gates?

Proud of its woody brow, adorns the scene.
Dictate, O vers❜d in books, and just of taste,
Dictate the pleasing theme of our discourse.
Shall we trace Science from her Eaftern home
Chaldæan; or the banks of Nile, where Thebes,
Nurfing her daughter arts, majestic stood,
And pour'd forth knowledge from an hundred
There first the marble learn'd to mimic life,
The pillar'd temple rofe, and pyramids,
Whose undecaying grandeur laughs at Time;
Birth-place of letters, where the fun was shewn
His radiant way, and heav'ns were taught to roll.
There too the Muses tun'd their earliest lyre,
Warbling soft numbers to Serapis' ear;

'Till chac'd by tyrants, or a milder clime
Inviting, they remov'd with pilgrim harps,
And all their band of harmony to Greece.
As when a flock of linnets, if perchance
Deliver'd from the falcon's talon, fly
With trembling wing to cover, and renew
Their notes; tell every bush of their escape,
And thrill their merry thanks to Liberty.
The tuneful tribe, pleas'd with their new abode,
Polish'd the rude inhabitants, whence tales

Of

Of lift'ning woods, and rocks that danc'd to found.
Hear the full chorus lifting hymns to Jove!
Linus and Orpheus catch the strain, and all
The raptur'd audience utter loud applause.

A fong, believe me, was no trifle then:
Weighty the Mufe's task, and wide her sway :
Her's was religion, the refounding fanes

Echo'd her language; polity was her's,

And the world bow'd to legislative verse.

As states increas'd, and governments were form'd,

Her aid less useful, fhe retir'd to grots

And shady bow'rs, content to teach and please,
Under her laurel frequent bards repos'd;
Voluble Pindar troll'd his rapid fong,
Or Sappho breath'd her spirited complaint:
Here the stage bufkin, there the lyric choir,
And Homer's epic trumpet. Happy Greece,
Blefs'd in her offspring! Seat of eloquence,
Of arts and reafon; patriot-virtue's feat!
Did the fun thither dart uncommon rays!
Did fome prefiding genius hover o'er
That animated foil with brooding wings!
The fad reverse might start a gentle tear-
Go, fearch in Athens for herself, enquire

Where

Where are her orators, her fages now:
Her arsenal overturn'd, her walls in dust,
-But far lefs ruin'd than her foul decay'd.

The ftone infcrib'd to Socrates, debas'd
To prop a reeling cot: Minerva's fhrine
Poffefs'd by those who never heard her name.
Upon the mount where old Mufæus fung,
Sits the grim turban'd captain, and exacts
Harsh tribute; on the spot where Plato taught
His heav'nly strains fublime, a ftupid Turk
Is preaching ignorance and Mahomet.

Turn next to Rome: is that the clime, the place,
Where once, as Fame reports, Auguftus liv'd?
What magic has transform'd her, fhrunk her nerves?
A wither'd laurel, and a mould'ring arch! -

Could the

pure crimson tide, the nobleft blood That ever flow'd, to fuch a puddle turn?

She ends, like her long Appian, in a marsh;
Or Jordan's river pouring his clear urn
Into the black Afphaltus' flimy lap.

Patrons of wit, and victors of mankind,
Bards, warriors, worthies (revolution strange)
Are pimps and fidlers, mountebanks and monks.
In Tully's bee-hive, magazine of sweets,

The

The lazy drones are buzzing or asleep.

But we forgive the living for the dead; Indebted more to Rome than we can pay. Of a long dearth prophetic, fhe lay'd in O thou banquet nice,

A feast for ages. —

Where the foul riots with fecure excess !

What felt delight! what pleasing useful hours
Repeated owe we to her letter'd fons!

We by their favour Tiber's walks enjoy,

Their temples trace, and share their noble games;
Enter the crowded theatre at will,

Go to the forum, hear the conful plead,
Are present in the thund'ring Capitol
When Tully speaks; at fofter hours attend
Harmonious Virgil to his Mantuan farm,
Or Baian; and with happy Horace talk
In myrtle groves by Teverone's cascade.
Hail, precious pages! that amuse and teach,
Exalt the genius, and improve the breast.

Ye fage hiftorians all your stores unfold,

Reach your

clear steady mirror in that glafs

The forms of good and ill are well portray'd.

But chiefly thou, divine Philofophy,

Shed thy blefs'd influence; with thy train appear

Of graces mild, far be the Stoic boast,
The Cynic's fnarl, and churlish pedantry.
Bright vifitant, if not too high my wish,
Come in the lovely drefs you wore, a guest
At Plato's table, or at Tufculum,

The Roman feafting his felected friends.
Tamer of pride! at thy ferene rebuke
See crouching infolence, spleen, and revenge
Before thy fhining taper disappear.

Tutor of human life, aufpicious guide,

Whose faithful clue unravels every Mufe,

Whose conduct smooths the roughest paths; whofe voice Controuls each storm, and bids the roar be still:

O condefcend to gild my darksome roof:

Let me know thee

Is then obey'd

the Delphic oracle

and I fhall know myself.

H

VACATION.

By —— Esq;

ENCE fage, mysterious Law,

That fitt'ft with rugged brow, and crabbed look O'er thy black-letter'd book,

And the night-watching student strik'st with awe ;

Away