The Poetical Works of Mark Akenside Part 28

Ye shades immortal, who by Freedom led, Or in the field or on the scaffold bled, Bend from your radiant seats a joyful eye, And view the crown of all your labours nigh.

See Freedom mounting her eternal throne!

The sword submitted, and the laws her own: 150 See! public Power chastised beneath her stands, With eyes intent, and uncorrupted hands!

See private Life by wisest arts reclaim'd!

See ardent youth to n.o.blest manners framed!

See us acquire whate'er was sought by you, If Curio, only Curio will be true.

'Twas then--o shame! O trust how ill repaid!

O Latium, oft by faithless sons betray'd!-- 'Twas then--What frenzy on thy reason stole?

What spells unsinewed thy determined soul?-- 160 Is this the man in Freedom's cause approved, The man so great, so honour'd, so beloved, This patient slave by tinsel chains allured, This wretched suitor for a boon abjured, This Curio, hated and despised by all, Who fell himself to work his country's fall?

O lost, alike to action and repose!

Unknown, unpitied in the worst of woes!

With all that conscious, undissembled pride, Sold to the insults of a foe defied! 170 With all that habit of familiar fame, Doom'd to exhaust the dregs of life in shame!

The sole sad refuge of thy baffled art To act a statesman's dull, exploded part, Renounce the praise no longer in thy power, Display thy virtue, though without a dower, Contemn the giddy crowd, the vulgar wind, And shut thy eyes that others may be blind.-- Forgive me, Romans, that I bear to smile, When shameless mouths your majesty defile, 180 Paint you a thoughtless, frantic, headlong crew, And cast their own impieties on you.

For witness, Freedom, to whose sacred power My soul was vow'd from reason's earliest hour, How have I stood exulting, to survey My country's virtues, opening in thy ray!

How with the sons of every foreign sh.o.r.e The more I match'd them, honour'd hers the more!

O race erect! whose native strength of soul, Which kings, nor priests, nor sordid laws control, 190 Bursts the tame round of animal affairs, And seeks a n.o.bler centre for its cares; Intent the laws of life to comprehend, And fix dominion's limits by its end.

Who, bold and equal in their love or hate, By conscious reason judging every state, The man forget not, though in rags he lies, And know the mortal through a crown's disguise: Thence prompt alike with witty scorn to view Fastidious Grandeur lift his solemn brow, 200 Or, all awake at pity's soft command, Bend the mild ear, and stretch the gracious hand: Thence large of heart, from envy far removed, When public toils to virtue stand approved, Not the young lover fonder to admire, Not more indulgent the delighted sire; Yet high and jealous of their free-born name, Fierce as the flight of Jove's destroying flame, Where'er Oppression works her wanton sway, Proud to confront, and dreadful to repay. 210 But if to purchase Curio's sage applause, My country must with him renounce her cause, Quit with a slave the path a patriot trod, Bow the meek knee, and kiss the regal rod; Then still, ye powers, instruct his tongue to rail, Nor let his zeal, nor let his subject fail: Else, ere he change the style, bear me away To where the Gracchi [2], where the Bruti stay!

O long revered, and late resign'd to shame!

If this uncourtly page thy notice claim 220 When the loud cares of business are withdrawn, Nor well-dress'd beggars round thy footsteps fawn; In that still, thoughtful, solitary hour, When Truth exerts her unresisted power, Breaks the false optics tinged with fortune's glare, Unlocks the breast, and lays the pa.s.sions bare; Then turn thy eyes on that important scene, And ask thyself--if all be well within.

Where is the heart-felt worth and weight of soul, Which labour could not stop, nor fear control? 230 Where the known dignity, the stamp of awe, Which, half-abash'd, the proud and venal saw?

Where the calm triumphs of an honest cause?

Where the delightful taste of just applause?

Where the strong reason, the commanding tongue, On which the senate fired or trembling hung?

All vanish'd, all are sold--and in their room, Couch'd in thy bosom's deep, distracted gloom, See the pale form of barbarous Grandeur dwell, Like some grim idol in a sorcerer's cell! 210 To her in chains thy dignity was led; At her polluted shrine thy honour bled; With blasted weeds thy awful brow she crown'd, Thy powerful tongue with poison'd philters bound, That baffled Reason straight indignant flew, And fair Persuasion from her seat withdrew: For now no longer Truth supports thy cause; No longer Glory prompts thee to applause; No longer Virtue breathing in thy breast, With all her conscious majesty confess'd, 250 Still bright and brighter wakes the almighty flame, To rouse the feeble, and the wilful tame, And where she sees the catching glimpses roll, Spreads the strong blaze, and all involves the soul; But cold restraints thy conscious fancy chill, And formal pa.s.sions mock thy struggling will; Or, if thy Genius e'er forget his chain, And reach impatient at a n.o.bler strain, Soon the sad bodings of contemptuous mirth Shoot through thy breast, and stab the generous birth, 260 Till, blind with smart, from truth to frenzy toss'd, And all the tenor of thy reason lost, Perhaps thy anguish drains a real tear; While some with pity, some with laughter hear.-- Can art, alas! or genius, guide the head, Where truth and freedom from the heart are fled?

Can lesser wheels repeat their native stroke, When the prime function of the soul is broke?

But come, unhappy man! thy fates impend; Come, quit thy friends, if yet thou hast a friend; 270 Turn from the poor rewards of guilt like thine, Renounce thy t.i.tles, and thy robes resign; For see the hand of Destiny display'd To shut thee from the joys thou hast betray'd!

See the dire fane of Infamy arise!

Dark as the grave, and s.p.a.cious as the skies; Where, from the first of time, thy kindred train, The chiefs and princes of the unjust remain.

Eternal barriers guard the pathless road To warn the wanderer of the cursed abode; 280 But p.r.o.ne as whirlwinds scour the pa.s.sive sky, The heights surmounted, down the steep they fly.

There, black with frowns, relentless Time awaits, And goads their footsteps to the guilty gates; And still he asks them of their unknown aims, Evolves their secrets, and their guilt proclaims; And still his hands despoil them on the road Of each vain wreath, by lying bards bestow'd, Break their proud marbles, crush their festal cars, And rend the lawless trophies of their wars. 290

At last the gates his potent voice obey; Fierce to their dark abode he drives his prey; Where, ever arm'd with adamantine chains, The watchful demon o'er her va.s.sals reigns, O'er mighty names and giant-powers of l.u.s.t, The great, the sage, the happy, and august [3].

No gleam of hope their baleful mansion cheers, No sound of honour hails their unbless'd ears; But dire reproaches from the friend betray'd, The childless sire and violated maid; 300 But vengeful vows for guardian laws effaced, From towns enslaved, and continents laid waste; But long posterity's united groan, And the sad charge of horrors not their own, For ever through the trembling s.p.a.ce resound, And sink each impious forehead to the ground.

Ye mighty foes of liberty and rest, Give way, do homage to a mightier guest!

Ye daring spirits of the Roman race, See Curio's toil your proudest claims efface!-- 310 Awed at the name, fierce Appius [4] rising bends, And hardy Cinna from his throne attends: 'He comes,' they cry, 'to whom the fates a.s.sign'd With surer arts to work what we design'd, From year to year the stubborn herd to sway, Mouth all their wrongs, and all their rage obey; Till own'd their guide, and trusted with their power, He mock'd their hopes in one decisive hour; Then, tired and yielding, led them to the chain, And quench'd the spirit we provoked in vain.' 320

But thou, Supreme, by whose eternal hands Fair Liberty's heroic empire stands; Whose thunders the rebellious deep control, And quell the triumphs of the traitor's soul, Oh! turn this dreadful omen far away: On Freedom's foes their own attempts repay: Relume her sacred fire so near suppress'd, And fix her shrine in every Roman breast: Though bold Corruption boast around the land, 'Let virtue, if she can, my baits withstand!' 330 Though bolder now she urge the accursed claim, Gay with her trophies raised on Curio's shame; Yet some there are who scorn her impious mirth, Who know what conscience and a heart are worth.-- O friend and father of the human mind, Whose art for n.o.blest ends our frame design'd!

If I, though fated to the studious shade Which party-strife, nor anxious power invade, If I aspire in public virtue's cause, To guide the Muses by sublimer laws, 340 Do thou her own authority impart, And give my numbers entrance to the heart.

Perhaps the verse might rouse her smother'd flame, And s.n.a.t.c.h the fainting patriot back to fame; Perhaps by worthy thoughts of human kind, To worthy deeds exalt the conscious mind; Or dash Corruption in her proud career, And teach her slaves that Vice was born to fear.

[Footnote 1: Curio was a young Roman senator, of distinguished birth and parts, who, upon his first entrance into the forum, had been committed to the care of Cicero. Being profuse and extravagant, he soon dissipated a large and splendid fortune; to supply the want of which, he was driven to the necessity of abetting the designs of Csesar against the liberties of his country, although he had before been a professed enemy to him. Cicero exerted himself with great energy to prevent his ruin, but without effect, and he became one of the first victims in the civil war. This epistle was first published in the year 1744, when a celebrated patriot, after a long and at last successful opposition to an unpopular minister, had deserted the cause of his country, and became the foremost in support and defence of the same measures he had so steadily and for such a length of time contended against.]

[Fotnote 2: The two brothers, Tiberius and Caius Gracchus, lost their lives in attempting to introduce the only regulation that could give stability and good order to the Roman republic. L. Junius Brutus founded the commonwealth, and died in its defence.]

[Footnote 3: t.i.tles which have been generally ascribed to the most pernicious of men.]

[Footnote 4: Appius Claudius the Decemvir, and L. Cornelius Cinna both attempted to establish a tyrannical dominion in Rome, and both perished by the treason.]

THE VIRTUOSO.

IN IMITATION OP SPENSER'S STYLE AND STANZA.

'Videmus Nugari solitos.'--PERSIUS.

1 Whilom by silver Thames's gentle stream, In London town there dwelt a subtile wight; A wight of mickle wealth, and mickle fame, Book-learn'd and quaint; a Virtuoso hight.

Uncommon things, and rare, were his delight; From musings deep his brain ne'er gotten ease, Nor ceasen he from study, day or night; Until (advancing onward by degrees) He knew whatever breeds on earth, or air, or seas.

2 He many a creature did anatomise, Almost unpeopling water, air, and land; Beasts, fishes, birds, snails, caterpillars, flies, Were laid full low by his relentless hand, That oft with gory crimson was distain'd: He many a dog destroy'd, and many a cat; Of fleas his bed, of frogs the marshes drain'd, Could tellen if a mite were lean or fat, And read a lecture o'er the entrails of a gnat.

3 He knew the various modes of ancient times, Their arts and fashions of each different guise, Their weddings, funerals, punishments for crimes, Their strength, their learning eke, and rarities; Of old habiliments, each sort and size, Male, female, high and low, to him were known; Each gladiator-dress, and stage disguise; With learned, clerkly phrase he could have shown How the Greek tunic differ'd from the Roman gown.

4 A curious medalist, I wot, he was, And boasted many a course of ancient coin; Well as his wife's he knewen every face, From Julius Caesar down to Constantine: For some rare sculptor he would oft ypine (As green-sick damosels for husbands do); And when obtained, with enraptured eyne, He'd run it o'er and o'er with greedy view, And look, and look again, as he would look it through.

5 His rich museum, of dimensions fair, With goods that spoke the owner's mind was fraught: Things ancient, curious, value-worth, and rare, From sea and land, from Greece and Rome were brought, Which he with mighty sums of gold had bought: On these all tides with joyous eyes he pored; And, sooth to say, himself he greater thought, When he beheld his cabinets thus stored, Than if he'd been of Albion's wealthy cities lord.

6 Here in a corner stood a rich scrutoire, With many a curiosity replete; In seemly order furnish'd every drawer, Products of art or nature as was meet; Air-pumps and prisms were placed beneath his feet, A Memphian mummy-king hung o'er his head; Here phials with live insects small and great, There stood a tripod of the Pythian maid; Above, a crocodile diffused a grateful shade.

7 Fast by the window did a table stand, Where modern and antique rarities, From Egypt, Greece, and Rome, from sea and land, Were thick-besprent, of every sort and size: Here a Bahaman-spider's carca.s.s lies, There a dire serpent's golden skin doth shine; Here Indian feathers, fruits, and glittering flies; There gums and amber found beneath the line, The beak of Ibis here, and there an Antonine.

8 Close at his back, or whispering in his ear, There stood a sprite ycleped Phantasy; Which, wheresoe'er he went, was always near: Her look was wild, and roving was her eye; Her hair was clad with flowers of every dye; Her glistering robes were of more various hue Than the fair bow that paints the cloudy sky, Or all the spangled drops of morning dew; Their colour changing still at every different view.

9 Yet in this shape all tides she did not stay, Various as the chameleon that she bore; Now a grand monarch with a crown of hay, Now mendicant in silks and golden ore: A statesman, now equipp'd to chase the boar, Or cowled monk, lean, feeble, and unfed; A clown-like lord, or swain of courtly lore; Now scribbling dunce, in sacred laurel clad, Or papal father now, in homely weeds array'd.

10 The wight whose brain this phantom's power doth fill, On whom she doth with constant care attend, Will for a dreadful giant take a mill, Or a grand palace in a hog-sty find: (From her dire influence me may heaven defend!) All things with vitiated sight he spies; Neglects his family, forgets his friend, Seeks painted trifles and fantastic toys, And eagerly pursues imaginary joys.

AMBITION AND CONTENT.

A FABLE.

'Optat quietem.'-HOR.

While yet the world was young, and men were few, Nor lurking fraud, nor tyrant rapine knew, In virtue rude, the gaudy arts they scorn'd, Which, virtue lost, degenerate times adorn'd: No sumptuous fabrics yet were seen to rise, Nor gushing fountains taught to invade the skies; With nature, art had not begun the strife, Nor swelling marble rose to mimic life; No pencil yet had learn'd to express the fair; The bounteous earth was all their homely care. 10

Then did Content exert her genial sway, And taught the peaceful world her power to obey-- Content, a female of celestial race, Bright and complete in each celestial grace.

Serenely fair she was, as rising day, And brighter than the sun's meridian ray; Joy of all hearts, delight of every eye, Nor grief nor pain appear'd when she was by; Her presence from the wretched banish'd care, Dispersed the swelling sigh, and stopp'd the falling tear. 20