Musa nos super æthera
Quadrigis volitantibus
Lætos transferet ad locos,
Et vireta recondita
Effulgent ubi nobilis
Scriptorum veterum chorus,
Queis Judæa superbiit
Dilectis penitus Deo ;
Et quos Græcia, fertilis
Mater artium et ingenî ;
Et
quos Roma potens tulit,
Quum Parcæ aurea fæcula
Nerent, Cæsare sub bono;
Et quos magnanimus Leo
Fovit, Italiæ decus ;
Et quos noftra Britannia,
Romæ et Helladis æmula,
Et quos Gallia nutriit,
Cultis Gallia moribus;
Et, quos dicere fi velim
Dicentem fugiet dies.
Hos inter, strepitu procul,
Vanâ fpe procul, et metu,
Curas fallere fi datur,
Nil ultra cupio, aut peto:
Nam magni Patris hactenus
Nunquam claufa benignitas
Frugi quod fatis est viro,
Et, servo quod inutili
Ultra quàm fatis est, dedit.
Sufficit mihi, si modò
Me pulcrarum amor artium,
Et, quamquam tenuis, labor
Secernent nebulonibus,
Detractoribus, invidis,
Quos obscura silentia
Nocte, fic meritos, prement.
Ergò absint querimoniæ :
Dum ftulti querimur, dies
Protrudit subiens diem, et
Vita præcipitans volat.
Et meus Genius mihi
Nuper ad caput adftitit ;
Nec te, inquit, senium gravat,
Nec dum tristis hyems adest,
Etsi ver breve fervidis
Olim præteriit rotis;
Sed, mortalibus haud licet
Luci fidere craftinæ ;
Quare, farcinulas, age,
Collige, ut levis exeas,
Quum fignum dederit PATER.
REMARK AT THE END OF THE FIRST BOOK OR
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
« The Bishop of Bangor [Dr. Z. Pearce ), and Mr.
« Warburton, have been willing to appear as my
“ friends and my coadjutors in this work.” *
Ibit et hoc noftri per sæcula fædus amoris,
Doctorumque inter nomina nomen ero: Forsan et extinctum non spernet Patria dulcis,
Forsitan et dicet, “ Tu quoque nofter eras." Talibus inferiis placabilis umbra quiescet ;
Lenibunt Manes talia dona meoș. Intereà labor ipfe levat fastidia vitæ ;
Æterno rectum sub duce pergat iter! Scriptores sancti, salvete, et cana Vetustas ;
Salve, Musa, nimis blanda tenaxque comes : Tu
puero teneris penitus dilecta sub annis ;
Tune etiam emerito cura futura viro ?
Ne tamen æternum, mæsta atque irata, recede,
Sed raro, sed vix fæpe rogata, veni.
Hæc, Fortuna, tuis non sunt obnoxia regnis,
Livorin hæc poterit juris habere nihil.
See the second edition of Remarks on Ecclesiastical History, published 1767. Vol. I. page 249.
As yet this world 'no being-place had found;
Wild chaos ruld, and fable-vested night,
Whilft járring atoms, through the vast profound
By chance and discord led to doubtful fight,
Strove with tumultuous rage and restless might;
Till Harmony and Love compos’d the fray,
And chas'd the fhades of ancient night away.
Love, whose approach the darkness dares not bide,
Shot from his starry eyes ten thousand rays :
She to the chords her softest touch apply'd,
Then louder 'gan the swelling notes to raise,
And sung fair Peace, and beauteous Order's praise.
Her voice sweet founded thro' the boundless deep,
And all was calm, and all did filence keep.
The list'ning atoms straight forgot their hate,
And pleas'd, yet wond’ring at their change, they
stood;
Strange force of sounds, such fury to abate !
Then each with fond embrace the other woo'd,
And each eternal peace and union vow'd.
Love bound them, nothing loath, in lasting chains,
And o'er them all, his willing subjects, reigns.
Then yon bright orb began to roll afkance,
His course essaying through th' ecliptic way;
And wand'ring stars to move in myftic dance,
And skies their azure volumes to display:
Then 'gan the earth to smile in fair array,
And new-born man, with wonder and delight,
Gạz'd all around him on the beauteous sight.
This work perform’d, the goddess took her flight,
Winging the wide-expanded fields of air,
To her own native place, the realms of light,
Where dwell the gods, devoid of grief and care.
Around her golden throne they all repair ;
Enwrapp'd in filent transport, while she fings
Sweet lays, responfive to the trembling strings,
Yet thence, though rarely, the celestial guest
Deigns to descend, unseen of mortal eyn,
And gently glides into the poet's breast :
She comes; and lo! he feels the pow'r divine ;
New images begin to rise and shine,
Keeping due measure, moving hand in hand,
And fober judgment leads the sprightly band.
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