A Christian dwells, like Uriel,* in the Sun; Meridian evidence puts doubt to flight, 1355 And ardent hope anticipates the skies, Of that bright Sun, Lorenzo! scale the sphere : 'Tis easy; it invites thee; it descends From Heaven, to woo and waft thee whence it came. Read and revere the sacred page, a page 1360 Where triumphs immortality; a page Which not the whole Creation could produce: Which not the Conflagration shall destroy: Tis printed in the mind of gods for ever, In Nature's ruins not one letter lost. 1365 In proud disdain of what e'en gods adore, Dost smile?-Poor wretch! thy guardian angel weeps. Angels and men assent to what I sing; Wits smile, and thank me for my midnight dream. 1370 Pert Infidelity is Wit's cockade, To grace the brazen brow that braves the skies, 1375 And drives my dreams, defeated, from the field; Take heed stand fast; be sure to be a knave; 1380 Bless'd scheme' which life deprives of comfort, death Of hope, and which vice only recommends. If so, where, Infidels! your bate thrown out To catch weak converts? where your lofty boast 1385 Of zeal for virtue, and of love to man? Annihilation! I confess in these. What can reclaim you? dare I hope profound Philosophers the converts of a song? *Milton's Paradise Lost Yet know its title* flatters you, not me; Yours be the praise to make my title gool; Though sovereign is the medicine I prescribe, 1390 1395 But hope, ere long, my midnight dream will wake To close, Lorenzo! spite of all my pains, 1405 Still seemc it strange that thou shouldst live for ever? Is it less strange that thou shouldst live at ail? Who gave beginning can exclude an end. 1410 Deny thou art; then doubt if thou shalt be. A miracle with miracles enclosed Is man! and starts his faith at what is strange? 1415 Admit a God-that mystery supreme! That cause uncaused! all other won lers cease: Nothing is marvellous for him to do: Deny him-all is mystery besides ; Millions of mysteries! each darker far 1420 That that thy wisdom would, unwisely shun. If weak thy faith, why choose the harder side? We nothing know but what is marvellous; 1425 What most surprises in the sacred page, To faith and virtue why so backward, man? From hence; the present strongly strikes us all; 1430 The future, faintly: can we, then, be men? If men, Lorenzo! the reverse is right. Reason is man's peculiar; sense the brute's. The present is the scanty realm of Sense; The future, Reason's empire unconfined: On that expending all her godlike power, 1435 She plans, provides, expatiates, triumphs, there: There builds her blessings! there expects her praise; And nothing asks of Fortune or of men. Reason is upright stature in the soul. 1440 And what is Reason? be she thus defined; Oh! be a man, and strive to be a god. 'For what?' (thou say'st) to damp the joys of life? No; to give heart and substance to thy joys. That tyrant, Hope, mark how she domineers; 1445 1455 Though bearing crowns, to spring at distant game, This is man's portion, while no more than man: 1460 Hope, like a cordial, innocent though strong, A joy attemper'd! a chastised delight! 1465 Like the fair summer evening, mild and sweet! 1470 'Tis man's full cup, his paradise below! A bless'd hereafter, then, or hoped or gain'd, Is all, our whole of happiness! full proof I chose no trivial or inglorious theme. And know, ye foes to song! (well meaning men, 1475 Let the grave listen,-and be graver still * The poetic parts of it. 1480 NIGHT VIII. Virtue's Apology: OR, THE MAN OF THE WORLD ANSWERED. IN WHICH ARE CONSIDERED, THE LOVE OF THIS LIFE; THE AMBITION AND AND has all Nature, then, espoused my part? G And yet Lorenzo still affects the world; Proud of reproach? for a reproach it was, 19 In ancient days, and Christian,—in an age When men were men, and not ashamed of Heaven,— Sprinkled with dews from the Castalian font, Thy fond attachments, fatal and inflamed, 15 Point out my path, and dictate to my song. To thee the world how fair! how strongly strikes Ambitior.! and gay Pleasure stronger still! 20 Thy triple bane! the triple bolt, that lays Common the theme; not so the song, if she |