7 (For | human | good depends on | human | will,) 7 | 7 Our | fortune | rolls 7 | as from a smooth de scent, 7 | And from the first im | pression, | takes the | bent; 7 | | But if un seiz'd, 7|7 she | glides a | way like | wind, 7 | 7 And | leaves re | penting | Folly | far behind. 7 | || Now, 7 now she | meets you | 7 with a | glorious | prize, 7 | 7 And spreads her | locks before you | 7 as she flies. 7 || 7 Had thus old | David, | 7 from whose | loins you | spring, 7 | Not 7 | dar'd, 7 | 7 when | Fortune | call'd 7 | him, 7 | 7 to be | king, 7 | 7 At | Gath, 7 | 7 an | exile | he might | still 7 | 7 rẻ | main, 7 | 7 And | Heaven's a | nointing | oil, 7 | 7 had been in | vain. 7 || Let his successful | youth 7 | 7 your hopes en 7 But | shun | 7 the ex | ample | 7 of declining | age; 7 | | 7 Behold him | setting | 7 in his | western | skies, 71 7 The | shadows | lengthening, | 7 as the vapours | rise. 7 | | | He is not now 7 | as when on | Jordan's | sand 7 The joyful people | throng'd to see him | land, | Covering the beach, 7 | 7 and | blackening | all the | strand; 7 | | | But 7 | like the | prince of | angels, 7 | 7 from his | height, 7 | | Comes 7 tumbling | downward, | 7 with di | minish'd | light, 7|| 7 Betray'd by one 7 | poor 7 | plot | 7 to | public scorn! 7| 7 (Our only | blessing | 7 since his | curs'd re | turn!) 7 | | | Those heaps of people, | 7 which | one 7 | sheaf7 | did 7 | bind, 7 | Blown 7 off, and scatter'd | 7 by a puff of | wind. 7|| What strength can he, | 7 to your de | signs op | pose, 7 | Naked of friends, 7 | 7 and | round be set with | foes? 7||| 7 If Pharaoh's | doubtful | succour | 7 he should { use, 7 A foreign | aid 7 | 7 would | more in | cense the | Jews: 7| | Proud 7 | Egypt | 7 would dis | sembled | friendship | bring, 7 | 7 Foment the war, 7 | 7 but not support the king: 7 Nor would the royal | party | e'er unite 7 | 7 With Pharaoh's arms, 7 | 7 to assist the | Jebusite; | Or if they should, 7|7 their | interest | soon would: | break, 7 | | And with such | odious | aid, 7 7 make | David | weak. 7 | All 7 sorts of men, 77 by | my successful | arts, 7 | | | 7 Ab | horring | kings, 7|7 estrange their | alter'd hearts 7 |: 7 From | David's rule: 7 and 'tis their | general cry, 7 | 7 Religion, || Commonwealth, | 7 and | Liberty! 7 If you, 7 | 7 as | champion of the | public | good, Add to their arms, 7 | 7 a | chief of royal blood, What may not | Israel | hope, 7 | 7 and | what ap | plause 7 | 7 Might | such a general | gain, 77 by such a | cause! 7 | | Not 7 | barren | praise 7 | 7 a | lone, 7|that | gaudy | Aower, 7 | Fair | only to the | sight, | 7 but | solid | power; { 1 7. And nobler | 7 is a limited com | mand, 7 | | Giv'n by the love of | all your | native | land, 7 | 1 | Than a successive | title, . | long and dark, 7 Drawn from the | mouldy | rolls 7 | 7 of | Noah's | ark. | | | APOSTROPHE TO LIGHT. MILTON. Hail holy Light, offspring of Heav'n first born, Or of the Eternal co-eternal beam, May I express thee unblam'd? Since God is light, And never but in unapproached light Dwelt from eternity, dwelt then in thee, Bright effluence of bright essence increate. The rising world of waters dark and deep Thee I revisit now with bolder wing, Escap'd the Stygian pool though long detain'd Through utter and through middle darkness borne, I sung of chaos and eternal night. Taught by the heavenly Muse to venture down The dark descent,and up to re-ascend, Those other two equall'd with me in fate, Day or the sweet approach of ev'n and morn; |