26

30

So when the pygmies, marfhal'd on the plains, Wage puny war againft th' invading cranes; The puppets to their bodkin fpears repair, And fcatter'd feathers flutter in the air; But, when the bold imperial bird of Jove Stoops on his founding pinions from above, Among the brakes the fairy nation crowds, And the Strimonian fquadron feeks the clouds. And now the Delegate prepares to go And view the wonders of the realms below; Then takes Amomum for the golden bough. Thrice did the goddess with her facred wand 36 The pavement ftrike; and straight at her command The willing furface opens, and defcries A deep descent that leads to nether skies. Hygeia to the filent region tends;

40

And with his heavenly guide the charge defcends. Thus Numa, when to hallow'd caves retir'd, Was by Egeria guarded and inspir'd.

45

50

Within the chambers of the globe they spy The beds where fleeping vegetables lie, Till the glad fummons of a genial ray Unbinds the glebe, and calls them out to day. Hence Pancies trick themselves in various hue, And hence Jonquils derive their fragrant dew; Hence the Carnation and the bathful Rofe Their virgin blushes to the morn disclose ; Hence the chafte Lily rifes to the light, Unveils her fnowy breafts, and charms the fight; Hence arbours are with twining greens array'd, T'oblige complaining lovers with their fhade; 55 And hence on Daphne's laurel'd forehead grow Immortal wreaths for Phœbus and Naffau.

60

The nfects here their lingering trance furvive : Benumb'd they feem'd, and doubtful if alive. From winter's fury hither they repair, And stay for milder skies and fofter air. Down to thefe cells obfcener reptiles creep, Where hateful Nutes and painted Lizards fleep; · Where shivering fnakes the fummer folftice wait; Unfurl their painted folds, and slide in ftate. 65 Here their new form the numb'd Erucæ hide Their numerous feet, in flender bandage ty'd : Soon as the kindling ear begins to rife, This upftart race their native clod defpife, And proud of painted wings attempt the skies.

VOL. IV.

* Dr. Bateman.

76

Now those profounder regions they explore, 71 Where metals ripen in vaft cakes of ore. Here, fullen to the fight, at large is spread The dull unwieldy mafs of lumpish lead. There, glimmering in their dawning beds, are feen The light afpiring feeds of sprightly tin. The copper fparkles next in ruddy streaks; And in the gloom betrays its glowing cheeks. The filver then, with bright and burnish'd grace, Youth and a blooming luftre in its face, 80 To th' arms of those more yielding metals flies, And in the folds of their embraces lies. So close they cling, fo ftubbornly retire; Their love's more violent than the chemift's fire. Near these the Delegate with wonder fpies 85 Where floods of living filver ferpentise; Where richest metals their bright looks put on, And golden ftreams through amber channels run; Where light's gay god defcends, to ripen gems, And lend a luftre brighter than his beams.

99

95

Here he obferves the fubterranean cells, Where wanton nature sports in idle fhells. Some helicoeids, fome conical appear: Thefe, mitres emulate, thofe turbans are. Here marcafites in various figure wait, To ripen to a true metallic ftate : Till drops that from impending rocks defcend Their fubftance petrify, and progrefs end. Nigh, livid feas of kindled fulphur flow, And, whilft enrag'd, their fiery furges glow, 100 Convulfions in the labouring mountains rife, And hurl their melted vitals to the fkies.

106

He views with horror next the noisy cave, Where with hoarfe dins imprison'd tempefts rave; Where clamorous hurricanes attempt their flight, Or, whirling in tumultuous eddies, fight. The warring winds unmov d Hygeia heard, Brav'd their loud jars, but much for Celfus fear'd. Andromeda fo, whilft her hero fought, Shook for his danger, but her own forgot. 110 And now the goddess with her charge defcends, Whilft fcarce one chearful glimpse their steps befriends.

115

Here his forfaken feat old Chaos keeps ;
And, undisturb'd by form, in filence fleeps;
A grifly wight, and hideous to the eye,
An aukward lump of fhapelefs anarchy.
With fordid age his features are defac'd;
His lands unpeopled, and his countries waste.
To thefe dark realms much learned lumber creeps,
There copious Morton fafe in filence fleeps; 120
Where mushroom libels in oblivion lie,
And, foon as born, like other monsters, die.
Upon a couch of jet, in these abodes,
Dull Night, his melancholy confort, nods.
No ways and means their cabinet employ; 125
But their dark hours they wafte in barren joy.
Nigh this recefs, with terror they survey
Where Death maintains his dread tyrannic fway.
In the clofe covert of a cypress grove,
Where goblins frifk, and airy fpectres rove, 130
Yawns a dark cave, with awful horror wide,
And there the Monarch's triumphs are defcry'd ;
Confus'd, and wildly huddled to the eye,
The beggar's pouch and prince's purple lie ;

D

140

Within its dreadful jaws thofe furies wait, Which execute the harth decrees of Fate. Febris is firft: the hag relentless hears The virgin's fighs, and fees the infant's tears. In her parch'd eye-balls fiery meteors reign; 145 And reftlefs ferments revel in each vein.

Then Hydrops next appears amongst the throng; Bloated, and big, fhe flowly fails along. But, like a mifer, in excefs fhe's poor, And pines for thirst amidst her watery store. 150 Now loathfome Lepra, that offenfive fpright, With foul eruptions ftain'd, offends the fight; Still deaf to Beauty's foft perfuading power; Nor can bright Hebe's charms Irer bloom fecure. Whilft meagre Pthifis gives a filent blow, 155 Her ftrokes are fure, but her advances flow: No loud alarms, nor fierce affaults, are fhown; She ftarves the fortrefs first, then takes the town. Behind stood crowds of much inferior fame, Too numerous to repeat, too foul to name; 160 The vaals of their monarch's tyranny, Who, at his nod, on fatal errands fly.

170

Now Celfus, with his glorious guide, invades The filent region of the flecting fhades; Where rocks and rueful deferts are defcry'd, 165 And fullen Styx rolls down his lazy tide; Then fhews the ferry-man the plant he bore, And claims his paffage to the further fhore. To whom the Stygian pilot, fmiling, faid, You need no paffport to demand our aid. Phylicians never linger on this ftrand : Old Charon's prefent ftill at their command. Our awful monarch and his confort owe To them the peopling of the realms below. Then in his fwarthy hand he grafp'd the oar, 175 Receiv'd his guests aboard, and fhov'd from fhore. Now, as the goddefs and her charge prepare To breathe th: fweets of foft Elyfian air, Upon the left they fpy a penfive fhade, Who on his bended arm had rais'd his head: 180 Pale grief fate heavy on his mournful look; To whom, not unconcern'd, thus Celfus fpoke: Tell me, thou much afflicted fhade, why fighs Burst from your breaft, and torrents from your eyes: And who thofe mangled Manes are, which how A fullen fatisfaction at your woe? 186 Since, faid the ghoft, with pity you'll attend, Know I'm Guâicum", once your firmeft friend; And on this barren beach in difcontent

Am doom'd to ftay, till th' angry powers relent. Thofe ipectres, feam'd with fears, that threaten there,

The victims of my late ill-conduct are.
They vex with endlefs clamours my repose:
This wants his palate; that demands his nofe:
And here they execute ftern Pluto's will,
And ply me every moment with a pill.

195

Then Clius thus: O much-lamented ftate! How rigid is the fentence you relate! Dr. Morton.

But ah, how much you're chang'd from what you were !

201

205

Infipid as your late ptifans you lie,
That once were fprightlier far than mercury.
At the fad tale you tell, the poppies weep,
And mourn their vegetable fouls asleep;
The unctuous larix, and the healing pine,
Lament your fate in tears of turpentine.
But ftill the offspring of your brain fhall prove
The grocer's care, and brave the rage of Jove:
When bonfires blaze, your vagrant works fhalb
rife

In rockets, till they reach the wondering fkies 210
If mortals e'er the Stygian powers could bend,
Intreaties to their awful feats I'd fend.
But, fince no human arts the Fates diffuade,
Direct me how to find blefs'd Harvey's fhade.
In vain th' unhappy ghoft ftill urg'd his ftay; 215
Then, rifing from the ground, he fhew'd the way.
Nigh the dull fhore a fhapeless mountain ftood,
That with a dreadful frown furvey'd the flood.
Its fearful brow no lively greens put on;
No frifking goats bound o'er the ridgy stone. 220
To gain the fummit the bright goddcfs try'd;
And Celfus follow'd, by degrees, his guide.

Th' afcent thus conquer'd, now they tower on high,

224

And tafte th' indulgence of a milder fky.
Loofe breezes on their airy pinions play,
Soft infant bloffoms their chaíte odours pay,
And rofes blush their fragrant lives away.
Cool ftreams through flowery meadows gently

The morn awakes the tulip from her bed;
Ere noon in painted pride the decks her head,
Rob'd in rich dye fhe triumphs on the green,
And every flower does homage to their queen. 235
So, when bright Venus rifes from the flood,
Around in throngs the wondering Nereids crowd;
The Tritons gaze, and tune each vocal shell,
And every grace unfung, the waves conceal.

245

The Delegate obferves, with wondering eyes, Ambrofial dews defcend, and incenfe rife; 241 Then haftens onward to the penfive grove, The filent manfion of difaftrous love. Here Jealoufy with jaundic'd looks appears, And broken flumbers, and fantastic fears. The widow'd turtle hangs her moulting wings, And to the woods in mournful murmurs fings. No winds but fighs there are, no floods but tears; Each confcicus tree a tragic fignal bears. Their wounded bark records fome broken vow, 250 And willow-garlands hang on every bough. Olivia here in folitude he found,

253

Her down-cast eyes fix'd on the filent ground:
Her drefs neglected, and unbound her hair,
She feem'd the dying image of despair.
How lately did this celebrated thing
Blaze in the box, and fparkle in the ring;
Till the green-ficknefs and love's force betray'd
To Death's remorfelefs arms th' unhappy maid!

271

275

Thus to her late infulting lover faid:
When ladies liften not to loofe defire,
You ftile our modefty, our want of fire:
Smile or forbid, encourage or reprove,
You ftill find reafons to believe we love :
Vainly you think a liking we betray,
And never mean the peevish things we fay.
Few are the fair-ones of Rufilla's make,
Unaik'd the grants, uninjur'd fhe'll forfake:
But feveral Calia's, feveral ages boaft,
That like, where reafon recommends the most.
Where heavenly truth and tenderness confpire,
Chafte paffion may perfuade us to defire.

280

Your fex, he cry'd, as cuftom bids, behaves; In forms the tyrant ties fuch haughty flaves. 285 To do nice conduct right, you nature wrong; Impulfes are but weak, where reafon's ftrong. Some want the courage; but how few the flame! They like the thing, that ftartle at the name. The lonely Phoenix, though profefs'd a nun, 290. Warms into love, and kindles at the fun; Thofe tales of fpicy urns and fragrant fires Are but the emblems of her fcorch'd defires. Then, as he ftrove to clafp the fleeting fair, His empty arms confefs'd th' impaffive air. From his embrace th' unbody'd spectre flies, And, as the mov'd, fhe chid him with her eyes. They haften now to that delightful plain, Where the glad manes of the blefs'd remain : Where Harvey gathers fimples, to beftow Immortal youth on heroes' fhades below. Soon as the bright Hygeia was in view, The venerable fage her prefence knew: Thus he

295

300

I fhow'd of old, how vital currents glide, And the meanders of the refluent tide. Then, Willis, why fpontaneous actions here, 325 And whence involuntary motions there : And how the fpirits, by mechanic laws, In wild careers tumultuous riots caufe. Nor would our Wharton, Bates, and Gliffon, lie In the abyfs of blind obfcurity. 330 But now fuch wondrous fearches are forborn, And Pæan's art is by divifions torn. Then let your Charge attend, and I'll explain How her loft health your fcience may regain.

Hafte, and the matchlefs Atticus addrefs, 335 From Heaven and great Naffau he has the mace. Th' opprefs'd to his afylum ftill repair; Arts he fupports, and learning is his care. He foftens the harfh rigour of the laws, Blunts their keen edge, and grinds their harpy

claws;

throng

345

Dwells on the melting mufic of his tongue!
His arguments are emblems of his mien,
Mild, but not faint, and forcing, though ferene;
And, when the power of eloquence he'd try,
Here lightning ftrikes you; there foft breezes figh.

To him you must your fickly ftate refer,
Your charter claims him as your vifiter.
350
Your wounds he'll clofe, and fovereignly restore
Your fcience to the height it had before.

Then Naffau's health fhall be your glorious aim; His life fhould be as lafting as his fame. Some princes' claims from devafiations spring: 355 He condefcends in pity to be king; And, when amidst his olives plac'd he ftands, And governs more by candour than commands; Ev'n then not lefs a hero he appears, Than when his laurel diadem he wears.

360

364

Would Phabus, or his Granville, but infpire Their facred vehemence of poetic fire; To celebrate in fong that god-like power, Which did the labouring univerfe restore: Fair Albion's cliffs would echo to the ftrain, And praife the arm that conquer'd, to regain The earth's repofe, and empire o'er the main..

370

Still may th' immortal man his cares repeat, To make his bleflings endlefs as they're great: Whilft malice and ingratitude confefs They've ftrove for rain long without fuccefs. When, late, Jove's cagle from the pile fhall rife To bear the viclor to the boundless fkies, Awhile the God puts off paternal care, Neglects the earth, to give the heavens a ftar. 375 Near thee, Alcides, fhall the hero faine; His rays refembling, as his labours, thine.

380

Had fome fam'd patriot, of the Latian blood, Like Julius great, and like Octavius good, But thus preferv'd the Latian liberties, Afpiring columns foon had reach'd the fies; Loud lo's the proud capitol had fhook, And all the ftatues of the gods had spoke.

No more the Sage his raptures could purfue: H: paus'd; a: d Celfus with his Guide with

drew.