Loud was the Hymenean fong ; The violated dame * walk'd smilingly along, Who afterwards appear'd so moderate and cool, VI. But, oh that this were all which we can urge And that fair truth permitted us to purge Infpires us with unusual warmth her injur'd rites to fing." Though more refin'd, chiefly confifts in this. How plainly your bright thoughts to one another fhine! Oh! how ye all agree in harmony divine! The race of mutual love with equal zeal ye run, A course, as far from any end, as when at first begun. Who ftill betwixt them did so many virtues share, That all the excellence of human-kind Concurr'd to make of both but one united mind, Not the leaft cement could appear by which their fouls were join'd. That tye which holds our mortal frame, Which peor unknowing we a foul and body name, Or more abftrufe, than all that does in friendship shine. From mighty Cæfar and his boundless grace, Where friendship fo poffeffes all the place, There is no room for gratitude; fince he, Who fo obliges, is more pleas'd than his fav'd friend can be. Juft in the midft of all this noble heat, While their great hearts did both fo kindly beat, That it amaz'd the lookers-on, And forc'd them to fufpect a father and a fon *; (Though here ev'n Nature's self still feem'd to be outdone) From fuch a friendship unprovok'd to fall Is horrid, yet I wish that fact were all Which does with too much cause Ungrateful Brutus call. *Cæfar was fufpected to have begotten Brutus. VIII. In VIII. In coolest blood he laid a long defign Against his best and dearest friend; To spirit others up to work so black a deed; To give fuch ample marks of fond esteem, To fee with how much eafe love can the wife beguile.. Nothing lefs for him provide, Than in the world's great empire to fucceed : Is all-fufficient proof to fhow, That Brutus did not ftrike for his own fake: And if, alas! he fail'd, 'twas only by mistake.. MISCELLANIE S. THE RAPTURE. YIELD, I yield, and can no longer stay The Mufe, who raises me from humble ground, I value earth no more, and far below Airy Ambition, ever foaring high, Stands first expos'd to my cenforious eye. Where, though arriv'd, they must be toiling ftill: The Mufe infpires me now to look again, Who creep through filth a thousand crooked ways, Loaded with guilt, they still pursue their course, Not ev'n restrain'd by love or friendship's force. Not to enlarge on such an obvious thought, Behold their folly, which tranfcends their fault! Alas! their cares and cautions only tend To gain the means, and then to lofe the end. |