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Nec jam ultrà coiere Senes, ut regia Dicta
Audirent, fuaque in melius præcepta referrent;
Nec jam Magnatum Pueri didicere, MOYSIS
Quid leges potuere, quid inclyta DAVIDIS Arma.
Difcinctæ luxu Turmæ oblitæque laborum
Non intermiffo traxerunt otia ludo.

Quin nudæ tectis in publica commoda turres
Educæ fteterunt; oneravit machina muros
Nutantes immanè

110

Expectant mediæ faftigia fumma columnæ,
Et pendent infecta rudi laquearia vultu:
Artifices languent, triftefque abrupta queruntur
Mænia: Spes Patriæ, legata à DAVIDE, Sedes
Magni facra Dei moles jacet imperfe&a.

Plorabant taciti, quorum maturior ætas, Errantem Regem & fluxi infortunia regni. Hiccine (dicebant Graviores) Hiccine, cui mens Altior omnigenas iit indefeffa per artes;

Cui fixit dubios miranda Scientia fines

Virtutis Vitiique: diferto cujus ab ore

Plurima quæ fluxit Sapientia, tradita fidis

Spirat adhuc chartis; Patrumque in frontibus hæret Præceptis teneros informatura Minores,

Atque

No more the Elders throng'd around my Throne,
To hear my Maxims, and reform their own.
No more the Young Nobility were taught,
How MOSES govern'd, and how DAVID fought.
Loose and undisciplin'd the Soldier lay;

Or loft in Drink and Game the folid Day:
Porches and Schools, defign'd for publick Good,
Uncover'd, and with Scaffolds cumber'd stood,
Or nodded, threat'ning Ruin

Half Pillars wanted their expected Height;
And Roofs imperfect prejudic'd the Sight.
The Artists grieve; the lab'ring People droop:
My Father's Legacy, my Country's Hope,

God's Temple lies unfinish'd ---

The Wife and Grave deplor❜d their Monarch's Fate,

And future Mischiefs of a finking State.

Is this, the Serious faid, is this the Man,

Whofe active Soul thro' every Science ran?
Who by just Rule and elevated Skill

Prefcrib'd the dubious Bounds of Good and Ill?
Whose Golden Sayings, and Immortal Wit,
On large Phylacteries expreffive writ,

Were to the Forehead of the Rabbins ty'd,

Our

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Atque infigne fenum pariter Decus? Ergone nefcit
Effrænem Sapiens cohibere cupidinis æftum?
Ille quid admonuit? quid nos advertimus aures?
Moribus ipfa facem præfert Doctrina pudendis,
Et quo plura fciat, culpâ graviore laborat.

Turba faceta magis, leviori fcommate, (fertis
Ut vincti rofeis genio indulfere) viciffim
Hauferunt calices, pretium quibus arrogat Abra
Formofæ Nomen, cui cederet ardua Regis
Gloria Judæi: Pars laudavere jocosè,

Tam bene quem Luxus cum Majeftate deceret:
Advertere alii quantùm pugnaret Amori

Confilium; factifque meis mea dicta refellunt.

Rex vivat tamen, (hic infit) regnoque fruatur:

[audit Quem memoras Regem? (Alter ait ;) neq; enim amplius Rex SOLOMON; patriæ dudùm immemor Ille fuique Servit amans Abræ: quid noftrûm pejus uterque Patraret? nobis fluat ordine Vita foluto, Si fic, quêis animo melior fententia, peccant. Dina premat vario lafcivos flore capillos; Aut lepidum meditata melos, trepidantia pulfet Fila lyræ: dulces mellis fine acumine fuccos Libemus vacui, nec vi nec lege coacti.

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Our Youth's Inftruction, and our Age's Pride?
Could not the Wife his wild Defires reftrain?

Then was our Hearing, and his Preaching vain!
What from his Life and Letters were we taught,
But that his Knowledge aggravates his Fault?

In lighter Mood the Humorous and the Gay
(As crown'd with Roses at their Feasts they lay)
Sent the full Goblet, charg'd with ABRA's Name,

And Charms fuperior to their Master's Fame:
Laughing fome praise the King, who let 'em fee,
How aptly Luxe and Empire might agree:

Some glofs'd, how Love and Wisdom were at Strife;.
And brought my Proverbs to confront my Life.
However, Friend, here's to the King, one cries:
To Him who was the King, the Friend replies.
The King, for JUDAH's, and for Wisdom's Curse,
To A BRA yields: could I, or Thou do worfe?
Our loofer Lives let Chance or Folly fteef:
If thus the Prudent and Determin'd err.

Let DINAH bind with Flowers her flowing Hair;
And touch the Lute, and found the wanton Air:
Let us the Bliss without the Sting receive,

Free, as We will, or to enjoy, or leave.

Plea

Dulcis amat volitare inter leviora Voluptas;
Seria deducunt animum & mærore fatigant.
Audiat egregius Veri Rectique Magister
Hæc mea Dicta, fuis meritò afcribenda libellis.

Sentimus lugubrè tui mala verbera Sceptri O Ratio, exerces trepido quæ pectore dura Imperia! ut gaudes fævas imponere leges, Si, fapere ut poffim, penitus linquenda Voluptas, Majorefque premant meditantem plura dolores: Judææ mifero Regi fi gaudia Vitæ

Deliciafque adimas, ut Principe digna fequatur; Et Curâ paulùm mutatâ, vincula Amoris Exutum Tu compefcas graviore catenâ!

Tene autem Dominam fateor legumque tuarum Sævitiam queror immitem fafcefque potentes; Cum fis interea nihil heu! nifi nomen inane; Quot Capitum vivunt, totidem variata figuris Diverfis, Soboles deliri vana cerebri, Mendaces formas, fluxofque induta colores? Scilicet ingentis tituli levis umbra! Catena, Quà fefe alternis Hominum genus acre coercent, Quam primùm finxere Vafri, Timidique fatentur.

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