ODE to the Athenian Society. Moor-Park, Feb. 14, 1691. AS when the deluge first began to fall, That mighty ebb never to flow again (When this huge body's moisture was so great, It quite o'ercame the vital heat), That mountain, which was highest firft of all, To bless the primitive failor's weary fight! And nigh to heaven as is its name: So, after th' inundation of war, When learning's little houfhold did embark With her world's fruitful fyftem in her facred ark, At the firft ebb of noife and fears, Philofophy's exalted head appears; And the dove-mufe will now no longer stay, But plumes her filver wings, and flies away; And now a laurel wreath fhe brings from far, To crown the happy conqueror, To fhew the flood begins to ceafe, And brings the dear reward of victory and peace. X 3 II. The II. The eager mufe took wing upon the waves decline, When war her cloudy afpect juft withdrew, When the bright fun of peace began to shine, And for a while in heav'nly contemplation fat On the high top of peaceful Ararat ; And pluck'd a laurel branch (for laurel was the first that grew, The first of plants after the thunder, ftorm and rain), And thence, with joyful, nimble wing, Flew dutifully back again, And made an humble * chaplet for the king. (Glad of the victory, yet frighted at the war), A peaceful and a flourishing shore: No fooner did fhe land On the delightful strand, Than straight she fees the country all around, Scatter'd with flow'ry vales, with fruitful gardens crown'd, And many a pleasant wood! * The Ode I writ to the king in Ireland. As if the univerfal Nile Had rather water'd it than drown'd: It seems fome floating piece of paradife, Preferv'd by wonder from the flood, Long wand'ring through the deep, as we are told Fam'd Delos did of old, And the transported muse imagin'd it When with amazing joy the hears Of nature and of art, of deep philofophy and love, Whilft angels tune the voice, and God infpires In vain she catches at the empty found, eye, And courts the wanton echoes as they fly. III. Pardon, ye great unknown, and far-exalted mcn, Forgive a young and (almost) virgin-muse, X 4 (Yet |