To honour chiefs who every danger brav'd,
And decorate the land their valour fav'd.

Nor gave juft Gratitude to man alone
This vital tribute of expreffive ftone,
But to Athenians who, in beauty's form,
Reprefs'd their female fear in ruin's ftorm ;
Who, in the hour when their delightful home,
Domestic altars, and each facred dome,
Were seen to fink in fate's barbaric blaze,
Difdain'd despair, and look'd for happier days
In Grecian arms ftill daring to confide
With tender fortitude and virtuous pride;
Pleas'd in Trezene's fheltering walls to wait,
Till attic force reftor'd their native state.
Ye patient heroines! not vain your trust,
By love fuggefted, and to valour just !
Athens, the favourite theme of every tongue,
(A real Phenix,) from her ashes sprung —
Athens, endear'd to every feeling heart,

A throne of Genius, and a mine of art

370

380

Athens was proud your conduct to review;
She to your courage rais'd memorials due,
And with your sculptur'd charms Trezene deck'd,
Who fav'd her fugitives with fond respect.

Ye heroines of hope, whofe force of mind
Induc'd relenting Fortune to be kind!
Teach me to copy what I justly praise !
Teach me, like you, in dark affliction's days-
Now while the lyre, by forrow's ftern command,
Sinks in forc'd filence from my troubled hand—
Teach me to wait, in Quiet's friendly bower,

The future funshine of a fairer hour*.

390

*See NOTE XVI.

THE END OF THE SECOND EPISTLE.

ARGUMENT

OF THE THIRD EPISTLE.

The Grecian fculptors of later time-Myron-Polycletus-Phidias-Praxiteles-Euphranor-Lyfippus-The Coloffus of Rhodes.-Addrefs to Time, as the restorer of buried Art.-The Laocoon.-Niobe.-Hercules. Apollo.-Venus.

EPISTLE III.

JUSTICE and Honour call! Awake, my lyre!
Artists of Attica thy voice require!

Ye Greeks! ye demi-gods of ancient days!
Whose life was energy, whofe paffion praise !
What patriot rapture must your hearts have known,
When with new charms your native Athens fhone!
Confpiring Arts ftrain'd every nerve to crown
Their refcu'd darling with unmatch'd renown ;
And of those earth-ennobling Arts who strove,
Foft'ring her glory, to enfure her love.

H

IO