114
Epistles.
The sweet infection mixt with dang'rous art 5
Debas'd our manhood while it sooth'd the heart:
You scorn to raise a grief thyself must blame,
Nor from our weakness steal a vulgar fame:
A patriot's fall may justly melt the mind,
And tears flow nobly shed for all mankind. 10
How do our souls with gen'rous pleasure glow,
Our hearts exulting while our eyes o'erflow,
When thy firm hero stands beneath the weight
Of all his suff'rings venerably great,
Rome's poor remains still shelt'ring by his side 15
With conscious virtue and becoming pride!
The aged oak thus rears his head in air,
His sap exhausted and his branches bare;
'Midst storms and earthquakes he maintains his state,
Fixt deep in earth and fasten'd by his weight; 20
His naked boughs still lend the shepherds aid,
And his old trunk projects an awful shade.
Amidst the joys triumphant peace bestows
Our patriots sadden at his glorious woes;
A while they let the world's great bus'ness wait, 25
Anxious for Rome, and sigh for Cato's fate.
Here taught how ancient heroes rose to fame
Our Britons crowd and catch the Roman flame,
Where states and senates well might lend an ear,
And kings and priests without a blush appear. 30
France boasts no more, but fearful to engage
Now first pays homage to her rival's stage,
Debas'd our manhood while it sooth'd the heart:
You scorn to raise a grief thyself must blame,
Nor from our weakness steal a vulgar fame:
A patriot's fall may justly melt the mind,
And tears flow nobly shed for all mankind. 10
How do our souls with gen'rous pleasure glow,
Our hearts exulting while our eyes o'erflow,
When thy firm hero stands beneath the weight
Of all his suff'rings venerably great,
Rome's poor remains still shelt'ring by his side 15
With conscious virtue and becoming pride!
The aged oak thus rears his head in air,
His sap exhausted and his branches bare;
'Midst storms and earthquakes he maintains his state,
Fixt deep in earth and fasten'd by his weight; 20
His naked boughs still lend the shepherds aid,
And his old trunk projects an awful shade.
Amidst the joys triumphant peace bestows
Our patriots sadden at his glorious woes;
A while they let the world's great bus'ness wait, 25
Anxious for Rome, and sigh for Cato's fate.
Here taught how ancient heroes rose to fame
Our Britons crowd and catch the Roman flame,
Where states and senates well might lend an ear,
And kings and priests without a blush appear. 30
France boasts no more, but fearful to engage
Now first pays homage to her rival's stage,
