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 PROVIDENCE. 
 
 A N 
 
 ALLEGORICAL POEM. 
 
 In THREE BOOKS. 
 
 By J O H N GIL V IE, A. M. 
 
 Juvatque petere inde coronam, 
 Unde prius nulli velarint tempora Mufas. 
 
 LUCRET. 
 
 LONDON; 
 
 Piinted for G. B u * N E T,' at Bifhop Burnet's Head, in the Strand, 
 MDCOJOV.
 
 
 p a 
 
 !'.*'>' ' 1 1 . . '. 
 
 aoioo son 
 
 
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 5 FR 
 
 TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE 
 
 JAMES STUART MACKENZIE, 
 
 LORD PRIVY SEAL FOR SCOTLAND, 
 
 v 
 
 THE FOLLOWING 
 
 OEM 
 
 IS MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED, 
 
 B Y 
 
 HIS LORDSHIP'S 
 
 MOST HUMBLE 
 
 AND MOST OBEDIENT SERVANT, 
 
 J, O GIL VIE, 
 
 19830
 
 
 
 A o o a 
 
 
 
 
 
 Si.. ; 
 
 Jambv illwn euiiq
 
 ; FR 
 
 s, TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE f/f|S 
 
 
 
 JAMES STUART MACKENZIE, 
 
 LORD PRIVY SEAL FOR SCOTLAND, 
 
 v 
 v 
 
 THE FOLLOWING 
 
 OEM 
 
 IS MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED, 
 
 t-H 
 
 B Y 
 
 HIS LORDSHIP'S 
 
 MOST HUMBLE 
 
 AND MOST OBEDIENT SERVANT, 
 
 J, O GIL VIE,
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 AS the author of the following attempt doth not 
 remember to have feen any work regularly executed 
 upon fuch a plan as he hath laid down ; the reader 
 will indulge him in the liberty of making a few introduc- 
 tory obfervations, which may tend to alleviate, if not to 
 remove thofe prejudices, which almoft every fpecies of 
 novelty is apt at firft view to excite. 
 
 The fubject of the prefent Eflay falls fo naturally under 
 the cognizance of every reflecting mind, that we have no 
 reafon to be furprifed, when we find it treated in the 
 moft copious manner by many writers both ancient and 
 modem. It is however certain in general, that philofo- 
 phical diflertations, in whatever degree intrinfically valu- 
 able, lofe their effect on the bulk of mankind, when they 
 are not enlivened with thofe graces which contribute to a- 
 mufe the imagination. It is on this account that we find a 
 moral work, in which the moft important truths are accu- 
 rately inveftigated, overlooked as uninterefting ; when a 
 feries of incidents, which are calculated to imprefs upon 
 the mind fomc beneficial rule of conduct, is perufed with 
 faris faction, and feldorn fails to eftablifli a favourable pre. 
 pofleffion. So much ftronger is the impulfe which leads us 
 
 to
 
 vi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 to fearch for Pleafure, than that which prompts us to de- 
 fire InftruHion. 
 
 That the ancients were fully fenfible of the advantages 
 refulting from this fpecies of compofition, will be obvious 
 to any perfon who hath perufed the writings of Prodicus 
 and Cebes, or who is acquainted with thofe beautiful alle- 
 gories which are intermingled with the philofophy of Plato- 
 Thefe will render confpicuous to every impartial reader, 
 the care which was taken to blend the agreeable with the 
 ufeful) in canvaffing fuch fubjecls as have Inftruction for 
 their principal end. The unnatural feparation of philofo- 
 phy and eloquence did not happen till after the death of 
 Socrates, when the difciples of that great man became the 
 leaders of particular feels, each of them retaining a Hired, 
 but none preferving the compleat body of the principles of 
 their matter. u Profeminatae funtquafi families diflentient.es 
 inter fe, & multum disjunct^, & difpares j cum tamen om- 
 nes fe philofophi Socraticos 6c dici vellent, & efle arbitra- 
 rentur." 
 
 From thefe obfervations on the nature of the human 
 mind, the author of the following work was induced to 
 form a plan for canvafling a fubject, perhaps of all others 
 the moft interefting 5 in which, philofophical fentiment 
 might not be wholly feparated from entertainment. He is 
 fenfible that the difficulty of uniting ends fo apparently re- 
 mote, is augmented in proportion to the abftradtion and 
 
 fubtlety
 
 INTRODUCTION. vii 
 
 fubtlety of thofe ideas which are to be diftinctly exhibited 
 to the mind. It is a much eafier matter to contrive a feries 
 of incidents, by whofe combination one important moral 
 precept is enforced, than to invent allegories, which tend 
 to illuftrate a chain of truths obfcured by ignc ranee, and 
 clogged with objections. This difficulty however will in- 
 duce a candid and fenfible critic to overlook a defect in an 
 attempt of this nature, which in another work might be 
 deemed confiderable ; and to regard the whole, if not as 
 a work of the kind compleatly executed, yet at leaft as an 
 attempt to introduce a fpecies of composition, which may 
 be found fufceptible of the happieft improvements. Thefe 
 inducements may perhaps prevail on the reader to attend 
 to a more particular explanation of the author's defign. 
 
 mqfl ^ ,.>bni w 
 The fubject of this work, compreheniive as it is, may 
 
 not improperly be comprifed under the three following 
 
 r r j r ,t 
 
 heads. When we contemplate the Supreme Being, as the 
 Creator and Governor of the univerfe, we either consider 
 him as having difpofed the Works cf Nature in their pre- 
 fent fituation, and as regulating their various revolutions; 
 or we behold him conferring the moft extenfive benefit on 
 mankind, by favouring them with a Revelation of his 
 will ; or we fee him conducting the complicated detail of 
 Human Life, to effectuate fome great and neceflary pur- 
 pofe. In each of thefe views, however, as fome objedls will 
 occur, which ought at once to excite our admiration and 
 our gratitude; fo others will prefent themfelves, which fuggeft 
 7 doubts
 
 viii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 doubts that require to be afcertained by a connected pro- 
 cefs of juft obfervation. Thus the Works of Nature, while 
 they difplay the Omnipotence of the Deity, exhibit fuch 
 indications of feeming evil, as lead us to challenge, upon 
 a fuperficial review, His Wifdom and His Juftice, We 
 plainly perceive indeed, that the productions of the earth 
 are fuited to the neceffities of the inhabitants, for whofe 
 benefit it appears to have been created. We fee it glow- 
 ing in many places with the moft attractive beauty, and 
 crowned aim oft every where with verdure and variety. 
 We obferve the rotation of feafons regularly carried on in 
 uniform and invariable harmony. But when thefe marks 
 of defign induce us to form a favourable concluiion, with 
 regard to the fuperintendency of Providence ; Whirl- 
 winds, ftorms, volcanos, earthquakes ; Whatever, in 
 
 fliort, of this kind we have been accuftomed to confider as 
 productive of evil, reclaims loudly againft this decifion, 
 and leads us to call in queftion, if not to deny truths, 
 which appeared to ftand upon the beft foundation* 
 
 When in the fame manner we proceed from contem- 
 plating the Works of Nature, to confider the conduct of 
 the Deity, in exhibiting to the world a Revelation of His 
 will ; ineftimable as the benefit may appear to be, the 
 objections raifed againft it are plaufible enough to repre- 
 fent as fufpicious, circumftances which were originally re- 
 garded as beneficial. The principal difficulties which oc- 
 cur in this examination, arife from the time at which the 
 
 doc-
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 IK 
 
 doctrines of Revealed Religion were promulgated to man- 
 kind, and from its want of univerfality in all ages. Thefe 
 at leaft are the points which are moft particularly connected 
 with the prefent fubject. 
 
 After all, however, the moft formidable objections to the 
 belief of a Providence., are drawn from an eftimateof its con- 
 duct with regard to Human Life. The unequal diftribu- 
 tion of Reward and Punifhment which takes place in this 
 world ; the deprefiion of virtue and the triumph of fuo 
 cefsful villany ; are fuch objects as recurring frequently to 
 every reflecting mind, give occafion to complaints fo ap- 
 parently well founded, as it is no eafy matter to obviate 
 effectually. We are the more tenacious of our opinions 
 on this fubjecl, as the experience of almoft every indivi- 
 dual fuggefts particular inftances of this unequal diftribu- 
 tion, in which either himfelf or his neighbour is immedi- 
 ately and deeply interefted. The general obfervation that 
 this inequality will be fully compenfated in fome future 
 ftate of exiftencc, whatever effect it may produce upon a 
 fenfible and confiderate mind, yet furely can never pro- 
 duce perfect resignation in a man who confiders prefent 
 happinefs, or prefent affliction as the greatcft good, or the 
 moft infuppor table evil. We may tell fuch perfons that, 
 their fentiments are unjuft, and that their complaint is irra- 
 tional ; but unlefs they are made to fee that fome immediate 
 benefit may refult from their calamity ; unlefs from proofs 
 fupported by the teftimony of experience with regard to 
 
 b others,
 
 x INTRODUCTION. 
 
 others, the mind is convinced of the fuperintendency of 
 Providence ; unlefs in fome of thefe cafes we are apt to 
 take up the complaint of the poet ; 
 
 Cum res hominum tanta caligine volvi 
 
 D 
 
 Adfpicerem ; Izetofque diu florere nocentes, 
 Vexarique pios : Rurfus labefacta cadebat 
 Religio CLAUD. 
 
 But when the mind furvey'd 
 
 The human fcene involv'd in deep'ning fhade ; 
 Saw wrapt in eafe, with long enjoyment bleft, 
 The bad rejoicing, and the good deprefs'd ; 
 Then died Religion. 
 
 . . 
 
 The circumftance likewife which difcovered his miftake, 
 
 has in this view of the fubject the force of a convincing 
 argument : 
 
 D3ff|/ir}TO rt?Eft "inr 
 
 Abftulit hunc tandem Rufini poena tumultum, 
 
 Abfolvitque Deos. Id. ibid. 
 
 ;qrm Ji ^tenr 
 
 Thy doom Rufinus clear'd the gloomy fcene, 
 And fhow'd the Gods were juft. 
 
 From the fuppofition that thefe three topics comprehend 
 the fubject, the author was induced to treat them feparate- 
 ly, and has therefore afiigned a diftinct book to each of 
 them. In the firft, the objections to the belief of a Pro- 
 vidence ariiing from the natural evil which takes place in 
 
 the
 
 INTRODUCTION. M 
 
 t-he world, are ftated and obviated, at lead in feme rnea- 
 fure, from the neceffity there is for its exiftence in the pre- 
 fent ftate of things ; and from the beneficial confequences 
 of which it is obvioufly productive. The unrcafonablenefs 
 of wifliing that this world was a Paradife, or that man had 
 been created with higher powers than he pofleffeth, is par- 
 ticularly difplayed ; and the analogical argument from the 
 fcak of Being, as far as we can obferve it, to the probable 
 gradation which fubfifts in fuperior ranks, is illuftrated 
 with fome care, and carried to as great length as the au- 
 thor's fphere of inveftigation could enable him to proceed* 
 
 The fubjedt of the fecond book is fuch, as the reader 
 will perhaps think at firft view not fufceptible of the beau- 
 ties of defcription. As it forms, however, a great and inter- 
 efting part of the work, it was neceflary to confider it as 
 particularly as poffible ; and this the author hath attempted 
 to do in fuch a manner, as that the reader may receive 
 fome entertainment amid the procefs of regular argumenta- 
 tion. As the nature of the theme made it impoflible to 
 continue the feries of allegories in this book, which had 
 been begun in the preceding one, it was neceflary to have 
 recourfe to hiftory for facts, inftead of fictitious circum- 
 ftances ; and thcfe which are culled cut were caft into 
 their prefent order, tfiat their combination may imprefs 
 upon the mind the principal truth which it was propofed 
 to illuftrate. If the reader requires a more particular de- 
 tail, he may confult the note at the beginning of the 
 
 b 2 book.
 
 xii 1 N T R O D U C T I O N. 
 
 book. It is proper only to obferve further in this place, 
 that as the firft fcene was fo barren of incidents, the author 
 has ventured to introduce in it the only allegorical perfon- 
 age^ who is permitted to act a confiderable part. The per- 
 fonification of the Genius of the Nile in the fucceeding 
 fcene, and that of Reafon in the end of the book, are in- 
 tended, as the reader of tafte will immediately obferve, to 
 enliven the defcription where it was judged expedient, and 
 to render that part of the work in fome meafure entertain- 
 ing, where the feparate arguments are fummed up, and 
 where the conclufion refulting from them is impartially 
 ftated. "^ 
 
 . 
 
 The conduct of Providence with regard to Human Life, 
 upon which it was intended to throw fome light in the laft 
 part of the Poem, affords fuch numerous and diverfihed 
 fubjects of fpeculation, that whatever reafon the reader, 
 who is difiatisfied with the arguments, may have to im- 
 peach, on that account, the judgment of the writer ; yet 
 the defect of entertainment may be juftly afcribed to fte- 
 rility of imagination. In canvaffing a perplexed and in- 
 tricate fubject, we are not to expect proofs which carry a- 
 long with them immediate and irrefiftible conviction. This 
 in every cafe is extremely difficult, and in the prefent in- 
 ftances wholly impoffible. The compleat vindication of 
 the ways of God to man, we muft leave to that day^ in 
 which the fecrets of the heart will be laid open, and the 
 I>dty's moral government of the world, as it regards the 
 
 cir-
 
 INTRODUCTION. xifi 
 
 circumfbtfices of individuals, will be juftified in the prc- 
 fence of its affembled inhabitants. It is diffident with 
 our limited and fcanty portion of knowledge, if from con- 
 fidering things as they are at prefent, we can account for 
 fome of the difpenfations of Providence, in fuch a manner 
 as may convince us that the marks of defign which reflec- 
 tion fuggefts to us, point to fome Being of fuperior wif- 
 dom who is employed to regulate the revolution of events. 
 When this truth is once thoroughly eftablifhed, the doc- 
 trine of future retribution follows as a confequence. Thus 
 much the author thought it neceflary to obferve, with re- 
 gard to the fentiment in this branch of the fubjecl. The 
 allegorical part is fuited to illuftrate it, in that manner which 
 he judged to be moft appofite and agreeable. 
 
 Upon the whole, he will confefs that one reafon for 
 which he undertook the following work was, that he might 
 friow his readers, by attempting to umte philofophical fe7iti- 
 ment with the graces of defcription^ that even this ipecies 
 of poetry may be rendered fubfervient to higher purpofes 
 than is generally fuppofed ; as it may co-operate to pro- 
 mote the great end which it is propofed to accomplifli in 
 the refearches of fcience. That the reader will meet with 
 many blemifhes in the poem itfelf, the writer will not at 
 prefent prefume to queftion; and when they are fairly point- 
 ed out, will be ready to acknowledge. He hopes only that 
 an eftimate either of the defcription or argument will not 
 be formed from a view of any particular part, but that a* 
 deciiion will be fufpended till the whole is perufed. 
 
 EXPLANATION
 
 EXPLANATION of the P L A T E S. 
 
 THE Plate on the title page, reprefents the World emerging 
 from Chaos, and Wifdom difpofing the rude materials into 
 order and regularity. 
 
 The Frontifpiece to the firft bookdefcribes Peftilence and Famine, 
 as they are perfonified in the Poem, arrefted by an Angel as they 
 proceed through the flreets of a city, which is half defolated. 
 
 The Plate which precedes the fecond book, (hews Religion de- 
 fcending from the ikies, in the view of a multitude, many of whom 
 are bewildered in intricate paths j holding a torch in one hand, 
 from which a blaze of light darts upon the beholders, and extending 
 with the other an open book, with the word Ecce. 
 
 f 
 The Plate to the third book defcribes a landfcape with a caftle feen 
 
 obfcurely through the trees. A hill in the middle overlooking the 
 profped:, on which Contemplation and Fancy {land with their 
 Infignia. At a diftance a precipice, to which a crowd of young men 
 appear to be dragging an old one, who is grafping the knees of one 
 of them, when he is half over the fummit of a rock. Above is 
 Juftice, with her balance in one hand, and a naked fword in the 
 other hanging over their head, with the word Lente for a motto.
 
 9rf| 10 MO 
 
 PROVIDENCE. 
 
 
 4 3i ^ 
 orh 
 
 M iTS| Sbirfw ...Jtoiq 
 
 ' 
 
 . 
 
 OEM. 
 
 R o r> v T 
 tf U U K I.
 
 ** 
 
 The A R G U M E N T. 
 
 C TT > H E Subject prcpofed, ver. I, to 16. Invocation, to 32. Scene of 
 * the Poem, 88. Complaint of the inequality of feajbns, and of fbe 
 apparent deformity of the World, 122. Cave of Contemplation, and bis 
 appearance, 129/0 154. His addrefs, to 176. Fancy defcribed, 191. 
 to 23 i. Her fpeech, to 241. Advantages of winds, farms, &c. il- 
 lujlrated by an allegory ', to 393. Complaint refumed, 403 to 411. Dif- 
 advantages of fultry heat, 413 fo 432. The gales of fummer inefficient 
 to purify the atmofphere, to 441. Ben eft of fro/is, to 455. t#w 0/'/& 
 different feafons, in the prefent Jlate of nature, and the dif advantages 
 which would a rife from perpetual fummer, to 482. theory andjinal 
 caufes of winds, according /oDerham, Le Pluche, Ariftotle, to 535. 
 Inference from the whole, to 548. Second allegory. Hills, fubterrane- 
 ous caverns, Volcano*, to 612. Advantages of mountains as they beau- 
 tify the earth, 635 to 666 ; as they contribute to health, to 686 ; as they 
 produce the fountains, to 694. DigreJ/ion on the origin and ufe of rivers, 
 to 740. Other ufes of mountains, as they ftelter the low countries, to 
 764 ; as they at t raft and circulate the vapours of the atmofphere, to 
 793. Examination of Volcano*. Bowels of the earth deferred, 807 
 to 819. Origin of earthquakes, and benefit of Volcano*, to 848. Ob- 
 jection, to 876. Argument from analogy in favour of the prefent Jlate of 
 things, to 9b8. General inference from the preceding obfervations, i& 
 997. T/ie whole concludes with a panegyric upon Britain. 

 
 PROVIDENCE, 
 
 OEM. 
 
 BOOK I. 
 The WORKS of N A T U R E. 
 
 F God's eternal ways, the parts difplay'd 
 To reafon's bounded fearch ; whether unveil'd, 
 Informing Wifdom treads the roughen'd fcenes 
 Of earth, or radiant in thy burfting noon 
 Religion ! with fuperior port fhe walks, ^ 
 
 And towers confpicuous ; or illumes the fliade 
 
 Of Human Life y or rolls the fecret wheels 
 
 B Of
 
 2 PROVIDENCE, BOOK* 
 
 Of Empire : thde the heav'n-afpiring mufe 
 
 Unfolds though timid, her majeftic ftep 
 
 Intent, yet trembling to purfue. Ev'n now, 10 
 
 As o'er fome mantling cliff the traveller hangs 
 
 Aghaft, and meditates the deep below 
 
 Dizzy and tottering! thus th' aftpnifh'd mind 
 
 Eyes it's great theme with dread ! rapt to a clime, 
 
 Where yet the Mufe's wing has never foar'd. 15 
 
 O THOU whofe fpirit thro' this moulded clay 
 Firft breathed the living foul, and taught its voice, 
 Young, faint, and unaflured, to lifp thy praife 
 With trembling accents, and th' impaflion'd heart 
 To feel the power of harmony, though placed 20 
 
 In this bleak fcene ; far from the happier feats 
 Where antient genius bloom'd ! To Thee I call ; 
 Who thro' the vaft of nature, {pace, and time, 
 Dart'ft thy keen glance all-piercing ; that pervades 
 SFhe heart of man. O lend thy powerful aid, 25 
 
 Propitious ! Tkee the Mufe invokes, (of all 
 Befides regardlefs j) her faint voice to raife 3 
 
 To
 
 BOOK I, A P H M. j 
 
 To brace her fluttering pinnions to a flight 
 
 Daring, that fcales the fteep of time ; to fwell 
 
 Her thought, capacious of it's mighty plan, 30 
 
 That tries to meditate thy wondrous ways. 
 
 Now o'er the weftern ikies, defcending Eve 
 Spread her grey robe ; the folitary hour, 
 To filence facred, and deep mufing thought, 
 Came fweetly ferious on the fighing gale, 35 
 
 And ftole the ear of Wifdom. All was ftill, 
 Save where flow-trilling from the quivering bough 
 The thrufli wild-warbling, to the ecchoing vale 
 Poured her foft lay, melodious as the voice 
 Of Harmony, when from his airy cell 4* 
 
 Arrouz'd, loofe Zephir waves his fportive wings ; 
 And breathes it to the foul. The melting ftrains 
 Thus foothed my throbbing bofom to a calm. 
 
 LED by revolving thought, my wandering fteps 
 Explored the vale of folitude, A rill 4.3 
 
 Slow-tinkling, nuirmur'd as I pafs'd along, . 
 
 B 2 It's
 
 A PROVIDENCE, BOOK L 
 
 It's bank gay-robed with Beauty's balmy train. 
 
 O'er me the fteepy cliffs impending, frown'd 
 
 Horrific ; from their fides, the mouldering earth 
 
 Crumbled, and gradual {hook the hanging arch, 5 o 
 
 Whofe dark fpire quiver' d o'er the void below. 
 
 Between their gleaming fides, refulgent flamed 
 
 The fun's broad orb. As on I walk'd, the fcene 
 
 Opened, and from the plain one winding path 
 
 (Ragged with ftones loud rattling down the height ;) 55 
 
 Led to the fummit of the cliff. I fcaled 
 
 Th' afcent, and wondering, from its brow beheld 
 
 A boundlefs profpect, fhagg'd with rifing hills, 
 
 Rocks, defarts, woods, dales, landfcapes, groves, and fpires. 
 
 Far on the left, a bare and barren heath, 60 
 
 (Save where the wild trees form'd a little grove, 
 
 Crown'd with fpontaneous herbage,) rufhing chill'd 
 
 My veins. 'Twas all a folemn fcene, retired 
 
 Like that where ancient Druids lived remote, 
 
 Converfing with the Moon ! and airy fhapes 65 
 
 (So Fame reports) beneath the wan dim ray, 
 
 Sweep fliadowy o'er the blighted lawn, or foar 
 
 High
 
 BOOK I. A P O E M. 5 
 
 High on the dreamy flame, or ride the winds ; 
 
 Or hear the murmuring wood, when darknefs wraps 
 
 Her cloudy curtain round the world, and Fear 70 
 
 Knocks at the heart of Man. Such is the haunt 
 
 Of Fairy-trains, when filver tips the hills ; 
 
 That in the deep grove's fhadowy gloom difport ; 
 
 Or hear the wild winds whiftle, or repofed, 
 
 Lye on the daify's downy lap, or fpring 75 
 
 Light as the glancing beam from flower to flower ; 
 
 And fuck the powdering of a cowflip's eye, 
 
 And loofely-fwimming drink the pearly dew. 
 
 SLOW o'er the bleak heath roam'd my wandering fteps ; 
 The mind deep-mufing, and the ftill retreat 80 
 
 All-lonefome ; when the keen autumnal breeze 
 Chill from the nipping Eaft, and piercing blew ; 
 The fpangling dew-drops from its clammy wing 
 Shook Joofe, and fprinkling o'er the purple fcene 
 Their liquid amber, mingled as they fell 85 
 
 A thoufand trembling hues. I mark'd the wafte 
 Penfive, and inly-murmuring, thus began. 
 
 " WHERE
 
 6 PROVIDENCE, B<o o K I. 
 
 " WHERE are the gales of Eden ? Where the balm 
 u Delicious, breathed from aromatic bowers 
 " Where Summer fmiled perpetual, and the groves 90 
 
 Sighed 
 
 Line 8$. Wbtre are the Gales of Eden."] This complaint of the inequality of the 
 feafons (which introduced! as the reader will obferve afterwards the firfl Allegory) 
 has alternately been employed by different writers, as a proof that man has degene- 
 rated from his primaeval ftate, and as an argument to prove the fuperintendency of 
 providence. Confidered in the former light it gave the poets an occaficn to invent 
 the fable of the gold, filver, brafs and iron ages of the world, as in each of thefe 
 the face of external nature was adapted to the character of mankind, and punifh- 
 ments were only inflicted upon them by the Deity, in proportion to their degrees of 
 degeneracy. 
 
 TVS ev <rreia-oc, 
 
 Ttfietf 
 
 S*o*s 01 O^U^TTOV 
 
 Says Hefiod, fpeaking of the fecond race of mortals. Open et Dier. L. 136. Ovid 
 tells us in the iarae Ipirit. 
 
 Subiit argentea proles 
 
 Auro deterior. ..... 
 
 Jupiter antiqui contract tempora veris, 
 
 jerque Hyemes, ^Eftuiique & inaequaks Autumnos, 
 
 Et breve Ver, fpatiis exegit quatuor annum. 
 
 Metam.- Lib. i. 
 
 Confidered in the fecond point of view, their uniform and invariable rotation confti- 
 tutes an argument for the fuperintendency of Wifdom. This fentiment is elegantly 
 exprefled by Claudiari 1 . 
 
 Saepe mihi dubiam traxit fententia mentem, 
 
 Curarent Superi terras, an nullus ineflet 
 
 Reflor 
 
 Nam cum difpofiti quasfiffem toedera mundi, 
 
 Prasfcriptofque maris fines ; dnnique meatus, &c. 
 Tune omnia rebar 
 
 Confilio firmata Dei. In Rufin. Lib. 
 
 It ought however to be obferved, that the univerfal teftimony of all ages to the ori- 
 ginal degeneracy of man, as well as of the world, from its firfl ftate of perfection, 
 gives a fanction to the Mofaic Hiftory of this tranfaction, and corroborates the evi- 
 dence by which it Is fupported.
 
 BOOK I. A POEM. 7 
 
 " Sighed to foft Zephirs, or the melting voice 
 
 " Of birds low-humming thro' the vocal boughs 
 
 " Mellifluous ? Ah the milling fcene no more 
 
 " Breaks on the ravifli'd fenfe, or breaks to fteal 
 
 " A tranfient vifit, Sweeping from the fight 95 
 
 < c Like Angels failing thro' the midnight gloom, 
 
 " That melt in air ! Thus blooms th' Elyfian fcene, 
 
 6 And dies. Young Spring from Winter's loofened grafp 
 
 " Efcaped, dejected fees the blooming year 
 
 " Shrink from her defolating blaft, that tears . joo 
 
 " His glittering pinnions. Summer darts her eye 
 
 " Light o'er the laughing mead, and gives her fpoils 
 
 " To Autumn ; fcowling thro' her changeful glance, 
 
 " Fierce Winter looks, and as me fwims away, 
 
 <c Howling in horrid triumph, mounts the winds, 105 
 
 u And drives her fhrieking thro' the turbid air. 
 
 " WHENCE too thefe haunts of fblitude, thefe wild, 
 " And chearlefs defarts ? whence thefe fable cliffs, 
 
 " Shape- 
 Line 107. Whence too thefe haunts, &c.] Nemo unmquam dixerit terram pul- 
 chriorem efle quod cavernofa fit, quod dehifcat in multis locis, quod difrupta caveis & 
 
 fpatiis
 
 PROVIDENCE, BOOK 'I. 
 
 cc 
 
 Shapelefs and rude, that fhag the horrid face 
 " Of earth, and mix the mountain with the fkies ? i i.o 
 
 " Are thefe thy offspring, Wifdom ? Did thy hand 
 " Furrow the precipice abrupt, or cleave 
 " The ragged rock, or pile th' enormous hills 
 " To Heav'n, and clothe them with eternal fnow ; 
 " That man might labour up the fteep afcent, 1 1 5 
 
 " Or fhiver on the fummit ? Shoots thine eye 
 " Oft to the fuel'd mafs that boils beneath, 
 " Or wakes thy breath its wildly-rufhmg ftream 
 " To fhake the rocking frame, or whelm at once 
 
 " The toil of ages ? Reafbn gropes in vain 120 
 
 " Stunn'd with the dire effedl, to fearch the caufe." 
 
 THIS faid, I turn'd my wandering fteps afide, 
 And fought the deepeft fhade. There clofe-immured, 
 Where fcarce a Zephir ftirr'd the ruffling boughs, 
 
 Silent I fat, and gave my thoughts to range 125 
 
 O'er 
 
 fpatiis inanibus , iifque nullo ordine difpofitis, ntilla forma : Nee qnas aliud contine- 
 ant quam tencbras & fordcs ; unde graves & peftiferse exhalationes, terra? motus, &c. 
 Theor. Tellur. v. i. cap. 7. Let it be obferved once for all in this place, that we do 
 not intend to propoie thefe apparent irregularities, as objections againit the cxiftence of 
 a 'Supreme Mind. They are only mentioned as feeming evidences, that Providence 
 does not conftantly fuperintend the government of the world, becaufe their bad con- 
 iequences are not prevented by its interpofition.
 
 BOOK I. A P O E M. g 
 
 O'er worlds remote, as working Fancy led 
 The ftream of meditation ; blaming now, 
 And now abfolving Providence. Alone 
 I fat not long. A mountain's clifted fide 
 
 (Seen thro' a vifto) fhowed a gloomy cave, 130 
 
 Hollow and deep, where fcarce the quivering ray 
 Had fprinkled glimmering twilight. The high roof, 
 Curved like the arch of Heav'n, hung awful o'er 
 The folemn vault below, thro' whofe wide bound 
 The long loud voice in many a lengthning moan 135 
 
 Roll's on the liftening ear. Advancing flo.w 
 From this dark cell of folitary thought, 
 I mark'd a venerable Sage ; his cheek 
 Furrow'd by Time, and o'er his hoary head 
 The cold white hand of flowly-ftealing Age 1 40 
 
 Had fhower'd its lucid filvcr : fweetly mild 
 His looks, his mein, and raifed to Heav'n his eyes 
 Beam'd like fair Evening's dewy ftar, that fhines 
 With placid radiance : graceful was his form, 
 And fimple his attire. His bending hand 145 
 
 C Lean'd
 
 10 PROVIDENCE, BOOK J. 
 
 Lean'd on an ivory ftarT, the prop of Age ; 
 
 Yet firm his ftep, as one whole youthful blood 
 
 Warm'd not inflamed by Reafon's temperate cheer, 
 
 Had tinged the florid cheek, nor felt the blaft 
 
 Of cold Consumption. With flow ftep ho fcaled i 50 
 
 The cliff, and walking to the Qiade, on me 
 
 Bent a foft look that pitied, while it awed : 
 
 Then paufed : and frowning thus fcvere began. 
 
 WHENCE dares thy thought, O mortal- born, to judge 
 The Lord of Heav'n and Earth ? Prefumeft thou then 155 
 Weak as thcu art, to dart the purblind beam 
 Of glimmering Reafon o'er the boundlefs plan 
 Wrought by eternal; Wildom ? Thou whofe fearch 
 Were vain to find what moves fome earthly Prince, 
 Thy brother of the dufr, to vex mankind, 1 60 
 
 And o'er the nations pour the wafte of war 
 Wanton, when Ruin flares him ; nor the hand 
 Of proud Ambition gains one glittering plume 
 To brighten his pale creft ? Ra(h, would'ft tfiou then 
 
 Fathom
 
 BOOK f. A P O E M. ti 
 
 Fathom thy God ? Know of his boundlefs ways, j 65 
 
 To thy fhort glance that trembles as it views, 
 
 A part lies open, coUd thy Pride explore 
 
 That part, and paufe, when Thought's loofe pinnions drop, 
 
 Loft in th' Abyfs of infinite : Heav'n here 
 
 Checks not thy fearch. Yet if the part expofed i 70 
 
 To Reafon, points confummate wifdom ; fair, 
 
 'Proportion' d, beauteous; as it weighs the whole, 
 
 Impartial, let it judge the part concealed 
 
 Not lefs harmonious, though from mortal ken 
 
 Screen'd by a dark impenetrable veil. i- 73 
 
 STRUCK with his voice, that like the folemn tone 
 Of fome deep organ, charm'd me while it awed ; 
 I mark'd him fiknt ; yet intent to know 
 What Sage benevolent had deign' d to ftoop 
 
 C 2 Front 
 
 Line 165, 167, Of fits boundlefs ways, a part lies open^ &c.] In this Ipirit Plato 
 introduced! his account of the Origin of the World, by faying : <pv<riv etvftpuTrivw 
 
 HAP A ZHTEIN. Plat. Tim. A reflection which a fubjed of this kind naturally 
 luggefts, though this philofopher exhibits a fpecimen of the (puais ctrbpwTrivss 
 by deviating on fome occafions as we Jhall fee afterwards, from this excellent principle*
 
 iz PROVIDENCE, BOOK I, 
 
 From Heav'n, and clothed in mortal guife, to yield 180 
 
 Familiar intercourfe. I know thy thought. 
 
 The Sire rejoin'd, In Me behold the Power 
 
 Of Contemplation ! From yon darkfome cave, 
 
 Where with defending Angels I converfe, 
 
 Or fit in ftiil repofe, and hear afar i 8 5 
 
 The murmur of the deep, or the wild note 
 
 Of fweet aereal mufic, when the robe 
 
 Of Evening wraps the broider'd mead ; I come 
 
 To raife thy drooping thoughts, to chafe the gloom, 
 
 The mift t>f Error from thy fight illumed ; 190 
 
 To clear the ways of providence, as far 
 
 As Reafon fcans them, and unfold to man 
 
 That perfeft Beauty is their glorious End. 
 
 HE fpoke ; and inftant near the weftern fun, 
 I fpied a cloud light-floating. O'er the cliff 19$ 
 
 It ftretch'd immenfe, and from its radiant fide 
 Edg'd like the gilding of an evening fky, 
 It ponr'd the ftreamy blaze : the middle glow'd 
 
 With
 
 BOOK I, A P O E M/ 13 
 
 With deep vci-million, as the flaming ray 
 
 Of fcarlet, darting from the fun's bright orb, 200 
 
 Wrought thro' the fine fecreting glafs, conveys 
 
 Its trembling blufli to the tranfported view. 
 
 Defending flowly on the gale, it ffow'd 
 
 Spontaneous down, and nearer as it fail'd, 
 
 Difclofed a brighter radiance to the gaze 205 
 
 Of Wonder wrapt in fight. At laft it flood 
 
 All-loofe, and burfting like the fullen gloom 
 
 Before the lightning's rapid flafli, difplay'd 
 
 Bright Fancy crown'd. Her keenly-piercing eye 
 
 Glanced o'er the fcene that lighten'd as he came 210 
 
 With hafiy ftep, and fhook her dazzling wings 
 
 That fparkled in the iun : a wavy robe 
 
 Mantled her bofom, fweeping as jfhe trod, 
 
 In loofe luxuriance, and the Zephir figh'd 
 
 Soft thro' its fwdling folds. Her right hand held 215 
 
 A Globe, where Nature's towering fabric rofe, 
 
 A living picture ! All the fcenes. that glow 
 
 Gay-robed and lovely, in fome aery dream, 
 
 Where
 
 H PROVIDENCE, BOOK I. 
 
 Where Spring comes tripping o'er the low green dale, 
 
 And ftrows its lap with flowers. Thefe o'er the piece 220 
 
 Profufely fhone. Her left a magic rod 
 
 Suftain'd, that waving as flie will'd, transformed 
 
 The face of things, as wildly-working thought 
 
 CalFd up difcordant images, or ruled 
 
 By Reafon, form'd them gradual > to confirm 225 
 
 Some truth, yet dubious to th' enquiring mind. 
 
 LIGHT oer the hanging cliff fhe fpnmg, fhe flew. 
 Quick as the meteor gleaming o'er the plain ; 
 Till near the place where wrapt in ftill amaze, 
 Intent I flood, her forward ftep (he ftaid 230 
 
 Elate, and fmiling, thus addrefs'd the Sire. 
 
 " Lo ! to thy call refponfive, I attend 
 " Obfequious ! from the fields of Ether, clad 
 " Eternal in the broiderd robes of Spring, 
 " Where the dew wets not her gay-blooming cheek, 235 
 
 " JSbr Winter taints- her purple plumes ; I come 
 
 Com-
 
 BOOK!, A P O E M. *5 
 
 " Commiflion'd, of thy arduous tafk apprifcd, 
 
 " To dafh the boaft of high-pr , j Hope 
 
 u That dares to fcan trT Eternal; and unveil 
 
 " \Vhat Heav'n permits the prying thought to know." 240 
 
 She fpoke, and fudden o'er the fable fcene 
 Waved her transforming rod ; whofe touch diiTolved 
 The mountain's brow, that gradual funk fupine 
 Down on the widening vale. Unfolding fair, 
 I few, furrounded with contiguous iliades 245 
 
 A fpacious plain, within whofe circling bound, 
 Edg'd with brown forefts, meadows, groves, and lawns, 
 A mighty City tower'd ; fublime as that 
 Fabled by Neptune's labouring arm, to sear 
 Its fpires to Heav'n, and fated to defy 250 
 
 All but the power of Wifdorn. Round its fides, 
 A range of Gardens, gay as thofe which- crown'd 
 Thy work Semiramis, luxuriant waved 
 With Autumn's mellowy growth > the flowering fhrub 
 
 Breathed 
 
 Line 250. Fated to defy, &c.] Troy. 
 
 Line 252, ^. Gay as thofe ivbicb crowned, &c,] !Jhe hanging gardens of 
 Babylon.
 
 i6 PROVIDENCE, BooKL 
 
 Breathed myrrhe, and balm, and caflla, in the gale 255 
 
 Perfumed with mingling odours, and the bough 
 
 Blufli'd with delicious fruitage : deeply tinged 
 
 With downy gold, the neftar'd peach difplay'd 
 
 Its yellow rind, and loofely-cluftering near, 
 
 Grapes, melons, pines, the children of the fun, 260 
 
 Hung ripe, and tempting, to the forward hand 
 
 Of Luxury unfated. Fairer far 
 
 The blooming fcene, than {ings the melting lyre 
 
 Of foft Pomona's haunts, the febled groves, 
 
 Where rofe-lip'd Plenty fhower'd the blufliing fpoils 265 
 
 Of each revolving feafon. All within 
 
 Was noife and paftime. O'er the fpacious ftreet 
 
 Roam'd frolic Mirth, and fly Deceit behind 
 
 Danced like a gay Buffoon. Intemperance 
 
 Reel'd from thefeaft of Bacchus. Bufinefs ran 270 
 
 Hurried and lumber'd, with difpatchful hafte 
 
 From man to man ; while idly-lolling Eafe 
 
 Lean'd on a couch of down, by Zephirs cool'd, 
 
 And fweetly-luliV by the lute's languid lay. 
 
 CHARM'D
 
 BOOK I. A POEM, 17 
 
 CHARM'D with the fight, that to the glancing eye 275 
 Of Thought, recalled ten-thoufand ruming fcenes ; 
 I gazed transfix'cl with wonder ! Still Amaze 
 Lock'd up my powers a moment ! Till releafed 
 By Reafbn's lenient hand, I caft my eyes 
 Loft in fweet tranfport o'er the dewy lawns ; 2 80 
 
 Where gay-robed Beauty's liberal lap had fliower'd 
 Profufe of wealth, the richeft treafures out 
 Wild in unfparing wafte. " Almighty God 
 " This is thy work ! (thus thought the kindling foul, 
 
 To tranfport raifed) the deeply-tindtured bloom 285 
 
 That paints yon blufhing flower, is but the ftroke 
 " Of thy transforming pencil ; and the air 
 " Perfumed with balm and myrh, wafts the rich fpoils 
 " From all thy works in incenfe to thy throne ! " 
 
 THUS I, tranfported with the prefent fcenes, 290 
 
 Nor minding thefe to come. 'Twas now the time 
 Of burning noon, and from his radiant car, 
 Led by the filver-pinnion'd Hours, the Sun 
 Shot his bright blaze o'er all th' unbounded fcenc, 
 
 D That 
 
 cc 
 
 cc
 
 i8 PROVIDENCE, BOOK I. 
 
 That fcorch'd the field with drought. A neighbouringbower 295 
 
 Waved to the gale umbrageous, and inticed 
 
 The limbs of panting Labour to repofe 
 
 In its refrefhing cool. Thither we came 
 
 Fatigued, and refting on a couch of flowers 
 
 That breathed perfume, beheld th' adjacent fcenes 300 
 
 Difplay'd in boundiefs profpect. But the eye 
 
 Was foon diverted to a fight more ftrange. 
 
 FOR lo ! arifing in the fultry fouth 
 Where the fun flamed intenfe ; a bluifh mift 
 Wrought from a Mine of Nitre, breathed its fteam 305 
 Full on the tainted Gale ! An earthquake fhook 
 The hollow ground, and Darknefs rifing flow, 
 Rear'd her bold arm imperious to the Sun, 
 And bloated half his beams. At laft the Earth 
 Burft up, and fhooting thro' the mighty void 310 
 
 Arofe a fhapelefs Monfter ! On his brow, 
 Sat Terror and Defpair; dark, difmal, wan; 
 And marfed a brood of fnakes, fhed by the fell 
 Tyfiphone ! The thirfty Furies fired 
 
 His
 
 BOOK I. A P O E M. 19 
 
 His thoughts to blood and {laughter ; and his eyes 315 
 
 Shot like a gleam of lightning o'er the field, 
 
 And wither'd all its bloom. Medufa's head 
 
 That ftruck th' unwary gazer into ftone, 
 
 Wrought not a change more wondrous. On he ftrode 
 
 With ftep terrific, for his baleful breath 320 
 
 Was blafting poifon, and his hand fuftain'd 
 
 A fword that fmoked with blood. Graved on the blade 
 
 Appeared confpicuous his diftinguifh'd name, 
 
 The PESTILENCE ! Spare gracious Heav'n (exclaim'd 
 
 My frantic foul) O fpare the race of man 1 325 
 
 I N vain ! For onward came the griefly fliape : 
 And raifed his wafteful hand, and fhook his hair 
 That dropp'd with fteamy fulphur. Thro' the gate 
 Of that proud City, tottering to a fall, 
 
 He pafs'd tremendous. Famine at his heels 330 
 
 Inceflant yell'd, and roll'd her ghaftly eyes ; 
 And gnaw'd a living vultur. As they ftrode, 
 Loud rofe the voice of Woe ! I faw the fword, 
 A gleamy blade, by that relentlefs hand 
 
 D 2 Plunged
 
 ao PROVIDENCE, BOOK I. 
 
 Plunged in the heart of Innocence ! I faw 335 
 
 Where the wild Mother, to her throbbing breaft 
 Impatient clafp'd the child, that look'd its foul, 
 Writhed with ftrong pangs ; and fpread its little hands, 
 Guiltlefs of harm, to aflc the lenient balm 
 Of Love's reviving breath. She to its lips 340 
 
 Diftra&ed clung, and o'er its clammy limbs 
 Pour'd the warm gufli of unavailing woe. 
 
 THUS o'er the City roam'd this dreadful pair; 
 And mark'd their fteps with flaughter. As the fword 
 Of that deftroy ing Angel, fent to quell 345 
 
 The pride of Pharaoh, in one diftnal night 
 Smote the firft-born of ^Egypt's mighty fons, 
 And ftruck her King with dread ; thus the dire hands 
 Of thefe fell Furys laid the City wafte : 
 And filFd its ftreets with carnage, blood, defpair. 350 
 
 THRILL'D with amaze and horror, as I view'd 
 This change unhoped ; back to my fluttering heart 
 Rufh'd the chill blood. Commiferation, dread, 
 
 Bene-
 
 BOOK I. A POEM. 21 
 
 Benevolence, and pity, thro' my foul 
 
 Shot with refiftlefs violence, and charged 355 
 
 Each thought with piercing anguifh. Sure the Sire 
 
 Of Heav'n and Earth difdains this child of woe, 
 
 And man was made in vain ! Weak as thou art, 
 
 (Replied incenfed the venerable Power 
 
 Of Contemplation) ceafe thy rafh complaint ; 360 
 
 Or dread the hand of Vengeance. He who rules 
 
 Yon ftar-crown'd arch, who in the day of wrath 
 
 Grafps the red bolt, and (hoots his lightnings thro' 
 
 The quaking foul of Guilt ; points not the flame, 
 
 Nor grafps the bolt in vain. 'Tis Vice that {hades 365 
 
 His brow with frowns, and bids ftern Juftice ftrike, 
 
 Where gentle Mercy meant to fave. But fee 
 
 Yon blackening cloud, and mark what meets thy gaze. 
 
 I LOOK'D, and fudden from the ftormy north, 
 Out-rufh'd a wheeling Whirlwind : from a cloud 370 
 
 Black with imprifon'd ftorms, it foept along 
 Impetuous. Towering on its gloomy wing 
 An Angel rode ; of port fublime, and eyes 
 
 That
 
 22 PROVIDENCE, BOOK I. 
 
 That flafli'd the living lightning. O'er his arm 
 
 Hung the tranfparent fliield ; a flaming fpear 375 
 
 Waved in his hand; and on his helmed brow, 
 
 Perch'd like an eagle, fat the god-like Power 
 
 Of Victory. Light as the glancing ray 
 
 He fprung with rapid flight, intent to reach 
 
 The monfter hewing his dire courfe. Alarm'd 380 
 
 He flood, and fudden felt his withering limbs 
 
 Charged by fuperior power. From his weak hand 
 
 He dropt the fword ; his ruffling garment flew 
 
 Loofe to the wind: till by the angel's arm 
 
 Raifed high, the madening whirlwind bore him far 385 
 
 To caves tmtraced by man. Soon as he fled, 
 
 Out-look' d the fun : along the broider'd lawn 
 
 The foliage bloflbm'd ; and the groves around 
 
 Pour'd forth unnumber'd their melodious tribes 
 
 Sweet- tongued, that warbling pour'd the mazy ftream 390 
 
 Of Harmony, and rapt the lift'ning ear 
 
 Of wakeful Echo to refound their lays, 
 
 As loft in thought the muring mind revolved 
 
 This
 
 BOOK I. A P O E M, 23 
 
 This fcene of wonders; the fuperior Power 
 
 Long paufed, and ferious, thus refumed his theme. 395 
 
 THERE let thy mind behold the ways of God, 
 Nor trufc conjecture's purblind eye to pore 
 In labyrinths inacceflible, where loft, 
 Weak Reafbn gropes, yet o'er that fcanty fpan 
 Expofed to view, difcerns fuch beauteous traits ^ 40 
 
 Such fair-proportion'd fymmetry ; as ihews 
 The hand of Wifdom in this glorious frame. 
 
 BUT late, as thro' the heath th' autumnal breeze 
 Chill-piercing blew ; informing Fancy call'd 
 Thy bowers, fair Eden, to th' enraptured view ; 405 
 
 Where o'er elyfian lawns, and mantling groves, 
 And rills fweet-murmuring, and high-arching woods ; 
 And dales where Luxury repofed her limbs 
 To dream of Heav'n ; where o'er thefe blifsful fcenes 
 Gay Summer bright'ning breathed eternal bloom. 410 
 
 Rafh ! know'ft thou not that was the boon beftow'd. 
 Thy thoughts demand, far other farms than thine 
 
 Were
 
 24 PROVIDENCE, BOOK!. 
 
 Were wanted, mid the fultry heat to breathe 
 
 Alive and vigorous ; o'er the fcorching foil, 
 
 All-warm with vegetating life, to bend 415 
 
 Th' unceafing ftep, nor feel the copious dew 
 
 Smoke o'er the loofened limbs, that fainting claim 
 
 The rufhing winds to cool them. O'er the ifles, 
 
 Till late unknow'n, where oft thy harpy hand, 
 
 Infatiate Avarice, with fure aim conveys 420 
 
 The hardy Spaniard to his grave ; what taints 
 
 The air with death, but that the blazing Sun 
 
 Pours o'er the lawns his yellow-ftreaming ray, 
 
 That from the (hooting plant's loofe-ruffled leaves 
 
 Exhales the reeking moifture. When no Breeze 425 
 
 Frefh from the ocean, fliakes its cooling wing 
 
 Along 
 
 Line 425. When no breeze, &c.~] The Philippine iflands, fertile as they are faid 
 to be in producing whatever is beneficial to man, are yet in fome refpects parti- 
 cularly dangerous, and even deftructive. The foil of thefe is generally moid, and 
 the heat intenfe, as fome of them lye within fix or feven degrees of the ./Equator. 
 They mare indeed the advantages of other iflands, by being refreshed with breezes 
 from the fea, and the conftant action of the fun produceth a rapid and vigorous 
 vegetation -, yet this laft circumftance is often prejudicial to the inhabitants, and 
 particularly to foreigners, as the foil perpetually moiftened either by rains, or by 
 fubterraneous currents, teems with poifonous herbs, whofe effluvia infect the air, 
 and deftroy the people. This however only happens when thofe herbs are bud- 
 ding, and when the fea-breezes intermit their operation. They are likewife fubje-ft 
 to the fhock of Earthquakes, which are fometimes attended with the moft perni- 
 cious confequences. The Spania ds who fettle in thefe iflands are fwcpt eft* in 
 multitudes by thefe deftructive qualities of the air.
 
 BOOK I. A P O E M. 25 
 
 Along the mead, the {lowly- mingling (cents, 
 
 Oft fteam'd from life-confuming herbs, infect 
 
 The ftagnant air, and thro' the blood diffufe 
 
 Their breath, that gradual drinks the vital flood ; 430 
 
 Or bids Life's dimly-glimmering lamp expire. 
 
 YET grant that o'er thy haunt refreshing gales 
 Should breathe, and waft from aromatic groves 
 Their fweets ; that every flower with heightned bloom 
 Should paint thy fmiling walk, and every breeze 435 
 
 Blow from a citron bank. Say would the earth 
 Demand no refpite from its wafte ? The air, 
 
 E No 
 
 Line 436. Would the Earth demand no refpite^ &c.] Inter castera itaque 
 Providentias opera hex: quoque aliquis ut dignum admiratione fufpex- 
 erit. Non enim ex una caufa Ventos aut invenit, aut per diverfa difpofuit; 
 fed primum ut aera non fmerent pigrefcere, fed affidua vexatione utilcm redderent 
 vitalemque tradluris. Sen. Nat. Quasft. This theory is certainly confonant both 
 to reafon and experience. 1 he pureft air muft at laft become fcetid and ftagnant, 
 when there is a conftant and vigorous vegetation in the earth ; and no fuitable 
 commotion is excited in the atmofphere to difperfe the exhalations which are per- 
 petually arifing from it. To be convinced of this, we need only to confider ths 
 different temperature which takes place in mountainous countries, from that which 
 obtains in a wet and inarmy foil. The air, rarefied and exhilarated (if I may 
 be permitted that exprefilon) in the former cafe, as it is pent up and putrid in the 
 other, produceth an obvious effect, not only upon the habit and complexion, but 
 even upon the manners of the inhabitants ; and upon the dileafes to which both are 
 fubjeclx-d. Nor is it to be fuppofed, that the airs of fummer will alone be fuf- 
 ficient to the talk of purifying the a-.mofphere. Thcfr, however COD! and refreih- 
 inrr, j?evn rather to have been intended for the purport: of eft* equating a tempo- 
 rary intermifiion of the effects, than of thoroughly ei-ii;!icating the cr.i. To ac- 
 
 COlfi-
 
 26 PROVIDENCE, BOOK!. 
 
 No chilling blaft to bid its mift difpell, 
 
 And fhake th' innumerous living race, that fkim 
 
 Its void unfeen with undulating wing, 440 
 
 Loofe from the loaded mafs ? When Winter binds 
 
 The glebe, or blafts the fwarming tribes, or drinks 
 
 The circling fluids, from the withering plant 
 
 Retiring flow, to fpread their vital juice 
 
 Thro' the rough bofom of the parent foil : 445 
 
 Then wearied Nature from her toil relax'd, 
 
 Shares reft ; and as th' o'er labour' d frame, reftored 
 
 By fleep's diflblving opiate, to its work 
 
 Springs with invigorated nerves, alive, Active,* 
 
 complifh the latter of thefe ends, it is neceffary either that frequent rains, or 
 piercing frofts, fhould deftroy thofe innumerable animalcules which impregnate the 
 elements in the fultry feafon, and render the air particularly noxious. In the or- 
 der of nature, this alternate lucceffion of heat and cold, and of drought and rain, 
 is likewife indifpenfably neceffary to the welfare of the globe. Exhaufted by fe- 
 vere vegetation, the earth like a ftrong conftitution worn out with labour, requires 
 a relaxation from it's toil ; and a fupply of frefli juices to invigorate anew the pro- 
 ductions of the fucceeding feafons. Thefe are liberally communicated to it, and 
 this end is compleatly effectuated during the continuance of winter. In Northern 
 climates, the frofts put an end to fevere vegetation, and the fnow impregnates the foil 
 with falts, which circulate freely when it is unloofed by a thaw. This circulation 
 is probably the caufe of that grofs and hazy atmofphere which almoft always 
 takes place on occafions of this kind. In hotter countries the fame effects are pro- 
 duced by fevere and continued rains. For a fuller difcuffion of this fubje6t the reader 
 may confult Derham's Phyfico-Theology. Vol. I. Ch.2. and Spectac. de la Nat. V.g. 
 Line 442, 3. Drinks the circling fluids. ECLV fe o TOTTOS Tregi- 
 yiv^vT&i ev awrw GOTCLVKI, <xAA avev <puAAfit'. ATre^wgycre 
 ax auTou w gyx^ao^a. TMS ym H opLoyevys auT/f. O6gx ap0w Y.CLI (puAAct tv 
 (T[jt.M.(>cu$ fjiefU'yfJLeva, euguTKovTou ev TOTTOIS xeytoaiAevois iued^ous i aeoos 
 
 . Ev TS(>01$ ft 'p.1 TQIQVTOIS VTTOLVlce, SKTl TO, tJ>8 XOti TCt 
 
 TWV c'vtj.^a.ivQV'TMY tv TV wi. Ariitot. De Plan. Lib. 2.
 
 BOOK I. A P E M. 47 
 
 A&ive, and airy : Thus the pregnant earth, 450 
 
 Soon as attended by the fanning Gales 
 
 Young Spring appears, from its foft bofom pours 
 
 In rich profusion all th' unbounded ftore 
 
 That wakes high tranfport in the heart of man. 
 
 THE Seafons thus, harmonious as they roll, 455 
 
 Have each its feparate life ; to warm the foil 
 With genial heat ; to bid its moifture flow 
 Thro' the fine fibres of the {hooting plant 
 Slow-raifed ; to call thy fair aflemblage forth, 
 Triumphant Beauty ! Daughter of the Dawn! 460 
 
 Queen of the rofy-fmiling mead ! to fwell 
 To full luxuriance thy gay-broider*d train, 
 What time from laughing Ceres, o'er the field 
 Loofe drops the yellow frieaf ; or when thy wing 
 All-radiant on th' autumnal gale afcends, 465 
 
 To pour rich juices thro' the fertile earth ; 
 That Nature in her robe of living green, 
 Deck'd like a Bridegroom for his nuptial hour, 
 All breathing balm, may hail thy loved return. 
 
 E 2 Loft
 
 *8 PROVIDENCE, BOOK I. 
 
 LOST were this fair harmonious round, that wakes 470 
 The foul to joy ; loft were the vivid bloom 
 Of Health that mantles on the cheek of youth 
 In fmiles : the herbage of the field would flirink 
 Livid and lank, fhould conftant Summer fcorch 
 The thirfty plain. The fainting Swain would drop 475 
 
 His lifelefs limbs ; the world of water ftand 
 Stagnant and putrid ; and the fell-eyed Plague 
 (Like that which walks o'er Afia's fultry fields :} 
 Would raife an arm of terror, wafte the earth, 
 Tremendous in his courfe; and from the Globe 480 
 
 Sweep half its people as he roam'd along. 
 
 Line 477, &c. The fell-eyed plague would raife an arm of terror] The learned 
 and pious author of Phyfico-Theology obferves very juftly on this fubject, that if 
 the whole mafs of air and vapours was always at reft, inftead of refreshing and ani- 
 mating, it would fuffocate and poifon all the world : but the perpetual commo- 
 tions it receives from gales and dorms, kzep it pure and healthful. Thus far Mr. 
 Derham. Phyfico-Theol. V. I. p. 21. The reader will, probably, aflent to the 
 truth of this remark, who reflects that the malignant diftempers which rage in 
 great cities, can only be afcribed to the fcetid air confined in fuch places, and not 
 properly circulated by the action of the winds. The perpetual exhalations which 
 a rife, efpecially in hot and dry feafons, either from the concourfe of inhabi- 
 tants, or from caufes of a fimilar nature , not being difilpated by the ele- 
 ments, occafion a ftagnation of the air, by which the human body is immediately 
 afifected. Thefe putrid effluvia being afterwards difperfed over the open country, 
 are perhaps the original caufes of thofe epidemical diftempers, for which we are 
 often fo much puzzled to account , and from whofe influence the air is never wholly 
 free, until it is purified by frofts or tempefts.
 
 BOOK I. A POEM, 29 
 
 HENCE Heaven's great Father fends the rufliing winds 
 Abroad, and bids the fwelling Tempeft roar 
 Wide o'er the howling wildernefs. Afar, 
 The tower all-naked, where the^flirieking owl 485 
 
 Broods o'er her young, fuftains the fierce aflault 
 That ihakes its domes. The Mother feared within, 
 Oft as the fhock'd wall totters, ftarting leaves 
 Her neft, and oft returning, as the voice 
 Of Parent love perfuades, fhe fits alone, 490 
 
 And fcreams, wild-wailing to the wafteful winds. 
 
 OFT from the caverns of the hollow'd earth 
 Burfts the rude {form, or from the breezy Jake 
 Shapes its broad circuit, gathering as it rolls 
 Colleded force. Oft from the jarring clouds, 495 
 
 Dafhing in dizzy whirl, tempeftuous rowls 
 The deep-mouthed Thunder thro' the darkfbme vault 
 
 Of 
 
 Line 492. Oft from the caverns, &c ] SeeDerham's Phyfico-Theol. ubi fup. 
 
 Line 495. Oft from the jarring clouds^ \ Quoique bien des vents viennent de 
 deflbus terre, ou ils font caufes par un cours d'air, que de feux fouterrains chaf- 
 fent & debandent violemment, il y a aufii de vents qui nous viennent du milieu des 
 nues ; & qui font fouvent des ravages affreux dans une petite etendue de pais, en 
 y tombant prefque a plomb, & en maniere de tourbillons, fans s'etendre plus loin. 
 Speft. de la. Nat. ubi fup.
 
 30 PROVIDENCE, BOOK I. 
 
 Of Heav'n : the winds attend it, and the fkies 
 
 From their wide flukes pour a torrent down, 
 
 Rufhing impetuous. On thy thirfty fields, 500 
 
 Fair India, fcorch'd beneath the folar blaze, 
 
 Defcends the Deluge ! O'er the plains it fpreads, 
 
 A boundlefs inundation ! The full tides, 
 
 Swelling and copious, as th' exhaufted foil 
 
 A liberal wafte demands, flow-fettling, warm 505 
 
 The glebe, and thro' its glowing mafs, infufe 
 
 Frefh moifture, ripening for the growth of Spring. 
 
 OFT too the Whirlwind's rapid wheel involves 
 Th' encumber'd foreft in its round ; the trees 
 Rent from the cliff precipitating, load 510 
 
 The wings of air ; the harmlefs flocks that roam 
 Secure, nor dream the fudden death fo near, 
 Give to the eddying whirl their fhiver'd limbs. 
 
 The 
 
 Line 503," &c. The full tides, Swelling and copious.'} It is worth obferving, that 
 as the earth in hot countries muft be more exhaufted by the levere vegetation which 
 takes place in the fultry feafons, than it can be in more moderate climates, where 
 the'e feafons continue likewife for a much (horter time ; they are therefore fupplied 
 with a proportioned quantity of rain in the wet feafon, which arafwers to our winter, 
 that this wafle may be repaired fpeedily and compleatly. The whirlwinds in thefe 
 countries probably anfwer the fame end that frofts and tempefts do in ours.
 
 BOOK I. A POEM. 31 
 
 The City feels it, and the tottering domes 
 
 Rock from their inmoft bafe ; or loofe, affright 515 
 
 The pale inhabitant, that fkulks within 
 
 Panting, and fhudders as the roaring winds 
 
 Around him bellow ; left the cracking beam 
 
 Should burft, and o'er him the broad roof defcend. 
 
 YET hence the fleams that taint the putrid air 520 
 
 Diflblve at once, as by yon Angel's arm 
 Thou faw'ft the blood-ftain'd Peftilence difpell'd. 
 Hence purer fpirits thro' the blood diffufed, 
 Give to the lip its ruby-tinctured hue : 
 
 Hence Health's gay fmile illumes the dimpling cheek; 525 
 And the pulfe lightly dances, as the breaft 
 Inhales flow-heaved, the pure rcfrefhing air. 
 
 WHEN o'er the field yet dropping from the fliower 
 Afcends the hazy thick'ning mift, exhaled 
 
 From 
 
 Line 520. Tet hence the fleams, &c.] HoAAo/ re KCLI i<r%vpGi weave i /**- 
 OUTOJ. Tlveovres yctg eyyvQev jtx-aA^ct ezTroGiA^ofAevoi ret aAAo, 
 
 TO- (TVVlC^CL^ViX, V$r\ 'VTOIOVO'IV CtjG^JCCP O.V 
 
 . Ariftot. Meteor. Lib. 2. c. 6.
 
 3* PROVIDENCE, BOOK!. 
 
 From every dew-ftain'd herb ; the fanning gale 530 
 
 Thence gently whifpering breathes along the plain, 
 And from the foliage of the drooping flower 
 Brufhing the liquid drops, recalls their bloom 
 Brightening, and bids the face of Nature fmile. 
 
 BID now thy thought explore thefe beauteous fcenes. 535 
 See'ft thou no order in th' harmonious round 
 Of Seafons ? In the Tempeft's whirl, appears 
 
 No 
 
 Line 530,- 31. We fanning Gak thence gently whifperingJ] OVTO V.OLI vs-egi 
 TQVS TOTTOVS avriTregiKrTcia-Qoti. x,oti jw.gTaCo.AAgty TOLS ava^jfjuaca-eis. ETJ e /t/.gro. 
 TOUS ofJiGgovs ct.vefj.os w$ TO, TroAAct yivercci ev eKtivots TOLS TOTTOH *a6' o/5 a.v 
 yivtvvou TOIS ofs.got$ xai TO. zzrrgu^c.a.Ta. mawi'icu, U^CLTOS 
 
 Line 53 5. Bid now tJjy thought, &c.] The reader will obferve, that in the 
 preceding reflections we have only enumerated a few of the more obvious advan- 
 tages which arife from winds, as thefe are in fome meafure necefiary to the life of 
 man ; without mentioning other refpecSls in which they become fubfervient to his 
 conveniency. Thus we mult immediately be convinced that without thefe ufeful 
 lervants, all intercourfe betwixt diftant nations muft be wholly at an end. Navi- 
 gation in that cafe would be an ufelefs art , and commerce, the parent of cul- 
 ture as well as of luxury, could no longer be carried on. The remote countries 
 which open to us fo many new fburces of pleafure, would either never have been 
 dilcovered , or the difcovery muft at once ceafe to be beneficial. In mort, man- 
 kind, fippofing them capable of living, muft in fuch a cafe foon degenerate 
 into their original barbarity. We have likewife taken no notice of the Etefian 
 Winds, as th-y are cal ed, which blow regularly at different feafrns from the 
 Noith and South poles to the Equator-, nor of the trade-winds, fo be- 
 neficial to the inhabitants of the torrid zone on both fides of the /Equator ; as their 
 direction is either cafterly betv/ixt it and the northern tropic, or as they blow from 
 the South pole when the fun hath palled the ./Equinoctial Line. A minute detail 
 of thefe points would have run the poem into too much length without advancing 
 the principal end, which is only to take notice of the moft ftriking and conipicuous 
 marks which the world exhibits of order or defign.
 
 BOOK I. A P O E M. 33 
 
 No print of Wifdom ? Mark'ft thou not its rage 
 
 (So wills the Lord of Nature) to the good 
 
 Of all fubfervient ? In his great Defign, 540 
 
 Not Winter's rufhing fweep, nor the wild wing 
 
 Of Whirlwinds howling o'er the boiling waves ; 
 
 Nor the ftrong Storm's loud uproar ; lefs promote 
 
 The general end ; than Summer's genial ray 
 
 That gilds the laughing landikip ; or the breeze 545 
 
 Of mellow Autumn, when the ripened fheaf, 
 
 Nodding and copious claims the Reaper's hand. 
 
 Now turn thy fight. He fpoke, and as the wand 
 Of Fancy waved obfequious; the long lawns, 
 The grove, the gardens, and the glittering towers, 550 
 
 At once diflblved in fluid air. A fcene 
 Naked, and defart as Arabia's wilds 
 Where roams the famifli'd Lion, and his yell 
 Scares the dim Ghoft ; around me frowning, thrill'd 
 My inmoft foul with horror. All Around, 555 
 
 'Twas one rude pile of hills high-heap'd on hills ; 
 Or tyger- haunted dens, or darkfome caves ; 
 
 F Or
 
 34 PROVIDENCE, BOOK I. 
 
 Or rocks ftupenduoiis, where the bronzing kid 
 ' Seem'd quivering like a loofe and ragged ftone 
 Hung o'er th' aereal precipice! O'er all, 560 
 
 One mountain tower'd fuperior, like the peak 
 Of Teneriff, amid contiguous heights 
 That fhade the fields around. Rapt to the brow 
 Of a rude cliff, whence all the horrid fcene 
 Rufh'd on my ftartled gaze; I mark'd behind 565 
 
 That topmoft fpire, a long and ragged pile 
 Of Towers, and mouldering Obelifks, and Fanes 
 Sublime in ruin ! whence the raven pour'd 
 Her boding wail ; and thro' the midnight gloom, 
 Pale Fear might picture there the (heeted Ghoft 670 
 
 Meafuring his flow and folemn ftep ! Before, 
 The white duft hovering thro' the mifty air, 
 Sat on the filent folitary hills, 
 Where the wild eagle wheel'd his weary wing, 
 Vain hope, to fearch his prey. Blue brimftone fcath'd 675 
 Their fides ; and from their feet, the little rills 
 That ftole low-murmuring thro' the parched vale ; 
 Smoked, as they ftray'd in leflen'd ftreams along. 
 
 SLOW
 
 BOOK I. A POEM. 3$ 
 
 SLOW as my rapt eye roll'd from {hade to {hade, 
 And fpoke the mind perplex'd : its plaint at laft 580 
 
 Burft to my lips. " Ah why thefe horrid rocks 
 " Shaggy and formlefs ? Did th' Eternal mark 
 " His work in wrath with thefe enormous mounds, 
 <c Whofe fight terrific damps the vital ftream ; 
 " And clouds the brow of Mirth?" 
 
 SUDDEN I ceafed : For lo a dreadful fcene 
 Fix'd all my wondering powers in ftill amaze ! 
 Heaved with unufual ftrength, as if the arm 
 Of fome Superior Power had {hook the frame 
 
 X 
 
 Of labouring Nature, all th' unbounded hills 590 
 
 Rofe from their bafe ! We heard the folemn voice 
 
 Of Thunder from beneath, that hurl'd along, 
 
 And loudly- murmuring rcll'd from cave to cave. 
 
 Mute was the fcene and awful ! Not a breath 
 
 Fann'd the ftill defart! Not an infe&-wing 595 
 
 Weak- waving whifper'd in the wafte of air. 
 
 The deep Hill groan'd, as if the ftorm within 
 
 Had tore its rocking form, and on the void 
 
 F 2 Of
 
 3 6 PROVIDENCE, BOOK I. 
 
 Of /Ether, fpread the doubling fmoke afar, 
 
 As from a boiling furnace ! From its mouth, 600 
 
 At laft wide-opening, rufh'd the fmother'd flame, 
 
 And blaz'd to Heav*n ! The fiery ftream difplay'd, 
 
 Stood like a column in the dufky cloud, 
 
 And caft a livid gleam, pale as the eye 
 
 Of Lightning glanced along the fullen gloom. 605 
 
 WIDE o'er the boundlefs wafte, the fliower of fire 
 Rufh'd on, and crackling wrapt in flitting flame 
 Its fcanty growth^ yet recent from the blaft 
 Of former Defolation : till the blaze 
 
 Retiring gradual, fpent its wafteful power ; 610 
 
 And nought but Horror frown'd o'er all the fcene. 
 
 DUBIOUS I flood, and to the hoary Sage 
 Timid, yet eager, raifed a trembling look ; 
 Who pitying mark'd my wifli, and thus began. 
 
 THY mind unknowing the Almighty's ways 615 
 
 Involved in clouds, beholds thefe varying fcenes 
 
 Per-
 
 BOOK I. A POEM. 37 
 
 Perplex'd, nor views them with difcerning thought. 
 
 Yon howling wild, woods, mountains, dens, and caves, 
 
 So rudely heap'd ; the Hill whofe fuel'd fides 
 
 Are clothed with fulphur, and high-ftreaming, threat 620 
 
 The works of man with ruin. Thefe furvey'd 
 
 Thro' thy falfe medium Senfe, miflead thy view ; 
 
 And veil from Judgment's deeper fearch, their end,. 
 
 WEIGH then uninfluenced, with impartial eye 
 What lies before thee. Form thy eftimate 625- 
 
 Of things, not weakly from the firft falfe draught; 
 That ftrikes thy fight, and to the ftartled gaze 
 Of Fancy, teems with horror ; but fufpend 
 Thy full decifion, till flow-judging Thought 
 Hath fcann'd a WHOLE, and view'd the feparate parts, 630 
 As each fubfervient in the general plan 
 To fome fuperior end, o'erlook'd by Senfe, 
 But found by Reafon's cool and juft review. 
 
 THUS feen, yon pile of ruins will offend 
 The judging mind no more. Say would'ft thou wifh 635 
 
 The
 
 38 PROVIDENCE, BOOK I. 
 
 The Hills diffolved ; thou, whofe infatiate Hope 
 
 Deems not that Beauty in the yellow field, 
 
 The haunt of Ceres reigns ; nor fits enthroned 
 
 High o'er the fwcepiag architrave ; nor walks 
 
 Along the level lawn : but flill difpleafed, 640 
 
 Pants for variety in all. When rapt 
 
 To the wild fummit of fome airy cliff 
 
 Hung o'er the murmuring deep ; thine eye beholds 
 
 Here on the tide's green mirror, the mild beam 
 
 Of 
 
 Line 641. Pants for variety , &c.] This truth is confpicuous upon every occa- 
 fion, and is perhaps as charafteriftic 'of Human Nature as any circumftance what- 
 ever. In viewing external objects every man is in fome degree difgufted with uni- 
 formity ; and the only difference betwixt an intelligent and an illiterate man in fuch a 
 cafe is, that the former can afiign the caufe of his difiatisfaftion ; while the latter is 
 pofiefied of the fame feeling, but enquires not into the principle from which it pro- 
 ceeds. Thus the view of a long, dead, flat country, where 
 No pleafing intricacies intervene, 
 
 No artful wildnefs to perplex the fcene , Pope. 
 
 is tirefome and difagreeable to every individual. There are indeed fome painful, as 
 there are Ibme delightful feelings, peculiarly appropriated to perfons of refinement 
 and delicacy. Thus in fuch a villa as the poet abovementioned has described that 
 of Timon ; where 
 
 Grove nods at grove, each alley has a brother, 
 And half the platform juft reflects the other. 
 
 Tafte would be difgufted, where Folly or Ignorance might be rapt in admiration. 
 Yet as fome degree of thofe radical principles which character! fe human nature 
 exifts in every mind ; there are I believe very few men who would not prefer to 
 fuch a fcene as this, the variegated intermixture of hill and dale, ftreams and 
 woods, gardens and wildernefs, agreeably contributing to relieve the eye with a 
 fucceflion of new objects, where 
 
 Spelunca^, vivique lacus, & frigida Tempe, 
 Mugitufque bourn, mollelque fub arbore fomni 
 Non abfunt. Virg. 
 
 who would not I fay prefer this profpect to the former, fuppofmg him to be in 
 cafe to give his judgment of both from immediate infpection.
 
 BOOK I. A POEM. 39 
 
 Of Evening ftreaming gold : Or there furveys 645 
 
 The white wave rufhing to the folid rock 
 Unmoved ; the loofe light quivering, as it rolls 
 Back to the Ocean. When bright Fancy's gaze 
 Turns quick, and joyous eyes the fhores around, 
 A boundlefs wafte! and fees the fmiling meads, 650 
 
 Or towers gay-glittering, or unfolding lawns, 
 Or navys riding on the ridgy wave ! 
 Say then would pining Thought demand the vale, 
 Or deem th' aereal height that gives the fcenes 
 To man's aftonifh'd fight, a cafual fault 655 
 
 Of Nature ? Clear'd of thefe majeftic piles, 
 Where were the ruder fcenes feen from the hills 
 Of Caledonia ? the romantic wild 
 Solemn and vaft, the rocks rough height difplay'd, 
 So wildly great, that like a mouldering Tower, 660 
 
 Stands on the naked wafte ! The mountains piled 
 Sublime in horrid grandeur to the fky 
 That (hrouds their mifty brow ; where Nature fits 
 In rude magnificence, and hears the roar 
 Of diftant billows murmuring on her ear ? 665 
 
 NOR
 
 40 P R O V I D E N C E, BOOK!. 
 
 NOR thus hath Nature form'd the varied globe 
 Alone to foothe bold Fancy's wondering ken. 
 But Health gay-fmiling haunts the chilly hill, 
 A mountain-nymph, no fullen cloud obfcures 
 Her /liining eyes ; but on her balmy lip 670 
 
 The ruby deepens ; o'er her lightned limbs 
 , Sweeps her fair robe luxuriant ; and her breath 
 Exhales the fragrance of the Icented dale. 
 When firft Aurora's crimfon-ftreaming ray 
 Breaks out, and trembling gilds the placid fcene. 675 
 
 HENCE oft' Difcafe, thy wither'd train, that feel 
 
 The madening Ague thro' their fhrivel'd nerves 
 
 Alter- 
 
 Line 668. But Health gay failing &c.] One of the principal ufes to which 
 mountains are fubfervient, is unqueftionably the health which they are the means of 
 procuring to perfons who languifh in moift and unwholefome air. In low countries 
 it is impoflible that this element can be fo pure and rarefied as it is on the fummit of 
 mountains ; and where the foil is naturally marlhy, even the frofts and Itorms of 
 winter are not always fufficient to remove the pernicious effects which frequently re- 
 fult from it. The vapours which afeend from mountains are on the contrary in- 
 flantly diffipated by the winds ; and the fogs which fometimes furround them can- 
 not on that account produce fuch effects upon the health of the Inhabitants, as the" 
 continuance of thefe generally does in flat or low countries. May we not likewife 
 conclude, that as botanifts generally find the mod wholefome medicinal herbs on 
 the fides or on the tops of mountains , the air which is impregnated with the efflu- 
 via exhaled from thefe, muft contribute to preferve health, in the fame manner as 
 the herbs themfelves are faluta-ry to reftore it? Whatever may be in this, it is cer- 
 tain that the change of air in chronical difeafes is the moft effectual of thofe innu- 
 merable expedients which the invention of man hath contrived to acquire the pof- 
 fefllon of the moft ineftimable benefit. 
 
 Line 677. Hence oft Difeafe, &c.] In this enumeration of human miferies, the 
 reader will obferve, that we have mentioned only thofe difeafes which are generally 
 afcribed to unwholfome air.
 
 BOOK I. A P O E M. 41 
 
 Alternate fcattering froft, or pouring flame : 
 
 Or mourn the {hooting rheum, or languid, droop 
 
 In flow confumption, when the labouring breaft 680 
 
 Heaves high with foetid air : While here they breathe 
 
 The purer elemental gale, refined, 
 
 And free, rejoicing, fee the dufky face 
 
 Of Nature brighten, and tranfported fwim 
 
 Frolic and light, thro' life's harmonious maze. 685 
 
 SEEST thou yon rills that o'er the channel'd rock 
 Low-tinkling wind to reach the hollow'd vale ? 
 
 G Thefe 
 
 Line 687. See/I then yon rills, &c.] We are now come to a fuhje<5b which has 
 occafioned much fpeculation. I mean the origin of fountains. That thefe are de- 
 rived primarily from the hills which are fcattered over the face of the Earthy is a 
 principle laid down by almoft every author who treats of this curious and agree- 
 able enquiry. Plato is the only ancient writer who fpeaks of the origin of foun- 
 tains without mentioning of the hills, and who derives thefe from a caufe 
 altogether independent. This writer after laying it down as a principle that the 
 internal ftrudture the earth is hollow and cavernous; fuppofeth that there is 
 *EN TI Tan' ^oio-fjiscruv TM yw> one of thofe chafms of the earth infinitely greater 
 than any of the others, and extending its arms thro' the whole globe ; and in this 
 capacious reiervbir he imagines the waters to be colle&ed. This he tells us is the 
 Barathtuzn of Homer. 
 
 V7TO %(OVQ 
 
 This immenfe flood he lays is perpetually agitated by the circumambient air, which 
 when it is railed ro the external iurface, and is ftraitned by the inundation of wa- 
 ter, occafions incredible commotions both as it enters and rufhes out of this re- 
 ceptacle. When therefore (lays he) the waters are forced downwards by this im- 
 petus of the air, they dream along the channels of the earth in rivulets. Thefe 
 collected together form the rivers j and the whole mafs rolls in feparate beds into 
 leas, lakes, fountains, &c. with which the globe is ib beautifully diversified. Phjcd. 
 
 This
 
 42 P R O V I D E tf C E, Bo OK I. 
 
 Thefe flowly filtered as they Hide along 
 
 The beds of ore, or thro' the foftned earth 
 
 Defeend ; o'er all the filent valley fteal 690 
 
 Sweet murmuring : or to the thirliy fwain 
 
 Irriguous wind, who near the fteep afcent, 
 
 Fatigued and fainting, quaffs the cooling ftream. . 
 
 HENCE 
 
 This Theory however is rather ingenious than folid. Not to mention 
 the abfurdity of fuppofing an internal receptacle of this kind fitted to 
 contain the waters, when all the ends anfwered by it are effectuated with facility 
 by a more obvious expedient ; we cannot believe (as Ariftotle juftly obferves) 
 that there is any void within the earth capacious enough to contain the whole rnnfs 
 of waters ; and the air forcing them backwards with fo much velocity as to give 
 birth to feas and rivers on the external furface of the globe is wholly chimerical. 
 This great philofopher after refuting the opinion of his adveifary, proceeds to efta- 
 blifh his own. Experience he tells us declares that there is indeed fome collection 
 of Jprings under ground from which fountains and rivers are originally derived , 
 and thefe he fays are liberally (applied from the hills, through which the rain fink- 
 ing as through a fpunge, penetrates the fiflures of the mountain, and flows in ftreams 
 along the vallies. As a proof of this he obferves not only that fountains are al- 
 ways contiguous to eminencies, but likewife that the ftrength and breadth of the 
 current is generally proportioned to the fize of the mountain from which it pro- 
 ceeds. TlAeiaroi KOCL ^tyicnoi 'arorctfs.Qi geuvcri gx. TMI> ^.tywrcav Q^MV- Or 
 yap opeivoi KCC.I v-^nXoi TOTTOI oiov (nroyyos TTUXVOZ ejri'x.psfjt.oiu.zvoz X.O.TO. jjuxpcc, 
 pev fe ^loLinfucri KOU o-uAAgzCooo-i ra ufup- Ariftot. Meteor. Lib. I. 
 This Theory he afterwards confirms by examples. The ingenious author or Spec- 
 tacle de la Nature has examined this fubjec~t with great accuracy. He obferves 
 that we ought not to confider the furface and texture of mountains in the fame 
 manner as we do that of the vallies, or plains. The former he tells us abound 
 with fifiures, chinks, fubterraneous caves and grottos, and cells prepared for the 
 reception cf water. Their fummits attract the vapours of the Atmofphere, which 
 condenfe into rain and foak through the fandy ftratum above, until their courfe be- 
 ing impeded by fome hard and folid layer of clay or ftone, they ftream along the 
 furface of it, and iflue at laft into the open air. The procefs by means goes on 
 gradually, and the ftore of waters is not exhaufled by a fudden and impetuous dif- 
 charge, which would othervvife make the earth perpetually fluctuate betwixt the ex- 
 tremes of inundation and drought. This is but a- very fhort fketch of our au- 
 thor's ingenious Theory. See Spectac. de la Nat. V. 3. Entret. 21.
 
 B o o K 1 A POEM., 4j 
 
 HENCE might the ftudious philofophic eye 
 Trace to its fource the river's fwelling tide, 695 
 
 That rolls in majefty ferene : might fee 
 Euphrates, rifing from a fcanty rill, 
 That feebly wanders down the fruitful fide 
 Of Ararat : till fwell'd with milling tides, 
 That rapid current o'er Armenia's fields 760 
 
 Burfts wide and billowy ; thro' the fun-fcorch'd plains 
 Of Syria rolls ; and aids, profufely kind, 
 Arabia's woods to fcent the balmy gale. 
 
 WHAT time hot Sirius in the aerealvoid 
 Rears his red front, and o'er the parched field 705 
 
 Wide darts the fiery blaze ; the wakeful view 
 Of cool Philofophy might trace the Nile, 
 As rufhing down the Abyilinian hills, 
 Burfts the whole liquid Atmofphere ; high-raifed, 
 O'erflow his flimy bank; or Niger fpread 719 
 
 His blackning wave ; or Ganges to the main, 
 Triumphant tumbling wild his torrent-ftream. 
 
 G 2 FAR
 
 44 PROVIDENCE, BOOK I. 
 
 FAR in the hills where from the fcourge of Power 
 
 o 
 
 Remote ; a free and hardy people reign, 
 
 Thy children Liberty ! whole happy fields 715 
 
 Smoke not with human blood, the furgy Rhine 
 
 Draws his firft fpring; and^broiders many a vale 
 
 With flowers that paint his aery bank ; and rolls 
 
 His current onward, with collected rills 
 
 Slow-fwelling : till his copious urn fupplied, 720 
 
 Down rufli the floods with aggregated roar, 
 
 And through Germania wind, where many a tower 
 
 Darkens the fable flood ; and fweeping wide, 
 
 Thence hold thro' Gallia's fields their lengthening way : 
 
 Till roll'd thro' happier plains, where Commerce pours 725 
 
 Her fleets that hide the billowy deep, they roam ; 
 
 And branching various, join the boundlefs main. 
 
 HENCE too the Tagus fwells his golden tide 
 Serene and placid. Hence the oak-crown'd Thames 
 Draws from deep urns remote his filver ftream 730 
 
 That bears Britannia's thunder. Hence the woods 
 On Dee's delightful bank, where firft the Mufe 
 
 Taught
 
 BOOK I. A P O E M. 45 
 
 Taught thy young hand to touch the tender firings, 
 
 Though weak and trembling. Every gentler rill 
 
 That waves fpontaneous to the balmy gale, 735 
 
 And feeds the blooming herbage, draws its fource 
 
 From thcfe rude heights, to Fancy's narrow ken 
 
 Heap'd in wild ruin o'er the world ; and piled 
 
 Horrid, to ftartle Thought's averted gaze. 
 
 YET not ev'en thefe alone proclaim the hand 740 
 
 That form'd the mighty hills. But other ufe 
 Difplays to man, that when his maker maped 
 The mafs, then Wifdom ruled th' unerring plan. 
 
 WHEN from the piercing blaftthat Winter breathes 
 Thro' the chill air, the trembling Shepherd flies 745 
 
 To reach his fimple cot, that from the fide 
 Of fome bleak hill commands the neighbouring dales ; 
 There fhelter'd, warm, and joyous, hears the North 
 Howl o'er the cliff that fcreens him from its rage ^ 
 And carelefs prattles his amufive tale : 750 
 
 Knows he not then what (hade the mountain yields, 
 
 That
 
 46 PROVIDENCE, BOOK!. 
 
 That o'er him hangs protedive, and fuftains 
 The ftorm, that elfe had whelm'd his little hut. 
 And turn'd him wafte and naked to the wild ? 
 
 NOR one thus fmgly knows the ruling hand 755 
 
 Of watchful Providence that cares for all. 
 Whole countrys fhrouded by furrounding heights. 
 The mounds of Nature 1 furer far than thofe 
 By mimic Art contrived ; amid the ftorm 
 Loud-bellowing o'er the diftant rocks ; lye calm, 760 
 
 Sheltered, and opening to the Sun's mild beam ; 
 As lightly fhooting, thro' the failing clouds 
 It pours wide radiance, and illumes the fcene-. 
 
 CAST o'er this round and rolling world thine eye ; 
 This effort of Omnipotence ! behold, 765 
 
 How gradual-floping, to the fhore it bends ; But 
 
 Line 757. Whole countries Jhrouded* &c.] The ingenious author of Anfon's 
 voyage, obferves that the celebrated tranquility of rhe Pacific Ocean is probably 
 occafioned by the neighbourhood of the Andes, which cover an immenfe track of 
 country, and form a mound to repel the ftorms. This he fays is the more credi- 
 ble, as after lofing fight of thefe mountains, they found themielves immediately in 
 a climate wholly different, and in (lead of the temperature of the Pacific Ocean, 
 were expofedtothe burning heat of the Weft-Indies. 
 
 Line 765-66. Behold, how gradual-doping^ &c.] There is fcarce any thing 
 that indicates more fenfibly the hand of Wifdom, than this admirable ftructure of 
 
 the
 
 BOOK I. A P O E M. 47 
 
 But fwells flow-rifing where the inland wild 
 
 Hears not the roaring main. Thus Wifdom fhaped 
 
 Its form, that o'er its hollow'd mafs, the ftreams 
 
 May iweep defcending, as their tides convey 770 
 
 Collected treafures to the race that roam 
 
 O'er plains remote, and in the rufliing floods 
 
 Behold ideal Oceans ; fpreading wide 
 
 O'er dales and meads whofe green embroidered robe 
 
 Skirt their fair banks with flowers; till wandering on, 775 
 
 Their mingling currents fwell the infatiate main. 
 
 HENCE oft gay-glittering with the filmy dew 
 Loofe lie the broider'd dales ; or copious fed 
 With fhowers foft dropping from the hovering cloud 
 That wraps the hills dark fummit, (there convey 'd 780 
 
 By fure though fecret influence) rejoice 
 
 Beneath 
 
 the earth, by which the courfe of the rivers is fo much facilitated ; as they are con- 
 ftantly, though imperceptibly clefcending till they join with the fea This is a cir- 
 cumftance taken notice of by all naturalifts who examine this fubjec"l. Je vois (fays 
 an author whom we have frequently quoted) toute la terre coupee par ces longs ca- 
 naux. Je trouve par tout un mechanifme d'une ftructure dans fcs dehors qui tend 
 d'une maniere fenfible a 1'ecoulement des eaux. Dans tous les continent, & juf- 
 qucs dans les plus petites iles, il s'eleve de loin a loin des eminences plus ou 
 moins grandes, depuis lefquelles le terrain s'abauTe en un pente infenfible juiqii' a 
 la mer. Sped;, de la Nat. Entr. 1 8.
 
 4 3 PROVIDENCE, BOOK L 
 
 Beneath the dew of Heav'n, that fheds its balm 
 Around, and genial, warms the thirfty field. 
 
 THUS as the {Lores whofe rock- environed fides 
 Repel the rufLing deep, oft from the mafs 785 
 
 Of feas collected, drink refrefhing fhowers ; 
 So where no flood extends a boundlefs breadth, 
 Or breathes black vapours thro' the mifty air ; 
 The hills high-heaving, with attractive power 
 
 By 
 
 Line 78990. The hillsdraw the light clouds.'} This, though it is certainly one 
 of the principal ules of mountains, I do not remember to have feen particularly 
 taken notice of by any of the writers on this lubject. It is indeed agreed on all 
 hands, that the mountains have fome attractive quality by which they arrell the 
 vapours which fluctuate in the atmofphere , a truth which on all occafions is con- 
 firmed by experience. Is it not therefore reafonable to fuppofe that one great end 
 for which they are fcattered over the face of the globe, is, that by this power of 
 attraction they may collect the clouds which are perpetually arifingfrom the lea, and 
 by fpreading thefe over an inland country fupply it with a neceffary proportion of 
 rain ? It is unqueftionably by fome expedient of this nature that this fupply is regu- 
 larly procured, in foils which are naturally dry and barren ; and where the vapours 
 exhaled from the earth are not of themfelves fufficient to produce fb much rain as 
 the ground necefiarily demands to bring its productions to maturity. I can think 
 only of two objections which lye againft this hypothefis. One of them is, that there 
 are in the earth many countries apparently fmooth and level, which are fufficiently 
 well watered from the atmofphere without the benefit of mountains : The other is, 
 that fuppofing the furface of the whole globe to be perfectly level, (as fome authors 
 imagine it to have been at the creation) yet the winds alone are fufficient to dif- 
 perfe the clouds over every part of it, and to convey the quantities of rain which 
 may be proportioned to each of them. In anfwer to the former of thefe, it hath 
 been already obferved, that over the whole earth there muft be fome afcent, how- 
 ever imperceptible, betwixt the lands contiguous to the fea, and the middle coun- 
 tries which lye at a diflance, in order to facilitate the defcent cf the rivers, which 
 on a perfect level muft overflow and flagnate. The only conclufion therefore which 
 reiults from this remark is, not that the hills are of no ufe in difperfing the vapours 
 
 over
 
 BOOK I. A POEM. 49 
 
 By Nature's God infufed, draw the light clouds 790 
 
 Afar, and fpread them o'er a wafte of land, 
 Elfe parch'd, and fcorching in the folar ray. 
 
 '''. ,t 
 
 SUCH by the Sire of Heav'n the cloudy Hills 
 Were form'd, not wild to fcare th' affrighted eye ; 
 Nor heap the world with ruin; nor deprefs 795 
 
 ,The heart of man, who marks their dizzy height 
 Amazed : but frill fiibfervient to the end 
 Of general good, to work the great defign 
 
 H Of 
 
 over inland and remote countries ; but that the attraction from an afcent of this 
 kind apparently imperceptible, muft operate more univerfally, than it can do 
 from a ragged and broken furface, by which the clouds are arrefted in different 
 places according to the direction of the winds, and the rains falling from them 
 are therefore circumfcribed and local. This is indeed true, and inftead of inva- 
 lidating, ferves to confirm our Hypothefis. The other objection, that the winds 
 would be fufficient to effectuate the above-mentioned purpofe though the furface 
 of the earth was perfectly level, however plaufible it may appear at firft view, will 
 yet vanifh on a ftricter enquiry. For not to infift upon one obvious confequence 
 from this fuppofition, viz. that the whole mafs of vapours arifing from the moun- 
 tains themfelves, and from the currents which flow around them, is wholly loft (at 
 leaft to the purpofe of effectuating frequent and neceflary fupplies of rain upon 
 particular occafions) net to dwell on this : The winds muft in that cafe heap the 
 clouds together, which beingattractedtonoparticularpart of theearth more than another, 
 would probably either break out in floods upon certain places, or would exhauft their 
 ftores at random, and before they arrived at countries very diftantfrom the fca. On the 
 contrary, in the prefent ftate of things, as foon as the vapours arifing from the fea, 
 the livers, or from other caul'es are floated in the atmofphere, the winds are ready 
 to difperfe the whole,, and the contiguous eminences are prepared by the Creator to 
 arreft inch of them in their pafiage as may be neceflary to the benefit of particular 
 places. Thus the whole procefs is regularly carried on, and a diftributicn is made, 
 iuitable in every refpect to the ideas which we entertain of the power and wifclom 
 of the Deity.
 
 50 PROVIDENCE, BOOK!, 
 
 Of Wifdom infinite, though man's \veak eye 
 Marks not their ufe ; and as his moiftening limbs 800 
 
 Strain up the deep afcent, his murmuring mind 
 Complains, and cenfures Heavn's all-wife decree* 
 
 BUT thou perhaps with anxious view beheldft 
 Yon deep Volcano ; faw'ft the furging flame, 
 The ftreaming fulphur, and the blackening cloud : 805 
 
 Nor knew'ft why Heav'n ordain'd fo dire a foe. 
 
 KNOW then, within Earth's all-involving womb, 
 Where lies conceaFd the fifft rude draught of things, 
 Are veins of living fire ; irnprifon'd air 
 
 That burfts the folid rock ; wide- winding ftreams, 810 
 
 That thro' the ecchoing cavern loudly roll, 
 And form the fmoaky fulphur ; pointed fands, 
 That mix'd with ftrong bitumen, give the glow 
 Of the deep ruby to the dazzling beam : 
 Or in the fapphire paint th' inverted orb 815 
 
 Of Heav'n or bid the fpangling diamond dart 
 
 Its
 
 BOOK I. A POEM. 51 
 
 Its lucid rays, that on the raven robe 
 
 Of Night loofe-fparkling gild th' involving gloom, 
 
 THESE wrought thro' Nature's fine alembic, lie 
 Deep in the bowels of the cavern'd rock, 820 
 
 Impregn'd with feeds of fire, that o'er the rna{s 
 Diflufive fpread, and when the ftruggling air, 
 Pent up, and ftraitned, works them into flame ; 
 All-wild, and rapid, thro' the labouring earth 
 They pour refiftlefs ; burft the folid cliffs : 825 
 
 And thro' the yawning void that whelms at once 
 The tumbling City, mount and melt in air, 
 
 MARK yon wide-fpreading field, (a fpacious plain 
 Rofe as he fpoke in all the heightened bloom 
 Of fmiling Beauty !) fee the mantling lawn 830 
 
 Lies all ferene before thee I fruits, and flowers, 
 And woods, and murmuring ftreams, and alleys green 
 Loft in wild mazes ; and the blufli of Spring 
 O'er all diffufed, to gild the beauteous fcene 
 With luxury unbounded. If the fire 835 
 
 H 2 Lodg'd
 
 52 PROVIDENCE, B o o K I. 
 
 Lodg'd in the vaults below, had rowl'd within. 
 
 Nor found an OUTLET ; thro' the rumbling cave 
 
 Loud ftorm had roar'd, and Earthquakes tore the frame, 
 
 Th' harmonious frame above. Convulfive throws 
 
 Had fhook the Earth, and the perpetual found 840 
 
 Of fubterraneous thunder, ftunn'd the ear ; 
 
 And broke the form of Nature. But the hand 
 
 Of Heav'ns Almighty fix'd yon rooted Hill ; 
 
 And fcoop'd its womb, and cloathed its fides with fire ; 
 
 That thro' the vent prepared, th' afcending flame 845- 
 
 Might burft at once, nor circling thro' the mafs, 
 
 Tear with continual throws its fhrinking veins. 
 
 HERE paufed the Sage : a while the thoughtful mind 
 Revolved his words, I mufed, and thus replied. 
 
 - 
 
 " Now clear d from Paflion's mift, I fee what Good 850 
 " From feeming Evil fprings. What once appeared 
 " Wrong, or unequal in the glorious work 
 " Of Wifdom ; thro' a purer medium view'd, 
 {( Aflumes a nobler form, and points the Good 
 
 " Of
 
 BOOK I. A POEM. 53 
 
 " Of All, as one great end that from her plan 855 
 
 " Refults, and gradual rules the vaft machine. 
 " Yet tell benevolent, had Nature felt 
 " No change of varying feafons ; was the air 
 <c Pure from the taint of mildew, or the blaft 
 " Of killing Peftilence ; or did the earth 860 
 
 " Fair as it rofe from Wifdom's forming hand, 
 " Retain no fuel in its veins, to fwell 
 <c Th' incumber'd mafs, or {hake its folid bafe>, 
 c< And pour deftrudtion on its helplefs fons : 
 " Say, was the CAUSE, whence rife th' external' ills 865 
 
 " Of Whirlwind, Storm, Volcano, from the work 
 " Removed ; though in ks prefent ftrudlure, thefe 
 " Combine to general good : then would not man 
 " Tafte higher blifs, than fliifting from th' extreme 
 " Of heat to cold, now freezing on the hill ; 870 
 
 " Now panting from the fultry noon ; now caught 
 " On the wild whirl- wind's wing ; or treading light 
 " He knows, when o'er Earth's tottering arch he reels, 
 " That heaves beneath him ? From thefe natural ills 
 " Exempt, his days were calm, fercne, and free." 875 
 
 WOULD'ST
 
 5* PROVIDENCE, BOOK!. 
 
 WOULD'ST thou then (thus th' indignant Power refumed) 
 New mould thy maker's work, reform the plan 
 Wrought by unerring Wifdom ? Would'ft thou claim 
 Weak, frail, and guilty as thou art ; for Thee 
 A paradife prepared? A clime, that knows 880 
 
 No ftorm, th' abode of Man, whofe paffions break 
 The bounds of right ; who triumphs in the eye 
 Of Heav'n, to launch infulting on the ftream 
 Of Folly ; who contemns the Eternal's law ; 
 Who to his Maker fays, depart, for Thee 885 
 
 I know not rior deftre ? fay doft thou fpread 
 The lawn for Wolves, or bid the Villa rife, 
 To foothe the Lion's horrid heart, that throbs 
 Exulting o'er its prey ? Nor think the charge 
 Too harfh ; for to Eternal Wifdom, Man 890 
 
 Deform'd by Paffion, is a monfter, wild 
 As that which roams the Lybian waftes ; and joys 
 To drench his tufks in blood. Mark then the clime, 
 As temper'd to th' inhabitant. Behold 
 Thy mind, the mirror, where th' alternate change 95 
 
 Of 
 Line 885. Who to bis Maker fays t &c.] Job 21.
 
 BOOK I. A POEM. 55 
 
 Of calm ancj tcmpeft fhifting quick, reflect 
 
 The varying forms of Nature ! kindling now 
 
 To rage, now boiling like the troubled. fea 
 
 Work'd by a whirlwind ; madning like the wave 
 
 That ftrikes its fhaggy mound : or fecret arm'd 900 
 
 With triple poifon, as the gale that breathes 
 
 Thro' the dark air its brimftone-dropping wing ; 
 
 And inly- wafting, withers as it flies. 
 
 YET ftill preliimptuous, think'ft thou that the Power 
 Who form'd the world, might fuit to happier climes 905 
 The human frame ; and harmonife the mind 
 To perfect concord, as the matter tunes 
 The chords melodious of the warbling lyre, 
 To pour the ftream of Mufic ? Know the thought 
 Of that tremendous Sire whofe awful ken 910 
 
 Involves the vaft of Nature ; 'ere this orb 
 Was rent from Chaos, in wide reach dilpofed 
 The mighty chain of things. The piercing glance 
 Of Wifdom mark'd their natures ; and difplay'd 
 In gradual yank, the fair-afcending fcale 1915 
 
 of
 
 56 PROVIDENCE, BOOK!, 
 
 Of Beauty's rifmg tribes. Imperfect all, 
 
 As from the Finite, length unmeafured runs 
 
 To reach the Infinite. Yet in the chain 
 
 Each link maintains its ufe ; each part receives 
 
 Proportioned worth ; and every movement rolls 920 
 
 To work its proper end. What lies above 
 
 Thyfelf, is veil'd from mortal ken ; below, 
 
 What towers to Thee is open. Caft thine eye 
 
 On lifelefs matter. Mark th' afcending forms 
 
 Of Beauty, varying from the bleeding bells 925 
 
 Of yonder amaranth that fweeps the ground ; 
 
 To the tall Cedar, on the topmoft fpire 
 
 Of Lebanon, that rears its head fublime, 
 
 And fpreads its boughs to Heav'n. See in the tribe 
 
 Of living forms, the gradual fcale afcend 930 
 
 From fenfitive to animal ; from brute, 
 
 To human. The fine plant, that from thy touch 
 
 Shrinks fenfible, connects the filmy line 
 
 To the fmall fhell but juft impregn'd with life, 
 
 Where fhut from harm as in a circling mound, 935 
 
 Lives the lone 'Habitant. Thence rifing flow 
 
 Thro'
 
 B o o K I. A POEM. 57 
 
 Thro' InftincVs wide-revolving rounds, afcends 
 
 The juft progreffion ; till the watchful dog, 
 
 Sagacious, friendly; penetrating, joins 
 
 His twilight circle to his Matter's fphere, 940 
 
 Where full-form'd Inftincl: drops, and Reafon dawns. 
 
 IF thus thro' Nature's wide extent, the forms 
 Below theevary, yet th' afcent in all 
 By flow gradation rifes ; think'ft thou then 
 That Wifdom in her higher Works obferves 945 
 
 No fimilar proportion ? From the ranks 
 Below, exalt thy wondering gaze ! Behold 
 The Worlds that round yon central Sun revolve 
 Harmonious ! Each receives its juft degree 
 Of genial warmth, when near the fiery orb 950 
 
 It drinks his pureft radiance as it wheels ; 
 Or fweeps in wider range, like thy fair Star 
 Aurora ! fann'd with cooler gales, that lies 
 In temperated air : or diftant, knows 
 
 I The 
 
 Line 950. Near the fiery orb^ &c.] Mercury. 
 
 Line 954, &c. Or diftant knows the change of Seafons, &c.] The gentlemen who 
 patronize Dr, Burnet or Mr. Whiftorf% Theories, will perhaps obferve, that the di- 
 
 verfuv
 
 5? PROVIDENCE, BOOK!. 
 
 The change of feafbns> as the earth that feels 955 
 
 The piercing blaft of Winter: or remote,, 
 On Nature's utmoft verge all-darkfome rolls ; 
 
 And fees the pale fun light the lunar lamps ; 
 
 Or 
 
 verfity of feafons is not an effect of tile-earth's di (lance from the fun ; but that it refute 
 irom the obliquity of its pofltion. This however does not affect ourprefent argu- 
 ment, that from the analogy of nature we have reafon to conclude, that a regular 
 progreflion takes place in all the works of the Creator , becaufe without mention- 
 ing the difobedience of man which rendered this alteration originally expedient ^ 
 we may reply, that the world, and its. inhabitants in their prefent ftate, occupy 
 a particular place in the fcale of creation-, which renders it neceffary that they 
 ihould participate of thofe advantages and inconvenieacies which are the effects of 
 their fituation. The difjbsdience of man taken in conjunction with this, vindi- 
 cates the Deity from the imputation of injufticc, for permitting thefe natural evils 
 to take place, becaufe it leads us to confider thefe as the punifhment of fin. 
 
 Line 958'. T'be pale fun light thelunar lamps, &c.] If it mould be objected to this 
 reafoning, that the order of our planetary lyftem, as the bodies which cornpofe 
 it are placed at different diftances from the fun, anfwers very littte end, becaufe 
 it is generally fuppofed thajt, thefe worlds are uninhabited ; I would reply that 
 nothing but the pride of man can render Inch a fuppofition apparently reafon- 
 able. All the obfervations which, have yet been made on the planetary worlds tend 
 to eftablifh a probability on the oppofite fide of the queftion. Our earth has 
 a*v atmofphere furrounding, and a moon attending her. The planet Jupiter, on. 
 whofe moons the light of the fun muft ftrike more faintly, has four of thefe fe- 
 condary orbs revolving around him in order to compenfate this difadvantage. 
 Saturn at a ftill greater diftance, is wholly encircled with a luminous. ring, in which 
 CaiTmi and Huygens have already difcovered five moons which throw their united 
 radiance upon Ivm during the night feafon. It is beyond all queftion that Ju- 
 piter has an atmofphere, from the direction of which it has been concluded that 
 the axis of that planet is perpendicular to the ecliptic, which muft pro- 
 duce an uniform feafon, and a perpetual Equinox. To what purpofe all this 
 apparatus, obvioufly intended to make up for the natural difadvantages of fituation, 
 if thefe worlds are not inhabited ? Has providence taken fb much care to enlighten 
 defarts, and placed moons around them like that which is iubfervient to us r 
 merely to gratify the eye of man, or to afford fcope to his curiofity ? Surely 
 reafon will not juftify us in forming a conclufion of this nature. It is to no pur- 
 pofe to oblerve that the inhabitants of thefe worlds muft live in the extremities of 
 heat or cold. Thefe may be fupported with eafe, or with difficulty , according 
 to the particular texture of their bodies,- or the conftitution of their atmofphere. In 
 fhort, if theie worlds have their annual revolutions about the fame common center, 
 their moons, their atmofpheres, and their light, in the fame manner as we are 
 
 pofleffed
 
 BOOK I. A P O E M. 59 
 
 Or chilling freezes in his noon-day blaze. 
 
 Each in the feparate fphere maintains its place ; 960 
 
 Each keeps its rank in the progreffive fcale ; 
 
 To each, impartial Thought affigns its bound: 
 
 And Wifdom plucking from the tree of life 
 
 A bough that breathes ambrofia, balm, and myrrh; 
 
 Bathes the rich fruitage in the Stygian wave 965 
 
 That foils its bloom : then o'er her work extends 
 
 The dropping branch, and fays, " O World, be here 
 
 <c Thy ftiare of good and ill!" Such from the birth 
 
 Of Time th' Almighty fpoke his great decree, 
 
 WOULD'ST Thou then, for thy {ingle good diflblve 970 
 Th' unbounded harmony of all ? Do'ft Thou 
 Repine that Heav'n regardlefs of thy call 
 Ordains not earth an Eden, nor exalts 
 The Man to Angel ? O th' infatiate grafp 
 Of human hope ! A copious fhower extends 975 
 
 The fwelling river o'er its bed ; the fea, 
 
 I 2 Big 
 
 pofiefled of them ; is it not pride, and not reafon which leads us to think, that 
 they differ from us in the only circumftance for which advantages of this kind caA 
 be conferred by Wiidom, /'. e. for the benefit of inhabitants ?
 
 PROVIDENCE, BOOK I. 
 
 Big with the rufhing tides might burft its mound": 
 
 The creeping rill from deeper urns fupplied, 
 
 May rife an Ocean. But the pride of man 
 
 Extends to infinite. With all around 980 
 
 Difpleafed, on Fancy's neck he drops the rein. 
 
 She loofe and kindling whirls him on her wing, 
 
 He mounts the vault of ftars ! he grafps the bolt 
 
 Of Heaven's Eternal ! on empyreal air 
 
 He fails! flie leaves him : down the Pygmy falls, 985 
 
 A worm of earth, and crawls along the ground, 
 
 Giddy : the fport of reptiles, and their prey ! 
 
 KNOW then whate'er in Nature's ample field 
 The fcanty ken of thy revolving eye 
 
 Hath mark'd as Evil ; in the general plan 990 
 
 Is juft, is beauteous : the conjoining parts, 
 Though each when feparate, like a fingle limb 
 In fome proportion'd fhape, appears deform'd, 
 As viewed apart ; yet when exactly wrought 
 In the full work, an heigh tned grace ailumes, 995 
 
 And aids the perfect Symmetry of all. 
 
 YET
 
 BOOK I. A POEM. 61 
 
 YET not o'er Nature fpread the general traits 
 Of imperfection. On fome happier climes, 
 The hand of Heav'n hath fhower'd its richeft fpoils, 
 Profufe of bounty. Though the juicy grape 1000 
 
 Tempts not the lip of Luxury, the pine 
 Feels not the fcorching Sun, nor on the bough 
 Hangs clothed in mantling gold, and ripe to tafte. 
 The mellow Orange : yet their plains can boaft 
 A nobler produce. In yon blifsful ifle, 1005 
 
 Gay plenty reigns ! Afcending as he fpoke 
 From the blue deep, to my tranfported gaze 
 Role the white cliffs of Albion. Hail beloved 
 Of Heav'n ! (with joy exclaim'd th' inraptured Sire) 
 Britannia hail! O ! from the world disjoin'd, 1010 
 
 As Nature's hand had form'd the foft retreat 
 Of happinefs and love ! No fevering fun 
 Blafts thy gay meads : no deep Volcano boils 
 With inward fire : nor thro' the cave beneath, 
 Walks the dire Earthquake. The tremendous fliock, 1015 
 
 That 
 
 Line 1015, &c. The tremendous foock juft vibrates, &c.] This alludes to the 
 Earthquakes in 1757, which did fo much harm on the continent; and were 
 fiigruly feit in fome parts of Britain.
 
 62 PROVIDENCE, B o o K I- 
 
 That from their loofe bafe heaves the works of man, 
 
 Juft vibrates on thy bofom ; as the voice 
 
 Of diftant thunder, moves the trembling ground, 
 
 And murmurs in the air. Thy fields rejoice 
 
 With chearful plenty. On yon waving plain, 1020 
 
 I fee the Goddefs walk ! her loofened robe 
 
 Floats on the gale redundant ; on her cheek, 
 
 In full luxuriance fwells the blufhing Spring ; 
 
 And fcents her breath with myrrh. Mark how flie rears 
 
 Her horn aloft, and liberal, o'er the field 1025 
 
 Pours all her treafures. Man's enlivened foul, 
 
 And all the groves are tranfport. Hark the voice 
 
 Of Mufic warbles from the bough ! The hind 
 
 Feels his heart leaping as he looks around ; 
 
 And Joy's bright beam burfts boundlefs o'er his mind. 1030 
 
 THESE are the blefiings Heavn's all-bounteous hand 
 Showers on her favourite ifle. Thrice happy they, 
 Who know their worth, and kindling at the view, 
 With Love, with gratitude adore the Power, 
 Who fhaped this wondrous frame, and wrought its parts 1035 
 
 To
 
 BOOK I. A P O E M. 63 
 
 To fuch perfection. Nor lefs beauteous form'd 
 
 His moral plan. But this to trace at large, 
 
 Requires a fitter feafon : the flow fun 
 
 Already finks behind yon crimfon'd cloud, 
 
 And gives the world to night. Quick as he faid, 1 040 
 
 The landfkip languifh'd : from the gazing eye, 
 
 Lawns, villas, vines, and vifionary vales 
 
 Immediate fled ; and nought remained around,, 
 
 But the bleak mountain, and the peaceful dale* 
 
 The End of the FIRST BOOK,
 
 PROVIDENCE, 
 
 POEM 
 
 BOOK II. 
 
 K
 
 The ARGUMENT. 
 
 1'Ntrodudlion, ver. i, to 16. Scene of -the book, to 31. Sfate of the 
 'world before Chriftianity was introduced, as hijlory reprefents it, to 
 60. The Deity did not refufe the aid of Revelation to the heathen world 
 on tccount of any vices peculiar to them, to 77. Defefrs of their reli^- 
 gmis.fyjlem andfuper-iorad'vantages'QftheChriJHan, to 86. Char-after of 
 the time ivhen Chriftianity was introduced, to 9 8 . Difficulty of accounting 
 for the conduct of Providence in this matter, to 120. Condufion from thefe 
 obfervations, that reafon alone might have difcovered the doctrines of re- 
 vealed religion, 70136. Appearance, and difcourfe of Contemplation, to 
 146. Firji Allegory. Defcription of* Arcadia in its happiejl age, to 215. 
 Appearance of Temptation, to 235. The inhabitants mijled by her, to 
 264. Conclnfionjrom this allegory, that if Reafon was unable to difco- 
 'ver the palpable artifice of Temptation, it can much lefs be fuppofed equal 
 'to more important refe arches, to 300. Objection that this people wanted 
 the aid of Science and Experience, to 321. Second allegory. Defcription 
 of Mgypt, o 37 1 . Inundation of the Nile\ /# 409. The inhabitants 
 imploring tie aid of Apis, to 421. Remarks on the learning of the L- 
 gyptians, who did not want the aid of Science and Experience, and yet 
 their theology contained the grofffft abfurditics, to 486. Anfwer, That 
 Science only dawned in ^Egypt, and that their minds ivere not improved 
 by the fine arts, to 528. Third allegory. Athens defcribed at the time of 
 the expedition to Sicily, to 588. Inftancc of Athenian fuperjlition, to 
 632. Learning, elegance, and fine tafte of the Athenians, to 671. Grojs 
 -fibfurdities of the Greek mythology, to 707. The Jinq arts employed to 
 promote the purpofes of Jupcrjlition, to 740. Condufion from the whole ', 
 That the human mind in every Jlate, either of innocence, of knowledge, or 
 of the high eft pqffible improvement, is unable to form any ccnfifient fcheme 
 of theology, to 774. Quejlion rejiimed, Why Cbrijlianity 'was introduced 
 Jo hue ? to 810. Anjiver, That if it had been granted fooner, man 
 would have arrogated its difcoveries to himfclf, to 823. Unreafonablenefs 
 vfiffijbing that wan had been created more perfect than he is, to 838. Rea- 
 Jin perfonified, an-d fuppofed to review the whole procefs, to 884. His re- 
 flections, to 91 1. Neceffify of Revelation, to 919. Reafon 'why it is not 
 unive'fal, to 949.
 
 PROVIDENCE, 
 
 OEM. 
 
 BOOK II. 
 REVEALED RELIGION. 
 
 E T let the mufe extend her towering wing, 
 
 To roam the vaft of Nature ! Lo ! what fcenes, 
 By man yet unexplored, unfold to rouze 
 Her fearch ! to tremble in her ardent eye I 
 To tempt her flight fublime, as o'er the world 5 
 
 She foars, and from her airy height furveys 
 The fate of empire ; and the fluffing fchemes 
 
 K 2 ' Of 
 
 Line 6, 7. From her airy height furveys the fate of empire.'] In the controverfy 
 
 about the neceflity and uiefulnefs of Revelation, which has employed fo many 
 
 4 pens,
 
 74 PROVIDENCE, BOOK It, 
 
 Of human thought, fucceffive as they fwim, 
 "Buoying, or loft in Time's overwhelming wave. 
 
 NOT idly-curious her light glance pervades * a 
 
 The plans of Wifdom ; with no ftranger s eye 
 She comes to wonder on the folemn fcenes : 
 Or prying fearch for labyrinths, where the field 
 Is open, rich, acceffible. ^-But free, 
 
 Impartial, juft, fhe fcans the mighty themes; r.jf 
 
 And paints them genuine as they rofe to view. 
 
 pens, the only queftioii which requires to be anfwered in canvafiing the fubjeft 
 of Providence ; relates to the time at which it was conferred on mankind. 
 The advocates of infidelity demand with forrie appearance of reafon, why a 
 difpenfation fo highly important, and fo indifpenfably neceffary to the benefit of 
 man, mould have been poftponed to the diftance of four thoufand years from 
 the creation , and for what reafon Chriftianity, which became an ufeful inftitu- 
 tion immediately upon the Fall, yet does not appear to have been confidered 
 by the Deity as neceffarj, till the reign of Tiberius. Without examining par- 
 ticularly the ftate of the Jewilli nation which might tend to illuftrate this 
 difficulty, the author endeavours to prove in this book, that one great end for 
 which Providence permitted this delay to take place, was, that man might be 
 convinced by repeated experiments of the infufficiency of reafon to difcover any, 
 conjiftent theological fyftem ; and coniequently of the expediency and neceffity of Re- 
 velation. In order to this, fucceflive views of the ftate of the world are ex- 
 hibited, in the firft ages of fimplicity , under the future rudiments of culture ; 
 and at laft in the happier sera of its higheft improvement ; and the enquiry 
 ftiil proceeds, whether the human mind at any of thele periods, was able to 
 difcover a rational fyftem of religion : and how far its improvement in this re- 
 ipetb correfponded to its progrefs in the invention of Arts, or in the refearchcs 
 of Science. The confequence refulting from this enquiry is at laft fairly de- 
 duced : and it appears with that force which every feriesof reafoning acquires^ 
 when it either proceeds upon principles which are evidently juft, or confifts of 
 .fafts which are unii: erf ally obvious. 
 
 'TWAS
 
 BOOK II, A P O E M, ^5 
 
 'TWAS where a plain far from the haunt of man, 
 Spread its green bofom to the evening ray, 
 All foft and fweetly filent ; my flow ftep 
 H^d led me wandering wide : the ftream of thought 20 
 In that calm hour to meditation due, 
 Flow'd on the foul fpontaneous ; as the breeze 
 On the fmooth current of fome limpid rill 
 Steals o'er the ruffled wave. A dufky wood 
 QVlook'd the field, and full in file oppofed, 2 
 
 A range of hills frown'd o'er the checquer'd fcene, 
 Crown'd with gay verdure ; whence the lift'ning ear 
 Thrill'd to the mufic of the tuneful choirs 
 That ftream'd fweet-warbling o'er the vale ; or heard 
 Remote the deep's low murmur, like the voice 30 
 
 Of torrents from afar. Here all retired, 
 Mufing I fat, and in thy mirror view'd 
 Fair Hiflory, beheld the towering piles 
 Of grandeur fallen, or call'd the forms auguft 
 Of heroes from the tomb. The mighty chiefs, 35- 
 
 I favv them buftling o'er the human fcene, 
 
 'Till
 
 76 PROVIDENCE, BOOK II. 
 
 'Till Fate had digg'd the fepulchres, and toll'd 
 
 The bell that fummon'd them to reft. What boon, 
 
 The prize of virtue paid them ! did thy worth 
 
 Intrepid Decius, from the Samnite fteel, 40 
 
 Screen the devoted heart ? Did Scipio quell 
 
 The tide of paffion, and releafe the fair, 
 
 Blooming and fpotlefs, to her lover's arms ; 
 
 Or fnatch from Hannibal's proud creft the wreath 
 
 Of vidory ; to find the fons of Rome 45- 
 
 Juft to his .deeds ? Ah no ! Amid the gloom 
 
 Of folitude he pined ; fcarce from the grafp 
 
 Of fury refcued, indignation fwelFd 
 
 His manly heart, and grief flow- mining loofed 
 
 The props of life, and gave him to the tomb. 50- 
 
 Line 41, 2. Did Scipio qwll the tide of paffion^ &c.] This beautiful ftory is 
 well known. Hiftory has not preferved the name of the lady. Her lover was 
 Allucius, a prince of Celtiberia. The generous Roman, by voluntarily furren- 
 dering her to the arms of another, and by bellowing her ranfom upon him for 
 a portion ; obtained a victory as much fuperior to his other conquefts, as the 
 triumph of reafon over the paffions, exceeds theacquifition of territory by which 
 the latter are indulged. 
 
 Line 46,. 7. Amid the gloom of foUtude bepined, &c.] This great man, by far 
 the moft eminent whom Rome produced in the moft virtuous ages of the Re- 
 public , profecuted by two defpicable tribunes at the mitigation of Cato the 
 Cenfor, was compelled to retire to his country feat at Linternum near Naples ^ 
 where, in the forty-eighth year of his age, he died of grief for the ingratitude 
 of his country. 
 
 SUCH
 
 BOOK II. A P O E M. 7/ 
 
 SUCH Tully was thy fate, and Brutus, thine ! 
 The ghaftly head low-rolling in the duft ; 
 The tongue to fatiate female frenzy torn ; 
 The bleeding heart yet reeking, fpoke the end 
 Of Eloquence and Virtue. Scarce a tear 
 
 EmbalrrTd their urns, triumphant Vice beheld 
 With fmiles their exit ; and Oppreffion raifed 
 Her fcourge to punifli, where the feeling heart 
 Swell'd in foft moifture to the pitying eye. 
 
 O ! Wreck'd, and dubious of a life to come ! 60 
 
 What trophies graced the prefent ! Heav'n withheld 
 From thekfuperior light, left in the maze 
 Of Doubt to wander, by the twilight ray 
 Of glimmering Nature led : while toil and pain, 
 Mark'd their long courfe with woe; and Death's pale eye 6$ 
 
 Line 51. Such Tully ^ &c.] It would be needlefs to take particular notice of 
 the deaths of Cicero and Brutus. The head of the former was received with 
 fmiles and exaltation by Anthony , whofe wife Fulvia fatiated her fury by 
 tearing out the tongue, and by piercing it with a bodkin. The exit of Bru- 
 tns excited the fame illiberal triumph in the foul of Octavianus, the moft vin- 
 dictive and cruel of the triumvirs. 
 
 Line 60. O ! Wrecttd^ and dubious^ &c ] See this fubject more fully treated 
 in the note on line 894. 
 
 Terrific
 
 7 8 PRO VIDE N'CE, BOOK IL 
 
 Terrific frovvn'd them into nought. Did thefe 
 Than we more guilty, by fuperior crimes 
 Jnfult th' Omnipotent, that Truth's fair form 
 Unveird to us> was from the dark refearch 
 Of cool Philofophy in fhades immured ? 70 
 
 Whence then the palm by every voice conferr'd ? 
 Whence the fweet lay that wantons in their praife ? 
 Why o'er foft Pity's pallid cheek defcends 
 The tear that weeps their doom, that fays they lived 
 A virtuous few! that mourns them as they fell, 75 
 
 The victims of ingratitude, or zeal 
 For public honour ? yet the beam of heav'n 
 Illumed not Reafon's path, nor led the mind 
 To fee the Maker in his work pourtray'd 
 One, perfeffy infinite^ nor fhow'd the climes 8 o 
 
 Of 
 
 Line 79, 80. To fee the Maker, &c.] The Polytheifm of the Heathens, and 
 the actions which they afcribe to the fupreme Being, have always been confi- 
 dered as evidences of the infufficiency of human reafon to difcover what re- 
 lates to the Deity. We ought not indeed to believe that the fables of the po- 
 ets, by which the majefty and perfections of God are fo much debafed, were 
 received as truths by the philofophical feels ; but we ought to remember, at the 
 lame time, that the opinions of a few fpeculative philofophers whofe minds 
 were cultivated and expanded by fcience, are no proper criterions by which we 
 are to judge of the perfection to which human nature is capable of arriving. 
 The ilandard of our ideas on this fubject, muft be the received opinions of 
 this matter which prevailed univerfally in the world j and thefc were big with, 
 
 abfurdity.
 
 Sook IL A P O M* 75 
 
 Of pure ethereal pleafure, for the bleft 
 
 Prepar'd, nor to th' enlighten'd view difplay'd 
 
 The form of moral Beauty, as it fvvells 
 
 Jn full proportion to the mental gaze, 
 
 Wrought by celeftial aid. To thefe its charnis S$ 
 
 Appear'd not. Heav'n on their degenerate fons 
 
 Conferred its nobleft boon, when from the gulph 
 
 Of furgy Chaos, where the goddefs lay 
 
 Wrapt in black clouds ; He bad eternal Truth 
 
 Rife to the day ! She heard, and to his call 96 
 
 Obedient rofe I Her beauty-beaming eye, 
 
 abfurdity, fuperftition, and folly. Even the philofophers themfelves dn many 
 occafions give a fanction to the prepoffeflions of the Vulgar ; and affifted as 
 they v/ere in their refearches by Revelation, appear to be fenfible of the defci- 
 ency of nature. Thus Plato in his difcourfe on the immortality of the foul, 
 and on the attributes of the Deity, exprefleth his defire to obtain fome tradi- 
 tion ; and narrates a few of thofe which had been brought down to him. In 
 the former he propofeth to collect the beft arguments he can think of to prove 
 the immortality of the foul: /^.n rif vvctt\Q a,<r<p&\is-tpov, K.&I AMV^\JVO\^V^ *7n$i- 
 C*]opou o w-7f H AoroN 0EIOT TINGS JWyopsuOny*/, Phsed. In his Philebus he 
 exprefsly acknowledgeth, that his doctrine of one God and many natures^ was 
 taken from the ancients who were better than their fucceflbrs ; and on that 
 account *yyv1tftf $ e -uv oiwfyf, i; e. lived nearer the Gods, or were better ac- 
 quainted with their councils. What an imperfect account of the divine na- 
 ture does this philofopher exhibit in his Sympofium, where (probably from 
 fome imperfect tradition he had received relating to a Mediator) he fays, that 
 there are Demons of a middle order, who make the gcds and men reciprocal- 
 ly acquainted with affairs relating to either -, as if the bmniicienc'e of the Dei- 
 ty did not render fuch an expedient utterly ufelefs and improper. This, how- 
 ever it muft be owned, is very different from thofe noble and exalted ideas 
 of God which he exhibits on other occafions , and which are agreeable to the 
 defcriptions given of Him in the writings of infpiration. See his Politic, a fin. 
 
 L Fair
 
 8o PROVIDENCE, BOOK II, 
 
 Fair as thy ray Aurora, when it fcares 
 
 The growling lion from his prey ; difpell'd 
 
 The' involving fhade, her magic touch diffolved 
 
 The veil of Error; lightened the dim fearch 95 
 
 Of dark Philofophy; and fliow'd the MIND, 
 
 That form'd, fupports, and guides this mighty frame. 
 
 'TWAS all myfterious : and weak Reafon fought 
 In vain the caufe, why wrapt from mortal view, 
 The glorious ages, famed for noble deeds ; I oo 
 
 For public virtue fam'd ; mark'd not the Power 
 That beam'd benignant on a meaner train, 
 Thy race proud Luxury ! why thus the hand 
 Of Bounty partial in its gifts, beftows 
 
 On One, the god-like boon required by Ally 1 05 
 
 To All alike expedient. From this fcene, 
 To higher objeds rais'd ; the mufing mind 
 Revolved in melancholy thought, the rife, 
 The fall of empire. Persia's domes fublime, 
 Thy piles proud JEgypt, and Aflyria's towers 1 1 o 
 
 Raifed in high triumph o er the wafte of Time : 
 
 Where
 
 BOOK II. A P O E M. 81 
 
 Where are they ? - Hark ! in Fancy's flatting ear, 
 
 (What time the wan Ghoft roams his nightly round :) 
 
 Slow from the broken arch, refounds the voice 
 
 Of fhrieking ravens thro' the chearlefs wild. ll 5 
 
 So fall thy plans Ambition ! And the race 
 Who fornVd them, thro' long-lingering ages left 
 In Ignorance and Darknefs ; to the vale 
 Of deep Oblivion funk, nor hoped a dawn, 
 
 " 
 
 lc 
 " 
 
 THUS then (long mufing afk'd th' indignant mind) 120 
 c Thus is bright Reafon's heav'n-illumined ray, 
 
 That fpark of Deity debafed ? Did HE, 
 " Who gave the nobler boon, that lifts the man 
 " To kindred angels near ; Did he confer 
 " A fcanty fharej unequal to the talk 12$ 
 
 " Aifign'd ; then left him wandering in the dark 
 " Of Nature ? No. The Power by culture form'd, 
 " Knew its great Parent ; traced th' afcending fcale 
 " Of things progreffive to their mighty Caufe ; 
 
 L 2 Beheld
 
 S 2 PROVIDENCE, BOOK II. 
 
 " Beheld the Maker as he fits fublime i 30 
 
 " High on his ftarry throne ; and knew the foul 
 
 " Immortal as its caufe. Then had not man, 
 
 " Left to Himfelf, unveil'd the facred Truths 
 
 " Reveal 'd, nor fought a Guide to point his way ?'* 
 
 As thus I fpoke, lo thro' the flill retreat i 3> 
 
 Slow moved the radiant pair! The {ky-rapt Power 
 Of Contemplation eyed me, and began. 
 
 STILL hopeft Thou refllefs, of th' Eternal's ways 
 To judge y ftill feek'ft to fathom the immenfe 
 Of Wifdom ? Far as Reason's ruling hand 140 
 
 Permits Conje&ure's groping fearch to- ftray j 
 I blame not, but will aid thee. Where thou leaveft 
 His path, to rove in Doubt's perplexing maze; 
 
 Line 130, r. Bekdd tie Maker ^ &c.] That the Heathens formed the moft 
 fublime ideas of the power and immenfity of the Creator, when they confi- 
 dered him feparately from the inferior Deities; is a truth which will be fuffi- 
 ciently obvious to any perfon who perufeth the works of their poets, particu- 
 larly the Iliad. 
 
 Line 132, 3. Knew the foul immortal, &c.J Though we mall mow after- 
 wards that the wifeft Heathens were far from being certain of this truth; yet 
 k hath been often and juftly obfcrved, that the belief of future Exiftence forms 
 . a part of the creed of all nations ; the rnofl ignorant and barbarous, as well as 
 lihi moft intelligent and civilized. 
 
 My
 
 BOOK II, A P O E M. 3 
 
 My eare extends not, Now exalt thy fight ; 
 
 And mark the fmiling fcene that burfts to view. 1 45 
 
 GRACEFUL He faid: when lo th' attending Power 
 Struck with her magic rod the fwelling lawn, 
 And work'd a new Creation ! The low plain 
 Strech'd to a field immenfe, where fportive walk'd 
 The fair-robed Summer. O'er her glowing form i J:Q 
 
 Harmonious, flow'd the flower-embroider'd veft, 
 Girt with a mantling zone ; her lucid eye 
 Beam'd fweetly-radiant ; and her cheek outvied 
 The cherry's deepening bloom, Soft on her lips 
 Sat all the laughing Loves ^ and in her hair, 155 
 
 Spread o'er the throbbing bofome, half-difclofed, 
 And fwelling to the breeze ; the Graces play'd 
 Luxuriant Round, the bleating flocks were ranged,. 
 A harmlefs train, that crop'd the flowery turf, 
 Or cparT'd the filver rill. In frolic fport, rdo 
 
 All-light they wanton'd ; for no mound reflrain'd 
 Their aery paftime ; and the favage tribe 
 
 Sought
 
 $4 PROVIDEN-C E, BOOK II. 
 
 Sought not their peaceful cot. A diftant lake, 
 
 That fwell'd it's blue wave from the thymy hills, 
 
 Gleam'd thro' the loofened grove. As yet the birds, 165 
 
 Whofe wings expanded veil'd the noon-day Sun, 
 
 Stain'd not it's tide. Not far the fimple hut, 
 
 Sweet haunt of Innocence and Peace ! o'erlaid 
 
 With flender ofiers, and the flexile fhrub, 
 
 Checquer'd the rural landfkip. O'er the field i 7 <& 
 
 Roved the young Shepherds, fmiling in the prime 
 
 Of Life, and near were feen the fpotlefs Fair 
 
 Crown'd with the herbage of the broider'd mead, 
 
 That fhowcr'd it's fpoils around them. Beauty beam'd 
 
 In every look, and on each cheek, the bloom t 7 $ 
 
 Of rofy youth, delighful as it glow'd ; 
 
 With foft inchantment ftole th' enraptured eye. 
 
 RAPT in fvveet tranfport as I mark'd the fcene 
 
 Line 163, 4. A dijlant lake, &c.] The lake Stymphalis in Arcadia, where 
 this fcene is fuppofed to lye ; which was contiguous to the city, and to the 
 hills of that name. 
 
 Line 165, &c. As yet the birds. ~] The Stymphalian birds who haunted this 
 lake, and infefted the country, are well known ; as it was one of the labours 
 of Hercules thoroughly to fubdue them. The fertility of Arcadia, and the 
 limple manners of its firft inhabitants, render it peculiarly proper to the end 
 for which this defcription is introduced. 
 
 All
 
 BOOK II. A P O E M. 85- 
 
 All balmy-breathing :- Hail ye happy feats 
 
 (I thus exclaim'd) ye gentle tribes, that tafte i 80 
 
 The cup of Pleafure, by the baleful feeds 
 
 Of Care untainted ! may no Syren charm 
 
 Your ftep from Nature's open court, to ftray 
 
 Amid' the wilds of Paffion ! may you walk, 
 
 Thus bleft, thus harmlefs, till fuperior Powers 185 
 
 Once more defcending to th' abodes of man, 
 
 Mark a new Eden, and tranfported join 
 
 To mortal firains the high feraphic lay ! 
 
 THUS from the feeling heart with joy infpired, 
 The ftream of rapture flow'd.--- The Power of thought 190 
 Smiled with confenting mein. Bleft is the man 
 Who hears the voice of Nature ; who retired 
 From buftling life, can feel the gladening beam, 
 The hope that breathes of Paradife. Thy deeds, 
 Sweet Peace, are mufic to th r exulting mind ; 195- 
 
 Thy prayer, like incenfe wafted on the gale 
 Of morning, fpreads ambrofia, as the cloud 
 Of fpicy fweets perfumes the whifpering breeze 
 
 ' That
 
 8S PROVIDENCE, BOOK II 
 
 That fcents Arabia's wild. Yon rural train, 
 
 In carelefs indolence reclined ; the field, 200 
 
 Gay with the hues, of Summer ; the loofe herds 
 
 That roam the pafture, and diffufed o'er all, 
 
 The fmile of Innocence, the guilelefs blufll 
 
 Of fimple Nature 5 let thefe fcenes recall 
 
 The prime of days, when in it's vernal bloom, 20$ 
 
 Earth robed in verdure, from the Maker's hand 
 
 Came warm and genial ; and her peaceful fons 
 
 Knew not the lore of Luxury. -Serene 
 
 Thou feed them ; various in the rural tafk 
 
 Employ'd ; or {porting o'er the lillied lawn ; 210 
 
 Or ftretch'd at eafe beneath the mantling bough, 
 
 Hymning beneath the great Creator. Happy tribe ! 
 
 Butperfeff Happinefs to man's frail race 
 
 Pertains not. Drink inftrudion, and be wife. 
 
 fpoke ; and fudden as I gazed around, 2 1 5 
 
 Bright in the glittering Eaft a form appear 'd 
 
 Line 216. Bright in the glittering Eaft, &c.] The reader will obferve, that 
 this allegorical Perfonage is laid to come from the Eaft-,zs it was from that part 
 of the world, alternately conquered by the Greeks and the Romans, that the 
 Luxury and Effeminacy which finally ruined both thefe nations, was originally 
 derived. 
 
 Divinely-
 
 BOOK II. A P O E M. 87 
 
 Divinely-beauteous, whofe rich plumage gleanVd 
 
 Gay to the dazzling fun ; beyond the race 
 
 Of Mortals fair, beyond the human fize 
 
 Raifed, with fuperior dignity fhe trod ; 220 
 
 And feem'd a Goddefs from celeftial climes 
 
 To man defcending, that her lenient hand 
 
 Might point the path to Happinefs. Her head 
 
 A crown encircled ; o'er her limbs a robe 
 
 Floated in eafy majefty ; a ftar 
 
 Eeam'd from her brow ; and on her arm fhe bore 
 
 A polifh'd mirror, where the forms of things 
 
 Reflected, with tranfcendent luftre flamed. 
 
 Age in the glafs beheld it's wrinkled front 
 
 Smooth as the cheek of Hebe. Beauty fhone 230 
 
 With angel-radiance ; and Deformity, 
 
 (Had fhrunk Deformity been there) had vied 
 
 With Helen ftruggling in the arms of love 
 
 Sweetly reluctant. Such the Goddefs fhone. 
 
 NOT long fhe trod the plain, when gathering round, 235 
 The rural tribe yet innocent, beheld 
 
 M Her
 
 88 PROVIDENCE, Book II. 
 
 Pier form with wonder ; eyed her purple plumes, 
 
 Her crown, her ftature, and her magic glafs, 
 
 Curious, amazed, delighted.- But when near 
 
 She held the mirror up, and fhow'd the face 240 
 
 That glow'd celeftial, foft as Fancy paints 
 
 Bright Venus orient from the filver wave ; 
 
 The throng obfeqnious to the powerful charm 
 
 Purfued her ftep, nor knew that all the fcene 
 
 Was falfe and hollow; nor behind the veil 243* 
 
 Difcern'd Temptation ; till fhe led them on, 
 
 V/here robed in vivid green, a meadow fpread 
 
 It's velvet mantle to the fun. All-wild 
 
 They rufli'd along, till in the fecret fnares 
 
 Spread o'er the fmiling lawn, their flippery feet 250 
 
 Befet, the Fiend fecured them as her prey. 
 
 LOST then at once were all the native charms 
 Offender Innocence; the heart no more 
 Whifper'd its didates to the fimple tongue : 
 But fmooth Deceit, familiar in the robe 255- 
 
 Of Virtue, then firft taught the gentle fmile 
 
 To
 
 BOOK II. A P O E M. 89 
 
 To veil the rankling thought. Caught in the net 
 
 Of Vice, debilitating Sloth unnerved 
 
 Each manly effort ; and Corruption, fure 
 
 As fome dark Miner, fapp'd the mounds of Truth ; 260 
 
 And gave the throng to wanton o'er the mead 
 
 Enlarged, and fcreen'd from fight the powerful chains 
 
 Unfelt, that held them in the Tyrant's power. 
 
 Now mark (thus ferious fpoke the hoary fire) 
 How vain the boaft of Reafon, that prefumes 265 
 
 Its powers adequate to difclofe the truths 
 Revealed by Wifdom. To themfelves thou faw'ft 
 Yon tribes abandon'd, free to chafe their path 
 On Nature's common, as the judging mind 
 Approved or cenfured from impartial view* 270 
 
 Whence then by Paffion's lawlefs arm fubdued> 
 Thus unrefifting fall they ? Why reprefs'd 
 Before Temptation's guileful glance, fubfides 
 
 Line 272, 3. Why reprefs'd, &c.] The reader will obferve, that though 
 there is fome allegorical defcription blended with this ftory ; yet the principal 
 fa6l is ftridly true. The Arcadians v/ere early invited to paftoral life by the 
 richnefs and fertility of their pafturage , they became afterwards a martial 
 and intrepid people, as Herodotus particularly attefts, llift. lib. i. and they 
 \\tere at laft enervated by the Luxury which fpread univerfally among their 
 countrymen. 
 
 M 2 The
 
 po PROVIDENCE, BOOK II. 
 
 The voice of Reafon ? His deep-fearching eye 
 
 Had feen the fraud of yon deceitful glafs, 27^ 
 
 Had warn'd the throng to fhun th' infidious fnare ; 
 
 Had kept them innocent, did'ft Thou defcribe 
 
 His fphere with truth. But how this leading Guide 
 
 Shields the firm thought from Pleafure's gilded lure, 
 
 Thou feeft ; unequal to the tafk, he fhrinks 2 8 a 
 
 Back from the field, or yeilding, takes the fide 
 
 Of Paffion, or faint- whifpering, if his voice 
 
 Diffuades from peril ; yet it's found unheard, 
 
 Amid the tumult of the madning mind 
 
 Neglected dies ; as when, the thunder roars j. 2 85 
 
 Line 281, 2. Tidding takes the fide of Pajjion.'] This unequal poife of Rea- 
 fon and the Pafllons, is a truth which will ftand in need of no proof to any 
 perlbn who is attentive to the operations of his own mind. The account which 
 Cicero gives of this matter from his own experience, will be confirmed by 
 univerfal teftimony. Speaking of the errors which are imbibed in youth, 
 he fubjoins : Cum vero accedit eodem quafi maximus quidam magifter P0- 
 pulus, atque omnis undique ad vitia confentiens multitude, turn plane inficimur 
 opinionum pravitate, a Naturaque defcifcimus , & optimus quifque veram illam 
 gloriam expetens, quam unam Natura maxime inquirit, in fumma inanitate ver- 
 jfatur : confectaturque nullam eminentem efRgiem virtutis, fed adumbratam 
 imaginem glorias. Tufc. >u<eft. lib. iii. How this defcription of Human Na- 
 ture agrees with what he fays afterwards of the wife Man keeping his mind in 
 a perfect and uninterrupted equilibrium , I cannot fo readily difcover. This 
 admired Ancient has probably been led into trains of fentiment apparently 
 oppofite, by neglecting on fome occafions to confider, that whatever diffe- 
 rence we may obferve in the characters and actions of men ; yet the radical 
 and difcriminating Qualities of the Human mind, are characteriflic in fome 
 meafure of every Individual ; and a man with his paffions and reafon in con- 
 llant equilibrium, would be an object as extraordinary as the Arabiaa 
 Phoenix. 
 
 The
 
 BOOK II. A P O E M. <>i 
 
 The gentle murmur of the purling rill 
 Strikes not retentive on the thrilling ear. 
 
 SINCE then unfit from ftnooth Temptation's fmile 
 To fave it's Votaries, in the trying hour 
 Decoy 'd by Pleafure ; fince his feeble glance 290 
 
 Difcerns not Vice behind the mantling veil 
 Of borrowed charms ; or dimly feen, his voice 
 Detains not from the chace :-- Is Reafon then 
 Thus weak, to nobler work adequate, bold 295 
 
 To fearch th' Eternal in his work, or known 
 In Truth's ftrait path to guide the reftive mind ; 
 When fway'd by Fancy in his choice, or duped 
 By Paflion in his purfuit ? Let thy thought 
 Weigh the full proof, and pondering judge the whole; 
 
 HE ceafed ; and by fuperior Power o'erawed 300 
 
 I flood, and paufing, thus at laft replied, 
 
 <c GREAT Power, whofe fight can pierce the deepening cloud 
 " That wraps the thought of Wifdom ; at thy feet 
 
 " Behold the Child of Earth, prompt to declare 
 
 " What-
 
 <yi PROVIDENCE, BOOK II. 
 
 " Whatever weak Reafon whifpers to excufe 3^ 
 
 " His kindred worms, frail as the vernal flower 
 " Cropt by the hand of Time, and form'd to dye. 
 
 " SAY then, when man from Virtue's facred path 
 * c Firft verged to Folly's devious road, inticed 
 " By ftrong Temptations, by the thrilling ftrain 3 i o 
 
 " Of Pleafure fyren~tongued,--fay, had the beam 
 " Of Knowledge then unmafk'd the front of Vice, 
 " And fhow'd her haggard fhape ? Had then the hand 
 <c Of grey Experience chalk'd the upland path, 
 
 On which flow Judgment with retorted eye 3 1 5 
 
 <( Oft Hands,- and looks behind ? Or were the train 
 " Void of the Guardians whofc protection fcreens 
 " The haunt of Innocence from ill, expofed 
 " To every Fiend, whofe fubtle voice deludes 
 (c Th* unwary wanderer to his fecret fnare ?" 320 
 
 WONDERING I ftopp'd ; for to my prompt excufe 
 The Sire rejoin'd not ; but the magic wand 
 Of Fancy waving, raifed a brighter fcene. 
 
 HIGH 
 
 cc
 
 BOOK II. A P O E M. 93 
 
 HIGH o'er broad lawns with broidered vefture gay, 
 Where Nature's liberal hand had fhower'd profufe 325 
 
 Her richeft treasures, and the young- eyed Spring 
 Walk'd in loofe luxury ; we mark'd fublime, 
 A fpacious Theatre, whofe round inclofed 
 Proud Fanes, the boaft of Science ; Obelifks 
 ' That touch'd the blue horizon ; towering domes 3 3 o 
 
 Piled in rude grandeur ; and the dizzy height 
 Of fky-topt pyramids, whofe fteepy fpires 
 O'erlook'd a wafte of Empire. 'Twas in all, 
 A mighty City ; round whofe ample fkirts 
 A circling terrafs ran, broad, firm, and ftrong, 335- 
 
 To ftand the dafh of torrents. From the brow 
 Of a fteep hill, we view'd the fcattering throngs 
 That roam'd at large. Some from the terrafs' height 
 Breathed the cool breeze, whofe lily-fcented wing 
 Perfumed the ambient air : Some o'er the mead 340 
 
 Wanton'd in eafy indolence, and culPd 
 The fpoils of Summer ; while a Few retired 
 Sat on a Tower's proud top, embofs'd around 
 With myrtic Figures ; and in thought elate > 
 
 Mark'd
 
 ^4 PROVIDENCE, BOOK II. 
 
 Mark'd the declining fun ; defcribed the courfe 341 
 
 Of planetary orbs ; and when the ray 
 Of fliy Aurora tinged the glowing eaft, 
 Eyed the firft beam that gilds the morning ftar, 
 And view'd it's courfe along the brightning fkies. 
 
 NOT far, a River o'er its pebbled bed 3 j-d 
 
 RolPd a majeftic ftream ; along it's bank, 
 Bloom'd the fair herbage of the mantling lawn, 
 Whofe living hues illumed th' unbounded fcenes 
 With rich variety : fpontaneous glow'd 
 In gay aflemblage, all that binds the locks 3/ 
 
 Of Spring, when blu filing, from her primrofe couch 
 She ftarts ; or floating wide, and circling, forms 
 The Summer's radiant mantle, loofely gay. 
 
 CHARM'D as I look'd, bewilder'd Thought furvey'd 
 This fcene of wonders burfting on it's view, 366 
 
 Line 348. Eyed thefirft beam, &c.] By the morning ftar here is not meant 
 the Planet Venus, which ufually goes under that name ; but the Dog-ftar j 
 from whofe appearance, when it firft rofe above the horizon, the Egyptian 
 philofophers eftimated the plenty or barrennefs of the fucceeding feafon. 
 
 Perplex'd ;
 
 BOOK II. A P O E M. 95 
 
 Perplex'd \ nor knew to clear th' entangling maze. 
 
 Chief on the Figures dwelt my dubious fearch 
 
 In deep fufpence, and fcann'd their myftic fliapes ; 
 
 Their parts incongrous, where the wither'd hand 
 
 Of bent Deformity had cart the moulds, 3 6$ 
 
 And wildly freak'd with Beauty. Strowd o'er all, 
 
 Thefe Forms unfeemly rouzed th' enquiring mind ; 
 
 And couch'd fome truth myfterious. The fliort glance 
 
 Of mift-eyed Reafon darken 'd as it vievv'd : 
 
 Nor Fancy's lightning- beam could pierce the veil. 370 
 
 Line 362, &c. Ckief on the Figures, &c.] The /Egyptians, who applied then> 
 felves early to the ftiidy of Philofophy, invented this method of communicating 
 knowledge, probably as being belt adapted to the felfifli purpofe of confining 
 it to a Few. It was impoflible when the God Mythras was reprefented by the 
 ./Egyptians and Perfians, fometimes with the head of a lion and the body of a 
 man , fometimes with a ferpent twined about him ; fometimes with a flaming 
 torch , and at others, in the habit of an High-Prieft : that the vulgar of theie 
 nations mould comprehend the doctrines which were veiled in this manner ; 
 and were conveyed fo darkly to the mind, that the refearch of Science is be- 
 wildered in attempting to account for them. See Univ. Hift. Vol. I. p. 507. 
 Galis Court of the Gent. Vol. 1. Le Plucbe Hrjl. du del Pcff. Jn fucceeding 
 ages, when principles began to be eilablilhed, and regular fyftems to be de- 
 duced from them , this method of propagating Science became vap:ue, un- 
 certain, and unintelligible to the bulk of mankind, from the multitude of 
 objects which were to be illustrated The ^Egyptian learning therefore, which 
 was at firft conveyed by hieroglyphical fymbols, was then partly prefervcd in 
 the ancient manner, by being inicribed on pillars erected for that purpofe , 
 and was partly committed to writing, and configned to the cuftody of the 
 Priefts. Pythagoras at lafl became acquainted with this hieroglyphical learn- 
 ing, and transplanted it into Greece. See Sfrab. lib. xvii. and Dicgen. Lacrt. 
 de vit. Pytbag. 
 
 N WHILE
 
 9 6 PROVIDENCE, BOOK If. 
 
 WHILE thus wild paftime o'er th* inviting fcenes 
 Amufive roam'd ;. lo from his fecret cell, 
 Uprofe the River-Genius ! In his hand 
 A trident waved, and o'er his form fublime, 
 Floated the mantling azure. On a car 37^ 
 
 Of pearl, inlaid with {hells whofe polifti {hone 
 Refplendent to the fun ; led by the train 
 Of fporting Naiads, fat the god-like Power ; 
 His blue locks waving to the fluttering breeze 
 That wanton'd as he came. Gay Plenty near, 380 
 
 Shook her bright wings, and eyed the laughing mead 
 With frniles aflcance, and o'er the landfldp held 
 Her horn redundant ; all the blufhing year 
 With rich luxuriance bloffom'd in her fmile. 
 
 HE flood : and fudden in the fwelling tide 385- 
 
 Plunged his broad trident. From its bottom turn'd, 
 The working current boil'd. Not long its bank 
 Reprefs'd the ftream, but rifing o'er the mound, 
 It fvvept, a deluge, o'er the {hrinking lawns; 
 And foll'd promifcuous on its wave, the fpoils 390 
 
 That
 
 BOOK II. A P O E M. 97 
 
 That crown'd the fmiling year. It's banks o'erfpread, 
 
 Full on the -City pour'd the gufhing ftream, 
 
 And fhook its circling terrafs. Wide around 
 
 It fpread, and whelming wrapt the broad champain ; 
 
 Far as the keen eye ftretch'd its boundlefs view. 395 
 
 WITHIN, the voice of tumult and amaze 
 VVas heard difcordant ; for the fwarming throng 
 Rufh'd o'er the ftreets ; fome from the fhelter'd wall 
 To fee the -copious tides, to mark the field I 
 Juft fhrinking from the fight ! or the rude rock,\ 400 
 
 Half-loft, and half- projected o'er the waves ; 
 O'erlook the mighty ruin ! Some intent, 
 With eager hope explored the rifing ftream* 
 
 Line 393, 4. Wide around if fpread.] In this defcription of the Nile over- 
 flowing, the author has confidered his work as a poem, in which it is neceffary 
 to bring as many obj$e~b as poflible into one view ; rather than as an hiftorical 
 detail in which the order of Nature is exadlly followed. Thus the inundation 
 of this river, and its confequences as far as thefe are connected wkh the pre- 
 fcnt fubje<5t, are collected into one defcription , though hiftory informs us that 
 this procefs goes forward very gradually. The overflowing of the Nile begins 
 about the fummer folftice, and the river through the three fucceeding months 
 continues to rife to the height of about fixteen cubits, when the canals arc 
 opened, and the waters are difperled over Upper and Lower JEgypt. After 
 that time it decreafes as (lowly, and leaves the country covered with flime, and 
 fitted for the purpofes of Agriculture. The reader may fee this curious fub- 
 je<5t more particularly treated than we can do in this note, by licrodot. lib. ii. 
 Diod. Sicul. lib. i. Amman. Mar cell. lib. xxii, &c. among the Ancients ; tnd 
 by "Thevenot and Lucas^ among the modern Travellers. 
 
 N 2 And
 
 98 PROVIDENCE, BOOK II. 
 
 And fearch'd it's depth : thence kindling Fancy vievv'd 
 
 The diftant Autumn, faw the forward ftep 405- 
 
 Of laughing Ceres, or aghaft, beheld 
 
 Where pale-lip'd Famine, from her baleful wing 
 
 Shook livid poifon on the blafted year. 
 
 MOST fought the facred Fane. The facred Fane, 
 With open porch received the folemn throng 4 1 o. 
 
 That call'd their God. But darting with amaze ; 
 What fudden horror thrilFd the darting thought I 
 When for that God whofe thunder rends the fkies ; 
 Whofe glance is lightning, and whofe arm fublime 
 Controuls the vaft of Nature : when for Him 413" 
 
 Unknown ; the Brute flood bellowing ^-In the Fane,. 
 Superb of ftructure, lodg'd the lordly Bull ; 
 And ftared, affrighted at the proftrate train 
 That bow'd before his fhrine I with awe-check'd hope 
 Approaching I and with pious fervor warm,, 420 
 
 Imploring aid I Grim Superftition then 
 Obtained his nobleft triumph ; and elate, 
 Chain'd Reafon to his car. Aghaft I gazed 
 
 With
 
 BOOK II. A P O E M. 99 
 
 With filcnt wonder ; till Refentment loofed 
 
 The ftruggling thought, and gave the voice to flow. 425 
 
 " Thus then abforb'd is Truth's meridian ray ? 
 " Thus ftoops tb f Almighty's image to the fhrine 
 " Of groveling Inftinct ? then how vain is man ! 
 C( Whence then the judging Power by Heav'n beftow'd ? 
 " Whence weak Philofophy thy boafted fway ? 430 
 
 " Why hears the mind appall'd the bold reproach 
 " Of Heav'n's Vicegerent ? Why the great command 
 " That once conferred Dominion ? Yet not all 
 " Thus meanly bend ; thus from his glorious fphere r 
 " Pull that internal fun, that lights the foul ;, 43:5 
 
 " And quench his radiant beam. But fay what men> 
 cc What fons of Night and Ignorance are thefe ? 
 
 To this the Sire unmoved. Thou feeff difplay r cE 
 The Land of Nile, the fair illumined clime,. 
 Mother of Wifdom ! where Philofophy 440 
 
 Firft ftreteh'd liis eagle- thought :. whence the pale dawn 
 
 Of 
 
 Line 441, 2. Wljence tke pale dawn- of Science , &c.J THougH it is not wholly 
 
 evident,.
 
 roo PROVIDENCE, BCX>K II. 
 
 Of Science o'er th' cnlightaeJ nations flione. 
 Lo where proud Memphis' mighty towers difpiay'd, 
 Stand in thy fight ! 1 he towering piles that ftrike 
 Th' aftonifh'd gaze, by toiling ages rear'd, 
 The tombs of Kings, inclofe the putrid earth 
 By worms novy loathed. Yon high majeftic dome 
 In folemn grandeur rear'd, unfolds to view 
 The Labyrinth, Thefe Figures widely ftrowd, 
 The myftic fpells flung carelefs o'er the robe 
 
 evident, that the Greeks derived the firft rudiments of learning from JEgypt, 
 as Cadmus, who introduced letters, was a Phoenician ; yet it is certain that 
 their phiiolbphical and mythological fyftems were originally founded upon the 
 knowledge, which was acquired by the perfons who travelled in that country. 
 Thus Diogenes Laertius informs us, that Pythagoras while he refided in JE- 
 gypt, was made acquainted with that fecret learning, which was concealed 
 from the vulgar of their own country* and from the foreigners of others. He 
 returned inflrucled in all the wifdom of ./Egypt , and communicated the know- 
 ledge he had acquired, to his countrymen. We have reaibn to believe th^t 
 the Greeks derived their fkill in navigation from the Phoenicians, who were 
 a maritime people, as T hales 4nd ibme of their other Philofophers are laid to 
 have refided in that cultivated nation. It is however probable that their 
 agronomical learning came originally from -Sgypt, rather than from Babylon ; 
 (notwithfkanding the tcftimony of Herodotus to the contrary) as their Philo- 
 fophers were much earlier acquainted with the former nation than with the 
 latter , and it is certain that the ^Egyptians applied at a very early period to 
 Afcronomy and Geometry ; ftudies which they were in fome meafure necefll- 
 tated to purfue by the peculiar circumftances of their country. By meafuring 
 the depths of the Nile, and by knowing the quantity of water which was ne- 
 ccflary to fertilize the, foil, they were probably led to acquire geometrical 
 knowledge , and as the appearance of the Dog-ftar regulated this matter, it 
 is reaibnable to fuppofe, that their attention to this circumftance introduced 
 agronomical refearches. See Died. Sicul. lib. i. 
 
 Line 444, 449. The towering piles ', &c. 'The labyrinth ] For a particular ac- 
 count of thole" wonderful ftructures, we refer the reader to Hercdot. lib. ii. 
 c. 127, 148, &JV. Ammian. Marcel, lib. xxiii. and Died, ub.fup. 
 
 Of
 
 6ooK ft. A P O E **. 1 01 
 
 Of Thought, where Reafon's deep difcernin^ fearch 
 
 Can catch ideal fhapes ; veil'd from the ken 
 
 Of vulgar hope, as yon pale wefte'rn gleam 
 
 Behind the cloud's blue mantle. The fine form, 
 
 Fired by the fun's attenuating beam 45 5" 
 
 That thrills the vivid nerve ; alive and keen, 
 
 Drinks purer fpirits, and the kindling foul 
 
 Starts all to tranfport ; in the fparkling glafs 
 
 Where Fancy looks, ten thoufand beauteous fhapes 
 
 Dance on the fight ; and Judgment's guiding hand 460 
 
 From thefe felects to clothe her kindred train, 
 
 Robed like the Spring, in all the loofen'd fwim 
 
 Of fweeping Luxury, Hence Learning fhunn'd 
 
 The Vulgar's rude approach ; Philofophy 
 
 Walk'd with the Graces : the myfterious veil 465 
 
 Wrapt o'er her form, from the weak dazzled eye 
 
 Screen'd her diviner beauties.- Lo thy doubts 
 
 Line 458, 9. In the fparkling gtafs^ &c.] This defcription of the Eaftern 
 people may be applied with particular propriety to the /Egyptians, among whom 
 agnigmas, fymbols, fables, and allegories, which are the offspring of imagina- 
 tion, were remarkably predominant. As a proof of this, in concurrence with 
 other teftimony -, we need only to adduce the practice of the Poets who tra- 
 velled into that country, and formed their writings upon the model of that 
 people. See the Author's E/ay on tbe Lyric Poet, of the An. Let. i. p. 16, &c. 
 
 At
 
 102 PROVIDENCE, BOOK II. 
 
 At once difpell'd ! Not thefe the fimple train 
 
 Of fmiling Innocence, untaught to know 
 
 Temptations lurking fnare ; to flnm the thorn 470 
 
 O'erlaid with flowers. Not thefe have trod the gloom 
 
 Of Night and Ignorance : But the young beam 
 
 Of dawning Science, o'er th' enlightned mind 
 
 Hath (hone all-radiant as the fpangling ftar 
 
 That gilds the Morn's fair crown. Bald Reafon there 47 $ 
 
 Hath ranged his circuit ; and a glimmering ray 
 
 From Revelation, trembling thro' the void, 
 
 Line 476, &c. A glimmering ray from Rei'elati-on.~] Though there is no doubt 
 fome truth in this obfervation , yet by the well-meant zeal of fome writers 
 who would deduce every mythological abfurdity from the Bible ; it has given 
 rile to fo many extravagant Theories, that an impartial Reader who would ex- 
 amine this matter, finds himfelf bewildered in the Labyrinth of Conjecture. 
 .Some of thefe gentlemen (otherwife refpectable for their learning) indulge the 
 wildeft flights of imagination, and coiled the remoteft points of iimilarity to 
 fupport their hypothefes. Thefe becauie they have found an ancient city of 
 Cilicia, of the name of A A AX A, they will have this place to be built in ho- 
 nour of Adam , and becaufe Adam is called the Son of God, and Saturn the 
 Son of Heaven, for this and fome other proofs equally convincing, they would 
 perfuade us that Saturn was Adam, See Vcff. de Idol, lib. i. The read'er is no 
 iboner inclined to wifh that this might be iupported by probable evidence, 
 but a fecond tribe are introduced, who tell us, that Saturn was not Adam but 
 Abraham. In the fame fpirit, a learned Author conjectures, that the Taau- 
 tus (from whom Sanchoniatho is faid to have borrowed many of his principles) 
 was the lame with Moles j- and this for no reafon, but becaufe Mofes and 
 Sanchoniatho happen to agree in fome tenets with regard to Phyfiology. The 
 truth of this matter probably is, that the Jews and ./Egyptians became reci- 
 procally acquainted with the opinions of each other, at the time when the for- 
 mer were in a (late of captivity ; and hence no doubt, arrfc fome refemblances 
 in their philofophical opinions, which are however fo intermingled with ficti- 
 tious circumftances on the part of the latter, that it is no eafy thing to difcover 
 the latent truth which is fcreened behind fo dark a veil. 
 
 Hath
 
 BOOK II. A P O E M. j 03 
 
 Hath glanced on Truth. O'er all the circling fides, 
 
 Gay Hope elate hath flretch'd her daring flight, 
 
 And fcann'd their worlds un numbered. Yet are thefe 480 
 
 Thus groveling to the Brute ! When o'er their fields, 
 
 Rolls yon deep current to impregn the foil 
 
 With fatning moifture : at the pompous fhrine 
 
 Of bellowing Apis ; yon pale proftrate throng 
 
 Difgrace the name of wifdom, and of man, 485 
 
 LONG, deeply-pierced, th' aftonifh'd mind revolved 
 This humbling fcene ; deplored th' incongrous fearch 
 Of baffled Reafon, as its varying aims 
 Alternate point to Wifdom, or decline 
 To Folly. Yet the confcious fliame that flufli'd 49 a 
 
 Line 483, 4. At the pompous Jhrine^ &c.] The Apis of the /Egyptians re- 
 prcfented the God Ofiris, whole foul was fuppofed to tranfmigrate into this 
 animal. The funeral honours performed to this Deity, and the places through 
 which the proccilion palled, gave occafion, as Diodorus Siculus infinuates, to 
 the Fables of Cocytus, Lethe, Charon, &c. to which the poets are fo highly 
 indebted. 1 he next in fucceflion to Apis was a bull called Mnevis, and 
 worfhipped at Heliopolis. o ft w HA/^CA?/ Tp? a.ueK^ $ ov Mytvw MKvffivy y.s\x{ 
 in, x} /2i/7.;p*< ex*' T//**f jut*/* TW A^/c, I'Lit. de Ijjd. & OJld. Abfurd however as 
 this, and man}- other /Egyptian inilitutions may appear, it is yet certain that 
 they retained juft ideas of the Supreme Being. Of this truth the celebrated 
 inscription on the temple at Sais, as it is preferred by Plutarch, affords a re- 
 markable proof. De IjuL & Ofid. The opinions of this kind which were en- 
 tertained appear to have been confined to a few individuals, as the bulk of 
 the people certainly run into the rhoil abfurd and ridiculous theology. 
 
 O The
 
 io 4 PROVIDENCE, BOOK II. 
 
 The glowing cheek, avail'd not to reprefs 
 Prefumption : ftill th' indignant thought fupplied 
 Some glofs to palliate, what the fecret foul 
 Yet fhock'd and dubious labour'd to diflblve. 
 
 " YET mighty Power (replied my faultering tongue ;) 495; 
 " Yet has my eye in thefe unfolding fcenes 
 " But mark'd the morn of Science. O'er the train> 
 " That ftoop thus humbly to the lordly flirine, 
 " And bloat their brighteft hope ; the finer Arts 
 <c Have ne'er difTufed their radiance. The full form 500 
 " Of Moral Excellence hath fail'd to wake 
 " Th* enlightned mind j nor on the mental ear, 
 14 Hath Mufic cherub-tongued, pour'd the ftrong tide 
 " Qf foul-diflolving Harmony ; nor rouzed 
 ic The voice of Eloquence; iior tuned the lyre 505- 
 
 Line 499, 500. T'he finer Arts^ &c.] It does not appear that the Egyptians 
 ma-de remarkable proficiency in any of the fine Arts, if we except Architec- 
 ture. No mafter-piece of painting is mentioned. by any of the Ancients as 
 having been drawn in ^Egypt, and Diodorus informs us, that the Sculptors of 
 Greece were employed in that country, as better artifts than the inhabitants 
 themfelves, Diod. ub. fup. Though, we are indeed told, that fome of the firft 
 Greek poets travelled into ^gypt -, yet their defign in this probably was, not 
 ib much to cultivate their poetic vein, as to acquire philofophical knowledge. 
 We ought always to remember that thefe writers were confidered by their 
 countrymen as Teachers and Philofophers. 
 
 That 
 
 u
 
 BOOK II. A P O E M. j oj 
 
 " That ftrikes the heart, and from it's thrilling firings 
 <c Calls every gentler note. Philofophy, 
 u VeiFd by myfterious fymbols ; to the Few 
 " Hath loofed her mantling robe ; to thefe her hand 
 < O'er heav'n's blue arch hath mark'd the worlds that roll $ i & 
 " Harmonious, moving thro' the wafte of air 
 " Around fome central orbit : or the courie 
 " Of the bright flar that thro' the glimmering dawn, 
 " Spangles the orient. But conjoin'd to thefe ; 
 " Where are the rules whofe ftridl obfervance forms 5 1 
 " The foul to Wifdom ? where the ftraitned path 
 " That leads to Virtue ? where the moral plan, 
 " Wrought by Reflection's fteddy glance, that warms 
 Th' exulting wifh to tranfport ? Yet are thefe, 
 Thefe nobler truths that touch the heart of man ; 3*20 
 
 And ftamp proportion on the draught of life ; 
 u Bright Reafon's genuine offspring. By his aid, 
 c< In beauteous fymmetry beheld, their charms 
 
 Line 509, 10. To thefe her hand^ &c ] The (Indies to which the ^Egyptians 
 applied moil afliduoufly were Geometry, Aflronomy, and Natural Philosophy. 
 We have already mentioned the reafon which led them to cultivate the two 
 former, Thofe Arts will in general be moft particularly improved in every 
 Ibciety, which are adapted to the peculiar circurnllances of the individuals 
 who compofe it. See the Note on p. 78. 1. 441. 
 
 O 2 Inchant 
 
 " 
 
 "
 
 106 PROVIDENCE, Book II. 
 
 " Inchant the kindling thought, that feels the power 
 " Of native Goodnefs, and with eager aim 525 
 
 " Toils up the roughening fteep, to gain the prize V 
 " By Virtue raifed to point it to the goal." 
 
 NOR thefe (the Sire rejoin'd) nor ought befides 
 Of intellectual fearch was then unknown. 
 Yet Reafon ftray'd in darknefs, when his aim 530 
 
 Afpired to reach th* Almighty, as the flep 
 Of fome bewilder 'd traveller, that treads 
 The lonely wild, beneath the moon's wan ray, 
 That feebly trembles on fome Jhore untried j 
 Or gilds a pathlefs wafte. Yet if thy mind, 535* 
 
 Still fway'd by partial nature, fhrinks to yield 
 It's full aflent ; attend a nobler fcene ; 
 And inftant Truth fhall flafh upon the foul. 
 
 HE fpoke : the Goddefs of the changeful eye 
 Waved her transforming rod, and all around 540 
 
 Was loft in mantling {hade. Afcending flow, 
 
 Line 541, &V, Aft 'ending Jlow, a barren prcfpeft, &c.] The country of At- 
 tica
 
 BOOK II. A P O E M. 107 
 
 A barren profpedt ftruck my wondering gaze, 
 
 Bleak, defert, wild ; where the high-arching {hade 
 
 Of pendent rocks hung o'er the boundlefs deep 
 
 That roar 'd tumult'ous ; and the ridgy hills 545 
 
 Stretch'd their wild fpires to heav'n. Yet foon the hand 
 
 Of Culture waving o'er the roughned wafte ; 
 
 The Defart bloflbm'd, and the foftned foil 
 
 Bloom'd with the fruits of Ceres. To the fight 
 
 Intenfely-gazing ; in the column'd pride 5* 
 
 Of Architecture, when her nobleft plan 
 
 Receives the mould of Elegance ; arofe 
 
 A fpacious City. The majeftic domes, 
 
 Shaped by Proportion's niceft touch, inticed 
 
 Th' enamour'd eye, that ftray'd from fcene to fcene 5 s$ 
 
 tica exhibited an early proof of the advantages which refult from application and 
 induftry. This little track of land, notwithftanding the encomiums which 
 fome of the natives beftow on it, (fee particularly Xenvpb. de Veftigal. ab init.} 
 is naturally fo rocky and barren, that the foreigners who over-run the other 
 parts of Greece, permitted the inhabitants of Attica to live in peace, as net 
 thinking their country worth the trouble of keeping. Yet the induftry of the 
 Athenians, afiifted by the mildnefs of the climate, improved the foil to fuch 
 a degree, that it not only was fitted to produce whatever fruits grew in any 
 other country then known ; but we are told that all of thefe arrived quickly 
 at perfection, and decayed very flowly. Km w <r* *p 01 Ss*/ a.ya.$A w TOI< tp>i< 
 it&ti'/jnjyt, x) TAUT* ira.t>T<t evretvQA <wp'.tArta.Ta, ptr Af/^At, o J/*/T*TA / An^?/, &c. 
 Xenopb. ub. fup. What this great author fays afterwards of this country being 
 fituated in the middle of the eartb^ and of the temperature of the climate ex- 
 celling all others, proceeds from that amiable partiality, of which every man 
 is iufceptible in favour of his country. 
 
 In
 
 -IQ$ PROVIDENCE, 'Boo* If. 
 
 In fweet viciflltude ; mark'd the proud Fane, 
 
 All nobly fimple ; on whofe pillar 'd arch, 
 
 Tafte lean'd his arm reclin'd in graceful eafe, 
 
 And Sculpture plied his chiflel : or furvey'd 
 
 The haunt of mild Philofophy ; the bank 560 
 
 O'erlaid with flowers, where the young Graces form'd 
 
 Her aery train, and bright-eyed Beauty wove 
 
 Her robe, that floated to the balmy gale. 
 
 i 
 
 N E x T the proud Forum caught th' attentive view, 
 A mighty pile, where flood the god-like Power 5 6s 
 
 Of heav'n defcended Eloquence ! -His look 
 Glanced rapid lightning, and his arm upheld 
 The thunders madning bolt : erecl he flood, 
 Though veil'd from fight ; and pour'd enlivening fire 
 
 Line 556, &c. Mark'd the proud Fane, &c.]. That the Greeks, and particu* 
 larly the Athenians, carried Architecture to its higheft perfection, is a truth 
 univerfally acknowledged. The invention of man has never yet been able to 
 add a new order to thole, which this ingenious people invented. The cele- 
 brated temple of Minerva at Athens Hill remains the admiration and wonder 
 of travellers. 
 
 The whole fo meafur'd true, fo leflen'd off 
 
 By fine proportion, that the marble pile , 
 
 Form'd to repel the ftill or ftormy wafte 
 
 Of rolling ages, light as fabricks looks 
 
 That from the magic wand aereal rife. Tbomfon. 
 
 Into
 
 BOOK If. A P O E M.. I09 
 
 Into the patriot-breaft ; and raifed the hand 570 
 
 To bold expreffion ; or with lenient balm 
 
 Softned the yielding heart, and o'er the form 
 
 Of bleeding Innocence, or Liberty 
 
 Red from OppreiTion's iron fcourge ; he gave 
 
 The heart wild- throbbing, and the manly tear; 
 
 THEN bloom'd the pencil's beauteous offspring, warm 
 With mimic life, the ripened Figures glow'd, 
 And fwell'd in eafy majefty : array 'd 
 By fimple Elegance, bright Hellen breathed 
 Unfading rofes, and the loofen'd robe 580 
 
 Of Venus, ruffling from the filver wave^ 
 Gave charms all- lovely to th' enraptured view, 
 And beauty heav'n-illumined. The rich grape 
 Hung cluttering near, that from the fields of air 
 Inticed the wondering people; and the flow 585 
 
 Line 576, &V. rfkenbloontdtkependrs beauteous offspring^ &r.] The author 
 has mentioned as proofs of the Grecian excellence in painting, pieces, which 
 though they \vere wrought by the artifts of that country, yet were not all of 
 them performed by Athenians. The names of Apelles, Praxiteles, and Xeu- 
 xis, refieft luftre on that happy climate to which they owed their birth. It is 
 indeed alledged by fome moderns, from the few remains of ancient painting 
 which have come down to us, that the performers excelled in the defigning^ 
 and expreflion of their pieces, but were unequal in the perfpe&ive. 
 
 of
 
 i io P R 'O V I D E N C E, J3ooK II. 
 
 Of waving curtains mock'd the cheated eye, 
 That maik'd their folds high-fwelling on its gaze. 
 
 - 
 
 FULL in the port a pompous navy rode ; 
 The loofe oar flamming o'er the furgy wave ; 
 Prepared to plough the boiling deep. Elate, 590 
 
 The fprightly mariners in thought furvey'd 
 '] he land where Ceres' howers her yellow fpoils 
 
 Line 588, &c. Full in the port, &c.] The fcene of this defcription is laid at 
 the time when the Athenians undertook the conqueft: of Sicily, which proved 
 fo fatal to them in the event. At this period Athens appears to have been ill 
 the zenith of her glory ; and we have fixed upon it as a crifis, at which we 
 may judge of the utmoft purpofe which the genius of the Athenians was capa- 
 ble of effectuating ; and as it affords at the fame time a remarkable inflance 
 of their fuperftition. This celebrated expedition was undertaken about 
 the middle of the Peloponnefian war, when the Athenians alone were not 
 only fupporting their own inttYcfts, and thofe of their allies, againft the com- 
 bined forces of the other nations of Greece ; but were even meditating the 
 conqueft of diftant countries. '1 he names of Socrates, Plato, Alcibiades, and 
 Nicias, render this period of their hiftory remarkable above any other, both 
 for the achievements of war, and for the higheft improvement of that philo- 
 fophy by which a nation is benefited and adorned. That this people however 
 fully merited the character given them by an infpired writer, of being *>< Tcr/- 
 /ct/^oi'irsps/, i. e. too fuperftitious ; was evident even at this period from their 
 behaviour to Alcibiades, one of the greateft men to whom their country gave 
 birth. Becaufe this young man had in a youthful frolic defaced tne ftatues of 
 Mercury, the god of thieves and pickpockets, his enemies immediately con- 
 Ipired his deilruclion ; and that the blow might be lurcly aimed, they deferred 
 the execution of their purpofe until he had let fail on his voyage to Sicily. They 
 then terrified the fuperftitious populace, by denouncing the indignation cf 
 the Gods upon the Athenians ; and procured the celebrated decree, by which 
 an irremediable wound was given to the power and glory of Athens. Alcibi- 
 adcs made his efcape, and the unfortunate death of the good Nicias, and his 
 unhappy countrymen, opened too late the eyes of the Athenians, and pro- 
 duced a fmccre though unavailing repentance. 
 
 Already
 
 BOOK IT. A P O E M. i i i 
 
 Already opening, the delicious groves, 
 
 The flowery lawns their own. Vain wifh ! the hand 
 
 Of Fate oppofed, and barr'd her iron door, * 595 
 
 And fpurn'd prefumptuous hope. The people pour'd 
 
 Thro' the broad gates, to mark the pompous fcene, 
 
 Or clafp their parting friends : The hoary Sire 
 
 Stretch'd his time-trembling arms, to lock the fon 
 
 In ftricl: embrace, and wildly-faultering, cried 600 
 
 Be brave, and know thy Country ! To the Gods 
 
 The warm libation ftream'd ; and all to heav'n 
 
 Raifed fuppliant eyes, and call'd th' eternal Powers 
 
 With unavailing prayers. The navy row'd 
 
 Far o'er the Deep's blue bofom, and the throng 605 
 
 Caught a lad look, and left the defert fhore. 
 
 YET mid this fcene of triumph, the dark feeds 
 Of dire commotion fprung : For mid the Fanes 
 Innumerous, fwelling on the Stranger's gaze ; 
 A group of ftatues, where the marble breathed 6 i o 
 
 Warm from the Sculptor's forming ftroke, were clad 
 In floating robes ; each bearing on his arm 
 
 P Some
 
 ii2 PROVIDENCE, BOOK II. 
 
 Some feparate enfign of imperial fway. 
 
 O'er fome, loofe Youth in frolic paftime wild 
 
 Had fpread dishonour, and defaced the forms 6 1 5 
 
 With fears unfeemly, or untied their wreaths, 
 
 Or burl'd them headlong from the facred flirine. 
 
 HENCE hovering dreadful to the gloomy thought 
 Of Superftition, hung th r avenging bolt 
 O'er their devoted heads. Prefages dire 620 
 
 Rofe to the mind deep-mufing ; Death, Defpair, 
 And Jove's bright ^Egis, thro' the withering limbs 
 That fhoots pale fear J Yon mighty fleet is doom'd 
 To fure deftru&ion, if th' offended Power 
 Of Juflice, yields not to the lenient voice 625 
 
 Of Prayer ; if he who mock'd th' Eternal Powers, 
 Atones not with his blood. At once we view'd 
 A light-oar'd galley flamming o'er the waves, 
 To reach the diftant navy ; that the man 
 Who maim'd the ftatues, might by death appeafe 630 
 
 The 
 
 Line 629, 30. That the man who maim'd, &c.] It is proper to obferve here, 
 that though this proceeding of the Athenian people, with regard to Alcibiades, 
 
 is
 
 BOOK II. A P O E M. i i 3 
 
 The dreams of dark Sufpicion, by the care 
 Of pining Envy raifed to vex the mind. 
 
 THE Power of thought on thefe perplexing (cenes 
 Long caft a ferious eye, and thus began. 
 
 Lo Athens rifes to thy view ! Thou feeft 635 
 
 The clime beloved of Wifdom, where improved, 
 The morn of Science ripens into day. 
 There the faint beam that o'er th' Egyptian clime 
 Shook loofely-fluttering, pours a fteddy blaze, 
 Unftain'd by paffing clouds. The Perfian there > 640 
 
 Marks 
 
 is mentioned as the effect of Superftition ; yet the Author does not mean to 
 vindicate him from the charge of impiety. An attempt to fubvert, or to ex- 
 pofe to ridicule the eftabliflied religion of any country, however abfurd or ir- 
 rational (unlefs fome good end can be effectuated by fuch a conduct) is cer- 
 tainly flagitious, and deierves the fevereft chaflifement. The Athenians were 
 only actuated by b'uperflition in this affair, as by their precipitancy to punifh 
 a fuppofed offence, they deprived themfelves of an excellent General ; and as 
 they abfurdly concluded, that the Deity would punim upon an army the crime 
 of an individual, who might have been tried at a proper time by the laws of 
 his country. 
 
 Line 640, &c. The Perfian there, &c.] The Mythology of the Athenians 
 was much more complex than that of any other nation; as this ingenious peo- 
 ple were not only daily finding out new Deities for themfelves, but were adopt- 
 ing into the number, the Gods of every nation around them. Hefiod reckons 
 no leis than thirty thoufand of thefe in his time. 
 
 yetf [Mpioi tiffiv ITTI y 
 svA.5tx.ef 
 
 P 2 The
 
 i 1 4 PROVIDENCE, BOOK II. 
 
 Marks his young fyftem opening on the gaze. 
 
 To full-proportion'd fymmetry. With joy, 
 
 Thy fons Phoenicia, in the thronging port 
 
 Behold reviving Commerce. Ev'n the look 
 
 Of pale Judea brightens, as the draught 643- 
 
 Unfolds Religion's beauteous form, pourtray'd 
 
 In fairer colours, and the kindling flame, 
 
 Waked at Devotion's fhrine. No more thou viewft 
 
 Auftere Philofophy confined to Few : 
 
 Lo where fhe moves, with all th' immortal nine, 650 
 
 That fweep the lyre, melodious ! In her eye 
 
 The Graces languifli, and her melting voice 
 
 Is harmony. In Plato's glowing page, 
 
 Her ftrain ftill vibrates to the thrilling heart 
 
 Deep-pierced, that pants to clafp the lovely form 65-5 
 
 Of fmiling Beauty ; or intranced furveys 
 
 In vision's vivid beam, Elyfian groves, 
 
 The great rewards of Virtue ; and elate, 
 
 Burfts o'er the bound of death, and hopes the ikies. 
 
 The Perfmns, ^Egyptians, and even the Jews may be faid on that account 
 with propriety, to have obferved their different fyftems of Religion in that of 
 the Athenians. 
 
 THERE
 
 BOOK II. A P O E M. 115- 
 
 THERE heav'n-bred Genius fired Pericles' foul, 660 
 
 Beloved of Pallas, on whofe tuneful tongue 
 Divine Perfuafion pour'd her magic lay. 
 Stern Juftice there to Ariftides' hand 
 Configned her balance ; thro' th' illumined foul 
 Of god- like Socrates^ meek Wifdom fhot 665 
 
 Her pureft ray, and to the mental hope 
 Difplay'd a world to come. Themiftocles 
 Elate, from Luxury's high-arched brow, 
 Snatch'd the loofe plume, and on her purple creft, 
 That fliook on Victory's triumphant wheel ; 670 
 
 Wrote Difappointment. Yet not all the arts 
 That polifli life ; not the meridian reign 
 Of mild Philofophy that forms the mind ; 
 Not all the juft fimplicity of tafte; 
 
 Nor pour'd from warbling lutes, the melting lay ; 675 
 
 Nor the fweet plaining of the tragic Mufe 
 That thrill'd the ear of Pity ; nor the tide 
 Of rapid Eloquence that rufh'd along, 
 And whirl'd light Paffion on its headlong wave : 
 
 Not
 
 n 6 PROVIDENCE, BOOK II. 
 
 Not thefe united gave the foul to reach 680 
 
 The Firft of Beings. Back th' aftonifh'd thought 
 Recoil'd to earth, loft in the boundlefs maze 
 Of His perfections ; and defpair'd to rife* 
 
 THENCE raifed to hope, from Reafon's yielding grafp 
 Bold Fancy fnatch'd the rein ; on aery fchemes 68$ 
 
 Intent, and fcenes light-floating on the view. 
 Hence rofe her pictured Deities, as Fear, 
 Or Paflion fketch'd the train. The Thunderer fat 
 Shrined in black clouds, or bellow'd o'er the field, 
 Smit with the duft of earth : Rapine and Rage 690 
 
 Mark'd his dire courfe, and Murder ftain'd his hands. 
 Hence Fury fhook her torch, and Jealoufy 
 Inflamed to madnefs, roll'd her yellow eyes 
 O'er heav'n's celeftial azure. From the groves 
 
 Line 680, i. Not thefe united, &c.] It is not meant here to infmuate, that 
 the light of Nature might not have led the Heathens to form juft conceptions 
 of the Supreme Mind ; as we have already feen that ibme of their philofo- 
 phers and poets, fpeak with fuitable dignity of the natural and moral attri- 
 butes of the Deity. The author means only to obferve, that the moil igno- 
 rant, which was by far the mofl numerous tribe, gave credit to the mofl ex- 
 travagant Fiction ; and that the more intelligent part, were unable to form fo 
 full and perfect an idea of the Creator, as we find exhibited in the writings of 
 Infpiration. See the Note on p. 59. 1. 79. 
 
 Line 689, 90. Bellow* d in the fold, &c.] See examples of this in Ci'id*s 
 Me tarn, pajfim. 
 
 of
 
 BOOK II. A P O E M. x i 7 
 
 Of Cyprus, to the laughter-loving Queen, 693- 
 
 The Queen of Luft, high-fuming incenfe rofe. 
 
 One limp'd, and one was blind ; in {laughter one 
 
 Was bleft, and bathed his horrid fteps in gore. 
 
 Ev'n flie, the Power of Wifdom, from her limbs 
 
 Shook off th' ethereal mantle, laid the helm, 700 
 
 The fpear afide, the black-defcending plume, 
 
 And Jove's eternal JEgis ; calPd the Loves 
 
 To wanton in her fmile, and fhow'd her form 
 
 All- naked, fwelling to th' enraptured gaze, 
 
 On Ida's fhaggy top ; vain hope, to gain 7 ojr 
 
 The prize of Beauty from a mortal hand. 
 
 SUCH Fancy {ketch'd the heav'nly hoft ; fo deep 
 Plunged in the gulph of clofing darknefs, lay 
 Her wild creation. Does thy fecret foul 
 Reject it or approve ? Say was a plan 7 1 o 
 
 So loofe, fo various, fo unfhaped of parts, 
 Form'd to imprefs conviction on the thought 
 Of cool deciding Reafon ? Strays the walk 
 Of erring Judgment to fo dark a fliore ? 
 
 PROMPT
 
 tl g PROVIDENCE, BOOK II. 
 
 PROMPT to reply, yet cautious of offence, 715 
 
 The heart's foft whifper told the flashing glance 
 Its filcnt indignation. Then the Sage 
 Refumed : his look was pity, and his voice 
 Soft as the breath of Evening, when it fteals 
 Along the flowery bank, bedrop'd with dew. 720 
 
 YET was the draught that to thy blufhing cheek 
 Calls up th' indignant colour, by the fons 
 Of Science long embraced. The Pencil fried 
 Its richeft tints, fair from th' abyfs of night 
 To call the form celeftial ; to defcribe 725- 
 
 The birth of Infinite ; to arm the hand 
 Of Jove with thunder, and his eyes with rage. 
 Nor lefs the Sculptor plied his forming art 
 To fafhion Deity ; the chizzel preft 
 
 Thro' the blue marble's fweating veins, to fhape 730 
 
 The living buft in attitude obfcene. 
 Ev'n Architecture ftretch'd her thought fublime 
 To grafp the vaft defign : loofe to her view, 
 Th' imperfect forms of Grandeur fwimm'd along, 
 
 As
 
 BOOK II. A P O E M. 119 
 
 As fweeps a meteor o'er the flashing fkies : 7 3 5 
 
 'Till Judgment's fteddy gaze had wrought the parts 
 To fair proportion ; 'till the fimple touch 
 Of magic Elegance had graced the dome, 
 That rofe, (difgrace of Science !) to the Powers 
 Of rapine, luft, and {laughter. Thefe thou feeft, 740 
 
 Tho' waked to life, tho' delicate to feel 
 Each finer movement of the melting foul ; 
 Tho' tuned by harmony, the trembling lay 
 Was unifon to Nature : tho' refined 
 
 By fweet Philofophy's perfwafive lore ; 7 45" 
 
 Ev'n in their pureft age, by truth infpired ; 
 And taught by Wifdom, in thy fimple guife 
 Exalted Socrates ! Yet prone to a& 
 From fuperftitious terror. Know the fails, 
 That late triumphant floated to the breeze ; 750 
 
 Shall waft yon navy to Sicilia's fhore ; 
 But not to conqueft : for their better Chief, 
 Young Alcibiades is doom'd to death, 
 By Superftition doom'd, to fate the wifh 
 Of yellow -liver 'd Envy. From its bafe, 7 5 $ 
 
 Their
 
 120 PROVIDENCE, BOOK IL 
 
 Their Dagon fallen, th' offended Power demands 
 
 Blood for a facrifice. Led by the Few, 
 
 The many madden, and their frantic zeal, 
 
 Quick as dry powder rufliing into flame, 
 
 Burfts the frail mounds of reafon, juftice, law ; 760 
 
 And whirls him to deftru&ion. Yet are thefe, 
 
 Keen, fenfible, ingenious ; prompt to glow 
 
 With honeft hame ; and from the vulgar herd 
 
 Of other climes, by worth disjoined as far* 
 
 As from the twilight bat* th' aereal bird 765^ 
 
 Sublime, that gazes on the dazzling fun 
 
 With fieddy nerve, and wings the midway air. 
 
 THUS duped by Fancy, erring Reafon ftray'd 
 Thro' Night's black gloom ; and with uncertain ftep, 
 Stumbled from rock to rock. The plan perplex'd, 7 70 
 
 Obfcure> that link'd on Wifdom's beauteous chain, 
 Paffion to Happinefs, (unequal yoke !) 
 And Folly to Perfection.- Such the path 
 Of thofe whom Nature charm'd, and Tafte refined* 
 
 HERB
 
 BOOK II. A P O E M. x 2 1 
 
 HERE paufed the Sage. Attentive I revolved 775- 
 
 The fcene in filence, then ferene replied. 
 
 " CONVINCED by truth, th' enlightned mind no more 
 " Sufpends its full aflent. I fee how weak 
 " The bark of Hope, to ftem the mighty tide 
 " Of fhorelefs Infinite : though Reafon plies 7 8 
 
 " Along the ruffled ftream his waving oar ; 
 ct Or fees fhort lengths, or glimmers on the rock ; 
 tc Or marks the fhallow of a ridgy bay : 
 " Yet hopelefs of a wider range ; repell'd 
 C By every wave; check'd by the winds; o'er-awed 78$ 
 " By opening views ; or finking in the gulph 
 cc Of Darknefs and Confufion, O like Heav'n 
 cc Propitious ! frown not, if the labouring mind 
 cc Is ftill perplex'd ; if yet my thoughts demand, 
 xc Why Wifdom infinite, whofe ways are Peace ; 796 
 
 c< Whofe plan Perfection ; to fo lame a Guide 
 "So long confign'd the helm. Why on the foul 
 " Flafli'd not immediate vifion ? He, whofe breath 
 tc Waked the young offspring into life ; beheld 
 
 O 2 ItS
 
 122 PROVIDENCE, BOOK II. 
 
 " Its latent powers, knew all its reach of thought ; 795 
 
 " Saw it frail, various, weak, uncertain; left 
 
 " To tafk unequal, and bewildered wild 
 
 " In Error's devious maze. Had the keen beam 
 
 " Of Heav'n fliot radiant thro' the dufky gloom, 
 
 " To point the path of Truth ; had Reafon fhaped 800 
 
 c< His early courfe by fome directing ftar ; 
 
 " Ne'er had bold Fancy's daring wing eflay'd 
 
 " Th' unmeafured wafte unaided ; but reprefs'd, 
 
 <c Had moved refponfive to the whifper'd lore 
 
 " Of Judgment and of Nature. Then the ray, 805 
 
 <c So late that lightned on th' enquiring mind y 
 
 " Had fhone alike on all ; nor man complain'd 
 
 " Of partial favours on a part conferr'd ; 
 
 " Nor fhower'd profufe, and liberal on the whole/' 
 
 DUBIOUS I Ipoke ; for with indignant eye 8 1 o 
 
 The Sire beheld me ; and athwart his brow 
 Reproof had caft her frown. Severe he faid 
 
 i ACCUSE not Providence ;~ to thee its ways 
 
 Are
 
 BOOK H. A P O E M. 123 
 
 Are wrapt in darknefs ; rafli alike thou deem'ft 
 
 Of vvifdom or injuftice. Grant that Heav'n 815 
 
 Submifs, to Nature's glimmering fearch had lent 
 
 Internal light ; that feme fuperior Power 
 
 Had beckoning feized weak Reafon's groping hand, 
 
 And fliow'd the object of his fearch ; and clear'd 
 
 His trembling twilight to a perfect day : 8zo 
 
 Then had thy thought elate difdain'd to own 
 
 The boon conferr'd j thine all the work had been ; 
 
 Line 821, 2. 'Then had thy thought elate -, &c.] This argument hath been ex- 
 plained with great force and propriety by the advocates of Chriftianity ; in 
 anfwer to the objection drawn from, its having been fo late introduced. A 
 very little attention to the faculties of the human mind, will convince us that 
 this obfervation is founded on truth and nature. As the mind of man is na- 
 turally prying and inquifitive ; fo it is apt upon all occafions, not only to ex- 
 ult in the principles which it may have invented ; but to carry its refearches 
 from one mbject to another -, and to confider as pofiible the moft abftrufe fpe- 
 culations. Without the teftimony of experience we fhould never have be- 
 lieved, that principles of Theology fo different from thofe which Reafon ap- 
 pears to eftablifh, could have obtained at any period , and far lefs that thele 
 ihould have been embraced by nations remarkably diftinguiftied for polifhed 
 and cultivated manners. The teftimony of experience was therefore abfolute- 
 ly neceflary to fhow us, how far human nature unaffifted by Revelation, is 
 able to proceed in theological difcoveries , and to efiablifh a criterion by 
 which we may difcriminate betwixt the refearches of Reafon, and the truths 
 of Inspiration. Had a compleat Revelation of the divine will been exhibited 
 at any early period of the world , as the argument from prophecy muft have 
 been greatly weakened, if not wholly loft, a ftandard of this nature could 
 never have been fettled j and the mind infcnfible of its obligations to the Su- 
 preme Being, would have arrogated to itfclf thofe difcoveries, which we are 
 now fully fatisfied it could never have invented.^- Chriftianity therefore was 
 not introduced till that period, at which the human mind mi^ht have an op- 
 portunity to know from the hiftory of former ages, that its powers were inade- 
 quate to the difcoveries of Theology ; and consequently that a Divine Revela- 
 tion was indifpenfably neceflary. 
 
 Nor
 
 I2 4 PROVIDENCE, BOOK II. 
 
 Nor God received His own. Still if thou feekft 
 
 To know why man is form'd fo weak, fo lame ; 
 
 Why not advanced in Wifdom's ruing fcale 825- 
 
 To range a wider orbit : Firft demand, 
 
 Why on the boar's broad briftly back befmear'd, 
 
 Floats not the downy ermin ; firft enquire, 
 
 Why the bright peacock mid' the noon-day blaze, 
 
 That fpreads his ftarry plumage to the fun ; 830 
 
 And gleams refplendent in the dazzling ray ; 
 
 Pours not thy lay fweet Philomel ; nor wings 
 
 The air with lightning-fpeed, and marks the earth 
 
 A fpeck beneath. Vain were the fearch ? not lefs 
 
 The Hope prefumptuous that arraigns thy God ; 83! 
 
 W r ho gave not fooner, what beftow'd, had moved 
 
 Thy pride to queftion all : who form'd thee firft 
 
 A Man, but not an Angel. Know 'twas deem'd 
 
 Peft by eternal Wifdom ; that the fearch 
 
 Of man unaided, fhould afpire in vain 84^ 
 
 To reach the Firft of things ; that in the maze 
 
 Line 824, 25. tf%y man is formed as ivecik^ &c.] i. e. Why Deity did not 
 originally confer on man fufficient abilities to inveftigate thefe truths, without 
 the aid of Revelation. This obje<flion is but (lightly touched here. The rea- 
 der may fee it treated at more length in Book I. from 1. 907, to 991. 
 
 of
 
 BOOK IL A P O E Rl 125 
 
 Of Fancy wandering wild, his feet fhould err 
 
 Far from th' afcent that leads to truth, inticed 
 
 By the faint femblance of aereal fhapes ; 
 
 By Phantomes fwimming on the mental gaze ; 845 
 
 'Till Heav'n recall'd his ftep j. 'rill God reveal'd 
 
 The path o'erlook'd by his prefumptuous pride ; 
 
 And burft th' involving Dark that fornvd its veiL 
 
 HENCE Arrogance chaftifed, beholds her plume 
 Soil'd in the duft ; hence Reafon's judging eye 850 
 
 Sedate and flow th' hiftoric field furveys : 
 Sees Nature's fimple fons untaught by Art, 
 Roam o'er the violet-purpled dale, ferene ; 
 Pure as the neclard ftream that circling, warms 
 The peache's downy bofome : fees them caught S^jr 
 
 In Pleafure's filken chain ; by Virtue left ;, 
 By Innocence mifled, by Vice infnared, 
 
 THENCE down the fteep of long-revolving years 
 Defcends the wing flow-waving. On thy clime, 
 Illumined, ^Egypt, his delighted gaze 860 
 
 Marks
 
 126 PROVIDENCE, BOOK II. 
 
 Marks the firft dawn of Science, heav'n-infpired, 
 
 Beam on th' enlightned path. Piles, Bulwarks, Fanes, 
 
 And cloudy Pyramids afcending, ftretch 
 
 Their fpires to Heav'n. By aftronomic chains 
 
 The fpheres are circled, and the mounting Sun, 865 
 
 On Fancy's magic wheel performs his round. 
 
 Yet blind to truth, the darkned mind confounds 
 
 The Maker with His work. He leaves them pale 
 
 And groveling low at InftincYs hallowed fhrine. 
 
 H is nobleft rites prophaned, th' indignant Power 870 
 Averts his look ; and lo, the happy climes 
 Of Arts, and Elegance, and polifh'd life j 
 Unfold their mantling groves ! the Graces fport 
 Loofe on the balmy-pinnion'd gale, that waves 
 Thy ftream Ilyflus, where the fhady fpires 875- 
 
 Of bufy Athens tremble ! Here at laft, 
 He hopes a nobler plan, but hopes in vain. 
 Innumerous, floating on the ftartled view, 
 The fwarming Deities arife ! Behind 
 
 Line 864. By aftronomtc chains^ &c.] This refers to the defective fyftem of 
 Aftronomy winch obtained in theie ages. 
 
 The
 
 BOOK II. A P O E M. 127 
 
 The Furies howl; Luft, Rapine, Murder, Rage, 880 
 
 With blood-ftain'd eyes ftride in the horrid train 
 Deform'd, and baleful taint the murky air. 
 
 " 
 
 ARE thefe thy Gods, O Athens? was my voice 
 " (Exclaims the Power aghaft !) ftrain'd to fupport 
 " A fcheme that teems with Folly ?-- The wild dream 885- 
 " Of howling Phrenzy, forms not to the mind 
 " Shapes more difcordant, when the dizzy head 
 " Swims, and the breath of Fancy whirls the brain 1 
 
 cc WARN'D by my call, 'tis faid the wifer Few 
 <c Defpifed their country's fuperftitious rites ; 89$ 
 
 " Nor bent at Folly's fhrine the fupple knee. 
 " 'Tis juft: but wrought they by my light convey'd, 
 " A nobler fyftem then ? Did Reafon point 
 " The path to truth ? Ah no! Philofophy 
 C{ Dream'd of immortal life; but dream'd by ftarts ; Sy$ 
 " By ftarts awaked, and doubted. To her fearch 
 
 Line 894, 5. Pbilofopby dream'd^ &c.] It affords a melancholy proof of the 
 weaknefs of the human mind to reflect that there are many important truths, 
 \vhich have, during a fucceffion of ages been firmly believed only by ignorant 
 and uncivilized nations ; and that the powers of the mind in their higheft itate of 
 
 R improvement,
 
 128 PROVIDENCE, BOOK II. 
 
 " The light was feeble, and the field around 
 
 " Was long and dark, and defolate . She gave 
 
 c< The palm of Hope,- Hope on his rainbow plumed, 
 
 " Sat wrapt in vifion, and his glittering wings 900 
 
 " Expanding reach'd the fldes : but Doubt behind, 
 
 cc Slow dogg'd his flight, and breathed a fullen cloud, 
 
 " T hat fcreen'd its glories from his mifty view. 
 
 mprovement, are productive of Sceptiafm, rather than CmviRion. Of the 
 truth of this obfervation, the prefent fubjecl: affords a remarkable inflance. 
 We have already remarked, that the belief of a Future State chara&erifeth in 
 one fhape or other all Nations whatever. The Heathens indifcriminately had 
 their Elyfium and Tartarus ; the Mohammedans have their Houris , the Sa- 
 vages of India and America fuppofe that their Fathers enjoy over again in 
 another world, the pleafures which were moft agreeable in this life -, and the 
 ancient inhabitants of North Briton believed (if Oflian is to be credited,) that 
 their Warriors failed on clouds, and purfued aereal deer \ an opinion which- may 
 
 afford fome conlblation to a modern fuperannuated Fox hunter. The Philofo- 
 
 phers of antiquity however, who may be fuppofed to have examined this fub- 
 jecl: with greater attention, exprefs themfelves much more dubioufly. We 
 have already feen Plato expreffmg his defire of obtaining fome Divine light 
 with regard to this matter ; and we mail find his follower Cicero, equally un- 
 certain and fluctuating in his opinions. Me vero dele<5tat, (fays he, fpeaking 
 of a future (late of exiftence) deinde etiam fi non fit, mihi tamen perfuaderi 
 velim. One of his fpeakers in the beautiful Dialogue on Death, fays very in^ 
 genuoufly, upon being afked whether he had read Plato's Phasdon ; that he 
 knows not how it is ; when he read the book, he affented to the reafoning, 
 but when he laid it afide, his doubts returned,, Tufcid. Qu<cft. lib. i. The fame 
 author informs us, that the celebrated Theophraftus complained on his death- 
 bed, that Nature had capricioufly bellowed a long life upon Crows and Fawns, 
 to whom it can be of no advantage , and had made man fo mort-lived, to 
 whom a longer feries of years would have been fo highly beneficial, for com- 
 pleating his refearches. Qtiferebatur igitur fi cum ilia videre caepiffet, extin- 
 /, Id lib. iii. We might confirm this remark by many other examples of 
 this kind -, if thefe would not fwell the note to too much length. It is fuffi- 
 cient to obierve from the whole, the propriety with which it is faid in the Sa^ 
 Writings, that Life and Immortality are brought to Light by the Gofpel. 
 
 " Q N R
 
 BOOK II. A P O E M. i 2 <; 
 
 "ONE Sage alone, with philofophic eye 
 <f Look'd thro' the gloom, and fpied the ruling hand 905- 
 " Of Wifdom in her works ; but from his fight 
 " The Vifion vanifli'd ; to his lips divine, 
 " By Superftition held, the poifon'd draught 
 " Crack'd Life's weak firings, and fent th' unprifon'd mind, 
 " Half-clear'd, to know the truth his mind explored." 910 
 
 HERE Reafon fails ; his flagging wing demands 
 Superior aid to raife his loofen'd plumes ; 
 To form them to the flight. He marks afar, 
 Superior aid defcending ; and fubmifs 
 
 Marks the long path where Revelation pours 9 1 j 
 
 Her fteddy ray, and {hows new fcenes, difplay'd 
 In rich variety ; and owns the hand 
 Of Wifdom rear'd confpicuous o'er the whole. 
 
 THUS as thine eye purfues the mighty plan ; 
 Thou feeft the Power who call'd the kindling beam -920 
 Of light from Chaos ; whofe high mandate reins 
 The wheeling winds, or on their wild wings (howers 
 
 R 2 The
 
 I3o PROVIDENCE, BOOK II. 
 
 The balm of Health ; who bids the mountains rear 
 
 Their cloudy furnmits, or volcanos wafte 
 
 Their fiery fuel ; and confults in all 925 
 
 The good of man : Thou feeft Him in the fcheme 
 
 Of moral Good, difpofing o'er the whole 
 
 One fum of Benefit ; and as it fvvells 
 
 To fair harmonious fymmetry ; thou feeft 
 
 One glorious aim that rules> and works in all. 93 
 
 PERHAPS, (thus milder fpoke the parting Sage) 
 Perhaps eternal Wifdom leaves immured 
 In ignorance and night, the tribes that roam 
 O'er regions far remote, where Nature fhowers 
 With liberal hand her treafures : From a Few, 93 JT 
 
 A favour'd Few, removes the mantling veil : 
 That hence to Gratitude^s fvveet-thrilling firing 
 
 Line 932, &c. Perhaps eternal Wifdom, &c.] This remark is fubjoined in 
 anfwer to a queflion which may very naturally be afked ; and that is, why Re- 
 vealed Religion, now that it is granted to mankind j is limited to fo fmall a 
 number of the human fpecies. Perhaps it is not wholly from the purpofe to 
 reply , that as by the late introduction of Chriftianity, mankind were prepared 
 to embrace it by being fully convinced of the infufficiency of Reafon ; fo by 
 its being conferred only upon a part, this conviction is ftill impreffed forcibly 
 upon the mind ; as we fee that unaffifted Reafon is as unable at this period as 
 it was at any former one, to form a confiftent fcheme of religious principles. 
 Our gratitude therefore, who are diftinguimed from others, ought to be pro- 
 proportioned to our advantages. 
 
 A
 
 BOOK II. A P O E M. i$i 
 
 The heart may move reponfive ; that fecured 
 
 By living evidence, the mind may feel, 
 
 May own its weaknefs ; taught at laft to know 940 
 
 That Nature's eye unaided, hopes in vain 
 
 To reach its God ; that as the circling orb 
 
 Of Providence revolves ; the fecret wheels 
 
 That fhape its courfe, harmonious, tho' unfeen, 
 
 Roll to their deftined end; though deem'd by man 945 
 
 Weak or excentric ; for the God within, 
 
 Works not by means to Human Pride reveal'd ; 
 
 But filent moves to reach his great Defign. 
 
 HIGH on the gale afcending as he fpoke, 
 The yellow cloud received him ; and the wing 
 Of Fancy glittering waved, and reach'd the fides.. 
 
 P R O V I-
 
 PROVIDENCE, 
 
 POEM. 
 
 BOOK HI.
 
 The ARGUMENT. 
 
 DEfcription of the miferies of Human Life, and complaint of the un- 
 equal diflributions of Reward and Punifhment, ver. i, to 46. 
 Scene of the Book to 57. Recapitulation of the two preceding books, to 
 82. Conclufion with regard to human life, to 90. Firjl Allegory. Di- 
 feafes the confequences of Intemperance, and Temptation of Opulence, to 
 295. Men frequently miferable fro?n obtaining their wifies, to 324. The 
 inconveniencies enumerated which are attendant upon Affluence, to 344. 
 Objection, that this relates only to the guilty, to 356. Anfwer, that 
 Poverty is exempted from temptations, which are ready even to mif- 
 lead a virtuous man who is opulent, to 387. Other advantages of Pover- 
 ty, /0 393. Unreafonablenefs of challenging Providence, to 414. Com- 
 plaint of fuffering Virtue, to 443. Second Allegory. The trial of 
 Virtue, to 676. Remarks upon the conduct of Providence, Cattfes of 
 mans diffatisjacJion, to 716. The Allegories refumed to 734. The dif- 
 penfations of Providence vindicated in the fufferings of Virtue, by argu- 
 ments drawn from the weaknefs of the human mind, which is unable to 
 judge of the extent of its own faculties, to 753. From its miflaking in 
 many inftances the ruling paffion, to 768. From its temerity in judging 
 that a powerful temptation may be fubdued, becaufe a weak one hath been 
 rejifted, to 793. Injuflice of accufing the Deity, becaufe by placing a vir- 
 tumis man in a low fphere of life, he exempts him from temptation, or 
 takes him off by death, when He fees him expofed to one which might be 
 dangerous to hh virtue, to 823. Reafon why Vice is profperous drawn 
 from the two Allegories, to 88 1. The argument from a future jlate exa- 
 mined, /<? 898. Vindication of Providence from the faints in heaven, to 
 987. Wifdom perfonified, and pronouncing her decijionfrom a review of 
 the whole Potm, to 1037. Conclujion.
 
 PROVIDENCE, 
 
 OEM. 
 
 BOOK III. 
 HUMAN LIFE. 
 
 IT) Y Time's flow-heaving tide, the works of man 
 ^-^ Are whelm'd ; how finks beneath his wafteful fway 
 The pride of Empire ! glittering for a while, 
 
 The gilded veffels fports along the ftream, 
 
 Fann'd 
 
 Line i. By Time's flow -heaving tide, &c.] As we have in the two former 
 Books endeavoured to point out the moil confpicuous marks of Defign, which 
 appear in the formation of the world and in its Government with refpect to the 
 introduction of Chriftianity ; the next topic which falls naturally into confidera- 
 tion in canvalTing this fubjeft, relates to thofe traces of Wifdom, which a view. 
 of the Deity's moral Government fuggefts to the mind upon examination. 
 'J'he objections which lye againft; Providence, from the unequal diftribution of 
 Reward and Punifliment which takes place at prefent, can only be entirely re- 
 
 S moved;
 
 J32 PROVIDENCE, BOOK IIL 
 
 Fann'd with propitious gales : the fides are firm, 5 
 
 The hull capacious, and the fwelling fails 
 
 Float to the breeze of Summer. Ah how foon> 
 
 Torn by the Tempeft's wildly-rufliing wing j 
 
 And foundering on the deep, it lies deform'd, 
 
 A fliatter'd wreck ! nor lefs on Life defcends i o 
 
 The ftorm impetuous ; let thy filver hairs* 
 
 Time-hallow'd Age, be witnefs ! the dim eye, 
 
 The tottering tread, the furrow'd cheek, the hand 
 
 Yet trembling from the blafL Tell ye who tend 
 
 The bed of death ; how o'er the helplefs race i 
 
 Of human victims, ftrides the harpy foot 
 
 Of Mifery triumphant ! while the veins 
 
 Shrink to the Fever's fcorching breath, or feel 
 
 moved by our belief that there is another ftate in which a more perfect Dif- 
 penfation obtains -, and the author taking this for granted, only propofeth to 
 enquire, whether a review of Human Life does not afford us fufficient reafons 
 to conclude, that fuch a Difpenfation does really take place ; and that the Su- 
 preme Being confults the benefit of His creatures, by iubjecting them to tem- 
 porary Evils. In order to effectuate this end, he enquires, whether Vice in 
 fome fenfe is not its own punifhment, as Virtue is faid to be its own reward, 
 even in this life. He affigns iome obvious caufes for which Crimes are not 
 chaftifed in proportion to their demerit, in the prcfent ftate of things ; and 
 the punifhment due to the Bad, is apparently transferred to the Virtuous. He 
 concludes from this detail, that there are evident marks of Defign in the pre- 
 fent management of the world : and after fuggefting from thefe the probabili- 
 ty of Future Retribution j he fums up the work, with taking a view of it, as 
 far as it concerns the happinefs of the Jult, 
 
 Startling
 
 BOOK III. A P O E M. i 3 - 
 
 Starting, the fiery dart of racking Pain, 
 
 That writhes to agony ; or loofened fhake 2 o 
 
 Before Confumption ; when her baleful fpunge 
 
 Drops its green poifon on the fprings of life. 
 
 NOR thefe alone purfue the race of man. 
 Far other ills await, far other woes 
 Like vultures revel on his canker'd heart. 
 
 25 
 O ye who nightly languifh o*er the tomb, 
 
 Where fleeps thy duft, Eugenio ! Ye whofe hearts 
 
 O'er Virtue bleed, when reeking from the fcourge 
 
 Of dire Oppreflion, in fome lonely cave 
 
 She pines all defolate ! Ye Powers that haunt 3 o 
 
 The vale where Genius breathes her plaint alone, 
 
 Wild to the whittling wind : her voice unheard, 
 
 As airs that warble o'er the murmuring dale 
 
 Remote, to Solitude's inchanted ear ! 
 
 O tell, why wrapt in Grandeur's floating robe ; 35 
 
 Vice mounts her throne ! while trembling at the bar 
 
 Stands Innocence appall'd ! Tell why the hand 
 
 S 2 Of
 
 134 PROVIDENCE, BOOK III. 
 
 Of flrutting Impudence, unlicenfed, grafps 
 
 The palm of worth, and his indignant brow 
 
 Looks down, while meek-eyed Modefty difmay'd,. 40 
 
 Mantles her cheek in crimfbn, and retires 
 
 To blufli in filence ! why thy purple car, 
 
 High-plumed Ambition, bathes its rolling wheels 
 
 In blood, and o'er pale Virtue's ftreaming corfe, 
 
 Rapid and mad'ning, fprings to reach the goal. 4^ 
 
 THUS while flow- wander ing o'er the purple heath 
 Stray'd my lone ftep ; the melancholy mind 
 Had pour'd its plaint low-whifpering, to the gale, 
 That fighing foothed. its anguifh. From his noon 
 The fun declined, and {looping from her fphere 50 
 
 Sublime, the lark's loofe-wheeling wing retired 
 Prone to her humble couch. Around the wild 
 Was bleak and pathlefs ; the furrounding hills,, 
 High- heaving, fhow'd their gleamy tops afar ; 
 And rolled the plover's deeply-plaintive wail $$: 
 
 Along the founding defert. Soon abaft'd, 
 I mark'd with timid eje^, the folemn ftep 
 
 Of
 
 BOOK III. A P O E M. 135- 
 
 Of Contemplation. Fancy's magic wand 
 
 Behind him waved ; and o'er her fwelling limbs 
 
 Light fwimm'd the many-colour'd robe. Awhile 60 
 
 The Sire in filence view'd me ; and began. 
 
 O'ER Nature's ample field thy wondering mind 
 Hath feen enlightned Wifdom's guiding ray 
 Stream on the work ; hath mark'd her beaming eye 
 Fair on the Thunder's ragged front ; her ftep 6 $ 
 
 Along the Whirl-wind's defolating path; 
 The deep Volcano's gleam, and thy wide wafte, 
 Devouring Earthquake ! To the Mountain's brow 
 Thine eye hath traced her walk ; and feen her fcoop 
 The River's bed,, or teach the bubbling rill 7 o 
 
 To fteal wild-wandering o'er the lillied dale. 
 That waves its dewy mantle o'er the ftream. 
 
 NOR lefs to aid weak Reafon's fearch, her thought 
 
 To man propitious, form'd the nobler plan, 
 
 Line 64, 5. Her beaming eye fair on the Thunder's, &cj See Book I. from 
 L 496. 
 
 Line 65, fcfr. Her Jlep -along the whirlwind, &c.] See B. I. 1. 510, 806, 822. 
 Line 68. To the Mountain's brow, &c.] See above from 1,638, 10795. 
 Line 73. Nor lefs to aid, &c.] B. II. pafT. 
 
 That
 
 13 <5 PROVIDENCE, BOOK III. 
 
 That gave new beauties to th' enraptured view. 75 
 
 Slow on the flight of Time thy mind hath feen 
 Her ftep attendant ; and the glorious fcheme 
 Fraught with high bounty, to perfection wrought ; 
 Frail Nature aided ; Doubt's black cloud difpell'd ; 
 Truth from wild Fancy's wildering maze recall'd ; 8* 
 
 And heav'n indulgent to the hopes of man. 
 
 WHILE thefe fair-beaming, to the mental eye 
 Difplay eternal Wifdom ; think'ft thou then, 
 In Life's perplexing fcenes her hand unfeen ? 
 The doubt were impious. Let the raven fpeak 85 
 
 Her care, as o'er the folitary wild 
 He fails, and (looping to the deftined prey, 
 Flutters his ebon -coloured wing.- -Thy plaint 
 Be ceafed ; attend in filence, and adore ' 
 
 HE fpoke; and fwcl ling, as the magic rod 90 
 
 Of Fancy touch' d the trembling earth ; around, 
 A woody theatre arofe ! the pines 
 Waved their green vefturc o'er the (haded lawn, 
 
 Where
 
 BOOK III. A P O E M. 137 
 
 Where bloom'd fpontancous beauty : all the tribe 
 
 That mellow Autumn from the cloudy hill 95 
 
 BSholds loofe-floating. Mid the circled field, 
 
 An eafy mount afcending, raifed its head 
 
 High o'er the topmoft boughs , whence to the gaze 
 
 Delighted, all the rufhing landfldp glow'd. 
 
 Two paths of flowery turf where Art difpofed I o 
 
 The rich embroidery, blooming as it rofe ; 
 
 Led thro' the winding forreft. One inticed 
 
 Th' unwary ftep, that gradual fcaled the brink 
 
 Of a fteep precipice ; whence the weak fight, 
 
 Dizzy with horror ! mark'd the fhaggy rock, i 05 
 
 An height immenfe ! and tottering as he gazed 
 
 Th' affrighted youth drop'd headlong. From the mount 
 
 The other fweeping fhow'd a pompous pile , 
 
 Whofe front tranfparent glittered to the fun, 
 
 And fhow'd the broider'd dale. Its form difplay'd 1 1 o 
 
 The fimple elegance of tafte. -Below 
 
 A range of pillars, cafy, light, fublime y, 
 
 Upheld at once, and dignified the domes 
 
 That o'er the fwelling arch majeftic lean'cL 
 
 Above,
 
 138 PROVIDENCE, BOOK III. 
 
 Above_, an aery cupola difplay'd 1 1 5 
 
 Its gleaming circle : from th' illumined round, 
 The landfldp danced in all the kindling hues 
 That Fancy eyes with tranfport. 
 
 As all-diflblving, on the mount's high brow 
 I mark'd the fcene luxuriant; on my ear, 12$ 
 
 The lute fweet- warbling pour'd a melting lay 
 Deep-felt, that trembled to the wifhing foul, 
 
 SUDDEN, a Form all-radiant, as the cloud 
 That gilds a fummer eve ; flow from the grove 
 Advanced ; of winning port \ her pinnion'd wings i 2 $ 
 Hung loofe, and glitter'd to the fparkling ray. 
 A veil fair- mantling, o'er her glofly limbs 
 Flow'd carelefs down ; and fwimming to the breeze, 
 Heightned the ivory polifh. In her hand, 
 The lute of voice melodious, thro' the trees 130 
 
 Low-murmuring waved ; and on her moiftned lips 
 The Graces dropt ambrofia. Gradual on 
 She came, and fhovv'd her charms all heav'nly fair, 
 
 Pull
 
 B'OOK III. A P E M. 139 
 
 Full to th' aftonifti'd gaze : and from the gate 
 
 Wide-opening, rufli'd her loud -exulting train. 135 
 
 A joyous tribe, that thro' the mazy dance 
 
 Harmonious fkimm'd in aery ring ; gay-robed, 
 
 As the fair people of a vernal noon ; 
 
 That fport, and humming ply th' aereal wing. 
 
 ONE mid the circling throng fuperiof trod, 140 
 
 And claim'd their homage ; yet his cheek retain'd 
 The fading- rofe of youth, that ere its prime 
 Difeafe had wither'd, as th' expanding bud, 
 Smit by pale Lightning's beauty-blafting wing ; 
 Untimely droops, and quivering threats a fall, 1 4$ 
 
 E'er Autumn's rude breath bare the leafy bough. 
 Yet reeling from the feaft, his eyes announced 
 Intemperate joy, though flow-corroding Care 
 Sat on his front. Behind him crawl'd the ftep 
 Of feeble Age ; a Sire, whofe ragged brow, 1 5 o 
 
 Time's gradual plough-fhare deepening as it rolPd, 
 Had rnark'd with furrows ; and his palfied limbs 
 Bent, as he totter'd o'er the ruftling lawn, 
 
 T The
 
 1 40 PROVIDENCE, BOOK III. 
 
 The reft laugh'd loud, and Mirth with frolic laugh 
 
 Danced on their dimpling cheek : light to the voice 1 55 
 
 Of the foft lute, all-loofe they roved along, 
 
 Where young-eyed Pleafure led their ftep ; elate, 
 
 And heedlefs of the road. The blooming Fair, 
 
 Now fmiling charm'd them ; now her ftealing lay 
 
 Thrill'd to the foul. Along the flowery path 1 60 
 
 Carelefs they followed ; till aghaft they viewed 
 
 The headlong precipice, and check'd their courfe 
 
 Sudden, and ftarting, mark'd the howling wild. 
 
 YET foon the danger vanifh'd : the bleak fcene, 
 Familiar frown'd no more. Though to the brink i 6s 
 
 One came, and foundering, tumbled as he gazed ; 
 Another run, ftood, totter'd, reel'd, and fell : 
 Yet ftill the croud precipitate prefs'd on, 
 Fearlefs of death. Some to their bofoms clafp'd 
 The rofy-featured maid, whofe beating veins 170 
 
 Throbb'd with foft tumult, and her downy cheek 
 Glow'd to the warm embrace. Some fnatch'd the cup 
 Where the wine fparkled, and with eager thirft 
 
 Quaff'd
 
 BOOK III. A P O E M 141 
 
 Quaff 'd its delicious poifon. Some retired, 
 
 Far in the dark wood's deep recefs, explored i 7 5 
 
 Its windings wild, and led the willing Fair 
 
 To bowers where Nature weaved th' entangling flirub 
 
 In mazes intricate ; that fcarce the breeze 
 
 Was heard to murmur, and the Sun's weak eye 
 
 Look'd glimmering thro' the gloom. 'Twas all a fcene i 80 
 
 Of fport, and frolic dance, and laughing joy. 
 
 LONG o'er the lillied plain I caft my eye ; 
 Long mark'd the croud that roam'd delighted on : 
 Alternate tranfport, pity, love, and fear 
 Work'd in my bofom. Dubious as I flood, 1 85 
 
 The Sire benignant fmiled, and thus refumed. 
 
 Lo! from thy heav'n-illumined glance, the mift, 
 That veils from mortal man, the Powers unfeen 
 Who prompt to vice, is vanifh'd ! Raife thy fight 
 From yon black cloud, and mark what forms appear, i 90 
 
 I LOOK'D, and hovering o'er the flowery turf 
 
 T 2 Were
 
 1 42 PROVIDENCE, BOOK III. 
 
 AVere feen innumerable fhapes, whofe wings 
 
 Waved on the wind, or o'er the glittering field 
 
 Who trod in filence. Care with lowering brow 
 
 Slow ftalk'd, and Slander, fpeckled as the fnake i 95 
 
 That flings th' unwary traveller, along 
 
 The tainted earth trail'd loofe ; or born on wings 
 
 Blue as the brimftone's gleam, in fecret {hot 
 
 Her poifon'd arrows ; pining Envy gnaw'd 
 
 A blafted laurel, from the locks of Fame 200 
 
 Snatch'd, as the Goddefs to her lips applied 
 
 Her mighty trump, and fwell'd a folemn note 
 
 To Homer's venerable name. Not far 
 
 Stood Difcord foaming. Riot double- tongued, 
 
 And gleaming Frenzy, and thy yellow wing zos 
 
 Revenge, fell fiend ! friook plagues, and thro' the bread. 
 
 Infufed their venom to the inmoft foul. 
 
 O'er all Difeafe her beauty-withering wand 
 
 Waved high ; and heaving on the heavy air 
 
 Her raven-pinions ; bloated as frie faiFd 2 1 o 
 
 Line 202, 3. Swett'd afokmn note to Homer's, &c] This refers (as the intel- 
 ligent reader will obferve) to the mean attempts of fome critics, who becaufe 
 they cannot reach the fphere of Homer, would pull down this great genius to 
 their own level. 
 
 The
 
 BOOK III. A P O E M. 143 
 
 The face of Nature. Shapelefs was her form, 
 
 And void ; the Owl's ill-omen'd eyes high-raifed, 
 
 Speckled her front ; her noftrils breathed a cloud ; 
 
 Pale Famine's fallow hand had fcoop'd her cheek ; 
 
 And a green viper form'd her forky tongue. 2 1 
 
 Her wings the rank fen's putrid fteam compofed, 
 
 Condenfed to folid. All her form below> 
 
 Ended in fiery bafilifks, and makes* 
 
 And fcorpions dropping venom. Slow he moved 
 
 Along the troubled ak ; and from a bag,. 220 
 
 (Wrought deep by Envy in her midnight den) 
 
 Scatter'd the feeds of death. The fparkling bowl 
 
 Received them now ; and now th' enfeebled corfe, 
 
 Lank, open, fpent, at each unfolding pore 
 
 Suck'd in the poifon, as it rofe decay'd,. 225 
 
 Livid, and weak, from Pleafure's loofe embrace. 
 
 SOON o'er each withering cheek, the baleful Power 
 Had fpread unfeen her life-confuming ftain ; 
 Nor knew th' exulting Youth, who quaff'd elate 
 The draught delicious ; that untimely froft 230 
 
 Lurk'd
 
 144 PROVIDENCE, BOOK lit, 
 
 Lurk'd by the fprings of life ; and fecret chill'd 
 The florid blood, and nlark'd him for the tomb. 
 
 AT laft with weak ftep came the trembling Sage, 
 Haggard, and fhrinking from the breeze ; his voice 
 Was deep, and hollow ; and the loofe nerves (hook 235 
 
 His filver-fprinkled head. He thus began. 
 
 " O yet, while Heav'n fufpends your doom, be wife, 
 f My Sons ! O ceafe to Men to the lore 
 " Of Pleafure ! Death attends her forward ftep ; 
 " And Pain's keen dart (hoots pointed from her fmile. 240 
 " Hear then the words of Age : Yet Fate beftovvs 
 " One hour ; yet Virtue with indulgent voice 
 " By me invites to (hun the devious maze 
 " Of Error : Yet to crown with length of days, 
 " With joy, with happinefs, your bold career 245 
 
 <c She hopes ! O match the proffer'd boon ! be rouzed ; 
 " E'er her ftrong arm tremendous, at your heads 
 " Shall launch th' avenging thunder : e'er difmay'd, 
 " Perplex'd, bewilder'd, wild ; you feek the haunt 
 
 " Of
 
 BOOK III. A P O M. 14$ 
 
 " Of Peace, when Darknefs veils her lowly cot; 250 
 
 u And mourn her gentle fmile for ever gone." 
 
 CHIEF on the youth whofe bloom the mildew'd blaft 
 Of fell Difeafe had ftain'd ; the words of Age 
 Imprefs'd convidion ; ftarting from his dream, 
 He paufed a moment, dubious as he mufed, 
 From Pleafure's flowery path to turn ferene, 
 With aim determined ; or yet lingering, (hare 
 Her rich repaft, and wait fome future hour. 
 
 HIM thus half-rouzed, the foul-enchanting Fair 
 Beheld : the ruby deepened on her lip, 
 And keener radiance fparkled in her eye. 
 Bare as the throbbing bofom to his view 
 Tumultuous heaved ; (the raven-colour'd hair 
 Shaded its fnowy white) all-loofe fhe Iprung 
 Back from the wood. The mantling veil clung round 2 65 
 Her polifli'd limbs, and fhow'd the beauteous frame, 
 Shaped by the hand of Harmony, and robed 
 By all the Graces ; to the lawlefs glance 
 
 Of
 
 1 46 PROVIDENCE, BOOK III. 
 
 Of youth, that wandering o'er her countlefs charms 
 
 Stray 'd loft in tranfport. With a frnile that thrill'd 270 
 
 His inmoft foul, fhe charm'd him to her lore : 
 
 Then ardent, clafping to her fwelling breaft 
 
 His form high-kindling, with the voice of Love 
 
 Waked the foft feelings of the melting foul. 
 
 WHAT then to calm enraptured thought, avail'd 275 
 Slow-judging Age ? Impatient of controul ; 
 And fired to rage at Pleafure's whilper'd call ; 
 The bright reverfion of his rich domains 
 Glanced quick on Faffion's fiery- ftreaming eye, 
 And rouzed to frenzy. By the filver hair 280 
 
 He dragg'd the helplefs Sire, while yet weak life 
 Leap'd in his bofom ; to the fhaggy rock ' 
 (The gay companions of his frolic hours 
 Lent willing aid) and hurl'd him headlong down ; 
 Regardlefs of his wail ! I faw his hands, 285 
 
 His wither 'd hands to grafp the fteddy knee 
 In vain extended ! heard the fuppliant voice, 
 Remote., as in fome deep and hollow cave 
 
 Howls
 
 BOOK III. A P O E M. , 47 
 
 Howls the low wind ! and mark'd the wild eye, roll'd 
 
 In deep unutterable woe !- Defpair> 290 
 
 Pity, and Anguifli wrung my tortured heart 
 
 By turns, that wifh'd a dagger might avenge 
 
 The ruffian-deed. The Power of thought beheld 
 
 Sedate the mix'd emotions, and began. 
 
 LEAVE thou toHeav'n the wretch whofe impious hand 295 
 Has foil'd the locks of venerable Age - y 
 And hurl'd his Sire untimely to the tomb. 
 Difeafe thou feeft and Death already wait 
 To feize their viclim. On the dizzy verge 
 Of Time he ftands unpitied ; and the Power 300 
 
 Impatient o'er him waves his fweeping fcythe. 
 
 Line 298, 9. Difeafe thou feeft and Death, &c.] As this book opens with a 
 complaint of the miieries to which human life is expofed, partly from the dif- 
 eafes which are incident to man ; and partly from the calamities of another 
 kind to which his life is expofed ; it is replied here in anfwer to the firft, that 
 no argument can lye againft Providence from this confideration, becaufe Dif- 
 eafes are generally the confequences of fome fpecies of intemperance. That 
 many excellent moral ends are effectuated by thefe, is a truth, which the expe- 
 rience of individuals will not permit us to queftion. Yet it is certain in gene- 
 nil, that as diftempers are entailed upon the mod robuil conflitution by irregu- 
 larity and excefs ; ib perfons who are originally tender and delicate, will not 
 only preferve conflant health, but will even retrieve a broken conflitution by 
 regularity and temperance. It is therefore unreafonable to accufe Providence, 
 as if it inflicted thofe difeafes as punifhments, which are really the natural . 
 confequences of our own conduct. 
 
 U YET
 
 i 4 a PROVIDENCE, BOOK III. 
 
 YET warn'd, behold what danger marks the path 
 Of high-brow'd Opulence ! Intemperance, 
 The fruitful parent of Difeafe, behind 
 
 Reels loofe, and filent plants th' entangling fnare. 305 
 
 Oft, when to vengeance rouzed, th' Eternal dooms 
 Some wretch to mifery extreme ; He grants 
 The fervent wifh ; He gives th' infatiate eye 
 To rove tranfported o'er its golden {lore ^ 
 The heart to fwell like Xerxes, when he view'd 3 1 o 
 
 His hofts that wrapt th' immeafurable plain > 
 And triumph'd in his power. Thus fares the wretch. 
 As whirl'd by Paffion, thro' Life's dufty field 
 He burfts exulting. On the drooping head 
 Of Merit, fhy to cenfure, and reprefs'd 315: 
 
 By decent Pride from murmuring ; his rude hand 
 Arrefts the palm. He gains it ; and adored 
 
 Line 306, &c. Oft when to vengeance rouzed, &c.] This 
 Numinibus vota exaudita malignis ; 
 
 as Juvenal phrafes it, is a truth confirmed by experience, and affords as ftrpng 
 a proof of the weaknefs of the human mind, and of its infufficiency to judge 
 ot the ways of Providence, as any that can be adduced. 
 
 Line 314, &c. Qn the drooping head^ &c.] In anfwer to the queftion pro- 
 poled in the beginning, " Tell why the hand of ftrutting Impudence" 
 
 By
 
 BOOK III. A P O E M. 149 
 
 By Folly's wondering train, prefumptuous fhapes 
 
 His courfe ; 'till like a canker at the root, 
 
 That fecret riots on the vital ftream, 320 
 
 Slow, but fure- wafting Fate in iilence takes 
 
 Th' inevitable aim ; and fpares the hand 
 
 Of hoary Time his filver, and his fey the. 
 
 O WEAK? thro' Pafliori's erring glafs to view, 
 What cooler thought condemns! Think'ft thou the man 325- 
 By birth exalted, by the lavifh hand 
 Of Fortune crown'd with honour, whole gay hours 
 Dance to the melting lute's melodious lay, 
 Is happy ? Know thy wandering fearch miftakes 
 The fliade for fubftance. Could thy thought explore 330 
 The mind within ; what real ills excite 
 The mental tumult ; to the trembling gaze 
 Of Fear what Phantoms of imagined woes 
 Swim thro' the dark night's folemn noon, when fleep 
 Shakes not her poppies o'er his longing eyes, 335 
 
 That roll in vain ; what inward-eating care 
 Preys on his pamper'd blood ; what wifhes wild ; 
 
 U 2 What
 
 i.jo PROVIDENCE, BOOK III. 
 
 What dread of future mifery ; what dreams 
 Of horror gleam athwart the fable fcroll 
 Where Memory prints her records : would the fcene 340 
 Wake thee to envy ? Would thy wifliing foul 
 Pant for the boon that glitters to the eye. 
 But flings the heart, and poifons all its joy ? 
 
 I READ thy fecret doubt : " Tis Guilt that fliades 
 " The brow of Grandeur ; 'tis the folemn peal 3.45 
 
 " Of Conscience thundering in the mental ear, 
 " That wakes to quick fenfation. To the dream 
 " Of harmlefs Innocence, no Demon fliakes 
 " His front terrific : All is calm within, 
 
 And tuned to perfect harmony. Yet Peace 350 
 
 May dwell with Opulence ; one happy mind 
 
 May eye rejoicing its extended power 
 " To work for man ; exulting as it views 
 
 Line 344, &c. Tw Guilt tbatjhades, &c.] 
 
 Eva/ffi putes quos diri confcia fa<5ti: 
 
 Mens habet attonitos, & furdo verbere caedit ? 
 
 Hi funt qui trepidant, & ad omnia fulgura pallent T 
 
 Cum tonat exanimes primo quoque murmure coeli. 
 
 Jteu. Sat. XIII. 
 
 A
 
 BOOK III. A P O E M. t $i 
 
 " A fmiling tribe around, fnatch'd from the grafp 
 " Of ruthlefs want, and bafking in the beam 35-5- 
 
 cc Of Joy, to tranfport kindling, and to love.'* 
 
 Tis juft : The noble mind by Fortune raifed, 
 And warm'd by ftrong benevolence to fpread 
 Its happinefs to all ; difplays to man 
 
 His Maker's image. To a god-like Few, 360 
 
 Heav'n gives at once the virtue, and the power ; 
 Yet plants not Opulence for thefe a mare, 
 
 Line 362, 3. Tet plants not Opulence^ &c.] Though it is to be hoped, that 
 the example of this mentioned in the Allegory will feldom or never happen ; 
 yet it is ftill certain that the profpect of poffeffing large acquifitions, may fuggeft 
 to the needy, the voluptuous, the profufe, or the avaricious part of mankind, 
 delires, which never enter into the thought of a perfon in low, or even in mo- 
 derate circumftances ; and methods of accomplifhing thefe which reafon dif- 
 approves. The humorous Satyrift's remark is confidered by fuch men in a* 
 very ferious light. 
 
 T' ctpyvpiov tiftiV) x TO 
 
 TOUT*; y&p zts TMV 
 
 ^tLi TI ^BAS/, is&trTa. POI yzvwfai-t &c. . Frag. Menan; 
 
 Before therefore any individual prefumes to blame Providence for not having. 
 placed him in fuch a fituation as his ambition afpires to ; he ought to confider 
 whether or not fuch an imaginary benefit (if it was conferred upon him) would 
 not be productive of greater mifchief to himfelf and to fociety, than the ab- 
 fence of it can poflibly be of pofitive evil to either. But as it is fcarce pofiible 
 that fuch an enquiry can be conducted with perfett impartiality, he will proba- 
 bly find examples within the circle of his acquaintance fufficient to convince 
 him, that Affluence cannot confer Felicity ; and that an unexpected flow of 
 Proiperity in moft inftances, alters the whole character ; and fubititutes Pride, 
 Prefumption, and Petulance, in the place of Humility, Modefty, and that 
 amiable Diffidence, which is commonly characteristic of merit. 
 
 That
 
 152 PROVIDENCE, BOOK III. 
 
 That Poverty efcapes ? The wretch who dragg'd 
 
 His Sire relentlefs to the tomb ;-- -Say, rofe 
 
 No boiling pafiion in his rankled heart ? 365- 
 
 Felt not his tortured breaft the venom'd fling 
 
 Of keen Impatience ? Flamed not to his eye 
 
 Gold, titles, honour ; all the tinfel-fhow, 
 
 That on the fullen front of Avarice wakes 
 
 A gloomy finile, and bids his little thought 370 
 
 Receive a gleam of joy. From thefe fecure, 
 
 Lives not untutor'd Indigence at eafe ? 
 
 And fteals unfeen along the vale of Life, 
 
 Calm, peaceful, fhelter'd from the ftormy blaft 
 
 That (hakes Ambition's plume, that wrecks the hope, 375 
 
 The quiet of mankind ? What though to thefe 
 
 The means are fcanty ? O'er the roughned cheek 
 
 Health fheds her bloom : their finews knit by toil, 
 
 Robuft and firm fupport th' allotted weight ; 
 
 And gradual loofed by long- revolving years, 380 
 
 Refign their charge, untainted by the feeds 
 
 Of lurking Death flow thro' the form diffufed 
 
 From
 
 BOOK IIL A P O E ML 
 
 From meals that Nature naufeates, from the cup 
 Where the wine laughs, and on the mantling cheek 
 Kindles a tranfient blufli ; but works difeafe, 385 
 
 And fliades the temples with untimely fnow. 
 
 LIVE thefe unknown within a narrower fphere, 
 Where plumed Ambition treads not ? If their hopes, 
 Lefs ardent, point not to fome dazzling aim ; 
 Their Fears are fewer : if their power to fpread 
 The ftream of Happinefs o'er all around, 390 
 
 Suits not., Benevolence, thy boundlefs will ! 
 Yet lefs, yet weaker are the tempting fnares 
 That lead to Vice. The man- who eyes with pain 
 
 Line 383. From meals, &c.j The infcription on Sardnapalus, the laft AfTy- 
 rian Monarch, is pregnant with inftruction to this purpofe. 
 
 Chryfip. ap. Athaen. L. VIII. . 
 
 Line 387.] Cur igiturDivitias defiderentur ? aut ubi Paupertas beatos efie 
 non fmit ? Signis credo, tabulis, ludis. Si quis eft qui his dele&etur, nonne 
 melius tenues homines fruuntur, quam illi qui his abundant ? Quotidie nos 
 ipfa Natura admonet quam -pancis, quam -partis rebus egeat, quam vilibus. 
 Num igitur ignobiliras, aut humilitas, aut etiam popularis offenfio fapientem 
 beatum efle prohibebit ? Vide ne plus commendatio in vulgus, & hasc qua; 
 expetitur gloria moleftiae habeat quam voluptatis. Tufcul. Qu<fft. lib. v. 
 
 Superior
 
 i 5- 4 PROVIDENCE, BOOK III. 
 
 Superior power, or inly-murmuring feels 
 
 Indignant pafTion, as he marks the mean, 3 95 
 
 The weak, the bad, on Fortune's giddy wheel 
 
 High-raifed ; who fees the Mifer's hoarded cheft 
 
 Lock'd faft, Sufpicion fcowling on the door ; 
 
 Who marks the young Heir joyous from the tomb 
 
 That wraps his Father's bones, with eager gaze 400 
 
 Devour the finning mammon, and difperfe 
 
 The duft long-heap'd to all the ruihing winds : 
 
 Then mute and penfive plans ideal fchemes 
 
 Of generous bounty, calls the flitting breath 
 
 From Famine's throbbing lip, or ftrips the raggs 40 j 
 
 From Poverty's flirunk back : then fecret blames 
 
 The depth of God's unfathom'd ways to man; 
 
 Knows not himfelf ; knows not that like the ice 
 
 On Zembla's wintry rocks, the Paffions froze 
 
 By the chill blaft of Penury would thaw 4 1 o 
 
 Before the Sun's effulgence, ftreaming wide 
 
 With genial warmth, and from the loofened foil 
 
 Swelling the pois'nous weeds that lurk'd unfeen, 
 
 " AH
 
 BOOK III. A P O E M. 15$ 
 
 " AH yet, (the pentive deeply-mudng mind 
 " Thus told its weak plaint to the murmuring tongue.) 4 1 5 
 " Ah yet, what numbers tread the chearlefs haunt 
 " Of pining Anguifh ! whom the voice of Mirth 
 " Soothes not in all the long-revolving hours 
 lc That roll in flow fucceffion ! What a train 
 " Of mourners, fee their laft weak twig of Hope 420 
 
 " Broke {hort ; and wandering figh without a Friend 
 ic To flill the plaint of woe, to pour the balm 
 <c Of healing comfort on the rankling wound ! 
 " Avails it ought to thefe, that Virtue walks 
 " Calm in the folitary cell ? avails 
 " Her voice faint- whifpering, when the infant looks 42$ 
 
 Pale to the Mother's forrow-ftreaming eyes 
 
 With eager expectation ? when the wail 
 
 Of helplefs Innocence, weak, dying, wild, 
 <c Thrills to the heart's crack'd firings? What tho' the thought 
 <c To noble fentiment expands? The mind, 430 
 
 " Tho' train'd to virtue, every worthy deed 
 " Exalts its kindling powers ; and all the man 
 " Pants with defire to fpread the mighty flream 
 
 X Of 
 
 cc 
 
 cc
 
 i S 6 PROVIDENCE, BOOK III. 
 
 " Of Happinefs around him ? Say what boon, 
 
 " What good rewards his virtue ? Are the means 435 
 
 " Conferr'd, to reach his glorious end ? Is Power 
 
 " Rent from Oppreffion's grafp, and to his hand 
 
 " Confign'd ; that hence Society may blefs 
 
 <c The generous Mafter j that the piercing plaint 
 
 " Of Woe may ceafe, and Indigence relieved, 440 
 
 " Stand fmiling at his threfliold ? Is it thus 
 
 " That Heav'n overlooks, and Wifdom rules the whole ?" 
 
 NOT always, (thus the Sire rejoin <i) reward 
 Awaits a virtuous deed ; nor God beftows, 
 Nor man defer ves it -.-Yet th' Eternal works 445 
 
 To noble ends. He fpoke, and turn'd his eye 
 Where Fancy flood. The Goddefs to his look 
 Obfequious waved her wand, and all the fcene 
 Was changed, and filent Wonder lock'd my tongue. 
 
 FOR lo ! refponfive to her will ; the wood 450 
 
 Before me opening wide, difclofed a bleak, 
 And tracklefs ddart ; where the birds of Night 
 
 Shrill-
 
 BOOK III. A P O E M. 157 
 
 Shrill- fcreaming pour'd the melancholy wail ; 
 Or dimly-hovering plied the boding wing. 
 
 SLOW from the mount's high fummit, whence the fcene 455 
 Had glow'd around me ; the fuperior Power 
 Led to the folitary wafte. Behind, 
 I paffed dejected ; thro' my chilling veins 
 Dark Horror quivering fhook the flackned knee. 
 Quick from the wild wafte 's gloomy face I turn'd 460 
 
 My eyes with joy to mark the balmy groves. 
 The wood's deep umbrage, and the glittering domes, 
 Where Nature fhower'd luxuriance. But the fcene 
 Was barr'd from human ftep. Where the green wood 
 But late had opened, and its utmoft bound 465 
 
 Join'd to the defart : thro* the hollow'd ground, 
 Broad, deep, and billowy burft a turbid ftream 
 With torrent-rore ; and on its rapid tide, 
 Light whirl'd the mountain's fturdy fons, the rock, 
 In broken fragments > and the feeble mounds 4/0 
 
 Of Art's neglected labour. Inly-pain'd, 
 I traced the Sire's flow foot-ftep ; and beheld 
 
 X 2 Far
 
 i 5 8 PROVIDENCE, BOOK IU. 
 
 Far in the gloomy wafte, one lonely cot, 
 
 Screen'd from the buftling din of bufy man ; 
 
 Where Beauty milled not, and the Blaft's wild wing 47 
 
 Bore not the City's hum. The rough heath form'd 
 
 Its fimple roof; the dark -o'er fhad ing pines 
 
 Behind, by Toil's affiduous hand arranged, 
 
 Mellow'd the chill Eaft's nipping breath, and check'd 
 
 The Tempeft's fwelling voice that whiftled thro'. 480 
 
 Before, a cafement gave the trembling beam, 
 
 That dimly glimmer'd o'er the channel'd floor ; 
 
 But fliow'd a cultured field, by Induftry 
 
 Manured, and waving to th' autumnal gale. 
 
 A GLEAM of joy o'erfpread the placid mind ; 48$ 
 
 Pleafed, as it mark'd rude Labour's finewy hand 
 Triumph o'er Nature's roughnefs, and difTufe 
 Thy fmile, fair Plenty, o'er the pathlefs wild, 
 
 THUS foothed I eyed the field ; when to the plain 
 Walk'd out the Shepherd from his fimple cheer ; 490 
 
 And call'd his flock, that bleating as they ranged, 
 
 Sought
 
 BOOK III. A P O E M. i 5 9 
 
 Sought the warm fhelter of a neighbouring fold, 
 
 To eafe their weary limbs. In his mild eye 
 
 Beam'd heart-felt Innocence ; ferene he raifed 
 
 His look to Heav'n, unconfcious of the crime, 49 
 
 That points Reflection's quiver'd fhaft with flings 
 
 Severe, and aims them at the guilty heart. 
 
 Vigorous he trod, as in the prime of years. 
 
 When Life's gay fpring refigns the fporting youth 
 
 To firmer manhood ; and the bloom of Health, 5 o o 
 
 Frefh as the Morning's filver-fprinkled robe, 
 
 Swells on his mellow cheek. With eafy ftep 
 
 He pafs'd deep-mufing, where the ruftling boughs 
 
 Light-wavering, o'er the yellow-fringed green 
 
 Shook the loofe radiance of the weftern ray., $ o jr 
 
 A pipe, melodious as the melting note 
 
 Of warbling Philomel, prefs'd by his lips,. 
 
 Then pour'd its fweet breath on the wings of Eve 
 
 Harmonious. From the many-colour'd Choir ^ 
 
 Gay-glittering, ftream'd the emulating lay,, j"i o 
 
 Swell'd in a thoufand quivering throats ; the ftrains 
 
 To heav'n afcending, as the general voice 
 
 Of
 
 160 PROVIDENCE, BOOK III. 
 
 Of Nature, rifing in the hymn of praife. 
 
 ROUZED by the fong, around the fmiling Swain 
 Were ranged an happy Family. His wife, 5 1 5 
 
 Fair as the rofe, when firft the blufhing Spring 
 Sprinkles its balmy leaf with moifVning dew ; 
 Sat near him, decent in the rural robe 
 Of native Elegance ; no floating lawn, 
 Refined by ftudy, and the ceafelefs care 520 
 
 Of Luxury high-pamper 'd, o'er her form 
 Wanton'd in aery folds : her fimple drefs, 
 By artlefs Modefty defign'd, improved 
 The gifts of Nature. Carelefs on her knee 
 An infant play 'd, and wondering eyed with fmiles 525 
 
 The ftrangers warbling from th' aereal bough, 
 And eager join'd refponfive. To her breaft 
 She clalp'd the boy in extacy of thought, 
 And kifs'd his little cheek. The others danced 
 Elate and emulous around their Sire. 530 
 
 BY thefe fecure of happinefs, no joy 
 
 Was
 
 BOOK III. A P O E M. r 6 1 
 
 Was fought, that warms the beating heart, or wakes 
 
 The foul to tranfport. In the lonely wild 
 
 Where muling Solitude refides ; her cell 
 
 Oft whifpering, echoes to the gentle voice 5 3 $ 
 
 Of Peace, and glitters to her filver ray. 
 
 H i s pipe untuned, the Sire with gladned heart 
 Arofe to range the defart, and indulge 
 The calm of placid thought. Not far he walk'd, 
 When feebly-founding thro' the whittling boughs 540 
 
 Was heard weak Sorrow's dying moan, that funk 
 In hollow murmurs on the ftartled ear. 
 Abrupt, the Shepherd to the trembling note 
 Turn'd quick ; Compaffion touch'd the feeling heart, 
 And gave her mild beam to the pitying eye. 
 At laft arrived, his eager-fearching view 
 Saw where difhonour'd on the fordid earth, 
 Pale, faint, and trembling in the grafp of death, 
 Was laid a helplefs vidim 1 The rude hand 
 Of wafting Mifery had fhrunk his veins ; 
 And in the hollow of his livid cheek 
 
 Sat
 
 1 62 PROVIDENCE, BOOK IIL 
 
 Sat Famine pi&ured. Struggling as he heard 
 
 The tread of human feet ; his heavy eyes 
 
 Juft heaved ; his voice low-muttering in a groan 
 
 Ifs purpofed word ; furrounding darknefs veiFd 55-5 
 
 His fight ; and (hivering on the edge of Death, 
 
 He claim'd immediate aid. Soft from the ground, 
 
 (Each gentler feeling of the foul awaked) 
 
 The Shepherd raifed him with parental care ; 
 
 And bore him tender, where the frefher gale 560 
 
 Reeall'd the weakly-flitting pulfe, and oped 
 
 To life the lea<kn eyelid. At his call, 
 
 Difpatchful with affiduous care they brought 
 
 A cordial balm, that to his lips applied, 
 
 Quench'd o'er his form reftored, the clammy dew 563* 
 
 Of Death, and braced with ftrength the glowing limbs. 
 
 THE man rekindling, as from forne wild dream 
 The foul ftarts fudden, and tranfported, fees 
 The headlong precipice diflblve : with joy 
 Beheld around the tribe of bufy friends 576 
 
 Benevolent ; and call'd the Stranger's God 
 
 To
 
 BOOK III. A P O E M. 163 
 
 To blefs their labours ; on their little field 
 
 To fliower propitious plenty ; and command 
 
 Sweet Peace to tend their cottage. " Not to me, 
 
 " (Replied the Sire fedate) thy fervent prayer 575 
 
 Belongs ; for Virtue bids tti exulting thought 
 
 " Reward a worthy deed. Look to the Power, 
 Who from his feraph-circled throne, beyond 
 The ken of human glance ; with willing ear 
 Stoops to the plaint of Anguifh. Be thy vows 580 
 
 By Him accepted ; be thy life reftored, 
 To blefs thy friends, to heal with lenient balm 
 
 " The wounded heart .; to bid the needy rife ; 
 
 < And cloath in mantling fmiles the cheek of Woe." 
 
 Line 576, 7. Virtue lids th' exalting thought. Sec.] The boafted felf-fufficien- 
 cy of Virtue in the fenfe which is here affigned to it, may be confidered as 
 confonant to the dictates of reafon. As it is the natural confequence of tome 
 vices to entail difeafes on the body , and of all, to give pain to the mind upon 
 reflection -, fo a good action in fome meafure rewards itfelf, by the plealiire 
 with which at every period of life it is contemplated by the mind. In fome 
 fenfe indeed it may be faid that a benevolent deed excluding every confidera- 
 tion of a future (late) is rewarded in the ampleft manner, even in this world ; 
 as the man who performs it, enjoys for one lingle action of his life, a perpetual 
 fource of pleafure as often as he reflects on it. Yet if we extend the idea of Fe- 
 licity a little further, and include under it thofe other advantages which are 
 commonly and juftly included in it in the general eftimation ; we fhall find 
 that Virtue alone is far from being fubfervient to all the purpofes which it is 
 fuppofed to accomplish ; and that a man may be honeft> who is not happy. 
 
 Y HE
 
 i $4 PROVIDENCE, BOOK III. 
 
 HE faid : and inly- fmiling, as the fcene 585: 
 
 Rofe to delighted memory : humane, 
 Led to his cottage. As they walk'd, his gueft 
 Now gay and happy, told that from his home 
 Wide-wandering, o'er the pathlefs wafte he ftray'd ; 
 Nor look'd for fhelter, till his weary limbs 590 
 
 Claim'd the repofing pillow. All around, 
 Then roll'd his wifhing eyes ; but nought was feen, 
 Save the grey eloud that touch'd the diftant hills ; 
 And wilds of chearlefs Solitude. Perplex'd, 
 With bufy eare his long-protradled fearch $.9$ 
 
 Explored a path ; but all his fearch was vain. 
 Then defblate of heart, he flood aloney 
 All helplefs. O'er his feeble frame diftill'd 
 The reeking moifture ; and the tears of Woe 
 Stain'd his wan cheek. Afar the gleaming trees 600. 
 
 Were feen. His weak limbs dragg'd their weight along 
 Tottering : and reach'd the diftant haunt; and funk 
 Opprefs'd : his voice flhort- pan ting, heaved a groan ; 
 Then faintly quiver'd. " 'Twas the hand of God 
 c< That led thee to the fpot \ 'twas He who waked tfo j- 
 
 The
 
 BOOK III. A P O E M. i6j 
 
 " The figh of Pity in thy gentle heart ; 
 
 " And fent thee angel-like to fpeak the Power 
 
 " Who fills the defart as the haunt of man." 
 
 THUS talking to the fylvan bower they came : 
 Then to his family the fwain confign'd 6 1 o 
 
 His charge to tafte of hofpitable rites, 
 And fhare refrefhing fleep. His evening walk 
 Refumed, he wander 'd onward, where the trees 
 Disjoined the landfldp from the barren wild. 
 
 A s to fome fimple fwain, whofe happy days 6 1 $ 
 
 Had ftole ferene in innocence ; by chance 
 Some treafure hoarded in the rock's cleft fide 
 Juft peeps ; the ragged ft ones withold his hand 
 That grafps to reach it : his devouring gaze 
 Gleams on the pile ; his bufy fancy forms 620 
 
 Gay dreams of Grandeur, happinefs till now 
 Unknown, unfought ; his murmuring mind repines ; 
 He works impatient, and indignant fpurns 
 His former ftate, poor, abject, mean, defpifed. 
 
 2 So
 
 1 66 PROVIDENCE, BOOK III. 
 
 So fared the thought- wrapt fwain. Awhile he mark'd 625 
 
 The gay-robed villa floating to the breeze 
 
 In loofen'd luxury ; the aery mount, 
 
 The pile gay glimmering thro' the viftoed groves, 
 
 Or downward glittering in the headlong ftream. 
 
 Then nearer to his fight the {porting train 630 
 
 Appear'd ; fweet mufic rapt his wiftiing foul ; 
 
 His blood danced lightly, and his buftling thoughts 
 
 Swim'd on the maze of Harmony. Awhile 
 
 He eyed the fcene perplex'd, and thus began. 
 
 " AH I what to gain bright Pleafure's genial fmile 635* 
 " Avails the pride of Virtue ? Rough and hard, 
 " Amidft entangling thorns her rugged road 
 " Lies pathlefs. Labour is the envied meed 
 " Her hand confers ; and near her Poverty 
 < Sits {hivering. Dark are Heav'n's myfterious ways. 640 
 " -Yet whence this paufe ? Yon cooling fhades invite 
 " My ftep ; to man's affiduous toil, the palm 
 " Of Happinefs is yielded. Indolence 
 " O'erlooks the mark ; and fleepy dreams of blifs, 
 
 When
 
 BOOK III. A P O E M. i6 7 
 
 " When Reafon calls to adlion. Lives not Peace, 645* 
 
 cc Reigns not fair Virtue in thefe happy groves ? 
 " She reigns ! 'tis bigot fear that from her train 
 " Would chafe the Pleafures. Should my fearch be crown'd 
 " With conqueft ; riches, honour., power conferred : 
 The Stranger's lips fhall blefs me. Should I fall ; 650 
 " To dare is noble. Let me try." He fpoke, 
 And plunged amid the ftream, and ftemm'd its tide 
 With nervous arm. Light o'er the fvvelling waves 
 Awhile he fails triumphant. On his view, 
 Each moment widening breaks the beauteous fcene 6$$ 
 With heightned pomp j and now its fpicy bank 
 Perfumes the whifpering gale. The people pour 
 Thro' the dark wood ; and to his ardent gaze 
 Young Pleafure radiant as the ftar of Eve 
 Extends a golden circlet. But the tide 660 
 
 Breaks o'er him ; and the rough ftones ragged (ides 
 Roll'd down the current, tear his (hatter'd limbs, 
 Or check his meditated courfe, or turn 
 His aim abrupt : and now his dizzy brain 
 Wheels, thro' his noftrils darts the flafhing ftream : 665 
 
 He
 
 PROVIDENCE, BOOK m. 
 
 He pants by fits, and ftarting gafps for air ! 
 Then whirls, and finks precipitate. The waves 
 Clofe round him. Snatch'd at once from life, from joy ; 
 From fweet domeftic quiet ; from his home^ 
 Where the weak infant round a widow's neck 670 
 
 Gkfp'd its young arms : afar the Father lay 
 In Death's cold grafp. The throbbing heart that thrilPd 
 Humane^ to Mifery's defponding wail ; 
 Forgot each gender feeling ; and his eyes 
 Wrapt in dark (hade, were clofed to wake no more. 6 7 
 lO uvj-T si;'?.jy. 
 
 ARE thefe, Benevolence, the great rewards 
 Of noble deeds ? thus gains th' expanded heart 
 That pants for others good, the generous aim, 
 By god-like Piety infpired ; nor dafh'd 
 By Reafon's cool refearch that weighs the means ? 680 
 
 Stands Death's grim front full in the rugged porch 
 Where Virtue leads her fons, in acl: to pierce 
 The breaft that melts to fympathetic woe : 
 While Vice ftalks flow, and with contemptuous leer 
 At eafe beholds them ? From the thought of man 685 
 
 How
 
 BOOK III. A P O E M. 169 
 
 How deeply fcreen'd are Heav'n's unfathom'd ways ! 
 
 THUS wildly- wavering, roll'd the dubious mind 
 From thought to thought, uncertain where its fearch 
 Should end. Yet from my lips, no whifper'd plaint 
 Told its weak muttering. But Attention rapt 
 The liftening ear, when thus the Sage reiumed* 
 
 SAY weeps not pity o'er yon mournful fcene 
 In foftned anguifh ? Let the copious ftream 
 Burft from thy feeling heart. The manly tear 
 Belongs to virtue. Be the wretch accurfed, 9 $ 
 
 Whofe bofom melts not to another's woe* 
 
 YET know, what man's falfe guefs miftakes for ill, 
 In God's unbounded plan, promotes the good 
 Of All ; and as of All, the feparate blifs 
 Of Individuals, As the man whofe thought 700 
 
 Explores with deep defign the fecret fprings 
 That work the hearr ; can cooly trace the Caufe, 
 While Folly wonders on th' Effeft ; and light,. 
 
 Skims
 
 1 70 PROVIDENCE, BOOK III. 
 
 Skims the fmooth face of Life's deceitful ftream : 
 
 So God, whofe inftant glance furveys a Whole^ 705 
 
 Where Human Wifdom to one link confined, 
 
 Glimmers ; with boundlefs reach adjufts the means 
 
 To boundlefs knowledge. Hence the wilder ing maze 
 
 Where Reafon gropes in darknefs. Hence the tear 
 
 On Pity's kindling cheek, that fpeaks the man, 7 i o 
 
 Tho' weak, yet virtuous ; noble in the deed 
 
 That marks Us imperfe&ion. As a man^ 
 
 He 
 
 Line 707, 8. With boundlefs reach, Sic.] Thus Ariflotle fays of the Divine 
 
 Mind, AM* T</]O c TO O-z/J/e^oV TO \J.^\ 
 
 &irfy\wv1ts, De Mun. This defcription of the Deity is conformable 
 to what is faid of Him in the facred writings. Cicero appears to have had it 
 in his eye, when he fajs, Nee vero Deus ipfe qni intelligitur a nobis ; alio 
 modo intelligi poteft ; nifi Mens foluta quaedam, & libera , fegregata ab om- 
 ne concretione mortal! j omnia fentiens, & movens, &c. Tuft. Qu<eft. lib. i. 
 It is proper to obierve here, that the author ought not to be miitaken, as if in 
 this, and in fome other parts of the work, he intended to depreciate human 
 reafon below its proper value ; and to reprefent it as inadequate to purpofes 
 which it is able to effectuate. The preceding, and fome other quotations 
 from the Ancients, are inferred principally to mow, that Philofophers who 
 were led by the light of Nature, conceived juft ideas of the Supreme Being, 
 both as to his natural and moral attributes. We mean therefore only to fay, 
 that this faculty like a fine telefcope, mows the compleat proportions of every 
 object which is placed within its fphere : but when it is employed to furvey 
 fuch as are too complicated of texture, or too diflant in their pofition ; it re- 
 prefents thefe obfcurely, and gives the eye no juft idea of their nature or di- 
 menfions. 
 
 Line 7 1 1, 12. Though weak yet virtuous.'] Weak in this infrance, becaufe 
 perhaps he is lamenting as an Kvil, what ought really to be confidered as an 
 advantage rand virtuous at the fame time, becaufe this amiable feeling is in Him 
 commendable. There is indeed fometimes an high degree of Virtue difcover- 
 d in the fupprefilon of pity. Thus Virgil, as an inilance of the fortitude 
 
 and
 
 BOOK III. A P O E M. 1 7 i 
 
 He feels, he weeps, where the Superior Power 
 
 Would triumph : Should he fmile, his fmile were more, 
 
 Or lefs than human. Yet be Reafon cool) 7 1 5 
 
 While Paflion melts. Thou faw'ft a joyous tribe, 
 
 Gay Pleafure's aery fons, amid the grove 
 
 Loofe-wandering : Nature fhower'd her richeft fpoils 
 
 To blefs with new delight each circling hour. 
 
 Thou faw'ft a wretch yet reeking with the blood 720 
 
 Of Age ; a Father's blood : thou faw'ft him left 
 
 Carelefs, to riot in his wealth ; the crime 
 
 By heav'n unpunifli'd ; fave where Confcience flings 
 
 The guilty heart, or what the fiery breath 
 
 Of burning Fever kindles in the veins. 725 
 
 IN Poverty's low cell thou faw'ft a Sire, 
 
 and refolution of .ZEneas, fays that when this hero was implored in the moft 
 paflionate manner to continue with Dido, 
 
 Mens immota manet ; lacrymas volvrmtur inanes. Mneid. IV. 
 
 Line 713, 14. He weeps, where the fuperior Power, &c.] From the frailty of 
 human nature which is unable to trace remote confequences ; he is deeply af- 
 fected with incidents which to a Superior Being who was capable to fee further 
 into futurity, would afford reafon for exultation and triumph. 
 
 Line 723, 24. Save where Confcience flings^ &c.] Thefe were formerly men- 
 tioned as the natural confequences of Vice, fuppofmg a flate of future rewards 
 and punilhment to be out of queftion. See p, 132. 1. 330, &V. 
 
 Z Train'd
 
 172 PROVIDENCE, BOOK III. 
 
 Train'd to rough work, to labour, to the toil 
 
 Of hardy Virtue ; yet his feeling foul 
 
 Thrill'd to the plaint of helplefs woe : the tear 
 
 Of Anguifli ceafed before him. Age was raifed, 730 
 
 Refpe&ed, favoured, and its prayer preferred, 
 
 In vain ! Yon ftream has whelm'd him, and his eyes 
 
 Are clofed for ever, Art thou pierced ? Attend. 
 
 IN man's ftiort reach of mind, the Power that fcans 
 External forms, that marks the living bloom 733: 
 
 Of Nature ; whofe quick glance can fee the bounds 
 Of moral good and ill, as thefe affume 
 Their fpheres in focial intercourfe, and join 
 To colour Life ; yet while it ftrays abroad > 
 And gleans a fcanty harveft from the field 740 
 
 Line 734, &c. In marfsfoort reach of mind, &c.] In the feries of philofophical 
 obfervations which follow from this verfe till near the end of the book, the 
 two preceding allegories are explained in fuch a manner, as to throw feme 
 light on the conduct of Providence with regard to Human Life. At Icaft the 
 author attempted to do this. In illuftrating a fubject which opens fo wide a 
 field of Conjecture, he has endeavoured to keep Probability in his eye as 
 clcfely as pofiible , and to affign fome caufes (not incongrous to reafon) for 
 which Virtue is expofed to fufferings, and Vice is permitted to riot in tempo- 
 rary pleafure. This is attempted in anfwer to the fecond part of the Complaint 
 in the beginning of this book, relating to the apparently unequal diftribution 
 of Reward and Punifhment, which takes place in this lire. Whether thefe re- 
 marks are as fatisfactory, as they are new (at leaft in their prefent connection) 
 to the author \ the judicious reader muft be left to determine. 
 
 of
 
 BOOK III. A P O E M. 173 
 
 Of others, knows not what is felt at home. 
 
 Thus calm Experience in the pafl beholds 
 
 The Future : thus from Life's perplexing fcenes 
 
 She culls the nobleft precepts, to dired 
 
 The ftep of youth ; while yet th' important part> 745 
 
 The Mind, remains unknown. Th' internal eye> 
 
 Though quick to point each folly- featured form 
 
 That ftrikes its gaze, yet marks not, as they rife, 
 
 The paffions height'ning into flame, nor fees 
 
 What fparks lye latent in th' unfeeling mind, 7^0 
 
 That want their fuel ; nor th' extent of thofe 
 
 Half-raifed, and kindling to a rapid blaze* 
 
 HENCE 
 
 Line 748, 9. Marks not as they rife. The pa/ions, &c.j This is univcrfally 
 the cafe, when the progrefs of the pafiions is not accurately marked ; or when 
 opportunities of calling thefe into action do not occur in early life. A man 
 who has acquired no knowledge of this nature from experience, or who has 
 not marked the progrefllve fteps, by which any pafiion acquires a maftery over 
 his mind, will be utterly incapable to judge of the latent principles which would 
 influence his conduct, if by the circumftances of life they were brought into 
 exercife j and of the manner in which his conduct would be directed in a new 
 fuuation, by the paflions which mod forcibly influence his actions in common 
 occurrences. It is however abfolutely necefiary that he mould be fully ac- 
 quainted with both thefe (as we mail fhow afterwards) before he can be quali- 
 fied in any meafure to challenge the difpenfations of Providence. 
 
 Line 751, &c. Hence oft in Life's ft ill fcentt, &c.] This obiervation, however 
 paradoxical it may appear at firft view, will upon clofer enquiry be found con- 
 formable to truth. It is commonly thought that a man's ruling PaJJlon is dif- 
 covered in his actions, as foon as he is capable of forming any confident procels 
 of reafoning, and to diftinguilh objects in the matters of ordinary life. This 
 may be true of fuch men as are born with remarkable genius, or of thofe to 
 whom affluence early fupplies the means of gratifying defire : But in lower 
 
 Z 2 life,
 
 174 P R O V I D E_N C E, BOOK in. 
 
 HENCE oft in Life's ftill fcenes th' untutored mind 
 Miftakes its ruling principle. The man 
 Who vvaftes his calm hours in the vale of eafe, 7 $ $ 
 
 Nor dreams of higher blifs, not therefore wants 
 Ambitious aim ; but diftant from his view, 
 Its object flrikes not his averted fight, 
 Nor breaks the calm within. Is he then good, 
 Juft, pious, happy, innocent, humane ? 760, 
 
 Fired by no hope, by no temptation fway'd, 
 Of power to fhake firm Virtue's fleddy bafe,. 
 His courfe by thought improved, confirmed by time, 
 Becomes habitual ; if he fwerves, yet Fear 
 Recalls the ening wanderer to his home : 76$ 
 
 As fome lone traveller perplexed, and wild,. 
 
 life, that Paffion will be confidered as predominant whofe demands are anfwer- 
 ed with the greateft facility ; while others, which might perhaps be equally or 
 even more forcible, are permitted to remain inactive, becaufe they are not fti- 
 mulated by proper objects. Thus let us fuppofe a man placed in mean cir- 
 cumftances > who has ia his mind the feeds both of Ambition and Avarice. It 
 Is obvious, that as his pittance of wealth, however fcanty, will afford fome ex.- 
 ercife to the latter, while the former is totally neglected from the defpair of 
 gratifying its defires ; hie will naturally confider that paflion as principal, which 
 a conftant habit of indulgence has called into perpetual action. Should this 
 man at any future period of life find himfelfraifed to opulence; he may difcover 
 that he had miftaken the bias of his mind, and that the defire of acquifition, 
 which he fuppofed principally to characterife it, hath been employed as a tool 
 to effectuate the purpofes of that latent Ambition which will then be predomi- 
 nant. 
 
 Beholds
 
 BOOK III. A P O E M. 17$ 
 
 Beholds with joy his former path, and fprings 
 
 Elate to reach it. But when higher fcenes 
 
 Rufh on the wondering mind, and wake the fparks 
 
 Of fome young Paflion, fmother'd, not denied; 770 
 
 Who then from paft experience ftands fecure, 
 
 As he who eyed yon fmiling fcene, and plunged 
 
 Rafh in the billowy ftream, elate of heart ; 
 
 Who fees his will ftill opening, as his power 
 
 To fpread extends in Fancy's ardent gaze ; 77 j 
 
 Still wants to know himfelf. What tho' the mind 
 
 Tried, yet victorious, from th' infidious fnare 
 
 Efcapes ? The ftrength that laid Patroclus low, 
 
 Match'd not Achilles. Has the man fubdued 
 
 Inferior paffions ?~ -Give Temptation power: 780 
 
 Lay the bright Phantom in the lap of Eafe 
 
 All-languifliing ; and bid the fmiles of Love 
 
 Dimple the florid cheek. Let Pleafure {land 
 
 Clofe by her fide, and bid the circling wreath, 
 
 Of Honour grace her forehead : kt the veil 785- 
 
 Prop off; expofe the beauteous form, illumed 
 
 By joy, and balmy as die citron grove 
 
 That
 
 176 PROVIDENCE, BOOK III. 
 
 That breathes delicious fragrance. Would he then 
 
 Still firm retain his fortitude ? ftill fhun 
 
 Her lips, nor feel the ftimulating power 790 
 
 Of Nature ftir within him ? Ah what tears 
 
 Were thine, fair Virtue, for thy fliding fon ! 
 
 I F fuch is Reafon's calm impartial voice ; 
 Then blames it Wifdom's juft decree, that wills 
 The good to fuffer ; thus rafh-judging man 7 ? 
 
 Mifcalls their happinefs) far from the fnare, 
 The tempting fnare of Vice to live at eafe> 
 Serene, tho' humble in Life's lowly fcenes ? 
 Or when by wholefome difcipline recall'd 
 From Error's devious maze back to the path 800 
 
 Of Truth ; then deems it that the ftream of Woe 
 
 Bathes but the cheek of Virtue ? that the doom 
 Of Heav'n, unequal, to the juft affigns 
 
 Affliction ; on the bad profufely fhowers 
 
 Wealth, honour, happinefs. If Reafon fpeaks 805 
 
 The man, vvhofe days like fome fmooth-gliding ftream 
 
 Had paft unruffled by the rough'ning gale, 
 
 Unfit
 
 BOOK Ift. A P O E M. 177 
 
 Unfit to bear affliction ; to repel 
 
 The Fiend, when failing in the loofen'd robe 
 
 Of Pleafure, all th' inviting fcene awaked 8 1 o 
 
 Defires unknown before : then when the Power 
 
 Who form'd him, marks declining Virtue loofe 
 
 On Folly's verge, and tottering to a fall ; 
 
 Should He then fnatch him from th' impending ill, 
 
 Shall man impeach his juftice ? fhall the mind 8 1 5 
 
 Now fee the Foe, and fhuddering as it eyes, 
 
 Recoil with horror j yet when higher Power 
 
 Defcends to fave him from th' infidious fnare, 
 
 Or tear him from its grafp, repining breathe 
 
 Its impious plaint, and deem the ftrength it fear'd 820 
 
 Line 819, 20. Repining^ Ireathe its impious plaint, &c.] Upon the principles- 
 eftablifhed in this feries of obfervation, complaints of the diftributions of 
 Providence muft appear in almoft every cafe to be highly unreaforiable. A 
 man who is unacquainted with the powers of his own mind, can have no rea- 
 fon to conclude from his having obtained a victory over Ibme temptations, 
 which were not perhaps calculated to inflame the pafiions in any high degree, 
 that he will overcome fuch as are lefs eafy to be fubdued ; and his confidence of 
 being able to (land a trial of this nature, founded upon his pad experience, is 
 the dictate of that Pride which ufually cometh befcre a Fall. When therefore the 
 Supreme Being, inftead of complying with the demand of Prefumption, fees 
 it expedient to tutor fuch a man by the fcourge of Adverfity, or removes 
 from him a temptation by which he might have been feduced into the paths of 
 error; Reafon will certainly lead him rather todijlruft limfe/fthzn to repine at Pro- 
 vidence. It will fuggeft to him examples in the cafe of others, in which the 
 gratification of Delire hath produced the mod pernicious effects ; and from 
 proper ideas of the Juftice and Wifdom of the Deity, it will infpire him with 
 ientiments of refignation and gratitude. 
 
 But
 
 t 7 8 PROVIDENCE, BOOK III, 
 
 But late, unequal ; when th' Eternal Sire 
 
 Confents, confirms its dictate ; to the work 
 
 Alone fufficient ; and the great decree 
 
 Of Wifdom partial or unjuft ? Thus man, 
 
 Still weak, ftill wavering, from th' uncertain poize 82 c 
 
 Of powers oppofed, as now flow Reafon moves, 
 
 Or Paflion finks the fcale ; approves, or blames ; 
 
 The fport of varying Faculties ! -He weeps, 
 
 Repines, and reafons ; cenfures and adores : 
 
 (Like Childhood foothed, and fmiling thro' its tears) 
 
 But errs in all. Heaven with determined aim 830 
 
 Proceeds, regardlefs of his frowns or praife, 
 
 His pain, or pleafure ; as th' impartial will 
 
 Of Wifdom di&ates, and maintains the whole. 
 
 YET why, thy thought demands, when Virtue feels 
 Thy yoke, fevere Adverfity ! why reigns 835- 
 
 Triumphant Vice, nor dreads th' avenging doom 
 Of Heav'n ; but wanton in the fpoils of power, 
 Sports in gay frolic down the tide of Time, 
 Nor dreams of future woe ? Is he then bleft 
 
 Alone,
 
 BOOK III. A P O E M. 1 7 9 
 
 Alone, who riots in the feaffi ; who fails 840 
 
 Loofe in the robe of Luxury, and bears 
 
 His front to Heav'n, as if his mind defied 
 
 Its frown ? Ah blind to reafon ! whofe weak thought 
 
 Sees not, the juft fe verity that faves 
 
 The Good, reclaims not Error. To perfift 845 
 
 Firm in the path of right, when all within 
 
 Is calm ; or wandering from its fide ; to ftartj 
 
 Alarm'd in time by fome awakening voice ; 
 
 To turn is eafy. But the man whofe ftep 
 
 Far thro' the devious wafte has wander'd wild, 850 
 
 Regains not, feeks not to regain the path 
 
 Long loft ; his courfe by Perfeverance form'dj 
 
 His doubts by habit reconciled. What once 
 
 He wijtid) now felf-deceived, his willing mind 
 
 Receives as fubftance ; and the Phantom mocks 85 
 
 Line 8445 5. The juft fever ity that faves the gocd, &c.] Having attempted in 
 the preceding reflexions to afiign fome reafons for which Virtue is permitted 
 s to fuffer, we proceed to enquire why Vice is in many cafes apparently rewarded 
 with Profperity. The anfwer to this queftion is, that as a bad man cannot be 
 reclaimed from his errors by the fame adverfity which faves a good man from 
 being miiled by them, and as immediate perdition muft be the confequence of 
 fuppofmg him cut off in the career of Vice ; no argument can therefore lye a- 
 gainft the Wifdom or Juftice of God, becaufe in the former cafe he exhibits ;i 
 proof of parental affe&ion, and in the latter is not actuated by caprice or re 
 (entment. 
 
 A a With
 
 i8o PROVIDENCE, BOOK III. 
 
 With empty fmiles his void embrace no more. 
 
 REPINES then muttering thy prefumptuous tongue, 
 That Heav'n's fufpended wrath allows the wretch 
 An hour to triumph ? that the God who counts 
 His number 'd years a moment, at thy call 860 
 
 Points not his thunder to the guilty head ; 
 Nor bids his lightnings flafh ? Know, if the Good 
 Thro' life fhould fuffer ; in that fcanty {pan 
 Are all his woes comprifed : If Vice exults, 
 That fpan contains its happinefs. Should He, 865 
 
 Who pitying matches from Temptation's fnare 
 The Juft, as him whom yon devouring wave 
 Has mantled : fhould his juftice thus have claim'd 
 The wretch yet reeking from his Father's blood, 
 An inftant victim : As the one enjoys 870 
 
 The prize of Virtue, and no deepening (lain 
 Sullied his life ; the other in the gulph 
 Of black perdition muft have waked ; no time 
 For mercy left - y for penitence, for pray'r, 
 For pardon none ; his crimes yet unatoned 875 
 
 From
 
 BOOK III. A P O E M. i 8 1 
 
 From heav'n demanding vengeance. But the hand 
 
 Of Goodnefs fpares him, that repentant tears 
 
 May eafe the feeling heart ; and Juftice drop 
 
 Her claim ; or ftill relentlefs, that the ftroke 
 
 May fall, when his full cup o'erflows with ill. 880 
 
 SAY, dreams thy foul that God's eternal plan 
 By man's frail life is bounded ? When the wing 
 Of fome bold eagle, wheeling on the wind, 
 Triumphant bears him from the ftraining eye ; 
 Deem'ft thou the bird is loft ? or that his flight 885" 
 
 Juft flops, when Heav'n's transparent azure veils 
 
 Line 88 1. Say, dreams thy foul, &c.] As the reward of Virtue in a future 
 ftate will amply compenfate for the afflictions comparatively infignificant, to 
 which it is fubjected in the prefent ; the Poem ends with a vindication of Pro- 
 vidence, fuppofed to come from thofe who are placed in a ftate of immutable 
 felicity. To believe that thele happy fpirits will be employed in this manner, 
 is furely no unreafonable fnggeflion. Why mould we think that the foul ef- 
 caped from its prifon, and impartially examining the conduct of Providence in 
 its former ftate of exiftence, will not find fubjects of praife and adoration, a- 
 rifing from the review of thofe incidents which were once confidered as real 
 evils ? This is only contemplating the Supreme Mind, as 
 
 FromfeemiHg evil ftill educing good -, 
 
 And better thence again, and better ftill, 
 
 In infinite progreflion. Tbomfon. 
 
 and is in reality only carrying the matter a little further than we do in the af- 
 fairs of common life, when one man who is cool and deliberate can forefee a 
 benefit arifing to his neighbour, from an event, which the other in the tumult 
 of thought confiders as an affliction from which no benefit can refult. 
 
 A a 2 The
 
 1 82 PROVIDENCE, BOOK III. 
 
 The laft dim fpeck ? Yet when its prifon bars 
 
 Are loofed, and the free'd foul all radiant fprings 
 
 Exulting o'er this rolling orb - y its flight 
 
 Unfeen ; its path to thy contracted gaze 890 
 
 Loft in the viewlefs aether : think'ft thou then 
 
 Its powers diflblved, becaufe the death-fet eye 
 
 Points not th' enlivening beam ? No let the mind 
 
 Extend its view : Lo from thy fight once more 
 
 I purge the mortal film ! Behold the climes 895; 
 
 Where Virtue fears no chilling blaft ; but reigns 
 
 Sublime, and radiant in eternal day ! 
 
 HE fpoke ; and to th' aereal region raifed 
 His hand. My eye purfued it, and illumed 
 By heav'nly light, beheld ftupendous fcenes 90,0 
 
 Ineffable ! the City of the King 
 Eternal ! whofe high towers wide- dazzling flamed 
 From God's divine effulgence ! To the ftream 
 Of rufhing light, the Sun's broad orb would feem 
 A winking taper ! O'er the domes fublime 905 
 
 Sat young Felicity, veiTd by a ftream 
 
 Of
 
 BOOK III. A P O E M.. 
 
 Of mantling radiance ; and an orient crown 
 
 Star-fpangled, heightning as it graced her form, 
 
 Circled her beamy front. The floor embofs'd 
 
 With gold and diamond, ecchoed to the tread $> i o 
 
 Of Seraphim, celeftial fhapes ! their robes 
 
 Divinely wrought, and tinctured with the dies 
 
 Of heav'n ; their plumage glittering like the bow 
 
 That gilds the blue horizon, when the fun 
 
 Showers on the trembling arch his purple ray. 9 1 
 
 ABOVE, innumerable wings difplay'd 
 Refplendent, fann'd the undulating air ; 
 And bore cherubic forms. Some to the ftars 
 (Beneath that fparkled like a twinkling flame) 
 Shot down, and gradual roll'd their orbs around 920 
 
 Some central fun ; or plunging in his mafs 
 Of light, concocted and difperfed the beams 
 Along the azure void, Some hovering near 
 What feem'd a river, on th' aereal wave 
 Slow fail'd ; their emerald pinnions in the flood 925" 
 
 Now loft, now towering in the midway air, 
 
 NOT
 
 1 84 PROVIDENCE, BOOK III. 
 
 NOT long my wondering fight had fcann'd the fcene 
 All-glorious ; when a great majeftic trian 
 In full proceflion to th Eternal** throne 
 Moved flow and folemn. Nearer as they came, 930 
 
 Of thofe they feem'd from Life's tumultuous wave 
 Efcaped, and landed on that blifsful fhore 
 Where tempefts never blow. Each by his fide 
 An harp fuftain'd ; and o'er the form divine 
 A robe of fpotlefs white defcending, flow'd 935 
 
 Redundant : on each head a golden crown 
 Flamed like the morning ftar. The branching palm 
 (Such palm as heav'n's celeftial clime can yeild) 
 High-raifed and waving, graced their happy hands ; 
 Emblem of Peace and Vidlory ! With thefe, 940 
 
 I faw in triumph moving. Him whom late 
 The wave had whelm'd ; bleft, that its fvvelling tide 
 Had check'd his purpofe. Joy ineffable 
 Illumed his eyes. Amid th' adoring tribe 
 He pafs'd exulting thro' the gate that led 945 
 
 Full to the throne of GOD. Their gradual courfe 
 Th' Archangel led, by circling Seraphim 
 
 Inclofcd.
 
 BOOK III. A P O E M. 185 
 
 Inclofed : Heav'n's dazzling ftandard in the air 
 
 Blazed wide before him, and his voice proclaimed 
 
 Hofanna to the Higheft ! Peace on earth f 9,5-0 
 
 To man Benevolence and Love ! Before 
 
 The Throne (where Darknefs wrapt her cloudy veil 
 
 O'er the full noon of uncreated day) 
 
 They bow'd in low proftration ; and began 
 
 Their fong of triumph. Thus the melting ftrain 955 
 
 Was heard, while all around the boundlefs fkies 
 
 Refponiive ecchoed to the voice of praife. 
 
 cc To thy great Name, Eternal GOD! To Thee 
 " Be endlefs Honour ! Juft are ALL, thy ways 
 " To mortal man ; tho' fathomlefs and dark 960 
 
 " To finite reafon, e'er th' unprifon'd mind 
 " Hath fliot the gulph of Death ! O let thy fons, 
 cc Once fuffering, now triumphant, blefs the hand, 
 " Though deem'd fevere^ that led them thro' the maze, 
 " The thorny maze of Life ! that oft denied 9 65 
 
 " Apparent good, to lead them to the fount 
 " Of all created Beauty I that decreed 
 
 What
 
 jgg PROVIDENCE, BOOK III. 
 
 * c What Folly deem'd its punijhment ; when vain, 
 
 cc Self-flattering Virtue hoped reward ' : to check 
 
 * c Prefumption ! that from feeming Evil, wrought 970 
 
 " Full joy, unbounded as thy Prefence ! High ! 
 
 Ineffable ! immortal !" As they fpoke ; 
 
 Th' angelic throng, innumerous as the ftars 
 
 Of night ; all kindling, with melodious voice 
 
 Sung to their lutes the airs of heav'n. The {trains 975* 
 
 (Sweeter than mufic to the languid ear 
 
 Of wakeful Melancholy, as it drinks 
 
 Th' intoxicating ftream) o'erpower'd at once 
 
 My feebler organs. Sudden tranfport feized 
 
 My throbbing heart. I wifh'd a Cherub's wings, 980 
 
 Afar to waft me to thofe happy fhores, 
 
 Where no viciffitude of night and day, 
 
 No changing feafons, nor the baleful breath 
 
 Of Sicknefs taints the balmy clime ; but Hope 
 
 Dies in Fruition, and Faith's diftant ken y%$ 
 
 Diffolves in Vifion's full tranfported gaze. 
 
 Lof
 
 BOOK III. A P O E M. 187 
 
 Lo ! now the ways of heavVs Eternal King 
 
 To man are open ! (thus the Sire refumed.) 
 
 Review 
 
 Line 987, &c. Lo! now the ways, &c.] Having now endeavoured to point 
 out the moft confpicuous marks of Defign, which appear in the ftructure and 
 government of the world ; we mail fum up the whole with fotne proofs from 
 the writings of the moft eminent Ancients, which will ferve to corroborate the 
 preceding arguments ; and to fhow, that the belief of a Providence hath cha- 
 racterifed every age of the world, and every fociety of men. In the nobleft 
 of human productions, the 
 
 or " the will of the Deity accomplifhed ," is the mafter key which turns the 
 whole work, and by which every part of it is directed. As every reader may 
 confult Mr. Pope's admirable tranflation for inftances of this kind, we forbear 
 to extend this note with quotations from the original. We have already ad- 
 duced the teftimony of Ariftotle to the fame purpofe. Plato in innumerable 
 inftances expreffeth his belief of a Providence. Thus he tells us, that the only 
 Caufe of life to man and to all other creatures is o Ap^^ ^ (3*<r/Asu? TUV vr&tfav, 
 the Governor and Ruler of all things, Plat, in Cratyl. In his difcourfes on Laws, 
 he labours this point with much afilduity. Pie reprefents the Deity as pervad- 
 ing univerfal nature, and animating the earth, the fea, the fun, &c. He con- 
 fiders his government of the world as extending to the minuteft parts of ir, 
 and compares Him to a Phyfician, who explores the latent fource of a diftem- 
 per, in order thoroughly to eradicate it , and to Governors of Kingdoms who 
 infpect the fmalleft transactions, that by thefe they may regulate matters of 
 higher importance, Leg. 10. pajjim. ^Elian and Xenophon pathetically complain 
 that tenets, with regard to Providence, which never took place among barba- 
 rous nations, were embraced among a people more civilifcd, and from whole 
 fuperior advantages, better effects might have been expected to follow, ALL 
 lib. ii. Xenoph. Symp. The Roman Orator and Philofopher is fufHciently expli- 
 cit in giving his fentiments on this fubject. Reprimam jam (fays he fpeaking 
 of the punimment of bad actions) &: non infequar longius ; eoque minus quod 
 plus pcenarnm habeoquam petivi. Tantum ponam, duplicem pcenam efie di- 
 vinam, quod conftaret & ex vexandis vivorum animis, et ea fama mortuorum, ut 
 eorum exitium &judicio vivorum & gaudio comprobetur, Cic. de Leg. lib. ii. 
 How glowing and animated is the following paflage ! Idemque cum ccclum, 
 terras, maria, rerumque omnium naturam perfpexerit , caque unde genenua, 
 quo recurrant, quando, quo modo obitura, quid in iis mortale & caducum, 
 quid divinum sjternumque fit viderit , Ipfumqtie ea moderantem & regentem pasne 
 prehenderit, fefeque non unis circumdatum mcenibus, popularem alien] us defi- 
 niti loci, fed civem totius mundi quafi unius urbis agnoverit : in hac magnifi- 
 centia rerum atque in hoc confpectu & cognitione naturae, Dii immortak-s ! 
 
 B b quatn
 
 u 
 
 (C 
 
 1 88 PROVIDENCE, BOOK IIL 
 
 Review them and adore ! Hear the loud voice 
 Of Wifdom founding in her works !- " Attend, 990 
 
 " Ye fons of men ! ye children of the duft, 
 " Be wife ! Lo ! I was prefent, when the Sire 
 Of heav'n pronounced His Fiat ; when His eye 
 Glanced thro' the gulph of Darknefs, and His hand 
 " Fafhion'd the rifing univerfe : I faw, 995 
 
 " O'er the fair lawns, the heaving mountains raife 
 " Their pine-clad fpires ; and down the fhaggy clift 
 " I gave the rill to murmur. The rough mounds 
 " That bound the maddening deep, the ftorm that roars i ooo 
 " Along the defart ; the Volcano fraught 
 " With burning brimftone ; I prefer ibe their ends. 
 
 quam ipfe fe nofcet ? De Leg. lib. i. To thefe we may add the teftimony of 
 Pornutus, who tells us that the Supreme Mind goes under the name of Zeu?, 
 or Jupiter, becaufe He pervades and animates every part of His works. He is 
 likewife called (fays this Author) the univerfal Governor, and the Soul of the 
 World ; epithets which are exprefiive of His Providence, and of His Immcn- 
 fity, De Nat. Deer, ab init. We might mention many other examples of the 
 fame kind from the writings of the Ancients : But thofe which have been al- 
 ready adduced will be fufficient to fatisfy any reafonable peribn of their belief 
 in this matter ; and that moil of them would have faid with an Author, who 
 was not too credulous, 
 
 Deus ille fuit 
 
 Qui Princeps vitas rationem invenit earn, qu?e 
 
 Nunc appellatur Sapientia , quique per artem 
 
 Fluclibus e tantis vitam, tantiique tenebris, 
 
 In tarn tranquillo, : tarn clara luce locavit. Lucret. Lib. v. 8- 
 
 " I
 
 BOOK III. A P O E M. Z 8p 
 
 <c I rule the rufhing winds, and on their wings 
 
 " Triumphant walk the tempeft. To my call 
 
 " Obfequious bellows the red bolt, that tears i 005 
 
 " The cloud's thin mantle, when the gufhing fhower 
 
 " Defcending copious bids the defart bloom. 
 
 " I gave to man's dark fearch fuperior light ; 
 
 " And clear'd dim Reafon's mifty view, to mark 
 
 " His powers, as thro' revolving ages tried, 1 01 o 
 
 " They rofe not to his Maker : thus prepared 
 
 " To know how diftant from his narrow ken 
 The truths by heav'n reveal'd ; My hand difplay'd 
 The plan fair-opening, where each nobler view, 
 That fwells th' expanding heart ; each glorious hope, 1015 
 
 " That points Ambition to its goal ; each aim, 
 
 " That ftirs, exalts, and animates Defire ; 
 
 " Pour on the mind's rapt fight a noon-tide ray. 
 
 " NOR lefs in life employ 'd, 'tis mine to raife 
 cc The defolatc of heart ; to bend the brow 1020 
 
 B b 2 "Of
 
 1 90 PROVIDENCE, BOOK III. 
 
 " Of ftubborn Pride, to bid relu&ant ire 
 
 " SuWide; to tame rude Nature to the rein 
 
 " Of Virtue. What though fcreen'd from mortal view., 
 
 " I walk the deepening gloom ? What tho' my ways, 
 
 " Remote from Thought's bewilder'd fearch, are wrapt 1025- 
 
 " In triple darknefs ? Yet / work thefprings 
 
 " Of Life, and to the general Good direct 
 
 " Th' obfequious means to move. O ye, who tofs'd 
 
 " On Life's tumultuous ocean, eye the fhore, 
 
 " Yet far removed ; and wifti the happy hour, 1030 
 
 " When Slumber on her downy couch fhall lull 
 
 " Your cares to fweet repofe : Yet bear awhile, 
 
 " And I will guide you to the balmy climes 
 
 " Of reft ; will lay you by the filver ftream 
 
 <c Crown'd with Elydan bowers, where Peace extends 1035 
 
 " Her blooming olive, and the Tempeft pours 
 
 " Its killing blaft no more." Thus Wifdom fpeaks 
 
 To Man ; thus calls him thro' tti external form 
 
 Of Nature^ thro' Religion 's fuller noon y 
 
 Thro' Life s bewildering mazes ; to obferve 1040
 
 BOOK III. A P O E M. 191 
 
 A PROVIDENCE IN ALL. Now each furmife 
 
 Reprefs'd, I read convidion in thine eye ; 
 
 Live then refign'd, that when the folemn knell 
 
 Of Death fhall call thee to the tomb ; the mind, 
 
 In thought rejoicing, as it marks the par}, x45' 
 
 May eye the Future with exulting Hope. 
 
 PASS a few circling years, and Life's fliort tale 
 Is winded. Weeping lafts a night, but Joy 
 Crowns the fair morning.- As he fpoke, his fhape 
 Was changed ; his cheek with youth's vermilion bloom 1050 
 Glow'd heav'nly bright ; and o'er his vefture flow'd 
 In graceful curls, the long-defcending hair 
 Loofe on the gale of Evening. In his eyes 
 Moiften'd with living dew, thy genial ray, 
 Aurora, fparkled ; and the little Loves foj-j 
 
 Play'd on his ruby lips. A robe of light 
 Mantled his limbs, and four refplendent wings 
 Whofe plumage glow'd with purple, green, and gold, 
 Flamed all-refulgent as He moved, A while 
 
 He
 
 1 92, PROVIDENCE, BOOK III. 
 
 He eyed me rapt ; - then fpread his glittering plumes, 1060 
 
 And foar'd a Seraph to the fkies. The eye 
 
 Of Fancy kindled, as fhe mark'd him high 
 
 In air. She look'd, and ftarting from the ground, 
 
 On rapid wings impetuous burft away. 
 
 THE END.

 
 
 
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