What most surprises in the sacred page, Or full as strange, or stranger, must be true. 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, She plans, provides, expatiates, triumphs, there : 1435 There builds her blessings! there expects her praise; 1440 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 Though bearing crowns, to spring at distant game, If hope precarious, and of things, when gain'd, 1455 This is man's portion, while no more than man: 1460 Hope, of all passions, most befriends us here; Passions of prouder name befriends us less. Joy has her tears, and transport has her death: 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? And yet Lorenzo still affects the world; 10 In ancient days, and Christian,--in an age When men were men, and not ashamed of Heaven,→ Fired their ainbition, as it crown'd their joy! 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 25 My song invokes, Urania' deigns to smile. shine Unnumber'd guns (for all things, as they are, 30 35 High on the foaming billow; what avail High titles, high descent, attainments high, If unattain'd our highest? O Lorenzo ! What lofty thoughts, these elements above, 40 What towering hopes, what sallies from the Sun, What grand surveys of destiny divine, And pompous presage of unfathom'd fate, 45 50 Three demons that divide its realms between them, 55 With strokes alternate buffet to and fro Man's restless heart, their sport, their flying ball; Till, with the giddy circle sick and tired, 60 Tco inean to bring; a promise their Adored How frail men, things! how momentary, both! 65 70 75 Through flowery meadows, and through dreary wastes, One bustling, and one dancing, into death. There's not a day but, to the man of thought, Betrays some secret that throws new reproach On life, and makes him sick of seeing more. 80 Amid disgust eternal dwells delight?— 'Tis approbation strikes the string of joy. 85 What wondrous prize has kindled this career, 90 On the swift circle of returning toys 95 Whirl'd, strawlike, round and round, and then ingulf'd, Where gay delusion darkens to despair! This is a beaten track.'-Is this a track Should not be beaten > never beat enough, |