Thefe fhe to strangers oftentimes would fhew
With grave demean and folemn vanity,
Then proudly claim as to her merit due
The venerable praise and title of Vertù.
Vertù fhe was yclept ‡, and held her court
With outward fhews of pomp and majesty,
To which natheless few others did refort
But men of base and vulgar industry,
Or fuch perdy as of them cozen'd be,
Mimes, fiddlers, pipers, eunuchs fqueaking fine,
Painters and builders, fons of Masonry,
Who well could measure with the rule and line, 440 And all the orders five right craftily define.
But other skill of cunning architect,
How to contrive the houfe for dwelling beft,
With felf-fufficient fcorn they wont neglect,
As correfponding with their purpose least;
And herein be they copy'd of the rest,
Who aye pretending love of fcience fair,
And gen'rous purpose to adorn the breast
With lib'ral arts, to Vertu's court repair,
Yet nought but tunes, and names, and coins, away do
For long to vifit her oncehonour'd feat
The ftudious fons of Learning have forbore,
Who whilom thither ran with pilgrim feet
Her venerable relicks to adore,
And load their bofom with the facred store,
Whereof the world large treafure yet enjoys;
But fithence the declin'd from wisdom's lore
'They left her to display her pompous toys
To virtuofi vain and wonder-gaping boys.
LI.
Forthy to her a num'rous train doth long t
Of ushers, in her court well practifed,
Who aye about the money'd stranger throng,
Off'ring with fhews of courteous bountihed
Him thro' the rich apartments all to lead,
And fhew him all the wonders of her state,
Whofe names and price they wifely can areed ||,
And tell of coins-of old and modern date,
And pictures falfe and true right well difcriminate.
Als are they named after him whose tongue
Shook the Dictator in his curule chair,
And thund'ring thro' the Roman Senate rung
His bold Philippicks in Antonius' ear;
Which when the Fairy heard he figh'd full dear,
And cafting round his quick difcerning eye,
Relate or declare. Thefe under fort of antiquaries, who, go about with ftrangers to thew them the antiquities, &c. of Beme, are called Ciceroni.
At ev'ry deal * he dropt a manly tear
As he the stately buildings mote descry,
Baths, theatres, and fanes, in mould'ring fragmentslie.
And oh! imperial City! then he said,
How art thou tumbled from thine Alpine throne! Whereon like Jove on high Olympus' head
Thou fittedft erft unequall'd and alone,
And madeft thro' the world thy greatness known,
While from the western ifles to Indus' fhore,
From fev'n-mouth'd Nilus to the frozen Don,
Thy dradded bolts the strong pounc'd Eagle bore,
And taught the nations round thy fafces to adore. 486
LV.
And doth among thy relicks nought remain,
No little portion, of that haughty fpright
Which made thee whilom fcorn foft Pleasure's chain
And in free virtue place thy chief delight,
Whereby thro' ages fhone thy glory bright?
And is there nought remaining to confound
Those who regardless of thy woful plight
With idle wonder view thy ruins round,
And without thought survey thy memorable wound?
Arife, thou genuine Cicero! and declare
That all these mighty ruins scatter'd wide
*At every turn, every now and then.
The fepulchres of Reman virtue were,
And trophies vaft of luxury and pride,
Those fell diseases whereof Rome erft dy'd.
And do you then with vile mechanick thought
Your course, ye Sons of Fairy! hither guide,
That ye thofe gay refinements may be taught
Which Liberty's fair lond to fhame and thraldom
Let Rome thofe vaffal arts now meanly boast
Which to her vanquish'd thralls fhe erft refign'd;
Ye who enjoy that freedom she has loft,
That great prerogative of humankind,
Close to your hearts the precious jewel bind,
And learn the rich poffeffion to maintain :
Learn virtue, justice, constancy of mind,
Not to be mov'd by fear or pleasure's train;
Be these your arts, ye Brave! these only are humane.
As he thus fpake th' enchaunter, half asham'd,
Wift not what fitting answer to devise,
Als was his caitive heart well nigh inflam'd
By that fame knight fo virtuous, brave, and wife,
That long he doubts him farther to entice :
But he was harden'd and remorfelefs grown
Thro' practice old of villainy and vice,
So to his former wiles he turns him foon,
As in another place hereafter fhall be shown.
Written in Imitation of the Style and Manner of
LADY LANGHAM, WIDOW OF SIR JO. LANGHAM, BT.
Unum ftudium vere liberale eft, quod liberum facit. Hoc fapientia "ftudium eft, fublime, forte, magnanimum: cetera pufilla et puerilia "funt.-Plus fcire velle quam fit fatis intemperantiæ genus ef. Quid, 06 quod ifta liberalium artium confectatio moleftus, verbofos, intem66 peftivos, fibi placentes facit, et ideo non dicentes neceffaria, quia fupervacua didicerunt." SEN. Ep. 23.
O Goodly Difcipline! from Heav'n yfprong,
Parent of Science, queen of Arts refin'd!
To whom the Graces and the Nine belong,
O! bid thofe Graces, in fair chorus join'd
With each bright Virtue that adorns the mind,
O! bid the Mufes, thine harmonious train,
Who by thy aid erst humaniz'd mankind,
Infpire, direct, and moralize, the train
That doth effay to teach thy treasures how to gain.
And thou, whofe pious and maternal care,
The fubftitute of heav'nly Providence,
With tend'reft love my orphan life did rear,
And train me up to manly ftrength and fenfe,
With mildcft awe and virtuous inuence
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