But tears, alas! are trifling things, They rather feed than heal our woe; From trickling eyes pew sorrow springs, As weeds in rainy seasons grow.
Thus weeping urges weeping on: In vain our miseries hope relief: For one drop calls another down, Till we are drown'd in seas of grief.
Then let these useless streams be staid, Wear native courage on your face; These vulgar things were never made For souls of a superior race.
If 'tis a rugged path you go,
And thousand foes your steps surround, Tread the thorns down, charge through the foe: The hardest fight is highest crown'd.
SAY, mighty love, and teach my song To whom thy sweetest joys belong, And who the happy pairs
Whose yielding hearts, and joining hands, Find blessings twisted with their bands, To soften all their cares.
Not the wild herd of nymphs and swains That thoughtless fly into the chains, As custom leads the way: If there be bliss without design, Ivies and oaks may grow and twine, And be as bless'd as they.
Not sordid souls of earthy mould, Who, drawn by kindred charms of gold, To dull embraces move:
So two rich mountains of Peru
May rush to wealthy marriage too, And make a world of love.
Not the mad tribe that hell inspires With wanton flames; those raging fires The purer bliss destroy : On Ætna's top let furies wed, And sheets of lightning dress the bed To' improve the burning joy.
Nor the dull pairs, whose marble forms None of the melting passions warms, Can mingle hearts and hands: Logs of green wood that quench the coals Are married just like stoic souls, With osiers for their bands.
Not minds of melancholy strain, Still silent, or that still complain, Can the dear bondage bless : As well may heavenly concerts spring From two old lutes with ne'er a string, Or none besides the bass.
Nor can the soft enchantments hold Two jarring souls of angry mould, The rugged and the keen: Sampson's young foxes might as well In bands of cheerful wedlock dwell, With firebrands tied between.
Nor let the cruel fetters bind A gentle to a savage mind;
For love abhors the sight: Loose the fierce tiger from the deer, For native rage and native fear Rise and forbid delight.
Two kindest souls alone must meet, 'Tis friendship makes the bondage sweet, And feeds their mutual loves: Bright Venus on her rolling throne Is drawn by gentlest birds alone, And Cupids yoke the doves.
LET useless souls to woods retreat; Polhill should leave a country seat, When virtue bids him dare be great.
Nor Kent', nor Sussex 1, should have charms,
While liberty, with loud alarms,
Calls you to counsels and to arms.
Lewis, by fawning slaves ador'd, Bids you receive a base-born lord 2; Awake your cares! awake your sword!
Factions amongst the Britons 3 rise, And warring tongues, and wild surmise, And burning zeal without her eyes.
A vote decides the blind debate; Resolv'd, 'Tis of diviner weight, To save the steeple, than the state.
The bold machine is form'd and join'd To stretch the conscience, and to bind The native freedom of the mind.
Your grandsire's shades with jealous eye Frown down, to see their offspring lie Careless, and let their country die.
If Trevia' fear to let you stand Against the Gaul, with spear in hand, At least petition for the land.
1 His country-seat and dwelling.
2 The Pretender, proclaimed King in France. 5 The parliament.
The bill against occasional conformity, 1702. 5 Mrs. Polhill, of the family of Lord Trevor.
Mr. Polhill was one of those five zealous gentlemen who presented the famous Kentish petition to parliament in the reign of King William, to hasten their supplies, in order to support the king in his war with France.
OF THE POLES OVER OSMAN THE TURKISH EMPEROR, IN THE DACIAN BATTLE.
Translated from Casimir, Book iv. Od. 4. with large Additions.
GADOR, the old, the wealthy, and the strong, Cheerful in years (nor of the' heroic Muse Unknowing, nor unknown) held fair possessions Where flows the fruitful Danube: seventy springs Smil❜d on his seed, and seventy harvest-moons Fill'd his wide granaries with autumnal joy; Still he resum'd the toil; and fame reports, While he broke up new ground, and tir'd his plough In grassy furrows, the torn earth disclos'd Helmets and swords, (bright furniture of war Sleeping in rust) and heaps of mighty bones. The sun descending to the western deep Bid him lie down and rest; he loos'd the yoke, Yet held his wearied oxen from their food With charming numbers, and uncommon song.
Go, fellow-labourers, you may rove secure, Or feed beside me; taste the greens and boughs That you have long forgot; crop the sweet herb And graze in safety, while the Victor-Pole Leans on his spear, and breathes; yet still his eye Jealous and fierce. How large, old soldier, say, How fair a harvest of the slaughter'd Turks Strew'd the Moldavian fields? what mighty piles Of vast destruction, and of Thracian dead,
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