But how to thee could Heaven's high will be known, This life, where oft, to rouse or to employ Think not, of yore, that virtue's secret way No: these of nature their opinions drew From what they fancied, not from what they knew: Here follows in the MS. when it was first shewn to the Editor, a comparison of the doctrines of antient philosophy with those What chance can blast our hope, what force controul, While fix'd on heaven, and center'd in the soul! Lo, where plague rages round, and tempests roar, Joy murmurs through th' applauding crowd, and free of the Gospel; with some keen strictures on modern infidelity and scepticism. But, in this part of the poem, so much is marked for alteration without being altered, that he cannot prevail on himself to print it in the state in which it was left: especially as there is reason to think, that several pages of this part of the work are lost, to the amount probably of about three hundred lines: the exact amount cannot be known, as the pages of the manuscript were not numbered. The conclusion of the first book is subjoined, as it seems to be more correct, and strongly delineates a predominant feature in the Author's character. HE, when in thunder speaks the trump of doom, "Know, what thou didst to mine thou didst to me. "Come then, thou blessed of my Father, come, "And share his joy in thine eternal home." Go now, gay fool, whom earth from heaven decoys, On trivial gains intent, and trivial joys; Who reason, honour, virtue, throw'st aside, For unsubstantial pomp, and cringing pride; Who fly'st to fear from hope, from ease to care, To wo from joy, from triumph to despair.— Go: slink a sot, a ruffian, and a coward, Go: ape duke Villars, and despise John Howard. But nobler transports may his mind attain, Whose youthful ardour breathes this humble strain; This humble strain which, undisguised by art, Utters no thought that flows not from the heart. * This was written several years before Mr. Howard's death. O could this weak, though well-meant, effort throw Confute one base, one generous maxim prove, That I attempt to sing my Maker's praise; t And summon those, whom earth's vain tumults please, From turbulence and care, to rest and ease: Nor bid them quench their wishes but controul, And raise from earth to heaven, from flesh to soul. For all who thus improve, and thus aspire, Best cherish hope, and satisfy desire: Since He, who must perceive, and will requite, MESSIAS. * INCIPE, nympharum Solyma chorus, incipe carmen. Nulla placent. Mea TE canat auspice musa, sacrata Coperat Ille, futura ruens in tempora, Vates: 6 Qui labia Isaiæ tetigisti numine flammæ. Virgo concipiet! Virgo Natum paritura! Radice, en, surgit Jessæa ramus, et altum Æthera divini floris perfudit odore. 10 Olli colestis folia ambit Spiritus, Olli Vertice concedit vis ipsa arcana Columba. *Of this Translation several lines in the MS. were marked for alteration, without being altered. The whole is however so animated, so harmonious, and so true to the original, that the Editor thinks it his duty not to suppress it. It was written long before the Author knew that Dr. Johnson had translated the same poem into Latin verse. The originals of this and some of the following pieces it was not thought necessary to subjoin to the Translations: Pope's poems being well known to every reader. |