The Roman conqu'ror, and th' Athenian sage,
The learn'd Egyptian, and th' intrepid band,
Who boldly guarded Troy's imperial domes;
Th' untutor❜d Indian, 'midst is tow'ring palms,
His proud bananas, and his myrtle bowers,
And ev❜n Columbia's rude and barb'rous tribes,
Ador'd the Idols of their erring choice
With pious reverence; or devoutly rais'd
Their mystic altars to the POWER UNKNOWN.
For them, no page of inspiration shone,
With radiant brightness, partially illum'd,
They walk'd; imploring a superior guide.
Such, SOCRATES, wert thou, enlighten'd sage,
And gentle, or to vice alone severe.
Such thy illustrious PLATO* too; whose eye
Saw Life and Immortality reveal'd,
Tho' faintly. SENECA, sublimely read,
In Wisdom's laws; with martyr constancy,
His virtuous morals sealing with his life.
SOLON, sagacious, humble, temp’rate, firm;
Whispering unwelcome truths to royal ears.
Just ARISTIDES. Good FABRICIUS, poor,
Yet uncorrupt. ANAXAGORAS, fraught
* Plato, the disciple of Socrates.
With true philosophy. And, such no less,
Stern CATO, vainly struggling to impart
His rigid virtue to degen rate Rome.
Such, were the Heathen, who, without the law,
In temperance, patience, piety excell❜d.
Now, Truth celestial, from our clearer skies,
Has chas'd the clouds of Ignorance, and bestow'd
A steady light; divine Religion holds
An ampler sway, divested of those fogs
Which darken'd theirs. She solaces alike,
The cottage and the throne; with kings allied,
Has giv'n an added lustre to their crowns ;
On learning's venerable form conferr'd
True dignity; and in the lowly cell
Of meek, unletter'd poverty retir'd,
Diffus'd unseen, her sacred odours round :
And universal, as th' all-chearing sun,
To sect unlimited, with beams benign,
Cheer'd humble HERVEY'S meditative hours;
Blest pious WATTS; illumin'd BARCLAY'S page;
O'er virtuous DODDRIDGE bade her day-spring rise;
Serenely smil❜d on NEWTON'S * closing scene,
* John Newton, late rector of St. Mary's Woolnoth, London, of whose chequered life, some very interesting memoirs, written by himself, are prefixed to his works.
And still irradiates PORTEUS'* blameless life.
As tow'rds the magnet turns the kindred steel;
So, hearts once purify'd by heav'nly fires,
From Zion's holy hill, and warm from thence,
With lively and devout affections fill'd;
Bid, ever reascend a sacred flame,
Of ardent aspiration; homage sweet,
Whose fragrant incense "points to Heav'n again."
Such are the righteous; who, indeed baptiz'd,
To all the newness of regen'rate life,
And pure in heart; their all of idol self
Subdu'd by conqu❜ring grace; their every crown
Cast down, in meek humility of soul,
At Jesus' feet, are favor'd to foretaste
Ev'n here, a portion of their rich reward
Of
peace, amidst time's ills; and can rejoice
With trembling, while, not yet from woe exempt,
Their tender sorrows flow for Israel's sake.
These love their country, with that love, which seeks,
Her true prosperity, and virtuous growth
* Porteus, bishop of London..
Who, but must praise, when bold in strength divine,
Prelatic virtue guards the Christian shrine,
Pleas'd from the pomp of science to descend,
And teach the people, as their hallow'd friend?
In that, which can exalt her, 'bove reproach;
And, with pure patriot spirit, all unwarp'd
By party prejudice, or selfish views,
Observe th' alarming inroads vice has made
In her fair borders, with unfeign'd regret.
Cloth'd with that charity, which knows no bounds,
By intervening seas and mountains, these
Mark" shameful variance betwixt man and man,"
With just abhorrence of th' unchristian deed;
And mingle with their secret prayers to Heav'n,
For suff'ring nations, a fraternal tear.
But, when degen'rate practices, and base,
By truth and policy alike disown'd,
Escape the public censure; when supine,
The people slumbering in their sins, forget
Their Maker and themselves; when loose, relax'd
Morality prevails, and is maintain'd
By arguments, which ev'n th' enlighten'd band
Of pagan sages, had disdain'd to hold;
Warm indignation mingles with their grief,
Unknowing, if to blame or pity most,
Such blindness and obduracy of heart.
O happy England! wert thou but as just, As thou art favor'd; happy, then indeed!
O, that thy gratitude kept equal pace,
With the rich mercies Providence bestows!-
While trembling Europe weeps her slaughter'd sons,
And wasted cities; while her mournful gales
Come fraught with widow's and with orphan's sighs:
What, but Eternal Goodness guards thy shores;
And gives thee quiet, tho' the nations rage?
But, hark, a joyful sound invades my ears!
It speaks my Cowper's righteous pray'r fulfill'd;
And wide proclaims his country's virtuous praise :
While at humanity's all-powerful call,
Arous'd;-she hears the hapless Negro's plea,
And bids th' unjust, th' inhuman traffic cease.-
Rejoice, oh Afric!-From thy breezy hills,
And fertile vallies, let one general song
Of grateful praise arise; from shore to shore,
With reverence bid thy scatter'd nations bless
The MIGHTY SPIRIT; who hath fill'd our hearts,
With pity tow'rds thee; and sublimely touch'd
No common chords of mercy for thy sake.
O injur'd land, by us too long imbru'd
With kindred blood; by us, alas, too long
In sorrows drench'd and darken'd with despair!
May thy poor sable sons again pursue
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