Do thou, just goddess, call our merits forth, And give each deed the' exact intrinsic worth.' 'Not with bare justice shall your act be crown'd, (Said Fame) but high above desert renown'd: Let fuller notes the' applauding world amaze, And the loud clarion labour in your praise.' This band dismiss'd, behold another crowd But straight the direful trump of Slander sounds; And gathering scandals grew on every tongue. A troop came next, who crowns and armour wore, Then came the smallest tribe I yet had seen; Plain was their dress, and modest was their mien : • Great idol of mankind! we neither claim The praise of merit, nor aspire to fanie! But safe in deserts from the' applause of men, Would die unheard of, as we liv'd unseen; 'Tis all we beg thee, to conceal from sight Those acts of goodness which themselves requite. O let us still the secret joy partake, To follow virtue ev'n for virtue's sake.' 'And live there men who slight immortal fame? Who then with incense shall adore our name? But, mortals! know, 'tis still our greatest pride To blaze those virtues which the good would hide. Rise! Muses, rise! add all your tuneful breath, These must not sleep in darkness and in death.' She said in air the trembling music floats, And on the winds triumphant swell the notes; So soft, though high, so loud, and yet so clear, Ev'n listening angels lean'd from Heaven to hear: To furthest shores the' ambrosial spirit flies, Sweet to the world, and grateful to the skies. Next these a youthful train their vows express'd, With feathers crown'd, with gay embroidery dress'd: Hither (they cried) direct your eyes, and see The men of pleasure, dress, and gallantry; Ours is the place at banquets, balls, and plays, Sprightly our nights, polite are all our days; Courts we frequent, where 'tis our pleasing care To pay due visits and address the fair; In fact, 'tis true, no nymph we could persuade, But still in fancy vanquish'd every maid ; Of unknown duchesses lewd tales we tell, Yet, would the world believe us, all were well; The joy let others have, and we the name, [press'd Last, those who boast of mighty mischiefs done, Enslave their country, or usurp a throne; Or who their glory's dire foundation laid On sovereigns ruin'd, or on friends betray'd; Calm, thinking villains, whom no faith could fix, Of crooked counsels and dark politics; Of these a gloomy tribe surround the throne, And beg to make the' immortal treasons known. The trumpet roars, long flaky flames expire, With sparks that seem'd to set the world on fire. At the dread sound pale mortals stood aghast, And startled nature trembled with the blast. This having heard and seen, some power unknown Straight chang'd the scene, and snatch'd me from the Before my view appear'd a structure fair, [throne. Its site uncertain, if in earth or air; With rapid motion turu'd the mansion round; Not less in number were the spacious doors And the touch'd needle trembles to the pole ; All various sounds from earth, and seas, and skies, Nor ever silence, rest, or peace is here. Wide, and more wide, the floating rings advance, There various news I heard of love and strife, Of peace and war, health, sickness, death, and life, Of loss and gain, of famine and of store, Of storms at sea, and travels on the shore, Of fires and plagues, and stars with blazing hair, Above, below, without, within, around, Confus'd, unnumber'd multitudes are found, Who pass, repass, advance, and glide away, Hosts rais'd by fear, and phantoms of a day : Astrologers, that future fates foreshew, Projectors, quacks, and lawyers not a few; And priests, and party zealots, numerous bands, With home-born lies, or tales from foreign lands; Each talk'd aloud, or in some secret place, And wild impatience star'd in every face. The flying rumours gather'd as they roll'd, Scarce any tale was sooner heard than told; And all who told it added something new, And all who heard it made enlargements too; In every ear it spread, on every tongue it grew. Thus flying east and west, and north and south, News travell'd with increase from mouth to mouth. So from a spark, that kindled first by chance, With gathering force the quickening flames advance; Till to the clouds their curling heads aspire, And towers and temples sink in floods of fire. } When thus ripe lies are to perfection sprung, Full grown, and fit to grace a mortal tongue, Through thousand vents, impatient, forth they flow, And rush in millions on the world below: Fame sits aloft, and points them out their course, Borne by the trumpet's blast, and scatter'd through the sky. There, at one passage, oft you might survey |