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 M.D.CC.XLIV.
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 
 C 
 
 Aius ScR iBONius CuR lo was a Roman Senator 
 of great Spirit^ Eloquence and Popularity. By 
 Extracf a Plebeian ; but ennobled by the Offices 
 his Family had fuflaind. His Education had 
 fornid him to the mofl a&ive ILeal for the legal 
 Conftitution of his Country^ which he afterwards 
 publicly everted with great Applaufe under the 
 Direclion of QicEKOy againjl the Infolence and 
 Ufurpations of the firft Triumvirale, Ihis Cha- 
 raSJer he ?naintaind even after the pernicious 
 Defgns of ]\jh\\js C /e s A r began to appear. 
 But at lafl^ unhappily for himfelf and his Coun- 
 try^ the T)ifliculties into which his ungovernable 
 Paffions had plmi^d him^ gave that artful Man 
 an Opportunity of f educing him to betray the 
 Caufe of Liberty at its very Crifs, So that he 
 is juflly chargd by the Roman Hiftorians^ as 
 the chief Incendiary of Qs.skk's Ambition^ and 
 Author of all the public Ruin that enfued. 
 
 z TO 
 
 8S5?42
 
 To CUR I O. 
 
 Hrice has the Spring beheld thy faded Fame^ 
 And the fourth Winter rifes on thy Shame, 
 Since I exulting grafp'd the votive Shell, 
 In Sounds of Triumph all thy Praife to tell ; 
 Bleft could my Skill thro' Ages make thee fhine, 5 
 And proud to mix my Memory with thine. 
 But now the Caufe that wak'd my Song before, 
 With Praife, with Triumph crowns the Toil no more. 
 If to the glorious Man, whofe faithful Cares, 
 Nor quell'd by Malice, nor relax'd by Years, i o 
 
 Had
 
 ( 8 ) 
 
 Had avv'd Ambition's wild audacious Hate, 
 
 And dragg'd at length Corruption to her Fate ; 
 
 If every Tongue its large Applaufes ow'd, 
 
 And well-earn'd Laurels every Mufe beftow'd, 
 
 If public Juftice urg'd the high Reward, 1 5 
 
 And Freedom fmil'd on the devoted Bard j 
 
 Say then, to him whofe Levity or Lull 
 
 Laid all a People's gen'rous Hopes in Duft ; 
 
 Who taught Ambition firmer Heights of Pow'r, 
 
 And fav'd Corruption at her hopelefs Hour j 20 
 
 Does not each Tonorue its Execrations owe ? 
 
 Shall not each Mufe a Wreath of Shame beftow ? 
 
 And public Juftice fandlify th' Award ? 
 
 And Freedom's Hand protect th' impartial Bard ? 
 
 Yet long relu£lant I forbore thy Name, 25 
 
 Long watch'd thy Virtue like a dying Flame, 
 Hung o'er each glimm'ring Spark with anxious Eyes, 
 And wilh'd and hop^d the Light again would rife. 
 
 But
 
 ( p ) 
 
 But fince thy Guilt ftill more intire appears, 
 Since no Art hides, no Suppofition clears j 30 
 
 Since vengeful Slander now too finks her Blaft, 
 And the firft Rage of Party-hate is pafh ; 
 Calm as the Judge of Truth, at length I come 
 To weigh thy Merits and pronounce thy Doom : 
 So may my Truft from all Reproach be free, 35 
 
 And Earth and Time confirm the fair Decree, 
 
 it- >\ 
 
 There are who fay they view'd without i\maze 
 The fad Reverfe of all thy former Praife 5 
 That thro' the Pageants of a Patriot's Name, 
 They pierc'd the Foulnefs of thy fecret Aim j 40 
 
 Or deem'd thy Arm exalted but to throw 
 The public Thunder on a private Foe. 
 But I, whofe Soul confented to thy Caufe, ~ 
 Who felt thy Genius ilamp its own Applaule, 
 Who faw the Spirits of each glorious Age 45 
 
 Move in thy Bofom and direft thy Rage j 
 
 B I fcorn'd
 
 I fcorn'd th' ungenerous Glofs of flavifh Minds, 
 The Ovvl-ey'd Race, whom Virtue's Luftre blinds. 
 Spite of the Learned in the Ways of Vice, 
 And all who prove that each Man has his Price^ 50 
 1 ft ill believ'd thy End was juft and free j 
 
 And yet, ev'n yet believe it fpite of thee, 
 
 Ev'n tho' thy Mouth impure has dar'd difclaim, 
 Urg'd by the wretched Impotence of Shame, 
 Whatever filial Cares thy Zeal had paid 5^^ 
 
 To Laws infirm and Liberty decayed ; 
 Has begg'd Ambition to forgive the Show 5 
 Has told Corruption thou wert ne'er her Foe ; 
 Has boafted in thy Country's awful Ear, 
 Her grofs Delufion when ihe held thee dear ; 60 
 
 How tame ftie follow'd thy tempeftuous Call, 
 And heard thy pompous Tales, and trufted all — - 
 Rife from your fad Abodes, ye Curft of old 
 For Laws fubverted and for Cities fold ! 
 
 3 Paint
 
 ( " 1 
 
 Paint all the nobleft Trophies of your Guilt, 65 
 
 The Oaths you perjur'd and the Blood you fpilt j 
 Yet muft you one untempted Vilenefs own, 
 One dreadful Palm refer v'd for him alone ; 
 With ftudied Arts his Country's Praife to fpurn, 
 Tp heg the Infamy he did not earn, 70 
 
 To challenge Hate when Honour was his Due, 
 And plead his Crimes where all his Virtue knew. 
 
 Do Robes of State the auarded Heart inclofe 
 prom each fair Feeling human Nature knows ? 
 Can pompous Titles ftun th' inchanted Ear 75 
 
 To all that Reafon, all that Senfe would hear ? 
 Elfe could'ft thou e'er defert thy facred Poll:, 
 In fuch unthankful Bafenefs to be loft ? 
 Elfe could'ft thou wed the Emptinefs of Vice, 
 And yield thy Glories at an Idiot's Price ? 80 
 
 B 2 When
 
 C i» ) 
 
 When they who loud for Liberty and Laws, 
 In doubtful Times had fought their Country's Caufe, 
 When now of Conqueft and Dominion fure, 
 They fought alone to hold their Fruits fecure ; 
 When taught by thefe, Oppreflion hid the Face 85 
 To leave Corruption ftronger in her Place, 
 By filent Spells to work the public Fate, 
 And taint the Vitals of the paffive State, 
 Till healing Wifdom fhould avail no more. 
 And Freedom loathe to tread the poifon'd Shore ; 90 
 Then, like feme guardian God that flies to fave 
 The weary Pilgrim from an inftant Grave, 
 Whom fleeping and fecure, the guileful Snake 
 Steals near and nearer thro' the peaceful Brake 5 
 Then Curio rofe to ward the public Woe, 95 
 
 To wake the Heedlefs and incite the Slow, 
 Again R: Corruption Liberty to arm. 
 And Quell th' Enchantrefs by a mightier Charm. 
 
 3 Swift
 
 ( *3 ) 
 
 Swift o'er the Land the fair Contagion flew. 
 And with thy Country's Hopes thy Honours grew, i oo 
 Thee, Patriot, the Patrician Roof confefs'd 5 
 Thy pow'rful Voice the refcued Merchant blefs'd j 
 Of thee with Awe the rural Hearth refounds 5 
 The Bowl to thee the grateful Sailor crowns 5 
 Touch'd in the fighing Shade with manlier Fires, 105 
 To trace thy Steps the love-fick Youth afpires 5 
 The learn'd Reclufe, who oft amaz'd had read 
 Of Griecian Heroes, Roman Patriots dead. 
 With new Amazement hears a living Name 
 Pretend to (liare in fuch fors^otten Fame : 110 
 
 And he who, fcorning Courts and Courtly Ways, 
 Left the tame Track of thefe dejecSled Days, 
 The Life of nobler Ages to renew 
 In Virtues facred from a Monarch's View, 
 Rouz'd by thy Labours from the bleft Retreat, 115 
 Where focial Eafe and public Paiilons meet, 
 
 Ag^in
 
 ( 14 ) 
 
 Again afcending treads the civil Scene, 
 To aB and be a Man^ as thou had'ft' been. 
 
 Thus by Degrees thy Caufc fuperior grew. 
 And the great End appear'd at laft in view : 120 
 We heard the People in thy Hopes rejoice 5 
 We faw the Senate bending to thy Voice 5 
 The Friends of Freedom hail'd th' approaching Reign 
 Of Laws for which our Fathers bled in vain ; 
 While venal Fa£lion, ftruck with new Difmay, 1 25 
 Shrunk at their Frown, and felf-abandon'd lay. 
 Wak'd in the Shock, the Public Genius rofe, 
 Abafti'd and keener from his long Repofe j 
 Sublime in ancient Pride, he rais'd the Spear 
 Which Slaves and Tyrants long were wont to fear: 130 
 The City felt his Call : From Man to Man, 
 From Street to Street the glorious Horror ran 5 
 Each crouded Haunt was ftirr'd beneath his Pow'r, 
 
 And murmuring challeng'd the deciding Hour. 
 
 Lo!
 
 { 15 ) 
 
 Lo ! the deciding Hour at laft appears ; 135 
 
 The Hour of every Freeman's Hopes and Fears ! 
 Thou, Genius ! Guardian of the Roman Name, 
 O ever prompt tyrannic Rage to tame ! 
 Inftruct the mighty Moments as they roll, 
 And guide each Movement fteady to the Goal. 140 
 Ye Spirits, by whofe providential Axt 
 Succeeding Motives turn the chano;eful Heart, 
 Keep, keep the beft in View to C UR 10 's Mind, 
 And watch his Fancy and his Paffions bind ! 
 Ye Shades Immortal, who, by Freedom led, 1 45 
 
 Or in the Field or on the Scaffold bled, 
 Bend from your radiant Seats a joyful Eye, 
 And view the Crown of all your Labours nigh. 
 See Freedom mounting her eternal Throne ! 
 The Sword fubmitted and the Laws her o\\\\ : 150 
 See ! public Pow'r chaftlz'd beneath her fliands, 
 With Eyes intent and uncorrupted Hands : 
 
 See
 
 ( i6 ) 
 
 Sec private Life by wifeft Arts reclaimed ! 
 See ardent Youth to nobleft Manners fram'd ! 
 See us acquire vvhate'er was fought by You, 155 
 
 If Curio, only Curio will be true. 
 
 'Twas then — O Shame ! O Truft, how ill repaid ! 
 
 O Latium oft by faithlefs Sons betray 'd ! 
 
 'Twas then What Frenzy on thy Reafon ftole ? 
 
 What Spells unfinew'd thy determin'd Soul ? 160 
 
 Is this the Man in Freedom's Caufe approv'd ? 
 
 The Man fo great, fo honour'd, fo belov'd ? 
 
 ^his patient Slave by Tinfel Chains allur'd ? 
 
 T^his wretched Suitor for a Boon abjur'd ? 
 
 Ithis Curio hated and defpis'd by all? x6^ 
 
 Who fell himfelf, to work his Country's Fall ? 
 
 O loft alike to AcSlion and Repofe ! 
 Unown'd, unpitied in the worft of Woes ! 
 With all that confcious, undiffembled Pride, 
 Sold to the Infults of a Foe defy'd ! 170
 
 ( 17 ) 
 
 With all that Habit of familiar Fame, 
 Doom'd to exhauft the Dregs of Life in Shame ! 
 The fole fad Refuge of thy baffled Art, 
 To a6l a Statefman's dull, exploded Part, 
 Renounce the Praife no longer in thy Pov/V, 175 
 
 Difplay thy Virtue tho' without a Dovv'r, 
 Contemn the giddy Crowd, the vulgar Wind, 
 And {hut thy Eyes that others may be blind. 
 
 Forgive me, Romans j that I bear to fmile 
 
 When fhamelefs Mouths your Majefty defile, 180 
 Paint you a thoughtlefs, frantic, headlong Crew, 
 And cail their own Impieties on you. 
 For witnefs, Freedom, to whofe facred Pow'r 
 My Soul was vow'd from Reafon's earlieft Hour, 
 How have I ftood exulting to furvey 185 
 
 My Country's Virtues opening in thy Ray ! 
 Hov/, with the Sons of every foreign Shore 
 The more I match'd them, honour'd hers the more ! 
 
 C O Race
 
 ( i8 ) 
 
 O Race eredl: ! whofe native Strength of Soul, 
 
 Which Kings, nor Priefts, nor fordid Laws controiil, 190 
 
 Burfts the tame Round of animal Affairs, 
 
 And feeks a nobler Center for its Cares j 
 
 Intent the Laws of Life to comprehend. 
 
 And fix Dominion's Limits by its End. 
 
 Who bold and equal in their Love or Hate, 195 
 
 By confcious Reafon judging every State, 
 
 The Man forget not, tho' in Rags he lies, 
 
 And know the Mortal thro' a Crown's Dif^uife : 
 
 Thence prompt alike with witty Scorn to view 
 
 Faftidious Grandeur lift his folemn Brow, 200 
 
 Or all awake at Pity's foft Command, 
 
 Bend the mild Ear and ftretch the gracious Hand : 
 
 Thence large of Heart, from Envy far remov'd. 
 
 When public Toils to Virtue ftand approv'd. 
 
 Not the young Lover fonder to admire, 205 
 
 Nor more indulgent the delighted Sire 5 
 
 Yet
 
 ( 19 ) 
 
 Yet high and jealous of their freeboni Name, 
 Fierce as the Flight of jfove^ deftroying Flame, 
 Where'er Opprelfion works her wanton Sway, 
 Proud to confront and dreadful to repay. 210 
 
 But if to purchafe Curio's fage Applaufe, 
 My Country muft with him renounce her Caufe, 
 Quit with a Slave the Path a Patriot trod, 
 Bow the meek Knee and kifs the reo;al Rod ; 
 Then ftill, ye Pow'rs, inftru6l his Tongue to rail, 215 
 Nor let his Zeal, nor let his Subject fail : 
 Elfe ere he change the Style, bear me away 
 To where the Gracchi^ where the Bruti ftay ! 
 
 O long rever'd and late refign'd to Shame ! 
 If this uncourtly Page thy Notice claim 22b 
 
 Ver. 218.] The two Brothers, Tiberius and Caim Gracchus loft their Lives 
 in attempting to introduce the only Regulation that could give Subility and 
 good Order to the Roman Republic. 
 
 L. Jiin. Brutus founded the Commonwealth, and died in its Defence. 
 
 When
 
 ( ^o ) 
 
 When the loud Cares of Bus'ncfs are withdrawn, 
 
 Nor well-dreft Beggars round thy FootReps fav/n y 
 
 In that ftill, thoughtful, folitary Hour, 
 
 When Truth exerts her unrefifted Pow'r, 
 
 Breaks the falfe Optics ting'd with Fortune's Glare, 225 
 
 Unlocks the Breaft and lays the Paffions bare ^ 
 
 Then turn thy Eyes on that important Scene, 
 
 And afk thyfelf- if all be well within. 
 
 Where is the Heart-felt Worth and Weight of Soul, 
 Which Labour cou'd not flop, nor Fear controul ? 230 
 Where the known Dignity, the Stamp of Awe, 
 Which, half abafh'd, the Proud and Venal faw ? 
 Where the calm Triumphs of an honed Caufe ? 
 Where the delightful Tafte of juft Applaufc? 
 Where the ftrongReafon, the commandingTongue,235 
 On which the Senate fir'd or trembling hung ? 
 
 All vanifli'd, all are fold And in their Room, 
 
 Couch'd in thy Bofom's deep, diftra6led Gloom, 
 
 See
 
 ( ^I ) 
 
 See the pale Form of baib'rous Grandeur dwell, 
 Like fome grim Idol In a SorcVer's Cell ! 240 
 
 To her in Chains thy Dignity was led ; 
 At her polluted Shrine thy Honour bled ; 
 With blafted Weeds thy awful Brow flie crown 'd. 
 Thy pow'rful Tongue w^ith poifon'd Philters bound. 
 That baffled Reafon ftraight indignant flew, 24^5 
 
 And fair Perfuafion from her Seat withdrew : 
 For now no longer Truth fupports thy Caufe ; 
 No loncrer Glory prompts thee to Applaufe j 
 No longer Virtue breathing in thy Breafl-, 
 With all her confcious Majefty confeff, 250 
 
 Still bright and brighter wakes th' almighty Flame 
 To rouze the Feeble and the Wilful tame, 
 And where (he fees the catching Glimpfes roll. 
 Spreads the ftrong Blaze and all involves the Soul ; 
 But cold Reftraints thy confcious Fancy chill, 255 
 And formal Paffions mock thy ftruggling Will j 
 
 Or
 
 ( 2^ ) 
 
 Or if thy Genius e'er forget his Chain, 
 
 And reach impatient at a nobler Strain, 
 
 Soon the fad Bodings of contemptuous Mirth 
 
 Shoot thro' thy Breall and flab the generous Birth, 260 
 
 Till blind with Smart, from Truth to Frenzy toft, 
 
 And all the Tenour of thy Reafon loft, 
 
 Perhaps thy Anguifh drains a real Tear ; 
 
 While fome with Pity, feme with Laughter Iiear. 
 
 Can Art, alas! or Genius guide the Head, 265 
 
 Where Truth and Freedom from the Heart are fled ? 
 Can lefler Wheels repeat their native Stroke, 
 When the prime Fundlion of the Soul is broke ? 
 
 But come, unhappy Man ! thy Fates impend ; 
 
 Come, quit thy Friends, if yet thou haft a Friend ^ 270 
 
 Turn from the poor Rewards of Guilt like thine, 
 
 Renounce thy Titles and thy Robes refign j 
 
 For fee the Hand of Deftiny difplay'd 
 
 To ftiut thee from the Joys thou haft betray'd ! 
 
 a See
 
 ( ^-3 ) 
 
 See the dire Fane of InfAxMY arife ! 275 
 
 Dark as the Grave, and fpacious as the Skies j 
 Where from the firft of Time, thy kindred Train, 
 The Chiefs and Princes of th' Unjuft remain. 
 Eternal Barriers guard the pathlefs Road 
 To warn the VVand'rer of the curft Abode j 280 
 But prone as Whirlwinds fcour the paffive Sky, 
 The Heights furmounted, down the Steep they fly. 
 There black with Frowns, relentlefs Ti m e await?. 
 And goads their Footfleps to the guilty Gates j 
 And ftill he a(ks them of their unknown Aims, 285 
 Evolves their Secrets and their Guilt proclaims ; 
 And ftill his Hands defpoil them on the Road 
 Of each vain Wreath by lying Bards beftow'd. 
 Break their proud Marbles, crufh their feftal Cars, 
 And rend the lawlefs Trophies of their Wars. 290 
 At lafl: the Gates his potent Voice obey ; 
 Fierce to their dark Abode he drives his Prey, 
 
 Where
 
 ( 24 ) 
 
 Where ever arm'd with adamantine Chains, 
 
 The watchful Daemon o'er her Vaflals reigns. 
 
 O'er mighty Names and Giant- Pow'rs of Luft, 295 
 
 The Greaty the Sage^ the Happy and Augufl. 
 
 No Gleam of Hope their baleful Manfion chears. 
 
 No Sound of Honour halls their unbleft Ears 5 
 
 But dire Reproaches from the Friend betray'd. 
 
 The chlldlefs Sire and violated Maid ; 300 
 
 But venaeful Vows for guardian Laws effac'd. 
 
 From Towns inflav'd and Continents laid wafte \ 
 
 But long Poflerity's united Groan, 
 
 And the fad Charge of Horrors not their own. 
 
 For ever thro' the trembling Space refound, 305 
 
 And fink each impious Forehead to the Ground. 
 
 Ye mighty Foes of Liberty and Reft, 
 Give Way, do Homage to a mightier Gueft ! 
 
 Vcr. 296.] Titles which have been generally afcrib'd to the mod pernicious 
 of Men. 
 
 Ye
 
 ( ^5 ) 
 
 Ye daring Spirits of the Roman Race^ 
 
 See C u R I o's Toil your proudcft Claims efface ! 310 
 
 Aw'd at the Name, fierce Jppius rifmg bends. 
 
 And hardy Cinna from his Throne attends : 
 
 " He comes," they cry, '^ to whom the Fates affign'd 
 
 " With furer Arts to work what we defign'd, 
 
 '^ From Year to Year the ftubborn Herd to fway, 315 
 
 '^ Mouth all their Wrongs, and all their Rage obey ^ 
 
 " Till own'd their Guide and trufted with their Pow'r, 
 
 ^^ He mock'd their Hopes in one decifive Hour j 
 
 *^ Then tir'd and yielding, led them to the Chain, 
 
 " And quench'd the Spirit we provok'd in vain." 320 
 
 But thou, Supreme, by whofe eternal Hands 
 Fair Liberty's heroic Empire ftands j 
 Whofe Thunders the rebellious Deep controul. 
 And quell the Triumphs of the Traitor's Soul, 
 
 Ver. 311, 312.] Appius Claudius the Decemvir and L. Cornelius China both 
 attempted to eftablifh a tyrannical Dominion in Rome, and both perifli'd 
 by the Treafon. 
 
 D O turn
 
 ( a6 ) 
 
 O turn this dreadful Omen far away ! 325 
 
 On Freedom's Foes their own Attempts repay j 
 Re]ume her facred Fire fo near fuppreft. 
 And fix her Shrine in every Roman Breaft. 
 Tho' bold Corruption boaft around the Land, 
 " Let Virtue, if fhe can, my Baits withftand!" 330 
 Tho' bolder now (he urge th' accurfed Claim, 
 Gay with her Trophies rais'd on Cu R i o's Shame 5 
 Yet fome there are who fcorn her impious Mirth, 
 Who know what Confcience and a Heart are worth. 
 
 O Friend and Father of the Human Mind, 335 
 
 Whofe Art for nobleft Ends our Frame defign'd ! 
 
 If I, tho' fated to the ftudious Shade 
 
 Which Party-ftrife nor anxious Pow'r invade, 
 
 If I afpire in public Virtue's Caufe, 
 
 To guide the Mufes by fublimer Laws, 340 
 
 Do thou her own Authority impart. 
 
 And give my Numbers Entrance to the Heart. 
 
 Perhaps
 
 ( 17 ) 
 
 Perhaps the Verfe might rouze her fmother'd Flame, 
 And fnatch the fainting Patriot back to Fame j 
 Perhaps by worthy Thoughts of human Kind, 345 
 To worthy Deeds exalt the confcious Mind ; 
 Or dafh Corruption in her proud Career, 
 And teach her Slaves that Vice was born to fear. 
 
 FINIS.
 
 Juft PuhliJIfd, 
 {Printed fjpr. ^rjPomLEY in Pall-MallJ 
 
 I. A Short Courfe of Standing Rules for the Government and 
 -^ Condud of an A R M Y defign'd for, or in the Field. 
 
 With fome ufefuU Obfervations drawn from Experience. By 
 a Lieutenant General of His Majefty's Forces. 
 
 II. Three Sermons, i. On Mutual StibjeBion. 2. On Con- 
 fcience. 3. On the Trinity. By the Reverend Dr. Swift, 
 
 Dean of St. Patrick^. 
 
 N. B. The Originals are in my Pojfejfwn in the Deans own Hand^ 
 with the Dates when and where he preached them. 
 
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