Richardson .Ambition and Luxutt" THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES FREDERIC THOMAS BLANCHARD ENDOWMENT FUND AmhWion ^^J Luxury i- Totiud ZfislU 'WlllUin TiUhArdson ^77S • . . % ft' v*k ; 1%, «4i>, * ,, 1 1 #4 % ^ • <> . » ^A»t^lA»t^tAi^^tAl;tJUL<^tAltAl:tAitAatAAtAftfJ^t>fj;t.^ AMBITION AND LUXURY, POETICAL EPISTLE. f^r))(>'v^r^iS^r^r)i(JT^ri^T\^r)^r^ v)^ T)^T)^v^TY^T^T)^r^T)^ ^*^ AMBITION AND LUXURY. POETICAL EPISTLE. B y WILLIAM RICHARDSON, A. M. Profeflbr of Humanity in the Univerfity of Glafgow. EDINBURGH: Printed for WILLIAM CREECH AND T. C A D E L L London. M,DCC,LXXVIII, ERRATA, Line 63. for golden read radiant. 78. for departed r^ac/ fubje6led. 156. for the read his. 3PS« inficadofthe full point, a point of interrogation." ADVERTISEMENT. THE following Epiftle was written a few years ago. Since that time it has received confiderable corrections. By this, however, the Author by no means inlinuates that it has re- ceived all the corrections neceflary. On the contrary, ever fince part of it has been printed, he has obferved fome things in the ftruClure, and in the verfification, which perhaps might require amendment. He has not, indeed, made any material changes in confequence of this, convinced that an author, efpecially on the eve of publication, is not a proper judge of what he has him- felf written. He fubmits the whole, therefore, with great defe- rence, to the judgment of the Public. For, after all, he may be charged, perhaps, with beftowing more pains on thefe verfes than any thought they convey, or any images they prefent, <3e- ferve. Though, in the Poetical Epiftle, a digreffive manner of writing may be juRified by examples of great authority; yet, in the moft defultory, there ought to be unity of fubje-..0"»<>«-<>--<>"-<>- •4>-'••■•<*'■•<*' ••<>••<<>•• •0".><»«..0« •4>>-><>-<<»<'»<>-><>....0» ><^..,Oh.><^»-4 WHILE I in groves and wild recefles ftray, Indulging carelefsly the rural lay ; You, deeply ftudious, from th* hiftoric page Gather th* experience of a former age ; Trace in their progrefs the revolving fates ; c The rife and downfal of departed ftates ; Obferve the deeds of gallant chiefs ; and learn The path of v\^ifdom timely to difcern. B Vivid ( 6 ) Vivid in fancy*s Tiving ray, behold The pidur'd tifllie of our woes unroU'd. id Unfolding gradual, in funereal dyes, What au'tul in}ages of guilt arife ! The fell confpiracy ! the tyrant's car Rolling in triumph thro' the wafte of war ! Cities the prey of perfecuting ire ! 1 5 White harvefts blazing in a field of fire ! The flaming pile for chiefs in battle flain ! Fair Freedom weeping o'er the galling chain I And Virtue flying with difhevell'd hair, 1 hro' lurid defarts from the tyger Care ! 20 \^ hie you behold, dread engines of the Fates, Foul paflions operate the fall of ftates ; And ftain'd with Melancholy's fable dyes, Atrocious images of guilt arife; May tears of forrow and compaflion flow ! 25 Your foul with gcn'rous indignation glow ! Nor let the feeling fruitlefsly decay, Tranfient as blufhes of the dawning day : But the coy vifitant, with zeal, arreft ; Nor let the fcraph leave your foul unbleft. 30 Warm'd 35 ( 7 ) Warm'd with ecftatic flame, with homage due, Vow to fair Virtue, love and fealty true : Vow, fpite of perils, dauntlefs to maintain The rights and honours of her equal reign ; And thus refolv'd, with conftancy oppofe The machinations of her vengeful foes. To others candid, nor Inclin'd to blame Their feeming negligence of honeft fame, Be to yourfelf fevere ; endeavour ftill To rule the motions of a wayward will : 40 In your own bofom labour to fupprefs The foes of virtue, paffions in excefs. Th' imperious inmates of the human breaft, Fierce as when tempefts, on the wat'ry wafte, Confound the elements ; with hideous roar 45 Heave the fwoln furge, and fhake th' afloniih'd fhore ; Imperious paffions are the conftant caufe Of ruin'd nations, or of trampled laws. And flaming ficrceft of th' outrageous crew, A fnaky fury of infernal hue, ^O Ambition, parent of impetuous war, Lafl:ies the courfers of her iron car ; Drives ( 8 ) Drives them relentlcf: to th* embattled field ; Yells in the van, and ihakes her gleaming fliield : Her with foul havoc fated, and elate, ^^ Vidory follows in triumphant ftate ; And in the frenzy of audacious pride, Would drag reluctant Juflice to his fide ; Would, with the tone of infolent demand, Wreft the decifive balance from her hand. 60 Juftice, abhorrent, with difdainful eye. Rebukes the pageant ; thro' his hazy fky. On golden wing, fpeeds her illumin'd way To planets veiled in the robes of day. There Freedom, cloth'd with beaming beauty, fings 65 Her heroes, and their fcorn of guilty kings j In holy union with th* exulting choir Of Virtues, modulates the melting lyre ; Or in the bofom of a lovely dell, Leans by the margin of that living well, yo Whence flreams of ecflacy forever flow ; Nor heeds the pageantries and pomps below. Proud Vidlory below, with laurel crown'd, Sweeps, with his flowing pall, th' empurpled ground. See ( 9 ) See him afcendlng his triumphal car ! y5 Before him captives, and the fpoils of war ; Fall'n Kings lamenting their malignant fates ; Emblems and idols of departed ftatcs : And, as the flow proceiTion moves along, The air re-echos with th' applauding fong. 8q See him, with confcious digmty, advance ! Mufic attends him and the feftive dance j Profufe of fame, in proftituted verfe, Surrounding minftrels his exploits rehearfe; While armies following, in fuperb array, 85 With hoary elders, join the venal lay. And now alluring as the vernal gale Wafting the fragrance of a fpicy dale, The voice of plcafure, warbling in the breeze, Leads him unwary to the vale of eafe. 90 There, while the banquet, and the tuneful lyre, Yield him gay paftime, and mflame delire, The blaited laurel on his brow decays, Aijd ioon he ioles even the love of praife ; Lux'ry allures him to the lewd embrace, 95 And weds the conqueror to foul uil'gracc. C Ambition ! ( 1° ) Ambition ! Luxury ! pernicious pair ! Ye fpoil us, and our ravifh'd honours fliare. Children of vengeance ! your united aim To fting with angulfh, or to blafl: with fliame ! loo The fame your purpofe ! but a difF'rent courfe Ye follow ; nor exert an equal force. Ambition riots with impetuous rage, Whelms In a day th' improvements of an age ; Scorns the flow progrefs of feducing arts ; 105 And Hames a fury arm'd with fiery darts. But Lux'ry, difciplin'd in fyren guile, With honeyM accent and the dimpling fmlle, Or with th' enticement of the tuneful lay, Soothes to delude, and flatters to betray. 1 10 Won by th' alurement of her gay decoys, More of mankind her hollow fmlle deflroys ; More than Ambition ; tho' the fiends of fate, Rapine and War, in bloody armour wait, Ready to execute her dire beheft, iij; Lance the red lightening, and lay nations wafte. To weigh their merits, with difcerning care, Tlieir various condudt, and cffcds, compare. By ( I' ) By judgment guided, let the keen-eyM maid, Fair Fancy, lend thee her enlightening aid : I20 Chafle in defign, in execution bold, She will their features and their forms unfold, Obferve attentive, fleeting as they pafs. The phantoms fhifting in her magic glafs. Obferve Ambition ! Now the hofts engage : 125 Furious fhe animates their headlong rage. See ! livid lightening flafhes from her eyes ; The rav'ning hell-hounds by her fide arife : Her voice with th' uproar of the fight afcends, And, fwelling, to the arch of heaven extends. 1 30 Who can the tumult and the ftrife pourtray, The rout and havoc of her wafteful way ? Onward fhe rages with infuriate fpeed : Moaning around, unpitied victims bleed : Reeking with ruddy gore the torrents flow; 135 And grim fhe triumphs in the fcene of woe. Yet fhall the gloom of this tempeftuous fky Yield to the day-fpring of returning joy : Calm'd by the radiance and the fmile of peace, Th' impetuous fury of the florm fhall ceafe. 140 Hail, ( »2 ) Ilnll, lovely Peace ! before thy golden ray The clouds divide ; the fuUen fhades decay: ChasM by th' effulgence of thy fliooting beam The daen^ons vanifh with a dreary fcream : The fields are gladden'd ; hill and dale prolong 145 The liquid mufic of the filvan fong. Lovely thy beam ! and long thy genial light Shall yield us feafons of ferene delight. Now, foftly fmlling, with enticement fvveet, Pleafure allures us to her gay retreat; 150 Th' enchanted maze, far from Refledion's cell, Where noice, and revelry, and riot dyvell. And, fhall we follow to obferve her there. Leading her orgies to the den of Care; While couching low, the glaring favage lies 155 To fpring impetuous on the giddy prize? Ah no ! retir'd on Contemplation's hill, View from afar the progrefs ot her fklll. Oft in the wilds on -/Etna's fwelling fide, Wak'd premature in unful'peding pride, 160 By ( 13 ) By fires unfeen, that underneath them glow, Bloflbms, before th* appointed feafon, blow ; Nor wait till fpring, with fhowers and gentle gales, Reftore fott verdure to the hills and dales. The wandVing peafant, with amazement, views The glade adorn'd with unexpected hues ; 165 The Genius of the gay retreat reveres ; With holy awe the graffy altar rears ; Pours out libations ; offers fruits and flowers ; And feeks repofe in the devoted bowers. Unwary ftranger ! the foundations (hake! 170 The prifonM fires from burfting caverns break : The mountain bellows ; pitchy columns rife ; And light*nings flafh, and flames affail the fkies : Sicilia labours with convulfive throes ; The mountain yawns ; the molten torrent flows ; 175 Pours down a fiery deluge, and devours The blazing foreft and devoted bowers. The bowers of Pleafure perifh even like thefe ! While Ruin defolates the vale of Eafe ; Gnaflies his iron teeth ; flings to the ground 180 The goblet, with the feftal garland crown'd ; D Scatters ( 14 ) Scatters the fcreaming bevy ; headlong guides The fiery progrcfs of fulphureous tides ; And, with a giant arm, tears from the fky, The gilded cnfign of illicit joy. 1 85 Infidious Pleasure ! thy feducing art The head inebriates, and corrupts the heart ; Tunefully modulates the melting ftrain, Kindling wild frenzy in the feverM vein ; Paii.ts airy vifions, that, with gay delight, 1 90 Impofe illufion on the ravifh'd fight: And, by the power of thine alluring air, Thine eyes that languifli, and thy bofom bare. Thy features redd'ning, while affeding {hame, They fpread th' infedion of a poisonous flame, 195 Thy painful bondage and thy fpells degrade The fetter'd fpirit by thy fmile betray'd. And foon, Difeafes, an inhuman train. Begin the horrors of their baneful reign. With mortal anguifli, and corroding ftings, 200 Vice fills their quivers, imps their Iboty wings, And guides the path of tlieir unerring power Thro' glooms congenial that around theni lour. Shiv'rings, ( '5 ) Shlv'rings, and langulfliment, and anxious fear Wave their pale banner, and announce them near ; 205 I feel their fymptoms, while of lurid hue The confcious air flieds her unwholfome dew ! I hear them panting ! and, fwift-fhooting nigh, I trace their arrows in the fickly fky. Wailing attends them, and the moan fupprefs'd 210 That heaves reluctant in the pining breaft. Now fee them eying, with infedious glare. Their vi£lim toffing on the bed of care : See, from his weary eyes, they banifh Sleep, Soft power ; and doom his weary eyes to weep. 215 With fiery breath vent their envenomed fleams ; Whet their fell talons dipp'd in Stygian ftreams ; And grinning ghaftly, while they mock his pains, Tear the frail texture of his burning veins. Come, kindly Death ! more kindly far than they, 220 And draw the curtain on the loathfome clay. The powerful faculties, by heav*n defigii'd To raile, adorn, and dignify the mind, With every virtue of the gen'rous fDul, Fly the foul revel, and th' intemp'rate bowl : 225 They, ( i6 ) They, with the fifter of ingenuous (hame, Fair Health, abandon the polluted frame. See the loath *d vidini of difeafe and fcorn Crawling in early life, deipisM, forlorn ! His rofeat hues reludlantly decay ; 230 Spirit fijbfides, and vigour waftes away. Where now th' exertions of high-minded youth ? Th* inventive energy? the love of truth ? The eager longing for an early name? And pre-concepiions of immortal fame ? 235 Evaporated, loft, they leave behind The vapid dregs of a degraded mind. And yet fome feelings of his ftate remain, That lead him thral'd to <:ounterfeit diidain ; Bafcly to counterfeit <;ontempt of praife, 240 Sland'ring th' avowal of his better days. Difeafe and forrow in his bowels burn ; Thefe the requital of unfeemly fcorn ! His trembling nerves, and every fpring of life Decay, unequal to th* inglorious flrife : 245 And loon the parent, o'er th' untimely bier, Shall pour the tribute of a genuine tear : The ( 17 ) The boon companions feel fome grief of heart, That boon companions fhould too foon depart ; Attend his obfequies ; and, for a day, 250 Seem fad, and folemn ; peradventure pray ! Renounce their pleafures- — for a day ; and then, Live, while they live, the life of happy men. Glowing with genius and improved defires, Is there a youth whom love of fame infpires ^ 255 Him let no maxim of the loofe and vain Seduce to mingle in gay Folly's train : Him let no taunting ridicule difmay From holding ftedfaftly his onward way. Tho' Folly fcofF at him, or Envy leer, 260 The wife efteem him, and the good revere ; On him, the ftay of a declining ftate, The expedations of mankind await : Glory awaits him ; and effulgent praife Shall gild the fulnefs of his rip'ning days. 265 Thefe the rewards of virtue ! and for thefe He fcorns th' allurements of ignoble eafe ; Still perfeveres ; nor will his fpirit fail Tho' fortune fwell not his adventrous fail, E Or ( >8 ) Or on his early lot perverfely frown j 270 Stiil perfeveres ; and lliall obtain renown. In days of fol!y, in a froward age, Fever'd with riot, and amufement's rage, Too gay for ftudy, and too proud for toll, See high- birth batt'ning in Preferment's foil: 275 Elate with Vanity's uplifting fumes. See Wealth exuHIng in his recent plumes ! And while the whirlwinds in their caverns fleep, The burnifli'd veflel, fearlefs of the deep. Her ftreamers playing with the fportive breeze, 280 Floats on the furface of fallacious feas. But darknefs gathers, and the tempefts lour ! Where now the minions of high place and power ? They reel confounded, and they flare aghaft, Blufler, and w^fh — thefe troublous times were pad j 285 Make aukward efforts ; what can they do more ? Leap from the helm, and paddle to the fhore. Then, fpite of prejudice, in fortune's fpite, Merit emerges from the fliudes of night, Flames like the day-flar in the morning fky, 290 Difpcrfes tumult, and diflufeth joy. So { '9 ) So Pit arofe ; and fliould my faithful rhymes, Sav*a from obhvion, Hvc in future times, To future times they boldly would proclaim Pit the defender of Britannia's fame *. 295 Obferve th* Athenian, or the Roman ftate, And trace the progrefs of their downward fate. Rouz'd by Ambition, furious from the north, The Macedonian Vulture iffu'd forth. Ambition wing*d him for the vent'rous flight, 300 And fir*d his fpirit in the bloody fight, Till fierce inflam'd, on Cheronaea's field. He faw th' Athenian to his prowefs yield. Urg'd by the love of rapine, from afar The blue-ey'd Vandal drove the ftorm of war, 305 Delug'd the weftern continent, defy'd The Roman legions, and o'erwhelm'd their pride. Yet, long before the Macedonian came To blaft the glory of th' Athenian name. The field was fought, the battle loft and v.^n, 310 Athens was fall'n, her race of glory run ! Her '* Alluding to a memorable period in the hiftory of Great Britain, com- mcncing with the year one thoufand feven hundred and fifty-fix. ( 20 ) Her Genius Taw her rebel to the fway Of Wildom, and in:^'';nant foar*d away ! 1 h' enlightea'd Genius, whofe intrepid fword Baffl'd ihc fury of the Perfian Lord, 315 VanquiOi*d the myriads of his fwarming hofi:, And drench'd with gore the Afiatic coaft. Ah ! long before the Macedonian arms Rang in the north, and fcatterM dire alarms, Athens was abject : Luxury had fpread 320 Her deadly poifon to the heart and head ; Inflead of wifdom and the love of fame. Seducing Pieafure, with unhallow'd flame, RulM unoppos'd, and, with audacious hand. Drove adive Virtue from that honour'd land ; 325 Honour'd of Freedom, and the tuneful train, Till Pieafure, even in Athens, forg'd the chain, The chain imposM on that difaftrous day When Philip triumph'd in his eafy prey. No, not Ambition, nor the love of fpoil 330 Urging the Scythian ; but th' infidious toil PreparM by luxury, to dire dlfgrace. Betray 'd the glory of the Roman race. The ( 21 ) The love of rapine, or ambition, drew To fields of carnage the barbaric crew : 335 Before the fury of their vengeful dart Fell the fair monuments of human art. But long before the rav'ning fhaft was fped, Rome was enfeebled, and her fpirit dead ; Elfe had they falPn, as fell their lawlefs hofl, 34<» When Marius widow'd the Teutonic coaft. How few, alas ! by Honour's voice impelPd, From floth awaken*d, and from vice with-held, Give genius exercife, exert their force, And perfevere in a progrefTive courfe ! 345 How tew recover from the burning pain Of poifon boiling in the fever'd vein ! Of minds infeded who can tell the cure ? Or fay to the polluted, be ye pure ? Pleafure that won them to the devious way, 350 Will ne'er relinquifh her devoted prey ; Nor healing balm into their wounds infufe ; Nor heed the pleading of the moral mule. Who can elicit from the tainted heart, The venom flowing from her ranc'rous dart ? 355 F Or ( ii ) Or limitation on her power impofe ? Or ftem the torrent of fucceeding woes ? Ambition ftorms Hke a devouring blaft ; But foon the tempefls of her rage are paft. Her power, though favage, ceafes in a day ; 360 But Pleafure rules with unremitting fway. She reigns immortal, if fhe ever reign ; And binds her flaves in a defpotic chain. Ah ! while they toil in unbecoming deeds, The vidim hourly on her altar bleeds. 365 O for that Age by antient bards extoUM ; That fabled age of unpolluted gold. When Virtue reign'd ; ere Luxury began To mingle potions for deluded man ; And ftrove, with arrogant defign, to bind 3^0 Ignoble fetters on the free-born mind ! The pillar'd palace, the ftupenduous dome. The carpet glowing from the Perfian loom. The flory'd ceiling, and the filken bed Were not : With lowly unambitious head, 375 The cottage llieltcr'd by the green-wood's fide, The want of palaces and pomp fupply'd. No { as ) No bloating revel, no prolonged repaft, Pamp'ring the body, laid the fpirit wafte : Mankind in peaceful innocence, ferene, 380 Enjoy'd the produce of the fylvan fcene. For them the brake with rip'ning berries glowM, The wild bee murmur'd, and the fountain flowM ; The goat climbM hazardous the fhaggy fteep ; The green hill echo'd with their bleating fheep ; 385 Gay was their morning ; and the fober even Heard their pure orifons afcend to heaven. While th' iron rigour of thefe later days Scoffs at the garland of poetic praife, That meed fo pleafing to the good and fair, 390 The wife and valiant of the times that were, With bold adventure fhall my fong engage, Fondly to celebrate that happy age, Fabled or true, of unpolluted gold, Sung in far loftier ftrain by thofe of old. 395 Then Juftice fojourn'd with mankind, and faw Their conduct guided by her equal law : By her invited, Truth of eagle eye, And Freedom, daughters of the radiant fky. Both { 24 ) Both crownM with laurels of imniortal fame, 400 Glad of the fummons, to her triumph came; Nor fear'd left vapours, with contagion vile, Should th' azure of their (ky-weeds pure defile, Temp'rance came jovial to their banquet, made By the cool fountain of an upland fhade ; 405 And with him Health, a ruddy maiden, gay As morning bluftiing at the gate of day. The while Simplicity, their genial board, Blyth fhepherdefs, with mellow fruitage ftor'd. Peace blefs'd the meeting ; and Contentn^ent oft 410 Smiling, delighted them with warblings foft : While ever and anon the vocal gale, ConveyM wild mufic from a diftant dale, \Vhcre nymphs and Shepherds, an exulting throng,, Gave them high homage in the feftal fong. aic No flatt'ry then tun'd her deceitful lays ; And 1 uncenlur'd, might have lung your praife ; Sung, unlufpeded ot the courtitr's art. The prepoffeilions of an ardent heart. That glows, my Cathcart, with a genuine flame, 420 And longs to triumph in your perfe(^ fame. Meantime ( 25 ) Meantime for pralfe, let admonition find Eafy admiffion to your candid mind : Nor fcorn the travail of a mufe that loves To roam excurfive in fantaftic groves ; 425 If haply, by amufing, fhe may gain A patient audience to her moral ftrain. As the bee labours in the tufted bowers, Glowing with Summer's odoriferous flowers, Gathers the tribute of th* irriguous dell, 430 And ftores affiduoufly the waxen cell ; So from the fcenes that to your fancy rife Gather the knowledge that will make you wife. * While you behold, dread engines of the Fates, ' Foul paiTions operate the fall of ftates, 435 * And ftain'd with Melancholy's fable dyes, * Atrocious images of guilt arife : ' May tears of Ibrrow and compafTion flow ! ' Your foul with gcn'rous indignation glow ! * Nor let the feeling fruitlefsly decay, 440 * Tranfient as blufhes of the dawning day ; ' But the coy vifitant with zeal arreft, * Nor let the feraph leave your foul unblefl. G * Warm'd ( 26 ) ' Warm'd with ecftatic flame, with homage due, * Vow to fair Virtue, love and fealty true ; 445 * Vow, fplte of perils, dauntlefs to maintain * The rights and honours of her equal reign : * And thus refolv'd, with conftancy oppofe * The machinations of her vengeful foes. ' To others candid, nor inclln'd to blame 450 * Their feeming negligence of honeft fame, * Be to yourfelf fevere ; endeavour ftlll * To rule the motions of a wayward will : * In your own bofom, labour to fupprefs * The foes of virtue, pafTions in excefs/ 455 FINIS, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. •^f ■•fJ^^'- M24 2003 Form L9-50m-7, '54 (5990)444 thIb: library ^„^,,^. t.nvr4|Y^o.cM.FO«m ^""^^r B,Ng= Syrocu _ Co/,7. Sfoclcfon. Univ S( ]