Classic Poem

On this terrestrial various Stage, behold
How troubled States are back and forward roll'd;
On what frail Props Imperial Greatness leans;
While Nature shifts so fast her transient Scenes:
Letters and Empire, whose confed'rate Pow'r,
Mutual each other's prosp'rous Fate secure,
First in the spacious Regions of the East
Rose, like the Sun, then wander'd to the West .
Assyria 's Kings did first the Scepter hold,
Which Asia 's num'rous Potentates controul'd:
Till broke and vanquish'd by the Persian Sword,
The Realms around obey'd the Victor Lord.
While these prevail'd below, their Sages wise,
To Nature's Heights by thoughtful Labour rise,
Explore the distant Stars, and triumph in the Skies.
Next Pow'r and Arts did Asia 's Lands forsake,
And their Abode aspiring Grecia make.
But thence invited to Hesperia 's Soil,
For civil Virtues fam'd, and martial Toil,
Transfer'd their Seat, while num'rous Nations own'd
High Rome their Head, with Pow'r Imperial crown'd;
Till gather'd Clans in Northern Climates sprung,
Tho' not polite, yet wife, and bold, and strong,
Broke Rome 's vast Pile, and on her ruin'd Tow'rs
Rais'd various Thrones, and independent Pow'rs.
Since that, each Potent Monarchy and State
Has sunk and flourish'd by alternate Fate;
While Realms by Turns in Strength superior grown
Enslave free States, or Neighbour Kings dethrone.

Now, Muse, the most successful Methods trace
That raise, and long uphold a worthy Race,
And the Defects which a great Stock debase.

As single Men, Strength by Degrees acquire,
Sink by Degrees, at length by Age expire:
Or else, before opprest with Years they bow,
Fall by a sharp Disease, or by a slow.
So States and Pow'rs, which subject Nations sway,
By Steps grow vig'rous, and by Steps decay:
Yet swifter, some compleat their destin'd Course,
By Discord worn, or broke by foreign Force.

To form a generous Race of Men, 'tis fit
They should to some Imperial Head submit:
Combin'd in wise Societies should live,
And for the common Good industrious strive.
For, see, the Tribes thro' swarthy Africk spread,
In the wide Indies adverse Regions bred,
And in the snowy Climes beneath the Pole,
Who rude and barb'rous, and without Controul,
Roam o'er the Plain, and in the Forrest rest
Not with Improvements, nor with Genius blest,
A middle Species seem of blended Man and Beast.

Of Government ill Forms we should prefer
To Anarchy, and the wild State of Wat:
Where Men of no coercive Laws afraid,
Each Others Lives and Properties invade.
But when these civil Plans are well design'd,
And all the Parts in just Proportion joyn'd;
Where mingled Powrs each Other's Force controul,
Support each Other, and confirm the Whole;
Where Liberty and Soveraign Will restrain
Mutual Excess, and balanc'd Rights maintain;
Men govern'd thus, if blest with temp'rate Skies,
Flourish and soon to great Perfection rise.
Here see the unexhausted Fountain-Head,
Whence all the Streams of Indust'ry are fed!
For all assiduous will their Hands employ,
Who reap their Fields, and their own Toil enjoy.

Shelter'd by Guardian Laws in this mild Seat,
From nipping Frosts, fierce Winds, and scorching Heat,
From blasting Plagues, and every various Death,
Which spreads malignant from the Tyrant's Breath,
The liberal Arts, nice tender Plants, appear,
Pleas'd with the Soil, and blooming Beauty wear.
Customs polite, and fine Address that sooth
The fiercest Passions, and rough Nature smooth,
From prudent Laws and civil Order flow,
While Men ungovern'd, rude and brutal grow.

Genius and Wit, which else would lie deprest,
Cheer'd with Rewards, and with Applause carest,
In well-form'd States exert their Force Divine,
And brighter still by Emulation shine.
Science refin'd, which Admiration moves,
Directs our Instincts, and the Mind improves,
Here shines Illustrious, here her Schools display
The radiant Stores of intellectual Day.
Ev'n Courage, which the Natives Veins inspires,
Such artful Force from Discipline acquires,
That vast confed'rate Hosts of barb'rous Foes
In vain the Progress of their Arms oppose.

As Children happy in their Birth, and sprung,
By Nature's Care, from Parents hail and young,
The noblest Principles of Life obtain,
And firm without compounded Druggs remain;
Nor owe to Art precarious Health, but late
By Time alone deprest, submit to Fate:
So Governments by Constitution strong,
Design'd and reer'd by skillful Masters, long
Maintain athletick Force, and wear away
By Steps unheeded, and a slow Decay:
While those by artless Heads imagin'd, where
Scarcely the huddled Rudiments cohere,
Weak from their Infant State will quickly fade,
If strife Domestick reigns, or foreign Pow'rs invade.

Yet not the Goodness of a civil Frame,
Tho' rais'd by Founders of unrival'd Fame,
Can make a noble Stock unshaken stand,
If Virtue lend not her protecting Hand.
See Mercy smiling with immortal Grace,
Concord , indulgent Love to Humane Race ,
And Publick Zeal , impartial, unconfin'd,
The Pride and Pleasure of a generous Mind;
Justice behold, whose clean unerring Hand,
Steddy her equal Balance do's Command;
Beneficence , adorn'd with heav'nly Charms,
That scatters Blessings from her lib'ral Arms;
These Kindred Pow'rs a worthy Race sustain,
Without whose Help all Arts, all Schemes are vain.

Nor can you hope a generous Breed to reer,
Unless Religion's Altars they revere,
Whose Rays, more genial than the Sun's, produce
Immortal Life, celestial Light diffuse
On Man's ennobled Nature, and inspire
Exalted Instincts of Divine Desire.
This radiant Empress do's within controul
Our Train of Thoughts, and guide the secret Soul;
Do's with her Nod tumultuous Passions awe,
Restrain the Will, and give the Conscience Law.
An Empire this, from Humane Reach secure,
From Edicts free, and all created Pow'r.
Hence prudent Legislators, who design'd
To civilize, and cultivate Mankind
With Salutary Laws, Religion mixt
In all their Schemes, and Modes of Worship fixt.

Convinc'd the Atheist has no civil Right,
Who to the State no binding Faith can plight,
To Death or Exile they the Wretch condemn'd,
Who mock'd their Altars, and their Gods blasphem'd.
Is there a Nation found, where none adore
Celestial Pow'rs, or Aids Divine implore?
Who think no causeless Being did create
The World, but say it sprung from Chance or Fate?
No happy Schemes of Government improve
Those barb'rous Tribes, who wild of Nature rove,
Lurk in the Caves, or in the Forrest dwell,
Like the Brute Rangers, which they scarce excel.

Muse, tell the fatal Causes, that debase
The noblest People, and their Stock efface.

Imperial Pow'r by no fixt Bounds restrain'd,
And Will despotick, lawless, and unrein'd,
Ill-us'd, will soon the greatest Race destroy,
Let them the happiest Soil, and Skies enjoy.
Curst Tyranny , which wasted Nations find,
The fiercest Fury of th' Infernal Kind,
Preys on the Vitals of a State, and drains,
To fill her own, th' exhausted People's Veins.
The Fiends, her cruel Train, with harpy Feet,
Invade their Rooms, and rav'ning snatch their Meat;
From crying Infants tear their Daily Bread,
And with their Pouncers strike the Parent dead.
Their rigid Fate the ruin'd Subjects mourn,
Nor can their Thoughts to fruitless Labour turn.

Will hardy Merchants range the threatning Main,
Thro' various Deaths, impell'd by Thirst of Gain,
Who when they 'scape the Storm and faithless Sand,
Meet greater Terrors on the cruel Land,
And see their Wealth encrease the Tyrant's Power,
Whose cruel Jaws, what Tempests spar'd, devour:

Will Artisans their Time and Skill employ,
If arm'd Invaders must their Pains enjoy?
Or Farmers till the Glebe, or dress the Vine,
If others reap their Fields, and drink their Wine?

And when a Monarch arbitrary rules,
Great Masters rare adorn the letter'd Schools:
Philosophy, unfed and in disgrace,
Conceals her meagre, ignominious Face:
The tuneful Genius unrewarded lies
Grov'ling beneath, nor dares attempt the Skies:
Will constant Fasts support Poetick Fire?
Or rapt'rous Ardour famish'd Veins inspire?
Of generous Thoughts Oppression is the Grave;
Can slighted Virtue flourish? Can the Slave
Become industrious, or the Beggar brave?
Blest Liberty! 'tis thy distinguish'd Pow'r
To heighten Humane Nature, and secure
A noble Stock, which, as thy Force prevails,
In Vigour thrives, and, as it lessens, fails.

Fam'd Greece , when free, with populous Cities crown'd,
For her high Merit, Wealth and Strength renown'd,
Disdainful view'd the barb'rous World around.
Sagacious Genius, Elegant Address,
And graceful Manners did the Nation bless:
In her full Schools exalted Wisdom sate,
And to improve her venerable State,
Bright Kindred Arts did on the Empress wait.
Letters from these exhaustless Springs did flow,
As from Britannia 's Cam and Isis now:
Hence far and wide her branching Streams did spread,
And foreign Schools with borrow'd Science fed.

Nor did her Warriors less Applause acquire
By their wise Conduct, and their martial Fire;
Who brave in Arms proud Persia 's Monarch quell'd,
From rescu'd Fields th' invading War repell'd,
And the bright Throne of Liberty upheld.
Greece blest with this great Offspring was rever'd
By her own Sons, and by her Neighbours fear'd.

But when insulted by the Victor's Sword,
And haughty Dictates of a foreign Lord,
To take the Yoak she did obedient bow,
And Liberty receiv'd the fatal Blow;
The hapless Nation, by a swift Decay,
Sunk from its Heighth, and base in Ruin lay.
The Trav'ller now, who sees thy wasted Lands,
And worthless Sons, O Greece! astonish'd stands.
And cries, what strange Reverse of Fate is this?
Good Heav'n! What Change? I Greece in Grecia miss.
Where's the Lyceum ? Where the Stoa 's Pride?
Where the great Sages, who did there preside,
And by wise Precepts Humane Nature rais'd?
Where the fam'd Bards, who Gods and Heroes prais'd?
Shew me thy Plato's , and thy Stagyrites ,
Thy Pythagorean and Socratick Lights.
Would'st thou, O Athens , own this stupid Race?
Or Sparta , thou, these as thy Sons embrace?
Can it be thought this despicable Brood,
From those great Warriors could derive their Blood,
Who at Thermopylae such Honours won,
And triumph'd on the Plains of Marathon ?

Discord, domestick Strife, immortal Hate,
Which with Convulsions rack the suff'ring State,
And oft in Arms contending Sides engage,
Prove as destructive as the Tyrant's Rage;

Deep in the Bowels of a Nation bred,
And with black Blood, and noxious Humors fed,
The Fury Faction gradual Force acquires,
Stretches her hideous Limbs, and trails her speckled
Then tries her Infant-Strength, and first invents Spires:
Grounds of Distrust, and Jealousy foments,
Whispers Detraction, breeds Disgust and Spite,
A secret Prelude to her full-grown Might.

See, how of Hydra -Race this odious Fiend,
While pois'nous Ferments all her Veins distend,
Erects her dreadful Crest, and threatning shakes
Her Monster Heads, and Twists of hissing Snakes:
Expands her cruel Jaws, and fierce exerts
Her forked Tongues, and throws malignant Darts.
From Town to Town, behold, the Terror flies,
With large unfeather'd Wings, and with her Cries
And horrid Uproar fills the suff'ring Skies.
Th' infernal Guest, where'er she comes, inspires
The People's Breasts with fierce Phrenetick Fires.
Hence spiteful Envy, and invective Spleen,
Open Revenge, or Hate conceal'd within,
Passions impatient of the Rein, disown
Reason's Dominion, and usurp her Throne.
As Seeds of Torment, and contagious Death,
Spring from her fatal Aspect; so her Breath
Creates outrageous Storms, which rushing shake
The strongest Empires, and their Pillars break.

Distracted States, if Faction sound th' Alarm,
Against their rightful Lords seditious arm:
How oft have Nations, which in Strength encreast,
Triumph'd in Peace, and Empire long possest,
With Discord mad, and with Resentment spur'd,
In their own Bowels plung'd th' unnatural Sword?
And when to foreign Arms superiour grown,
Have Self-Assassins perish'd by their own?

See, when the Ship of State distends her Sails,
Not with too strong, nor with too feeble Gales,
Do's on the Deep of Fear unconscious dance,
And o'er the peaceful Waves secure advance,
While able Masters at the Helm preside,
And guide her safe from Rocks on either Side;
See suddain Storms blown up by Discord rise,
Embroil the Main, and terrify the Skies!
Tempest with Tempest wages furious War,
And Clouds o'ercharg'd with inbred Thunder bear
A while th' imprison'd Wrath, then bursting rend the Air
And while conflicting Winds the Fight maintain,
And doubtful claim the Empire of the Main,
The suff'ring Ship is this and that way driv'n,
Oft sunk to Hell, uplifted oft to Heav'n;
Is now insulted by the Tempest's Shocks,
And now the Billows dreads, and now the Rocks:
At length grown leaky, and her Rigging lost,
Splits on her own inhospitable Coast.

Unhappy States, where raging Discord reigns,
And with fierce Flames inspires the Nation's Veins
Where guideless Passions bear superior Sway,
And Right and Order Violence obey:
Where Factions, urg'd with Jealousy and Pride,
Led by designing Heads on either Side,
Determin'd, deaf, and obstinate of Mind,
Nor by their Country's mournful Cries inclin'd,
Furious contend, and while the various Field
They often win and loose, and neither yield,
They waste their Vigour, languishing decay,
And grow to foreign Pow'rs an easy Prey!
Conflicting Parties thus subvert the State,
Which sad, and yet inevitable Fate
In Ruin both united see too late.

As struggling Vapours deep in central Caves
Imprison'd lie, till by exhaling Waves
And while their Humane Faculties decline,
In Nature's Roll they their high Rank resign,
Degrade the Man, and chuse the brutal Line.
Dissolv'd in soft Enjoyments, which unbrace
The vig'rous Sinew, this degenerate Race
Become too weak to bear the pond'rous Shield,
And the hard Labours of the Martial Field,
They purchase Scenes of Joy at vast Expense,
Where, with their Wealth, they dissipate their Sense,
Amid'st the Dreggs of Sloth unactive sink,
Unapt for Labour, yet averse to think.
Such is their busy Idleness, they find
No vacant Hour to cultivate the Mind:
For liberal Arts appoint no narrow Room,
But lazy Life in Indolence consume.