THE PROGRESS OF ERROUR. Si quid loquar audiendum....Hor. Lib. iv. Od. 2. SING, muse, (if such a theme, so dark, so long, The serpent Errour twines round human hearts; Tell where she lurks, beneath what flow'ry shades, 5 That not a glimpse of genuine light pervades, Counsel and caution from a voice like mine! Not all, whose eloquence the fancy fills, Like quicksilver, the rhet'rick they display Man may improve the crisis or abuse; Else on the fatalist's unrighteous plan, Say to what bar amenable were man? With nought in charge he could betray no trust ; 30 If Love reward him, or if Vengeance strike, Divine authority within his breast Brings ev'ry thought, word, action, to the test: Warns him or prompts, approves him or restrains, 35 As Reason, or as Passion takes the reins. Heav'n from above, and Conscience from within, The world around solicits his desire, Man, thus endu'd with an elective voice, 40 45 50 Avarice shows, and virtue is the price. Here various motives his ambition raise Pow'r, pomp, and splendour, and the thirst of praise. There Beauty woos him with expanded arms; 55 E'en Bacchanalian madness has its charms. O, what a dying, dying close was there! 60 "Tis harmony from yon sequester'd bow'r, 65 Sweet harmony, that soothes the midnight hour! His morning course, th' enchantment was begun And he shall gild yon mountain's height again, 70 Is this the rugged path, the steep ascent, "That Virtue points to? Can a life thus spent Lead to the bliss she promises the wise, Detach the soul from earth, and speed her to the skies? Ye devotees to your ador'd employ, 75 Enthusiasts, drunk with an unreal joy, Love makes the musick of the blest above, Heav'n's harmony is universal love ; And earthly sounds, tho' sweet and well combin'd, 80 Leave Vice and Folly unsubdu'd behind. Gray dawn appears; the sportsman and his train Speckle the bosom of the distant plain; "Tis he, the Nimrod of the neighb'ring lairs; 85 90 Leaps ev'ry fence, but one, there falls and dies; 95 Ye clergy, while your orbit is your place, 100 Will Av'rice and Concupiscence give place, Charm'd by the sounds-Your Rev'rence, or Your No. But his own engagement binds him fast; Set Paul to musick, he shall quote him too. 105 110 Cries-Well done, saint! and claps him on the back. 115 Is this the path of sanctity? Is this To stand a way-mark in the road to bliss? 120 Occiduus is a pastor of renown; When he has pray'd and preach'd the sabbath down, With wire and catgut he concludes the day, 126 Quav'ring and semiquav'ring care away. The full concerto swells upon your ear; All elbows shake. Look in, and you would swear The Babylonian tyrant with a nod, 130 Had summon'd them to serve his golden god, So well that thought th' employment seems to suit, Psalt'ry and sackbut, dulcimer, and flute. O fie! 'tis evangelical and pure: Observe each face, how sober and demure 135 Ecstasy sets her stamp on every mien ; Still I insist, though musick heretofore Has charm'd me much, (not e'n Occiduus more,) Love, joy, and peace, make harmony more meet 140 For Sabbath ev'nings, and perhaps as sweet. Will not the sickliest sheep of ev'ry flock Resort to this example as a rock; There stand, and justify the foul abuse Of sabbath hours with plausible excuse? If apostolick gravity be free To play the fool on Sundays, why not we? Preaching and pranks will share the motley scene, 145 150 155 Pastime and business both it should exclude, 160 Nobly distinguish'd above all the six By deeds, in which the world must never mix. Hear him again. He calls it a delight, A day of luxury observ'd aright, When the glad soul is made Heav'ns welcome guest, Sits banqueting, and God provides the feast. 166 But triflers are engag'd and cannot coine; Their answer to the call is-Not at home. O the dear pleasures of the velvet plain, 170 175 |