IV. I care not that in Arno's plain, Where priests the studious head command, Say, what can public themes afford, Save venal honours to an hateful lord, Reserv'd for angry Heaven, and scorn'd of honest Fame? But here, where Freedom's equal throne Where all are conscious of her cares, And each the power, that rules him, shares; Far from the hero's and the patriot's love, O Hastings, not to all Can ruling Heaven the same endowments lend: Yet still doth Nature to her offspring call, That to one general weal their different powers they bend, Unenvious. Thus alone, though strains divine Though with new honours the patrician's line He best shall prove, Whose lays the soul with noblest passions move. But thee, O progeny of heroes old, Thee to severer toils thy fate requires: The fate which form'd thee in a chosen mould, The grateful country of thy sires, Or thy own Edward teach his race, V. From rich domains and subject farms, Where, long foretold, the people reigns: Where each a vassal's humble heart disdains; And judgeth what he sees; and, as he judgeth, wills. Here be it thine to calm and guide The swelling democratic tide; To watch the state's uncertain frame, That monster, which is daily found Expert and bold thy country's peace to wound; Yet dreads to handle arms, nor manly counsel knows. 'T is highest Heaven's command, That guilty aims should sordid paths pursue; That what ensnares the heart should maim the hand, And Virtue's worthless foes be false to Glory too. But look on Freedom. See, through every age, What labours, perils, griefs, hath she disdain'd! What arms, what regal pride, what priestly rage, Have her dread offspring conquer'd or sustain'd! For Albion well have conquer'd. Let the strains Of happy swains, Which now resound Where Scarsdale's cliffs the swelling pastures bound, Bear witness. There, oft let the farmer hail Where Ca'ndish, Booth, and Osborne sate; Of papal snares and lawless arms They plann'd for Freedom this her noblest reign. VI. This reign, these laws, this public care, Which social Good inspires; Where men, for this, assault a throne, Each adds the common welfare to his own; And each unconquer'd heart the strength of all ac quires. Say, was it thus, when late we view'd Our fields in civil blood imbrued? When Fortune crown'd the barbarous host, And half the astonish'd isle was lost? Did one of all that vaunting train, Who dare affront a peaceful reign, Durst one in counsels pledge his life? Stake his luxurious fortunes in the strife? Or lend his boasted name his vagrant friends to cheer? Yet, Hastings, these are they Who challenge to themselves thy country's love; The true; the constant: who alone can weigh, What Glory should demand, or Liberty approve! But let their works declare them. Thy free powers, Ingenuous youth: But, sought from cowards and the lying mouth, Dispose of honour and of scorn; HYMN TO THE NAIADS. Argument. The nymphs, who preside over springs and rivulets, are addressed at day-break, in honour of their several functions, and of the relations which they bear to the natural and to the moral world. Their origin is deduced from the first allegorical deities, or powers of Nature; according to the doctrine of the old mythological poets, concerning the generation of the gods and the rise of things. They are then successively considered, as giving motion to the air and exciting summer-breezes; as nourishing and beautifying the vegetable creation; as |