And all thy noble reparations sink Into the sure-wrought mine of treacherous mor tality. Like Archimedes, honourably in vain, Thou hold'st out towns that must at last be ta'en, Unbend sometimes thy restless care, To' enjoy at once their health and thee: Some hours, at least, to thine own pleasures spare: Since the whole stock may soon exhausted be, Bestow 't not all in charity. Let Nature and let Art do what they please, LIFE AND FAME. OH, Life! thou Nothing's younger brother! In all the cobwebs of the schoolmen's trade, Dream of a shadow! a reflection made Vain, weak-built isthmus, which dost proudly rise Yet canst nor wave nor wind sustain, But, broken and o'erwhelm'd, the endless oceans meet again. And with what rare inventions do we strive Wise, subtle arts, and such as well befit That Nothing, Man's no wit!— Some with vast costly tombs would purchase it, And by the proofs of death pretend to live. "Here lies the great”—false marble! where? Nothing but small and sordid dust lies there.Some build enormous mountain-palaces, The fools and architects to please; A lasting life in well-hewn stone they rear: Lives in the dropping ruins of his amphitheatre. His father-in-law an higher place does claim 'He, since that toy his death, Does fill all mouths, and breathes in all men's breath. "Tis true, the two immortal syllables remain ; But, oh, ye learned men! explain What essence, what existence, this, What substance, what subsistence, what hyposta In six poor letters is! In those alone does the great Cæsar live, "Tis all the conquer'd world could give. With a refined fantastic vanity, Think we not only have, but give, eternity. Who his to-morrow would bestow, [sis, For all old Homer's life, e'er since he died, till now? THE ECSTASY. I LEAVE mortality, and things below: For I am call'd to go. A whirlwind bears-up my dull feet, The' officious clouds beneath them meet; And lo! I mount, and lo! [show! How small the biggest parts of earth's proud title Where shall I find the noble British land? Which in the sea does lie, And seems a grain o' the' sand! And is it this, alas! which we (Oh irony of words!) do call Great Britanie? I pass by the' arch'd magazines which hold Nor shake with fear or cold: Without affright or wonder I meet clouds charged with thunder, And lightnings, in my way, Like harmless lambent fires about my temples play. Now into' a gentle sea of rolling flame I'm plunged, and still mount higher there, As flames mount up through air: So perfect, yet so tame, So great, so pure, so bright a fire, Was that unfortunate desire, My faithful breast did cover, Then, when I was of late a wretched mortal lover. Through several orbs which one fair planet bear, Where I behold distinctly as I pass The hints of Galileo's glass, I touch at last the spangled sphere : Here all the' extended sky Is but one galaxy, "Tis all so bright and gay, And the joint eyes of night make up a perfect day. And drowns all What, or How, or Where! The tyrannous pleasure could express. Oh, 'tis too much for man! but let it ne'er be less! The mighty' Elijah mounted so on high, That second man who leap'd the ditch where all And went not downwards to the sky! (As conquering kings in triumph go) Did he to heaven approach, [coach. And wondrous was his way, and wondrous was his 'Twas gaudy all; and rich in every part Drawn forth by chemic angels' art. And mystic shapes cut round in it, The horses were of temper'd lightning made, And flaming manes their necks array'd: Not such as here are found, But such light solid ones as shine On the transparent rocks o'the' Heaven-crystalline. Thus mounted the great Prophet to the skies; Wonder'd from hence to see one rise. The soft clouds melted him away; The snow and frosts which in it lay Awhile the sacred footsteps bore; The wheels and horses' hoofs hizzed as they pass'd them o'er! He pass'd by the' moon and planets, and did fright But where he stopp'd will ne'er be known, To' a better thing do aspire, And mount herself, like him, to' eternity in fire. |