Page:The Poems of John Dyer (1903).djvu/113

 
Meantime (while those who dare be just oppose 100
The various powers of many-headed Vice),
Ye Delegates of Trade ! by patience rise
O'er difficulties, in this sultry clime
Note what is found of use ; the flix of goat,
Red wool, and balm, and Caufee's berry brown 105
Or drooping gum, or opium's lenient drug ;
Unnumbered arts await them, trifles oft,
By skilful labour, rise to high esteem.
Nor what the peasant, near some lucid wave
Pactolus, Simois, or Mæander slow, 110
Renowned in story, with his plough upturns,
Neglect ; the hoary medal, and the vase,
Statue, and bust, of old magnificence
Beautiful relics : oh ! could modern time
Restore the mimic art, and the clear mien 115
Of patriot sages, Walsinghams and Yorkes,
And Cecils in long-lasting stone preserve !
But mimic art and nature are impair'd
Impair'd they seem or in a varied dress
Delude our eyes : the world in change delights : 120
Change then your searches, with the varied modes
And wants of realms. Sabean frankincense
Rare is collected now : few altars smoke
Now in the idol fane ; Panchaia views
Trade's busy fleets regardless pass her coast : 125
Nor frequent are the freights of snow-white woofs
Since Rome, no more the mistress of the world,
Varies her garb, and treads her darken'd streets
With gloomy cowl, majestical no more.
See the dark spirit of tyrannic pow'r ! 130
The Thracian channel, long the road of trade
To the deep Euxine and its naval streams,
And the Mæotis, now is barr'd with chains,
And forts of hostile battlement. In aught