The barren Muse no lay can bring, Dry'd up is the Castalian spring What-not a fpark of mental fire, The fluggard Genius to infpire? Rather in paths untry'd before, Let us what no where' is, explore. Lo! whilft the undetermin'd mufe, Now up, now down, the fearch pursues, NOTHING more worth than gems we hold, No hackney'd, ranfack'd theme is mine: Grecian 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; And clafps the earth in close embrace; If hence, indifputably shine 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 spreads, Than water'd lawns, or flow'ry meads. NOTHING more jocund is than Spring; NOTHING the rage of war defies, NOTHING, in peace, is right and just. He nor for doubtful lawsuits cares, Nor baleful fires, nor thieves, nor fnares. The firft 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 wifdom, 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 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 ufed 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, In fecret works, and fire, and fume; With measuring staff, or out-ftretch'd line, Ev'n you, my friend, whofe foul profound Whose wife, 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. |