: , . ^ 1 Si ' ' 1 1 . . '. aoioo son llwn eunq R 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, Bf 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, 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 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< 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 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, 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. >ui 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, 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 i< it&ti'/jnjyt, x) TAUT* ira.t>T< 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, 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, / 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 245 290 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 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 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 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*