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 Milward 
 Peleia
 
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 I THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 FREDERIC THOMAS BLANCHARD 
 ENDOWMENT FUND
 
 PEL E I A; 
 
 O R, 
 
 The OLD WOMAN.
 
 P E L E I A, 
 
 O R, 
 
 The old WOMAN. 
 
 Mythological Eclogue. 
 
 Bi Cafa Nicova^ qiiajido sy porta qual che^ sy lo trova. 
 
 By Mr. T H O M A S M I L W A R D, 
 
 LONDON: 
 Printed for R. and J. D o d s l e v, in Pail-Mall. 
 
 M.DCC.LXIII.
 
 M6^ 
 
 P E L E 
 
 / 
 
 ^\ 
 
 O R, 
 
 The O L D WOMAN. 
 
 T^TO THING, you fay, deferves the name of Wit, 
 
 Which view'd on all fides is not juft and fit : 
 " To be deceiv'd is wretched. ' Well, I own 
 Your Maxim true : and yet not This alone ; 
 Th' inverted Rule by others is believ'd j 
 ** He's ftill more wretched, who is ne'er deceiv'd." 
 
 865300 Come
 
 6 P E L E I A ', Or, 
 
 Come to my aid , O ! bring thy help divine, 
 My dear * Old Woman, Mother of the Nine ! 
 Without thy favor none can live at eafe, 
 None ever can be pleas'd, or ever pleafe : lo 
 
 Thou know'ft the way which ancient Sages trod, 
 By ufe inftrufted in the facred road. 
 
 She comes ! llie comes ! and waves her magic wand ! 
 Silence attends ! — Time flands, or feems to ftand, 
 Frefli as a Giant with aetherial force 
 Jufl ftarting to begin th' eternal courfe ; 
 Now on the bending flow'r he walks unfeen, 
 Nor marks his footfleps on the dewy green ; 
 Now on the rolling cloud fublime he flies, 
 And turns the circles of the fpacious {kies ; 20 
 
 * Mythology. 
 
 Hid 
 
 es
 
 r/5^ O L D W O M A N. 7 
 
 Hides in dim fhade the future and the paft, 
 And makes the prefent change for ever laft. 
 
 " View well that point." — Sudden a falling ftar 
 Shoots, like red lightning, thro' the filent air. 
 Still Darknefs now involves the folemn place, 
 And gloomy Horror blots fair Nature's face. 
 Strange fpedlres feem to rife ! A monftrous form 
 Drives the fierce tempeft, and reludant ftorm ! 
 Rolls the loud thunder, fpreads a fiery lake. 
 And Earth's foundatigns to the centre fliake ! 3s) 
 
 A fudden change now turns the fhifting fcene, 
 The Sun refulgent, and the Sky ferene : 
 Bright Verdure tips the Trees, the Linnets fing. 
 And vernal Zephyr waves his filken wing. 
 
 A lovely
 
 8 P E L E I A ; Or, 
 
 A lovely Pair, reclining on the grafs, 
 In fimple innocence, and naked grace, 
 Now feem to rife, and wondVing as they rife, 
 With heav'nly rapture view the radiant fkies. 
 For them kind Nature all her pow'r difplays, 
 For tlicm the fields with all her pomp arrays ; 40 
 
 And vernal airs for them their odours bring, 
 The balmy fragrance of the youthful Spring. 
 '' Where'er they fit trees croud into a fhade, 
 And bubbling fountains murmur thro' the glade. 
 " Where'er tliey tread folt flowVs around 'em rife, 
 " And all things flourilli where they turn their eyes." 
 
 Juft 
 
 Vcr. 43—5—6. Thefe verfes are flolen. The Property cannot be 
 transferred ; the Ul'e may : not as fplendid patches in a coarfe work, 
 but as ornaments of a new defign, in which they will become by 
 the juncture proper characters, when before they were only common 
 topics. They are fo intended j firft, becaufe no other verfes can fit 
 
 this
 
 The OLD WOMAN. 
 
 9 
 
 Jiift in the centre of the facred wood 
 Eredl a monumental Pillar flood ; 
 Round the rough ftone a fpiry Serpent roll'd, 
 And Caphtor's * fruit adorn'd the top with gold : 50 
 And clofe behind, in gloomy fliades conceal'd, 
 Myfterious rites the Priefts in fecret held. 
 Arts, Trade, and Science in their birth were feen, 
 With hieroglyphic figns engrav'd between : 
 Heroes and Demigods triumphant fhone, 
 And facred emblems jfigur'd in the ftone. 
 
 Hither the wandering Couple chanc'd to flray 
 Thro' mazy windings of the flow'ry way : 
 
 this place fo well : fecondly, becaufe they fit no other place fo well. 
 Whoever comprehends the genius and fpirit of this Poem, will eafily 
 fee the truth of this obfeivation, and as eafily forgive the theft for the 
 fake of the application. 
 
 * The Pomegranate. 
 
 B ]V:uch
 
 ii 
 
 n 
 
 n 
 
 lo P E L E I A; Or, 
 
 Much they admire the Tree, vvhofe boughs unfold' 
 The glitt'rhig Fruit with fcarlet ftain'd and gold ;. 60 
 But more they wonder, as the Se'>rpe7tt turned 
 His form, and in a human figure burn'd. 
 
 Hail ! heav'nly Fair ! he cry 'd ; hail ! Queen of Love 1; 
 Hail ! highly favour'd of immortal "Jove / 
 This fhining gift will make thee all divine, 
 " The prize of Beauty, and that prize is thine ! '*" 
 
 He faid : Sh€ blufh'd, and wond'ring fcem'd to ftand ; 
 Then took the fatal Apple in her hand- 
 Part to the Man fhe gave. He paus'd ; furvey'd 
 The tempting bait, and ling' ring long delay'd 70 
 
 Th' imcertain choice. She follow'd foon her guide ; 
 As foon he follow'd with reludant pride , 
 
 And
 
 T/^^ O L D W O M A N. ^ 
 
 And fondly pleas'd, they feek the * tented grove, 
 Where Chaos mingled with celeflia! Love, 
 
 A lofty Temple there refulgent fhone, 
 With circling columns of j^gyptian ftone. 
 Myfterious figures jfill the fpacious hall, 
 And hieroglyphics grace the fculptur'd walL 
 They view the w^onders of the fecret place, 
 The fate and fortune of their future race. 80 
 
 Now fleeting {hades, and myflic viiions pafs, 
 Quick gliding o'er the fmooth mercurial glafs : 
 Another Sun, and other Stars appear, 
 And the new Seafons of the binding Year j 
 The horned Ram adorns the lofty fcene, 
 The ftately Bt,;// ftalks o'er th' a^therial green : 
 
 * SuccoTH Benoth. Here
 
 12 P E L E I A; Or, 
 
 Here the fbft Fleeces mark the female toil ; 
 
 There the bright Plough-fhare turns the fruitful foil ; 
 
 Progreflive Arts thro' ev'ry change are fliewn ; 
 
 Each clime improves with products not its own : 9a 
 
 But all to Pleafure, or Ambition draw^ 
 
 With SupcrfHtion, and tyrannic Law ; 
 
 While yiino^ Pallas., Cytherea wait, 
 
 And blend the fimple increments of Fate. 
 
 Routs, Riot, Banquets, Mafquerades appear, " " 
 
 And the full concert charms the raptur'd ear. 
 
 The facred Shew-man waves his fnaky rod^. 
 
 And leads the Heroes to the bright abode. 
 
 Sagacious Nub is drives his radiant car ; 
 
 Young Ammon here, and there the Julian Star : loo 
 
 RefervM, and iilcnt, mounts the jethcrial dome 
 
 Great Scipio, guardian of immortal Rome ; 
 
 And;
 
 77je O L D W O M A N. 13 
 
 And laft, whom crouds in palmy triumph brings 
 But greateft, H E, who would not be a Kins. 
 
 The wond'ring Pair behold their race divine, 
 And the long glories of the facred line ; 
 Imagination fwells th€ pow'rful charm, 
 And prefent raptures all their bofom warm. 
 They feife their places at the heav'nly board. 
 As Angels honour'd, and as Gods ador'd. iro 
 
 Now morning dawns. The lefs'ning ftars decay, 
 And the bright vifion melts at once away : 
 And rolling clouds with fmoky darknefs fill 
 The aerial fummit of the facred hill. 
 They pafs the Ivory gate, and far below. 
 O'er the long plain walk filent, fad, aiid flow. 
 
 TIi«n
 
 14 P E L E I A \ Or, 
 
 Then flop, and turning often as tliey pafs, 
 
 View the dim diftance, and the empty place : 
 
 And oft' revolve the myftic figns of Fate, 
 
 And hope, and fear, and doubt they know not what ; 120 
 
 And drive by turns to hide, or to reveal, 
 
 Their doubts, yet know not what they hide or tell. 
 
 A thoufand wants they feel, unfelt before, 
 
 With arts that cure., but ftill increafe the ftore. 
 
 Fond affedlation of fantaftic joy. 
 
 And the long hope of Immortality J 
 
 " Now go, my Son, fays flie, prepar'd to tell 
 *' The mighty myft'ry of deceiving well ; 
 *' And teach this truth from Time's deep pit retriev'd, 
 '' The mighty myft'ry to be well deceiv'd. 130. 
 
 " If
 
 3^^ O L D W O M A N. 15 
 
 " If purer light you feek, and open day, 
 '* To guide your footfteps thro' the dubious way ; 
 *' Hear the ft ill voice of Reafon, from the throng 
 '' Retir'd, while Truth infpires the facred fbng." 
 
 Nature's the Art of GOD ; yet Hill defign'd: 
 To guide, inftruc^, corredt, and blefs mankind.. 
 But Man, tho' Lord of all the world belide. 
 Would imitate this Art to ferve his pride : 
 And vainly boafting of the vaft defign, 
 From his own Will defcribes the Will divine. 140 
 
 But let him know himfelf, and learn to fcan 
 What contradidions go to make a Man. 
 At firft he only fees, and feels within,- 
 Till Time and Cuftom fpread the diftant fcene ; 
 
 Tcucli
 
 i6 P E L E I A ; Or\ 
 
 Touch imperceptibly the growing mind, 
 And form and mould it to one certain kind. 
 Hence Infi'mSi takes the lead : the fimple throng 
 Believe, and never once fufpc£l they're wrong. 
 This happy error, growing with our frame, 
 By Time and Diftance takes a different name. 150 
 
 Strange combinations hence the Will divide. 
 As PafTion, Fancy, fwell the rifing tide ; 
 While That, exceillve, fobqr bounds defies, 
 And This beyond the bounds of Nature flies. 
 Till Reason rifing from the mingled ftrife, 
 Makes, and maintains the certain fcale of life : 
 Connects the Mean, the Motive, and the End, 
 Friend to the Fool, and to the Wise a Friend ; 
 Shews why to Senfe each anfvvering good is giv'n 
 By fure connexion with the Will of Heav'n : 160 
 
 That
 
 T:;^^ O L D W O M A N. 17 
 
 That Virtue, Truth, and Faith dill mark the road, 
 
 Which leads her Vot'ries to the Throne of God. 
 
 Follies and Vices ru£h tumultuous in, 
 
 Wifdom and Virtue {ilent wait unfeen : 
 
 Yet to one point their mutual fuccour lend, 
 
 By contrafl Thofe, and Thefe direcflly tend ; 
 
 Confpiring all to prove one great Defign 
 
 Form'd and dire<fled by the Will divine. 
 
 The Wife in filent ftillnefs own the Rule, 
 
 Sly Superftition draws the hoodwink'd Fool. 170 
 
 Time, Place, and Chance the Sifter Fates difpenfe, 
 
 A blifs to all proportion'd to their fenfe. 
 
 The Wife with gratitude receive the boon : 
 
 Calm Refignation makes it all their own. 
 
 Referv'd they take the bleftings as they rife, 
 
 And chufe with wifdom without feeming wife : 
 
 C Never
 
 i8 P E L E I A', Or, 
 
 Never deceiving when their end they gain, 
 
 Never deceiv'd by pleafure or by pain ; 
 
 But following Nature thro' the facred road, 
 
 Confefs the guidance of the Parent GOD ! i8o 
 
 Mad Superftition takes a difF'rent guide, 
 Wifdom to Craft, and Virtue turns to Pride* 
 From this firft fatal error of the mind, 
 Corruption like a flood o'erwhelms mankind ; 
 Myfterious Dulnefs takes bright Reafon\ feat. 
 And Folly mounts upon tlie wings of Fate j 
 Ambition, Pleafure, Avarice ; all unfold 
 Their fecret feeds, and ripen into Gold : 
 Gold gilds as Virtues all the fpurious brood 
 
 Of Vice, and makes them pafs for public good. igo 
 
 Fond
 
 r/^^ O L D W O M A N. ig 
 
 Fond is the man, who once deceiv'd by Thefe 
 
 Beneath the polar circle learns to freeze, 
 
 Or pants with toil beneath the burning beam, 
 
 Or rides with Viclory to immortal fame ; 
 
 On beds of rofes (inks in painful eafe, 
 
 And makes the care of life a long difeafe ; 
 
 Or dreaming all by his own whimfy curft, 
 
 Still makes the care of future life the worft : 
 
 Whofe affedlation vainly claims the fkies, 
 
 Whofe knowledge only is the tool of vice : 300 
 
 Deck'd with religious tinfcl to be fcen, 
 
 Yet worfhipping fome ugly Ape within : 
 
 Envying the Good whicb others can't enjoy, 
 
 And proud of Rcafon which he won't employ ; 
 
 With luft of living impotently feiz'd, 
 
 Too fond of Pleafure to be ever plcas'd, 
 
 C 2 To
 
 20 P E L E I A ; Or, 
 
 Too felfifli to enjoy Himfelf ; while All 
 
 The wafte of bleflings undiftinguifti'd fall : 
 
 Till toiich'd by Time and Truth, the Dream decays, 
 
 And Hope of future Good fupplies the place: 210 
 
 That ftill remains implicitly believ'd, 
 
 And the Laft Hope can never be deceiv'd. 
 
 Hope then, and flill believing all is right, 
 Enjoy the dubious vifion of the night. 
 " The fecret things belong to GOD," who draws 
 The Fool by Cuftom, and the Wife by Laws. 
 Each in his kind his proper blifs attains ; 
 Each in his kind the others blifs reftrains : 
 jMyftcrious Contrajl ! with fucceflive fway 
 Still changing Good and 111, like Night and Day ! 220 
 
 While
 
 rhc OLD W O M A N. 21 
 
 While Inftincl, Ciiftom, Reafo7j, all combine. 
 
 And human Will conned: with Will divine. 
 
 Th' Almighty Will fpeeds to a certain end 
 
 Unerring, and 'tis vvickednefs to mend : 
 
 But mark the turns which Time revolving brings, 
 
 The moments, and the tendencies of things ; 
 
 On thefe the Will and Pow'rs of Man ftill wait, 
 
 Roll'd on the centre of eternal Fate : 
 
 Truth, Virtue, facred Freedom, guide the Befl, 
 
 Cuftom and Superftition bind the reft. 230 
 
 Then take things as they are, nor vainly find 
 Faults with a Worlds which GOD himfelf defign'd ; 
 But bear with patience the diforder'd wild, 
 The World of Man, which only Man hath fpoil'd* 
 When but a certain fhare of Good is giv'n 
 To each allotted by the Will of Heav'n, 
 
 Enjoy
 
 22 P E L E I A ^c. 
 
 Enjoy that Good ; nor make it Icfs by Care, 
 
 Or Fraud, or Force ; nor lofe it by Defpair. 
 
 Who aims at greater happinefs, but gains 
 
 With all his care his labor for his pains. 240 
 
 Whate'er is taught, whatever is believ'd, 
 
 If you're deceiv'd, you're by yourfelf deceiv'd j 
 
 And ev'ry way the Will of Heav'n fucceeds ; 
 
 Fate drives th' Unwilling, and the Willing leads. 
 
 Mark then the reigning Taft©, and fail along 
 The ftream of Cuftom with the vulgar throng j 
 But keep your Heart, for there the danger lies ; 
 This only makes, and c^n preferve you wife ! 24-8 
 
 THE END,
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 
 Los Angeles 
 
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