Dic age, multa minans cum voce exclamat inani
Se latè in terris Dominum, & regere omnia nutu;
Nonne metu horrefcit, ne fortior ira Leonis
Fictitiæ legi fublatum opponeret unguem?
Annon è Roftro trepidans Orator abiret,
Porticibus fubitò irrumpat fi fortè reclufis
Aut immanis Hyæna, aut fpumans faucibus Urfus?
Pænitet incepti Pugnacem ferò duelli,
Cum lateri jamdudum audax accingitur enfis.
Concita dum Zephyro fugit accelerante Carina,
Serò recedentem refpectat Navita terram.
Sic ferò cupimus contracto ducere fræno
Ardua jam tentantem animum, & fublime volantem: Fertur in ulteriora, reluctaturque teneri;
Magna vocant, vaftique ingens patet area campi.
Perpendas animo mecum fpatia ætheris ampla,
Oceano & terræ medias cedentia partes.
Sollicitus rogito, qua caufa pendulus Orbis
Nec petat ulterius tolli, timeatve relabi.
Cum reputo, quali Phæbus revolubilis igne
Huncce Globum circa curvato tramite fertur;
De multis dubito terris, utrumne patentes
For tell me, when the empty Boafter's Word
Proclaims himself the Universal Lord;
Does He not tremble, left the Lion's Paw
Should join his Plea against the fancy'd Law?
Would not the Learned Coward leave the Chair;
If in the Schools or Porches fhould appear
The fierce Hyana, or the foaming Bear?
The Combatant too late the Field declines; When now the Sword is girded to his Loins. When the swift Veffel flies before the Wind; Too late the Sailor views the Land behind. And 'tis too late now back again to bring Enquiry, rais'd and tow'ring on the Wing: Forward She ftrives, averfe to be withheld From nobler Objects, and a larger Field.
Confider with me this Etherial Space, Yielding to Earth and Sea the middle Place. Anxious I ask Ye, how the Penfile Ball
Should never ftrive to rise, nor fear to fall.
When I reflect, how the revolving Sun
Does round our Globe his crooked Journies run;
I doubt of many Lands, if they contain
Effufæ pecudes campos, hominefve frequentent:
Anne aliquis populus fatalia tempora ducat
Sub nimium ardenti propioris lumine solis :
An gens ulla ferat, feptem fubjecta trioni,
Diram urfæ feritatem, æternaque vincula brumæ.
Prudentis fed nonne Dei fuprema voluntas
Cuique horum fecreta poteft concedere dona?
Forfitan ardentes, quibus acrior imminet æstas,
Lene fluens nobis ignota refrigerat aura;
Fortè vident crebris lætantes imbribus agros,
Exultantque novo fæcundi germinis ortu;
Atque vices noftras lugent, quêis fata dederunt
Obliquæ Cœlum toties mutabile Sphæræ;
Ipfi dum certo redeuntem tempore Phæbum
Afpiciunt, paribufque horis recreantur & ardent,
Gaudentes propiore Die; femperque fruuntur
Ignibus haud aliis, & tempeftatibus îfdem.
Fortè etiam, qui forte domos pofuere remota
Ultra Tartariæ diffufas latius oras;
Qua parte, extenfæ fuper æquora longa diei
Sex fugiunt rutili porrecto tramite menfes;
Mox alii totidem penna nigrante feruntur,
Quos denfa horrentes obducunt nocte vapores;
Or Herd of Beast, or Colony of Man:
If any Nations pass their destin'd Days
Beneath the neighb'ring Sun's directer Rays:
If any fuffer on the Polar Coast,
The Rage of ARCTOS, and eternal Frost.
May not the Pleasure of Omnipotence To each of These fome fecret Good difpenfe? Those who amidft the Torrid Regions live, May they not Gales unknown to us receive; See daily Show'rs rejoice the thirsty Earth, And bless the flow'ry Buds fucceeding Birth? May they not pity Us, condemn'd to bear The various Heav'n of an obliquer Sphere; While by fix'd Laws, and with a juft Return, They feel twelve Hours that shade, for twelve that burn; And praise the neighb'ring Sun, whose constant Flame Enlightens them with Seasons ftill the fame? And may not Thofe, whofe diftant Lot is caft North beyond TARTARY'S extended Waste; Where thro' the Plains of one continual Day, Six fhining Months pursue their even Way; And Six fucceeding urge their dusky Fight, Obfcur'd with Vapors and o'erwhelm'd in Night:
Forte, inquam, Indigenæ, quos ifta tulere locorum,
(Quod tradant memores ventura in Sæcula fafti)
Hunc noftrum affiduè mutatis vultibus axem
Poftponunt propriis vicibus, totumque per annum
Partibus ex æquo dimenfis lucis & umbræ.
Forfitan hunc Solem, ftadiis redeuntibus actum,
Contemnunt, tenuis contractum limite gyri,
Mane citum, medioque ex æthere præcipitatum,
Cum fupereft infecta operis pars magna diurni;
Objiciant noftris quum gentibus, haud fine jure,
Noctis iter fubitum, lapfamque fugaciter umbram;
Quòd, graviter feffos quàm fat recreaverit artus
Fæta falute quies, fomni nec inutile donum;
Ante refurgenti cum lumine cura refurgat
Tædia relliquiafque hefterni ferre laboris :
Cùm, fimul ipforum Phæbus fe pandat ocellis,
Intrepidis animis femeftri luce fruentes,
Ad nemora inde procul fecreta, lacufque remotos
Non interruptos audent intendere curfus;
Et pifcaturam venatufque impete longo
Indomiti exercent, indefeffoque vigore.
Et fugiente Dies ubi deferit æthera curru,
Collectæque monent hyemem nigrefcere nubes,
Frugibus inftanti pro tempeftate coactis
|