By juft degrees they ev'ry moment rise, Next these the good and juft, an awful train, Thus on their knees addrefs the facred fane. Since living virtue is with envy curs'd, 320 And the best men are treated like the worst, Do thou, just Goddess, call our merits forth, And give each deed th' exact intrinfic worth. IMITATIONS. VER. 318. the good and juft, etc.] I grant, quoth fhe, for now we lift P. 1 Not with bare juftice fhall your act be crown'd This band difmifs'd, behold another croud 335 339 But ftrait the direful Trump of flander founds; Thro' the big dome the doubling thunder bounds; Loud as the burst of cannon rends the skies, The dire report thro' ev'ry region flies, In ev'ry ear inceffant rumours rung, And gath'ring fcandals grew on ev'ry tongue, From the black trumpet's rufty concave broke Sulphurious flames, and clouds of rolling smoke: IMITATIONS. VER. 328, 338. beheld another creud, etc.-From the black trumpet's rusty, etc. Therewithal there came anone What did this Eolus, but he Tooke out his trump of brass, That fouler than the devil was: The pois'nous vapour blots the purple skies, 340 And withers all before it as it flies. A troop came next, who crowns and armour wore, And proud defiance in their looks they bore: For thee (they cry'd) amidst alarms and strife, We fail'd in tempests down the stream of life; 345 For thee whole nations fill'd with flames and blood, And fwam to empire thro' the purple flood. Those ills we dar'd, thy inspiration own, What virtue feem'd, was done for thee alone. Ambitious fools! (the Queen reply'd, and frown'd) Be all your acts in dark oblivion drown'd; 351 There fleep forgot, with mighty tyrants gone, Your ftatues moulder'd, and your names unknown! A sudden cloud straight snatch'd them from my fight, And each majestic phantom funk in night. 355 Then came the smallest tribe I yet had seen ; Plain was their dress, and modeft was their mien. IMITATIONS. Swift as a pellet out of a gunne, Out of the foul trumpet's ende-etc. P, VER. 356. Then came the smallest, etc.] That to this lady gan loute, Great idol of mankind! we neither claim The praise of merit, nor afpire to fame! To follow virtue ev'n for virtue's fake. 365 And live there men, who flight immortal fame? Who then with incenfe fhall adore our name? But mortals! know, 'tis ftill our greatest pride To blaze those virtues, which the good would hide. IMITATIONS. And down on knees anone to fall, Through the World went the foune, That their fame was blown aloft. P. Rife! Mufes, rife! add all your tuneful breath, Next these a youthful train their vows exprefs'd, With feathers crown'd, with gay embroid❜ry drefs'd: Hither, they cry'd, direct your eyes, and see 380 The men of pleasure, drefs, and gallantry; Ours is the place at banquets, balls, and plays, Sprightly our nights, polite are all our days; Courts we frequent, where 'tis our pleasing care due vifits, and addrefs the fair: 385 To pay But ftill in fancy vanquish'd ev'ry maid; Of unknown Ducheffes leud tales we tell, Yet, would the world believe us, all were well, IMITATIONS. VER. 378. Next thefe a youthful train, etc.] The Reader might compare these twenty-eight lines following, which contain the fame matter, with eighty-four of Chaucer, beginning thus: Tho came the fixth companye, And gan fafte to Fame cry, etc. being too prolix to be here inferted. P. |