Nor has it left the ufual bloody scar, To fhew it coft its price in war; War that mad game the world fo loves to play, For, though with lofs, or victory, a while Yet at the last the box fweeps all away. VI. Only the laurel got by peace No thunder e'er can blaft: Shoots to the earth, and dies: And ever green and flourishing 'twill laft, About the head crown'd with these bays, Nor, its triumphal cavalcade to grace, Makes up its folemn train with death; It melts the fword of war, yet keeps it in the fheath. VII. The wily fhifts of flate, thofe jugglers' tricks, Because the cords cfcape their eye, Methinks, when you expofe the scene, Off fly the vizards, and discover all: How plain I fee through the deceit ! How fhallow, and how grofs, the cheat! Look where the pully's tied above! Great God! (faid I) what have I seen! On what poor engines move The thoughts of monarchs, and defigns of ftates! How the mouse makes the mighty mountain shake! See how they tremble! how they quake! VIII. Then tell, dear favourite Mufe! What ferpent's that which still reforts, Still lurks in palaces and courts? Take thy unwonted flight, And on the terrace light. See where fhe lies! See how the rears her head, And rolls about her dreadful eyes, To drive all virtue out, or look it dead! Made up of virtue and transparent innocence; And though he oft' renew'd the fight, And almoft got priority of fight, B 4 He He ne'er could overcome her quite, In pieces cut, the viper ftill did re-unite; Till, at last, tir'd with lofs of time and ease, Refolv'd to give himself, as well as country, peace. ix. Sing, belov'd Mufe! the pleasures of retreat, Shew the delights thy fifter Nature yields; How mighty a profelyte you gain! How is the Muse luxuriant grown! These are the paradifes of her own: To the lov'd pafture where he us'd to feed, Oft' 'gainst her fountain does complain, And foftly steals in many windings down, As loth to fee the hated court and town, And murmurs as the glides away. X. In this new happy scene Are nobler fubjects for your Here we expect from you learned pen; More than your predeceffor Adam knew; Shall ere long grow into a tree; Whence takes it its increafe, and whence its birth, Or from the fun, or from the air, or from the earth, Where all the fruitful atoms lie; How fome go downward to the root, Some more ambitioufly upwards fly, And form the leaves, the branches, and the fruit. You ftrove to cultivate a barren court in vain, Your garden 's better worth your noble pain, Here mankind fell, and hence must rise again. XI. Shall I believe a spirit fo divine Was caft in the fame mold with mine? Why then does Nature fo unjustly share And all her jewels and her plate? Poor we! cadets of Heaven, not worth her care, Take up at best with lumber and the leavings of a fare: Some the binds 'prentice to the spade, Some to the drudgery of a trade; Some Some she does to Egyptian bondage draw, Bids us make bricks, yet fends us to look out for straw: To dig the leaden mines of deep philosophy: And when I almoft reach the fhore, Straight the Mufe turns the helm, and I launch out again : And yet, to feed my pride, Whene'er I mourn, ftops my complaining breath, With promise of a mad reversion after death. XII. Then, Sir, accept this worthlefs verfe, The tribute of an humble Muse, "Tis all the portion of my niggard ftars; Nature the hidden spark did at my birth infuse, And kindled first with indolence and ease; And fince, too oft' debauch'd by praise, 'Tis now grown an incurable difcafe: In vain all wholefome herbs I fow, Whate'er I plant (like corn on barren carth) Seeds, and runs up to poetry. ODE |