Seades Fanuly 429-32

THE LIFE OF

GILBERT WEST.

In the life of a worthy man fociety becomes interefted. It is therefore to be regretted that but few particulars are known concerning Gilbert Weft, the Author of the following Poems.

When or where he was born has not been faid; but he was fon of the Rev. Dr. Weft, by a fifter of Sir Ri chard Temple, afterwards Lord Cobham. He was firft fent to Eaton, and next to Oxford. Whether his father ever defigned him for the church, as has been alleged, is uncertain; but it is known that his first appearance on the publick theatre was in the military line, by virtue of a commiffion in a regiment of dragoons procured him by his uncle. In this fervice he Spent fome time, but refigning his commiffion he entered into the bufinefs of civil life under Lord Townfhend, who procured him the office of Clerk-extraordinary to the Privy-council, a nomination which though it placed him in a state of expectation brought with it no immediate emoluments. He lived however to enjoy one of the more lucrative Clerkships of the Privy-council, and Mr. Pitt, his intimate friend, finally inftalled him in the office of Treasurer to Chelfea Hofpital.

He refided at Wickham in Kent, where he devoted his lifure time to the improvement of his own mind

and the exercises of piety. It was here that he was frequently vifited by Lyttelton and Pitt, who found in his literary conversation a folacement for their political debates and intrigues. About the 1775 his only fon died, and on the 26th March thereafter the father refigned his life.

Befides the original poems in this volume Mr. West was author of a treatife on the Refurrection, generally known and admired, published in 1747, for which the University of Oxford created him a Doctor of Laws 30th March 1748. It is believed that this work, together with Mr. Weft's pious converfation, paved the way for Lyttelton's Obfervations on the Converfion of St. Paul, a treatife," fays Dr. Johnson, "which Infidelity has never been able to fabricate a "fpecious anfwer."

to

Mr. Weft's translations, viz. his Pindarick Odes, c. make no part of this volume, which confifts of originals, but these will appear in a separate publication under the general title of Tranflations, including in it the chief poems of the Greek and Roman writers.

A CANTO, IN IMITATION OF SPENSER.

The Argument.

Archimage tempts the Redcrofs knight

From love of Fairyland

With fhew of foreign pleasures all,

The which he doth withstand.

I.

WISE was that Spartan lawgiver of old
Who rais'd on Virtue's base his wellbuilt state,
Exiling from her walls barbarick gold,
With all the mifchiefs that upon it wait,
Corruption, luxury, and envious hate,
And the distinctions proud of rich and poor,
Which among brethren kindle foul debate,

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And teach Ambition, that to fame would foar,
To the falfe lure of wealth her ftooping wing to lower.

J II.

Yet would Corruption foon have entrance found, I
And all his boasted schemes eftfoon decay'd,

Had not he caft a pow'rful circle round,
Which to a distance the arch felon fray'd,
And ineffectual his foul engines made;

This was to weet that politick command
Which from vain travel the young Spartan stay 'd,

Ne fuffer'd him forfake his native land

To learn deceitful arts and science contraband.

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Yet had the ancient world her courts and schools,
Great kings and courtiers civil and refin'd,
Great rabbins deeply read in Wisdom's rules,
And all the arts that cultivate the mind,
Embellish life and polish humankind:
Such, Afia, birthplace of proud Monarchy!
Such, elder Egypt, in thy kingdoms shin'd,
Mysterious Egypt! the rank nursery
Of fuperftitions fond and learned vanity.

IV.

But what accomplishments, what arts polite,
Did the young Spartan want his deeds to grace,
Whose manly virtues and heroick spright

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Check'd by no thought impure no falfehood base,
With natural dignity might well outface
The glare of manners false and mimick pride?
And wherefore should they range from place to place
Who to their country's love fo firm were ty'd,
All homely as she was, that for her oft' they dy'd?'

V.

And footh it is (with rev'rence may ye hcar

And honour due to paffion fo refin'd)

The ftrong affection which true patriots bear
To their dear country zealous is and blind,
And fond as is the love of womankind,
So that they may not her defects efpy,
Ne other paragone † may ever find,

*Truth.

Rival, or one to compare with her.

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But gazing on her with an awful eye
And fuperftitious zeal her learn to deify.

VI.

And like as is the faith unfound, untrue,
Of him who wand'ring aye from fair to fair
Conceiveth from each object paffion new,

Or from his heart quite drives the troublous care;
So with the patriot lover doth it fare
Who thro' the world delighting aye to rove,
His country changeth with each change of air,
Or weening the delights of all to prove

On none or all alike bestows his vagrant love.
VII.

Als* doth corruption in a distant soil

With double force affay † the youthful heart,
Expos'd fufpectlefs to the traytor's wile,
Expos'd unwarn'd to Pleasure's poison'd dart,
Expos'd unpractis'd in the world's wide mart,
Where each one lies, impofes, and betrays,
Without a friend due counsel to impart,
Without a parent's awe to rule his ways,

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Without the check of fhame or fpur of publick praise,

VIII.

Forthy false Archimago, traytor vile!

Who burnt 'gainst Fairyland with ceaseless ire,
'Gan caft with foreign pleasures to beguile
Her faithful knight, and quench the heav'nly fire

*Moreover, befides. † Affault. Therefore..

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