(Whence wondering fable trac'd him from the iky;)

E'en not that prime of earth, where harvests crowd

Sloth, ignorance, dejection, flattery, fear,
Oppretion raging o'er the wafte he,makes,
The human being almoft quite extinct,
And the whole ftate in broad corruption finks.
Oh! fhun that gulf; that gaping ruin shun !

235 And countlef's ages roll it far away

On untill'd harvefts all the teeming year,
If of the fat o'erflowing culture robb'd,
Were then a more uncomfortable wild,
Eteril, and void, than, of her trade depriv'd,
Britons! your boafted ifle: her, princes' funk,
Her high-built honour moulder'd to the duft,
Unnerv'd her force, her, fpirits vanish'd quite,
With rapid wing her riches fed away,
Her unfrequented ports alone the fgn
Of what he was, her merchants fcatter'd wide,
Her hollow fhops fhut up, and in her streets,
Her fields, woods, markets, villages and roads,
The chearful voice of labour, heard no more. 246
Oh let not, then, wafte luxury impair
That manly foul of toil, which firings your

nerves,

241

250

And your own proper happiness creates!
Oh! let not the foft penetrating plague
Creep on the free-born mind, and, working there,
With the harp tooth of many a new-form'd
want,

Endlefs, and idle all, eat out the heart
Of Liberty, the high conception blaft,
The noble fentiment, th' inpatient fcorn
Of bafe fubjection, and the fwelling with
For general good erafing from the mind;
While nought fave narrow felfishness fucceeds,
And low defign, the fneaking paflions all
Let loofe, and reigning in the rankled breaft.
Induc'd at last, by fearce perceiv'd degrees,
Snapping the very frame of government
And life, a total diffolution comes;

265

From you, ye heaven-belov'd! May Liberty, 270
The light of life! the fun of human-kind!
Whence heroes, bards, and patriots borrow

flame,

E'en where the keen depreffive North descends,
Still fpread, exalt, and actuate your powers!
While flavish fouthern'climates beam in vain. 275
And may a public fpirit from the Throne,
Where every virtue fits, go copious forth,
Live o'er the land, the finer arts infpire,
Make thoughtful Science raife his penfive head,
Blow the fresh bay, bid Induftry rejoice, 230
And the rough fons of lowest Labour fmile;
As when, profufe of fpring, the loofen'd Weft
Lifts up the pining year, and balmy breathes
Youth, life, and love, and beauty, o'er the world.

But hafte we from thefe melancholy fores, 285
Nor to deaf winds and waves our fruitlefs plaint
Pour weak. The country claims our active aid;
That let us roam, and where we find a fpark
Of public virtue, blow it into flame.

255 Lo! now, my fons, the fons of Freedom! meet
In awful fenate thither let us fly,
291
Burn in the patriot's thought, flow from his tongue
In fearlefs truth, myfelf, transform'd, prefide,
And fhed the fpirit of Britannia round. ›

260

This faid, her fleeting form and airy train 295
Sunk in the gale, and nought but rugged rocks
Rufh'd on the broken eye, and nought was heard
But the rough cadence of the dafking wave.

LIBERTY,' A POEM.

IN FIVE PARTS.'

TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS
FREDERICK PRINCE OF WALES.

SIR,

WHEN I That preventing generofity, with which your Royal Highnefs received the following Poem under your protection, I can alone afcribe it to the recommendation and influence of the fubject. In you the caufe and concerns of Liberty have fo zealous a patron, as entitles whatever may have the leaft tendency to promote them to the diftinction of your favour and who can entertain this delightful reflection, without feeling a pleasure far fuperior to that of the fondelt author, and of which all true lovers of their country muft participate? To behold the nobleft difpofitions of the prince and of the patriot united; and overflowing benevolence, generofity, and cang dour of heart, joined to an enlightened zeal for Liberty, an intimate perfuafion that on it depends the happiness and glory of both kings and peocple; to fee thefe fhining out in public virtues, as they have hitherto fmiled in all the focial lights and private accomplishments of life, is a profpect that cannot but infpire a general fentiment of fatisfaction and gladnefs, more eafy to be felt than expreffed.

HEN I reflect upon that ready condescen

1

If the following attempt to trace Liberty from the firft ages, down to her excellent eftablishment, in Great Britain, can at all merit your approba tion, and prove an entertainment to your Royal Highness, if it can in any degree anfwer the dignity of the fubject, and of the name under which I prefume to fhelter it, I have my beft reward, particularly as it affords me an opportunity of declaring that I am, with the greatest zealand refpect, Sir, Your Royal Highnefs's

Moft obedient and moft devoted Servant,
JAMES THOMSON.

ANCIENT & MODERN ITALY COMPARED.
PART I.

The following Poem is thrown into the form of a pee-
tical Vifun. Its fene the ruins of ancient Rome.
The goddess of Liberty, suho is Jupposed to freak
through the whole, appears characterised as Bri-
tish Liberty, to verfe 44. Gives a view of ancient
Italy, and particularly of republican Rome, in
all her magnificence and glory, to ver. 112. This
contrafted by modern Italy, its vallies, mountains,
culture, cities, people; the difference" appearing
rongest in the capital city, Rome, to ver. 234.
The ruins of the great works of Liberty more mag-
ficent than the borrowed pemp of Oppreffion;
and from them revived Sculpture, Painting, and
Architecture, to ver. 256. The old Romans apof-
trophized, with regard to the feveral melancholy |
changes in Italy: Horace, Tully, and Virgil, with
regard to their Tiber, Tufculum, and Naples, to
ver. 237. That one fine and most ornamented
part of Italy, all along the Coast of Baie, how
changed, to ver. 321. This defolation of

Italy 'applied to Britain, to vér, 344. Address to the goddess of Liberty's that he would deduce, "from the first ages, her chief éleblifhinerts, the defcription of which conflitutes the fubject of the "fellowing parts of this Poem. She affents, and commands chat free says to be fung in Britair,

hofe happines arising from treedom and a limited Monarch, The marks, to ver. 391 ' Awimmediate "Vificn'attends, and paints her evords, “Invecution.

My lamented Talbot & while with thee

The Mue gay-rov'd the glad Hesperian
round,

And drew the infpiring breath of ancient arts,
Ah! little thought the her returning verse
Should fing her darling fubject to thy frade.
And does the myftic veil from imortal beam
Involve thofe eyes where every virtue fmil'd,
The light of reafon, pure, without a doud;
And all thy father's candid fpirit fhóne?
Full of the generous heart, the mild regards, 10
Honour difdaining blemi, cordial faith,
And limpid truth, that looks the very foul.
But to the death of mighty nations turn
My ftrain; be there abforpt the pivate tear.
Mufing I lay, warm from the facred walks 15
Where at each step Imagination burns;
While fcatter'd wide around, awful and hoar,
Lies, a vaft monument! once-glorious Rome,
White'er of finished modern pomp can boat, 20
The tomb of Empire! Ruins! that efface
Snatch'd by these wonders, to that world where
thought

Unfetter'd ranges, Fancy's magic hand
Still in the mind's pure eye more folemn dreft;
When ftraight, methought, the fair majestic

Led me anew o'er all the folemn fcene,

Power

26

'Of Liberty appear'd; not, as of old,
Extended in her hand the cap and rod,
Whofe flave-enlarging touch gave doubis life ;
But her bright temples bound with British oak,
And naval honours nodded on her brow. 3 30
Sublime of port, loofe o'er her shoulders flow'd
Her fea-green robe, with conftellations gay.
An ifland-goddefs now; and her high care
The Queen of Iles, the Miftrefs of the Main.
My heart beat filial tranfport at the fight,
And as the mov'd to speak, th' awaken'd Muse
Liften'd intenfe. A while fhe look'd around,
With mournful eye the well-known ruins mark'd,
And then, her fighs repreffing, thus began.

35

Mine are these wonders, all thou feeft is mine; But, ah! how chang'd! the falling, poor re

mains

Of what exalted once the Aufonian fhore.
Look back thro' time, and, rifing from the gloom,
Mark the dread fcene that paints 'whate'er I say.

The great Republic fee! that glow'd, fublime,
With the mixt freedom of a thousand fates, 46
Rais'd on the thrones of kings her curale chair,
And by her fafces aw'd the fubject world.
See bufy millions quickening all the land,
With cities throng'd, and teeming culture high;
For Nature then fmil'd on her free-born fons, 51
And pour'd the plenty that belongs to Men.

246

Mysterious mark'd with dark Egyptian lore;
Thefe endless wonders that this Sacred Way
Illumine ftill, and confecrate to fame;
Thefe fountains, vafes, urns, and statues, charg'd
With the fine ftores of art-completing Greece.
Mine is, befides, thy every later boast;
Thy Buonarotis, thy Palladios, Mine;
And Mine that fair defigns which Raphael's foul
O'er the live canvafs, emanating, breath'd.
What would you fay, ye Conquerors of earth!
Ye Romans! could you raise the laurel'd head?
Could you the country fee, by feas of blood,
190 And the dread toil of ages, won fo dear,

185

Leaft delicate of powers, reluctant, there
Lays on the bed impure his heavy head.
Thy horrid walk! dead, empty, unadorn'd;
See ftreets whofe echoes never know the voice
Of chearful Hurry, Commerce many-tongu'd,
And Art mechanic at his various talk,
Fervent employ'd Mark the defponding race,
Of occupation void, as void of hope;
Hope, the glad ray glanc'd from Eternal Good,
That life enlivens, and exalts its powers,
With views of fortune-madness all to them!
By thee relentless feiz'd their better joys,
To the foft aid of cordial airs they fly,
Breathing a kind oblivion o'er their woes,
And love and mufic melt their fouls away.
From feeble Juftice fee how rafh Revenge,
Trembling, the balance fnatches, and the fword,
Fearful himself, to venal ruffians gives. 195
See where God's altar, nurfing Murder, tands
With the red touch of dark affaffins ftain'd.

200

206

But chief let Rome, the mighty City! fpeak
The full-exerted genias of thy reign.
Behold her rife amid the lifeless waste,
Expiring Nature all corrupted round;
While the lone Tiber, thro' the defert plain
Winds his wafte ftores, an fallen fweeps along.
Patch'd from my fragments, in unfolid pomp,
Mark how the temple glares, and, artful drest,
Amufive, draws the fuperftitious train.
Mark how the palace lifts a ly'ng front,
Concealing often, in magnific jail,
Proud Want; a deep unanimated gloom!
And oft' adjoining to the drear abode
Of Mifery, whofe melancholy walls
Seem its voracious grandeur to reproach.
Within the city-bounds the defert fee:
See the rank vine e'er fubterrranean roofs
Indecent spread, beneath whofe fretted gold
It once exulting flow'd. The people mark,
Matchlefs, while fir'd by Me; to public good
Inexorably firm; juft, generous, brave;
Afraid of nothing but unworthy life;
Elate with glory, and heroic foul
Known to the vulgar breaf; behold them now
A thin defpairing number, all-fubdu’d,
The flaves of flaves, by fuperftition fool'd,
By vice unmann`d, and a licentious rule,
In guile ingenious, and in murder brave.
Such in one land, beneath the fame fair clime,
Thy fons, Oppreffion! are, and fuch were Mine
E'en with thy labour'd pomp, for whofe vain
fhow

215

220

Your pride, your triumph, your fupreme delight!
For whose defence oft, in the doubtful hour,
You rufh'd with rapture down the gulph of Fate,
Of death ambitious! till by awful deeds,
Virtues, and courage, that amaze mankind,
The Queen of Nations rofe, possest of ali
Which Nature, Art and Glory, could bestow!
What would you fay, deep in the last abyss
Of flavery, vice, and unambitious want,
Thus to behold her funk? Your crowded plains
Void of their cities, unadorn'd your hills,.
Ungrac'd your lakes, your ports to fhips unknown,
Your lawless floods, and your abandon'd streams,
Thefe could you know? these could you love
again!

Thy Tiber, Horace! could it now infpire
Content, poetic eafe, and rural joy,

264

Soon bursting into fong, while thro' the groves
Of headlong Anio, dathing to the vale,

271

285

210 In many a tortur'd stream, you mus'd along?
Yon' wild retreat, where Superftition dreams,
Could, Tully! you your Tufculum believe?
And could you deem yon' naked hills, that form,
Fam'd in old fong, the ship forfaken bay,
Your Fermian fhore, once the delight of earth,
Where Art and Nature, ever-fmiling, join'd
On the gay land to lavish all their ftores?.
How chang'd, how vacant, Virgil! wide around,
Would now your Naples feem? difafter'd lefs 281
By black Vefuvius, thundering o'er the coaft
His midnight earthquakes and his mining fires,
Than by defpotic rage; that inward gnaws,
A native foe; a foreign tears without.
Firft from your flatter'd Cæfars this began,
Till, doom'd to tyrants an eternal prey,
Thin peopled fpreads, at last, the fyren plain,
That the dire foul of Hannibal difarm'd,
And wrapt in weeds the hore of Venus lies
There Baiæ fees no more the joyous throng,
Her banks all beaming with the pride of Rome:
No generous vines now bafk along the hills,
Where sport the breezes of the Tyrrhene main:
With baths and temples mixt, no villas rife; 295
Nor, art-fuftain'd amid reluctant waves,
Draw the cool murmurs of the breathing deep:
No fpreading ports their facred arms extend;
No mighty moles, the big intrusive storm,
From the calm ftation, roll resounding back. 30.
An almoft total-defolation fits.

225

Deluded thousands farve, all age begrim'd,
Torn, robb'd, and fcatter'd in unnumber'd facks,
And by the tempeft of two thousand years
Continual fhaken, let My ruins vie.
These roads, that yet the Roman hand affert,
Beyond the weak repair of modern toil;
Thefe fractur'd arches, that the chiding ftream
No more delighted hear; thefe rich remains
Of marbles now unknown, where fhines, imbib'd,
Each parent ray; these maffy columns hew'd
From Afric's fartheft fhore; one granite all
Thefe obelisks high-towering to the sky,

VOL. VII.

240

A dreary ftillness, faddening o'er the coast;
Where, when foft funs and tepid winter's rofe,
3 P
Rejoicing

395

310

"E'en kings themselves, the monarchs of the
Free!
"Fix'd on my rock, there an an indulgent race

365

O'er Britons wield the fceptre of their choice; "And there to finish what his fires began, "A prince behold! for Me who burns fincere, "E'en with a subject's zeal. He my great work

Rejoicing crowds inhal'd the balm of peace;
Where city'd hill to hill reflected blaze;
And where, with Ceres, Bacchus wont to hold
A genial ftrife. Her youthful form, robust,
E'en Nature yields, by fire and earthquake rent;
Whole ftately cities in the dark aprupt
Swallow'd at once, or vile in rubbish laid,
A neft for ferpents; from the red abyfs
New hills, explofive, thrown; the Lucrine lakc
A reedy pool; and all to Cuma's point
The fea recovering his ufurp'd domain,
And pour'd triumphant o'er the bury'd dome.
Hence, Britain! learn, My bett-eftablish'd"
laft,

And, more than Greece or Rome, My fteady
reign;

320

330

The land where, king and people equal bound
By guardian laws, my fulleft bleffings flow,
And where My jealous unfubmitting foul,
The dread of tyrants! burns in every breast;
Learn hence, if fuch the miferable fate
Of an heroic race, the masters once
Of human-kind, what, when depriv'd of Me,
How grievous must be thine? in fpite of climes,
Whofe fun-enliven'd æther wakes the foul
To higher powers, in fpite of happy foils,
That, but by Labour's flightest aid impell'd,
With treasures teem to thy cold clime unknown,
If there defponding fail the common arts
And fuftenance of life, could life itself,
Far lefs a thoughtlefs tyrant's hollow pomp,
Subfift with thee? Against deprefling skies,
Join'd to full spread Oppreffion's cloudy brow,
How could thy pirits hold? where vigour find?
Forc'd fruits to tear from their unnative foil?
Or, ftoring every harvest in thy ports,
To plough the dreadful all-producing wave?
Here paus'd the goddefs; by the paufe affur'd.
In trembing accents thus I mov'd my prayer. 349
"Oh first, and most benevolent of powers!
"Come from eternal fplendours, here on earth,

Aprint defpotic pride, and rage, and luft, "To fhield mankind, to raife them to affert "The native rights and honour of their race;

Teach me, thy loweft fubject, but in zeal "Yielding to none, the progrefs of thy reign, "And with a ftrain from thee enrich the Mufe. "As thee alone fhe ferves, her patron, thou, "And great infpirer, be! then will the joy 350 "Tho' narrow life her lot, and private fhade; "And when her venal voice fhe barters vile, "Or to thy open or thy fecret foes,

May ne'er thofe facred raptures touch her

more,

"By flavish hearts unfelt! and may her fong "Sink in oblivion with the nameless crew!

370

"Will, parent-like, sustain, and added give
"The touch the Graces and the Mufes owe :
"For Britain's glory fwells his panting breaft,
And ancient arts he emulous revolves,

His pride to let the fmiling heart abroad, 375 "Thro' clouds of pomp, that but conceal the

man;

"To pleafe his pleasure, bounty his delight; "And all the foul of Titus dwells in him."

Hail, glorious theme! But how, alas! fhall

LIBERTY traced from the Paftoral ages, and the firft uniting of neighbouring families into civil government, to ver. 47. The feveral eftablifhments of Liberty in Egypt, Perfia, Phonicia, Paleftine, flightly touched upon, down to her great establishment in Greece, to ver. 91. Geographical defcription of Greece, to ver. 113. Sparta and Athens, the two principal states of Greece, defcribed, to ver. 164. Influence of Li

Vermin of fate! to thy o'erflowing light That owe their being, yet betray thy caufe." Then, condefcending kind, the heavenly powerberty over all the Grecian ftates, with regard to Return'd." What here, fuggefted by the scene, "I flight unfold, record and fing at home, 361 "In that bleft ifle where (fo we fpirits move) "With one quick effort of My will I am :

There Truth, unlicens'd, walks, and dares accoft

their government, their politeness, their virtues, their arts and fciences. The vaft fuperiority it gave them, in point of force and bravery, over the Perfians, exemplified by the action of Thermopyla, the battle of Marathon, and the retreat

of