Neceffity, and feek the fplendid bribe. The citron board, the bowl emboss'd with gems, Their ancient rights, their dignities, their laws, Stretch'd to the yoke? they come; the market throngs. Didius, vile us'rer, through the crowd he mounts, And the red arrows fill his grasp uncouth. O Britons, O my countrymen, beware, Gird, gird your hearts; the Romans once were free, • Didius Julianus, who bought the empire. Deign'd Deign'd to walk forth awhile in pageant state, Immortal Cæfar! lo, a God, a God,' He cleaves the yielding skies! Cæfar mean while Starves a wide province; taftes, diflikes, and flings The flow'ry fhades and shrines obscene return. O'er the rough Alps, and darken all their fnows! And roll before the ftorm in clouds of duft. Vain end of human strength, of human skill, Conqueft, and triumph, and domain, and pomp, Bane of elated life, of affluent states, What dreary change, what ruin is not thine? How doth thy bowl intoxicate the mind! How doft thou lure the fortunate and great! O'erwhelm'd, forgotten; and high-boasting Cham; THE THE SCHOOL-MISTRESS. A POE M, In Imitation of SPENSER. BY WILLIAM SHENSTONE, Efq; Audita voces, vagitus & ingens, Infantumque animæ flentes in Limine primo. ADVERTISEMENT. VIRG. What particulars in Spenfer were imagin'd most proper for the Author's imitation on this occafion, are his language, his fimplicity, his manner of description, and a peculiar tenderness of fentiment remarkable throughout his works. A I. H me! full forely is my heart forlorn, To think how modest worth neglected lies While partial Fame doth with her blasts adorn Such deeds alone, as pride and pomp disguise; Deeds of ill fort, and mischievous emprize! II. In every village mark'd with little spire, For unkempt hair, or task unconn'd, are forely fhent. And all in fight doth rise a birchen tree, Which Learning near her little dome did stowe; Whilom a twig of small regard to fee, Though now fo wide its waving branches flow; And work the fimple vaffals mickle woe; For not a wind might curl the leaves that blew, But their limbs fhudder'd, and their pulse beat low ; And, as they look'd, they found their horror grew, And shap'd it into rods, and tingled at the view. IV. So |