■A-rh m THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES ANCIENT AND MODERN R O M E. [Price One Shilling and Six-pence.] .^ c ANCIENT AND MODERN R O M E. A POEM. Written at ROME in the Year 1755. Sum ex Us qui mirer Antiques : Non tamen, ut quidam, temporum vojlrorum ingenia defpicio. Neque enim qiiaji lajfa, et effxta natura, ut nihil Jam kudahile pariat, Plin. Epift. Lib. vi. Ep. 21. LONDON, Printed for R. and J. D o d s l e y, in Pall-mall, M D C C L X. ANCIENT AND MODERN ROME. '"' OR Mufe, or Dryad, whofoe'er thou wert, Who erft in Britain haft vouchfafd to hear My Voice invoking, as fome artlefs Lay I caroll'd, or light Song, to greet the Ear Of Friendfhip, hither to this diftant Soil c (Soil favour'd of the Nine) repair, and with Thy Smiles direft me, ftudious to defcribe In Numbers not uncouth, as o'er thefe Scenes Pendve I wander, what of ancient Arts, And monumental Grandeur, ftill remains, lo Midft the proud Ruins of immortal Rome Immortal did I fay ? yes, once fo deem'd, When, like a Goddefs on the rapid Winds High mounted, to the Kings of Climes remote B She 9591G'5 c ^ 3 She fent her Laws, and faw the World obey.——— 1 5 But Time, capricious Parent, gives to all Their Morning, and their Eve ; and having fhevvn Mankind, fome profper'd Child, mark'd it for Fame, And rais'd it to it's Noon-tide Hour, delights To pluck it's Honours off, and fink it down, 20 To teach an awFul Moral in the Duft ! AND fuch thy Doom, thefe ftately Ruins tell; Thefe flately Ruins, that from various Shores Attrad the curious Traveller, who burns With ftrong Impatience, by the claflic Page 25 Excited, (faithful Regifter of Worth) To vifit thee, thou once great Seat of Arms, Thou Nurfe of Heroes ; With refpedful Eye, To gaze upon thy Temples, o'er thy Heaps Paufe rev'rent, and amid this wafteful Mafs, 30 Trace out thy former Glory. Well indeed. Poor mournful Reliques, confcious of your Shame, And [ 7 ] And mindful what ye were, well do ye drive To hide yourfelves beneath the fhelt'ring Mofs, Or the kind Foliage of fome neighb'ring Plant. 35 BUT while I tread the filent Streets of Rome, Where Cowls fupply the Helmet's blaze, where now Creeps o'er the fhaken Battlement the Vine ; Let me a Moment recolledt the Years When Fortune led her forward, and Succefs 40 Outran her Hopes ; admire her Dawn of Life, Her fcanty Family, midft humble Sheds ; ' Simple, laborious, of her future Pride Planning the Bafis : Mark each vary'd Step, Her Change of Government, her Laws, her Strength, 45 Her Politicks, her Wifdom : To the Field Accompany her March, and iee her crown'd With Triumph, and with Spoil, while the fubdu'd With Fear mix'd Admiration, and rever'd The Hand that conquer'd. Then in ev'ry Breaft 50 B 2 Breath'd C 8 ] Brcath'd publick Virtue, and each Bofom felt The Glow of Liberty. Their Youth, inur'd To Exercife, and Toil, (the Soldier's School !) Were taught to fcorn Fatigue, contemn a Life Of Indolence, and Eafe, and die with Joy, 55 To ferve their Country ! — Maxims fuch as thefe, Sure as the Herald's Trumpet, loud announc'd The Deeds that foUow'd : — Prompted by this Flame,. This patriot Spirit, lo ! a facred Train Of Heroes, ading fuch exalted Parts, 60 As in thefe diftant, and degen'rate Times, Almoft furmount Belief I Thy Name, O Rome, Re-echo'd through the Globe, from where the Rhine [^], And fwelling Danube, urge their foaming Courfe, Ev'n to Euphrates Borders: Afric's Sons 65 Proclaim it in their Defarts, and the Streams Of Tagus roll it to th' Atlantic Deep : That both at Morn, and Eve, the Sun beheld [a] Thefe Rivers mark nearly the utnioft Extent of the Roman Conqueft. Her [ 9 ] Her Banners wave; Nor did fhe give Mankind Her Chains alone; where'er her Eagles flew, 70 They bore the gentler Arts of polifli'd Life, Attendants of her Conquefts ! Thus fhe flione, And the World hail'd her Univerfal Queen ! O could I here break off, here fhut the View, Nor fee, the Laurel Wreaths by Valour earn'd, 75; By Virtue dignify'd, blafted, and torn. By foul Corruption's Hand ! But 'tis with States,, As Men, too often Grandeur's treach'rous Smiles Warp the well-meaning Heart, pollute it's Springs, And make the adive Mind forget it's Ta{k. 80: When Virtue paufes She recedes ! Thus Rome, Cloy'd with Profperity, and of her Fame Grown carelefs, in the rofeate Bow'r repos'd Of Luxury : (that falfe one, who hath fliook So many Thrones !) drank of her baneful Cup, 85 And to her Mufic lent a ravifh'd Ear : As [10] As fatal, as whate'er by ancient Bards Was told of Sirens, or of Gorgon's Head, That ruin'd with a Look. For tho' it's Force It urges not immediate, flowly furc, gQ Like fubt'lefl: Poifon, it invades each Senfe, Each Power of Adlion, and corrodes the Frame, Till Death attones for Folly I Nor did Rome Fall unremember'd, fince her Name alone Infpir'd fuch Dread, that her pale Skeleton 95 By Superstition dreft, guarded by Priefts, Who blending PoHticks, with holy Faith, Relying on the Crofier, not the Sword, RoU'd Terrors thro' the World ; ftain'd many an Age With guiltlefs Blood ; and flill with weaken'd Sway, 10© Now milder, bids thefe hallow'd Fabricks rife, That give a fecond Subjed to my Song. W HAT, tho' Oblivion in her fable Shroud Hath WTap'd thy former Splendor, yet ev'n now, Some Some mouldering Fragments, Ivy-crefted Tow'rs, 105 And Arches, tott'ring to their Fall, remain, And in their antiquated Liv'ry, fpeak Their better Fortune. Pillars, that amidfl: The folemn Scene, by many an Infult fcarr'd. Stand up hiftoric ; rifted Vaults of Fanes, 1 10 And Palaces, whofe wide difparted Roofs Threaten each Vifitant : and frequent feen Some fhatter'd Urn that hath betray'd it's Charge, To mix with vulgar Duft. Or fhould the Charms Of Sculpture wake Attention, here the Eye 115: Finds rapturous Delight, while It beholds, The mimic Stone fo cunningly affume The Property of Being, that it feems As Art could rival Nature. Thus our Senfe Is often fool'd, when we before us view 120 Gigantic Hercules [^], on his huge Club Recline his Weight enormous : or the Limbs [h] Thefe Statues are efteemed by All as the moft complete Pieces of ancient Sculpture now at Rome. Of [ la ] Of matchlefs Flora, thro' her flowing Robes, Prefs decent on the Sight: the graceful Step, And divine Portance of the Delphic God [c] : 1 25 Laocoon's Anguifli ; and the beauteous Form, Too beauteous Form, of fair Antinous ! Nor, fhall the Gladiators [^J pafs unmark'd, Gready expreffive ; nor the manly Force OfMELEAGERj nor dcjcdled Air, 130 Of penfive Agrippina [e]. With new Joy The Mind refledling o'er th' enliven 'd Bust Shall paufe, fupremely pleas'd, as Face to Face, Amidft the bright AfTembly we appear Of Chiefs, and Sages, whofe heroic Deeds, 135 Beyond the Storms of Fate, fuperior fhine On Fame's eternal Record. In their Looks We fcem to read their Story, ev'ry Trace Remark inquifitive, and oft return, [c] The Apollo, which ftands in that Part of the Vatican which is called the Belvidere. [d] The fighting, and dying Gladiators univerfally known by their Cafts. [•^1 In the Villa Farnese on the Palatine Hill. As [13] As fome frefli Adion of their Life revives, 14.0 To gaze, contemplate, and admire, again. O H ever-v^ond'rous Art, that from the Schools Of Greece, cam'ft hither, to this favour'd Clime, Yet rarely haft vouchfaf 'd to pafs the Cliffs Of the proud Apennine, or chear the cold, 145 And Genius-chilling Regions of the North ! A S when a Man defcries the wifti'd-for Port Whither he's bound, and where before, his Thoughts Were long arriv'd, feels rifing in his Soul A fudden Tranfport ; not unlike, perchance, 150 Is that Senfation which the Stranger's Breaft, With Expedlation's Fire already warm'd. Is confcious of, when ftanding on fome Height His greedy Eye takes in the nodding Piles Of old Magnificence, or rapid darts 1 5 j; O'er the wide barren [/] Plain, where broken Forms [/] Now called the Campania of Rome ; 'tis of very large Extent, and from lying uncultivated, its Air is very fatal to thofe who fleep in it during the great Heats. c of [14] Of Turrets, and fepulchral Monuments, Skirt all the blue Horizon. Let's away And wander midft the dank, and fhadowy Gloom Of antique Baths, or the Pantheon's Round, i6o Well harmoniz'd ; where Dignity, and Grace, And juft Proportion reign. The Circus too Invites our Steps, and the Tarpeian Rock : How much unlike, what poor Evander fhew'd Anchises Son, as thro' his humble State, 165 On Tiber's Banks, the hofpitable King His princely Gueft conduced ! Mark e'en ftill, Spite of the Gothic Sword, the fpiry Tops Of Obelifks, whofe fculptur'd Sides eonfefs The myftic Labours of Egyptian Hands I 1 70: And thofe tall Columns [g]y that preferve your Names, Illuflrious Pair, who to th' exalted State Of Emp'ror, join'd the Titles more auguft. Of wife and good. But, let us bend our Courfe, [/] The Pillars of the Emperors Trajan and Antoninus Pius, Tg To where the Amphitheater's old Walls i 75 Mantled in green, with many a Winding, turn In Circuit vaft; while. Fancy paints to View All Rome afTembled on fome feftive Day, Rank above Rank, with ev'ry Face, intent To fee the Death-doom'd Man, and Nature yield 180 To Force fuperior. The Furfuit of Arms Had check'd each fofter Impulfe, and forbad To call Compaflion Virtue ; nor was known As in our Times, the Stage's wifer Aim, To fteal Inftrudion through the Poet's Song, i 8j To melt the ftubborn Heart, and teach the Eye To {lied the gen'rous Tear for other's Woe, BENEATH the Hoping Side of yonder Hill, Sacred to Jove, where flood the Capitol, Th' unpeopled Forum fpreads j But yet a few 1 90 Sequefter'd Pillars lift their Heads, and point Some Temple's Site ; ftrew'd round with mingled Heaps, That wear the Badge of hoar Antiquity. C 2 While [i6] While in the Front, appears the ftory'd Arch, To Titus rear'd, when fliouting Rome proclaim'd 195 Jerusalem [h] made captive : Then arofe Thy Fane, O Peace [/}, thou Heav'n-defcended Queen, Parent of Arts, under whofe foft'ring Reign The Mufes triumph ; (Shame upon the World, And Man's corrupted Heart, that thou fhould'ft e'er 200 Defert, our Habitations !) Nor far off. The Palatine's fteep Mount, where ancient Tale Feigns the Twin Brothers found, but honour'd more By great Augustus Dwelling: Now alas! How is it's Lot revers'd! with mournful Pine, 205 And melancholy Cyprefs thick o'er-grown; Here Desolation, mocking the vain Farce Of human Labours, and the low Conceits Of human Pride, thron'd on a craggy Pile, [h] This Arch is at the Entrance of the Campo Vacino, from the Amphi- theatre, and was eredted by the Senate to the Honour of Titus, after the Conr quefl: of the Jews. [i] The Temple of Peace ftands near to it, was ereded on the fame Occafion, and is efieemed to have been one of the fineft Temples in Rome. Smiles [ 17] Smiles pleas'd with his own Work ; amid the Spoils, 210 Of Time's fell Hand, where nought is feen to move. Save, the green Lizard fporting in the Sun, Sole Tenant of the folitary Wafte. YET, O ye Reliques, injur'd as ye are By the fharp Canker of confuming Age, 215 Be ye my Altars ; on your Grafs-grown Tops, Charm'd with refledling what ye once have been, I'll facrifice my Hours: For you, forfake The crowded Haunts of Men, where much is talk'd, And little reafon'd J and with you, indulge 220 That pleafing Penflvenefs yourfelves infpire. That meditating Mood. Nay ev'n when chill'd Beneath a Wintry Sky, her foaring Wings Imagination droops, and her damp'd Fires Burn weak and pale, then prefent to my Mind 225 Your well-known Forms fhall rife, fpread o'er my Thoughts A tranfient Joy, and frequent be my Theme. AND C i8] AND do I walk the Forum? and is this The memorable Spot, on which have trod So many Patriots, who in Freedom's Caufe 230 Unfheath'd the Sword of Juftice ? Yes it is j I know it is. — If in a Briton's Breaft, Tho' midft the Ice of the far Northern Sea, Or Realms, where Slav'ry drags it's hopelefs Chain, Beams the bright Flame of Liberty, fay Mufe, 235 What muft he feel in Rome ? -Perhaps I dream, And 'tis Illufion peoples the lone Void With yonder Band of Heroes, on whofe Brows Sits awful Majefty, and round whofe Heads, Twines the vidorioiis Laurel. In the Van, 240 (For who can all the vifionary Shades Of fleeting Fancy count ?) methinks, I fee The Elder Brutus ; venerable Man ! Parent, and Judge j Hard Fate! to join two Names, That mufl: for ever jar; but yet, behold, 245 To one great Caufe dill conftant, he difclaims A'.l i: 19] All partial Ties, proud only to be call'd The Father, of his Country. Clofe behind, In fullen Grief, and in his Mantle wrap'd, The ftern Virginius pafles: Mark his Eyes 250 Rooted to Earth ! on whofe cold Bofom ftretch'd Like fome fair Flow'ret, the rude ftorm hath crop'd, A flaughter'd Virgin lies : from Infult fav'd, From Lofs of Honour, by th' indulgent Blow : Nor, unreveng'd her Wounds, lince in her Fall 2 5 5 , Was Tyranny deftroy'd. But what's yon Troop, Ruihing from out the Capitol, whofe Looks Speak Terror to Beholders ? each array 'd In fenatorial Robes, in every Hand A Dagger reeking with the crimfon Blood 26a' Of one but young in Death? Yet hold ! 1 know : For at their Head, intrepidly appears Another Brutus, to th' impatient Throng Exclaiming, as they eager prefs around, " That Rome is free, and Cesar but a Name I"' 265 HAIL. [20] HAIL Liberty, Daughter of Heav'n ! whofe Smiles Suftain'dthe wand'ring Scythian, chear the Gloom Of Lapland's tedious Night, and wanting which, The circling Moon ne'er fees a People bleft In all her Vifitations I Found no more, 270 In thefe once favour d Seats, where fhall our Steps Purfue thy Flight? To where [^] Helvetia's Sons, Midft their Cloud-piercing Mountains, yet maintain Their Manners uncorrupt ? or where the Cliffs Of far- viewed Albion, thy admir'd Retreat .275 Rife, midft the World of Waters ? There, O Maid Celeftial, ever reign ; her Children teach To venerate thy Name, that the fair Band Of peaceful Virtues, which adorn thy Train, May ftill be theirs; and Britain's Fame expand 280 From Pole, to Pole: while with her Freedom charm'd, [k] The ancient Name of that Country, which is now called Switzerland, from the little Canton of Scbwitz ; which leagued with two others to oppofe the Tyranny of the Houfe of Aifiria, by the naemorable Battle of Morgarten ia ♦3 1 c, ; laid the Foundation of thofe Liberties which the nnrtci7i Cantons^ and ail the free States in Alliance with them now, liappily enjoy. Lefs Lefs happy Nations tow'rds her Sea-girt Shores Shall fighing frequent turn their wifhful Eyes, Extol Her Fortune, and lament their own. BUT come, my Mufe, thou Miftrefs of my Song, 285 Let us to TivoLi's romantic Hill, In rural Beauty rich, where Learning's Friend And beft Protestor, good M^cenas, gave The Recompence to Merit, [/J (happiefl: Tafk Ofthofe, whom Plenty crowns !) or to the Streets 290 Of desolate Palestrina, throng'd no more With Fortune's Votaries [m] i or the tranquil Shades Of cool Frescati [«], in whofe lov'd Retreat Once TuLLY thought, and reafon'd: then let's feek The wat'ry Beauties of the Alban Lake 29? And Antium's pleafing Shores,— — Or if, perchance, [/] There are ftill at Tivoli great Remains of the Villa of Maecenas. [m] Palestrina is about twenty Miles from Rome, and was anciently called Pr^neste ; it was famous for it's magnificent Temple dedicated to Fortune, of v/hich there are confiderable Ruins, [«] Frescati is the ancient Tusculum, and is diftant from Rome twelve. Miles : They ftill lliew fome Remains of Cicero's Houfe j and it is fuppofed k was here he compofed his TuscutAN Disputatiqms. ^ ■: D ■ A ihorter A {horter Circuit better ftiould delight, Stealing along, upon the winding Banks Of yellow Tiber, (in whofe oozy Bed, The Spoils of many a Day, of many an Art> 300 Lie fepulcher'd :) we'll mount thy fweet Afcent, Ma DAM A [(?], and beneath tli*^ embow'ring Trees, Or in thy paft'ral Theatre, where firft The Faithful Shepherd [p] to the echoing Wood's Sigh'd out his am'rous Tale, fecurely fliun 305 The raging Heat ; or wait the Evening Sky, Ting'd with unnumbered Rays, and from thy Height, Repofing on fome Bank, by Nature's Hand, Richly adorn'd, contemplate all below. There let us ruminate on old Renown,, 31 q And the long fl:ory*d Page of Ages paft.. Reflexion hath it's Joy, a penflve Calm ['] There are in this Garden the Remains of a rural Theatre, in which the Pastor Fido was reprefented, for the firll Time, before Cardinal Borghese, afterward Paul the V., That C ^3 ] 1 That (brouds the Soul, and bears it on the Wings Of vagrant Thought, to Mem'ry's wide Domain ! Now let's indulge it, while we here remark 315 The mad Career of Fortune, and behold Imperial Rome, midft all her Triumphs faU'n! So clofes ev'ry Scene ; and thus decay The Works of Men : allow'd a little Space To fhine, attract,- — then fade, and be forgot! 320 For fee the Paths that lead to Pow'r, and Fame, And thofc, which feel the Peafant's filent Step, End in one Point j obferve Ambition's Flight, And laugh at all the wild fantaf^ic Dreams Of human Folly.-— —Seeking then thy Arms, 325 O Virtue, let us court thee as our Good ^ Our only Treafure, and our onl}r Hope | Our Shield, to guard us gainl't a faithlefs World, And all it's poifon'd Arrows i Thou unhurt, Sprung from immortal Truth, ferenely bright, 330 Suftain'ft the genVal Wreck j ^nd lik^ the Sun Shalt Aill appear with undiminifh'd Light, D 2 When I Hi When all the boafted Monuments of Pride Shall fink, and mingle with the Duft they hid ! WEEP'ST Thou, my Mufe, this changeful State of Things? Nay fure tliey afk a Sigh ! Yet rather mourn, That Man unthriftily reje£ls the Gifts, Which Nature made him Heir to. Heav'n points out A flow'ry Way to all, nor bids it's Sons Tread the hard Flint, or fhun the Joys of Life 340 Then wherefore, midft yon venerable Piles Of pompous Ruin, fplendid Fabricks rife, And fwelling Domes ? Why do I hear the Voice Of Superstition, bid her Altars blaze? And fee her beckon to the cloyfter'd Cell 345 The blooming Maid? — Alike the Pride of Youth, And blufh of Beauty yield ; their Bloffoms crop'd Ere one can fay they flourifh'd ! — Hark the Gates Grate on their Hinges to receive their Guefts, And hide them from Mankind ! like Gems conceal'd 350 In the dark Womb of Earth, whofe Radiance ne'er Shall Shall woo th'admiring Eye ! Still as their Hours;, Their ufelefs Hours, creep on, to wafte their Strength In painful Pennance, at the tinfell'd Shrine Count o'er their Beads, and by the Midnight Lamp 355 Mutter cold Pray'rs, fent from the pradlic'd Lips More frequent, than the Heart which Rapture fires O Blind, to think their Safety lies in Flight ! Or that the fteady Foot of Virtue fears To tread the Haunts of Men! There mofi: fiie fliines, 360. And conquers by Example, ftronger far Than preaching Volumes, or recording Brafs. Arm'd of herfelf, flie braves each hoflile Dart, And only afks Protedion from the Skies. COME from thy Cell, O Memory, and ftain,. 365 With blackeft Shades, the Day when firft were rear'd The Convent's lonely Walls. Shock'd at the Adl, Man's Guardian-Angel fled, and left thofe Breafts Which Friendiliip might have warm'd, and great Purfuits Guided to Honour, and the public Good, 370. 2 A Prey [a6] A Prey to Folly, and that partial Love," Which centers in itfelf. Then broke the Chain That heft cements in Bonds of Amity Earth's num' rolls Family ; then funk the Names, For ever facred, and for ever dear, 375 Of Parent, Child, Pofterity ; thofe Ties, Which to our Joys add Joy ; and pluck the Thorns From half the Ills that crofs the Ways of Life 1 STILL I recal the Day, frefli on her Cheek The purple Bloom of Youth, when Laura bid 380 The World adieu, [^] reiign'd it's flattering Pomps, And took the holy Veil. I view her ftill Befide the Altar, like a Vidim deck'd Magnificent ; fair as the pearly Dew Which on the Rofe-bud lies, or hangs within 385 The Lilly's Cup, what Time Hyperion mounts The Eaftern Hills. Before the mitred Pried She kneels fubmiffivej on the facred Flow [y] In the following Lines is defcribed tlie Ceremony of giving the firfl; VeiJ, on the Admifllon of a Nun. Cafting [ *7 3 Carting thofe Eyes, whofe Fires were fure defign'd To light the Torch of Venus, and provoke ^90 To am'rous Parley ; other Office lar. Now doom'd to ferve! Who can unmov'd behold. Such Sacrifice ? Yet 'tis her Choice, and lo She fings confenting ! Lo, the Prelate cuts Her graceful Hair! and ftrips it of the Gems 395; That fparkled midft her Trefles; then conduds The willing Fair-one to the Convent's Gate, Where fhe, in one laft, one eternal, Kifs, ' Diflblves all focial Bonds. The Abbefs there Receives her, and inverts her beauteous Limbs ^oq- (Unfriendly Change!) in coarfe monaftic Weeds While all the Virgin Choir in Hymns announce, " Thee, Laura, thee, become the Spoufe of Christ." SELF-baaifli'd, felf- condemned, now to tliy Cell Too rigid Maid retire, and deck it round 4,05 With Bones, and SkuDs, torn frpm the ravag'd Grave, I ^8 ] To point a gloomy Moral. Peace be thine, And calm Content : nor ever may thine Eyes, Like vvand'ring Exiles, caft a longing Look Back to their native, their forfaken Home ! 410 YET hence, the Arts, in ev'ry Age, have found A fure Prote6trefs; by Religion call'd To raife her Temples, decorate their Walls, And with unweary'd Toil her fainted Shrines Illumine: Hence, the pendl'd Canvafs glows 41 j With living Forms, whofe vifionary Charms Hold Converfe with the Eye : The Altar hence, Declares the Sculptor's Skill, as from thehard And rugged Rock, his Wonder-working Hand Brings forth the imag'd Martyr. Hence behold, 420 In one vaft Pile [r] conjoin'd, Proportion, Grace, Strength, Elegance, and Grandeur; Union, form'd To challenge Admiration, and infure Praife univerfal ; coming neareft that, [r].St. Pitir's. Sends [ 33] Which Man muft deem Perfedlion Mufic too, 425 From Voice melodious, and the varied String, Sends out the Soul of Harmony, like Spells SpreadingEnchantment round, 'till ^ vaulted Choirs Ring with th' Eternal's Praife, and Men attempt What happier Seraphs hymn. Thrice bleft the Age 430 Which virtuous Arts adorn ! By them the Heart Grovi^s more refin'd, by them the Breaft is warm'd To nobler Deeds, the Laws of civil Life More taught, more ftudy'd : Brutal Valour turns To reafon'd Courage, and the Mind awakes , 435 To Scenes unknown before ; as the calm Lake Shews it's embofom'd Landfcape, which lay hid When the rough Tempeft fwept it. Wherefore elfe Stand Europe's Sons the foremoft in Renown ? Or why doth India, 'midft her fplendid Mines, 440 Shine undefired ? Such the happy Times, When Plato trod the Academic Grove, And fpoke of Wifdom : Such, when Rome beheld E Augustus [34] Augustus throndj Such too, in later Years, When Leo rul'd, and the thrice gen rous Hand 445 Of Med I CIS, his hofpitable Gates Wide open'd, courting all, whom Genius, Worth, Or Learning dignify 'd, to come, and rear A Tuscan Athens. -Hail, illuftrious Name ; Thee fliall the Mufes fing in ev'ry Clime 450 Where Science profpers; Thee, whofe friendly Arm Rais'd the negleded Mourner, bade her Smiles Spread their mild Influence o'er thy polifli'd State, 'Till thy own Arno flow'd a rival Stream With fam'd Ilissus. Cafting oflF the Veil '455 That had fo long difgrac'd her, Sculpture then, Lur'd by the Voice of her lov'd Angelo [j], Rofe from her Gothic Trance, proud to afTume Once more her Attic Drefs : and with her came Her fair Companion Painting; to the World 460 [j] Michael Angelo Buonaroti, a Florentine, one of the moft cele- brated Artifts in Sculpture aad Painting, but particularly in the former. Firft [35 3 Firfl fliewn by Cimabue[/], an Infant then, Rudcj and unform'd; but, by the fkilful Care Of Giotto nurs'd, her Beauty and her Years Advanc'd together, 'till flie fhone complete In ev'ry Virgin Charm; fvveet as the Nymphs,^ 465 Who, when Aurora opes the Gates of Day, Sport at her Side, and to the jocund Notes Of Lute and Harp, around the Morning-Star Dance feftive Ever facred be the Soil That gave her Birth ! Happieft Italia, thine 470 Hath Heaven mark'd fortunate; by Nature deck'd E'en to Profusion. Here the Artift oft, Or folitary Bard, deep-muiing roams , Eyes thy gay Scenes, inhales the Southern Breeze, And catches Infpiration. Dwelling meet 475 For Fancy ! Here, the pleafing Maid difplay'd Her varying Talents, fix'd her Schools, and taught [j] Painting was firft revived at Florence, by Cimabue, towards the End of the Thirteenth Century. He was foon after followed by Giotto, and there are Remains of both their Works in the Churches at Florence. E 2 Her [ 36 ] Her Myfteries ; feleding from the Band That woo'd her Favour, an appointed Few, The Heralds of her Art, to raife at once 480 Hers, and their own Renown. " My Sons, (lie cry'd, " (For dear as Sons ye are) take from my Hand " Thefe Pencils, by myfelf prcpar'd, whofe Pow'rs *' Shall win ye Admiration, lafting Praife. *' For to Fame's Temple there are many Paths, 485 " Nor for the Hero, nor the Sage alone " Wreathes fhe her Laurels ; all by honeft Means *' Who feek them, wear them. Thou, my Raphael, go *' Profp'rous, and on the Vatican's proud Walls *' Fix an eternal Name ; an Air divine, 490 " SubHmity of Thought, and Touch corredt, " Shall mark thy Labours ; 'till in One combin'd " Thy evVy Pow'r fhall fhinc, and Nature's felf *' Grow jealous of thy Skill [z^]. Corregio, Thou, [«] The Pidlure alluded to is the Transfiguration, now in. the Church of St. PiETRO MoNTORio, at RoME, eftcemed the fineft Pifture in the "World. Raphael died juft as he had finiflied it, and it was carried before his Body to the Grave. *' By [37] " By thy own Genius great, fliall point new Ways, 495 " Happy in all [a:]. Thy Portion, Titian, take " In Harmony of Colour. Paolo [j'1, Thine *' In Grace and Spirit. Yours, be Judgment deep, " Caracci, and Invention rare; from whom " The Art fhall gain new Luftre, and a Line 500 " Of learn'd Difciples fpring [sr]. Exprellion bold, " And Beauty of Defign, fhall blefs thy Works, *' DOiMiNicHiNo; Elegance and Eafe, *' My GuiDo, thine adorn. For Grandeur, Tafte, " And Compofition rich, Cortona [