Grecian and Roman bards, we own,

Thro' all Pieria's heights have flown;
NOTHING 's the subject, yet unfung

By Grecian or by Roman tongue.

Where'er, from high Olympian throne,

Bright Ceres on her fields looks down;
Where'er old Ocean fhews his face,

And clafps the earth in close embrace;
NOTHING beginning wants, and end;
NOTHING does blifs complete attend.

If hence, indifputably fhine

The pow'r and energy divine,

What offer'd gifts, what flames can rise,

Worthy the Ruler of the skies?

NOTHING's more pleafing to the fight

Than the clear day's fair beaming light;

NOTHING

NOTHING more beauteous verdure fpreads,

Than water'd lawns, or flow'ry meads.

NOTHING more jocund is than Spring;
More foft than Zephyr's balmy wing.

NOTHING the rage of war defies,

And ev'n in tumult facred lies.

NOTHING, in peace, is right and just.
NOTHING, in treaties, you may trust.
Happy, who NOTHING ftill enjoys;

Be this my boon, Tibullus cries;

He nor for doubtful lawsuits cares,

Nor baleful fires, nor thieves, nor fnares.
Nay-he whom grave old ‡ Zeno owns

The first of wisdom's favour'd fons,

Tho' all things elfe to fate he leaves,

NOTHING admires, and NOTHING craves.

Among

An ancient Grecian philofopher, and founder of the fect of Stoics.

Among the old || Socratic crew,

'Twas wisdom, NOTHING, Sir, to know;

And, Sir, I fpeak it to our praise,

NOTHING 's the ftudy now a days;

Still 'tis our youth's fupreme concern
NOTHING, at school, at home, to learn;

Who NOTHING know, are fure to rife

To wealth, and fame, and dignities.

Know NOTHING-all the fenfe you'll gain

That fill'd the § Pythagoric bean,

Which, in forenfick difputation,

Poffefs'd a fuffrage of* NEGATION.

Many

Socrates faid, all his knowledge only ferved to teach him this, "that he knew NOTHING."

Pythagoras believed beans had fouls, and forbad his difciples to eat them.

*Beans were used in the ancient courts of judicature; the white bean was the fign of a fuffrage in favour of the obnoxious perfon; the black, of the contrary.

+ Many, with Mercury their guide,
Earth's bowels pure have liquefy'd,
Willing their fubftance to confume

In fecret works, and fire, and fume;
Till, with long lofs, and labour weak,
They NOTHING find, yet NOTHING feek.
Not ev❜n the man, whofe copious brains
Can fum the fands of Afric's plains,

With measuring staff, or out-stretch'd line,
Can boundless NOTHING's length define.
NOTHING, not Sol's bright influence fhares.
NOTHING, is higher than the ftars.

Ev'n you, my friend, whofe foul profound
Can scale the skies, or pierce the ground;

Whose wise, acute, fagacious mind

To depths unknown a clue can find;

Ev'n

This alludes to the fearch after the philofopher's-ftone, which

at that time particularly exercifed the lucubrations of the curious.

Ev'n you (with your good leave I'll fay)

Ign'rant of NOTHING seem to be.

Yet NOTHING's clear as Sol's bright beam,

Confpicuous as the lambent flame.

Touch NOTHING, Sir, and you'll confefs

You touch a thing that's bodilefs.

View NOTHING, Sir, and you fhall view

What's colourless and fhapeless too.

NOTHING, tho' deaf, can hear, and speaks

Although it never filence breaks;

Flies without wings; and ev'n can run

Without a leg to stand upon.

Nay, lacking motion, parts, and place,

NOTHING can move through empty space.

NOTHING more ufeful, Sir, you'll find

Than art of healing, to mankind:

Let not the lover then rehearse

The mutt'ring wizard's magic verse,

Nor,