the kindling waves of vice 
 Upon thia " r Seaof Glafs*, mingled with fire ! w 
 What fcene can fitter reprefent the world 
 Its fiery trials, and its final end, 
 Than fueha molten sea, feen from the throne jt> 
 Where Mercy and Omnipotence prefide ? 
 Its voyagers are men, intent in heart 
 The surging billows boldly to outbrave ! 
 in queftof gain they fcan each diftant fhore, 
 And, void of prudence, as fecurely fait 
 As if embark'd in Argo, 'mid the fkiel ! 
 — Full many a fatal wreck alarms my fears, - 
 
 Admonifhing in Virtue's courfe to fteer, 
 Let go the fond purfuit of earth ; betimes 
 " Weigh anchor, and fome happier dime eftple-re." 
 So fung the plaintive bard immortal Youwc j Mi 
 Whom at an humble diftance I purfue. 
 So might I haply catch fome vital fpark 
 Of his celeftial fire to warm my ftrain. 
 
 I 5 
 
 * Rev. xiv. a. . h 
 
 Should
 
 BOOK I. | 
 
 occccd in this advcnt'rous talk. 
 Nor only trace Lite's various chart, but gain 
 Heaven, I'd there attune 
 Some sweejt angelic lyre to loftier notes, 
 Or higher themes intent, and oft refound 
 
 joy ful triumph through trTcchoing ikies ! 93 
 Small ca*«e, as yet, to ling in luch a drain 
 I-»fe\4Wbipus Voyage but in part perform'd. 
 
 '' 
 This Voyage is purfuM by m*> by all: 
 Ml+***\Atm*h profeffions, bi%b and l$w % 
 Eminences, parties, feels, and nations— all 
 Who Earth inhabit— ail her anient ions, 
 Encircling round the wide terraqueous globe, 
 Are gliding imooth to that eternal port I 
 Swift, but infcftfcUc> they float away, 
 Home on the rapid for t ace of Life's firearm— is* 
 Soon Time will drop the high expanded fails, 
 And Death uili lainl us on the deftm'd lb ore. 
 
 Nop E there triumphant as the Chriilian fcen : 
 fie fafety ghdts amid furrowodiag, wrecks \ 
 HiscoiUy bafkifwi&taiiui^, watts fceuce 
 O'er tumid waves-i-and tar hekind be leaves 
 In long fuccei&on all the Ihiiiinp fornc, 1 j 
 
 Stately advancing to the peaceful port ? — 
 Anon he gains the haven :— AH is clear; 
 Vncloudcd and Icrene his evening fmilcs, 1 10 
 
 B4 While
 
 8 THE VOYAGE* OF LIFE. 
 
 While an unfotring sun with cheering beams, 
 Enlightens all the ftrand with endlefs day ! 
 All heav'n, with welcome plaudits, hails him fafe 
 Arriv'd; and angels give him joy — nowrais'd 
 On footing firm — where fhipwreck is no more. 
 
 The Good Man is the heir of wifdom there, 
 However deem'd fanatical his- life,* 
 His end devoid of honor ! Guilt appall'd 
 Beholds his exaltation. Bigotry 
 Exclaims,.*' we fools, misjudging, doom'dhini down 
 ■*' To mifery ; how is he number'd now. 121 
 
 " Among the juft, and dignify'd a faint P* 
 Such honour ftill attends fair Virtue's fons: 
 So fure the Chriftian's courfe in glory ends; . 
 His is the better part, the purer blifs : 
 Allblifs befides, commix'd with vanity, 
 Muft end in woe. All riches* honours, crowns, 
 In eftimation here might fairly- Teem 
 The pittance of an hour :— compar'd with fuch 
 Inheritance on high,- their value finks, 130 
 
 Their luftre fades away. Thefe, when poiTefs'd, 
 Scarce worth enjoy ing.feem—fo fhprt their ftay, 
 So foon they take their flight, and often leave - 
 
 * The reflexion is introduced in reference to that remark- 
 able exclamation recorded in the book of Wifdom. cap. v. 4, 5. 
 
 , Their
 
 BOOK I. :it 9 
 
 Their rrtughty owner* poor. 
 
 To which immortal durance it anncx'J : 
 
 The treafures which old Time can ne'er corrode. 
 
 Be mine— an heart fincere, a gen'rou* mind, 
 Fraught with benevolence ami honcfty, 
 Nor destitute of poor Devotion's dow'r : 
 To fteer the coutfe of virtue be my choice; 140 
 My bark Religion ; Hcav'n the deftin'd mart ; 
 The rudder Reaibn;.aod the fturdy oar* 
 Shall refolution ply: The fwcllirrg fails, 
 Wov'n in the loom of meek, ey'd Piety, 
 Of texture firm, (hall open to the (k 
 Wafted before a gentle gale of Love;— 
 The bark £lidc ftnootho'cr all th'cxpanfive icene, 
 In ftcady courfe, obedienrto the hand 
 That rolls the fplendtd conftellatiuns round ! 
 My mate, Experience, fhall conduct the cooifc; 150 
 And Truth, ingenious pilot, guide the helm ; 
 ithy magnetically, points to the pole 
 Unvariably— -on Sion v ill! » • ,. 
 
 Should florin* atfail (like loud Euroclydon, 
 
 • far to diflant 
 Whofe fatal Typhon and Ecncphia, dire 
 Surcharg'd, another deluge fecm to pour) 
 Religion fafely brooks the fullen ftonn : 
 
 B 5 Ktr
 
 id THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Her facred chart* and compafs aid to fteer 
 
 Unerring, and the courfe to happinefs 160 
 
 Direft, unvarying from the given point — 
 
 Till fafe into the harbour *}- floats the hark : — 
 
 Now foon at large, befide the peaceful fhore ! 
 
 Hope calling anchor near the ftable rock, 
 
 What time the deep is in confufiori caft, 
 
 And all the wild waves into tempeft driv*ri, 
 
 Stedfaft and hVd, fcarce feels the idle fhock -^ ' 
 
 Laughs at the tumult, and lays fiege to Heay'n, 
 
 And fafely gains the citadel at laft ; 
 
 Then, like fome hero, in the conqueft falls, 170 
 
 And is transform'd to Love ! In thofe fair realms 
 
 No rugged rocks, no Danger's direful train 
 
 Of furious hurricanes fhall more oppofr. 
 
 Nor fadd'ning clouds of Evil intervene, 
 
 But one unruffled calm enfue, ferene 
 
 As the ftill dawn of Heaven's eternal day. 
 
 Amid Life's Voyagers, perchance, are found 
 " Men of renown," of fair immortal fame, 
 By Virtue fir'd to quell the hoftile foe, 
 
 * The Chart refers to the Bible j and the Compafs to the Mo- 
 ral Decalogue. 
 
 f In this metaphor, Death is confulered as the harbour to 
 which Hope fupports us ! but hope can arrive no further. 
 
 I And
 
 KpOk 1. n 
 
 And cruel ihfcord to conrcrt to peace ! 180 
 
 To lave a nation, and reclaim a world 
 By counfcls fage— or brave advent'rous deeds ! 
 Yet ihcfe, of fsnjling peace enamour'd moft, 
 And of "good-will tomeo," Hcavtu'sUarling theme, 
 Procure unfading laurels for their brow. 
 Such, kmtond, is thy great illuflrious GEORGE ! 
 Pacific prince ! Britannia's joy and boaft ! 
 And tuch thy glorious Pitt ! In early life 
 Potlefling all the virtues of his Sire ! 
 Above his ye*rs politically wife. — ic o 
 
 Thy gallant Rodney fuch ! And Elliot* brave! 
 The tirft the viclor of the Gallic fleet ! 
 The next the vanquifher of Spanifh arms ! 
 Their naval forces, machinations, gold, 
 ConfomM before his awful enginery 
 Like Sodom's Towers when Heaven commene'd 
 
 the war. 
 This grand event wakes up to memory 
 The name of Curtis ! long to be rever'J, 
 In whom true valour and humanity 
 Comhin'd, each aggrandizing each, (hone out :oo 
 Effulgent as the lolmin kene ! when lo ! 
 Like kind relenting Heaven, his goodncis pluck.' J 
 Hi* conquer*d (ocs f like brands, out of the flame. 
 
 • Although Lord Hcathficid it now no more, his name de- 
 fer v a to be commanicatcd to poftcrity \» irh honour. 
 
 B6 With
 
 12 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 With glorious names like thefe, and martial 
 deeds, 
 The poet often : dignifies his fong. 
 Thefe claim a lofty lay. Gould I command 
 Sublimer {trains, exalted as their fame, 
 The rocks and hills, the continents and {bores* 
 Encircling round Britannia's- favoured realm. . 
 Should echo to the ftrain ! — Accept the will, 210 
 ■ Vi&orious chiefs ! nor deem the tribute mean ! 
 The will fincere in heaven acceptance finds/ 
 Your worth eniures an immortality—^ 
 And fate affirms, — Your fame {hall never die. 
 
 The heart that glows not at heroic deeds 
 Is icycold, beyond the mufes power, 
 And'all their f6ns, to warm ! There is a race, 
 Of frozen geniufes, whofe heavy ears,* 
 Like Midas*, ihut out melody : averfe 
 To every finer movement of the mind. 220 
 
 Their full'en, mean, and proud aufterity, 
 I praife not. Others fame, however juft 
 The tribute, wounds their narrow* heart. With thefe 
 Mufic is void of charms. True eloquence 
 On them is loft : And pureft worth unwept* 
 Unhonour'd dies \ ! give the Stoic up, 
 Beft fitted in fome warmer clime to baflc, 
 Where Apathy hcrfelf too much may feel. 
 
 • Aures Affininas habet Rex Midas. OviD. 
 
 1 Turn,
 
 BOOK I. tj, 
 
 Turn, vagrant mufe ! from fuch indignant turn, 
 And much enftmeur'd of thy fubjec*, ponr 25: 
 The grateful tribute of thy well-meant praifc. 
 Blame not the mnfe for chanting werl-ineant praife, 
 Nor deem her paralitica! ; (he l'corn* 
 The wretched appellation, and aflurM 
 That Virtue owns her lay, fecurely lings. 
 
 Wnit.B foVrcign Vijitue guards Britannia*) 
 bark, 
 Beneath Heaven** watchful eye, fmall is our caufe 
 To dread th*ailaults of ill. If true the creed,* 
 
 tue and Vice are Empire's life and death r" 
 Long lire with Virtue ! this alone fecures 240 
 Succefs throughout LrtY* Voyage ; this alone 
 Hurls Britain-** Vengeful Thunder on her Foes, 
 Extends her Empire over fpacious Seas, 
 And guards ou« Nation-more than brazen wall*, 
 Gr Amazonian fhiclds. — This, this alone 
 Exalt*, ennobles, and gives date to fame; 
 Such fame at juftly waits thy matchlcfs worth, 
 Illudriouc Youth, to whom Britannia 1 
 Her lafcty late, when tilting on the gulph 
 Of yawning fate, and 'g.iinft a world in arms 550 
 W aging dread war* ! E*cn then 'twas thine to (ave 
 
 ♦ The Statcfman'i creed, ia Yornc. 
 ' • Alluding to the erer memorable crifu of the French, Spa- 
 , Dutch, aad American war with England. 
 
 From
 
 £4 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 From wreck our {lately bark. With prudent ikiU 
 
 And god r like refolution Hill be't thine 
 
 To guide her helm, while up the veflel buoys, 
 
 And Commerce fpreads anew her iwelling fails. 
 
 Virtue effectual proves to eternize 
 The monarch's, ftatefman's, and the patriot's name, 
 And fet the world on fire ! commanding awe, 
 And rev're nee, and efteem from ev'ry heart, 
 While every tuneful tongue fuch worth attefts, 2.60 
 Exulting ! — This the prime prerogative 
 And glory of mankind, that Virtue reigns 
 Prime Patronefs of Liberty ! True guide 
 To honour and the fplendid dome of Fame ! 
 The mufe, cheer'd with her fmiles, afpires to ling 
 Advent'rous, what ingenuous Candour prompts, 
 " God and our Rights, we boldly ftill maintain, 
 (t 'Twere impious in Old England to be fad." 
 
 Hail land of facred Liberty ! Thy flreets 
 Abound with plenty, like the copious horn ! 270 
 Salvation Hands for bulwarks to thy walls, 
 And Mercy fheds beneficence around, 
 While Commerce fpreads the fwelling fheets, and 
 
 bears 
 Thy rich abundance to a thoufand fhores. 
 
 Happy
 
 * BOOK t. i S 
 
 Hafpy the favour'd fons of Albion's ifle, 
 Did they their privileges know to prize ! 
 Thrice happy, tmder fndt a lenient Prince, 
 Uniting commerce, liberty, and law, 
 To toleration, property, and peace :— 
 Troe Liberty ! the bard's enchanting theme ! 180 
 The patriot's glory ! the mechanic's boaft ! 
 The nurfe of Science ! the prevailing fpur 
 To willing fntfuftry and aftful Art ! 
 Tis thii fuppom greatGe cfryV ^srone, and fpreaik 
 Britannia's fame to regions faT remote. 
 In fuch a reign, die nation's wealth arid weal 
 Join hand in hand. — While awful Jufticc fills 
 The thrcnr, augurt, to guard our rights, or (lands 
 Steady befulc the helm, on either hand 
 Goodnefs and mercy fmile *— Oft to the weal aoo 
 Of Church and State the ear of Royalty 
 Attentive turns, obedient to the voice » 
 
 Of Wifdom : — To the plea of Candour, Peace, 
 And Toleration, never (hot. — What time 
 The numerous petTS of Britain's favour'd rfle. 
 Fall by the throne, rnatorc in council fage, 
 Weigh Kmpires, and their fates, in Juflice' fcalt; 
 And politics and ecroal laws diicufs; 
 Survey the ancient Sot's prediction full 
 Accomplifhed,* Imperial Snlcm lift, 300 
 
 And fhout for joy !— While fair Euro pa's kiugs 
 The Church encircle round in Safety's arms, 
 - Itiuah xlix. tj. 
 
 In
 
 *6 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE; 
 
 In Aljmon's Prince a " Father" fhe defcriesj* 
 And looks up rev'rent to the fceptre'd hand, 
 Imploring bleifings on the Regal head, 
 Numerous as dew-drops which the lawns adorn> 
 While cruel defpotifm diftains the deeds 
 Heroic oft mifdeem'd, Humanity; 
 Augufta's monarchxrowfts with lafting fame. 
 
 i ■ » - 
 
 Thus Virtues godlike Sons immortal grew 310 
 Jn old Saturnian times of fair renown, 
 As full-meuth'd Fame echo'd their noble deeds . 
 Through diftant long pofterities — from age 
 Remote to age, from fire to fon borne down, 
 To charm our ravifh'd ears.—Such only ftill- 
 Deferve in future annals to furvive, 
 Bearing the palm of Immortality. — 
 Nor to the mufe need thefe bequeath the truft. 
 Of writing on the Rolls of Fame their name : — 
 Their deeds ferve oft t'immortalize her fong ! 320, 
 Honor, to Virtue join'd, proclaim afar 
 The man of worth, and innate excellence, 
 Who only unto Vice a ten or proves; 
 Whofe merit builds a live-long monument, 
 More durable than Trajan's pillar, worn 
 With venerable age ; or th'obeliik 
 Of that ambitious queen -\* Auguflus? bands 
 Urg'd to fad fuicide ; or Cairo's fcenes, 
 
 •\ Cleopatra, 
 
 In
 
 BOOK L 17 
 
 la tfeod-capp'd pyramids on Memphis* plain, 
 Of prior date to alt the works of Art, 330 
 
 Seeming to bid defiance bold to time ! 
 Thefe fhall decay, and not a trace remain 
 Of their once-boaitcd grandeur ; while the fon* 
 Of true heroic Virtue, men approv'd 
 For fteaJy temp' rate zeal, and fortitude* 
 In Freedom's or Religion's facred caufc, 
 Not in the Senate or the Church alone 
 Shall (nine pre-eminent, and juftly claim 
 This nether world** applaufc : — A nobler meed, • 
 And far more lading, fhall their Virtues crown: 340 
 Their record it on high. Heaven pays regard - 
 To all whofe lives and actions thither tend : 
 And truth is pledged to give the «* faithful** few, 
 Who well employed the 4< talent* of their powtr, 
 And temper juAice oft with rr.ilJcll mercy, , 
 
 A feat as fplendid as the firmament. 
 And durable as God's eternal throne. 
 
 THE
 
 j 
 
 h" .icnA taxi K> 
 
 
 ..' v dim-fit
 
 THE 
 
 VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 IOOK II.
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 Meprefentations of the various Voyagers of Life continued* 
 
 — viz, PARTIZANS, DESPOTS, EPICURES, 
 BACCHANALIANS, LIBERTINES. — In the De- 
 scription of Libertines a Digrefpon on the Eternity of 
 Hell Torments is introduced ; with a Reprebenjion of 
 their Felly w&a would feem wifcr than Divine Wifdom,. 
 and more lenient, in the Punijhment office, than the 
 original Fountain of Goodnefs and Love, A Solijoouy^ 

 
 THE 
 
 VOYAGE OF LIFE, 
 
 BOOK II. 
 
 FULL frcqcent, In Life's Voyage, men are fee* 
 Of jarring lcntiments, contrarious views, 
 Contending intcrcfts, and oppofing fc hemes — 
 Purfuing Happincfs each various way : 
 But flill the Goddcfs, like fome modeft Fair, 
 Shuns their approach, yet gives a winning fmile 
 To tempt them forward in the dubious chace. 
 Each votary fome feparate courfc purh: 
 Yet each is confident that he is right, 
 And all befide* are wrong who contra-vcer 10 
 
 I'rom different lcntiments, or other views, 
 Oppos'd to bis infallible decide 
 Thus oft quack-dolors in Theology 
 
 Prefer! be
 
 22 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE, 
 
 Prefcribc as pofiti ve as could tke Pope ; 
 
 4< Take my catholicons, or go to hell : 
 
 " Expeft no health but under thefe prcfcriptions— » 
 
 " Firmly embrace my reprobating creed, 
 
 " Or be the reprobate thyfeU". w — Ah me, 
 
 Is this thy language, erring man ? Forbear ! 
 
 Check thy pre fuming arrogance, nor dare 20 
 
 To limit gracious Heaven. Haft thou beheld 
 
 The feal'd decrees, or read the rolls of Fate ? 
 
 Haft thou to the arcanum privy been, 
 
 Or fat in fynod as a god, when erft 
 
 The high determination was, "Let us 
 
 ** Make man V* Didft thou give ceunfel, " This 
 
 elea, 
 " That reprobate fhall prove ?" — Rather attend 
 To make thy calling and election furc. 
 Confult but reafon; Reafon will atteft, 
 And truth will certify, that all are wrong 30 
 
 Who dare confine Heaven's choice ft attribute, 
 Almighty Love* — All fuch, who diffonant. 
 And fierce contending, vary from the courfe 
 That facred chart directs, have mifs'd the way; 
 Perplex'd in folly's mazy labyrinths, 
 And loft :•— As all contending partizans, 
 All fools, may be, who leave the track of peace,— 
 Of pure fraternal love and tendernefs, 
 For noify difcordand fentential ftrife. 
 
 Some.
 
 Some, thrmagl tte bu.y tmn <* LltV, a* «mm t 
 In fordid fordid ameieiMigain, ' 4 , 
 
 To wide extremes, and clam'rousdiflbnance, 
 Till all their bram it vortical j and wrec*/d — 
 They (ink o'erladciVwuh anxie^l'^enfU id'iXj $ 
 Odiera as madly fnend, with idle toil,*Hp^««ft> « *- 
 What their progeaitom smartd wi«w eare, 
 And find an equal recompense in fate. — 
 So far'd old Roma* Aeets—O^caft abrupt 
 On Scylla's nigged feoJ^MTo pieces dafVd, 
 The frnttrcr*d veflbl funk beneath the waves ! 50 
 Aiotber, veering off a different eourfe, 
 Plung'd deep imo Chary rxl is* rapid whirl, 
 And f athom'd foon the vaft profundity ! 
 
 Atteko, my mule, to Candour's foothtrrg voice, 
 Soft whifpering benignly to Hie ear,— 
 « What though feme wander in a devknw way, 
 u Yet all are not, from Wifilom's ehart eltnrrrg'd ? 
 " These are who fleer the covrfe of Virtue, fb 
 " As nc'tr to deviate from her far red fide.**— 
 There are; and ftill to fuch the willing mufc 60 
 Pours the indebted tribute of her praifc. 
 Delightful taflt ! — But ah ! more gloomy fcenes 
 A white folicit thedefcriptive lay ; 
 Keluftant fhc obeys—but Truth demam 1 * 
 Her firfl regard, and dears her mental fight,
 
 04 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 While fhe, in vifionary profpeft, ihews 
 Life's Voyagers, and reads their various fates. 
 
 Marx we yon fleet of Despots, wafting wide 
 In all the horrid {age of tyranny 
 And ravenomglut of war — fee how they fpread 73 
 Terror an4 devaluation wide a,round ! 
 Nor Juftice fits, nor Honour, near their helm: 
 Fell as the untam'd Arab's race, they feem 
 Unihock'd by ads of cruelty, unmov'd 
 By Confcience 1 dictates ! — fome appear averfc 
 To tendernefs and pity's pleading tear ! 
 Another clan is feen, more hateful ilill, 
 Of petty-tyrants, with defpotic fway 
 -Faft'ning their iron talons on the poor. 
 Haplefs the wretch whom their narrow bounds 80 
 Fixes his habitation ! Pity here 
 Is fought in vain. Thefe neither know to weep, 
 Nor heed the widow's or the orphan's plaint. — 
 Such men ftern Juftice vows to place in front, 
 When full-arm'd Vengeance aims the deadly blow. 
 
 Equal to thefe are found— in politics- 
 Men of low treacherous defigns; inur'd 
 To vulpine wiles ; deep ikill'd in blackeft arts 
 "Of undermining policy and fraud : — 
 Mere cowards when deferted ; but if ftrong, 90 
 Beware ! when fuch are lifted near the helm, 
 
 They
 
 -BOOK II. 2s 
 
 d nlu&mHP 
 A> piou ling wolves devour the rleeey Hock*, M • 
 <J; talon'd vultures awe our fcathcr'd race, 
 So Cure dotkefe, lkiftaania, fiecct 
 And bear the plume from off thy lofty brow M* 
 Or worie— low difeariilnrough thy favomM realm, 
 Rearing the thonc ut'wuo ur near thy throne, 
 mi \jt ■■■ i— i—tWin ri n ffi~r 
 
 By ttrongcontrartoa»gwft», o'er (hallow founds, loo 
 Unfathorn'd deeps, and intcrpofir£rocWI*« 
 Adown the torrent of Contention borne,— 
 Bark joOling againft bark ! a fatal crnfli 
 Oft-times enfucsv— The )MllMWMrMrtMMr^l ,( 
 To Charon's boat, arc catt o: 
 
 .eras ■»■*■,■""* m*****utmw#* <N%: . 
 In Life's prcpoftcrotw Voyage you mnr f 
 Harm ** fons of Belial," impudent, atrftere 
 As churlifh Na l M i ■■§>! ** W^J tE tab ttfr**' 
 The grcatcft favour wMN ^i ^ jl^M i Ml, ' ' 
 Impertinent as he ; n< Mr^Wf '~Wfe' 
 
 To ftiend and foe arerfe ! If right I deem, 
 
 Some full i ii iim +m.m**m+m£tik* 
 
 Yet thefe, iadalgcn l <Hl iW llW I lUf 
 
 SomceravingapfMlWf a. 
 Of deep Intemperance! VMriW!balifl|t 
 Abandon'd of all good but lore of M 
 
 C And
 
 a6 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 And love of.felf, abus'd,- the worft of ills"! 
 
 There is, a race of gay convivial fouls, 
 
 Reverie of thefe" in mental qualities; 120 
 
 Yet nea-r of kin as children to their fires :— - 
 
 rForfpendthrift fons from fordid parents rife ! 
 
 Thefe launch in pleafure's courfe beyond the bound 
 
 Of fober reafon ; and obtain the name 
 
 Of Epicures — a title of fmall fame; 
 
 No more do thefe, like them of anci&nt date, 
 
 From whom their name defcends, of atoms dream; 
 
 Myfterious confluence; by Chance arranged 
 
 In order, and to living fubftances 
 
 Wondroufly fram'd.— More than a dupe were he 
 
 That could believe fuch old exploded creed : 131 
 
 Our modern Epicures regard it.not^ 
 
 More wife, and lefs inquiring, they defpife 
 
 The idle fearch of viliojVary truth, 
 
 And place their blifs in more fubftantial joys*! 
 
 Indulgent Providence is kind to all. 
 
 Though thoughtlefs Irreligion builds the houfe, 
 
 And Infidelity prefides within, 
 
 The board with teeming plenty oft abounds, 
 
 The vault with cheering wine. Thefe gifts defign'd 
 
 By bounteous Heaven t'excite returns of love 14a 
 
 And grateful thankfulnefs, are frequent turn'd 
 
 A bane to fuch infatiate appetites, 
 
 5\'lio only live to cram * with glut canine. 
 
 * Milton. 
 
 As
 
 n ir. 
 
 - are from harmlc 
 And ut'ct ara&ed,— -fo 
 
 The choiccft boon of lib' ral, providence. 
 When ill apply'd, pro\ 
 Intemperance deftroys more human lives 
 'Mian plague, volcano, famine, and the fvvoni. 1 53 
 
 truth has oe'er been queftion'd by I 
 Repeated fafts proclaim around "the world 
 
 our eyes:— 
 Survey, my mufe, thole fated epicures ! 
 Heboid excels abuling at their board 
 The copious gifts of 1 1 indulgent hand; 
 
 While bla pcrancc cvjvbearcr (lands, 
 
 Am! buxom goblut hands around; 
 
 Till- nature fails, o'ercharg'd to brook, the weight ! 
 Thcfe, captives made by every day's bequeft, 
 Obtain betimes an ample rccompcnfc : 
 
 th arms cncr\ 
 
 Suih. 
 
 oft the i . meets the ftorm, 
 
 plumb beneath the booming waves, 
 
 Tiii: daggering Voyagers fometimei appear 
 . 
 Rapt into fancy *d but 
 
 As the high-tlavour'd ine 
 
 catch, the repartee, the iprigktly joke, 1 
 
 C* Run
 
 28 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Run round ; and'full-mouth'd 'laughter, echoing loud 
 At every turn, -proclaims the " houfe of mirth." 
 To every eye the iparkling bowl appears, 
 Thefmiling glafles kifs each willing hand, 
 And ev'ry heart atteils the mighty joy. 
 lEntliufiaftic Ardour flirts around, 
 And (miles on every brow— Each feems, in turn* 
 A demi-god ! felf-worfhip'd, fe If- admiring, 
 Applauded and applauding— how they glow 1 80 
 In all the glee of gallantry, and wit 
 Obfcene, unpolifh'd puns, and humorous farce 
 Of ribaldry and fong. — Too oft, alas ! 
 Their cenfure on Religion falls, to fhame 
 The facred- caufe of Virtue ! But themfelvcs 
 .;jyiuft bear the fliame, and weight, of fuch their 
 
 crime. 
 'How little think they, that a future day 
 Is fwift approaching, which will give their joys 
 To heavinefs-j-, their mirth to fadd'ning wo ! 
 What recks it them? The " evil day" they flight, 
 And put the thought of forrow far remote. i^.r 
 Nor. deem they that a Client hand, unleen, ' 
 Minutely figures down the vaft arrear 
 :Jn. columns long and large — a dread amount ! 
 A fcore unheeded by the thoughtlefs " debtors ;" 
 The Creditor ** with ufury" demands 
 All to be paid, to the minuteft mite— * 
 
 -f Kocet empta dolofe voluptas. OvlD. 
 
 To
 
 BOOK II. 19 
 
 "£<• prifon clfc configns the ul,* 
 
 And who (hall then unbar the grating door 
 
 • — i clans: SCO 
 
 c your mad orgies ! c< 
 Nor Let Silcnus triumph in your train ! 
 You ftill arc men— let Reafon rcaifume 
 Her vacant feat, and prove you ftill arc men ! 
 
 t mean thofc unuarmonious choralles, 
 I.oud and vociferous ! but void of art ? 
 What means my penfive raufc tr prtarh to theft 
 As foon St. Anthony might fifties charm, 
 Or turn to convert* the furrounding rock.* f 
 They fools, caroufing, drown each l'erious thought;' 
 " Let's • y : — to-morrow we may die," an 
 
 Theix favorite duet Icems ? Heaven weeps to he 
 
 be/c barter Rxafon's fobcr joys — for what ? 
 nMfiUgkp* draught from dices cup — for feme— 
 Eternity's pure joy* for dregs of time — 
 A moment'^ pLu a date of wo, 
 
 ♦ In the celebration of tlie 3*(<-fa*(il*a among :! 
 Romans, the moA dating outrages «rrre committed unJr: 
 joint influence of fanaticism and *-ira-~<ill the Senate,by an edict, 
 abrogated th».feftrvaJ. Ck. de Leg. L. 2. C. 11. And, by 
 
 >u of aha catravagtnee and profligacy attending fuch a 
 btias, foaaeaf the moft daring aW/.//: arc, in every age, urged 
 00 to their unhappr fate Bat the penalty here alluded to » 
 evidently of another kaad. Howcvec, this rcmaak may juftify 
 the ufe of the \trm, <;i \u prefect pofuwtu 
 
 C Nop
 
 go THE VOYAGE OF LTFE. 
 
 Nor the fe alone — but all the giddy bands, 
 Careering in the ilippery paths of Vice, 
 Are culpable before Heaven's wakeful eyes, 
 Yet, vain delufive hope, they inly fay, 22c 
 
 " No eye beholds us — * Heaven regards it not;" 
 And oft in wanton pleafure's antic maze, 
 Like fairy elVes -j- in many an airy ring I 
 
 Dance their fantaftic meafures to the moon, - ?. 
 With jocund jollity frifking around 
 Xip-toe ! Too fhort the day' — their revelries 
 Invoke the fuccours of the filerrt nigbt, 
 And then, but ill conceal'd fuch odious guilt : 
 Nor-mafty nor pageant halls fhall fkreen it long— 
 'Tis then the ions of Riot mufter forth 230 
 
 Their forces, and purfue the inceffant range 
 Amain— full fraught with petulance and wine, 
 Which vice enflames :— nor think- they that unfe'en, 
 In the full cup the fatal poifon lurks, 
 Delicious to the palate ; ■ but at 'length 
 Tt proves the fluice of life,, the bane of health, 
 And fows the feeds of death. Thus oft in meads 
 Where flowers luxuriant rear their fprightl.y heads, 
 Tl;e fnaky-crefted viper lies conceal'd— 
 Darts on the hand that ravages their fweets* 240 
 And deadly venom to the foul inftils. 
 
 .* Ez«k. vlii. 12; 
 
 " "t Alluding to the pleasures of a mafqucrade. 
 
 .... 
 
 PRONE
 
 BOOK ir. s* 
 
 Provf. to the lap of leind Liccntioufnel 
 The hi rabble throng» »nvree*irtgl 
 
 Rcgardlels of the future conlVrjncncv : 
 Jj>bkKnot*«ht- heart, wanton 
 Leach to the Harlot's <lcn. The cup ot joy 
 They fwatlo*- do\cn, regardlele of tiic gall.'— <" 
 Thu» a proud galleon in the Hellefpont 
 Steering amain, flrikes on a pointc - 
 
 TRe fhatterVl veflcl drinks the njfhtng tide — 
 Plunges the vortex oBthedanpVom gulph— 
 Meets final fhipwreck— -and is fecn no more. 
 
 Two?e Libertines inceflantly are tofs'd- 
 Amid the mazes and perplexities 
 Of houndleft guilt and infidelity; 
 Thttruliiw|Onl , devoted to the deeps,- 
 • fit< U#Bft JtWfHm&KW4u\' n, o'er all 
 The fhifting lands of instability, 
 Till barr'dro^amgry fate,— or fudden dafh'd 
 Againft the rocks of enm I Then the wrc< 
 Floating o'er all the foaming furge, appears 
 In broken f Moments, V--Soc: il doom. 
 
 What doom can fuch degenerate crew^ expect, 
 
 o till no ufcfu! Ration while on earth, 
 But occupy the " icorncr'i chair," int 
 To drive devotion from the tents of men ? 
 Their infolencc infui fate. Lo, there, 
 
 Incontinence and ftc. rity 
 
 C 4 H*ift
 
 32 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Hoifl up the hov'ring flag aloft to Heav'ii 
 
 As who would fwcep the constellations down ! 270. 
 
 Anon fome fullen fiend, with furious guft, 
 
 Hurls them, prefumptuous, down, into the {hades, 
 
 Like him * who fell upon the Lemnian ihore 1 
 
 There they, with worfe than iron chains, are bound* 
 
 Never to anchor in the port of peace.. 
 
 No advocates for heav'n-born liberty 
 
 Were they £ but fans of Vice, by paflions pent,f 
 
 And Haves to appetence. Their. ftate,.at beft, 
 
 A Mate of Servitude, exceeding all 
 
 The Afric gallies and their galling oars : 280 
 
 But now, relentlefs punifhment> though halt 
 
 And flow of foot, o'ertakes them, of a caft 
 
 Superior far to that impos'd of old, 
 
 By i'har^.cjhj on the chofen Hebrew feed,. 
 
 Of burning brick, without affording ftubble : 
 
 Thefe ftill have ilore o£ fuel for the^flamej;-— 
 
 No great advantage in thofe fultry climes. 
 
 But worft of all — and worfe can't be conceiv'd, 
 
 No end to fuch. their deftiny appears. 
 
 Could they but hope fome very diitant end, 29c 
 
 ■ 
 
 * Vulcan, 
 
 •f Thofc who Kvc under the domineering influence of Pai- 
 fions, arc "(civants, or flayes— and therefore are pent ; npt being 
 
 + 1 Incedis per ignes 
 
 JSuppofitos cintii dcjlofo, HoR, 
 
 The
 
 BOOK II. 33. 
 
 The fiery viults with echoing joy would ring ; " 
 ^t%t Caaky t urics § charm'd, would ytt "uncurl ; 
 lxion once more reft upon hit wheel, 
 AskI bu'yphus forget his fruitless toil ! 
 But Heaven has puhlilVd the reverie — decrc - 
 Irrevocable; who (hall dare reverfc it ? 
 Yc r/iScrtin« ! aflc not relentkfs fate, 
 
 by doomed to everlafiing pain for crimes 
 iWMtarj date? Time kick* the* beam," 
 
 vben fcakne'd 'gaiaft eternity .* 230 
 Tit granted 10— But Ttnu end Cinumjlance, 
 Againft Futurity, plnc'd fro and c$n, 
 Preponderate the fcale an equal beam- 
 Where rcih tiic ' if the guilt of 7\ok 
 Bear no propoftio 
 
 ;uilt pioloogd againft eternal love 
 UrwKnubic, and mercy infinite, 
 In proud defpite unto the fpirit of grace, 
 And bold defiance of the Legiilator * 
 
 UWc 
 
 • 
 
 vim poem : *od better authority can hardly be followed, though 
 
 LIiTkIcs, a UlclX of thi* nature is rcptctcoccd in 
 
 poetry, to f*r g:'4ttr advanra^ , under !i . jru^ci and fym- 
 
 bo»i, ■. txprttt tcimt 
 
 • Art!;r<uhop TiUotfoo, in hit Sermon on the " EtcflflfW 
 
 1 Torraentt,** raint h'ot tiut there it any proportion 
 
 lftrntta tcotporvy fan *od eternal, putiflancnuj tod therefore 
 
 C 5 place*
 
 34 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Whofe. laws are built on equity — fuch guilt ^i® 
 
 Stands adequate, ..;in Reafon' s eqpal fcale, 
 
 places the main force of his argument/for the confiftency of the 
 thing -with the juftice and goodnefs of God, in "The ends and 
 " reafons of Government which require fuch penalties -as may, 
 **• if it be pofhble,. fecure the obfjenvation of the law, and deter 
 "-men from the breach of it." It. muft be admitted, there can, 
 be no analogy between temporal guilt and eternal torment, eter- 
 nity being an extreme which" will "admit ho medium of compa- 
 Tifon, therefore the propofition cannot be proved a priori; but 
 if we place the argument in another point of view, and add cir- 
 cumftanccs into the, fcale — Reafon, unbiaffed by .prejudice, .wj-11 
 foon difcovert.hat.God is true and righteous inhis difpenfations yf 
 eternal justice as well as mhrcy. — In addition to the argu- 
 ment ftatcd above, place the good that was promifed, agaihft 
 the evil which was threatened — confider the' falutary tendency 
 of the thfeatning itfelf — The equity and excellence of the Divine 
 Law — the Majefty and Authority of the Lawgiver — take a fur- 
 vey of the infinite Love he has maniftfted in the recovery of 
 mankind from their original fall — cenfider, in confequence.of 
 Xuch recovery, that eternal happinefs and mifery are matters 'of 
 free choice. — After all this, add into the fcale of Reafon what 
 it coft the Redeemer to atone for human guilt — and alfo the 
 plain and eafy terms upon which Salvation is now offered.— Un- 
 der fuch circumftances,- the guilt of obftinate infidelity and final 
 impenitence feems to be enhanced to • an infinite degree : and 
 crime* prolonged againft Eternal Love ftand adequate to eter- 
 nal torment: hence, in fcripture, there is a vifible diffin&ion 
 between the guilt and confequence of any crime, fimply confi- 
 dercd, and that of final unbelief and impenitency : thefe being 
 the fource and completion of all evil. 
 
 To
 
 BOOK 11. SJ 
 
 Tot ment eternal: — Sec the one 
 
 Preponderate ngainft th'othcr, and own • 
 iod is juft. — AJk not the Infinite, 
 ** What haft thou made r" or " where is mercy fled r M 
 This too prefumptuout were, and vain. Belie. 
 His iuftice, goodnefr, troth, and equity* 
 r fhine unfullyM, unimpench'd, 
 iicatc tin; Right, againll 
 The loudeft clamours of the fceptie foe — 32c 
 And thofe whom Folly promptt, — in renin:. 
 An<! — at who would lecm more mt cc iiu I, 
 
 More juft than Jove — vile impotence of guilt — 
 
 once more the malfy key, and heav'ns ! 
 rrtal doors once more mould "grate harlh 
 
 > 
 And letihc prifoner* forth—and place 'cm high, 
 
 To wage war yet In heaven ! When men would lecm 
 
 re wife than what is writt'n, their folly flare** 
 
 Full man! ft- ft in every face : — 1 leave 
 
 in long t'enjoy their reveries and turn 
 
 I c »occ4P yonder fhipwrecNil : .c, 
 
 late we left tkcm bound in Yulcan\ chain. 
 
 eir blooming Venus ried^ 
 
 phantom knew 
 
 1 ■- unlv llirrr
 
 3$ THE VOYAGE OF LIFE.. 
 
 True Liberty, unknowing thefe, avoids 
 
 Their company. She vifits not thofe realms. 
 
 Repentance there long chicles their defp'rate choice. 
 
 Defparrgrins horrible upon each face, 34.1. 
 
 And glares in every eye,- rueful, aghaft, 
 
 To fancy's ken ! What then to thoi^ who feel* 
 
 The dire, .dire twinges of her fcorpion tail ! ' 
 
 Could they now barter lots withfome, the wOrft- 
 
 Of criminals, that to the dungeon caft, 
 
 Are heavy laden with the clanking chains, . 
 
 How would they hug the bands, and think them- 
 
 felves 
 In heaven ! 'Twere for them, unhappy, 'twere 
 For them a privilege too high t'obtaiju— - 350 
 
 What earth deems cruel fervitude, below 
 Were boundleis liberty. Too vaft for them 
 Earth's -fmalleft boon, — if aught ^accounted fmall 
 Where fole- reviving hope benignly cheers 
 The-drooping heart — Then only hell begins 
 Whenfhe takes flight for ever :— doleful plight 
 Qf these forlorn 1 What heart the thought fuftains. 
 
 'Twere happier far to have been doom'd thro' 
 
 Life 
 To heathen rites — honeft of heart — and led 
 
 In nature's track, like harmlefs Indian tribes, 360 
 Near Ganges, or Hydafpes, far famed ilrearns, 
 
 Thaa
 
 BOOK II. # 
 
 Than from the facred paths of rightcoufnefs 
 To fwerve with willing feet ; to turn the ear 
 From rtafon's ioudeft call* ; to clofc the eye* 
 Againft the rays of truth, ciivinelV truth, 
 GomtnilRon'U from oil high, with evidence 
 Infallible, thence reYelation call'd. 
 Such daring Libertines, who darknef* choofe 
 In preference to light, arc by that truth 
 Which theydefpife, to ''outer darkneiVdoonVd, 
 
 If fuch the fatal end of wicked men, 37 j 
 
 Fly from their horrid fecret, O my foul, 
 
 nine Honour, at a diAancc keep, 
 .£Ber ever in their dire alTcmlly join. 
 
 THE
 
 THE 
 
 VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 BOOK 111.
 
 era e 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 Befcriptions of the Voyfigsrs of Life continued,—- viz. 
 ATHEISTS, PAPISTS, UNITARIANS.. — In thefe 
 Keprefentations, Speculative and Praclical Athcijls are 
 compared, and. corifigned to art equal Fate :-— The moji 
 notorious' and daring Tenets of Ancient and Modern 
 'Times reviewed, and exploded — the recent Trophies of 
 Polemical Virtue, in a Dignified Divine, over the chief ' 
 of Literary Heroes among Separates, atte/ied.r— Vice, 
 in each collective Charac7er f is impartially ctnfured, 
 and Error reprimanded*
 
 -_, — , s — P-S3K— 
 
 THE 
 
 VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 BOOK HI. 
 
 WHILE fome to War attune the fotmdtof 
 lyre; 
 And fiime the pttrer ipr* of Peace -Miff }— 
 Some fine of Heroc i Wood 
 
 A tragic fcene;— and feme of P&radiie 
 RegainM — arid warring angels difarrnyM ; 
 Some fing the Seafon> as the\ roll; a»<! Corn* 
 
 , l)c?!h,and Immortality — and Time, 
 *TH4h £old more faerc : re final 1'cene 
 
 idc ilfclf expire* j for me, 'tis tnin'- 
 odafcl hecdleft man to ftecr aright — id 
 
 .\jnn Lit>\ Vovagcrs to flitm the gulph , 
 
 Of,
 
 42 THE VOYAGE OF LtFE. 
 
 Of deep Intemperance and Vice; t'avoid 
 The fatal rocks of Infidelity, 
 And clear the bark of Superftition's weight 
 And Error's infolence; pointing the port 
 Where happinefs prefixes :-—Divine intent;: 
 Thrice happy, could I counfei fuch aright, , 
 To make the haven Aire. The pure intent x 
 Accomplifh'd well, in grave didaclic {trains,' 
 Gains plaudits, not in earth alone, but heaven. 2b 
 
 i ' 
 As miners, with repeated toil, dig deep uoY 
 And move. the rubbifh by, ere they attain ifiA 
 The precious ore ; fo'truth is Brought to light' 
 By dintof Reafon — reafon unoppos'd 
 To Revelation's bright celeftial beams, 
 And fhines full clear to an attentive eye, 
 Difclofing all the dark eluiive plots - itfo^^p i 
 And deep concerted fchemes, which Error plan^ 
 To gain th'unwary over to her fide .• 
 Yet fuch fhe frequent gains : and fuch the mufe 30* 
 Iri her next effort iings — A daring fleet 
 Of Atheifts, and of Infidels baptiz'd. . 
 
 These hoift their lofty fails, Preemption's height, 
 And feem to 'brave Omnipotence itfelf, 
 When fleeps the calm :— " The Deity ! a joke-r- 
 "• Religion ! all a farce-^-a cunning fchemc, 
 
 " By,
 
 BOOK III. 
 M By Pricftcraft planh'd, and drown from felnfti 
 
 " To fleece the flock i< foltly il 
 
 •< Keep the wideworUJ in ;iue, and biuAfailiti 
 
 ** Of flavjfh thraldom frceboru ions of tight*"- 4O 
 
 Hail advocates of glorious liberty ! 
 
 The world you hope to free from groundlefi feari> 
 
 To chacc the fhades of Supcrftition dark. 
 
 Remote, and fhakc Religion's galling yoke 
 
 Forth of our neck : — Irate generous defign t 
 
 You fcom by mean rrftraint* to bccorrfinM, 
 
 And bid defiance t f leaven ; AH hail ! 
 
 Vet raunt n '. \N >*, fworn enemies to truthf» 
 
 f! you the defperatc adventure : • ' 
 Of warring again ft Heav'n like Tityus old 
 And his gigantic train ? unequal ftrjti6fr»r 
 I fee your fate ! l ; givr jrott pity; ftill, 
 
 n boaftcTs know, nor deem t!T informant rude. 
 Your light is darkrrcfs of a Styqian hue, 
 
 Vi leading to the pit 
 Gehenna, and the Saiyrr-y gloomy a Hi ! 
 The battery you Ut to ftprtn 
 
 Religion's citaJcl, muft back nrcoil,- 
 Iiujx rirfh 1 he daring f<»-. 
 
 7#»hop- (4 fears! 60 
 
 d hope; hot ratn li a dchifive dream. 
 
 t Ilaiah, xxxw. 14 * 
 
 Fxail
 
 44 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Frail as the bubble, floating down the flood, 
 
 That fudden dies in air. Firft free the fhip 
 
 From Confcience' guilty clamours : 'twere a tafifc ... 
 
 Superior to your flcill ! The Prince of hell,' 
 
 Proud domineering, pays the daring, chiefs,. , 
 
 Who, faithful to his intereftS, live and die, . 
 
 <A%d durft efpoufe his caufe in face) of heaven, . 
 
 A greater recompenfe, in full arrear, . 
 
 Of vengeance.. doubly due : For thefe outdo, 70 
 
 In bold prefumption, all his* daring peers ! 
 
 Hbey firm .believe and tremble. What mufl thefe . 
 
 Por fuch- tranfeendant infideiity . 
 
 Receive ? 'Tis this — this awful truth we know; 
 
 Not half the kindling of th'ALMiGHTY's wrath 
 
 Will Toon confume the Hubble of the foe, 
 
 Lo,< there, hk cliariot-vvheels-jdrive on amain f 
 
 And incens'd. Juftice rous'd to lmoking ire, 
 
 Wakes up ? to meet the wretch, who dares deny 
 
 Th'exiftenco. of a GOD !-— Vile infeft man ! 80 
 
 A foe ib frail he deems beneath his mark. 
 
 Small conqueft gain'd, for the Omnipotent, 
 
 To, mar an atom, or deftroy a fly : 
 
 Equal beneath his pond'rous chariot- wheels 
 
 A mite — a wqrld is crufh'd. Rous'd at his ire, 
 
 Th'aftonifh'd elements revere his hand ! 
 
 The lightnings fiafh ! the thunder roar, aloft,.,. 
 
 An awful clangour to the gaping floods ! 
 
 The bulging rocks, alarm'.., fUrt up their heads, 
 
 And,
 
 BOOK 1IT. 45 
 
 And from the gloomy caverns of the main 93 
 
 Rc\erber;.tc the found with echoing pen! ! 
 
 ot thunderbolts fty fv. 
 'i kc playful unicorns '!* 
 
 The lofty groves in reverence bow 
 To fhun the elevated ftroke of Juftice* arm, 
 Portending fwift dcftruelion on the Foe. 
 
 th trembles deep, from pole to pole, o'ertrhclmM 
 Beneath the ponderous weight of human guilt; 
 Anci, Heaven's majeftic voice, the hitlt 
 
 And'liigh pil T d mountains like a drunkard reel, 103 
 In apit. 1 ' 
 
 ! ^.2t, whofe might no power withftands, 
 jak'd Olympus when the gods came down. 
 As poets fclg mai's fummit fhook ! 
 
 Creation, groaning -|- in convulfions, fecrtw 
 Ant: ^s of diflblution. 
 
 No.. Vthcift rear his haughty cref!, 
 
 /\nd like l>c\ i.'.tnan, devoid 0* fear, 
 Fur! !d contempt, 
 
 To meet the fhining [dftice — Ha! ir$ 
 
 Sec how fcc fkulk "hold,** 
 
 Mod timid of the guilty imps of vice, 
 And* dies mere coward crc the ftroke defcend — 
 Or Indignation fort!: pours. 
 
 N • equal pang* hctiJc Elan's fon, 
 J3ouijd to the rock, confign'd by inccnsM Jove, 
 
 * I'falm. jxiiu t. i Rom. viii. 11. 
 
 The
 
 *5 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 The Vultures prey. — Laocoon was not feiz'd 
 With mightier terrors, when the ferpents twain 
 From Tenedos, voluminous and vaft, 
 Him and his ions with poiibnous jaws devour'd ! 120 
 In Atheous men conlcience becomes a fcouree, 
 A "worm" that never dies; and ceafelefs preys 
 Upon the vital parts like liquid fire, 
 Ever confuming ! Ever unconfum'd ! 
 
 SyxyiyES the •wretch, in'mercy ? s mild domain, 
 Who dares, with iron front, in face of Heaven, 
 Bid bold defiance to Omnipotence ? 
 The atheift is the man ! — the monftrous man I 
 The.greateft hero on the fpacious globe : 
 The mightieft hero ! no — retract, the term; 130 
 The verieft coward 'mid the timid crews — 
 Friend of the darknefs, he the light abhors, 
 And darknefs too his confeience can't fuftain* : 
 Full-fraught with phantafies, he dreads his fhade ! 
 Is this t,he high-flown rebel againft Heav'n ? 
 Such is' the man; and fuchare all Heaven's foes. 
 •Fate has decreed that fuch prefumptuous crews . 
 Shall fink beneath the weight of hellifh crimes— 
 'Ignobly fink] Afk not how low ? — How long ? 
 Notation here extends its powers in vain : 14© 
 
 A Newton's art would fail to comprehend 
 
 * The well-known cafe of the author of the Leviathan. . 
 
 Tli'
 
 BOOK TIT. 4- 
 
 Tli* unbounded fcitoc 
 
 Nor can the boldeft thought luch depths explore, 
 
 Till l'a^c eternity the l'ccnc unfolds. 
 
 *TwEjm difficult. to far, whom to prefer, 
 Such defperadoes, or yon faithlcis crews 
 AiAeiftic life* deluded, they 
 on prcporVrous as a pantomime, 
 lUgardlcfs whither:— -Whither I'll not far :— 
 ivenis forgot, and all the prune concerns 153 
 future blil's and woe. The Deity 
 Prefides not in their thoughts. His f acred name 
 Iturf t blafphcm'd by their unhallowM lips, 
 Irreverent;— His. dread is far remote. 
 W itlxout the aid of optics you may fee 
 Their vcflcl gradual finking by its weight : 
 c they, unConfcious of the fatal leak, 
 a no one effort to fecure the fliip. 
 
 Tha.T other Fleet, -with Prieftcraft at the helm, 
 And fupcrftition by the cnmpaf* conning, 160 
 
 Make* muck ado, bgaflaflg aloud ot high 
 ' and of the keys 
 Ihut and open heaven ! Of Peter's chair ! 
 reign power on earth o'er all that U 
 1 depofc, and heretics to burn, 
 At will ! Noble aich: ilicfc !— Yet Aill 
 
 : Jliblc— they cannot err ! With them 
 
 £vi!
 
 *. THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Evil is render'd good; and barbarous deeds, 
 Which nature fh udders to behold, are deem'd 
 Moll meritorious — rend'ring fervice meet, 1 70 
 When Schifmatics they roaft* ! Survey 'em there,- 
 {Afar feen fafely, hazardous t'approach) 
 A numerous navy, bearing on amain, 
 What courfe old mitred Superftition plann'd, 
 To gain by ardent application crowns, 
 And .thrones, on earth ; but not a feat in heaven* 
 Great were the foul, and noble were the deed, 
 Of the firji protestant who burft their bands. 
 Great minds to 'Superftition ne'er give place : 
 'Tisconfcience and God's ktweontroul their courfe; 
 And thefe are band-s of mercy. Reafon here 181 
 Approves the yoke, and yields her neck fubmifs. 
 Late, felleft Inquisition ftood on deck, 
 A hellifh, daemon, black as hell at heart, 
 Though clad pontifical in pureft white, 
 With torches, furies, fabres, at his fide, 
 Wracking his brain new tortures tb inflict] 
 Heaven uihef s in with fmiles the glorious morn 
 Which fees him firft bound under deck fecure, 
 
 * Although in the prefcitt age, wc have no Smithheld feencs 
 •of facrificing pious, prelates to the refentment of Superftition j 
 yet, furely the religion which renounces not thofe principles 
 -which fubverted the very end and defign of Chriftianity, and 
 which laid the foundation of divifion and difcord among men, is 
 •e*er worthy of the fevereft cenfure; 
 
 Where
 
 BOOK III. 49 
 
 There rolling baleful eye*! with meagre jaws, 
 He, hunger-l'itt gating chain. 19! 
 
 Still bufy Prieftcrait, prompt on board, appear* 
 With bull*, beads, crucifix, indigencies, 
 •Pardons, and difpenl'atiom for more lins, 
 And countlcfs lumber, 'nough to link a Heet, 
 Or furnifh well a paradifc for fools. 
 Old blcar-cy'd Ignorance «f I fee on deck, 
 Rais'd into fair renown !— She idly boaili 
 Devotion fprang from her abhor'd embrace : 
 Vile infamy ! ' lis Revelation gn\ c 200 
 
 Devotion birth, and Wifdom is her fire : 
 I>ut heavenly Wifdom rarely here is fectw 
 If old report be true, they bear in freight 
 Huge bales of coftly mcrchandife, to be transfcrr'd 
 To Lucre's wharf— a Aaplc fund of wealth 
 Unto the fkilful venders frequent found : 
 Nor will they barter but for par or gold ! 
 The bales confift ofeurrcrrt, genuine, M Work* 
 " Of fupcrcrogation :'' Trcafures Tare ! 
 Defpilc them not in papal real me ! no 
 
 How fanclify'd the venders there appear! 
 Prompt in confeflions, ave-mari.ns, creeds ! 
 On Lord's or holy day, devout they fpend, 
 Forfooth, an hour— though cold perhaps at heart 
 As kneeling ftatues! then, the vulgar crowds, 
 
 t Ignorance is the Nutfc of SupcrAition, and aot Oh Mother 
 of Devotion, u the Paplft vainly tnu.uatc*. 
 
 1) Ilome^
 
 ■$* THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Homebound, return from mafs, unedify'd; 
 
 Unknowing what they pray'd ; undifciplin'd 
 
 As. callow-daws, and give their creed the lie ! 
 
 Their creed looks heavenward, but they row reverfe, 
 
 And live a life the bane of their belief. 220 
 
 Ah, too prefumptuous, thus to fan the flame 
 
 Of Heaven's difpleafure ; thus intent t'infult 
 
 Th'incen/ed Deity by vain appeals, 
 
 And fuperftitious rites %, and hellifh deeds, 
 
 As though they did not heed his hotteft ire ! 
 
 Thefe caft o'er board, with bold prefumptuous hand, 
 
 The facred comp.afs and directory — 
 
 Laying afide the Bible, confcience, truth, 
 
 And in efte£t their reafon and their God ; 
 
 While with the knee they reverence, and pay 230 
 
 Homage divine to creatures like themfclves 
 
 Before the idol's lhrine '.—Idolatry 
 
 Of fable die ! — 'Twere eafy to predict 
 
 The coming florin. The lip of Truth declares, 
 
 Inevitably fuch one day muft fink, 
 
 Plung'd by the fiercefl blall of Heaven's difpleafure. 
 
 So funk the ancient Tyre in height of pride ; 
 
 So Babylon is doom'd one day to fall. 
 
 + At the fame time that I expofe the fuperftitious errors of 
 the Roman Catholic Religion, I acknowledge that there have 
 been (and doubtlefs are now) amongthem, men of genius and 
 piety, who were ornaments to religion and human nature. 
 
 Hope's
 
 BOOK III. 51 
 
 Hope's fabric, elevated oa the fand, 
 When blows the ftorm, inevitably falls ; 240 
 
 And great, fuprernely great, the fall appears. 
 
 These, though they fall, have hope to burft their 
 bands, 
 And foar aloft, from out the penal fires, 
 To gain a feat in heaven. So Mulcibcr § 
 And all his numerous compeers, awoke 
 
 tan's call, fprang up, when welt'ring prone 
 Upon the burning lake, and counfel held 
 How to regain their former feat in blifs ; 
 Ihit fruitless their attempt, as fruidefs thefc— 
 
 1 in ftratageras, but not in power : 253 
 
 Thefe hope their dole will purchafe Paradife; 
 Or fhould that fail, that Purgatory fires 
 Will burn their bands, and purge their drofs away. 
 Money with them unbars the facrcd doors, 
 For Papal powers aflum'd the golden key '. 
 . ifh your purfe, and Peter's fuccefi" 
 .1 let ye in; for pelf with them avails. 
 It" you in works of merit prove too light, 
 They'll add their/^rr-ftutFinto the fcale, 
 And then, weigh up ! ye cannot fail of heaven. 260 
 Such tenets Rome, with fober craft avow > ! 
 — Miftaken Catholics ! In vain you buy 
 
 J i.e. VV.wjo, njcatiwncJ by Milton, P. L. B. 1. L 
 
 V>2 The
 
 S* THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 The pearl, referv'd in Heaven's prerogative, 
 ^.lone, to give. Vain hope : Tis God alone 
 Can cancel human crimes. Your gold is held, 
 In facred things accurs'd— .It can't procure 
 One cooling drop from out the chryftal ftream, 
 To quench the tongue that, like a firebrand, glows 
 With different heat from what ambition's rage 
 Or fumes of Avarice did erft infpire ; 270 
 
 Nor can it forth from thofe tormenting flames, 
 Where the proud epicure condol'd his fate, 
 Releafe the flruggling fpirit to the fkies — 
 Ah np : the yawning gulph is flx'd between, 
 Unpayable. Chrift's yicar and the Queen 
 Of Heaven (j, are unavailing advocates 
 I or freedom thence •*- ,and faithful Abraham's 
 
 prayers, 
 If.he for fuch would interceed, tho' heard 
 More loudly at the throne of love than twice 
 Ten thoufand maffes, here would fruitlefs prove. 
 Nor can a bridge be pav'd, fox paflage thence, 281 
 Like that o'er Chaos, rais'd by Sin and Death, 
 From hell's dark confines to this nether world. 
 Deluding Cardinals, in vain you talk 
 Qf Purgatory's purifying fires 
 To purge out ftains, for which th'atoning price 
 Was pour'd in vain: — no other ranfom frees 
 ;From Sin's fad chains, nor that when pall its date. 
 •{J A Roman Catholic title given to the Virgin Mary. 
 
 No
 
 BOOK III. || 
 
 No penal fires can tlcaofc and purify 
 
 .on ftaiu of unrepealed crimes 39Q 
 
 When Bed the lenient day of grace: — ah then, 
 In thole dark realms, the vile more vUc become, 
 Thlmpure ftill more malevolent, more fell, 
 Ripening for their inevitable fate, 
 And plunging deeper in th'abyfs of fire. 
 
 Such is the fate of thofeprcfumptuous fleets 
 Who ftcer with Ignorance and Bigotry, 
 By Superflition's chart, as lntcreft points, 
 As Privftcraft plans or Prejudice directs : 
 Such purchafe death py their egregious lives : 300 
 Purfuing twift the (hallows and th 
 Till blown themfclvcs into Oblivion's gulph, 
 Their hope, their intcreft, and their fame cxp 
 
 So fares it (if the mufc ptophct.c Gog*) 
 With yonder formidable a. 
 O/ Unitarian feribes! Who dare o, 
 Their boa (led confidence of bh 
 
 Superflition's fort with nitrous bla; 
 T oppofe their boaftcd confidence, there are 
 Who (hew the will, but leem to lack the po .\ ej ; 
 
 c to defend Religion". \inr, 
 
 The will and pow'r in Horflcy both unite. 
 He, like a hero of renownM acclaim 
 
 D 3 Id
 
 54 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 In polifh'd Greece or Alexandria «-j~> 
 
 Arm'd, all invincible, by lacred truth, 
 
 With Eloquence and Learning in his train — 
 
 Sole viftor ! puts to flight their daring powers, 
 
 And gains immortal honours by the deed : 
 
 He fights for Truth ; and Heaven's anointedKing^ 
 
 In future glory, fliall award his crown. 320 
 
 While arguments and flowing eloquence 
 
 Glide down his page, like ever copious ft reams, 
 
 Truth triumphs! Error quits the field abalh'd ; 
 
 And if not harder than the flinty rock, . 
 
 Conviction would ftrike light into the foul t 
 
 But Error's ever obflinate ; and hence, 
 
 In fpight of Truth and Reafon, unreclaim'd. 
 
 Muftrious Prelate ! now the mufe commands 
 
 Mufic and eloquence to grace her flrain ! 
 
 Infpir'd with more than patriotic flame ! 330 
 
 While more, farmore, than common fame exalts 
 
 The literary hero of her fong I 
 
 Refcu'd by you> the Church ftill ftands fecure ; 
 
 Nor dreads the idle boaft of nitrous grain t, 
 
 " AfTur'd 
 
 f Al'exambia \s fignifkantly introdticed here as being the See 
 of St. Athanafius. This bjfhop was fuch a dauntlefs veteran in 
 defence of orthodoxy, againft the Arian and Sociniau herefy, 
 that the proverb became current in his day, 
 
 u Athanafius contra mundum !" 
 X Alluding to a bold fimile in Dr. Prieftley's works, in 
 v/hich he compares the effttt of his writings to that of M gun- 
 powder,"
 
 BOOK lit. 55 
 
 AlTur'd that hell can't fluke her ancient fcite, 
 Nor all its daring chiefs :— for Heaven upholds 
 I Icr venerable towers, and will protect 
 The lofty domes, while Truth prefides within : 
 Her prudent test § no ** Powers* fhali abrog.ttr, 
 While you withftand the Aliens dark, dcfigns. 3^0 
 'Tis godlike, thus, to join with Heav'n to fave 
 From Trcafon's bold artillery her walls : — 
 The facrcd walls, made vocal, would refound 
 The name of Horsley to the echoing fkies ; 
 And lo, the liiFning fpheres fhould catch the flame ! 
 
 This daring crew, with inharmonious din||, 
 By ardour fpur'd, to perfevering toil, 
 Make loud pretence of bearing on with Truth; 
 Tho' diving deep, as Acherontic found, 
 In Error's black abyfs :— enkindling flames 350 
 Of mad (edition in a peaceful realm, 
 To rage againft then. What recompense 
 
 Thcfc liope, 'twere hard toguefs. Noimall re a 
 Can make afnends lor tluir dctcftcU c^ecc! ! 
 ■M0*r," being laid by a gwio and a gTain uadcr the foundation 
 
 £ ''••• . . ; \\h«n »' w n. :. ;> for 1 r< peal rf t.ic 
 
 It u rctnaikauja that dm two Uniuruat can be found who 
 ■rp 1 »a»t. Ti.c rcaion 11 obvious;— tiny 
 
 arc hoMldcrrd in the labyoothi of mcuphjGcal argument, and 
 left in the mates of error. 
 
 D 4 They
 
 56 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 They fell the Master's intercfl too low, 
 
 If not for more than the firfl Traitor; — Him >T 
 
 Who with a kifs betray'd the facred life 
 
 Of Lamb-like Innocence to liellifh hate: 
 
 Thefe too betray, his facred truth and honor, 
 
 .And murder pages of the living Code ! 36a 
 
 Religion turns appall'd ; and inly groans 
 
 Beneath their facriflcing knife ; and fpurns 
 
 The fable mafk of treach'rous friendfhip, thefe, 
 
 Ifcariot like, for doubtful purpofes, 
 
 So clofely wore ;— till late, the vifor feem'd 
 
 Nigh cafi afide I'wlien, like the Jews, they kifsM 
 
 Their Mailer*, in derifion -f-, and durft rail 
 
 'Gainft dignities, — unlike the pow'rs beneath! 
 
 The ancient Traitor lucre fought : and foon, 
 
 Too foon, the booty fought acquirM. But thefe 
 
 Borne nobler prize purfue -.—Perhaps the helm, 371. 
 
 In Church and State, attracts.them ! Perhaps 'tis 
 
 fame, 
 That idle badge of Angularity, 
 That kindles ardours in their fanguine \ fouls ! 
 
 * The King. 
 
 f Alluding to the notorious Hand-bill which was the caufe 
 of the late unhappy riots in- Birmingham; and which, beyond a 
 doubt, was penned by feme red-hot politician, ©f Unitarian prin- 
 ciples. 
 
 % The foul, according to the principles of their philofopKy, re- 
 ft fubftance which, when we die, wflilurnto amephitic vapour } 
 and therefore, the epithet it not ill applied. 
 
 By
 
 BOOK IN. 57 
 
 By each new-fangled effort, thefc would ftrivc, 
 In ethics, politics, Theology, 
 T acquire their cod:— vainglorious third of fame ! 
 And how they will fuccecd, thai record fhews : 
 ■ He that exalted fits, enthroned, fhr.ll laugh ; 
 •* The Lord hinafelf fhall have them iu dcrifion.** 
 
 h the effect of their prefumptuous to»i 381 
 
 T'undcify the M Lord's anointed," wao 
 Supreme, on Sion's hill, forever reigns. 
 Pride made the ancient ilribe deny his king** 
 'Tis pride that works the Unitarian's fall: 
 That more than moital foe wag'd war in h-av'n, 
 And hurl'd down from the chryflal battlements 
 A " ion of morning" to the realms of night. 
 Thefe chiefs, however hchn'd, who durft Cj>pofc 
 Their mightier, from every feeling heart 39© 
 
 Extort forth pity— rather jufl difJain, 
 Couriering what love they turn to hate. 
 Such, Julian like, the Galilean king 
 Mud own their -f» vancniifhcr, and brook hit ire 
 Thefc, fecming wile, !>ut (ooU in fact, "deny 
 •* The God that bought them" — They afpire 
 To undermine the Church, 'gainft which "the gate* 
 ¥ U: hell (hall pot prevail ;" and toil to raifc, 
 In contradiction proud, aloft to hcav'n, 
 
 t VieUb GahLec I Ij.I Julian lb* Apo&atc. " O Galilean I 
 * tnou ban ovcrcosne mc." 
 
 4P 5 A temple
 
 5 3 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 A temple to Confus ion dedicate, 400 
 
 In which, exalted, Error fits inflirin'd. 
 Church, apparatus, they durft leave for this, 
 To profecute the arduous delign. 
 How liable, how fublime, the pillars fcem ! 
 Nor ought fufpecl they the foundation falfe: 
 Tho' deem'd impregnable, Time yet will come, 
 When down the fabric all, with fudden crafh, 
 Rebounding, lays them in the ruins deep ! 
 Where then the bold calumniators § ? — Bold 
 Indeed, who durft deny divinity 410 
 
 To God's Eternal Son ! vthofe name is hail'd, 
 All heaven throughout, with facred eloquence, 
 And proftrate adoration, as befeems 
 The Father's chofen Heir, " by whom all things,'* 
 In heaven and earth, " confift ;" to whom belong 
 Creation's and Redemption's glorious works : 
 Sole Prince of honour, worfhip, and renown. 
 Well it becomes the dazzling cherabim 
 To chant his praife, till heaven's orcheftra rings. 
 No pipes difcordant to that facred choir 420 
 
 Shall gain admiffion at the hallow'd doors. 
 He keeps the keys J. Shall thefe then enter in, 
 His truth blafpheming, to traduce his fame } 
 
 § The Socinians ftand convicted, by the cleared atteftations 
 and evidences of Revealed Truth, not of calumniating the cha- 
 racter of a man, but of derogating from the honour of a God. 
 
 ♦ Apoc. i. 18. Where for Ml, read hades, i. c. the invihble 
 regions of happinefs as well as mifery. 
 
 —They
 
 BOOK III. 59 
 
 — • They firft muft dip in that divine atonement, 
 Which now is deem'd of none effect at all. 
 Surprifing infamy ! — Blaft their defigns, 
 Great God ; and make their folly manifeft, 
 Like Jannes old, or Jambres ■+>, who withftood, 
 Let's impious far, a far left dignify'd. 
 Awake, Jehovah ! fpeedy vindicate 430 
 
 The honour of thy facrcd name. Thy truth 
 Is qucftion'd, and the glory of thy Son 
 Prefumptuoufly cclips*d and circumfcribM 
 In Error's proud opinion: Not in fact. 
 Still his divinity, like yonder fun, 
 Shines clear o*cr all the darknefs that furroundt 
 Our hemifphere; and fhall for ever (hine. 
 When be, encircled with his fquadrons bright 
 Of Seraphim, in judgment fits fuprcme, 
 Then fliall the Godhead blaze effulgent beams* 440 
 Before that awful period dart thy rays 
 Direct, with full conviction in their fouls ! 
 Recall them erring as thou once recalled ft 
 A pcrfecuting Saul, at war with heav'n ! 
 Recall them once again to thy Sheep-fold, 
 To own the Shepherd's voice, and live his praife. 
 Conquer the world by thy victorious love, 
 Till that dear name on which the Chriftian dwells 
 Eruaptur'd, that dear name refounds the earth 
 Throughout, in facrcd concert with the flues, 45c 
 And all the Heathen join the tuneful choir, 
 1 kgypcian Scrccrcrv
 
 THE 
 
 VOYAGE OF LIFE- 
 
 book IV.
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 T 
 
 Preliminary Obfervations refulting from a curfory Re- 
 view of the Scenes drawn up in the preceding Books, 
 Addrefs to the Gay, Apology to Wits, An impor- 
 tant ^uery ftaied; hndHtfolved -into a Difcription of 
 the Cbri/lian'sfometimes narrow Pafjage to the Re- 
 gions of Purity, and of his Fortitude and Divine 
 Support in the Cajualties attending it. From the pre- 
 ceding Conjiderations are naturally introduced general 
 and more particular Directions and Cautions to both 
 Sexet (the Lovers of Plcafure particularly) to proceed 
 in Safety through Life's precarhms Piyage, — This Book 
 ciofes with an Addref to a Lady, whofc amiable Vir- 
 tues arc noticed as a Pattern to the Sex,
 
 ■> 
 
 
 THE 
 VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 > 
 
 BOOK IV. 
 
 AS when the curious traveller obtains 
 Some fignal eminence, and on the peak 
 Of hill or promontory ftandt fecure, 
 (Montferrat-f, TenrrifF, or Fenifterre, 
 Or old Herculean Abyla §, beheld 
 
 f MmJiwU, a famous mountain, in the principality af Ca- 
 talonia, which is lb broken and divided into a great number of 
 fpuing cones, that it fccm», at diAaot view, to be the work of 
 an. Its fituarion is admirably aJ.ij-icJ for centempTatlbO and 
 retirement; and for many ages it has Urn the habimtaa of 
 nooks and hermits, who vow never so forf. • 
 
 § Momwt Jiffs, Me of the Pillars of Hcrtutc*. bh the Afri- 
 can fhore, in a clear day may be fee* from the fummit of the 
 reck of Gibraltar. 
 
 O'er
 
 64 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 OVr Afric's more from off th' Iberian rock) 
 Commanding all th'horizon round, he clofe 
 Applies the fight invigorating tube, 
 And many a creek, and many a more furveys, 
 With many a pairing and repairing fleet, 10, 
 
 In flately profpect feen : and floating round 
 Some folemn wrecks defcrys, exciting pain. 
 Ev'n fo the mufe,. with penetrating eye, 
 Obferves the moral fcene. She reads the names 
 Of fome, recorded in the rolls of fame 
 By their own virtues (beft remembrancers) 
 Secure againft the wreck of time or fate. 
 Some has her fancy feen exalted high 
 Above the firmament and all thenars, 
 In light's unfufferable blaze ! On fcenes 20 
 
 Like thefe fhe pores delighted ; but too weak 
 Man's mortal orbs to brook fuch fplendid rays. 
 What other fcenes the mufe fo late furvey'd, 
 Are in full frequence feen, by all who pry 
 Far o'er the furge of Life's tumultuous waves- 
 She faw proud navies, hoifting up their flag, 
 High havering, " Defiance to the skies'* 
 Like fam'd Titanian giants,, bearing on, 
 What courfe Ambition or Prefumption plann'd, 1 
 With daring prow,toftorm the tovv'rs of heaven. 39 
 Regardlefs of the laws and difcipline 
 Of facred Truth, and adverfe to its chart ;— 
 Traitors to heaven's fupreme anointed King !
 
 BOOK! 65 
 
 No commas fate await* the daring deed ! 
 From Life's fair book, behold their names crasM ! 
 Then fee them huxlV into the realms of night, 
 Beneath his ire whole fceptrc they dit'own'd ! 
 
 From fcenes like thefc improvement may be gain'd» 
 Improvement too in virtue (choiceil boon) : 
 For fmaller gain men ranfack earth and feat; 40 
 Oft plough the wave, and reap the fedgy weed, j 
 
 Indulge, ye gay, awhile, the fcrious fong ! 
 Excufe the mufc if with ofHcious care 
 She feck to refcac from the wafte of time 
 Your fleeting day ; nor let her notes offVn 1 
 Your nicer ear, though fometiroes ftudious more 
 Of ufeful truth than fwceteft minftrelfv. 
 The cooing (lock-dove knows not melody ; 
 And yet, I oft have heard her plaintive fong 
 Well plcas'd ; 'tis nature's voice, and nature knows 
 By artlcfs cotes to plcafe the judging ear. 51 
 
 Well chofen difcords add to harmony 
 New grace, when mingled, at fit intervals, 
 Skilful, among the bold re founding chords ; 
 Juil fo, the dukt utik, combin'd 
 In flowing periods, ftrikc the feeling fenfe, 
 And gain admilTion to th'enamour'd foul. 
 All-pcrfccl Nature form'd the human a 
 
 Enamour'4
 
 hb THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Enamour'd of her fweet variety, 
 
 And every variation gives delight. 60 
 
 So With new luflre fhine the golden beams 
 
 Of Phoebus, when fiom forth a fable cloud 
 
 He pours his radiance o'er the filver waves, 
 
 And gleams upon the bumifh'd rocks and towers, 
 
 "Wake, Infpiration! From thy facfed cell 
 Rife Yapt in Weed's, with round thy hoary head 
 A cloud encircling deep its radiance ; Come, 
 O corne, and point what courfe by wrfdom's chart 
 To fteer, beyond the glance of vulgar eyes, 
 To thofe bleft realms where Peace and Safety dwell. 
 
 PfcocfcED, my mule, in concert with the lute, 71 
 Or founding lyre. Nor, ye conceited wits, 
 Whom none can pleafe, condemn the fober fong, . 
 Becaufe inftrucYion echos in "the ftrain : 
 Nor deem the 'mufe forth wand'ring from her fphere. 
 Of old the holy prieft and bard Were one ; 
 Their facred ftole and office did accord. 
 Nor wonder the mifcarriages of Life , 
 
 Should animate the mufe to dictate : — Still 
 Let modeft Virtue's ear attend the lay, So 
 
 While grave advice, and caution fuitable, 
 Refulting from the former fcenes, fhe draws. 
 
 And
 
 BOOK IV. 6j 
 
 And firft, an obvious query (he propound* 
 all Life's Voyagers, of prime import. 
 
 " If fuch the various fates attending Life, 
 * And fuck the track l>y erring men purfa'd, 
 41 How fhaH the Chuiitiah form hi* ftcdUft 
 
 M courfe } 
 «• And bear fecur? , in triumph o'erttoom all r" 
 
 A qtoERY fo important to the Wife, 
 Demands at tent "ton from my willing muft ;— 90 
 While reafon and experience both accord, 
 With revelation, to dctint the point. 
 
 The Chri/lian's courfe is oft a narrow ftraight 
 Twixt Life's befctting ills — a gloomy train ! 
 Survey that ancient chart, and mark what rock* 
 Of Difficulty hugely ftafk'd around ! 
 His * expedition erft, reno\vn\i in fong* 
 
 1 ftcer'd illuflrious from Theflalian Chores, 
 Combating Danger io a thoufand forms! 
 
 rh ardent rtfohrtion firM, to bear loe> 
 
 The golden pride of Phafts far remote— 
 Which gilt th'Arcadian plains: an emblem faint 
 hat the ancient Chrrftian dar'd tWbrave ! 
 His Life, though han \ devoid of guile, 
 
 A fecne of conrlift with a thoufand ills ; 
 
 His
 
 W THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 His foul, a pure receptacle of grace, 
 Breathing habitual courtefy and love, 
 Large as the ample heav'ns, was doom'd on earth 
 Of fmall account, and fpurn'd by Ridicule. 
 Though every moral, every foclal flame, no 
 
 United, ihone with ardour in his brcaft,. 
 An ardour felt in heav'n and cheriftiM there; • 
 Though every excellence combinM to claim • 
 A debt of pure regard — to merit due ; 
 Yet, ftrange to tell, how often in thofe time*- 
 Of heathen ignorance was fuclv a faint 
 A mark for Enmity, with levell'd aim, , 
 And afpeft fierce, to throw her poifon'd lance : 
 But fee where meek and dove-like Innocence, 
 Wjth ample fhield, wards off the hellifh darts ; 120 
 Or forch^extraftlng tlie malignant bane, 
 Pours in the wound the healings balm of peace ! 
 The Chriftianfo furmounted alt their rage* 
 His inmate guefls were plain Sincerity, 
 Unfully'd Truth, and Confcience ever clear* 
 No cloud of guilt o'ercafl his peaceful mind* 
 A -conduct unimpeachable bequeathed 
 A luftre o'er his life — and to. his death- 
 Renown : for Virtue never dies ! Like pearls, 
 It fhines fUll brighter with revolving funs— 1 30 
 Ennobled more to future ages borne ! 
 And oft the relics have been facred deem'd, . 
 When dead the faint, who living was defpis'd. 
 
 With
 
 BOOK IV. 69 
 
 With patience, and with fortitude divine. 
 The Cbriftian has been known to weary out 
 The malice of his foes ; and refpite gain, 
 Bccaufe new means of torture there were none; 
 \\ .en all that Satan could devife prov'd null, 
 And all his agents fhot their bolts in vain. 
 Nor is it ft range that one ihould chafe a hoft * 140 
 "When GOD is on his fide — to burft their bands; 
 Or make his lcrvant triumph o'er their rage : 
 And though he fall — he falling wins the day. 
 So fell the Nazarite in Gaza's wall 
 And l'wift dcftrucVion burfting o'er his foes, 
 One mighty ruin ovcxwhclm'd them all. 
 
 Nor of luch ills impute the full amount 
 To heathen Greece or Rome ; more recent times «f» 
 Tinetur'd with darker (hades the gloomy fcene. 
 
 ry the Chriftian's courfc few ages paft :— 150 
 Lo ! — Pity trembles to behold afar 
 Opprcllion's fons, by Supcrftition arm'd 
 With bright Vulcanian fwords from hell, and led 
 By Persecution's horrid clans thro' fcencs 
 Of daughter, blood, and flame ! — Thctc all 
 combir. 
 
 • Dcut. xxxu. 30. 
 
 t Alluding to the many horrible and bloody prrfecutions, 
 toflifted under the hellith. ijgpun of tyrannical pope* and fu. 
 
 perditions inquiiiuon*. 
 
 To
 
 $0 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 To rob the Chriftian of his liberty 
 
 And life — all that of him could die : — But now 
 
 Thefe, manacled, can only gnafh their teeth, 
 
 Not having power to bite — except the chains 
 
 That cramp them down to the triumphal car 16$ 
 
 Of liberty ! Long may they there abide, 
 
 And curs'd be he that ftoops to let them free. 
 
 Scarce worfe than thofe, in feats of old renown, 
 
 Were the huge jaws of gaping Acheron *, 
 
 Unfolding deep, Ale&o to devour ! 
 
 Aledto's ielf, fcarce more a fury frown'd ! 
 <. 
 
 Hear I', or do I only deem to hear 
 The dolorous plaint of fome lone Voyager, 
 Inquiring where the courfe of fafety lies :— 
 Intent the rocks of Danger to efcape, 1 70 
 
 And fafely gain heaven's calm pellucid port ? 
 To iuch a one 'tis meekly thus reply'd :— 
 
 Intentions honeft, and an upright aim 
 Of *' doing good," and ferving God lincere, 
 As reafon guides, and," pure religion" prompts, 
 Procure our prefent and our future peace : 
 Mercy and kind Benevolence, purfu'd, 
 Lead up to Paradiie : — chiefly regard 
 " Faith and good works :" thefe, when adjuflcd well, 
 Duly proportion'd in an equal fcale, 180 
 
 * ,/Eneas, L. 7. 
 
 Like
 
 BOOK IV. jt 
 
 Like fail and ballaft, countcrpoife the ftorrm, 
 ▲ad bjaok the ills that human life farround : 
 
 Piety exalting high her fails, 
 AuJ Virtue iitting ftedfaft at the helm, 
 Bear on, what courfc unerring Truth directs, 
 To gain the port of peace. All fuch as {leer 
 Aright, the fair ecleftial beach (hall gain. 
 Their iacrcd vanes lha.ll catch tlie kindly gale 
 
 leaven's complacency, and bear o'er all 
 The fhiiting fands of Inftability, i .-> 3 
 
 The ebbs and xlows that tofs this various fecne. 
 
 is the man, who hopes fecure to fteor 
 O'er Life's proud billows, while devoid of grace : 
 The rectitude of heavenly grace fecures 
 The port of hcav'n. They greatly err, who ftccr 
 Unlcd by genial truth's unerring ray. 
 Truth is our polc-ftar. Truth our index too *, 
 Pointing the courfc direA to Paradife : 
 No other courfc gives probability 
 To (land aloft on the cclcilial beach. lit 
 
 * Parabolical and pr ove r b ia l by'iagi arc never meant w 
 bold in all the pauicuJara. The meaning u, 
 
 By the lijjht of (ruth wc puifue tiuth. 
 Dr. Young has an cxpnlfiou of this kind, equally foreign 
 from critical cta&ner*. 
 
 •• 1 am the pilot, I thy profp'rous pic" 
 
 THE
 
 yt THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 The man devoid of Truth, in Life's proud* wav^ 
 Has loft his compafs — knows not where to fteer-— 
 A random and uncertain courfe he takes, 
 Yet dill prefumes he makes his paffage clear, 
 Tho' danger ftride the helm : — O blind to fate ! 
 He bears amain down to the Stygian fhores; 
 And, dafh'd upon the rocks of Error, finks 1— • 
 So wreck'd the mariner of old, when Night, 
 Wrapp'd up in triple tempefts, clofe conceal'd 
 Heav'n's glorious luminaries; veiling deep 210 
 The ftedfaft Cynofure * renown'd at fea ; 
 Caftor and Pollux, and the Major Bear, 
 Ere yet th'attra&ive magnet taught what courfe 
 To fleer around Sicilian fhores fecure, 
 
 Would you, E"ugenio ! covet to fecure • 
 An intereftin the master of the storm? 
 Invoke protection at his facred fhrine : 
 Would you the fober courfe of fafety fteer ? 
 Make Virtue's favourites your chofen crew; 219 
 The wife, the good, th' experiene'd, and the brave 5 
 Announc'd-byjforj, "the excellent of th'earth;" 
 Then fteer with thefe the courfe the mafter plann'd, 
 Not deviating from his facred chart, 
 And fure fuccefs fhall all your courfe attend, 
 Till fafcly anchor'd in the port of peace, 
 You fharc the .greetings of celeftial Joy, 
 
 * A ftar near the North role. 
 
 Mean-
 
 BOOK. IV. i.i 
 
 Mean time let Prudence dictate to your ear ; 
 
 n a true e ft i mate of human lite : 
 Its cbb«, its liows, ami various incidents, 
 Prepare againft with caution: and betimes 130 
 Weigh well each good, each ill to counterpoise 
 Ai in Aftrca's balance. Meditate, 
 And plan the courfe of wifdom. Do not launch 
 "Life's bay untutor'd, uninfonn'd alike 
 In difcipline and good rcconomy, 
 Like foine high-flown intoxicated brain 
 Afloat on reeds in hope to crols the gulph. 
 From precedent leam prudence. Keep in view 
 The num'rous rocks, lb fatal prov'd by all 
 Who fteer the courfe of bold Impiety, 749 
 
 And dare to fhun their track. Be cautious ! mark 
 Where wise men err'd. That courfe avoid, intent 
 To glean advantage from the worft miihap 
 Of eminence.— Such wrecks ftrike up a light 
 Which, like a Pharo* fhtnes, full many a league; 
 A caution clear to fhun the fatal ciitt ! 
 Prom Vice's crews bear adverfc. Seek to £.iiu 
 U Wifdum's chart lupcriur excellence : 
 The beft avidity is wiuJom's t:., :: ; 
 Herein is no excefs. Be timely wife : 2|0 
 
 Chooic an expericne'd mate : fuch will afford 
 Good ground of fafcty in the thrcat'ning ftonn. 
 Make plain Sincerity your bofutu friend ; 
 
 E He
 
 74 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE* 
 
 He will ftand by when dangers ftalk behind, 
 Or threatening terrors meet, to fhield your breaft. 
 Let meek-ey'd Piety your fteps attend, 
 While lovely Charity the cabin cheers, 
 And grave Devotion keeps the clofet-door, 
 Difmifs all wayward paflions : Such can ferve 
 Only to bear you adverfe from the port. i 260 
 Let Magnanimity your courle conduct, 
 For honour waits on magnanimity. 
 Let reafon too your every fcheme project, j 
 
 And dictate to your ear. One counfel I 
 Impart, It is an oracle ! attend ; 
 *' Keep old blunt Honefty clofe by your fide : 
 " A trufty tar in every rugged blaft : |jftflHfrj)4^ 
 * l So fafely fhall each various ftorm befriend,' 
 " And waft you bounding o'er the deep Profound ; 
 " Oppofing rocks, in vain obftruft your courfe, 2 70 
 '* To lame your pafiage to the realms of Love." 
 » • 
 
 With thefe embark'd — fleer on the fteady courfe 
 Of Rectitude-— own no amours, but fuch 
 As honour vindicates ; and fuch the eye 
 Of Heaven approves, and ever will approve. 
 This friendly caution, my Eugenio, mark ! 
 (The hint my mufe appropriates to all, 
 Who fkili'd can read the moral of her lay) 
 Veer off youT courfe afar from Circe's haunts, 
 
 And
 
 BOOK IV. 7S 
 
 And fhun her giklcd cup— The Cyclop' s caves 2S0 
 Not more di fait rous than her gloomy cell. 
 Approach not nigh the threshold of her door, 
 Left you, a ha pic is victim, fnar'd, fhould tall; 
 Nor rife again, but to bemoan your fate* 
 
 In every moral excellence excel, 
 Or (trite t'excel ; Ambition's virtue here. 
 With goodneU wifdom, *cal with candour join ; 
 Courage with mceknefs and fidelity. 
 Rh.icim claims the empire of the heart, 
 The open liberal heart, where Truth and Peace 
 Ereft their throne, and hold co-eval reign. 
 Her lenient voice I hear admonifhing, 
 ** With wile intent from wild extremes keep clear; 
 ■ A* from the brow of fomc Vulcanian cliff, 
 m Pouring out fire and fmokc, the mariner, 
 44 Aloof, bears many a league before he fe 81 
 
 cure. Affect no fingularities, 
 44 Or innovations, in Tricolor; 
 44 And no vainglorious trick to fame purfue, 
 44 Like (bmc who in the airy regions tour 300 
 
 " To tit tli' aftonifh'd multitudes agape, 
 44 Aa though they coaftcd heaven*! — How far 
 " below 
 
 • Nil mottalibui arJu-jtn eft j 
 
 Carl urn tpium pcnmui ftjftma. Hot. 
 
 E a When,
 
 76 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Ci When, lik« the falling lark, they fudden drop, 
 
 €l And fra&ur'd fkulls conclude th' amazing fcene. 
 
 " So bold eccentric flights are hazardous, 
 
 «' Purfu'd, beyond the certain bounds of Truth, 
 
 *' To Speculation's airy pinnacle ;— 
 
 " Then boundlefs errors in full profpeft glare !" 
 
 Imagination vain would ftrivc to build 
 Another Babel to o'ertop the clouds, 316 
 
 And lift U6 to the regions of the iky '. 
 But when we wake, and Reafon reaflumes 
 Her native feat, the fabric proves a dream j 
 The airy vifions die. — Keep footing firm, 
 Plume no pcefumptuous wing till Providence 
 Looks down, and lifts you up : Till then, prefume 
 No wild fanatic flights to enterprize 
 "With giddy Fancy or with Novelty ♦■«- 
 Though firm the head, by foaring to obtain 
 Somefignal eminence — thence poring down, 320 
 A dizzinefs enfues — and oft a fall. 
 So fell Apollo's image, rais'd at Rhodes 
 By Chares to command the voice of Fame, 
 And Earth in deep convulfions trembled round. 
 
 Launch forth, Eugenio, with a brave intent 
 To feize that diftant port, * whence trafficking 
 
 * — — Former occupa 
 Portum. * Hor. 
 
 Wc
 
 BOOK IV. 
 
 We gain iliuAnous treafures, 01 a Ojft?, 
 What India 1 * gliu'ringsje«**.i» ffe* 
 
 As pearl* outlhinc the pebble* on the Ihorc. 
 Ply arery oar, and hoift up every ) 
 
 To jqatotbe port where Wisdo: .: rcrnc ; 
 
 An r merchandize — Aim 
 
 For future year*, and age* yet to come * 
 Join is far more durable than pearl*: 
 Of higher worth than all the fiiver mint* 
 Of rich Peru : — More delicate her f.vrets, 
 More grateful to the foul, than to the fenfe t q 
 Delicious fruits, or odourous gums, that I: . *' < 
 Their fpicy gales fro; r *byviS sfa&s at 
 
 Her mart abounds, fur p. . . . ., 
 
 durable, unfading gems, 
 And delicacies of immortal gufr, 
 The ornament and fare of all her Tods. 
 —Saw you von fleet of worthier * LauntUV. Lcf 
 
 • r for W .'Ort; 
 
 I >ca|> fdjfc# jhcoi to gain t!.' 
 
 .c them, 
 c£l your brow, and I A your brcaii. 
 
 ■ i fuch concc 
 ^'f^^HIO tbt-WulT 35° 
 
 + Arabia Felix. » 
 
 ' * Alludiog to the laudable examples of fuch, who, m their 
 l»m, have been eaiacm for goodacG ami virtue. 
 
 £ 3 Pirate*,
 
 7« THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Pirates, a hellifh train' may chance t'alarm; 
 Your treafure lies fecure beyond them all, 
 Hid * in the haven where the blefs'd repofe. 
 — There loud conflicting tempefts, and alarms 
 To combat ceaie ; and all the train of wrongs, 
 And dark difaftrous ills, difturb no more, 
 Which in Life's Voyage prove the lot of all. 
 • 
 Nor are our hardier fex expos'd alone 
 To bear the infult of Life's rugged blaft ; 
 Or worfe, exposed to the more treach'rous guft 360 
 Of proud Profperity's delufive gale : • - 
 In each alike, the fofter fex combine 
 "1*0 face the dangers, and fuftain the toil*, 
 To court Life's pleafures — and fupport its ills. 
 
 Pardon the mufe, ye foul-infpiring Fair, 
 If fhe, regardful of your welfare, ling 
 Full cautious, knowing well your mother Eve, 
 Though fair, and fortify 'd in every part, 
 As any of her gayeft daughters, crr'd. 
 Believe the mufc; none arc infallible : 37© 
 
 From her no ftain your delicacy dreads, 
 No* ihall her counfels pain your nic«r eai. 
 . i 
 
 itav/ ^i3vj (d ( ■» St. Paul. 
 ,^r> DoTB
 
 BOOK IV. }o 
 
 Doth Pleafurc * woo with her attractive charms 
 rr, Haughtilla * There lhe ftar. 
 me, liniltng delegable ! But why 
 Muft treach'rous Vice fit pilot at the helm ? 
 I fee, aloft on deck, a medley train 
 Of fond attendants, Vanity the prime ; 
 Convivial Joy with eyes emitting fire, 
 And laughter-loving Mirth with focial glee, 380 
 And prompt Deception ^lib with llatt'ring lies ! 
 But hammoci'd under deck, you may dclcry 
 Lank/Pcnury, Rcmorlc, corroding Grief 
 Sullen and fad, with taMc Melancholy, 
 Pouring many a plaint : — and of their train 
 Pcrchancoarc frantic Fury and Dcfpair ! 
 All thefc arc Pleasure's mix'd concomitants, 
 In tattcr'd weeds — or filk.cn veftments clad, 
 Carouiing to the mood of various airs, 
 Alternately, as Grief or Joy infpires. 390 
 
 But Happinefs, immortal Pleasure's mate, 
 Never lets foot ou deck, where thctc re:. 
 
 Dr. Yourv Thoughts, has rtprefchred tfjc 
 
 pre, 
 
 The Aut • rt, roefc«| 
 
 dht *• ana»giur! iaittpaHftaaai voMhi«^it<.ftiUSc 
 
 fUufitm •/ Kur. And lurtlv the Vnt t>f thii prerailinf paf- 
 fioo Tsnn* T be too warily c^Bcambacpinft, by • ■ ihet 
 
 ! o the welfare of i'otictv, every lover of the iotereftiof eithci let. 
 
 E 4 Their
 
 to THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Their queen * I cenfure — yet of treafon clear f 
 And thus, in brief, her pedigree relate. 
 Deriv'd from Comus, of Circean line, 
 Nurs'd up by Vice, and tutor'd by Deceit, 
 Shefeems at diftance fprightly, playful, gay, 
 With fmiling looks, and amorous treffes grac'd ; 
 But he that views her with a curious- eye, 
 Surveys the quiver with the poifon*d darts, 400 
 And fhuns her gilded lures : yet Pleafure ftifl. 
 In potent charms and am'rous- defcants fkill'd, 
 Gains half the world her ardent votaries, 
 And ft rives to reign with univerfal fway ! 
 No fceptred queen fuch wide dominion claims. 
 She beckons to the gay ^ they fmile applaufe*. j^ 
 The young, the olch the rich, the poor, invoke 
 Her fmiles. The poet and the prieft I've feenyjj 
 Oblequious to her nocl, purfue. And now, 
 The Wanton her addreffes pays to you— 410 
 
 Soliciting Haughtilla to hcj: arms .,fl[ 
 
 With gentle and infinuating airs J" 
 So have I feen the wanton '§ ivy twine 
 Around the ftately oak with amorous arms-;- 
 The ftately oak has faded in th'embvace ! :> *f 
 
 And dare you fmile con lent ? I fear you will ! 
 
 * Pleafure. 
 
 § Ivy was ufed to entwine tlie Bacchanalian wreaths ; hence 
 the epithet, wanton, is fignificantly applied to it. 
 
 Fond
 
 BOOK IV. Si 
 
 Fojkl inclination prompts you on. But know, 
 
 nymph, 'til often fatal to approve ! 
 What though her vcflcl glides on yonder ftrcam, 
 Where not a guft the eafy lapfc difturWs, 420 
 
 Where not a wave alarms your fleeping fears : 
 To tempt you on (he fpreads her {ilken fails 
 Before the gentle gale, and artlcft feign* 
 To promife what the gods thcmfclves beftow, 
 True happinefs, and full lubftantial blifs — 
 She boafts sm overflowing cup of 'y . 
 Believe her not, nor liften to her talc. 
 Rcicft bcr loft inlinuating airs, 
 
 I f ortify your foul agairtft fuch charms. 
 Coafting the confines of the gloomy grave, 430 
 
 ftnoothly glides— her crews untimely fink, 
 Like leaves in furomcr by the fportivc winds 
 R tfled when green, and borne afloat the ftrcam ; 
 Or fruit, which drops ere the glad vintage fmile ! 
 
 In Picture's mirror, frequent poring, we, 
 Anticipating joys, exulting, feem 
 Juft on the verge of Amaranthine bowen ! 
 Inverted objects, fkilfd, (he fhews afar 
 \V ith da/.ling glitter ; foon as we approach, 440 
 The golden varnifh fades — the phantom flies, 
 And, flying, mocks our ardent hopes and fei 
 The falfc deception then w< 
 
 fe 5 When
 
 82 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 When lofs and difappointment chide our choice, 
 Or fharne and forrow overwhelm the foul. 
 
 A moment yet, Haughtil!a,lend thine easj 
 My faithful mule jhall fing no fyren-fong : h 
 
 'Twere fafe to fhun the fweeteft bed of fiow'rs, 
 To pluck no rofe, nor glance the eye that way, 
 Did we fufpett the cockatrice* concealM : 
 So Prudence warns you to avoid the fnare. 450 
 Yet Pleafure ftill awaits the grand event, 
 With Teeming confidence of fwre fuccefs 1 
 (Succefs, when often gain'd, makes hope grow vain, 
 And probability become prefumption) 
 Her gilded bark there ready floats, intent 
 To wait on deck the trippings of your feet ! 
 You fcetn, Haaghtilla, bent to rifle, ere long, . 
 Thedefperate adventure ! Know betimes, ~ 
 
 Soon as you ftand on deck, fond as you feem, 
 The Jaughing joys will pout in fullen mood, 460 
 And guardian Angels drop a filent tear. &J( 
 Soon as fhe gains the prize, the Syren glide* ,«• 
 Light floating o'er the liquid flood, as fwift n * ; 
 As when the sirrow cleaves the yielding air, 
 And leaves no trace behind — So fwift fhe bear*.. 
 Her hopelefs freight inglorious to the deeps. 
 
 * A ferpent, tfie poifo:i of which is or fo penetrating a ria£ 
 ture, that the fight of its' Jy'" hath been held tb be fata! to "thfe 
 beholder f - •' 
 
 I heard
 
 BOOK IV. 83 
 
 I beard- her captive* figfc* with heaving bread 
 And Mowing e^W^To happinefs and peace, 
 
 a long. t U." 
 
 —The" proud ami t arc tboneft gain'd, 470 
 
 And v round, 
 
 And fantattic chacc purfuc : — 
 
 Such archer crr\s$, Ihchoails no conqucfU higher. 
 And are you (lilt intent their fate to lhare? 
 "Forbear t'adibirc that proutl «* perfidious bark," 
 
 That on If ft'- 
 
 And gives toRecol 
 
 She fee* the fullen 
 
 When a! 1 
 
 And that enchantc 
 
 Car. 
 
 Deep FouncTriagln 
 
 Impute not tl 
 HaughtMa— O * rx 
 
 oorle from happinefs : — 
 Vour reafbning pow'rs collect, 
 predicts the Syren's fate, 
 lion all the fcene : 
 
 mcing fwifr, 480 
 
 ■o plcafure rone, 
 re they lb blithe 
 a pMI of wanton joy, 
 >yrii; dph, (ink down, 
 
 tins I doom* 
 r folly's charge, 
 ifc* while Time pcrrnirj, 
 
 And friendljr Counfcl cautions you fromharna. 
 
 
 Nor U-t Lavinia ovef-much confide 
 In beaotyrHtranfknt charms. Bcau<y!afair 490 
 But fading flow'r confeft. The canker-worm 
 Prej* ©n the root ; ami hoary time, ere loog, 
 Will nip its blolibms, or pluck off its fruit 1 
 
 E 6 Whit
 
 84 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 What though the fprightly eye, full fraught witli 
 
 fire 
 And fenfibility, command our love 
 And jufl: efteem-^thoughr on each winning fmile 
 A fweet attractive grace fit high entfrron'd, 
 With twice ten thoufand Cupids glancing round* 
 And perfeft fymmetry of parts complete 
 The polifh'd ftxucture* — Soon, ah, very foon, 500 
 Like fair Athenian Temples, once admir'd, 
 The fhort-liv'd ftru£ture totters on its bafe, 
 And falls a heap of ruins !-*-Not a trace 
 Of its primeval beauty now appears *f 
 
 To flay the traveller who paffes by. *» bnA 
 
 If o*er the relics ftands a monument, 
 In truft to tcftify its claim to fame, 
 What is the full amount of all its tale. 
 But what that filent urn well teftifles, 
 That * duff, to duft*' fhuts up Life's faireft fcenes ? 
 — Of beauty, riches, honour, this the end : 511 
 Of human grandeur, this the full amount. sJu^ml 
 a* . • ■.» |f 
 
 Would you, Lucinda, gain thofe bright abodes 
 Where all is permanent—where never fade 
 The rofe of beauty and the bloom of youth ? 
 Say, would you now triumphantly tranfcend 
 The dire oppofing ills, befetting Life 
 With rough affail, regardlefs of your charms ? 
 
 * Plalmcxliv. 12. 
 
 The
 
 BOOK IV. *$ 
 
 The latent rocks, and fluctuating tides. 
 The Marts of fortune, and the wrecks of time, 520 
 Would you furmount, fecurc from fear of ill ; 
 And with lone Safety, guardian at your fide, 
 (Jain the fair haven of Felicity ? 
 Wpuld you be happy and completely blcft 
 Beneath the lure protection of high Heaven ? 
 ljdt Patience * Qiicldyourbreaft — that lovely bread 
 Uith Virtue'* golden zpnc begirt l'ccure— 
 Like the " King's Daughter," gloriouHy attirM 
 I a Charity's ecleftial drapery, >H 
 
 And pure Devotion's fpotlcls robes, (land forth 53D 
 A Veftal pure, to wait the " Bridegroom's" call.— 
 While Piety pervades the heart — 
 More in reality than fhew poficis. 
 No afTcdation or formality. 
 No ottcntatious, no difgufting airs 
 Arc known in you to raifc the redd'ning blufli 
 4M pity and dild > >u caA the veil 
 
 kind companion o'er the ills of Life, :.«-j aA 
 And ftuJy how to mitigate its l'mart : 
 Attentive ever to the plaints of woe, 540 
 
 You heal th'afflictcd, cheer the hungry poor, 
 
 • The fallowing fenttmrnt of Horace Jcfcrvcs to be treafurcd 
 up in t»ery mm 
 
 — &cu Icnut fit patKr.' 
 Qytdq 
 
 **dm I -ali ■ Pour
 
 66 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Pour down "the bairn of kindnels, indiftrels, ' 
 A nd give ta friendihip its lublimeft joy. 
 With thefe endowments fignali/.'d, and blefs'd, 
 Be*it your chicfeft care, with prudent fkil!, 
 To trim the vital part * :— So (ball your lamp 
 The lighrof truth lack never. Faireil nymph, 
 Attend to fage advice. I know your cart 
 Ever attentive are to Wifdom's lay, 5,5© 
 
 Permit the mufe to dictate J fhe means well, J 
 And deems Lucinda's welfare all her own.. : ''' 
 Be yours the durable bequefts of Heaven, * 
 
 The riches which will bide when fleeting Time ' 
 Has drawn the curtain, and difclos'd to view 
 The grand, till then, inexplicable fcene ! 
 Be all your choiceft portion in the ikies 
 Kept in reverfion for that future ftatc :'■'>'■ ! 
 Be all your mental- treafu res clofe concealed " ' '■ 
 From each confaded mind ; but known to thofe" v 
 Who know luch worth for ever to admire. 560 
 As milers, when pofl'eft of prcciom ftores, iK l° 
 
 Will not expofe them full to pubHc view, 
 1+S* they fhould lofe their idols : thui do f&& • 
 In all the hidden treu-fures of the hearr, : • • 
 
 Approve yourfelf to God, then to the wprld> ■ j ; .- 
 By upright conduct and an heart fincere : 
 
 * Alluding to Matt. xxv. 7. The mind is more ennobled 
 by internal than external excellency ; morality commends ouf 
 outward conduit, while faith and love adorn the foul. 
 
 Ao
 
 BOOK ! *T 
 
 An heart the rcfulcncc of all that\ lovety; 
 True to tour friend, in ever cordial league, 
 And kind /» aU — the pattern \t iHiiajll 
 Tis emulation kindled deep in heaven. 57© 
 
 while Hnkimlntfa like the barren tree, 
 H thcrs beneath the curie -^ — juftly abhorr'd 
 ( )t ( iod and man ; the heart * here ktndueK dwclk 
 txparnls, and bloflbms, and abounds in fruit 
 Grateful to heav'n, and favVy to the world. 
 And find* thai " doing good" is happiricL*. < ' l .: A 
 
 .5 happy fliall Lucinda long remain— 
 While rncck humility, devoid of guile, 
 And gentle, cordial affabilitv, 
 And cvcr-l"miling peace her ftepi furround ; : 58b 
 Thefe, better thao a Kvcofold lliicld, will guard 1 
 Th.it virtue, vfcfcViOiill fhinc when Time expire*, 
 That goodneft which fhalllivc when ltc*v'n£ddirayti 
 Such Charity as yours is oft admuM ; 
 And fuch God's eye beholds with approbation, 
 Springing from motive* Heaven itt'clf infpircs* 
 
 Or every frx and age, of all degrees. 
 The heirs of Viarva are ihe truly great. 
 
 • P&tm. cx\r. 9 I\ilu 50m being afced, In what nan could 
 rr firm Me Dm inrtv, juftly anfwertd, ritpvim*, tin ttu aA*9u«*. 
 " In beneficence and truth." 
 
 t Mtark si, lb 
 
 ; rulm^cii. 15, at. 
 
 Such .
 
 83 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Such fairer trophies win—and higher foar 
 
 Than thofe who gain the loftieft eminence 590 
 
 Of earthly fplendoi : — hoifting thence their flag, 
 
 High waving to the Ikies ! — If not alike 
 
 ]n goodnefs eminent ; — fome fatal blaft 
 
 Untimely hurls them down, precipitant, 
 
 Like Lucifer, to fall, and rife no more. 
 
 . i\ fit .:lmuo*' ioHo!d Lac slw.tny*d 
 
 itVut* 4 a'vR9d o* 
 
 hi csv.to 
 
 THE
 
 THE **■***• 
 
 VOYAGE OF LIFE. ^ w 
 
 BOOK V.
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 Introductory Comparifon-—and RefiecTtons. The tnanifej? 
 Folly of negk cling the early Improvement of the Mind 
 conjldsrcd in different Views, and the Advantages re- 
 fultingfrom the oppofite Praelice—witb its Importance 
 to our Prefcnt and Future States ajferted. Education 
 and Religion Pearls of great Price, Knowledge — its 
 Growth illuflrated by a Simile — Application and Hu- 
 mility profitable for the Acquifttion of it — Refolution 
 and Perfeverance necejjary to its Improvement and Per" 
 feflion. Hope — her Attitude dejcribed — her Addrefs 
 to Men. Remarks on Prtfperity and Advcfity — a Cau- 
 tion to moderate our Wtjhes exemplified in the Cafe of a 
 homebound Mariner. A Tale. TheDownfalofOp- 
 preffton, as it refpecls the Slave Trade — Incitement to 
 Mercy. Concluding Addrefs to a young Student, war 
 
 Stridure, on Fcrtu: 
 
 "' 
 
 i ' • : 
 ■ ■ 
 ■ —
 
 THi 
 
 VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 v. 
 
 AS when (he mate of Come nigh-founder'd bark. 
 Ho* • otic, fcarcc 
 
 Av.i continent*, 
 
 , with fprings 
 faad|^lcft, - si luppHci 
 
 Y rem the frcfli fluid dement, may breathe 
 A pnrcr air, a | rcTpitc fin«! 
 
 Jcnts which late 
 Vdat fca, am! thither l>enJt his co. 
 
 l \ and repair for nhat remains 10 
 
 ()t rm precarious voyage,- cm 
 
 l !f to have fu 
 
 My
 
 $1 THE VOYAGE OF LIF£. 
 
 My deftin'd courfe, with toil, and conftant care. 
 
 And fomefuccefs ; though not exempt from feais 
 
 Ami perils which attend fea-faring men j 
 
 Nor poets lefs ! — Here, rn a filent nook 
 
 For contemplation form'd, 1 reft awhile, 
 
 And time my harp, which is not yet unftrung, 
 
 Tofofter notes upon the filent beach.—- 
 
 Here let me fome fmall refpite gain, from all 20 
 
 The fuller* ftorms which agitate the deep. 
 
 Pursue the theme. Spontaneous thoughts arife, 
 Unfung to vocal and Arcadian reeds : 
 And truths of moral and divine import 
 Remain untold by old Maeonides — 
 Or Britain's glorious bard, of equal fate, 
 And equal majefty, , And flrains there arc 
 Untouch'd by rapid Pindar's daring hand ; 
 Or by the Mantuan's majeftic lyre. 
 But who in this inglorious age, though pens 30 
 Innumerable ply the ftudy, gains 
 A feat of eminence beneath the dome 
 Of Fame's fair temple, near thofe godlike men r 
 Or rivals half their praife > — My mufe forbear, 
 Left fome afpiring bard fhould caft a frown I 
 Pardon the mufe, ye tow'ring bards, auftere 
 To cenfure every meafure but your own. 
 Can, fhe offend in citing hallow'd names, 
 Not daring to infult their facred urns^ 
 r . Or
 
 BOOK V. 93 
 
 Or (hatch .. h.urel from their awful brows } 40 
 
 let mc pluck it from the mules bower. 
 Or die without a wreath ! No plagiary 
 Was ever of her train.— Not finking low 
 To mediocrity, I meet my lot 
 Content.— If Genius durft approve the lay, 
 And Virtue finding claim it for her own, M4 
 Of other care* try mule mAes fmall account. 
 She, -filly fpinfter ! lbftly treads the ftecp 
 Of farnM ParnalVus, fure and flow, in hope 
 To gain fuperior heights :— defpairing ftill 50 
 
 To reach the top, which high overlooks the clouds ! 
 How clear the head, how fortify'd the breaft, 
 That durft afpire, with resolution firm, 
 To gain thoi'e rol'eate bowers, the mules haunts, 
 And lave betide the pure Pierian fprings, 
 Till mctamorphos'd to a bard, and leal'd 
 
 ih immortality ! A privilege 
 Rarely on mortal man beftow'd :— As rare 
 Urania's fmiles * we gain! — 'Twercinfolent 
 To offer incenfe at the mufes fhrinc 69 
 
 U ith hands u nh alio w'd— -and with lips prophane, 
 \V hich never tailed of the lac red fount 
 That down Parnallus fides, in lucid ftrearns, 
 
 * SmiUi it here introduced a» a mark of approbari «. Milton 
 rttlci rriii mufe, in the eiakcd fenfe of the word An ri *(*>*, 
 hir* ctifJHcd fntronefi :"— not merely a chHd of the imagina- 
 tion i but the fame with " Wifdora," the mule of the Hebrew 
 bards. 
 
 Soft
 
 94 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Soft gurgling flows — clear as Siloam's pool- 
 Though puddled oft by many a drtv'ling bard, 
 Whofe fteps be branded where fuch track appears! 
 When fuch attune the lute, let none but Vice 
 And all her prancing Centaur troops Hand near ! 
 The muiic of a pipe profane founds worfc 
 In Clio's ear, than old Medufa's fnakes 70 
 
 Striking in concert to Apollo's lyre*. 
 The mufes pleas'd, approve of number* chafte, 
 And arc to fons of Virtue moll inclin'd. 
 
 Proceed, my vocal fhell — intent to fing 
 How much the early cultivated mind, 
 "Where knowledge and true virtue fpring, fecures 
 Its future welfare — and obtains renown ! 
 This gives our prefent hopes t'anticipate 
 Fruition ; this remains invariably, 
 Through all the wide vicirTitudes of Life, 80 
 
 The praiie of youth, the pride of riper age, 
 The only folace of declining years. 
 
 Life, if neglected in its golden prime 
 Of days, if unimprov'd its early dawn, 
 In tilling deep, breaking the ftubborn foil, 
 
 * Di£Va eft mufica, quod draconis in ejus Gorgone ad i&us 
 citharac tinaitu refonabatu. Plin. Nar. Hift. L. 346. 8 
 
 And 
 
 -
 
 BOOK V. 95 
 
 \ Mg feeds of virtue— all its talc 
 
 Amoan- it, like the wreaths 
 
 trfflfPg from the hand of Youthful Induftry, 
 Can crown our hoary age with laurels green, 
 And never-fading i outh attend I 90 
 
 When your prime lea ion'-, paft (and loon 'tis pad) 
 A later harveft gives to Winter ftorms, , 
 
 And hyperborean blafb, your ravaged (lores; 
 Or yields a rank incrcafc of noxious weeds • . 
 And hitter fruit*, the wretched growth of fome 
 Unkindly and ungracious foil ; like thole 
 Tradition fays once f prang where Sodom fell. 
 
 Wu0 I a m Winter may expert a crop; 
 Bur Dii'appo ihall reward his toil, 
 
 And chide his folly witb kverity, IOO 
 
 n Poverty anon comes armed in ! * 
 inty viands day by day, 
 Til! <}uite bcrcavM hi* foul of prtftnt good; 
 An<l for the future, fcarce of hope remains, 
 A gleam to cheer the gloomy night of wo ! 
 
 The mind un d, and mtVaugbt 
 
 — andw becomes 
 
 A dreary wafte — a barren wiWcroefs, 
 Far worfe than Lybia's howling defarts ! Worfe 
 Then torrid climc« where Delblation rcigna ! 1 10 
 
 • PiOV. 1 
 
 And
 
 96 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE, 
 
 And fails to yield one bud of real joy ; 
 
 One opening bloffom of pure chafte deligkt t 
 
 On early wifdom future joys depend.: 
 Be timely wife, and be for ever blefs'd ! 
 ' Xis Wifdom plans the courfe to happlnefs 
 And ever-blooming peace — She paves the way 
 To all the plenitude of innate joy, 
 Which like a golden vintage glads the heart, 
 And overflows the cup with genial cheer. 
 Nor wine and oil more grateful to the taftc 120 
 Of fenfual appetence, than to the wife, 
 Wifdom, and her unlavifli'd fweets. She pours 
 Immortal nectar in the cup\>f Joy 1 
 The more we quaff, the more we third to drain 
 Her copious bowl- — which none can fathom e'er. 
 Who early gain, and treafure well, the ftores 
 Of pure unlavilK'd wifdom, they are rich : 
 They too their fruit fliall long poiTefs — long reap 
 The golden harveft, with exulting joy ; 
 And, late returning, tread the fleep of Life, 130 
 All fure and flow, bearing their nodding fheaves 
 Along in fair fuccefiion, till poffeft 
 Of yon ccleftial arbory, where fruits 
 Ambrofial blufli unfading tints, and breathe 
 Unminifh'd fweets in ever fragrant gales— 
 Wlien gain'd the high celdlialarbory; 
 
 Their
 
 BOOK V. 97 
 
 Their (lores, once trcafur'J there, (hall all remain 
 
 Untarnifh'd, uncorroded, and abide 
 
 In lafe fecurity from prowling thieves. 
 
 From nightly robbers — and infulting harms. 140 
 
 i'TH it ajcwrd of divined worth ! 
 A fan&uary of lupreme delights ! 
 In it, foft fmiling joy and rofy health 
 Deceive the fwift wing'd hours ! And conflant peace 
 Flows, like Meander, thro* each various maze, 
 Down from the rifing to the fctting fun ! 
 The recolle&ion of thofe early joys, 
 Now fled, in part, for manlier purfuits, 
 
 1 calls an iris o'er my mind, and breathe* 
 A gale of Paradifc into the foul ! 1 cp 
 
 / once was blelVd with fuch a fragrant plant 
 As angels took delight in*; but ere while 
 My blooming llow'r wasfnatchM from this cold foil : 
 Transplanted in the Paradifc of God, 
 
 I by the fount of Life ! There it acquires 
 Immortal vigour and unfading bloom. 
 
 1 is the field in which to fow the feeds 
 Of Education — which fupplant the thorns 
 And briars, fpringing in our native foil : 
 It is the golden opportunity, l5o 
 
 • Matt xviii. tow 
 
 F In
 
 <;S THE VOYAGE. OF LIFE. 
 
 In which to traffic for die precious pearl 
 Of highefl price — which gain'd, enriches fo 
 The fortunate poffcflbr, as to give 
 The moft enchanting profpeft flvort of heaven. 
 
 Knowledge, when gainM will recompenfe 
 our toil : 
 But he who moft has gainM may (till proceed, 
 And, by an ardent application, rife 
 To greater heights«— and higher flill afcend, 
 Like yonder {lately Pine, that moots its roots 
 Still deeper in die kindly foil, and drinks 170 
 
 Infatiate by the foft meandVing ftream, 
 Spreading its tow'ring branches in the Ikies ! 
 Then Knowledge grows, when to its deepening rcot 
 Humility beflows frefh foil,, and lops 
 Luxuriant flioots, with an unfparing hand. 
 Nor is the ardent application vain ; 
 For probability attends on hope : 
 And hope to application proves a fpur. 
 Through difficulty things of worth are gain'd : 
 And Refolution feldom's known to fail. 180 
 
 It fixes hounds to Ocean's rage ! It bears 
 O'er continents., canal'd from fea to fea, 
 The (lores of Commerce, won by Induftry 1 
 Jt penetrates the difembowel'd earth, 
 And fcales the cope of heav'n ! nor brazen walls, 
 
 Nor
 
 BOOK V, 91 
 
 Nor bright Vulcanian miclds, can ftand before 
 
 Th'intrepid aim of Rcfolution ! Firm 
 
 It grafps its purpofe, and the end obtains, 
 
 'Tis Rcfolution forms the man of worth 
 
 In every line of excellence. *Tis this 199 
 
 Confers heroic honours in the field— » 
 
 And gives the Audcnt courage to proceed, 
 
 Intent on no lefs ardent enterprizc ! 
 
 Tis Rcfolution forms the Chriftian too; 
 
 Armshim with helmet, fhicld, and fword divine} 
 
 And fixes on his head the ftarry crown! 
 
 Who (tops at difficulties, moots bcfiJe 
 
 His mark : the prize is not for him : *tis for 
 
 The Veteran, who like Achilles arm'.!. 
 
 Invulnerable, never quits the field 209 
 
 Till Viclory fits plumM upon his helm ! 
 
 Life is a warfare : Virtue is a race : 
 
 With Rcfolution ftart, and gain the goal ! 
 
 I Rcfolution tunes the poets reed : 
 Entwines the verdant laurel for his brow— 
 And leads the man of Science to the door 
 
 that high polifhM Temple, rtUM !>y Fame; 
 And Wifdom lct> him in. Who would faceted 
 In knowledge, aiu! in Virtue's courfc ol> 
 In early life, tupcrior excellence, 210 
 
 ft launch with Rcfolution, and ftccr on 
 1 Perfcverancc — till Death fhuts the fee 
 
 : mariner, whofc idol is his gold, 
 
 Intent
 
 ioo THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 Intent to fpeed, defifts not in his courfe, .■ 
 Though Eurus mufters many an adverfe blaft : 
 Knowing that milder gales fucceed the florm, 
 He hopes to gain the port :— and oft the port 
 He gains.. Succefs attends on diligence. 
 Storms mull be weather'd to obtain our port : 
 But while the Mailer's in the fliip — we fpeed ! 229 
 He Hills the tempeil or o'errules the llorm, 
 And fafely guards from each impending ill. 
 Though rocks of Difficulty rear in view, 
 It amply pays the coll, with future gain, 
 T'explore the fcientific deeps, in fearch 
 Of Wifdom's lore : But of all wifdom, that ' 
 
 Which points to an hereafter is the prime, 
 And well fecures the high celellial Hake— • 
 Be that our firlt regard : — No balm like that 
 Can footh the drooping heart, and cheer the light 
 With pleating profpe£h of unfading blifs. 231 
 
 That wifdom never fails us in the end, 
 Though in this Life it meet not full reward.— 
 When all the Ikilful means are try'd that art 
 And vigilance acquire — Succefs attends 
 On fecond caufes, and is doubtful Hill 
 In reference to tranlitory things : 
 But in refpe£l of the celeftial prize, 
 Who fail with wifdom Ihipwreck cannot make ; 
 And, perfevering, fhall obtain the port. 240 
 
 Mean-
 
 BOOK V. 101 
 
 Meantime, in Providence rcpofing hope, 
 Wc gain the pledge of Heaven's fecurity : 
 For Hope will not defert us, but remain 
 Hid in the clolct of the human bread * ; 
 A trcafure richer far than that beftow'd 
 On high Olympus' brow, when goddcflls, 
 Unvcil'd, contended for the fatal fruit. 
 And hope in Providence ne'er disappoints 
 Our fober expectations. Heaven (hall fade 
 Before the promifes, thole golden fruits 250 
 
 For which the Chriftian breathes his ardent hopes, 
 Shall fail. — High on a rock of adamant 
 Hope ftands fecure; and with uplifted hand, 
 She holds a golden chain— de fee ncling far 
 
 11 its eclcftial anchor in the ikies, 
 ind thence directs it down to man :— while Faith 
 Calls him to lift his hand, and fcize the prize ! 
 
 While Life's prepoftcrous voyagers employ 
 Their idle cares and ftudics, how to pafs 
 The narrow Krith with elevated pomp, 260 
 
 And lade their gaudy bark with yellow clay — 
 Which only finks them deeper in the ftorm, 
 
 * Significant i» the fab!c of PantiotVs Box, when appliul to 
 the lilt of Life ; for fliil, hope remains un 'cr all, the onls trtaj 
 .ad folace of the human heart. 
 
 F 3 Hoek
 
 loa THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Hope frill is feen on deck : — Deferring thefe r 
 Whofe expectations rife from other views— 
 Who feek. her not, fhe turns afide to thole 
 Who, tofs'd and weatherbeaten,. and nigh wreck'd' 
 In Life's proud wave, have fought Religion's aid,. 
 And with a, voice more o;entle than the found 
 Of breathing zephyrs, whifpers to their ear, 
 ** Though turgid now the wave, and rough the- 
 ."ftorm, 270 
 
 ** A milder gale to-morrow may fucceed, 
 " And waft you to the port.. Fix high your hopes t 
 " While earthly hopes are vain, there is a hope 
 *• That never fails, and never difappoints : 
 '* Its language is, Fix not too great a weight 
 li On earthly happinefs — that veffel leaks ! 
 " But with Religion you embark fecure : 
 u Anct come the worft that may.,. Life's ills are 
 
 " fhort ; 
 *' A blaft that foon- fubfides,. Your port is- nigh, 
 • And Death the pilot— dread not his alarm, 280 
 ** Soon bears you to your port. Look up, and fee 
 *' Regions of pure ferenity on high 
 *' Invite your weary feet to land fecure,. 
 •' Where diftant evils can.no more invade." 
 Such is the voice of Hope, deriv'd from heaven : 
 But earthly hopes are fleeting as a fhade, 
 And often mock cur expectations vain. 
 
 Pros-
 
 HOOK V. 103 
 
 Prosper it v to woo with ardent fuir, 
 But gain adverfky, a pcevifb mate, 
 It oft the lot of Life — or at the mod 29O 
 
 To fti/c the hand of difappointment chill, 
 Anil ftarvc in in embrace ! Full well I know 
 Great expectations prove difaftrous : — Thefc 
 Add pond'rous weight to fickle Fortune's fcale ; 
 And fhould it turn agairrft us, we're undone. 
 With hopes abridg'd, * we feldotn fare the worfc; 
 Butboundlefs wifhes tend to make us poor. 
 Great expectations oft in forrow end ; 
 And dii appointments in rcmorfe or ruin. 
 So farM a mariner — poflcft of gold, 300 
 
 And home returning with a bounding prow ; 
 In hope, exulting foon to meet his friendt 
 Secure on fhorc — when lo, fome fullen gull, 
 Ill-fated, ftruck his gallant Gondola -f- 
 Againft a rock — and fplit in fight of Port — 
 A painful fcenc ! Such frequent proves the fate 
 Of unreflecting youth, who green dare launch 
 Into Life's bay, with hopes of high fuccefs : 
 Unliable as the waves ! — they ftecr amain— 
 Till fad experience oft is heard too late, 310 
 
 • Sipias ct fpato beevi 
 
 Spcm longam rrcefct. 1 1 
 
 t Gondola is not (kfigocd bcre foe a Venetian boat, but the 
 name of a (hip. 
 
 F 4 Rcmon-
 
 io 4 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Remonftrating— « Take prudence in the fhip, 
 And fteer with caution :"— Deftitute of thefe, 
 Young Tyro bears down with the rapid tide, 
 And meets the gulph, wide yawning for its prey ! 
 
 1 knew a Youth, of humble parents born 
 Yet not of mean defcent, nearly ally'd 
 To facerdotal rev'rence. But to him 
 Small privilege the confecrated line : 
 For what can even titles recommend, 
 If means be wanting to fupport their claim ? 320 
 — Shall I, or cenfure or commend the race 
 Of prieftly cafuifts, who frequently 
 Upon themfelves bequeath their legacies, 
 Not leaving place for law-iuits, and debates, 
 And caveats ? and appeals to dilcompofe 
 Their duft (like her at Endor) when they fleep ; 
 Nor yet deprive their families of peace ? 
 Such truft in Providence, iuch hope have they, 
 The prefent day confumes their lavifh ftores, 
 Nor leaves the manna to grow ftale to-morrow. 330 
 One privilege alone, the virtuous youth 
 Whofe fate 1 ling from fuch alliance gain'd ; 
 His education 'twas : — a precious pearl ! 
 Which in itfelf tranfeends the worth of crowns. 
 With this, but empty purfe— now grown to years 
 Of riper manhoo !— confeious of his worth, 
 He fped on foot an hundred miles twice told, 
 
 To
 
 BOOK V. io 
 
 To the metropolis, to caft a die 
 
 fickle Fortune — and invoke her ftniles. 
 But Fortune— wretched arbitrefs*! pour'd down 340 
 Her trcafures round the grov'ling crouds, whole eye 
 Scarce comprehends twice the circumference 
 Of th'owl's, or bat's, or of the delving mole's ! 
 —So Jupiter in golden ihow'rs came down -f, 
 And found the bofom, kept by ccntincls, 
 Open to fuch embrace ! Who flies from gold \ ? 
 Yet on the Youth whofe artlcfs tale I tell, 
 Not one propitious genius dcign'd to rtiow'r. 
 — The noily Town now gain'd, he had no friend 
 To comment on his worth — a name unknown 350 
 To recommend, or " take the ft ranger in." 
 To earn the needful meal his tender hai 
 Korm'd for the finer arrt, muft ply rough toil : 
 His frame, too delicate, muft bend beneath 
 The preflurc of calamity ! I feel 
 Commifcration waking in my heart 
 At iuth diftrefs — But chance awaits on all. $ 
 
 • Horace wifely remarks, 
 ■--— hioc apiccm rapax 
 Forruna cum ftndore acuto 
 Suftuli: , hie pofuuTc giudct. 
 
 t Hon. Carm. L, M. it. 
 
 ♦ Uif» ifTvpt /SXra-v.-u. A.v I 
 
 § Eccl. ix. 11. 
 
 * 5 Humanity
 
 io6 THE VOYAGE OF XLIFE., 
 
 Humanity had well-nigh bled t'have feen 
 
 A hopeful Youth, who leant on Virtue's bre aft,. 
 
 Whofe growing talents filent claimed regard — 360; 
 
 Chain'ddown by fad necefBty- — exposed 
 
 To all the ravages of grief and care, 
 
 Prefs'd hard by Disappointment's galling yoke, 
 
 And pufh'd befide the churl mechanic's door ! 
 
 Such fight might make e'en Hatred drop a tear. 
 
 But fate fhuts up the fcene.. Too much it prov'di 
 
 For him to grapple long with- fuch diftrefs. 
 
 And though his merit, after tedious months,- 
 
 Much like the luftre of height Hefperus, 
 
 Seen through autumnal inift's,. began to fhine,. 37,0? 
 
 And recommend him to a gen'rous Soul 
 
 "Who liv'd to raife fuch objects into life 
 
 And liberty : — divine intent ! Yet ftiiH 
 
 His merit found below but fnort reward'. 
 
 Meritylike golden mines, lies deep eonceal'd ; 
 
 And is not foon defcry'd, but by the wile t 
 
 Thefe hold the treafure facred, when 'tis found,. 
 
 And place it next their heart ! — So far'd the youtlx 
 
 Whom Recollection fixes in my eye ? 
 
 Now having gain'd a feat of eminence, 380 
 
 At leaft compared with his late humble ftate, 
 
 His fhoulders- from the galling yoke were eas'd t 
 
 He bore the lighter pen : a weapon which 
 
 He dextroufly could wield. Reviving hope 
 
 Bega»
 
 BOOK V. ror 
 
 Began once more to (hoot forth bloflbms— while 
 
 promil'cs and patronage lmil'd on him. 
 Too late, alas ! thefe lent their kindly aids:. 
 And Fortune now ill-tim'd addrcflcs paid ! 
 Diftrcfs had on his vitals prey'd Co deep, 
 That i£l*culapian art could not rcftore 390 
 
 The fprings and movements into harmony. 
 Crufh'd by too great a weight of forrow— foon 
 He now rclinquifh'd life, by HcavVs decree *, 
 And flipp'd behind the fcencs to feck rcpofc. 
 
 FfLL many a mighty mind, in idle qucfl 
 Of honour's airy bubble, hoifting ft 
 Aloft, to gain the glittering port of Wealth 
 By many an arduous enterprise, and re. 
 Ambition's loft left pinnacle — afltfrv 
 Slips from his elevated fhtion down, 400 
 
 Swift as a meteor glancing thro* the iky i 
 
 Ambition's daring fom durft oft afpire 
 To gain fuperior heights ; — not in the paths 
 Of Science and true lumour, up the ftcep 
 And fmooth ai'ccnt to fame ; but o, 
 To climb the craggy pitch of Avarice, 
 And gain the fummit of Opprcflion ! where, 
 In meditation fix'd, toprofecutc 
 
 ..an diabolical dcfignt 
 
 • Gm. iii. ife. 
 
 F d On
 
 io8 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 On India's, or on Guinea's diftant mores ; 410 
 
 From curfed Iuft of gold to butcher men, 
 
 And make a merchandize of human finews, 
 
 Inthralling thofe whom God created free ! — 
 
 The mufe with eagle eye, purfues their track ; 
 
 And, if her impulfe prove true prophecy, 
 
 Juftice will fbon purfue them for its prey, 
 
 And give the wretches, whom humanity f 
 
 And mercy have deferted, recompenle, 
 
 According to the meafure of their deeds : 
 
 If Time doth not — Futurity hath fworn, 420 
 
 With a determin'd afpeft, to confer 
 
 Slavery complete as theirs — and hellifh chains. 
 
 More innocent, and equally as mad, 
 
 Were the ambition of the Roman chief -f- 
 
 To ride on horfeback o'er the raging gulph : 
 
 Or of the Periian | Prince, whofe frantic zeal 
 
 Would fcourge the Dardanelles, and feign to bind 
 
 The wild waves in a chain. Time yet will come, 
 
 * The enormities committed by the blacks in the ifland of 
 St. Domingo, has been imputed by interefted men to ** a falfe 
 philofophy ; which, to gratify the vanity of its profeflbrs, and un- 
 der the maflt of humanity, had almoft ruined the colony." But, 
 in the impartial account of reafon and equity, thofe evils may 
 ruherbe imputed to the extreme rigours and horrid cruelties fo 
 frequently inflicted by unfeeling favages (with white fluns)over 
 their fable brethren, their unhappy flaves. 
 
 ■\ Caligula. 
 
 1 Xcrxts. 
 
 When
 
 BOOK V. 109 
 
 When each mad effort of ambitious men, 
 
 T*opprcU the innocent, fhall prove as vain. 430 
 
 (Jreat God of Hosts ! burftatl their iron baniK, 
 
 Anil let the fable captive exiles free ! 
 
 1 venerate the friend of human ftaVes, 
 
 In whofe large heart humanity prefides, 
 
 And prompts the ardent wilh — in effort ftill, 
 
 To fee each honed hand at liberty, 
 
 And every man within the reach of right: 
 
 For this, fo noble effort, I predict 
 
 The name of Wilberforce fhall live to late 
 
 Pofteritics: his fame fhall ne'er expire. 440 
 
 Learn hence, each blooming gentle youth, 
 bet 1. 
 To excrcifc compaffion;— -due to all 
 Who combat with diftrefs. Let Tcndcrncfs 
 Sit brooding in your heart : She can create 
 Something equivalent to angels here ! 
 If born beneath th'aufpicious fmilcs of wealth, 
 O fparc unfortunate Calamity, 
 Rcduc'd from affluence to low cftatc, 
 The pains to pour its plaint. There ftill prefidct 
 A delicacy in fuch breads, unknown 450 
 
 To vulgar minds. Meet their rcqucfl half-way ; 
 And fcrccn from cold the fhivcring limbs, 
 Perhaps as delicately form'd as thine. 
 
 Relieve
 
 iro THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Relieve the breaft from anguifh, which was made 
 
 To feel with tcndernefs ;; and to participate 
 
 Paternal cares— as vigilant as thine !' 
 
 Double thy liberalities to fuch 
 
 Unfortunate,, and make their heart to. feci,. 
 
 At leaft, a momentary gleam of joy !. 
 
 "Reflect that in, the unabating round 460 
 
 Of Fortune's rapid wheel, the lot may turn • 
 
 And thy own. fortune's heirs folicit theirs L 
 
 The mind that's early form'd to fympathy 
 
 And gentle deeds, bids fair in future years. 
 
 For every high achievement of renown* 
 
 For orrce, my young philofopher and friend, 
 Attend the mufe ! each, mufe attends on you — 
 From long experience, 1 can this aver ; 
 The counfel of a trufty friend is like 
 A balm extracted from the Tree of Life ; 470 
 
 And proves a cheering cordial to the foul. 
 The mufe your plaudit values; yet ftill more 
 Your welfare fhe prefers — ambitious moft 
 To gain applaufe that will not foon decay t 
 From deeper ftudies, you perchance may find 
 A moment's relaxation with her flrain.. 
 Were fhe to fing your worth, the lute muft fail, 
 And eloquence muft fink a ftrain too low. — 
 Your wide extended genius, branching high, 
 
 A*
 
 BOOK V. in 
 
 As in the facred vifion— young of root,. 480. 
 
 The more perhaps may need the pruning hand, 
 To lop luxuriant (hoots with kindly care, 
 And aid the growth ol fuch as rife aright, 
 Left fomc malignant blaft fliould timclcTs teat 
 Up by the roots the ftately ftem, and blaft 
 Our hope of fruit. — The mute's friendly voice 
 And well-meant document* attentive hear : 
 Yet once again, her tribute deign to own : 
 A tribute of regard— and cotdial love. 
 Caution tohirit 10 you is plcafing pain : 49° 
 
 eivc, irv turn, is prime delight. 
 S (hould caft misfortune in your way* 
 Which l'ometimcs rubs the good, the great* thft 
 
 wife, 
 Then is the time for magnanimity, 
 And every virtue tocoroc forth and (nine. 
 A Spencer and a Savage brooked thtutack ! 
 "Who then can ekiuu lecurity from fate ? 
 fircat gcn*rou» fouls arc lomctimes (hackled here,, 
 Jn low obicurity, whole innate worth, 
 If brought to hght by Fortune's foftYtng hand, cpo 
 In l'cnatcs might ha>c (hone— worthy of Grccc« 
 In its meridian fplcndor * Fortune plays 
 Her idle pranks, and feeim delighted mod 
 In contrarieties '. Have you not fcen, 
 
 In
 
 Hi THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 In filk brocade, or crimfon daub'd with gold, 
 
 Half-idiots borne on giddy fortune's plume 
 
 O'er half a continent, whofe little fouls 
 
 A narrow compafs circumfcrib'd : whofe minds 
 
 Lay like the ruins of fome ancient pile, 
 
 In defart wilds, forfaken and forlorn, 510 
 
 Wand'ring and vagrant as the fairy train ; 
 
 Whofe appetites no bounds controul'd ; 
 
 Ungovernable quite as ocean's rage, 
 
 When in a tempeft tofs'd, or like a fhip 
 
 Without a rudder in -the raging florin ? 
 
 Dame Fortune, fickle miftrefs * ! ill befto\V9 
 
 Smiles on the undeferving ; but on fuch 
 
 Whofe merit claims regard, fhe fometimes frowns* 
 
 It is the only proof, infallible, 
 
 Of true bred mariners t' outbrave the florm : 520 
 
 It is the proof of wifdom to furmount 
 
 With manly refolution all Life's ills, 
 
 And fcize the prize which Virtue holds in view : 
 
 Which all that overcome fhall foon obtain. 
 
 But wrong not Fortune ! Sometimes fhe confers 
 
 Her gifts with lavifh hand, at Wifdom's gates ; 
 
 And who would think that Danger banquets there ? 
 
 • O Fortuna viris invida fortibus 
 Quam non aequa bonis prxmia dividii. Sen. 
 
 Take
 
 BOOK V. 113 
 
 Take heed, my youthful Colleague—— fnatch her 
 
 g' 1 ' 
 gentle hand — a thorn fprings by the rofc ! 
 
 It merit, promifing as yours, fhould chance 53O 
 
 To lift you up to eminence — take heed ! 
 
 Look that Humility (lands by your fide, 
 
 Or you perhaps may find that Fortune's fmiles 
 
 Are treacherous, and fatal as her frowns. 
 
 Defpife all little fublunary things : 
 
 Give to your ardent foul full fcope to wing 
 
 Its fteady flight to reach th*Eternal Source, 
 
 From whence all good, all excellence proceeds. 
 
 If Fortune fhould exalt you of her train, 
 
 Deign to be good as great. To all around 540 
 
 A pure example give of ftedfaft faith, 
 
 (Jrac'd with good works.— In honour's pnblic path* 
 
 Stand with unfhaken fortitude. With thefe 
 
 Accomplifhments, fidelity poffefs ; 
 
 Then, all your warfare paft, with joy look up, 
 
 And fee a •• Crown of Life" held out to you. 
 
 Tins fome fuccefsful Voyager makes fail 
 To many a diftant province, and furvcys 
 The world's circumference : — inured 
 
 . hauiflups hurricanes, and florm*, 550 
 Airaults, and onfets rude, from many a foe ! 
 At length, long homeward bound — hcjoy'd beholds 
 our*d land of his nativity : — 
 
 Rides
 
 r j 4 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Rides in full triumph with a profpcrous gale r 
 And foon obtains the wifh'd for harbour : — clad 
 To ftand fecure Upon the beach, — he there 
 Oft ruminates o'er all the dangers paft, 
 And pleas'd, partakes the boon his toil procured; 
 
 THE.
 
 v.v k>*\ 
 
 TW£ 
 
 VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 BOOK VI.
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 The Vicifjitudes attending Human Life, refolvtd into Pro- 
 vidence, Seeming Objeclions to the general and more, 
 particular Superintendency of Providence fated — and 
 guarded from the falfe Conclufions of the Peripatetic 
 Philofophy, and the Abufes of the Sceptic Infidelity. The 
 impartial Diflribution of the Gifts of Providence, in 
 the prefent State, to Good and Bad confidered: and the 
 Wifdom and Propriety of fuch a Difpenfation vindi- 
 cated — The Righteous not always fgnally rewarded, nor 
 the Wicked vifibly punifhedin the Prefent Life ; whence, 
 an Argument for a Future State offuitable Rewards and 
 Punifhments. Remarkable Scripture Inflames of a 
 particular Manififlation ofjufice and Providence in 
 the Prefent State, with a fu it able Improvement, Re- 
 flection on the Harmony fubjijling between Reafon and 
 Revelation. Man fixed in a State of Probation — an 
 Accountable Creature, — having Goa*s Law, Reafon, 
 Confcience, Experience for his Guide : — Ihe Confc 
 quence of his attending to, or fighting thefe Monitors. 
 His Moral Agency afferted — Obfervations on his Fall 
 and Recovery — and on the NeceJJity of Chrifian Forti- 
 tude and Perftvciancc, in order to his attaining the 
 Immortal Prize. 'Ihe Book concludes with an Ilhtf- 
 tration of the happy Effects of Religious Perjeverance in 
 the Clofe of a Chrifliaris Courfe, 
 
 THE
 
 THE 
 
 VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 BOOK VI. 
 
 O effort more, my mufc ! yet once again 
 
 Relume the facced theme. Attention hangs 
 On Virtue's dictates. Me fhc owns her pricft : 
 Nor will defert me, while intent to trace, 
 Through all the dark viciflitudes of Life, 
 *' Eternal Providence," and vindicate 
 God's righteous ways to man— whofe Laws are 
 
 built 
 On Rcat'on's bafc, and ftand in Equity. 
 
 He who purfucs the track of Truth, and ftcers 
 With Wifdom, Virtue, and Fidelity 10 
 
 Clofe by his fide, in amicable league, 
 
 Though
 
 n8 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Though fafe his coudc, yet, in this minor ftate, 
 Mult fometimes ftruggle with oppofing ills, 
 Nor unremitting plaudits hope to gain. 
 Perchance, muft brook the galling yoke of Wrong, 
 And bend to Defpotifm's imperious nod, 
 Or bow beneath tlae proud opprefibr's power! 
 Too oft on earth Opprefiion's pow'r is felt ; 
 Fair Freedom's rights intuiting! — That blcft ftate 
 Of future equity forgotten feems, 2* 
 
 When awful Juftice, with unbias'd hand, 
 Shall hold the balance; weigh each fecret deed; 
 Weigh merit too, in an impartial fcale — 
 Shall fully vindicate the right, and fhine 
 Supremely clear through Heaven's eternal day ! 
 
 'Tis obvious, that true worth itfclf may feem, 
 In this imperfect flate, not patroniz'd 
 By Providence, with a peculiar care. 
 Sometimes the diColuteprophane ftart up, 
 And flourifh at th'expence of Virtue's fons ! 30 
 While thofe — the lowly, pure, benevolent 
 Of heart, earth's jewels, and HeavVs darling care*, 
 Seem for a time deferted ; — not forgot; 
 Virtue may fit awhile in humble plight, 
 While pampefd Luxury abounds ; yet know, 
 That patient Goodnefs (hall not always weep* 
 
 * Cm a pii diis funt. Ovid. 
 
 .Ah,
 
 BOOK \r. xif 
 
 Ah, let not Infidelity from hence 
 Italic a fallacious argument, darraign 
 Eternal Providence, as if aflc< 
 
 Or on a journey hound — regardlefs what 40 
 
 Bcfals the little fates of men below, 
 A» if the univerfc and its concerns 
 Were roll*d about by Chan.cc — or at the beft, 
 Unworthy of God's notice were become — 
 No: this is PailionN, this is Folly's creed ! 
 Vc daring tribe* of Infidelity, 
 Why thus would you the Deity impeach ? 
 Why thus dived him of immenlity. 
 An : 1 cribc whom heaven can not contain ? 
 
 robs him of his darling attriln. 50 
 
 And fixes limits to Omnipotence, 
 Half meets the athcift on unballow'd ground ! 
 forbear to wrong your cool deliberation: 
 
 .'\ not the JrDGE of all the earth do right >" 
 1 rbcar to form the Icaft compari* 
 
 • en um VI science — and the narro 
 Of rcafon, circuinfcrib'd and premature, 
 J^eft he : »ce to thy face, and thou 
 
 He found a liar. Rather bom- l»cforc 
 
 . 4 \A ful throne of his tremendous power, 60 
 . icvcrcnt approach his foot (tool near: 
 Think not t'tludc his all-pervading fight : 
 1U t.ikcth cognisance of all our 
 
 And
 
 ?*o THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 And not a feeble tenant of the air 
 
 Falls timelefs or unnotic'd by his eye. 
 
 His all-feeing eye furveys earths ample round, 
 
 And comprehends heaven's wide circumference, i 
 
 Beholding all, the evil and the good, 
 
 Intent to give a recompense to all \ 
 
 That future day — when every eye fhall fee 70 
 
 His truth reveal'd, and venerate his power. 
 
 Till then, let no prefuming Infidel 
 
 Exult, as though his point were gain'd ; 
 
 For, in right reaibn's eye, the plain reverfe 
 
 Of all his impious notions clearly fhines. 
 
 What though the fentence. feems withheld awhile 
 
 From execution, and man's evil deeds 
 
 Find not below a certain recompenfe ? 
 
 'Twcre obvious to infer, it is becaufe 
 
 The Scorner's callous heart hereby becomes 80 
 
 But harden'd more, till, Pharaoh-like, he meets 
 
 His just defert — and Mercy gains applaufc, 
 
 Though flie, from fuch for ever take her flight : 
 
 It is, that humble merit may be prov'd, 
 
 Like gold that's try'd, and fuff'ring patience crown'd, 
 
 And virtue fignaliz'd on earth, to meet 
 
 Its high rewaid in heav'n, when God Supreme 
 
 Shall reign — exalting juft men near his throne: 
 
 When impious fcorners {ink beneath his ire. 
 
 Intent the impious fcorner feems a while, 90 
 
 His lov'd impieties to enterprize, 
 
 While
 
 BOOK VI. iti 
 
 While proud prcfumption blazes on his brow, 
 
 As in defiance of the bolts of Heaven ! 
 
 ** Became the righteous fentence feems dclay*d, 
 
 His heart is fully bent on evil deeds V 
 
 —Is this a meet return to gracious Heaven, 
 
 For that u good-will" which waits for his reform ; 
 
 Which once wept o'er his follies, and which bled 
 
 To heal his maladies ? — Vile were the wretch, 
 
 A'oandon'd, and abhorM of God and man, ioo 
 
 Who dare fuch goodnefs impioufly defpile, 
 
 And turn the patience of the Deity 
 
 To a fad occafion of licentioufnefs ! 
 
 Or worfe — to ground a bafelefs argument, 
 
 To difavow eternal providence, 
 
 Bccaulc the Hand Divine appears not held 
 
 Confpicuous o'er earth ! The man is blind 
 
 Who fees not its tfftfti ; and from effects 
 
 We trace the first great cause.— That man is 
 
 mad 
 W ho thus requites the patience of his God, 1 10 
 Becaufc the long forbearing clemency 
 Continues thus to wait for hit reform ! 
 
 Wh at tho' the good and virtuous man may fecm 
 Not always fignali Ai by Providence, 
 In this probationary ftate:— What though 
 Th'opprcflor fiourifli, and accumulate 
 The wealth of either Ind ! Would you from thence 
 * EccL viii. 1 1 
 
 G Infer,
 
 122 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Infer, no providence exifts ? For why ? 
 Becaufc man cannot read to-morrow's fate ? 
 That forefight Mercy has deny'd him — elfe 12* 
 His Life would be embitter'd with the fad 
 Foreboding of To-morrow's ills. Herein 
 Mercy and Providence appear ! and man's 
 Deem'd imperfections prove his happinefs : 
 The things he covets oft would prove his bane. 
 Fool, ceafe to cavil ! It were better far 
 Sufjpend thy idle cenfure, till fuch time 
 As judgment fets ihee right. Then, when the Judge 
 Exalted fills his awful throne, draw nigh, 
 And cenfure what is wrong. Acquit thyfelf, 130 
 And lay upon his providence the blame 
 That thou wert not a king — or fomething elfe 
 Thou art not. It is plain, thou art become 
 An errant fool ; and fuch he made thee not : 
 Stand at his bar, and anfwer for thy crime. 
 Enough my mule ! Reject the Infidel, 
 And argue with the wife.— -If man were born* 
 Upon the fofteft plumes of providence, 
 Secure from every ill — where then the teft 
 Of his obedience ? Where the exercife 140 
 
 Of '* perfeft patience *", to be crown'd one day 
 With never-fading laurels, fuch as Greece, 
 Amid her brightest trophies never wore. 
 Then future hope were render'd null and vain, 
 If ftedfaft juftice always own'd the right, 
 * James i. 4. 
 
 By
 
 BOOK VI. 11 j 
 
 By fpeedy punifhmcnt of what is wrong. 
 
 If ever-flaming Vengeance inftant feizM 
 
 The evil doer, where could vicious deeds. 
 
 And where could infidelity appear ? 
 
 By what could virtue fhinc, and gain applaufe ? 150 
 
 And how could future judgment find fit place, 
 
 If by fuch prefent fignals difpofTcfsM ? 
 
 Rcftraint would force unwilling awe, and leave 
 
 No place on earth for pure benevolence, 
 
 And filial piety, and virtuous deeds, 
 
 Springing of choice — not of neceflity 
 
 Which unavailing proves in fight of Heaven. 
 
 A willing facrifice God folely feck 
 
 A willing fervice claims his chief regard, 
 
 And (hall not pafs the notice of his eye : 160 
 
 Unwilling awe avails not aught with Him, 
 
 Who fcans the fecret movements of our bread. 
 
 What though to punifh, Heaven rcluttantfeem? 
 Say not that providence no proof afford*, 
 Infallible of its fuperior fway 
 
 ! the inferior kingdoms of the World : 
 Where lies the fa£l, authentically read 
 Of Juftice vindicating injurM right, 
 And punifhing the wrong ? A, queftion bold ! 
 Have you not in the facred annals read 170 
 
 Of injur'd Jofeph'scafe r Have you not heard 
 Of Hezektah ;— and Sennacherib, 
 The proud AiTyrian, and his vanquiftYd holt, 
 
 G a Subdu'd
 
 i2 4 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Subdu'd by Heaven's dread mefTenger of fate ? 
 
 Survey the. Hand Divine, confpicuous, 
 
 O'er Noah, Daniel, and Uzzean Job ; 
 
 And the three captive Jews who triumph/d o'er 
 
 The rage of Nature's fierceft element, 
 
 Which can the world fubdue ! But they, like gold, 
 
 Forth from the furnace came, more bright more pure. 
 
 Confounding all their foes ! The inftanccs 181 
 
 Of Providence, 'twere endlefs to recount* 
 
 In Gideon, Samfon, and the prophets old, 
 
 Thofe favourites of Heaven, in aid of whom 
 
 What wonders were perform'd ! Revere theftroke, 
 
 The righteous ftrokc of Juflice, in the cafe 
 
 Of Korah, and his curfed company ; 
 
 Who, not unlike to rebel angels, fell 
 
 Beneath the kindling ire of Providence, 
 
 All hideous tumbling to the yawning pit ! 190 
 
 Had not the hand of Juftice interfer'd, 
 
 God's prophet and his law had been defpis'd ; 
 
 The miffion gain'd from Heav'n foon let at nought . 
 
 And that notorious providence that cleft 
 
 The raging fea, and raih'd down angels food, 
 
 All flighted — or attributed to chance ] 
 
 Fit time for Juftice then to interfere : 
 
 Things done in feafon prove a wife delign ; 
 
 And that defign, in aft, is providence. 
 
 Where Sodom's fertile plains and lofty domes 266 
 
 Once flood in pleafing profpeft, glittering far, 
 
 Survey the fulphurous Lake Afphaltides ! 
 
 A facred
 
 BOOK VI. ias 
 
 A facrcd proof, * lading monument, 
 Of Heaven's difplcafure againft vicious deeds 
 And all afpiring advocates for Wrong ! 
 In old Jcrufalcm hrs wrath revere, 
 When Titut gave to Heaven a helping hand. 
 T*acceleratc n'd vengeance due ; 
 
 And oft foretold by Him, the promis'd God \, 
 Whom Jews and Infidels alike blafphcme ! aio 
 
 Nordreanv, becaufethe fentence fecms delay'J, 
 That Juflice lies aflcep. She fees from tar, 
 And fmilcs to fee the hour approaching fwift, 
 In which to-vindicatc the right, and raife 
 FW Equity and Truth to high renown ! 
 To give to each of Adam's num'rousrace 
 An ample recompenfe, in meet return 
 For all their impious — all their righteous deed*. 
 How much fupcriorthefuprerae rewards 
 In Heav'n, to thole that in this fickle (late 220 
 
 Could be fconferrM : Suppofe of equal worth ; 
 Still, their duration no proportion bears. 
 
 Be fork that folemn fcafon, noted long 
 In the feaTd records of futurity, 
 When God (hall *« judge the world inrighteoufnefs^ ,, 
 The %*oy1c of Juftice would Ik premature. 
 Irt hurling vengeance round a guilty world — 
 et too loon rauft on the wicked fall. 
 
 : Mk ix. 6. Luke in. xt~- 
 
 ' 3 With
 
 126 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 With Sacred Record, reason here accords, 
 To trace the wifdom, fitnefs, harmony, 230 
 
 And end of all the Attributes Divine «f ! 
 T'admire the juft and meet propriety 
 Of fuch forbearance, till that future day 
 When mercy mild, and awful juftice, fhine 
 Through Heav'n's wide-bourn with a refplendent 
 
 blaze : 
 Meantime, who weighs their import, foon fhall find 
 Both tally, both unitedly atteft 
 The Uriel: neceflity of that aflize, 
 When Justice, feated on an awful throne, 
 Guarded with thunders, and th'expanfive flafh 240 
 Of lightnings glancing round, fhall give to all, 
 On either hand, impartial recompenfe ! 
 Mercy to fuch who mercy's dictates lov'd; 
 Judgment to fuch as did her fuit deny. 
 
 Nor deem it cruelty when God fhall deal 
 Juftice to all who pity durft defpife : 
 Mercy long flighted gives accefs to wrath : 
 When he of Judah born, Regent of Heav'n, 
 The golden Sceptre long defpis'd on earth, 
 
 •f Juftice never exults over the divine clemency while Mercy 
 can be offered : neither can Mercy be promulged at the ex- 
 pence of Juftice. The attributes of God are inviolable. Hence, 
 refpect fhould always be had to their mutual fitnefs and harmo- 
 ny, the determined feafons of their operations ; and the means 
 by which thofe fecmingly the moft oppofite arc reconciled. 
 
 Converts
 
 BOOK Vi. 127 
 
 Converts into an iron rod, to bruile 250 
 
 Iniquity's ft iff" neck beneath tbc flroke 
 Of his uplifted arm ; — henceforth, to rule 
 The nations * with empyreal fway, decreed, 
 And arbitration juft — then all who once 
 Defpis'd his love, fhall feel his kindled ire. 
 
 The Deity proceeds by ftri&eft rules, 
 And living laws, of truth and equity— 
 Unalterably fix'd, as is the bafe 
 Of Heaven's eternal hills ! Oppos'd to thefe, 
 Though 'twere ro (ave a world, grace never acts ; 
 
 r aught of juft ice, mercy, providence, 26 1 
 
 E'er varies from th*cternal deep-laid fchemc, 
 Perfect, demonftrable -fin all its parts ; 
 Yet far furpafling man's or angel's fcan. 
 
 The Deity has ptae'd us in a ftate 
 Of fhort probation, and before us fix'd 
 The joys and torments of a future lite, 
 A life that never ends ! And oft appeals j 
 To Rcalon, lac red monitor ! and warns 
 To fhun the evil, to purfue the good, 270 
 
 With wife intent, and live forever, None 
 
 • Pfrlm u. 9, 
 
 t Dcipottftrablf, 1. A to God himfclf, agresably to Utt 
 ApoAlc'i affirmation, A£b xv. it. 
 
 * Alluding to fuch ficrtd upo&uLuicas M As* in Bt 
 
 IS. ■;*'■'*■ 
 
 But
 
 128 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 But fools fuch faithful di&ates difobey— 
 Or dare contemn the kindly overtures, 
 Which, if attended to, lecure our peace ! 
 Yet thofe who flight the facred call—e'en thofe 
 The hand of juflice long forbears to ftrike, 
 Till warning after warning tliey refute, 
 And place themfelves beyond the reach of Heav'n, 
 
 i 
 Full oft has faithful Confcience loud alarm'd 
 The citadel within, with friendly care, 28c? 
 
 To fortify from ill her lov'd abode ! 
 She claims the empire of the breaft ; and proves 
 The friend of all who liften to her voice : 
 Who flight her find a foe ! None (hall contemn , 
 With long impunity her facred plaint : 
 But muft at laft their infolencc bemoan ; 
 And find the query true, by Wifdom's pen 
 Propos'd— " A wounded fpirit who can bear ?" 
 
 • 
 
 Reason, by fage Experience gravely join'd, 
 
 Points out the wrong,—- and warns the wanderer 
 Of th'error of his way, admonifhing 291 
 
 Aloud, to fleer by Wifdom's facred chart : 
 If he repentant, turn a willing ear, 
 Intent the heedful caution to obferve 
 Invariably, through Life's afiailing fnares, 
 The courfche fteers, fweet innocence attends, 
 And Confcience bears its tcftimony clear : 
 Hope and Good Confidence ftand by at laft; 
 
 And
 
 ook VI. tm 
 
 And foon a gentle gale of mercy wafts 
 
 His VefTel fmoothly to th'eternal port ! 300 
 
 But if ncgle&ed all the warning calls 
 
 Of rcafon, conscience, providence, conjoin'd 
 
 With what experience dictates; what remains 
 
 To rectify the foul untaught by thefc ? — 
 
 'Tit highly probable its haft'ning doom 
 
 (Though Juftice long on flaw forbearance wait) 
 
 Is well nigh feal'd : — :hat foon the worthlefs ikiff 
 
 Muft fplit upon Prefumjnion's rugged rock, 
 
 And give the cargo down to darken 1 fhades, 
 
 Regions of black Tartarean night, and ihorcs 310 
 
 Inheritable, deep as Stygian found, 
 
 Where hope and joy, the beams of HcavVs bright 
 
 day, 
 Shall never mine. Impenitence ! Survey 
 Thy dcftin*d end, and wifely fhun the courfe 
 That down to yonder trrcary regions tends ! 
 Bear round with Rcafon at thy helm, and (V 
 The courte of lacrcd Wifdom. Never deem 
 Unmanly the determination, thus 
 To veer about, and ihun the Stygian pool. 
 Tis better late than never to begin 
 The couti'c of Safety : none begin too foon ; 
 Rut fome too late bemoan the lois of more^ 
 Far more, than poets of E'yfium fcigo'd; 
 Of alienated heav'n— that matculcl 
 So idly bartered for the dregs ol Tunc ! 
 Thus children may, while airy fancy reigns 
 
 G 5 Triumphant
 
 130 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Triumphant over reafon, part with pearls 
 
 For pebbles— quite delighted with th'exchange, 
 
 Till ripening reafon gains th'afcendency, 
 
 And teaches men to eftimate of things 330 
 
 According to their true intrinfic worth. 
 
 The Great Creator made us men, endowM 
 With faculties immortal anjd divine : , 
 
 And when of thefe defpoil'd, we fell, feduc'd 
 By the intrigues of old infernal fraud, 
 Beneath the power of fin's tyrannic chains : 
 Relenting Pity ey'd our hopelefs grief, 
 And flew from Heaven to ranfom us from woe. 
 Messiah ftoop'd from his celeflial throne, 
 Caft off the enfigns of his royalty *, 340 
 
 And dy'd to refcue from the tyrant's chain 
 The heirs of life — to " bruife the Serpent's head ;" 
 And rofe again t'enfure our future life. 
 Stoop down, ye hills, in homage to the Lord ! 
 Ye valleys rife exulting ! earth, and Ikies, 
 And thou great main — and chief, let favour'd man 
 Join in a gen'ral chorus to the Son, 
 Who brought falvation near ! — who ftoop'd fo low 
 To refcue " captives" from their gloomy cells, 
 And publifh " liberty" in ftrains more foft 350 
 And fweet than highangelic harmony ! 
 
 * Pfalmii. 6. Phil. ii. J. 
 
 What
 
 BOOK VI. , 5% 
 
 What bread but glows at thoughts like thefe, 
 Cordial as to the hunted hart the dream-— 
 And more refrefliing to the ardent foul I 
 Enthufiafm here a virtue feems. 
 Rejoice with rev'rence ye ranfom'd race ! 
 Chant your deliverer's praifc with grateful tongue £ 
 But when your utmoft effort is aflay'd, 
 Acknowledge Hill, " his love can ne*ek be 
 
 TOLD." 
 
 Whew JeflTeH facrcd ftem took root on earth, 360 
 And fprang aloft, higher than all heaven's hills, 
 its vital leaves a healing balm exhal'd, 
 Its teeming boughs with fruit immortal blufh'd ! 
 Mcthinks I fee, '"•eneath i:s (hade, a troop 
 Of late dxmoniacs difpoflelsM adoring, 
 The leper clcans'd, the paralytic heal'd, 
 Th'aggriev'd rcdrcfsM, the dead to life refcorM ! 
 
 In Holy Writ, thofe records oPrenc 
 Obtain'd from Heav'n, what world* rs we defer y ! 
 " Qlad tidings 1 * there falutc our ravilh'd ears, 370 
 Of " Love which paflcth knowledge !" There we 
 
 learn 
 The myftcries of man's redemption ! There, 
 The height and depth of* goodnefs infi.iiie." 
 Well plcas'd, we trace. Tho» Sacred Page informs 
 How God's Mcfliah, long foretold by fcen, 
 
 G 6 Came
 
 
 i ja THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Came down on Love's expanded wings i He came', 
 
 Inftant to earth, with Mercy in his train, 
 
 To buy our peace*, fojuftly forfeited— 
 
 And reinftate us, once again, fecure 
 
 In the pofleflion of our Father's love. 386 
 
 —Freely he purchas'd grace and life for all 
 
 Who feek it, and their fallen flate deplore ; 
 
 For all— >-hut thofje whofe folly feals their fate, 
 
 And binds them down in Error's dark domain. 
 
 Say then no more that man, in his laps'd flate^ 
 Is helplefs and forlorn ! — for help is nigh ! 
 Th'infallible phyfician at the door -j* 
 Offers his aid, to all who feel their fmart, 
 Inflicted by the " fiery ferpent Sin ;" 
 Laden, opprefs'd, and waiting for a cure ; 39b 
 
 He, " without money," heals their mortal wound ; 
 Pours in the " balm'*, extracted from the Tree 
 Of Life — the hallow'd crofs ! With matchlefs love, 
 -Soliciting their cure, J he bids them " live § f 
 And, lo ! from impotence they rife — to life 
 And health reftor'd ! All who refufe not, may 
 ** Stretch forth the wither'd hand" and find relief, 
 .— Since man's lofs is regain'd ; conjecture not , 
 Of him as of a mere machine— impell'd 
 
 * Eph. ii. 14 — 1 Cor. vi. ao. f ReV. iii. 20. 
 
 % Matt. XL 28. § Ezck. xvi. 26. 
 
 By
 
 BOOK VI. 133 
 
 By fpringt of mighty fate : — So fome affirm, 406 
 
 Erring * : — Difhonourablc thought ! For Cur I 
 
 Procur'd his life-) — proclaimed his " lihert . 
 
 And freed him from the thraldom of 'his ftate : 
 
 And where fin once abounded, now much more 
 
 Does grace abound in him for Adam's race. ^ 
 
 But if dcfpoil'd of reafon, will, and choice 
 
 Of good evil, man no more can (land 
 
 Accountable in judgment for his dc 
 
 Than the fea-idol4" of the Philiftines 
 
 Could (land retponfible before the ark, 410 
 
 For feeming to affeft divinity \ 
 
 Nor were mas elfe a man — Nor could he claim 
 
 Pre-eminence o'er yonder harmlefs herd* 
 
 That graze the verdant plains or range the hills, 
 
 •luntary ** round, in fair array ! 
 Tho' more creel his form— of wiLLdcpriv'd, 
 In moral excellence can he excel ? — 
 
 * The ancient Mankhect, aad fome modem writer*, who 
 hold the fchemc of Chnttian and philolbphical ncccHity. 
 t Cor. »». »i. Hi. 1. I baa hr. il 
 
 $ Rom. v it, 10. ON. 
 
 •* The idea, fo common in the world, of the rational tfti- 
 t jrr , Man, sol being endued with hoingpnfj « fo abfurd, that 
 it (cartel 7 can apply to the brute creation. If man be deprived 
 of ficcdom of will, he mull be a kind of involuntary machinal 
 which to (oppose the human bning nayamml to, is incompa- 
 tihk with tenpture and common (true, ( A j*> 1 I 
 •• The mother of true wifdom U the wiU t" 
 The nobkft intalicd a fm* without it. ' Y/ot > <« 
 
 But
 
 i 3 4 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 But hold-^-Let no vain fatalift debafe 
 
 The dignity of human nature ! — Know, 
 
 Tho* men and angels, children of one Lord, 420 
 
 Both fell enflav'd — 'twas man* obtain'd releafe ; 
 
 And that releafe obtain'd, without his fuit, 
 
 By means that prove his high efteem in Heaven. 
 
 Hence man is great — great by creation ftill ; 
 
 Majeftic when in ruins ; but reftor'd, 
 
 A living tranfcript of the Deity ! 
 
 If by creation great ; yet greater ftill 
 
 By precious pui chafe: — by redemption high ! 
 
 Man's prime prerogative — Heav'ns " laft bell gift' 
 
 Been freely pledg'd for him : — a ranfom full 430 
 
 For his recovery — and immortal life. 
 
 Yet ftill, the prize celeftial to obtain, 
 With Perfeverance he mull hold accord, 
 To life's laft period : — bent with Heady helm, 
 To fteer the courfe which providence dire£ls : i 
 And Pf.rs; verance fails not to furmount 
 A thoufand obftacles : It has been feen 
 To lay, ev'n hills of difficulty, low! 
 
 • The Divine juftice, in pafiing by angels and redeeming 
 man, feems fully vindicated by considering the former, though ■ 
 created pure, was /elf-depraved; the latter, though equally 
 poffeft of free agency, /educed by the former. The degrees of 
 criminality, in thefe cafes, appear fcarce lefs oppofed, than the 
 difference between the man who commits a defpgrate a£t of fui« 
 cide, and him who falls by an unforefcen cafualty. 
 
 The
 
 -BQOK VI. 135 
 
 The " good man* to furmounts all accidents. 
 While faith, with flueld cclefli.il, guard* his brcaft, 
 And courage into effort prompts dclign, 44] 
 
 lie lees the pruc, purfues it with his might, 
 And gains the turnout of his ardent hoj 
 
 Unwearied perfeveranee makes the man 
 Of fignal eminence in every line : 
 And (hall the Chri&ian idly hope to rife 
 To eminence by difiipated {loth, 
 An inattentive habit, and a brow 
 Not mark'd by vigilance or ftudious care ? 
 The name of Chriftian ill befits the child 450'. 
 
 Of foft effeminacy — Vain, alas ! 
 And premature his hope of preterit fame, 
 Or future recompenie : — The crown of life 
 Is kept in ftorc to grace the Victor's brow. 
 Nx> conqucft can be gain'd without aflaults. 
 This is a ftato of warfare, not of rcit ; 
 The reft remains beyond this «« vale of tears;" 
 When pail Life's florins, and all its threat'rung ill*, 
 We land fecure on Salem's peaceful fhore. 
 
 > 
 Vain is the roan who fondly hopes to gain 460 
 The wealthy merchandize of rich Cathay, -f 
 To traffic in Golconda, or Nankin, 
 Who never launches out a Tingle league 
 From forth his native ftrand :— Equally vain 
 r China.
 
 136 THE VOYAGE OF -LIFE. 
 
 Our hope 'of gaining heaven's illuftrious port, 
 
 And all the pleafures juft men there poflefs, 
 
 Who never labour to fecure the prize : — 
 
 The prize, though purchas'd — and referv'd inftore 
 
 For all who deem it worth their prime regard, 
 
 Is yet beftow'd on none but fuch as fleer 470 
 
 Steady to gain the coftly merchandife. 
 
 Life's Voyage proves fuccefsful to the man, 
 The man alone, whofe faith and humble hopes 
 Are fix'd on high, concentering in Him 
 Who rules the rage of every boding ftorm,' 
 And ftills Life's tumults with divine control. 
 
 Of all Life's Voyagers, the happieft he 
 Who brooks the tempeft and furmounts the ftorm 
 Secure, with Patience fmiling by his fide ! 
 Triumphant he, o'er deftiny's domain, 48© 
 
 Long makes his weary way, with Heady prow, 
 Still bearing on, invariably, whatcourfe 
 Direfts to Salem's tow'rs. At length fubfide 
 The fcowling furges — and the piercing blafts^ 
 
 Of chill v adverlity foon die away. 
 
 The pleafing profpe£V opens wide and clear, 
 To meet his ardent eyes —He fees it nigh, 
 And nigher flill ! Advancing to the ftrand, 
 Before a fwelling gale he gently glides— 
 Beaf $ to the haven of eternal peace, 490 
 
 Delighted to obtain fo foon the prize ; 
 
 On
 
 BOOK VI, 137 
 
 On that diviner (here, where grief and pain, 
 And wcarinefs and death find noaccefs. 
 There he, in full fruition reaps the fruit 
 
 :its long arduous toil. What words can paint 
 That calm fcrcnity, that cordial cheer, 
 Which reigns eternal in his tranquil brcaft, 
 Or fits upon his brow ^-*his lofty brow 
 • t ii laurels and eclcftiai roles crown'd ! 
 But chief of all, what heart can comprehend 500 
 That Toothing thought, of years fucceeding years 
 With large increafe of rrswmj happinefs, 
 Which fills, elates, o'erwhclms his ratifh'd foul ! 
 
 The radiant fplendor of the purple morn 
 Serene, when pail a night of dark cfiftrefs, 
 Conflicting hurricanes, wrecks, and alarms, 
 How grateful to the wo-worn mariner : 
 Defcrying foon in riew the wifh'd for port, 
 With (bouts of joy he greets his natal fhore ! 
 The Chriftian (b exults to gain his port, 510 
 
 And reft at home within his Father's houfc, 
 Secure it length of his inheritance. I 
 
 There pious fouls (ball fcaft with tranquil joy : 
 Nor dangers drear, nor fbipwreck, nor alarms 
 Difturb them more :— a long adieu to thefc ; 
 To forrows, pain<, and tears, a long adieu !
 
 158 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 After a tedious Voyage, welcome rest : 
 All Tribulation's bitter potions now 
 Are fweeten'd by the lenient balm of peace. 
 So refts the weary lab'ring hind, when paft 520 
 A live-long day of unremitting toil : 
 At night he greets his lowly cottage roof, 
 And lays him down with fmiling Innocence; 
 Then fleep, its dewy balm pours o'er his eyes, 
 And feals up all his fenfes in repofc. 
 
 THE
 
 THE 
 
 VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 BOOK VII.
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 A Storm at Sea — Eloquently cxpreffive of the Majefty 
 and Omnipotence of God. AJignal Deliverance on the 
 Ocean, Similar Deliverances in the Difpenfations of 
 Life and Providence frequent. The Ufes of Storms in 
 a Phyfical, and of Calamities in a Moral Senfe. — Their 
 falutary Influences on Nature, and on the human Mind* 
 God's Ways unfearchable. Afan's Life mutable. The 
 Folly of his prying over-fcrupuloufly into the Secrets of 
 Providence— -Admonifh'd rather of his own Frailty, 
 and of the Vicifjitudes and Imperfections of the prefent 
 State, Addrefs to the highblown Favourites of For- 
 tune, The Difadvantages attending Stations of Emi- 
 nence and Poverty, figuratively reprefcnted. The Hap- 
 finefs and Security of a Medium State. Their preca- 
 rious, and often fatal Enterprise who make Riches, 
 Preferments, Honours — the Ultimatum of their Purfuit* 
 Afuitable Refledion and Improvement, 
 
 ■
 
 T H E 
 
 VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 BOOK VII. 
 
 AEri al. Power* ! (primeval fmirce of light 
 And harmony) you gave to Echo birth, 
 In fwjft vibrations— when the morning ft.irs 
 
 d fang, and alt God's countlcfs hoft 
 Glad acclamations through Heaven's concave 
 
 pourM : 
 And in more recent times, you frequent *#okc 
 The full ton'd viol, and the warbling harp, 
 Of the enraptur'd Hebrew bard, to warm 
 The foul of Piety, who fang altem 
 Of nature, and accordant providence, 10 
 
 In plcafing accents, various as bis theme, 
 
 Till
 
 i42 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Till lift'ning daemons* loft their power to harm ! 
 
 Raife my afpiring mufe, to foar fublime 
 
 Above the middle regions of the ftorm, 
 
 Through clouds and tempefts, on a fiery car, 
 
 Like th'ancient Tifhbite to the mount of God -j~, 
 
 From whence to trace the wonders of his hand : 
 
 Or if confin'd below the lunar fphere, 
 
 A while to d > ell inglorious ! let me reft, 
 
 Hid in the bofom of yon nodding cliff, 20 
 
 Aloft o'er furging feas, at eafe to fing 
 
 The mariner's difaftrous dread in ftrains 
 
 Symphonious to tWJEWzn harp, what time 
 
 Nature's conflicting elements, rous'd up, 
 
 Are on the wing, that fcarce my ftraining mufe, 
 
 Exerting all her vigour, durft purfue,,! 
 
 Kindling in effort, now fhe fondly ftrives 
 
 To finite in concert with the winds and waves. 
 
 What time the fighing " genius of the ftorm" 
 Salutes the fails, and wantons on the deep 36 
 
 In circling eddies — then the fignai's given : 
 Ye navies hafte ! furl up the fails ! prepare ! 
 Inftant the founding fquadrons of the fky 
 Precipitate their flight with matchlefs fpeed ! 
 Down the fteep verge of heav'n-contefting winds, 
 With aggravated fury, fweep along 
 
 * 1 Sam. xvi. 13. t » Kings xix. 8. 
 
 Athwart
 
 BOOK VII. 145 
 
 Athwart the black inhofpitable fhorcs, 
 With clam'rous din, io concert to the waves; 
 A chorus harfh ! from which the deafen'd ear 
 Abhorrent turns ftunn*d by the hollow r< ar! | > 
 Adown the dark incumbent atmofphere, 
 Tumultuous hurl'd, bears torrents to the deep. 
 Tremendous as in Zoan's fruitful field, 
 When warring elements confpirM to fcourge 
 Egyptian pride, and blaft the hopeful year ! 
 The forked lightnings play ! The awful car 
 Of Deity to gain the good, rolls on * 
 Precipitant, with pondVous wheels, that crafh 
 Repeated vollies thro' the vaults of Heaven ! 
 Creation hears, and fhudders at the found ! 50 
 
 Ocean affrighted, foams, and raves, his voice 
 Uplifting horrible ! Confufion dire 
 Awakes. Commotion heaves here! head 
 
 Among the clouds/ and drives her furious fteeV 
 Impatient of rcftraint — while from their breath 
 The whirlwind i flues, fpouting torrents h'gh -f- 
 Above the towVing mart — high as the arch 
 Which gilds the dropping cloud ! thence pouring 
 
 down 
 Upon the head of proudeft navies, prone 
 Like Niagara's falling deluge— finks 60 
 
 * la tllufion to Thunder. 
 
 t Alluding to Waux-fpouu « fea. 
 
 Their
 
 i44 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Their ftreaming honours deep ingulph'd! Mean 
 
 time 
 The furging billows lifted from their bed, 
 In fwelling undulations, roll fublime 
 Like ridgy hills, commixing with the clouds, 
 And open lay the fountains of th'abyfs 
 Which threatening aim to deluge wide the world ! 
 An emblem faint of old Deucalion fcenes ! 
 Yet what avails the tumult ? Why enrag'd 
 In fuch a deadly feud old Ocean, thus 
 To lafh the lofty cliffs, and fcour the fhores, 70 
 And heave into the clouds, tumultuous, 
 Threat'ning aloud unutterable deeds, 
 And devaftations drear ? Proud main forbear! 
 Great Nature's calm controller, Deftiny, 
 Admonifhes, " Such idle ftrife forbear ! 
 44 In vain you lafh the lofty rocks, and fcourge 
 " The ftedfaft bafe of the eternal hills; 
 44 Since Heav'n decrees, e'en defpicable fands, 
 44 Your bounds confine, and all your rage defy ! 
 44 Th'Omnipotent fuch power attends. 80 
 
 44 He gives you laws; he curbs your proud defigns; 
 44 Ordains your bounds in due circumference, 
 44 And holds you in the hollow of his hand — . 
 44 Beyond the limits given, you dare not move ; 
 • 4 Nor caa you flee the conquefts of his arm." 
 
 What
 
 BOOK VII. i 4J 
 
 What eloquence can (hew, what pencil paint, 
 The bufy terror* which poflefs the fouls 
 Of yonder frantic navy ? See them tof»V, 
 Reeling and pendent — o'er the foaming furge ! 89 
 Some from the cordage blown down to the deep ; 
 And fome fwept offthedeck— or from the helm ! 
 While thus the raging elements contend, 
 Each auburnc check grows wan : each vivid eye 
 Wifhfully rolh, in expectation fad 
 With each returning furge, no more to greet 
 The cheering light of hcav'n — which now no more 
 Appears ! Convolving clouds, and fiery waves, 
 And blazing meteors, glancing quick as thought, 
 Abforb the beams of day, and quench its orb; 
 The choiceft gift of God ! No fecne appears, 100 
 Save thrcat'ning dangers, boding tnftant wreck ! 
 Kind Heaven avert the (wilt impending doom ! 
 All human help is vain, and refuge none, 
 Lefs than divine appears. — Defpair not ftill, 
 Ye pallid crews, for help is often nigh ; 
 Though undikovcrM, or mifdccinM afar, 
 Againft the fecming hour of Jcftiny. 
 Still " againft hope," in humble hope rely 
 On the Omnipotent, whofc hand can ihuU 
 From Ocean's rage, and " to the utmoft fave." 1 10 
 Appeal to Him, ye Voyagers, whojrulcf 
 Both earth and hcav'n ; whom " winds and : 
 obey." 
 
 H His
 
 j 4 6 THE VOYAGE OF LIFl. 
 
 His help prevents the deftitute ; nor fhall 
 
 Such feek in vain: For man's extremity 
 
 Gives opportunity, in feafon meet, 
 
 For bounding Mercy to ftep in benign, 
 
 And refcue fouls devoted to defpair ! 
 
 'Tis done— the florm fubfides — the fleet fecure 
 
 Bears on to make the harbour — where it rigs 
 
 Afrefh : — All damages repair'd, 'tis meet 120 
 
 T'enjoy the lives prolong'd by Providence, 
 
 And recognize deliverance with a tear. 
 
 Thus oft Heaven's mercy fafe protects the 
 
 wretch 
 Who, loft to hope, experts his final doom 
 With each returning furge : yet ftill he lives 
 To blefs the hand that bore aloof his foul 
 O'er diffidence — and deftiny's proud waves. 
 T'adore the voice which footh'd his bufy fears, 
 And fpoke to peace the ftorm ! Life's raging ills, 
 When chid by thy command, all powerful 
 
 king, 130 
 
 Subfide, obedient to the facredjfo/ ; 
 And all the reftlefs tumults inftant ceafe. 
 So ceas'd the ftormy lake in Paleftine, 
 AVhen aw'd by his majeftic voice, who call'd 
 Old Chaos into order ; and gave birth 
 To all exiftence : " Let them be," 
 Said GOD, andlo they are ! He fummon'd light, 
 
 And
 
 BOOK VII. 147 
 
 Ami inftaM light appcarM ! That well-known voice 
 Both winds and waves — andcafualties * obey. 
 
 It all this violent difcordant din 249 
 
 Of aeVive elements an idle ftrifc, 
 Productive of no good to man ? Not lb : 
 In every province— every diftant clime, 
 Nature turns preacher, and falutes his cars 
 With various lectures— of divine delight, 
 Heard frequent from the forcfts and the groves ! 
 The ftreams and rills ! the hollow winds ! the fcas ! 
 And thunders pealing thro' the diftant flcy ; 
 Or greets his eyes with plcafing/«w;, portray'd 
 
 lie foft pencil of P<rfefl'nn — which 150 
 
 The imitative arts in vain -f- would trace : 
 Thcfe clearly flicw the Great CREATOR'S power. 
 And when uplifted in the rtorm, his voice ; 
 ftorms proclaim, in drains all eloquent, 
 To the aftonilh'd world his echoing praife. 
 And Nature's voice, to various accents tun'd, 
 
 c and grave, how charming, how fuhlime, 
 Heard by the «ar of fage Philofophy ! 
 
 have undouUcd authority from the Divine Oracle* to 
 affirm, that thofc myftcriou* dilpcnfationi of Providence which 
 are (tiled " Caiualtics," art under the direction or pumiffion of 
 unerring Wiidotn. 
 
 t tn vaim, in point of equality. 
 
 H 2 Tornados
 
 i 4 8 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Tornados dire have ufeful ends affign'd ; 
 
 And tempefts ufher in to refcue man. 160 
 
 The aftive elements confpire to chafe 
 
 The pell of foul infectious fumes afar ; 
 
 To kill the noifome feeds of dankdifeafe, 
 
 Which elfe would epidemical run through 
 
 The vital air; and foon with morbid taint 
 
 Corrupt Life's fprings, and fweep whole realms 
 
 away. 
 Dame Nature, in her various attitudes, 
 Appears in Reafon's philofophic eye, 
 Studious to heal a Lazar world — and fave. 
 The clouds her copious magazines that deal 1 70 
 Her inexhauftible abundance round, 
 Impartially o'er many a diftant realm : 
 The winds her potent engines to convey 
 Up to the mountain-top refouices frefh 
 Of fluid element to feed the fprings 
 That thence into the vallies deep defcend. 
 And when to foft favohian gales the ftorms 
 Give way, her fertile ftores in fmiling fhow'rs 
 DifTeminate around, to cheer the hills ! 
 The verdant plains and ruffet meads to clothe 180 
 In livery gay, and crown the fields with corn ! 
 The lawns with fpangled flowers to perfume ! 
 The woods with leafy veftments to adorn ! 
 While all, in various concert, "laugh and fingf 
 
 Great
 
 BOOK Vll. 149 
 
 Great Nature varies, and alternately 
 Each different afpeft bears; but provident 
 In each, purfuing her own plan — alike 
 From ftorms and calms educing general good 
 And terminating all in one great cm!, 
 " The welfare of communities and worlds." 19O 
 
 In Nature, and accordant Providence, 
 The works and counfels of the Deity 
 Do often greet the philofophic eye, 
 Often elate th'illuminM Chriftian's mind 
 With deep folemnity. Such wond'rous works 
 Arc fcann'd by wifdouYs Ions, with pure intent 
 To glorify the " Firft Great Caufc," in all 
 The various operations of his hand. 
 Creation publifh.es his handy-work: 
 And Providence proclaims " How wife 200 
 
 *' His counfels ! how profound, how wonderful 
 " His ways V His purpofes furpafling far 
 Or human thought, or angels keener ken, 
 Arc hid from principalities and powers : 
 Their higheft orders feck* in vain to trace 
 vaft circumference of his boundlcfs plan. 
 
 i.rrjnc Wifdom has decreed to man, 
 iffing th/OQgb Liu'- turbulent domain, 
 ne'i frowns to lift aloft hi 
 
 * 1 Pet. i. 11.
 
 1 5 o THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 To meet the buffet of temptation's tides ! 2ic 
 
 To combat with a thoufand ftorms — and ills ! 
 This day may filed its flow'rs and odours round ; 
 The next its blading mildew and its bane : 
 The Life of man abounds with various ills ; 
 Yet thefe, though numberlefs, are provident, 
 And prove a fund of wifdom to the wife ! 
 Thefe warn him not to anchor too fecure, 
 Too confident in Life's rough bay : Thefe waft 
 Th'affections fleeter on to reach the* high 
 Celeftial port ! Welcome the accidents 220 
 
 That lift the mind to its congenial fkies 
 Thefe " light afflictions," tranfient as the night, 
 Are fent to purge our fouls, like gold refin'd 
 From bafe alloy, for that eternal " weight 
 Of glory" in reverfion — foon to dawn. 
 Thefe calm correctives of a Father's hand 
 Are meant to make us vigilant and wife ; 
 Humble and fober — virtuous and benign. 
 Nor aught on earth or aught in heav'n can fave 
 The wretch, who, unreclaim'd by adverfe fate, 240 
 Obdurate ftill remains — unaw'd beneath 
 The gentle chaftifements of Mercy's hand ! — 
 Unknowing that his crimes do ftripes deferve, 
 From thefe on earth inflicted, diff'rent far : 
 Thofe fent in pity, to reclaim and fave. 
 
 Sabm
 
 BOOK VIII. 15. 
 
 ;y full oft befriends 
 Ungrateful man, forgetful of his God, 
 And calls him back, wide wandYing from the fwld, 
 To (hare the meltings of paternal love ! 
 Calamity it heard, in wifdom's ear, 250 
 
 Reading fagc lc&ures of morality, 
 Which, when fuccefs attends us, areunhean! : 
 This Simulates our future hopes, and mounts 
 The foul on pinions for that higher flage, 
 Where proud Oppreffion ilalks not! where 
 
 opprefs'd 
 And heavy laden reft in fweet repofe I 
 
 . tracked fo, from all thefc fick'ning fecnes 
 Of inftability, we fix on heaven, 
 And with Religion ftecr to make our port ! 
 This bends the mind averfe to pride, and gives 160 
 Accefs to meek humility and peace ;* 
 And their, inhabiting, adorn the foul, 
 A jewel for the cabinet of heaven, 
 Of matchlefs price in the Supreme regard. 
 .Allliclion frequent proves the Christian** gain, 
 While d :.ly maniinn : — Lcfs 
 
 Its ilripcs embarrafs, and its frowns aanoy, 
 
 * Afflictions in the prdent rtatc of human nature, ma . 
 deemed unfa rour»ble to peace ; but if thefe aic eonduci 
 humility, which I think in the *4ture of thing* is uodcoiablc, 
 humility may be proved to be 00c of the chief ingredients of 
 peace and bappincft. 
 
 H 4 The
 
 i£,2 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 The veteran whole prize is virtue, whofe 
 Reward is Heav'n — than fortune's fmiles affail 1 
 -Affliction's aids can forcibly releafe 270 
 
 From frail mortality's unliable joys ; 
 Unfhackle from terreftrial ties the foul, 
 To plume its wings ethereal for the ikies ! 
 As ftorms oft terminate in calms ferene ; 
 So Chriftian conflicts, Well fupported, end 
 In heaitfelt joy, and hope, and foothing peace. 
 
 Affliction's fons, the leaft misjudging, deem 
 The raging ftorms and incidents of Life 
 Will bear them down the gulph of mifery ! 
 Anon they find th'Invifible directs 280 
 
 Their doubtful courfe — controls Life's pending ills? 
 And fcreens them from its threatening terrors, hi'd 
 As in the hollow of his outftretch'd hand. 
 Aftonifh'd, then they trace his fhining paths 
 Of mercy, wifdom, equity — in all 
 The various operations of his power ! 
 And pleas'd to comprehend the myftery 
 Of love, reveal'd in facred writ, fulfill'*! 
 in nature— amplify d in providence ; 
 They join fublime accord with facred feers, 290 
 And kings infpir'd, to worfhip the Supreme 
 Who lifts his hand to heav'n, and grafps the ftars, 
 Rolling them in their fevcral orbits round ! 
 
 Whofe
 
 BOOK VII. 153 
 
 Whofe meafur'd ftcps outftrip the fleeted wind*> 
 Or meteors glancing thro* the ftormy Iky, 
 When injured Innocence invokes his aid ! 
 When Mercy wings his flight, the lightnings then 
 Arc tardy and remits compar'd with his 
 Unmeafur'd fpeed ! If Justice calls aloud 
 For indignation, then, with (lower pace, 300 
 
 And a detcrmin'd af|K:£t, lo he comes ! 
 Roll; with the whirlwind round his rapid car, 
 Convolv'd in tempefts deep, and Haines of fire ; 
 With meagre famine, pcftilcnce, and death, 
 Attendant in his train — to execute 
 
 righteous judgments on a guilty land : 
 -.- kindling mountains the little hills 
 
 ightcd fly the terrors of his hand. 
 
 nblc, thou Earth ! roar out aloud, thou M 
 And, imprecate his vengeance now, who dare ! 
 Supreme he reigns o'er all the Ions of pride ; 
 Fixing hi* rendcjjce in deepeft glooms, -f- 
 As in the brighter) blaze of fled fart heaven ! 
 His throne unbounded : uncontroulM his reign. 
 Part finding out his thought*. : his wond'rous way* 
 Unknown to all but the 
 Higher than heaven, wider than t 
 
 J bioadcr djan the earth, arc his domain* ; 
 Yet he ioipccls minutely through them all : 
 
 f TlAlm xv ui. it. 
 
 H 5 Tho'
 
 i54 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Tho' earth, and fea, and ikies, proclaim his hand, 
 His footfteps are not known ; or only feen 321 
 As " in a mirror *" — nor yet clearly trac'd 
 In this uncertain tenor of an hour. 
 
 A few fhort moments meafure out the life 
 Of man, in this his minor Hate — his ftate 
 Of inert infancy compar'd with that . . 
 Maturity of intellectual growth, 
 Beyond the flight " partition wall," where Life 
 (By tranfmutation ftrange, fubiifting ftill) 
 Seems fwallow'd up of immortality. 330 
 
 Then circling years, fucceeding years, combine 
 To aggrandize his future ftate, ib high, 
 That righteous man in blifs fhall gods become : 
 Till then — let no prefuming fceptic tax 
 The operations and diipoials meet 
 Of that " all perfeft wonder-working Hand," 
 Which operates unfeen »\- throughout the mafs 
 Of animated nature — and inanimate ; 
 Works the machine, and governs every fpring. 
 Too fhort man's aera, and too limited 340 
 
 His narrow fpan of knowledge in this ftate, 
 To comprehend the counfels, works, and ways 
 Of Wisdom, plann'd in the Eternal's mind; 
 
 * 1 Cor. xiii. 12. 
 
 f Unfeen, fave in its operations, which are viftble to every 
 rational beiog. 
 
 And
 
 BOOK VU. 155 
 
 And cxcv rh unerring aim : 
 
 Too impotent his arm to move the wheels 
 
 Of mighty fate (a wheel within a wheel*) 
 
 Or on their axis to roll round the fpheres : 
 
 This work to the Omnipotent belongs 
 
 In all his plan the Infinite proceeds, 
 
 Convolving order and ncceMity 350 
 
 In one eternal round, conducing men — 
 
 Free-willing «f agents — by well-orderM rules; 
 
 Nature's works by ftri& ncccflity : 
 And who fhall cenfure or revife his plan ? 
 Vain man forbear! Nor daringly pretumc 
 To fnatch the compafles forth from his hand, 
 And teach Eternal Wifdom what is meet f 
 Go, rather recognize thy origin, 
 And ftudy well thy end. Why waft thou form'd 
 At firft, by Wifdom's Architect, a child 360 
 
 Of humble duft, from forth thy raothcr-earth ? 
 Why doom'd, ctace more by ruthlels fate to flcep 
 In hrr embrace ? — A leflTon meet to teach 
 Thy pride humility. Abating thought ! 
 
 the frail tenement of human clay, 
 vcr varnifli'd o*cr with fplendid pomp, 
 Mud mould'ring fall, ignobly, into duft ; 
 
 * Extkiefi Vifwo. 
 
 t The doctrine of mta't/ree agency, upon the ground* of 
 hit being redeemed from the original tranfgreffioo, hat been 
 fufftcicmly aflcrted and vindicated in the lift Book. 
 
 H 6 A prey
 
 z$6 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 A prey for earth's humiliating tribes ! 
 
 So falls the faireft flow'r, when pall the prime, 
 
 And back to its primeval ftate returns. 370 
 
 Ye vaffal fons of Fortune* ! while the mufe 
 Tour deftiny predicts, with patience hear ! 
 Like Phaetpn upon his fiery car, 
 You give to p'e fure and to folly rein?, 
 Ardent, as who would fet the world on fire, 
 Life's pafling fhadows to purfue ! Yet know,.. ;r {T 
 While in the wild career you inly burn, 
 The archer Death purfues you clofe behind, 
 With equal Ipeed, and marks you for his prey ! 
 Perhaps th'officious mufe, well-meaning errs. 380 
 'Twerc an offence to imitate the page, ? J 
 
 Who whifper'd at the eaftern monarch's ear, ,H 
 A daily lecture of mortality— hns , . W 
 
 For fome are in thefe later ages grown 
 So averfe to recoiled their future fate, 
 As if Fate's Arbiter and they fhould ne'er 
 Join hands !— To fuch, unwelcome his approach. 
 Unwelcome though his vifit, lohe comes ! n onA 
 No might beneath the fun his rapid courfe 
 Can flay ; — or enervate his potent arm 390 
 
 Save virtue -f. Riches, honours, beauty, fame, 
 # Fovtunaqut dulci 
 Ebna. H F. 
 
 f Virtue is here introduced, by a .ynccJcche, for the whole of 
 
 > l * f ~ And
 
 ROOK VII. 157 
 
 And ftrength arc vain | thcfc, amidft genu and 
 
 crowns, 
 Are hurl'd beneath his feet, and vanitv 
 Appears engrav'd indelible on all ! 
 Oft unfufpccled febemes the monfter pi 
 And perdne proves an undermining foe ! 
 While we perhaps arc forming mighty fchemes, 
 He makes his onfet on our puny race, 
 And earths us deep in deftiny's domain : 
 That " land of apparitions and of (hades." 400 
 80 vain a mortal's boaft— fo weak his arm, 
 So fluctuating all his earthly blifs ! 
 
 .ore precarious the pale lover's dream, 
 When near the fond enchantrefs of his foul, 
 Loft in fome fair Dcdalian labyrinth, 
 He trembling (lands— -views her approving fmileV 
 With rapture, and fcarce wifhes other heaven ! 
 
 a lo, coo foon, fome unexpected fecne, 
 Dark intervening, feparates between 
 Him and the faired idol of his bread ! 410 
 
 In vain his anxious cares to trace her flight. 
 Anon he wakes and finds himfelf undone ! 
 Such, tnd fo dubious arc Life's cbiefeft jo\ 
 Unliable all, and all dclufivc dreams ! 
 No ftatc of eminence— no lowly lot— 
 Nor innocence iticlf, exempts ns from 
 The frequent onfet of Misfortune'* wave ! 
 The following fecnes confirm the truth I fin;*. 
 
 In
 
 i 5 8 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 In Life f s converging Voyage, you defcry 
 Some hoifting tails, with ftately elegance, 420 
 
 Before the gale of warm profperity, 
 A foftering breeze ! — gliding fecure beneath 
 The vertical bright beams of zenith power, 
 In torrid climes — cheer' d with the flatt'ring hope 
 Of floating ftill with many a profp'rous gale, 
 Through many a future, joyous live -long day. 
 They feem poffeft of all below the fun : 
 Of all, but happinefs — the ium of all ! 
 Their elevated rnafts, expanded fheets, 
 And flowing ftreamers of the rainbow's die, 430 
 Salute the clouds of heav'n ! - The ftately bark, 
 Expos'd to each contending element, 
 Unballafted, Unfraught, bears bounding on 
 O'er all th'expanfive filver-gleaming fcene, 
 Unconfcious of a ftorm, and unpreparM 
 For angry Neptune's rage. — Anon he frowns, 
 And wakes up from the dark ^Eolian caves 
 The furious hurricane to ftrike their fails, 
 And fhevv the impotence of human pride ! 
 Thus oft our chace of earthly happinefs 
 In difappointment ends ! Its footheft tale 440 
 
 Deceives the lifVning ear ! And all its joys 
 Evaporate like morning dews before 
 The ardent fun's all-powerful beams ! Ah, then 
 The mighty fabric of our hopes is funk, 
 Like fome romantic caftle in a dream ! 
 
 Still
 
 HOOK VII. t 5v 
 
 Still let the well-fledgM mufe fuperior rife, 
 And emulate the fky-lark's matin fong. 
 Ambitions of her theme, (lie loan to fing 
 The fate of kings. Have monarchs caufe to dread 
 Dcfcent from their fupcrior eminence ? 451 
 
 They who enjoy dame Fortune** envy'd (miles. 
 And feem to rife above Misfortune'* reach, 
 To fairer realms, like demigods, and there 
 LuH'd in the lap of pleafurc— toft repofe ! 
 Can they experience the reverie of fate ? 
 Yes : Such may rift in fpkndid wealth abound 
 Like the rich Lydian chief *; and fit like him 
 Of UZ-f», ftnppM of their honour*, kingdoms^ 
 
 crowns ! 
 No date is permanent below the flcies: 46c 
 
 They (hine like flars—but oft like meteors fall ! 
 Survey at hand the mirror of their fate. 
 That (lately man of war attracts the eye 
 Of every pieas*d beholder ! How he fl.>. 
 
 v from out th'admirtng dock ! 
 Thofe fpacious (he.ts, fwoln with the whiz/ing 
 
 I pendant ftreRmers waving to the iky, 
 As in contempt of Ocean's uttnoll rape, 
 Attract the eye of wonder from the fhores, 
 
 i awe the drftant world ! — Vain pomp of pov. 
 
 r Joi. 
 
 Such
 
 i6o THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Such (lately vcflels, fplit on fome proud rock, 471 
 Pay low fubmiflion to the (urging Teas. 
 
 > Such is the lot of fortune's nobleft fons. 
 (No crowns nor fceptres give fecuritv) 
 They too fubmiflion pay, when fate decrees, 
 To the rude infult of Misfortune's wave. 
 
 Descending, prone with cafy flight — the mufe 
 To different fcenes attends : — And now fhe lings, 
 In'melancholy accents to the winds, 
 Their lucklefs fate, by fickle fortune plac'd 480 
 In Jiumble ftations — in the ebb of Life : 
 From, the high helm of pow'r they ftand aloof: 
 Nor melt beneath the torrid zone of wealth. 
 No danger thefe from fortune's funfhine fear, tr 
 Or need to fear : far different is their fate. ^qr 
 Rear'd in the rigour of fterji winter's reign, 
 And near ally'd to the rough polar bear, 
 A direful train of ftorms diverfify'd 
 Ohftrwcb their courfe, with oft rencw'd affail. 
 Chill'd by penurious blafts, and full cxpos'd 490 
 To battering cares, anxieties, and fears, 
 Subject to nakednefs, and want, and fcorn, 
 Thefe meagre fons of fcanty poverty 
 Are doom'd to combat mifery and woe T , ^ 
 
 In all their fubterfuges and affaults, sd \$dJ }$Y 
 With unremitting fortitude, till death, 
 
 The
 
 BOOK VII. t6i 
 
 The (ickening gleams of proud profperity, 
 By tlicm unfclt, portend no future harms. 
 
 ftill, they equal, or fuperior ills 
 From chill Adver/lty's corroding blafls 500 
 
 Suftain. Their leaky, weather-beaten flcitf, 
 Shattered and totVd, does lcldoin entrance find 
 Into the haven of unruffled peace. 
 Like little Nautilus they lilcnt glide 
 'Twixt rcK ks and rocks— o'er (hallow founds^as low, 
 As unregarded, in the eye of Power. 
 And if they chance to wreck, the lofs feems fmall. 
 And fmall is the alarm : — They founder oft 
 Amid the fhifting fands of Accident ; 
 And fometimes ftrike on rocks of deepdefpair: $i« 
 But fcldom arc they known to overict 
 By the opprobrious blaft of envy. Safe 
 From proud ambition — the prcpoft'rousgale 
 Of -iry fortune bears them not ullray. 
 The bufy buttle and formality 
 Of Life, in higher rank, affects them not. .; A 
 
 Nor thieves, nor pirates, deem them worth regard* 
 Their mallow floop, and tatter'd weeds, cicape 
 The fury of the raging demcr 
 With light proportion^ freight, and lowly fheet*{ao 
 They ftccr fecure where gallant (hips would heel. 
 Some privileges are by charter tin. : vf* 
 
 Yet they have much to fear, and much to feel '. 
 
 • Full
 
 1 62 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE 
 
 Full frequent dangers, and a train of ills 
 
 Their courfe attend. Fates not unlike to theirs 
 
 The northern pilot rues — where fhining feas, 
 
 Glew'd by the nitrous particles of air, 
 
 Are pil'd in many a ridge, like pearly rocks 
 
 Or cryftal pyramids, to meet the clouds ; 
 
 Adding new luftre to the fpangled Ikies ! 530 
 
 Such icy barriers failors dread to meet. 
 
 Near Zembla's or cold Greenland's glittering ihores, 
 
 Such fluctuating iflands, Delos-like, obftruft 
 
 Their perilous paffage— oft with fatal force, 
 
 Crufh into ruins the environ'd bark, 
 
 And fink it deep beneath huge hills of ice. 
 
 Thus proud oppreflbrs fometimes grind the poor, 
 
 Friendlefs, forlorn ; they too, one day, mull fink 
 
 Beneath the mountains of eternal ire. 
 
 Happy the man, who, plac'd in equal rank 54a 
 'Twixt riches glare and adverfe poverty, 
 Glides filent on fecure from Evil's frowns, 
 O'er the fmooth furface of Life's calmeft bay ! 
 He feels content his conftant inmate : Joy 
 And happinefs^ire his. Nor would he change 
 His lot for wealth and care. Full well he knows, 
 Life's Voyage, in each high extreme, abounds 
 With ills clofe cluft'ring in a num'rous train. 
 
 But
 
 ROOK VII. 
 
 Ri r t!»;> I' re.tf -.\ and religion's choice ; 
 Ac -ic mind of flSiA 
 
 DeiV like the Tea, 
 
 When agitate J in a ftorm it rolls, 
 Dalh >aming billows on the fhorcs, 
 
 Rcftlets and " never fixed in one ft 
 So man — if he one wifh obtain, for which 
 H» ardent f cnt — panting an. 
 
 He forms another : that obtain'd, a third 
 
 breaft: He holfti frefh fafl«. 
 And plies ea^ !i double diligence ; 
 
 But ere hi rs are allayM, 
 
 ul upon a rock, 
 And fliflnfig torrents foon ifTmge. 
 
 Some pant for riches, lbme for honours burn ; 
 And not a few for pleafurcs bend their courfe : 
 Puifuing fhadows, grafping at the wind^ 
 But unlu: .ill their efforts prove. 
 
 Some bcn3* (h'ci t cbu 
 Caft anchor, flufhM with fervent hope of gain : 
 Amduous, thence with long and tedious toil, 
 They lade their vcflTel with the glitt'rin^ ore : 570 
 Till deep comprctVd : — the firft fwoln W% 
 
 involve* 
 In total darknet's all their future hopci ! 
 
 So Mi
 
 i6 4 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Some court the great, ambitious of their fmiles, 
 And worfhip at their fhrine. Unenvy'd, I 
 Their lame purfuit now fee — and now I deem 
 Myfelf more happy in this humble fhed, 
 Like one efcap'd the billows — caft on fhore 
 By favour of ibme floating plank, fecure 
 To paint their fhipwreck, and their fates deplore, 
 Safe on the confines of my native land ! 580 
 
 Here let me feize the precious fands of time, 
 And purchafe wifdom at the golden mart 
 Of opportunity ; — intent to learn 
 Life's work, importance, end ; and how to fleer 
 As reafon guides, and virtue's dictates teach : 
 Here let me meditate on future fcenes, 
 And how to ftand fecure in that " great day," 
 When mighty ruins wreck this ftately globe, 
 And th'elements one burning mafs appear : 
 Religion ! then thy needful aid afford, 590 
 
 And bear me fafe to thy celeftial fhore. 
 
 THE
 
 THE 
 
 VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 
 
 " 
 
 1 
 
 ,'>Joj^ V 
 
 
 BOOK VIII. 
 
 .
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 Life— '(in this Bock is chiefly viewed in a Moral Light) 
 its Courfe compared to a Stream, andlojl in Futurity, as a 
 Current in the Ocean. A fublime and folitary Scene. 
 Melancholy — its Joys. A Cave — entered and defcrib- 
 ed as the Abode of Solitude. 'The Author's Soliloquy 
 to his Harp. Truth— a Definition of it — its Tejl — 
 how dijlinguijhed from Error. — Reficclion on the Ills 
 of Life. Ingratitude — defcribed and exploded. Friend- 
 Jhip— its fickle and precarious Tenor — true Friendfhip 
 defined, and oppofed to that of the IVorld. Parafites — 
 ejleemed and patronifed — by whom. Merit — its Claim 
 confidered — who are its Friends — the Advantages de- 
 rived to it from Patronage : 7 he Difadvantages re~ 
 fulling to Genius from unaffiuent Circumflances.
 
 THE 
 
 VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 BOOK vnr. 
 
 LI K K him whom all-di reeling Providence 
 Erft caft on Patmos illc, I feci cfcap'd 
 The fury of the raging elemci. 
 Like him I rau'c, tho* not like him infpir'd : 
 And fit awhile in this fcqueftcr'd (hade, 
 Bcfide a cooling brook, whole filcnt lapfe 
 Illufive ftcals away — and fuddenly 
 Immingles with the main! — To Rcafon's eye, 
 Life's ft ream rolls on perceptible ; yet rolls 
 Unheeded, though with unremitting fpeed ; 10 
 And Chronos * gives the fignal to embark 
 Ere we prepare for future deftiny ! 
 
 • Time. 
 
 He
 
 1 68 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 He too, like yonder tide, brooks no delav, 
 Till Life is fwallow'd in futurity, 
 As is this current in the vaft abyfs. 
 
 Sacred to meditation be the fhade 
 Where peaceful I recline ! This fea-worn nook, 
 Polifh'd with all the tedious toil and art 
 Of Neptune's curious hand, fhall fofter flrains 
 And gentler notes prolong, than what the din 20 
 Of howling winds and waves, re-echo'd late, 
 Indignant in the ftorm * : No ftorm is feen 
 In agitation now. The molten fea, 
 Uniting with the diftant firmament, 
 Appears one livid, one unbounded glare ! 
 
 How grand the fcene ! The profpect how fublime • 
 That broad interminable fea prefents 
 A lively image of immenfity 
 To the perceptive mind ! To meet the eye 
 The filver-glancing waves roll from afar, 30 
 
 With many a {lately veffel under fail, 
 Floating in folemn majefty ! — and each 
 Bears on in hope to gain iome deftin'd port : 
 Fit emblem of the final lot of man : 
 One only difference feems : In that great day 
 Of recompenfe, two harbours, only two, 
 Await the future fates of all mankind ! 
 
 * Alluding to the former part of Book viL 
 
 On
 
 BOOK VIII. 10? 
 
 On either hand the craggy rocks difplay 
 
 Their awful fummits to the fpacious ikies. 
 
 As in defiance of the wreck of Time. 40 
 
 Vet vaunt not ftedfaft earth : nor you, proud main, 
 
 Exult : Time U recorded in the rolls 
 
 Of sate, when all your waves (hall blufli to blood { 
 
 . earth thy hills to fxrc ! Thefc folcmn fcencs 
 To melancholy mufing move the mind : 
 And oft the fober joys of melancholy 
 Elate the foul, and rouie her nobleft powers, 
 Tis then the mule- affords fublimcft joy, 
 When wrapp'd in tempefts, and convolv'd in gloonu 
 Of deeped horror, we purfuc her flight, 50 
 
 And mark her j urplc track thro* tragic fcencs 
 Wc feel our intcrcft in th'account : the heart 
 Expands, and all the vital powers then lecrn 
 Enkindling in a flame ; — while fymjuthy 
 And conlcious fa f cry counteract, and raife 
 Strange paffioos in the foul !— I rom whence the 
 
 joys 
 Which fpring from fcenes of woe ? They hence 
 
 arife ; 
 The conic ioufnefs of fclf-fecurity 
 Prevails o'er every feeling in the breaft, 
 And kniatcs all our grief.— Then Liic is fwee 
 % hen from the jaws of ruin we cfcape ; 61 
 
 Surmount
 
 W THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 Surmount the billows, and obtain our port — 
 And melancholy's joys are molt fublime ! f. 
 
 r . Dare I invade this lofty cave's recefs ! 
 
 A folemn awe trills deep in every nerve, 
 
 •And trembling langour fteals o'er all my frame ! 
 
 As thofe who vifit dreary vaults, when ihines 
 
 The fhadow^y moon, or in fpme facred fane 
 
 Bow down before the all-pervading Power, 
 
 Whofe prefence then feems intimately nigh, 70 
 
 Fancy themfelves 'mong difembody'd ghofts ; 
 
 Asfjlemn now I feel beneath the dome 
 
 Of this tremendous arch, by nature forrn'd.: 
 
 I feel impreft with a religious awe 
 
 In the dun twilight, and deep echoing vaults ! 
 
 Yet foon my fears fubfule ! No danger here 
 
 Lurks nocent. In this cave, perhaps the green 
 
 Sea-nymphs and fportive naiads love to dance ! 
 
 It matters not. — Thefe mantling weeds, 
 
 Inwove with ivy, pendant from the cli(F, 80 
 
 Adorn the entrance — and fupply the aid. 
 
 Of maflfy doors — emitting glimm'rmg rays 
 
 To aggrandize the deep internal fcene. 
 
 This feems as Nereus' fpacious hall ! and proves ; 
 
 A grateful fhelter from the noon-tide beams. 
 
 t Dr. Blair* in his Belles Lcttres, hat eftablifhcd the princi- 
 ple, that, Whatever is produ&iveof terror is ncct fTarily fuMimc. 
 
 AH
 
 BOOK VJ1L tx i 7 . 
 
 All Nature** works-difcover fomc dcfign. 
 Ioff^» foman«ic fcene, thefc gloomy faults 
 Tho* dreary as the ibtcmn catacombs 
 Where fleeping heroes lie in ihbor (late, 
 McthinU fre(h vigour fprings up in the foul : 90 
 
 —I he feels her powers; 
 Wings her a.<Hjef(i , rcfes fight beyond the flu;, 
 And fcaice loots back on earth'» un(lal>le joy v. 
 Hence, ye obtruding u vanities oflift I" 
 B^caji not the charm whit!: .. youi 
 
 ' '■ • \. 
 From aM the world ahftracled,givc me here 
 With lober Solitude a wAile tq mule— 
 Companion ever dear * More mufi. ;.' 
 Thy foft ftill voice to I ruin- . 
 
 Than to the vftjn plighted faith, 
 
 The lovelorn tale of the foothe nightingale, 
 Pouring her pcftnvc plaint 
 
 And Gill, m fly pynljve m I 
 
 Prolong, and warble to the lift*ning caves ; 
 
 r - ho back the plaintive fc>q 1 
 The li(Vnin£ genii of the lucent floods 
 
 1 **ke Mttntree, and prolongt 
 Of oldJWh itfcfc iluclt amon: ng«, 
 
 That rocks and river*, and th'addktong groves 109 
 Th'attratlion fclt-^uui Illiotx's walls iprang up ! 
 
 I 2 Then
 
 t}t THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Then gods, and heroes, and creation's works 
 
 Trill'd thro* the founding lyre ! And Grange to tell, 
 
 A new creation feem'd to rife in view, 
 
 While mulic breath'd an energy divine ! 
 
 Is art decay'd? Such Hull no mortal boafts 
 
 In thefe degenerate days ! Hence it might feem, 
 
 Nature's primeval fpringsare all relax'd, 
 
 Her vital and harmonious pow'rs unftrung ! 
 
 Fables may pleafe the fancy, and amufe * : 
 
 The diffipated mind ; but if oppos'd • 1 20 
 
 To truth and reafon, let the mufe aflum-e 
 
 Her happier province,— ftand on reafon's baffc 
 
 Within the bound of probability,— 
 
 And wake the lyre, in high exalted ftraihs/ ' ! 
 
 To touch the fofter paffions, and to move 
 
 The flony from the fordid breaft : To teach r^™ 1 
 
 The callous heart to feel the forte of truth **d 1 
 
 Invincible, and echo back the ilrain ! ■ *> - : 
 
 And, '« what is Truth?" Of prime importance 
 feems n ^; 
 
 The query to o u r peace.' 'Twas iitterM'bncd i$o 
 From off the judgment-feat, where equity 
 And truth fhould fhine with fplendOiir'J andapply'd 
 To him who beft that queftion could refolve — 
 Who has implanted definition juft 
 Within the heart of man. What then is truth ? 
 Reaforv's unfophifticated voice, 
 
 Which
 
 BOOK VIII. 173 
 
 Which full accords with conference ; that 
 Unerring God within that cannot lie ; 
 
 j bear* a faithful record to the right, 139 
 
 And makes us rue the wrong! — *Tis truth inform' 
 Thzx/mu things are. And reafon hence concludes 
 There is a God, ** by whom all thing* confut, n 
 Or there could nothing be : and hence, effects 
 From caufes fpring as unavoidably 
 As from the fun proceeds the gladfome day. 
 Hence truth and reafon terminate in one 
 Unvarying point, as rivers in the fca. — 
 As in the polifh'd mirror we defer y 
 Juft images of things; fo truth reflect*, 
 Upon the mirror of th'attcntive mind, 150 
 
 Realities — with certain evidence : 
 We prove the likenefs juft, and call it truth ! 
 As this deep cavern ethos back the found 
 Of accents, with diftindt veracity, 
 So truth recites the voice of reafon. Truth 
 Proclaims the things that were— that are and thofe 
 Hereafter to commence—The facred gift 
 Of prophecy was the prerogative 
 Of early days, when Truth ftoop'd down from 
 
 ■' 
 U i;h Ifijiration in her voice, and prov'd* 160 
 Her evidence invincible, divine? 
 
 Alludios; to ih* m raclct which attended the MoCuc and 
 ChnsnsD dnpttustMas 0/ Dtvmc Re . 
 
 I 3 Her
 
 i 74 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Her office, and prerogative, vrm.tben. 
 
 T'illumine, and convince, a wond'ring world — 
 
 Predicting great events, thro' rolling years 
 
 And ages yet unborn; weighing the fates 
 
 Of kings, of empires, and of diftant worlds, 
 
 Till time's laft period : — and ere time has drawn 
 
 The curtain, opening half the fcene above,, 
 
 Below, to wake our fears, to animate 
 
 Our hopes; and give us to behold afar, . 170 
 
 As in a glafs, the blaze of future day ! 
 
 Her office now, is to conduct our courfe 
 
 Through all th'afTailing ills and incidents 
 
 Of Life, aright ; to guide, conciliate 
 
 With foothing hope — and then to fet us free *« 
 
 . '. \ -i 
 Since errors feem connected clofe with truth, 
 Small deviations to the right or left 
 Are fcarce perceptible ; but foon the mind, 
 Purfuing either fcheme, proceeds to lengths § 
 "Which prove a medium lies between th'extremer. 
 If from a central point they feem to part, 1B1 
 What teft infallible remains, of. force 
 To guard the right and difconcert the wrong i 
 Explore the book of god ! That facred code 
 Is Truth's depofit to the world, in which a voice, 
 
 * John viii. 32. 
 § — Unus utri^uc error, fed variis illudit partibus. HoR.. 
 
 More
 
 KOOk MIL i 7? 
 
 i than angels lyre*, attracts 
 ttdom, anil m.p:rc-> the heart, 
 Confcious of its divine veracity :— 
 
 N tcft of truth (bines clear. In that 
 A iblcinn voice, heard loud in heav'n, proclaims 
 The fui of error 1; — echoing far 191 
 
 O'er ore to ihore, 
 
 The gloriou« conqucfti of Jehovah's word * ! 
 Yet, men there are, deceiving and decciv'd, 
 Who lie in wait, the ftmplc to beguile 
 With (hew of wil'dorn and philofophy-f-; 
 Bui deviating from God's written word;— • 
 Truth meekly (lands, as crft at Pilate's bar, 
 ArraignM, condemn'd, and then expos'd to icorn 
 Uy Antic hriftian art ! But time will come, 200 
 When troth, with her celcltial rays, will thine 
 Confufion on her foes :— will clerir the world 
 From all the futile wrongs and bold adaults 
 Of each malignant foe, who fain would tear 
 
 The facred record from her hand— O mad 
 
 Indignity ! and cad it to the flames. 
 
 t Milk KM. 16. * : 
 
 t Tt* Authoc wtfbe» that thefe itocs nojrtx coiulruH t. 
 only levelled a: ■ .j.iM<m 4v*if«fjfi9tJA of t<h* ffaftatf^ 
 
 rhilofophy as the handro.' 
 mo* ufeful, and mod honourable, < 
 
 good thiogt arc , but the abufe doe* noj fupcr- 
 
 the value sad ufc of what rf Jntrinficallr gWt. 
 
 I 4 Truth
 
 176 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE, 
 
 Truth is invincible. Immortal Truth 
 
 Can all things vanquifh : and ibme future day 
 
 Will gain accefs to every ear, more loud 
 
 Than peals of thunder ! Truth alone 210 
 
 Will ftand the teft when earth's ftrong pillars bend, 
 
 To ruin drop, and with the heav'ns decay ! 
 
 Who hdes with Truth, in heav'n is his reward t- 
 
 Unfading laurels ihall adorn his brow; 
 
 And honours fuch as God's right hand beftows. 
 
 '£3* 
 
 Yet one diftin&ion ftill remains, of note, 
 'Twixt truth and error, — obvious to the wife :— 
 Error is fubtil, intricate, and deep; — 
 Perplex'd in fallacies-jr-in labyrinths loft! 
 Requiring learning,. ingenuity, and art. 22© 
 
 To plead her caufe ;— and yet, in fpite of *irt, 
 Such caufe muft fail ; though Plaulibility, 
 Fluent of tongue, fuch office oft performs 
 Beneath the pompous maik of fyllogifms ! 
 Enthimeraes! axioms ! — from falie premifes, 
 Of ccoirfe, deducing falfe conclufions; — prompt 
 With fpecious fhew th'unwary to deceive :— 
 But truth is fimple, energetic, plain, 
 Graceful, majeftic, eloquent, divine 1 
 Suited to all capacities, all ftates : — 250 
 
 Who liftens to her dictates, tho' a fool 
 Efteem'd by Error and her pompous train }j| | xf* . 
 Of advocates, makes clear his courfe, unerring, 
 
 While
 
 BOOK VIII. 177 
 
 While themfclves wide wandering from the port 
 
 Panulifc* bear whrerfe many a league ! 
 Truth too h fafutary, cordial, dear 
 As the pellucid fprings of A ready, 
 Bearing illirrainarion to the eyes 
 Of every honed, rational inquirer — 
 Of virtue to reftore the mental powers ; 240 
 
 More hraling far than Jordan's faered ftream, 
 More ftrength'ning than Bethe(da*s heav'n-movVI 
 
 pool! 
 The humble pitcher of an honeft heart 
 Let down into that faered well of life, 
 Imbibes from thence, as from the fount of God, 
 Frcfh fprings of folacc to the thirfty foul. 
 
 What greater truth than this, that Life a be 
 ih tlls of mighty magnitude ? — With ills. 
 From which nofavourM human being can claim 
 A privileged exemption: and from which 2W 
 
 No prudence can protect, no forefight fcrten ! \ 
 The world's a fcene Of wrongs : a theatre 
 Of conflicts, frequent as our fleeting days, * * 
 And conftant as the ftill returning tides! 
 
 's ills are numerous as rh'autumnal leavr% 
 Or ip r * of mantling grals whlcn spring addtn. 
 Theie call aloud for patience,'— Artd v 
 V ith Chriftian fortitude, enhance the crown 
 Of future rcconr yonder lUtc 
 
 \ ' "' ' Of
 
 1^8 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Of renovation — not defer y'd afar — 5.60 
 
 When re&itude and equity commence, 
 
 And Truth and Juftice bear eternal fway. 
 
 That perfect ftate is not arriv'd : mean, time, 
 Permit the mule to cart a tranfient glance 
 O'er fcenes full obvious in this fickle ftate — 
 Where patience, courage, and true fortitude, 
 Are needed much to brook the latent harms 
 That throng Life's paflage through : — r nor more 
 
 abound 
 The feas with craggy rocks, than Life with ills. . 
 Sad hiftory ! yet fuch as Truth approves. 270 
 Numbers may find their intereft in th'account, 
 For Truth is int'refting; while we are men, 
 Truth and experience claim our firft regards i-^- - 
 From thefe the ear of wiidom never turns. 
 
 In life's unequal courfe what various fcenes 
 Difplay man's frequent tendency to vice, 
 His inftabihty in virtue's paths ! 
 Yet man, vain erring man, himfelf forgets 
 To lean his brothers faults with critic eye ! , 
 Forgetful of his ill deferts, receives 280 
 
 Bleffings from Heav'n,and favours from his friend 
 Alike with thanklefs heart ! and if, at length, 
 The long-continu'd liberality 
 From Charity's fair hand fhould ceafe to flow, 
 
 Ingratitude
 
 BOOK VIII. 179 
 
 Ingratitude configns each former good 
 To dark oblivion. Imolence repays 
 The countlcfs alts of pure benevolence ! 
 Too glaring proof of a degcnVate mind ! 
 Should I behold, and like the panting hart 
 When heated in the chace obferve afar, 290 
 
 The cooling lucent lpring from out the rock, 
 When fultry Sirius darts down his rays direct, 
 Afford lei's copious plenty to allay 
 
 fcvcrM tongue ; — yet flill my tongue fhall blcfl 
 The I acred Spring for what it gives ; and wait 
 More copious dreams ! Ingratitude requites 
 A thouland kindnctfes with dil'retpcft , 
 And foon forgets each lavifti bounty given ! 
 I've fcen a tranficnt blaft of fortune blow 299 
 
 Gay fcather'd quails, and rain down manna, round 
 The tents where low dependency till late 
 Ever attentive cring'd ! I he gen'rous deed 
 Was now, of couri'c, no more foliated : 
 And who would think what confcqucnce enfu' 
 The donor, — tho' his country and his friends 
 Lay near his heart, yet found himfclf oppos'd, 
 Difcarded *, injured by the clamVous brood 
 Who long dependant fharM his " lib'ral things 
 The vafTals well nigh grown above their lot 
 
 ike the afs, forgot their mailer's crib ! 310 
 
 • As a public member of tlic lcfciflaturc 
 
 I 6 Y<*
 
 1B0 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Yet let me not difcourage liberal a£b, 
 
 From the perverfe mifconduft of a few : 
 
 There are, who blefs the liberal hand till death ; 
 
 And then invoke its recompenfe on high ! 
 
 Still, letBENEVOLUs peifift ; — and hope 
 
 A future recompenfe : for Charity * 
 
 From the pleas'd eye of Heaven attracts regard ! 
 
 While bale Ingratitude, abhor'd of God, 
 
 And ihunnM by man, obtains its jvift reward : 
 
 Fit recompenfe, if banifh'd from the tents 320 
 
 Of focial intercourfe, to lick the duft 
 
 Amid the ferpent train. — Ingratitude ! >A 
 
 The found grates on the ftartled ear ! It feems 
 
 The bafeft crime fubfifting out of hell ! 
 
 In it, by ftrange antipathy, there dwells 
 
 A dsemon power which angels erft could turn J 
 
 To fouleft fiends — to what then mortal men ? 
 
 Sufpend the tale, tho' true, when art muft fink, 
 
 And language fail to paint the horrid fcene;' O 
 
 Nor only former obligations ceafe 330 
 
 To gain relpeft and due acknowledgment; 
 But friends, acknowledg'd once, are heard to pour 
 Their fruitlefs plaint in friendfhip's frozen ear— 
 
 * There is not a word, perhaps, in the Englilh language 
 more perverted, and lefs underftood, in vulgar ideas, than the 
 word, Charity ; which includes no lefs than a pure, godlike, af- 
 fcttion of love or philanthropy j and which is the fource of all 
 noble and liberal deeds. 
 
 Eftrang'd
 
 BOOK VHI. 1B1 
 
 Eftrang'd, unknown, when fortune i. <t 
 
 cold 
 Calamity hat taark'd them of her train. 
 Fortune and. friendship twine a brittle band* 
 By ruthlcfi accident toon rent in twain ! 
 Such the unliable friendihip of the world— 
 Nor call it friendihip— '* Enmity with God" 
 Iti fitter appellation* !— Fricndfhip, pure 340 
 
 And permanent, mult form d knot 
 
 liuiillbluble : nor can a two-edg'd (word, 
 Tho' fcafon'd hifch as Alexander's blade, 
 And drench'd in blood, fever the Gordcan twine/] 
 Its record is in heaven, by angds read, 
 By whitc-rob'd faints admir'd : Still, like a flaaff,' 
 It higher foars, and kindles in the Ikies, 
 Surmounting time, and fate, and death's ailauk ! A' 
 What tho* thefe often rend true friends apart : 
 Anon they meet — how far above thcic fcenca 350 
 Of inftability— nor fever more. 
 True friendfhip— is in virtue only form'd, 
 Uniting kindred Ipirtts in a * and 
 Of lafting union, which mall grow mature, 
 And be confummatcd in perfefl . 
 
 I feet at heart my theme ! Fir'd with the view, 
 Th'enrapturV! roufc allays to vindicate 
 The caufc of virtue — virtue ever dear! 
 
 For
 
 i8 2 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 For me, fhould Gratitude defert this breafl ; r* 
 
 And the few dear refpetts to friendfhip due 360 
 
 E'er ceafe to kindle here — ah ! let me firft 
 
 Be banifh'd from ibciety's fweet joys ! 
 
 Firft, may this feeling heart, abforb'd in death, 
 
 Its vital fluid ever ceafe to pour; 
 
 This tongue be mute — thefe eyes in darknefs clos'd. 
 
 As rays beam brighter forth off fable fhades, 
 So virtue clearer mines oppos'd to vice: 
 And good, oppos'd to ill, new luftre gains. 
 "While yet the mufe afTays to afcertain 
 The pureft fource of earthly happinefs, 370 
 
 True friendship's facred joys ! With pain fhe marks 
 An ill to lurk in ambufh— which appears 
 Tooclofe connected with her prefent theme : 
 An ill—— that fuch true friendfhip in this clime, 
 So feldom ripens into blifs mature ; 
 While bitter fruits of rivalry appear 
 Under the polifh'd leaves of courtefy, 
 Till all the tree is blighted, and becomes 
 Rotten at heart — fit fuel for the fire ! 
 Then fell refentment lays its branches low ! 380 
 The friendfhip that gives place to diffidence 
 To canker at the root, foon fades away ; 
 A winter of defertion next enfues ; 
 When mutual confidence ne'er fans a fame 
 In breafts once form'd to cherifh heavenly fires. 
 
 Nor
 
 BOOK VW. 183 
 
 Not friendfnips premature, alone deceive : 
 All earth-born joys are vain. Ail hopes beguile. 
 But thole derivVi from an unfailing Source. — 
 In this loofe (late of guilt and impotence* 
 On Life's tumultuous fea, who has not fcen 390 
 Sad fhipwrcck made of iaith— fincerity — 
 And conscience clear — that cordial friend of man.! 
 Who in an arm of flcfli too much confides, 
 Is highly reprehenfible: J deem, 
 Experience will one day his folly chide ! 
 Since friendship flands connected with your peace, 
 Firft prove your friend, then trufl him as a roan : 
 But buil 1 your hope* alone on the Supreme. . { 
 
 The inufe has fcen vile parafitcs afpirc 
 To aim at (hides which nature ne'er dclign'd 4QC 
 For pigmy pow'rs :— a mercenary tribe 
 Of venal tools! How like to monkeys, let 
 Aloft upon a pinnacle, they (land 
 With a facetious grin 1— an obvious mark 
 For fatirc to let fly its<tdngcdihafts— 
 J, ike oracles with djemons fraught within, 
 Applauding cxccllcn. ever felt, 
 
 And never can commend : their feet arc let 
 In flipp'ry places— fuddenly they fink, 
 To porcrry, contempt, and grief a prey ! 416 
 
 — Granted that vapid tops arc patronii'J, 
 
 And
 
 iU THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 And fometimes rais'd to fhort-liv'd eminence 
 
 By their fraternity ; — I fpare the wife ; 
 
 While men of worth with unafluming port, 
 
 Unfkill'd in low ingratiating arts 
 
 Are eafily o'erlook'd : and if as wife 
 
 As Socrates— as wife perhaps might be, 
 
 And be like him difcarded ! Time has feeri 
 
 Fair Virtue's pupils ftand aloof awhile 
 
 Unnotic'd in the throng ; and modeft worth, 42O 
 
 Tho* quite rever'd in wifdonVs prime efleem, 
 
 And not by heav'n's intelligence unmark'd, 
 
 Has wept and dy'd unknown. Yet this is rare : 
 
 For virtue is true excellence — She leads 
 
 Her chofen favourites, confpicuous, 
 
 Straight up the fteep and fmooth afcent to fame ! 
 
 Yet obftacles may intercept her way ; 
 
 And merit meet not here its due reward. 
 
 .Th' illuftrious learn'd, by num'rous objefts prefs*3, 
 
 Not always can find leifure to attend 430 
 
 The voice of merit, and due deference pay 
 
 To its fupreme regard. — Th'unletter d throng?, 
 
 True worth to value know not. Howfhould the£, 
 
 While proud infulting Ignorance pervades, 
 
 And domineers — fo like th'Athenian hag, 
 
 Cotytto old, wlio wanton orgies held, 
 
 When darknefs dropp'd its curtain o'er the world > 
 
 Their fenfe of right is oft but fplendid wrong ! ^-*- 
 
 How far furpaffing thefe in worth, appear 
 
 The
 
 BOOK VIII. tt 5 
 
 The fage tlifc rim in siting few, who Ibine 440 
 
 In learning':, richeft (lores, tho' not poffeft 
 Of diadems and gold — Thefe know the worth 
 Of innate virtue : — They may lack die power ' •'.' 
 In this unequal ftate to patronize 
 True merit, ami fupport its dignity : 
 Yet not a tongue its value to atteft, 
 Or glowing heart its owner to approve. 
 Yet all of tmtnenct are not bereft 
 Of honour, nor to merit'* voice eftrang'd : 
 All axe not fordid. Numbers flill remain 450 
 
 Who real worth prefer. — Th'example come*, '* 
 
 Deriv'd with force, down from the Britifh throne 1 ; 
 Whence men of wort y, church, and ftutc, 
 
 Are fignaliz'J, and lifted to the helm. 
 There are inferior rank* who luch cfteem, 
 And leek them out as t real u re : inly glad [up 
 
 T'announce their worth, when found, and lift them 
 To life and liberty ! Tis only fuch 
 Who lanction give to merit by their dec 
 Who nobly think and aA, the title claim 460 
 
 Of true nobility. Such, like die i 
 Difpenfing kind!) ce afar, 
 
 Shall afecrtainthe prune afcent to fame. 
 1 tal. Theirs the praifc 
 
 n 
 
 To cheer the facrcd muses in their haunts, 
 
 Ami
 
 if* THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 And trace their every movement \v*th delight ; 
 
 If on the funny bank dhpos'd to range 
 
 Among the bleating flocks, or in the lawns 
 
 Where lowing herds look gay—- or hid beneath 470 
 
 A verdant canopy, where lofty trees 
 
 Embow'r a fhade, and pour wild melody 
 
 From forth a thoufand reeds ! — or if beiide 
 
 The babbling brook, or cool Caftalian fpring 
 
 Reclin'd — or in fome grot or cave's recefs, 
 
 As this where now I find a facred fane— 
 
 Or if the inufie, Camilla like, on wing 
 
 Should fkim o'er wavy cornfields— and the billows ! 
 
 It matters not, while moral is the lay, 
 
 And mufical, to foothe the gentle ear ; 480 ' 
 
 To form the mind to virtue, and excite 
 
 The fined feelings in the glowing breaft. 
 
 When true M^cenas liften to her ftrain — 
 
 The well-fledg'd mufe, beneath the foft'ring 
 
 warmth 
 Of a congenial iky, or balks fecure, 
 Or foars to higher eminence — where, like 
 The riling lark, (he fings more loft and clear ! 
 
 As a meridian fun to diamonds 
 Sheds lultre from its blaze, — the human mind, 
 If not irrationally dark, muft fhine 490 
 
 Beneath the dazzling rays of eminence; 
 The foul expand, the fentiments refine. ■ 
 
 Thir-
 
 BiQOK VIII. fl| 
 
 Thii fcccQU^g^p^cntK arcd rule, . 
 That " V. llale:" yet 'us as true, 
 
 Simplicity ofiJktfp%tf>c door: and thoic 
 Who make the bed pretentions, enter in. 
 I grant exalted patronage a birth 
 Of no fmali privilege. This motto holds, 
 •' Genius gains luftre ululc the great ul'e tool 
 But IhouUl rruc genius be remote;—- like coin 500 
 Of bafe alloy, the more they rub, the more 
 The counterfeit appears, to pay their toil ! 
 Whatever means. »vc to an cod, 
 
 Are fought ; the means alone can fcitlom gain 
 That end, exclusive of the needful aid 
 Of tit materials: — thefe mud be at hand. I *& 
 
 Would you unfold my tncaning? Here it lies: 
 •• A fool, in Plato'* fchool, rcmain'd a fool ! 
 " A mule, a muie tho' Solomon did ft ride him : 
 «* Not fage Pcorncthcus can new trains infuie; 510 
 M Nor mend the hobbling gait of fuch a,fleed \ n I 
 The common pebble in an artift's band, 
 Tho' fkilful wrought, not with the agate vies, 
 Nor d©citj»e,roby like the diamond ihinc. 
 But as the diamond in polifhing 
 New luftrc gains, (o in fociety Mw^ » 
 
 With men of worth the mind glUM, brighter floreay 
 And fhincs with fplendour, like the morning ftar 
 Seen on Aurora*! forehead in the dawn ! 
 This truth is worthy o£a prince's car : ; 520 
 
 ♦ Oncft
 
 188 THE VOYAGE OP LIFE, 
 « Once, titles gave a temporary fame 
 ' To kings— td poets dedications ; — now 
 4 'Tis only merit can procure the palm 
 ' Of immortality, and raife a monument, 
 ' As durable as time to bear its name * !*• 
 Not common genius durft to this'afpire. 
 Few Csefars mine in flate. Perhaps as few J 
 For genius eminent, do grace the world. 
 Genius is not fo rare. It has been found 
 In cottages as well as courts to dwell ; 530 
 
 Yet feldom nurtur'd there. True native worth 
 May live in lowlinefs of ftation— ne'er 
 To greet the light of learning — perfevere 
 In fcience fteps— or fhake the generous hand* 
 Whatever 1 parks by nature may be given, 
 They lack the power of kindling in a flame : 
 Depriv'd of fortune's foftering warmth, the feeds 
 Qf innate worth, in many a gentle breaft, 
 Lie latent, bury'd by chill penury- 
 No fruitful harvefl can of courfe enfue. 540 
 Imagination never revels here. 
 No "gentle zephyrs" waft Arabian fweets 
 Acrofs the lenfe;— nor fing they of the bowl 
 High iparkling with the juices of Falern, 
 Until imagination drunktm reels! 
 
 * Quique fui memores alios fecerc mcrendo. V'lRG. 
 
 They
 
 book vnr. 
 
 They dream not of delights, in fairy lands, 
 Which rcafon nc*er concciv'd of:— wide of thefc, 
 The vigour of the foul, deprefs*d, muft fink, ' 
 Beneath the frigid tone — a winter day ! 
 And fuch to fouls plac'd far from fortune** fmiJcs 
 The day of Life. Ah ! what avails it them 551 
 That nature kindled fparks of vital fire 
 Within their breaft : — the mufc*s facred flame—* 
 When they no meet materials can fupply, 
 The genial flame muft languifh — and expire. 
 
 Thus oft in dreary di Cuts ^row the feedt 
 Of ftatclieft pines, amid the forcfl wild; 
 But drooping die for lack of culture's aid : — 
 And oft in mines, by mountains bury'd deep, ceo, 
 
 Lie clofe conceal'd tlie gem* * that croons adornl 
 
 • 
 
 'I.. Author <. v-v.v. v Vc tktkU tr>lchr.-f m i ^fi:. 
 kootva tfauu* bMr.GMYi attained Elegy, for she concftui. 
 
 " Full many a gco»," fcV. 
 
 J3V 
 
 
 THE
 
 t < • J ■ 
 
 ■:1 • I •' ■'• .1 rbirTW 
 
 - 
 
 '., 
 
 ! I 
 
 )
 
 T H B 
 
 OF [AYE. 
 
 BOOK IX.
 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 Evening and Night- Scenes, from off navigable Rivers, 
 improved to moral and religious Pleajures. View of 
 the early Dawn — Incitement to rijing betimes, and to 
 Indujlry. 7 he quick Succeffion of Days and Seafons, an 
 Emblem of Human Life. The Vanity of Earthly At- 
 tachments. Life's Profpetls traced through the feveral 
 Periods o f its Ccurje; with Incitements to Hope, and 
 to Religion, as our chief Solace. Irrcligion. confidered 
 as the highefl In/lance of Ingratitude. Its Confequence 
 drawn from the Fate of ancient Nineveh. The Cafe 
 cf the Prophet Jonah — illuflrated and "improved. A 
 Rctrofpett of Life J> om Infancy ts Old Jge. The 
 Grave our Port. Review of the Subjeil, and Con- 
 
 lujion. 
 
 
 THE
 
 THE 
 
 VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 BOOK IX. 
 
 WHAT time the lavilh year its bounties pours 
 In rich and plentiful profufion round, 
 nower of Albion** Ions, cmbark'd, glide 
 fmooth 
 Adown the learned Ifit gentlcft ftream, 
 And breathe the cv'niag gales, which dance around 
 in wanton frolic, and arc feca to kifs 
 The turfacc foft and dear ; while Flora breathes 
 Odoriferous her fwects, acrois the fenfe, 
 From off the fragraot fields, or open lawns 
 Or meads of new mown hay ; rough Induftry 10 
 Lxcrts bis every nerve, and toils o'er all 
 
 K The
 
 194 THL VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 The bufy country round : How grand the fcene ! 
 How wonted to infpire ! — While mufic pours 
 Its native wild notes from the copfy brink, 
 Commix'd with dulcet chime of diflant bells, 
 Now heard, now loft, at intervals,— or pipe 
 Of footheft fhepherd, trilling to the ear, 
 Awakes to memory Arcadian fcenes ; 
 Delighted and delighting, all then feel 
 Pleafure's foft impulfe : All then tafte the joys 20 
 Of innocence ; and feem t'imbibe a gale 
 Prom Paradife ! Such fweets, fuch profpects,breathe 
 An ardour o'er the foul ! Callous the heart, 
 And fordid is the breaft, that never feels 
 The glow divine ; that never melts, refin'cl, 
 Beneath the bounties of the breathing God, 
 Who fmiles o'er all his works : beneath whofe eye 
 Nature exults and fings ! In nature's works 
 How vifible his hand ! how bright his beams ! 
 How felt his power ! his tendernefs ! his love ! 30 
 More fweet than mufic's ftrains to the charm'd ear, 
 To the footh'd foul the breathings of his love ! 
 Another fenfe the fprightly Voyagers 
 Indulge unblam'd. . Th'elated eye defcrys 
 Awgufta's hundred fpircs ! uprear'd fublime 
 Above the Imoky furge ! — Of Britain's fame 
 Fit emblem, which extends o'er many a realm, 
 And wakes to jealoufy a wond'ring world ! 
 And now the forefts views ; and now the groves, 
 With rural villages, at intervals, 40
 
 BOOK IX. i^c 
 
 In ever-plcaiirtggay variety ! 
 Such Twickenham ! once the mufes fjvourM luunt : 
 Rochampton tuch, with verdant honours crown'd : 
 
 . clouds extend o'er all the 1'ccnc ; 
 The quivering fecne appears, reflected clear, 
 On the foft lurface of the iilvcr ftrcam ! 
 
 Still bolder feencs delight th'cnraptur'd mufc 
 1 Cambria's falutary rocks and dales, 
 His rcfidcncc, whofe lcifure finds an hour 
 To chant thefc moral and defcriptive lay*. 50 
 
 O'er Vaga*s rolling dream, profufc and wild, 
 What views appear ! IJow various ! How fublim: ! 
 What towVing hills o*cr hills arc feen to rife, 
 With ftately ruins gracM of nodding walls *, 
 And leaning towers -j>, which once might hayc been 
 deem'd 
 .able, if ever work of Art 
 
 ftory i* very fdent about the origin of the m-ift ancient of 
 thefc caftlci, the mint of which arc ft ill feen upon fome of 
 lull* and precipice* in Wale*. At they differ materially i 
 conftruftu»n and workmanship from thofc of more nv 
 they rouft bare been built at a much earlier period than any 
 which I have fen rccortkd, atdui large eeptflce of br* land 
 popuUmy. The motor w«b wbicb tbc rant (for mluuoc, of 
 Cm/U* Ttlmt, ia South \V*k») it Oiil cemented, it fo exceeding 
 fiiuj, that every broken fragment u at united and hard as an 
 entire funiy (lone. 
 
 \ TIkic it patt of a tower that now ftaudi nodding over the 
 mini of an ancient caftlc in Glamorganshire, which it eitccmed, 
 by travellers, as an equal cunofity with tbc leaning tower e4 
 1'ilu. 
 
 K 2 Impregnable
 
 io6 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Impregnable were juftly deem'd. Within 
 Thofe moated mounds Credulity furveys 
 Huge tombs *, where bones were found of mon- 
 
 ft.ro us fize -{-, 
 Incredible, yet of the human form ! 60 
 
 Hence vulgar legendary tales affirm 
 Giants, renown'd in prowefs, to have rul'tl 
 The terrify'd inhabitants around, 
 With cruel arbitration uncontrol'd. 
 Aloft o'er thefe, the mariner defcrys 
 More doubtful various fcenes— to where afar 
 The blue pale mountains elevated heights, 
 Like pyramids, might ieem to prop the fkies. 
 Such Snowdon,Jjleak and white ! Plynlimmonfuch, 
 Whence Vaga and Sabrina fair run down 70 
 
 The craggy cliffs, abrupt, with fpeedy feet, 
 In hafte to gain the valleys, and to cheer 
 Thefons of Commerce with their maiden ftreams ! 
 Such Kadar-ldris ! fam'd for Alpine plants; 
 
 * The moriftrous feeming tombs, which arc vulgarly fuppof- 
 ed in this country to have been the graves of the giants, and 
 which I mylelf have feen near the ruins of ancient caftlcs, are, 
 in all probability, long and large pits, which were dug when 
 thofc. fabrics were demoliihed, to depofit the remains of the an- 
 cient Britons-who fell in defence of their country. 
 
 •f Grandiaouc effofiis mirabitur o.ta fepulchris. Virg, 
 
 j« ynsni d^vviAj baiimbs bm. bDgbalv/onj'lbG ajod Jfijftftfil 1 ^
 
 BOOK IX. 
 
 And Pcunranmawr, which 
 And car idow on the diftant illcs ! 
 
 ' .ch hulfirtmirtf fftr 1 r ^ c OJountair. 
 inulous ; and frcqucir :i tire 
 
 :i the red fl.ilh ! rebellowing back the roar 
 varring elements from cloud to cloud ! — 8c> 
 Such pond'rous mountain 
 The (horc* and (lop* the rite; 
 By the Creator's pencil drawn, afford 
 1 he iruc iublimc : and iire th'attcutivc rauie ' 
 The Cambrian icencs arc wild, irregular. 
 And great ; as great, irregular, and a .': 1 
 The genius -\- of the Cambrian mufc apnea: 
 
 unlockn: 
 the rapid and cUit 
 
 t 
 
 thufi . 
 
 £j^gc,tM bees acknowledged and admire d through mar 
 
 // 
 
 You Monarch of the Day now rolls hw cai 
 Beyond th'Atlantic billow ! In return, 
 Fair Luna, queen of night, emerges forth 
 
 :n out the Eaitcrn wave, am! icons M fair . • 
 
 As . I.o, liic walks 
 
 In
 
 198 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 In peerlefs majefty, advancing up 
 
 The fteep of heav'n ! As confcious of her ftate, 
 
 She oft among the filver-tiiTu'd clouds 
 
 Looks out, and fmiles on all th'admiring world ! 
 
 To emulate her brother (he would mine, 
 
 Tho' with his borrow'd rays ! Yet half his lofs 
 
 Is by her fofter beams not ill fupply'd. 
 
 And in her abfence— Providence fo kind, IOO. 
 
 So attentive feems to all the wants of man, 
 
 That heav'n and earth combine to make him blefs'd 
 
 Then Hefperus * lights up his fplendid lamp* 
 
 And leads the vocal conftellations round 
 
 In mazy dance, throughout the filent hours ; 
 
 Till Lucifer -j* relieves him from his charge, id'V 
 
 And mines the herald of the blufhing morn ! r ;1T 
 
 Meantime, nocturnal glooms are vocal made 
 
 By Philomel, fweet warbler of the fhades ! 
 
 Pouring her plaintive fong thro' all the grove I tt> 
 
 In (trains excelling art ! Her minft reify l:'i$f 
 
 To love and innocence founds ever fweet h'tiimulll 
 
 ■ 
 * Hefperus, the Evening Star. The Author would not be ujj- 
 
 dcrftood to affirm, that the glorious luminaries of heaven were 
 created folcly for the fervice and delight of man : they, doubt- 
 Ids, anfwer higher ends : but that they are ferviceable to man 
 is undeniable ; and it affords a high diiplay of the goodnefs and 
 wifdom of God, that by one means he acquires many ends*. In 
 the movements and operations of his providence, there is ever 
 
 •* awheel within a wheel !'' . 
 
 ■ 
 i The Morning Star. 
 
 * A The
 
 ROOK IX. 199 
 
 The Voyagers now all attention Teem ! 
 
 Calm as the filcnt night. Philosophy 
 
 Appears ! and oft with elevated look 
 
 She views the ftars — attends their ibftcrfong, 
 
 And drinks their glories in ! Their thoufand lampi 
 
 Kindle divine ambition in the foul, 
 
 ; rcftrial cannot quench, and wake 
 Devotion there ! Her fane the universe. 120 
 
 The wat'ry plain afilvcr pavement feci 
 The concave vault, adorn'd with ftuds of gold, 
 A glorious canopy— divinely bright ! 
 All, all is luftre here ! AU majefty 
 Which elevates the foul ! More furnptuous flu:-. 
 This fane than all the proud magnificence 
 That richeft caftcrn temples e'er could boftft* 
 Imperial Rome and ancient Babylon, 
 Surpafling all the boaft of modern art, 
 With palaces and gardens hung in air ; 13P 
 
 With ftatcly halls, proud porticos, and domes 
 Illumin'd bright on fomc high fcftival,— - 
 Ar tdone, far as the breaming morn 
 
 £xc9M&JJEJl glimmering taper' 
 Yon gloiioui luminaries fcaft the eye, 
 And raife the foul to Hcav'n. Th 
 Illume the heart to veneration pure, 
 And wake up in the mind -emotions ftror.r^ 
 
 thXDMN'IPOl 
 
 The curtains of his elevated throne , 
 
 K 4 ' And
 
 ' 200 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 And kindled up thofe living fires, to fhine 
 Like fplendid lamps before his palace gates— 
 Or glittering pearls in his immortal crown. . 
 In civil and commercial life, the ftars 
 Of wond'rous fame, of wond'rous ufe are found ': 
 Their u/cs need no comment : and by bards, 
 Ancient and modern, founds their fame, in ilrains 
 Immortal as their fires ! — Sacred of old 
 I heir harmony, when God the fiat gave, 
 "And all creation's works to light fprang up ! ,150 
 "Renown'd in lacred writ, when erfl they fought,. 
 'Gainft Sifera,' in aid of Ifrael's hoft, f) 
 Some liars propitious fliine to births and Hates, 
 And adverie fome to politics and kings '. 
 Such creed Aftrology would fain impofc ; 
 And Pagan ignorance believ'd the tale ; 
 Confounding flars, and gods, fuppofing thefe 
 To govern men, and thofe foretel their fates'! 
 As foon might men arreft their fwift career, 
 And notify what hour they ceafe to roll. 160 
 
 Tro. nobler ends -they blaze thro' all the iky. 
 On "them, the pencil of Omnipotence 
 Has drawn, 111 characters indelible, 
 The Afhonomer's fair book, the feaman's chart£ y31 
 The Navigator's one unvarying rule 
 To redlify his courfe. In them appear 
 The. traces of Eternal Wi.fdom; feen 
 * Judges v. 1.0. 
 
 Alike
 
 HOOK IX. 20i 
 
 Alike by vulgar -f and judicious eyes ! 
 :b*fllllraM$>> to them in charge ..: 
 They fcerp ! Rut chief, " God' ire, 
 
 * And to the nation* (hew his handy work !* 171 
 \\c 4MflRiconAellatior. . is funs, 
 
 ■ mtlhone by that celeftial ray 
 Ot* mercy mild, which darted down direct, 
 To earth, near Jordan's hallow'd ftrcain ; and b!a/Al 
 O'er Paleftine; thence, over all the ifles 
 It fhone bentgh/to light our ftedfaft courfe 
 
 CO the realms of day ! Heaven's fplcndid lamp. 
 Receptacle of God's prime gifr, the Sun 180 
 
 Once olufh'd in laWe fhades, oi.tlhr»nc, eclipsM 
 By tfi* foperior lla/.c— " The 
 
 * Great 4< Sun of Rightcoufueft; j!" with th . 
 
 he 
 
 * Relume the darknefs of our gloomy days : 
 
 t be undcrflood to »fli ; of 
 
 1, wbii h Ihir.c fo couipicuoui in the VtfiMc 
 
 *cns, arc felt and admired by the » bo >dra»a >n ctpaj 
 
 degree is they arc by the v 
 
 profound philofophcr : all I - tbey arc 1 
 
 lc/Toot of I ■ ai.t , md nkoiut 
 
 and adore the Aloright 
 
 I The Scripture metapi. 55, applied to the $ 
 
 Righuoufnd ;, is a trope which affords tV. 
 inconceivable fpeed 
 
 fli£ht * tr n 
 
 K. 5 Cheer
 
 202 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 ' Cheer the benighted Voyagers with thy 
 
 * Uprifing; and "with healing in thy wings/* 
 ' Scatter the gathering clouds ; difperfe afar 
 
 * Life's faddeft glooms with thy confoling beams : 
 
 * Lighten the nations round the fpacious earth 
 
 ' With all thy penetrating rays direft 190 
 
 * Of facred truth: And thou b'lefs'd Spirit, waft' 
 
 * Each wanderer back to fteer religion's courfej-^ 
 
 * That all may fafely gain Heaven's peaceful beact.* 
 
 AgaIn the fprightly day, whofe bakny breath 
 Befpangles all the lawns with nurn'fous gems, 
 Peeps o'er the mountains, healthful, blufhingTeeP, 
 To fee the fons of Indolence reclin'd O 
 
 On downy couches, this prime cheering hour, 
 When Phoebus his triumphal car fird rolls 
 Sublimely up the fteep of heav'n ! when breathe 200 
 Sweetnefs and health thro' all the vital air ! 
 Awake, ye Ions of Sloth ! and blufh to hear 
 How loudly nature calls you forth, to join 
 The gen'ral chorus of earth, air, and Ikies ! 
 His mercy and beneficence t'atteft, 
 Who gave your heart to feel, your tongue topraife ; 
 Be this your fir ft, your laft, your chief employ, 
 His'} raile, u by whom you move, and have ybur 
 
 being:" 
 Then, next; your different occupations, toils, 210 
 
 And
 
 BOOK i a©3 
 
 And u&fuji tod*** ply ; and fay what joy*, 
 What ©p'ning prolpc&s, l'ucb a cou*{e a^tf i. ! 
 
 Tuvtdays with Jcafons, years with Life Toll 
 round, -t ..inx: 
 
 Succeeding and l'uccecdcd :— Time lays hold, 
 H|i fithc, enormous, and cuts down like grufs, 
 All earth's inhabitants ! A hundred years 
 Leaves not a remnant, a few hoary heads, 
 Scarce is the vintage gleaning to remain, 
 iverf to their fourcc, i'o Life Hows on 
 Imcfiaut, tending downward to the gulpu 220 
 
 Of deep futurity, whence none return. 
 
 Tut man whofc heart is rivet ted to earth, > 
 Whoic vviihcs and attachment 
 A&s not unlike feme idiot palitngcr 
 Bound to a diftant port, but lodgM a night 
 In a commodious creek* who ipends hi* all 
 To fit up . for an hour. 
 
 g, fuinmon'd to embark, in haftc 
 He quits the cell, and leaves his fancy'd claim 
 i-'or aliens to pollcis. Such oft their fate |gp 
 
 Who furniih trcafures for ungi I in ; 
 
 V. lat^fffafift/thcy drop, fcarcc flitd a friendly tear « 
 
 Life foon rcfigus to future dcfliny 
 Its idle bufinclV, its toils, and cares, 
 
 K 6 Pleafures 
 
 P
 
 204 THE V6YAGE Of LIFE. 
 
 Pleafures, and hopes, and fears, a medley train, 
 
 And makes the port, where traffic toils no more. 
 
 So merchants, bent on gain, bear down the ftream 
 
 With joy,' and foon the fpacious feas obtain ! *■ 
 
 In hope of future recompenfe, they fleer nA 
 
 O'er all the turbulence of all the waves'; 24ft 
 
 Tho' dangers oft await them, and ftern fate- 
 
 Befets their courfe — and mars their future-hopes. 
 
 In Life's fwift Voyage, holds the parallel ? 
 
 It does. So jocund youth in early prime 
 
 Of Life glides fmooth ; and every charming fcene 
 
 Delights us ! Nature's felf, then feen, 7S &* 
 
 Anpears all pleafure to our eyes;— or henrd, 
 
 Ti; mufic in our ears ! The fmilingjoys 
 
 Of innocence and fweet fimplicity 
 
 Confpire to make us blefs'd ! Fair fpring appears, 
 
 And every pleaiing fcene new joy infpires ! 251 
 
 Ev'n Winter's cold domain then warms our fouls, 
 
 Enkindling an enthuuaftic heat 
 
 Mid fi-oft and fnow, and all the hollow roar 
 
 Of Eurus' rage to melt the mufing heart 
 
 To raptures, which 1 fancy ftill to feel ! 
 
 When fummer flieds its copious gifts, profufc •<> 
 
 O'er all the earth, like Amalthaea's horn, 
 
 Ev'n ^mmer feemstefs fruitful than our hopes ! 
 
 Our hopes (hoot forth in bloflbm ; and our joys, 
 
 Unbounded, fecm to pronvife golden fruit, 261 
 
 To (nine in Autumn's meliorating hand,
 
 F. OOK IX. a©5 
 
 Wben manhood (bill complete our hippjfcpfebjtff 
 
 liyracncrow lock all our jo;. 
 
 The Winter which awaits our frozen po 
 
 rcciy then conceiv'd of— ~fceraing : . 
 And diflant as the fpa^ | 
 
 'Twixt Eaft and the cxtremeft point ts 
 
 The evening liar ! When manhood crowns our 
 
 yv 
 Ah, then our UolTom'd hopes begin to f: 
 And DifappoiatiZM hard at the root, 
 
 •:i the Tree ! Kind Heaven protect > 
 >oughs from each malign ^rVPfb^Mfcf 
 And ever* do it harm. ,.; 
 
 What tho* Misfortune'* piercing blu 
 
 :t the \ crdant leaves ; t a while, 
 
 ;id fhoo: 
 flopcathU ., 
 
 hat fools arc they 
 Whom one fhort winter ur^cs to deftroy a39 
 
 Their drooping vine, becaufc its lca\< i trc fl 
 The blafls of fortune, .->nd the r 
 Should tc. Aud m m tide, 
 
 Our lUrtpfl/iywild L>c * lxd °" **■' a:u] > 
 
 As liable a* the rock* w 
 
 But inftant thrufl that da:mon t 
 
 Whc:. oui work thea 
 
 Be fiwiih'd 

 
 Soo THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 And peaceful profpe&s of a future ftate 
 Excite in grateful acts of charity. 
 Religion then fhould foothe and meliorate 
 The frail infirmities of life ; and give 
 Large profpecls of unfading bliis.— -How fair 
 The evening fun that fets in fmiles ! 
 As peaceful and as fair the evening feems 
 Which clofes up the fcene,— a well fpent Life. 
 
 Religion ! O thou folace of delight ! 
 Thou balm of hope ! My yielding heart is thine. 
 I feel myfelf to thee betroth'd by ties 300 
 
 Indiffoluble. Still, ftill bind my foul 
 With twice ten thoufand bands of facred love, 
 No more to fever from thy company 
 In life, in death— or diftant worlds unknown. 
 
 And are there found who at Religion feoff, 
 And call afide the only balm of hope ? u ^ 
 
 Tho' Fortune fmile within their palace-gate, 
 I envy not their lot, nor would I change 
 The enllav'd African's hard yoke for theirs. 
 If vile ingratitude to man proclaim 310 
 
 A low and fordid mind, how mull appear 
 The wretch who lives unmindful of his God ! 
 His Benefactor! his bell Friend ! Such fight 
 Might angels move to pity and difdain. 
 Hence irreligioji is. ingratitude 
 
 Of
 
 BOOK IX. *>y 
 
 Of deepcft dye— and worfe, *tis war 'gain A Hcav'nt 
 Man's diiobctiicncc urges dcftiftJkA U • 
 TogTafp the brands of Heav'n with ftcdfaft aim, 
 And hurl them down, quick as the glancing Hai 
 At the defcncctels head of impious Pride :•*- 330 
 To fink the fcorncr low as is the realm 
 Of aucicAt Night and Erebus profound. 
 
 Shall *w», the child of Go<!, whom Mercy 
 crowns 
 The farourite of Heav'n ; whom Goodncfs guards 
 Throughout the buty day, and dole purtucs 
 What time the evening fhades to ftill rcpofe 
 Invite— its ftation fixing round his bed, 
 Still provident to guard from every harm— . 
 Shall man be dill ungrateful, and not pay 
 A tribute of devotion to hȤ God ? 333 
 
 Forbid it ' Led earth and ikies exclaim 
 
 Againft Inch bafe impiety ! And all H 
 
 Th'alloniih'd elements proclaim his guilt ! 
 
 TsTf, man— vain man, would (hun the Deity, 
 And fturt afidefrom out cct, 
 
 Like an unlcvellM arrow from the I ow ; 
 As tho* his God, with arbitrary rule, 
 Intruded on his rights and liberty ! 
 Happy for him, the patient Dc.ty 
 Not loon reuluu , with vcngciul hand, 340 
 
 The
 
 2o$ THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 The meafure of his wrong. — I hear a voice, 
 
 Of juftice and forbearance to the world, 
 
 From Nineveh, the ancient feat whence 'rofe 
 
 Th'Affyrian monarchy o'er all the earth ; 
 
 Whence proud oppreffion and injuftice fprang, 
 
 And fway'd an iron fceptre o'er the globe ! 
 
 God fent his prophet to proclaim her fall. 
 
 His prophet, tho' reluctant, muft obey. 
 
 His meiTage he proclaims. The city hears : 
 
 She trembles : fhe repents, and turns averfe 350 
 
 From all her evil ways. God fees from high: 
 
 He too relents, and turns afide his wrath. 
 
 As great his goodncfs and forbearance ftill 
 
 To all who fupplicatc his gracious thione • 
 
 "V^ith that chief eloquence of humble *pray'r. 
 
 As fhowVs that fall on the parch'd wilderriefs 
 Soon difappear, as ibon the City wip'd 
 Off every tear; — Renown'd her wonted courfe 
 Of wickednefs, w;th greater confidence ; 359 
 
 Till urg'd — at length, awoke th' Almighty's ire, 
 And kindled in a flame through all her fheets"!.' 
 Fell Defolation tore up all her ftfong 
 Foundations ; and her bulwarks deep eras'd : 
 Empty, and void, and waftc, her palaces 
 A heap of ruins fell. — Learn hence, Who flight 
 Divine forbearance, juftice 'will o'ertake. 
 
 The
 
 BOOK IX. 209 
 
 The prophet's cafe a lefiun may un ( < 8jML t r 
 Of I uaigu to th*. 
 
 rys the i.. 
 To Ninus*city lent ! enjoin'd from high 3?3 
 
 To warn an impious race their overthrow^ 
 
 >.c lhort fpacc of forty letting funs 
 Shall have claps'd, and drawn Night's curtain ro. 
 To v "l,iMtfttlof day — The prophet turns, 
 
 contentment in hi 
 And let tor Joppa, thence to launch, 
 
 And bear his courfc acrots th'aflonifh'd deep 
 For Tarfi-., hoping io.tp fhun the high 
 Bchcft of HqanUjKMly the face of God ! - 
 
 Th'aflonifh'd deep reproves his impious guilt, 380 
 And checks his bold defign. The lab'nng keel 
 FccU all the fury of 1 ig ftorm, 
 
 On deck, they reel 
 Like drUttMAjflte" — -till ftupify'J, the leer 
 
 . 
 The 
 
 And d..lh the louruunfoa 
 \ 
 
 At the il'iff'l d. 
 
 And I 
 
 The roll vecpuiihfn rge, 393 
 
 Mcthinks I fee Cbnfufion 1 
 
 l»uf;cfl of their tr da ! Deep i\o:^: tiiivbs 
 
 Jn
 
 aio THE VOYAGE OF LIFE 
 
 In every heart, and gleams through every eye I 
 
 What diligence, what pain'd anxiety 
 
 Appears to fliun the King of Terrors dart ! 
 
 The merchant and the mariner agree 
 
 To leave no needful effort unaffay'd 
 
 The harbour to regain, whence late they launch'd ; 
 
 Thefe at the cordage lab'ring hard, and thofe 400 
 
 Cafting o'erboard the flores once highly priz'd : 
 
 For now the wealth of either lnd, compar'd 
 
 With Life, in eftimation feems a toy. 
 
 Still every furge forebodes their threat'ning doom! 
 
 Lo, at the helm the pilot ftands aghaft, 
 
 And motionlefs— a flatue of diftrefs ! 
 
 As the laft effort of expiring hope, 
 
 Each man his god invokes with fervent cry; 
 
 Yet ftill each man invokes his god in vain, 409 
 
 More wife, the Hebrew feer they now addrefs 
 
 li Sleeper, awake ! What meaneft thou r Arife, 
 
 " And call upon thy God ! Perhaps thy God 
 
 " Will deign to lend an ear." Nor was their fuit 
 
 In vain ; nor unavailing now their plaint, 
 
 As heretofore ; for Ifrael's God can hear. 
 
 • The prophet foon the fecret caufe reveal*? 
 Why rage the elements fo uncontrol'd. 
 With generous difdain he gives hhnjelfy 
 The facrifice, to ftill the angry feas: 
 Like faille gr^at. Chief, who for his country's weal 
 
 Foregoes
 
 BOOK IX. 211 
 
 Foregoes his friends, his fafety, ami his life, 42 s 
 : gams the honours to loch valour due. 
 
 cemity impclls. 1 fee the crew, 
 With trembling hands, conftgn him to the deep* 
 The angry deep receives the deftin'd prey, 
 And all its clamours ceatc. The prophet ftill 
 Abides lee u re, in covert of his robe, 
 Ac awful nod the raging leas obey. 
 
 Dow* to the deep foundations of the hills, 
 Where PuoeboVigfctt could never penetrate, 430 
 He finks to where the hollow mountains fix 
 Their cvcrlafling bars. He fapplicates 
 The ear of Uod ) His God attentive hear*, 
 Tho' round his head the «« baffled billows" play\?, 
 And dangling fea-wceds * from his temples hong 
 Down to the landals which fecurM 1m feet ; 
 Tho* Cetos-f-cloVd him in iii> hid- ous jaws ; 
 And darknefs rixM irs throne above, around ; 
 
 'Omnipotent ftdl kept beneath his eye 
 His Supplicating fecr : and in his hand 44A 
 
 • Jonah 
 
 tholV 
 
 of the word Kvn;, ia the tafe a". 
 
 Pjrfertti
 
 212 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Preferv'd his life fecure until the hour, 
 
 The deflin!d hour, which call him forth, third 
 
 morn, HT 
 
 High on the fhore to greet the mailing, day ! qM 
 Type of the rifing God ! in equal fpace, 
 Who burft the fable barriers of the tomb, 
 And gave to light the hope of future joy, 
 More cheering than Aurora's kindling rays, 
 Which in the purple Eaft expanfive ftream I 
 
 :nfbb 23l£jib3fn bnA 
 Did Jonah diibbedient turn, intent oID 
 
 To fhun the high beheft of Heaven, alone ? 450 
 Has he no followers in the wayward courfe , a?I1s"H>8 
 Of obftinate rebellion ? Multitudes 
 There are, who fleer as counter to the chart 
 In faered writ reveal'd; who wifh, like him, 
 T'illude th'omnifcience of the Deity, uftiQ 
 
 And fly the face of God ! Can mortals hide 
 From his broad Eye, whp a,t one glance furveys 
 Creation's bounds ? Say, can the treach'rous icheme, 
 Or the more impious ^tt^y in iilence plann'd, 
 In darknefs perpetrated, mifs his eye ? 460 
 
 Null were the confidence, and vain the hope. 
 HE fills all places with his effencc pure ; 
 Heav'n with his love ; and earth exulting fmiles 
 With His beneficence divinely bleis'd ; 
 While -hell groans deep beneath his awful ire. 
 
 Nor
 
 BOOK VII. 213 
 
 r flept \hefter alone on Life's rough Tea, 
 KncompatVd round with dangers and diftrcis ; 
 ThoufancK like him, fupinely deep, fecure, 
 dream of danger nigh, tho' guilt beiet 
 Their courfe in its terrific form array'd, 470 
 
 Coovolv'd in ftorm? of wrath, to ilTuc down 
 Like torrents in the foul ! And all the time 
 The hell-bred monfter siv pefters the bad, 
 (juilt frowns a fury ! frowns a defp'rate foe, 
 And meditates dcftruciion ! Like the (hark 
 Clofcly pursuing all our courfe unfecn, 
 Bot not unfelt, unlef? the conscience too 
 Be fall'n afleep ! When Vice directs the helm, 
 follows hard, and Defperation mounts 
 iginery with fueh a IcvclPd aim, 480 
 
 Asfoon of'ftke'iwakes the itupid u 
 Or finks it lower than the decpeft waves. 
 
 MeUcy awoke the fcer ! And Mercy's voice 
 Wakft'th their eyes in lhad< 
 
 Hut thofe \rno Acer with Vice mutt float in tear* : 
 Yftftaftely tears prevent tTi 
 Launching ifcith cilm < the helm, 
 
 Wc l nd make the port of Peace : 
 
 Kejca»nffPemtc 
 
 Upon the flinty rock of black Delpaii ! 4 , 
 
 Not e«jual !icr incXorlblc : .1 
 
 Who
 
 2i 4 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Who wept herfelf to marble, when bereft 
 Of all her boafted fons in one fad hour ! 
 As lure the cOurfe, where Vice long domineers, 
 Shall terminate in Sorrow's faddeft plight. 
 
 As bounds the rapid keel o'er many a wave, 
 Thro' many a longitude — to diftant climes, 
 Unfeen from off the more ; fo Life's precincts 
 Are foon o'erpafs'd ; and all beyond might feem 
 Impenetrably veil'd — fave what the light 500 
 Of lnfpiration* fhews, " as in a glafs >•}-," 
 To thofe whofe views extend beyond an hour j : 
 As wave Succeeds to wave, and ftorm to florin, 
 So Life's fucceeding fcenes are Hill the fame- 
 To-morrow meets the ghoft of yefterday, 
 And all things run in one perpetual round §, 
 Till Fate's vindictive hand fhuts up the fcene. 
 The drama is perhaps renew'd next year ; 
 But we have quit the ftage ! Life's fleeting hopes 
 At length delufive feem. — When paft, how Ihort 
 Appears the interval 'twixt youth and age, 51 1 
 Between the cradle and funereal room ! 
 Soon infancy to youth religns its tears 
 And'toys; and youth for riper age foregoes 
 Its blooming charms — by grave Experience taught, 
 
 : 
 
 * Alluding to the Bible. + 1 Cor. xiii. 12. 
 
 J z Cor. iv. 18. § Eccl. i. 9. . 
 
 "Childhood
 
 BOOK IX. 215 
 
 '• Childhood and youth arc vanity ; M — 'tis then 
 Our riper years, and founder 
 Sedate as Wifdom's fchool, liood give 
 
 Life's llut'nng hopes and fcais! Aud manhood 
 
 Toon 
 Declines to feeble age;— bequeathing all 520 
 
 fa hoarded heaps to young pofterity, 
 To future deftiny its trembling hopes ! 
 The human frame then Litems, fupported llarcc 
 On bending pillars, menacing to fall 
 An heap of dud! The ancient walls*, and dome, 
 Appear externally defae'd and worn 
 Uy the rude onfet of full many a ftorm ! 
 One ornament, beftow'd by nature's hand, 
 Remain ow'nng "almond" blooms, t'adoro 
 
 The facred '• tein, wrongs of Time ! 
 
 E'en fo, the flowery (hrubs which pendent bloom 
 High on Palmyra'* ruins, plca>\l . 532. 
 
 &Hd fee in to (hod a luftrc o'er the fecne! 
 red, ami how venerable, fay, 
 it age appear— the di^atorul heir 
 Of Wildom, by Experience taught, with found 
 Difcrction blcft r How Ugc, it 'found in pi; 
 Ot inefs? Knot — ih'untimcly birth, 
 
 • The facred writer* frequently rcprtfent the feverai mero- 
 bcrt of the human frame, by metaphor* draw* frwro the tmtai 
 pans of an edifice. Cane am. 9, to. 
 
 That
 
 2i6 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 That never faw the fun, were happier far, 540 
 
 When Deftiny fhuts up the final fcene ! 
 
 Stooping beneath a multitude of years, 
 
 We foon confign Nature's infirmities 
 
 To the cold hand of Death ; and fink unmov'd 
 
 By cenfure or ambition's fiery chace, 
 
 Unaw'd by villany, or force, or fraud, 
 
 To lie conceal'd within the filent tomb.— 
 
 To this Life's Voyage tends. All earthly hopes 
 
 And anxious cares fleep in oblivion here ! 
 
 Here is the deflin'd port of human kind : 550 
 
 The ftatefman wife; the politician fhrewd ; 
 
 The general bold ; the warrior firm and brave ; 
 
 The fophift, and the fimple, here unite, 
 
 And blend one common lot in nature's urn ! 
 
 The honourable fink with folemn pomp : 
 
 Attention wakes, and echos round the fhores 
 
 A fudden gufl of fame, which foon expires, 
 
 If not by more than titles dignify'd. 
 
 True worth rauft fink alike ; but with regards 559 
 
 That fhall not foon expire. The good are like 
 
 A flately navy, firft afar defcry'd ; 
 
 Soon nigher feen — with colours flreaming high 
 
 Before the gale — all extacy t'arrive 
 
 Succefsful and victorious to their port. 
 
 Not fo the wicked; they, like vanquilli'd fleets, 
 
 Are routed— and to wild diforder driv'n, 
 
 By the fuperior valour of the foe : 
 
 Then
 
 BOOK IX. *,? 
 
 Then met by raging florins, difpersM, and wrec 
 And buried deep beneath the booming waves 
 Down to the Stygian found they fink full faft ^570 
 Nor does one fhattcrM ketch e'er float up more, 
 And hap*ly gain the fair Aufonian beach. 
 Such are the various fates affign'd to men : 
 So Life's grand Voyage ends f And when 'tis part, 
 Juft like the furrowing keel which fplits the wave, 
 And leaves no track behind, our courfc is now 
 Scarce longer recognized ! If ill, too foon 
 It cannot be fengot. But if our courfc 
 
 Tended to Life — and Wifdom's plan purfu'd 
 
 Mark that immortal chart! forget it not ! 5S0 
 Steer on by the fame point: — You foon arrive 
 At SALENTi port—the feat of facrcd joy ! 
 
 EKoucn,mymufc! The faithful mufe has glanc'd 
 With penetrating eye, thro* various Lift-; 
 Its boding fears, deTuuve hopes, and j. 
 Has guarded from excefs; and fteer'J, throughout 
 The courfc of moderation; — yet with zeal 
 T*cfpoufe the caufc of truth, and vindicate 
 Religion, and the ftatc, 'gainft enemies 
 Avow'd and firm— or couch'cf in dark difguife, 590 
 More hcllifh of the twain ! but deeming thofc 
 Beneath regard who trample on a crown * ! 
 
 * Fortunately in idea only. 
 
 L Defpots
 
 *i8 THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 Defpots for anarchy ! averting "Rights," 
 
 Imaginary rights ! with nought to lofe ! 
 
 Like birds of omen fcreaming to their mates 
 
 The wild fantaftic echo of an hour, 
 
 In filence foon to die ! — Surveying fcenes 
 
 So complicated, fhe has laugh'd, has wept, 
 
 Has trembl do'er the fates that men bequeath, 
 
 Not to their fortune's heirs, but to themfelves ! 600 
 
 Has trac'd of good and ill the gain or loft, 
 
 The various conference—- and final end; 
 
 Enforcing by example, and by rule, 
 
 The cdurfe of virtue— and fuperior worth.— 
 
 Should this fincere attempt find good fuccefs, -.: * 
 
 And reputation gain in wifdom's ear; -mid 
 
 juft tribute to his love be paid from whom 
 
 All good, all excellence proceeds; who pours 'dW 
 
 The vital current thro' thefe veins — infpires - kW 
 
 This confcious heart to feel akin to man *» 610 
 
 And kindle facred fparks at virtue's fires! 
 
 Should unfuccefs attend— 'tis no futility, wotl 
 
 But fate -f-, procures my doom : — I durft fubmit, 
 
 However mortify'd, and own my fate 
 
 A portion of humanity — nor worfe 
 
 Than what attends on many a hopeful bard, 
 
 • Homo Cum, bumani nihil a rn« aUtuuov puto. Te*. 
 
 0*3Quifcjue fuos fcatimur manes.' W«5S« ^ J ! 
 
 ,-ioon Jnsli) iiin ,1o wJlsrfl sdJ Rifin£
 
 BOOK IX. 991 
 
 Rifing in elevation, but to fall 
 More fignal, more confpicuous to the world ! 
 With modefty I meet the world: nor hope 
 With a falfe luftre to delude their eyes ! 620 
 
 My mufe, regardlefs of the lafh of witi, 
 The fnecr of pedants, the contempt of vice, 
 Rifcs tuperior to thefe legions helm'd 
 With bold effrontery, like flaming brafs ! 
 Meantime, the learned critic flic revere*, 
 Who argues from juft principles, and lcctns 
 UnbiafsM or to cenfure or commend — 
 UnpoliflTd pearls fuch will be found to prize : 
 The fterling weight of one ftrong thought, with 
 
 him, 
 Weigh* down a thoufand glittYing phaniafies, 63a 
 Which feero toit feathers in the fcale of feme : 
 With him— -the man who dares efpoufe the car. 
 
 Of truth and rcafon, claims no (mall regard. 
 
 _ 
 
 Now clofc the fong with Nature's clofir 
 The vanquifh'd tomb, the fcnal renovation ! 
 
 Awhile the righteous fleep fercne, and fafc * 
 From all a (hulls, in their low bed — the gr 1 
 Li fc'« Voyage ended, here their bark obtain* 
 Safe anchorage, and in this haven lie-, 
 Waiting the fignal 0/ a retribution ! 64a 
 
 Hid- in the (hclter of this filent nook, 
 
 L 2 No
 
 22Q THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 No turbulent proud waves of wickednefs 
 Or ftrife — no rocks of error— no rauftrooms 
 Of dread temptation threaten to devour : 
 No bluftering blafls — no fatal wrecks difturb 
 Their ftill repofe : — So refts in foine calm creek 
 The wary pilot, till the turbid florin 
 Which loud alarms at fea be overblown.— 
 When the commiffion'd angel, from on high, 
 Shall ftand auguft and folemn — one foot fix'd 650 
 On earth, and one on fea, with hand elate 
 To heav'n — and fwear by heav'n's Immortal King 
 That Time fhall ceafe to roil ! — with awful blaft 
 Give the fhrill trump of God to rend the fkies, 
 And call the ileeping nations forth to meet 
 Their feparate doom ! The erft all-ftedfaft earth, 
 And all th'inferior heavens unite in one ^1 
 
 Unbounded blaze ! and all, affrighted, fly aj. f 
 
 Their M aker's prefcnce — now the Judge of *\U 
 Mean-time, we fhall behold the teemingtombs, 660 
 The folemn vaults, the roaring floods and leas. 
 The gaping ruins of huge palaces, 
 And far-fam'd towns by earthquakes bury'd deep, 
 Refign their charge, and give them to the day. 
 *0 ! then* with joy, methinks I fee the Just, 
 Beneath Heav'n's brighter! beaming clemency, 
 Hoifting their flag of hope ! Uplifting high 
 The fwelling fails: of fove ! Bering fublime 
 
 Before
 
 BOOK IX. 221 
 
 Before a gale of meritorious grace 
 On to the cryftal portals of the iky ! 670 
 
 1. 1 ft up your heads, ye everlafting doors, 
 A«d give the heirs of bliis to enter in ! 
 Ye pearly gates of ParaJife ! admit 
 The ranfom'd nations all, with loud acclaim 
 And fongs of facred joy ! Give them to feaft, 
 *Mid amaranthine bow'rs, beneath the tree 
 Whofe facred leaves hcai'd all their maladies, 
 And pluck ambrofial fruit from off its boughs ! 
 Give them to quaff immortal pleafurcs round. 
 From out Life's fount, till youth, ecleftial youth. 
 Sit on each brow, and fparkle in each eye ; 681 
 With vigour only feen, and only felt, 
 In immortality ;— -to fhinc like ftars 
 In the unclouded firmament of heaven ; 
 Where pure fercnity abides ; where joyt 
 Mature exult, which no ccflation know. 
 No ficknefs, no calamity, obtains 
 In that " new earth ANtfHfcAv'Ns," where Jurt 
 
 Men <!«.vcll : A 
 
 No dread of fhipwreck there: — Secy re they Aand, 
 All iafely landed on th'ctcrnal bcadi. 690 
 
 
 T H E X.N-D... AT
 
 

 
 ERRATA. 
 
 Book III. Line i*3, for coatroul read control 
 
 - IV. ■ 481, — rone — prone 
 
 V. Arg. laft I. ioxFotu Fortune 
 
 • V. 5 it, — eontrould cootrol'd 
 
 VI. — j^6, — rev'rence reverence 
 
 VI. 407, — good eril good and evil 
 
 VII. , 4 <, — Thofc Thcfc 
 
 - VIII. -~— 191, — Jarti down — darts h if 

 
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