V5lh Phelps The huinan barometer THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES FREDERIC THOMAS BLANCHARD ENDOWMENT FUND THE Human Barometer: O R, Living Weather-Glafs PHILOSOPHICK POEM. By Mr. Phelps. ■ Et, qua Natura negabat Vifibtts humanis, OcuUs ea Pe^foris haujtt. Ovid. L O i^ D O T the moft ufeful Capacities with which the Human Nature is enriched by the great Creator. Reafon indeed, or the Power of perceiving and refle£^ing upon the vaft Variety of Ideas that prefent themfelves to our Senfes, and arife from the innumerable Objeds that furround us, and the Obfervations we make upon thefe external iDbje£ls that are vifibletoour Eyes, or are the Subjects of our other Senfes, together with the Reflc6lions we are capable of ma- king upon the internal Operations of our Minds, and the moral Princi- ples which naturally refult from fucli a progrcfTive Excrcife of our intel- lectual Powers, and are accompanied with a very clear and conviilive Evi- The "PREFACE. Evidence of our being the Subje61:s of a Multitude of moral Obligations : Reafon, I fay, or the Capacity ot deducing the moft ufeful and impor- tant Confequences from the Objects which by Senfation arc reprcfented to us, or from the mental Operations which we experience ourfelves ta be pofTeffed of, would afford a very powerful Argument to excite the Gratitude of every Individual that fhould participate of fuch excellent Endowments. ^ut as nothing is more feparable in our Ideas than the Powers of Sen- fation and Reafoning, and that of communicating our Ideas to each other, let it be fuppofed that fuch a Species of Beings as Man exiiled, with all the Advantages of an intelligent and animal Nature, whilii: at the fame Tim.e he is unprovided with the Means of imparting his Ideas to others, or of receiving theirs from them, it will appear, that in Cornparifon of his prefent Situation, his Condition would be very difconfolate and im- perfect* Tho' I would not chufe to exprefs myfelf as many have done, that Man i^ naturally a focial Being, it being a Way of fpeaking which I ap- prehend not to be ftri£lly philofophical and corre£l, tho' perhaps they may intend to convey the fame Idea thereby, I would rather fay, that from the Structure of the human Compofition, the manifold Necellities of the animal Nature, the great Advantages that will accrue to every Individual from a fincere Endeavour to afford mutual Advice and Affift- ance to each other, the valf Improvement of the rational Faculty itfelf, and the Enlargement of our Ideas of Right and Wrong, of Good and Evil, as they may be applied to the Supply of the numerous Exigencies of the Body or the Soul ; from thefe Confiderations it is abundantly mani- feft, that next to the Enjoyment of Reafon itfelf, the Ability of commu- nicating our Thoughts is of all others moft defirable, and that without fuch a Capacity, we muft have been in great Meafure deftitute of the numberlefs Benefits of a focial Life, and the human State of Exiftence v;ould have been an almoft infupportable Scene of melancholy Solitude.^ From The V R E F A C E. From thefe Premifes, as well as from the ellcntlal Perfe£>lons of the Giver, it follows, that wc arc obliged to ufe this moft invaluable Faculty with a fincere Endeavour to aufwer rhofc great and excellent Purpofes, for which it is beitowed upon us, thereby to carry on a fociable, benefi- cial, and benevolent Intercourfe of good Offices one amonfft another, to promote Truth, Juftice, and the publick Good, to advance ufeful Know- ledge and Literature, to adminiller Comfort to the DiltrelTcd, and En- couragement to the Deferving, to difcourage and remonllratc agair.lk Folly and Vice, and hereby make it the Vehicle ofuniverfal Happinels. Deformity being the Reverfe of Beauty, the Rcprefentation of the Ori^ ginal and proper Deiign ot Language will eafily point out the Corruo- tions and Abufes of it, I fhall here touch upon none of the Particulars but what relate to Poetical Compofirions, and the fame Thmsj; is to be pro- nounced^ot Poetry, as of Prole, that it is no further jultifiablc, than a:^ it is adapted to promote ufeful Knowledge, or moral Praflife ; an obvious Queftion may here arife, Whether it be not allowable to write merclv to divert or amufe ? To this I anfwer, f would by no Means cor.dcmn an Author for endeavouring to divert his Readers, but I very much doubc whether it be poilible to offer any Compofition to the Pnblick that i- ab- folutely of an indifferent Kind, I think f may venture to alfert that it ;^ not prafticable to write in fuch a Manner as to llrike the fmngi!,arioii :n »J mo\e the Pafllons, without inciting the Mind either to Crood or l-.vil, there mull necelTarily be lome Principle or other, either more expljcitjv advanc'd, or tacitly implied, which will tend to recommer.d or liifconi.tc nance fome Virtue or \'jce : But not to Jiifili: upon tiie abllratlcd Idc:i, and allowing in ger.eral ot every Poem, that as far as it i? innocent it i , defenfible, there are but too great a Number that are manifeli-lv iriyjrio'.^ to Truth, Modefty, and e\'ery other \'irtue j even in many ot our The- atrical Compofitions, the molf vicious Chara>!:ter.->, and inch as aie moit remarkably dellruftive of focial Happinels, initead ot being painted out in ihe moit deteffable Colours, are reprefented only as the Airs of a po- lite Gcntlcmaii, or fine Lady, v.hillt ChalHty, indulh-y, andjultice, are ridiculed as dull, mechanick, nnd ungeRtleman-];ke Qualities. And lo far have thefe wretched. Cawl';:' bee^ pro-riclive oi their natural EtlecV, I. i . . 1 ;- The T R E F A C R chat the bcft of our Tragedies, tho' many of them are equal to the moft celebrated Produftions of the Ancients, will not go down with the fine Vcople of the prefent Age, nor will the A£lors venture to exhibit them, without the Addition of fome Scaramouch , Harlequin y vulgar Piece qfloiu Mimickry, call'd, according to the prefent delicious Talte, ^n EnTER- T.AINMMNI". Thus no longer fince than Ja}iaary2(), th^Siege of Damafcus could not be ventur'd upon the Strength ot its own Merit, but was coupled up with the Rape ofProferpine^ and the Birth and Adventures q/' Harlequin ^ and February 4. CatQ was lor his Security attended by the Dragonof W^ant- Icy. Antick Dances, Leaping, a Stroke oi Hatlequin'^s Wooden Sword, and fill Manner of llupid BufFoonry fupply the Place of true Wit and folid Reafon : So that as far as this mean and vitiated Taftc prevails, which. Thanks be given, is not as yet become Epidemical, I muft give up fuch ot my Countrymen as are funk into it to that Cenfureof Mr. Poltair, which appeared in the Preface to the firft Edition of his Letters concerning the E/igliJh Nation, that the Etiglijh of the prefent Age are no more like their Anceltors an hundred Years ago than the modern Italians are like the antient Romans, juft fuch a Taft as thisprevail'd amongft the Romans about the Time of the Declendon of their antient Greatnefs, at which Horace eyiprcdts a very jufl Indignation in the two following Lines. / '(•/ urn Eqnitis quoque jam migravit ah Aure Voluptas (Jm?in ad incertos Oculos et G audi a vana. Which as fpoken of the then, or as applicable to the prefent Times may be rendered into Englil}j thus. Injlruclive Scenes our moder?i ^al. refufe^ 1 he prefent Age delights in empty /hews. And as I fear the Bulk of the prefent Generation are juftly WMt to Horace's Reproach, I heartily wifh it may not prove aPrefage of the like Degene- racy and Ruin which followed then, and from the greateft and braveft People in the World reduced them to the tameft and moft abjed Slaves. The The PREFACE. The Subjedl of the following Poem is the Influence of the Armofphere upon the Human Frame, according to the Differences of its Gravity or Lightnefs, Heat or Cold, Drynefs or Moifture, as thefe Effects are pro- duced by various Seafons, or, as far as appears to us, the various acci- dental Alterations that occur, tho' in Reality they ought not to be called by that Name, but to be accounted, as they really are, the Operations oi Him who by His All-wife Providence governs the World which he hath made. The Influence of the different Degrees of Gravity, and the other Alterations in the Properties of the Air abovcmentioned, are pro- ductive of proportionable Variations in the Habit and Conltitution of the Human Body ; and fo intimate tho' inexplicable is the Union betwixt Soul and Body, that the Soul is very fenfibly affcfted by the Impreilior.s it receives from its material Partner ^ nnd, on the other Hand, the Bodv is reciprocally affe6ted by the Impulle ot the Paffions and Ideas ot the Mind : So that as Man is a complex Being confilting ot Matter :\nd Spi- rit, and the Connection betwixt thefe two different Parts whereof he i . compounded, is fo clofe and infeparable, during the Continuance of their mutual Relation to each other, that the Soul on the one Hand experien- ces either Pleafure or Pain, is either quickened or retarded in its owr, pe- culiar Operations of Perception and Reafoning, according to thcdifferenc State and Circumftances of the corporeal Vehicle which it inhabits and on the other Hand the Body is as much affected in its aiiimal Funttior,: , by the Impreilions that are made upon it by the Refleftioiij and PaiTions of the Soul, and, ia Confequence hereof, is either healthy and vigorous, or weak and languifhing. From thefe Obfervations which have their Foundation in Tir.rh and Nature, the Conclufion I aim at rifes with demonftrative Light and F\ i- dcnce, that human Virtue confifteth in a fincere Endeavour, by the pro- per Excrcife of the rational Faculties, to maintain a regular aud watchful Government over thofe Impulfes which are made upon the Soul, by the Scnfations which it receives from the Inftrumcntality of the Body, and to reftrain and balance the Paflions and Operations of the Mind; fo that they may not be prejudicial to bodily Activity and Health 3 and nothing bLit The T R E F A C E. a- Life of Temperance and Virtue can be a fuiKcient Antidote againfl: the luimerous Evils that are incident either to the Body or the Mind. With an unfeigned View to the Promotion of thefegreat Ends, I oiFer this fliort Eir^iy to the Publick, the Philofophical and Moral Principles which it contains are founded on Truth and Experience. Thefe Princi- ples r have endeavoured to put into a Poetical Drefs, with a Defign to promote the Knowledge, Health, and Virtue of my Fellow-mortals, and if upon Perufal it be found to contribute in any Meafure to the Entertain- ment of the thoughtful Reader, my lind will be anfwered. J- P. THE THE luman Barometer: O R, Living Weather-GIafs. jUH E N on my Mind I turn my ftudious Eye, The fecret Springs of Nature to defcry j If to explore the myftick Bands I ilrive, By which conjoln'd the Soul and Body live j How from this Union Thoughts^ Ideas rife, Or from what Source Senfation multiplies ? B Hov lo The Human Barometer; (?r, How Motion from the Will derives its Caufe, Or mental Acts can give the Body Laws? The confcioas Soul ingenuous, to explain Owns to attempt, would fruitlefs be and vain : Condant Experience full Conviftion brings, That Motion from the Soul's Volition {prings, That all th' ideal Treafures of the Mind Have Senfe for their Original I find ; But how their mutual Influence they impart, And each reciprocally afts its Part : Matter to Spirit Images conveys, And, in its Turn, the Soul's Commands obeys, Thefe Thoughts my Soul with Admiration fill. The Mode I know not, but I Feel, I Will. The perfect Knowledge of the human Frame Is only his from whom all Being came j The Living Weather-Glass. The Essences of Things He only knows, By whole creative Power all Nature rofe j The human Mind to Properties extends Its View, Effefts, not Citufes comprehends : Since then th' internal Caule 1 can't attain, Some circumftantial Knowledge let me gain 5 With outward Objedis I'll myfelf compare^ And the Relations which to me they bear, I'll feek to find* Thou firft falut'ft mine Eye^ Effulgent Luminary of the Sky, Thy Light I fee, t feel thy Genial Heat, Of fenfelefs Matter, Work the moft complete j Thy Rays diffufe their vital Influence round • They light the Air, and fertilize the Ground :' The rifing Sun produces chearful Day, Chafing the Sable Gloom of Night away ^ B 2 It TheUvuAi^ Barometer ; or, Air, Earth and Sea, arc fubjecl: to its Sway, And Power divine in it diiplay'd obey, ^ Hence watry Particles obfequious rife, Floating in Air the Clou4 prolifick flies, Till by the Wind condensed it falls in Showers, And with its Drops the Means of Plenty pours j The airy Fluid hence its Laws receives, Its different Motions Rarefaction gives. ' ' : : Thus from its * annual Courfe, and native Heat,' .- The various Seafons flill themfelvcs repeat. Winter, its greateft Diftance cheerlefs mourns. On its Approach the joyful Spring returns. Its greater Heat Summer and Autumn gives, And Food fupplies for every Thing that lives. On * Annual Courfc, in this and the five following Lines, I do not aim toipeak phi- lofophically, with Relation to the Sun, as to it6 nivjving or Handing Itill ^ but, ac- cording to vulgar x\pprehcnlion, and fuppoling it ihould be Fa6l., tiiat the Sun is rather nearer tac Eartn in VV^inter than in dumnier j }'ec, as the Rays falling veiy oblique, have nothing of the Power as when they appi .tch niucli nearer to perpen- di.ular. By Nearnefs or Diftance, I would be underftcxjd onlv io mean the Sun's greater or lels jJegree of Power upon the Climate in whicii we nve. Living Weather-Glass. On my own Species next I meditate, How it afFecSis the prefent human State : Pleafure or Pain its various Power excites, Infpires the Soul with Sorrows or Delights : The Sun gives Motion to the ambient Air, Makes Flux and Reflux in the Atmofphere : And as their Situation various ftands, Various EfFefls are brought on diflFerent Lands : Thus do the Winds that o'er the Ocean fweep, Protrude the Exhalations from the Deep, Refifting Hills and Woods their PafTage ftop, And into Rain and Showers, comprefs'd, they drop. The felf-famc Caufe that makes the Billows roar, And lafhes with its Waves the Eaftern Shore, Spreads Calm and Smoothnefs o'er the Weftern Coaft, This lies in Peace, whilft that's with Tempefts toft. 14 The Human Barometer; or, The South-wind warms us with its gentle Breeze, Whilft Northern Blafts will inake the Waters freeze : Hence all the Changes of fucceeding Years, The Face of Nature gay, or fad appears. Nicely compos'd is this Machine of Man, And tho' but little in Creation's Plan * Yet bears Relation to the Great Immenfe, On it their Elements their Power difpenfe. The pols'd Barometer will fink or rife, In Mode proportion'd to the changing Skies, The Air ferene th' inclofed Mercury fhows • And, as by Weight impelled, it upward goes j But when dilated Vapours crowd the Air, Its finking State will ftraitway make appear j Solid and fluid Parts our Frame compofe, The Fluid through the denfer Solids flows. Th' Living Wkather-Glass. 15 Th' incumbent Air is Circulation's Spring, And changes various as its Weight will bring; The Air ferene, from Clouds and V^apours clear, Not burnt with Heat, nor chilfd with Cold feverej Adjufts the Motion of the circling Blood, The Pulfe beats right, the Circulation's good; Vapours and Storms aerial Weight abate, Our Blood runs low, and languid is our State, If Cold or Heat prevail to great Excels, More than we ought, we then perfpire or lefs, Our paflive Body Alterations finds, And with our Bodies fympathlze our Minds. Connection ftrange. Body and Soul conjoin'd ! That fenfelefs Matter fliould inform the Mind! That Spirit and Matter bear alternate Sway ! What wills the Soul, the Members all obey ! Kindred i6 The Human BAROMETEii;'(?r, Khuired fo near, mud mutual Influence make, Each of the other's Lot mud needs partake. Not one Senfation by the Nerves is brought, But what with Pleafure or with Pain is fraug-ht: So with elaftick Power the Soul refleci's, And its material V^ehicle afFe6is. Pleafing Senfations inward Joys excite, Corporeal Health flows from the SouPs Delight ; But when with grievous Thoughts the Mind's opprefs'd, Our Health declines, our Bodies know no Refl:^ So when our Ears Tidings of Grief falute, Our Spirits fink benumm'd, our Tongue is mute : But welcome News will fortify the Heart, And better Health than Medicine impart. The Living Weather-Glass, 17 The Mind by Paffion's Springs excited moves, Shuns what it fears, purlues the Thing it loves, Hopes for Obtainment, or Defpairs to [^ain, Regards with Gratitude, or keen Difdain ; Yet thefe tho' Aftions of th.e human iMind Are not to the internal Part confin'd, But varioully afLci the Body's State, Either impair its Health, or animate, Gladnefs will Bahn thro' all our Frame diffufe, It ftrin^is our Nerves, decllnino; Health renews. AlTilts each Function of the whole Machine, And in the Face its fparkling Power is feen. But Sorrows oppofite EffeQs produce. The Stomach pall, inlecl the viral Juice, Relax the Nerves, adulterate our Pood, And paint the Face with Signs of abicnt Good, C When i8 The Human Barometer ; or, When kind Afi'ections in the Soul prefidc, And Lo\e and Fricndfhip the whole Heart divide, Srcatiy's the Pulfe, Secretions well proceed, And Health and Peace their genuine Fruits fucceed. ir furious Anger once the Mind polTefs, Internal Rule and mental Order ceafe, The turgid Blood with rapid Torrent flies, Diftorts the Countenance, Inflames the Eyes j Hop« calms the Breaft when adverfe Billows roar, Internal Dlicord then prevails no more. With gentle Force the Heart fupplies the Veins, The Soul from Grief, the Body^'s free from Pains. But when of abfent Good no Hopes appear, Or to remove our Load we quite defpair, The Spirits fink, the Soul is filFd with Grief, And gloomy Features prove it wants Relief. And Living Weather-Qi^ajs, 19 And as the Body by the Mind imprefs'd Either by Health or Sicknefs is poflefs'd, Its Partner's various State the Spirit Ihares And Good or Evil in Proportion bears; . Fermented Air too much our Blood exhales, Clogs Nature's Wheels, its ufual Vigour fails, jull" in Proportion fares it with the Mind, Invention low, and Judgment weak we find. Cold when exceilive clofes up the Pores, And bars the needful Perfpiration Doors, With which the Mufcles ftrongly brac'd confpire To kindle in the V^eins a feverifh Fire ; ' Convulfive Nerves unhinge the inward Frame, Dlfturb the Judgment and the Mind inflame. Capricious Fancy fcizes Reafon's Throne, And holds the Province due to that alone. C 2 Hence (2D The Human Barometer ; or, FIcncc furious PaflTions rage without Controul, And Anarchy poircfTes all the Soul. To fuch-like Caufes Bethkm owes its Rife, That melancholy needful Edifice, With Mind humane attend thefe gloomy Scenes, And view imaginary Kings and Queens,^ Here Bile redundant overwhelms the Senfe, And black Ideas hold it in Sufpence. There agitated Juices Frenzy Ihows, And Thought no Order nor Connexion knows * The Traveller beholds with pitying Eye, The ftately Ruins of Antiquity, From what is left reflefls what once they were, And o'er their grand Remains lets fall a Tear, But intelleftual Ruins here are feen A far more moving and more tragick Scene. Living Looking-GlassI 21 Now to th' adjacent Field direcS: thy Way, This will the fame in Miniature difplay, There mounted on his Tripod fVhttJield ftands, Silence and Awe canonick Garb commands, With Arms extended fee he apes Saint Paul^ And counts his own an Apoftolick. Call, Gefture and V^oice betray the heated Brain In Groans his Converts eccho back again, And Souls imprefs'd with Thoughts of Grace, or Sin, ExpcSorate their Senfe in folemn Din.* Thefe of enthufiaftick Tranfports boaft. But are to Argument and Reafon lofl:. Of * Solemn Din. No Perfon of any Curiollty can have c\er been prefent at one of this renowned preaching Knight Errant's F'ield Sermons, but mull have obferved the Pra6lice which is here hinted ac, for whenever this notable Divine thinks fit to put a more than ordinary Emphalis upon a Sentence, or to exprefs himfelf wich a greater Degree of Warmth and Pathos than ufual, one or other of the more Zealous Kind of Auditors, as a Sign of being uncommonly atieftcd, vents his in- ^sard Emotion in a deep hollow groaning Sound, which Ipreads itfelf immediate! v amongil the Croud, and produces an uni\ crfal Hum. 22 r/j^ Human Barometer; or, of this enough The diircrcnt Seafons join And to })iodLRC the like Efte^h combine, If Heat with Wet a due Proportion bear They make a fruitful and an healthy Year, vSalabrious Fruits and Aliments produce, And fill the Veflels with their vvholfomc Juice, No vitiated Humours then molefl", The Blood flows eafy, and the Mind's at Reft, But when with Clouds the Atmofpherc is filTd, And chilling Rains are on the Earth diftilBd, The fick'ning Grafs pines in the flooded Field, Ard Herbs and Beafts unwholfome Nurture yield, }\|'raved juices hurt the Stomach's Tone, '! Kc Ncrvcr. grow weak, the blood's with Bile o'erflown. I Lie by J^iftcmpers manifold are fed, A'.d great Di lordcrs in the Mind are bred. Or Living Weather-GlassJ 23 Or fliould no morbid Taint our Food infe£t If we the Rules of Temperance ncgleft, The Courfe of Nature we ourfelves fubvert, And into Poifon wholfome Food convert, Voracious Palates crude Digeftion caufe, EKcefs of Wine fubverts found Reafon's Laws, Clog or precipitate plain Nature's Courfe, And always tend to Sicknefs or Remorfe. A brighter Scene doth Temperance difplay, It calms the Night, adds Brightnefs to the Day, Confirms the Health, invigorates the Mind, And yields us Pleafures folid and refin'd. But all external Impulfe knows Controul, Tho' it may try, it can't corrupt the Soul, Material Vehicles fubjeci: to its Power Now feel a pleafant, then a painful Hour, But 24 The Human B a r o m e t ejr/ ^ Ir, But \ ice and Virtue borh from Freedom flow, No otlicr Caufe than Liberty they know, Tree realoning Agents ne'er can be compeird, But, when they err, to flattering Vices yield, Evil, as Evil, always vve refufe, ]kit, E\il, Good we call, and often chufe. With prefcnt Impulfe weakly we comply ^ And llight the Thouo^hts of a Futurity. Hut foon or late RefleQion muft fucceed, And pals juft Sentence on the vicious Deed, Xo Grief with this deferves to be coihpaFd, ' Nor any Trouble like it to be fear'd. i rom 'Treat Misfortunes Sorrow often Hows, ()i cTuel hijurjcs difturb Repofe, Painful Scnfationb from Difeafes rife, f lunger and Want produce Anxieties. All Living Weather-Glass/ 45 All thefe Aflaults the Spirit may fuftain, And yet have Intervals exempt from Pain, But the poor G>nfcience when with Guilt opprefs'd With inward Torture feels itfelf diftrefs'd, Shocks from without may Virtue bravely bear, And Patience thro' the dafhing Waves may fteer, But confcious Guilt involves the Soul in Woe, The guilty Confcience proves its greateft Foe, DejeSion, Grief, and Self-abhorrent Shame, Infeft the Mind, and quite unhinge her Frame, Anguifh, Confufion, Horror, rage within, The bitter Fruits of aggravated Sin, Reafon with Paflions, thefe with Reafbn jar, And make the Soul a Scene of Civil War, Alike Diforders in the Body breed, And grievous Maladies from hence proceed. D Since ri6 The Human Barometer ; or, Since then both Health and Inward Peace invite, ''"' '* In Virtue's Paths let all my Powers unite, • ' O teach me, Wif^om^ this thy heav'nly Art, ' '^^'i ' With virtuous Principles to guard my Heart, Let not the Anipialieign without Con troul-,' " ' ^'■^''' ^ But be directed by the nobler Soul, ^ ' ' ' ' '-' ' O'er Senfe's Motions let the Mind prefide, Let Prudence fi^ge with Patience coincide,' -' i.' oO ' Ji>; And of my Soul the total Rule divide, ' : . ' Then will the proper Balance be maintain'd, : / "■- ' -^'- When Senfe by Reaipri's Dictates. is reftrain'd, :'/.> . i- When prefent Objeci"s future Hopes o'erfway, And Thought to Action ftill direfts the' Way<. : /! :' No different Courfe can give the Soul Relief, In Calms of Pkaiure, or in Storms of Grief, PLaf.irc may Syrcn-llke enchant the Ears, And with dilTcmbllng Aits extend her Snares, Living Weather-Glass. 27 But watchful Virtue will the Soul alarm, And her pernicious Artifice difarm, In vain Misfortune lowrs with Savage Frown, To ruffle inward Peace and caft me down, Virtue will teach its Afpeft not to fear, And future Hopes will ioon the Profpe6i: clear. This falutary LelTon let me learn May I my Soul's true Intereft difcern. Let Fortune then with Smiles my Mind carefs, Or frowning threaten Danger and Dirtrefs, Flealth fliall not tempt me to negleS my Guard, And Virtue need not even by Death be fcar'd. The * ancient Poet taught by Nature's Laws, With nobleft Elegance pleads Virtue's Caufe, SubHmel y * Anticnt Poet. Thcfe concluding Lines are rather an Iiuitation than a Tr.m- flation ot her.icv, Ccir.aui. L'b. III. OJc III. Jnfruui b^ tenacciii Propyitt Vii\'{;^j, ^V fracftis JialjtUi- Orlis^ ^ ■■ And tr; 28 The Human Barometer, Qfc. Sublimely fings The Man of Soul fi^cere • Triumphs in Hope, is undifmay'd by Fear,J|^ Should even this Oib to its fiift Chaos turn, Or in one total Conflagration burn, - n.oY InvolvM in Ruin tho' the Body die, The Soul furvives and mounts above the Sky. ,4^ T And I am not afraid to fay that in this excellent Compofition he appears to have been in a very different, anid infinitely more amiable Difpolition ot Mind, than in many others of his Odes, where he drops the Chara6ter of the polite Gentleman and the fine Writer, in low Obfcenity, or Epicurean Licentioufnefs, I would add^ that when he is here defcribing, in fuch jull and elevated Terms, the Happinefs of a virtuous Life, as being capable by the inward Confolations arifing from a Con- fcioufnefs of it, to animate a Man againft the Evils of Life, and even to fortify and compofe h s Brealt in the Midll of a dilTolving World, 1 cannot but think he mujft at that Time be under the ftrongell Impreflions of the Belief of a lliture Ex- igence, as nothing elfe could fupport a Man in theCircumftancesof Death, and the univerfal Wreck of Matter, bat fuch a Belief, and the Hope of Happinefs in a future State. 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