VIII.

But education can the genius raife,

And wife inftructions native virtue aid;
Nobility without them is difgrace,

And Honour is by vice to fhame betray'd..
IX..

Let red Metaurus, ftain'd with Punic blood,.
Let mighty Afdrubal fubdued, confefs

How much of empire and of fame is ow'd
By thee, O Rome, to the Neronian race.
X..

Of this be witness that aufpicious day,

Which, after a long, black, tempeftuous night,. Firft fmil'd on Latium with a milder ray,

And chear'd our drooping hearts with dawning light.. XI.

Since the dire African with wafteful ire

Rode o'er the ravag'd towns of Italy;

As through the pine-trees flies the raging fire,.
Or Eurus o'er the vext Sicilian fea..

XII

From this bright æra, from this profperous field,
The Roman glory dates her rifing power;

From hence 'twas given her conquering fword to wield,
Raise her fall'n gods, and ruin'd fhrines reftore.

XIII.

Thus Hannibal at length defpairing spoke :
"Like ftags to ravenous wolves an easy prey,,

"Our feeble arms a valiant foe provoke,
"Whom to elude and 'fcape were victory :

Y. 3

XIV." A dauntless

XIV.

"A dauntless nation, that from Trojan fires, "Hoftile Aufonia, to thy deftin'd shore "Her gods, her infant fons, and aged fires, "Through angry feas and adverse tempefts bore :. XV.

"As on high Algidus the sturdy oak,

"Whofe fpreading boughs the axe's fharpness feel, Improves by lofs, and, thriving with the stroke, "Draws health and vigour from the wounding steel. XVI.

"Not Hydra fprouting from her mangled head "So tir'd the baffled force of Hercules;

"Nor Thebes, nor Colchis, fuch a monster bred, "Pregnant of hills, and fam'd for prodigies.

XVII.

Plunge her in ocean, like the morning fun,

Brighter fhe rifes from the depths below:

"To earth with unavaling ruin thrown,

"Recruits her strength, and foils the wondering foe, XVIIL

"No more of victory the joyful fame

"Shall from my camp to haughty Carthage fly; "Loft, loft, are all the glories of her name! "With Afdrubal her hopes and fortune die! XIX.

"What shall the Claudian valour not perform "Which Power Divine guards with propitious care, "Which Wisdom fteers through all the dangerous ftorm,

Through all the rocks and fhoals of doubtful war?"

VIRTUE AND FAME.

TO THE COUNTESS OF EGREMONT.

IRTUE and Fame, the other day,

VI

Happen'd to cross each other's way; Said Virtue," Hark ye! madam Fame, "Your ladyfhip is much to blame;

Jove bids you always wait on me,

"And yet your face I seldom fee:

"The Paphian queen employs your trumpet,
"And bids it praife fome handfome ftrumpet;
"Or, thundering through the ranks of war,
"Ambition ties you to her car."

Saith Fame," Dear madam, I proteft,
"I never find myself so blest

"As when I humbly wait behind you!
"But 'tis fo mighty hard to find you !
"In fuch obfcure retreats you lurk!
"To feek you, is an endless work."
"Well," anfwer'd Virtue, " I allow
"Your plea. But hear, and mark me now.
"I know (without offence to others)
"I know the best of wives and mothers;
"Who never pass'd an useless day
"In fcandal, goffiping, or play :
"Whose modeft wit, chaftis'd by sense,
"Is lively chearful innocence;

Y 4

"Whofe

"Whose heart nor envy knows, nor spite,
"Whofe duty is her fole delight;

"Nor rul'd by whim, nor flave to fashion,
"Her parents' joy, her husband's paffion."
Fame fmir'd and anfwer'd, "On my life,
"This is fome country parfon's wife,
"Who never faw the court nor town,
"Whofe face is homely as her gown;
"Who banquets upon eggs and bacon—”
"No, madam, no-you're much mistaken
"I I beg you'll let me fet you right-
""Tis one with every beauty bright;
"Adorn'd with every polish'd art
"That rank or fortune can impart :
""Tis the most celebrated toast
"That Britain's fpacious ifle can boast;
" "Tis princely Petworth's noble dame;
"Tis Egremont-Go, tell it, Fame."

ADDITION, EXTEMPORE,
BY EARL HARDWICKE.

AME heard with pleasure-ftrait replied,
"First on my roll ftands Wyndham's bride;
My trumpet oft I've rais'd, to found
"Her modeft praise the world around!
"But notes were wanting-Canft thou find
"A Mufe to fing her face, her mind?
"Believe me, I can name but one,
"A friend of yours-'tis Lyttelton."

LET

LETTER

TO

EARL HARDWICKE::

OCCASIONED BY

THE FOREGOING VERSES..

My LORD,

A

Thousand thanks to your Lordship for your addition to my verfes. If you can write fuch ex-tempore, it is well for other poets, that you chofe to be Lord Chancellor, rather than a Laureat. They explain to me a vifion I had the night before.

Methought I faw before my feet,
With countenance ferene and fweet,
The Mufe, who, in my youthful days,.
Had oft infpir'd my careless lays.
She fmil'd, and faid,." once more I fee

46

My fugitive returns to me;

"Long had I loft you from my bower,
"You fcorn'd to own my gentle power;
"With me no more your genius fported,
"The grave hiftoric Mufe you courted;
"Or, rais'd from earth, with ftraining eyes;
"Purfued Urania through the skies;

But