The long-liv'd volume; and, deep-mufing, hail
The facred fhades, that flowly-rifing pafs
Before my wondering eyes. Firft SOCRATES,
Who, firmly good in a corrupted state,
Against the rage of tyrants fingle ftood,
Invincible! calm Reafon's holy law,
That Voice of God within th' attentive mind,
Obeying, fearlefs, or in life, or death:
Great moral teacher? Wifeft of Mankind!
SOLON the next, who built his common-weal
On equity's wide base; by tender laws
A lively people curbing, yet undamp❜d
Preferving ftill that quick peculiar fire,
Whence in the laurel'd field of finer arts,
And of bold freedom, they unequal'd fhone,
The pride of fmiling GREECE, and human-kind.
LYCURGUS then, who bow'd beneath the force
Of ftricteft difcipline, feverely wife,
All human paffions. Following him, I see,
As at Thermopyla he glorious fell,
The firm DEVOTED CHIEF *, who prov'd by deeds
The hardest leffon which the other taught.
Then ARISTIDES lifts his honeft front;
Spotless of heart, to whom th' unflattering voice
Of freedom gave the noblest name of Just ;
In pure majestic poverty rever'd ;
Who, even his glory to his country's weal
Submitting, fwell'd a haughty Rival's * fame.
Rear'd by his care, of softer ray appears
CIMON fweet-foul'd; whofe genius, rifing strong,
Shook off the load of young debauch; abroad
The scourge of Persian pride, at home the friend
Of every worth and every splendid art;
Modeft, and fimple, in the pomp of wealth.
Then the last worthies of declining GREECE,
Late call'd to glory, in unequal times,
Penfive, appear. The fair Corinthian boast,
TIMOLEON, happy temper! mild, and firm,
Who wept the Brother while the Tyrant bled.
And, equal to the bett, the THEBAN PAIR †,
Whofe virtues, in heroic concord join'd,
Their country rais'd to freedom, empire, fame.
He too, with whom Athenian honour funk,
And left a mass of fordid lees behind,
PHOCION the Good; in public life severe,
PELOPIDAS and EPAMINONDAS.
To virtue still inexorably firm;
But when, beneath his low illuftrious roof,
Sweet peace and happy wisdom fmooth'd his brow, Not friendship fofter was, nor love more kind.
And he, the laft of old LYCURGUS' fons,
victim to that vain attempt, generous To fave a rotten State, AGIS, who faw Even SPARTA's felf to fervile avarice funk. The two Achaian heroes close the train. ARATUS, who a while relum'd the foul Of fondly lingering liberty in GREECE: And he her darling as her latest hope, The gallant PHILOPOEMEN; who to arms Turn'd the luxurious pomp he could not cure; Or toiling in his farm, a fimple swain ;" Or, bold and fkilful, thundering in the field. Of rougher front, a mighty people come! A race of heroes! in thofe virtuous times Which knew no ftain, fave that with partial flame Their dearest country they too fondly lov❜d: Her better Founder firft, the light of ROME, NUMA, who soften'd her rapacious fons: SERVIUS the King, who laid the folid base On which o'er earth the vast republic spread. Then the great confuls venerable rife.
The PUBLIC FATHER * who the Private quell'd,
As on the dread tribunal fternly fad.
He, whom his thankless country could not lose,
CAMILLUS, only vengeful to her foes.
FABRICIUS, fcorner of all-conquering gold;
And CINCINNATUS, awful from the plough.
Thy WILLING VICTIM †, Carthage, bursting loose
From all that pleading Nature could oppofe,
From a whole city's tears, by rigid faith
Imperious call'd, and honour's dire command.
SCIPIO, the gentle chief, humanely brave,
Who foon the race of spotlefs glory ran,
And, warm in youth, to the Poetic fhade
With Friendship and Philosophy retir❜d.
TULLY, whofe powerful eloquence a while
Reftrain'd the rapid fate of rufhing ROME.
Unconquer'd CATO, virtuous in extreme.
And thou, unhappy BRUTUS, kind of heart,
Whose steady arm, by awful virtue urg'd,
Lifted the Roman fteel againft thy Friend.
Thousands befides the tribute of a verse
Demand; but who can count the ftars of heaven?
Who fing their influence on this lower world!
Behold, who yonder comes! in fober state,
Fair, mild, and ftrong, as is a vernal fun:
'Tis Phœbus' self, or else the Mantuan Swain!
Great HOMER too appears, of daring wing,
Parent of fong! and equal by his fide,
The BRITISH MUSE; join'd hand in hand they walk,
Darkling, full up the middle fteep to fame.
Nor absent are those fhades, whose skilful touch
Pathetic drew th' impaffion'd heart, and charm'd
Transported Athens with the MORAL SCENE:
Nor those who, tuneful, wak'd th' enchanting LYRE.
First of your kind! fociety divine!
Still vifit thus my nights, for you referv'd,
And mount my foaring foul to thoughts like yours.
Silence, thou lonely power! the door be thine;
See on the hallowed hour that none intrude,
Save a few chofen friends, who sometimes deign
To bless my humble roof, with sense refin❜d,
Learning digefted well, exalted faith,
Unftudy'd wit, and humour ever gay.
Or from the Mufes' hill will POPE defcend,
To raise the facred hour, to bid it fmile,
And with the social spirit warm the heart:
For tho' not fweeter his own HoMER fings,
Yet is his life the more endearing fong.
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