To gain dominion, or to keep it gain'd.
Witness those ancient empires of the earth,
In height of all their flowing wealth dissolv'd:
But men endu'd with thefe, have oft attain'd
In lowest poverty to highest deeds;
GIDEON and JEPHTHA, and the shepherd lad,
Whofe off-fpring on the throne of JUDAH fat 440
So many ages, and fhall yet regain
That feat, and reign in ISRAEL without end.
Among the heathen, (for throughout the world
To me is not unknown what hath been done
Worthy memorial) canst thou not remember 445
QUINTUS, FABRICIUS, CURIUS, REGULUS?
For I esteem those names of men fo poor,
Who could do mighty things, and could contemn
Riches, though offer'd from the hand of kings.
And what in me feems wanting, but that I
450
May alfo in this poverty as foon
Accomplish what they did, perhaps and more?
Extol not riches then, the toyl of fools,
The wife man's cumbrance, if not fnare, more apt
To flacken virtue, and abate her edge,
Than prompt her to do aught may merit praise.
455
What
What if with like averfion I reject
Riches and realms; yet not for that a crown,
Golden in fhew, is but a wreath of thorns,
Brings dangers, troubles, cares, and fleepless nights
To him who wears the regal diadem,
461
When on his shoulders each man's burden lies;
For therein ftands the office of a king,
His honour, virtue, merit, and chief praise,
That for the publick all this weight he bears. 465
Yet he who reigns within himself, and rules
Paffions, defires, and fears, is more a king;
Which ev'ry wife and virtuous man attains:
And who attains not, ill aspires to rule
Cities of men, or head-strong multitudes;
Subject himself to anarchy within,
Or lawless paffions in him which he ferves.
But to guide nations in the way of truth
By faving doctrine, and from error lead
To know, and knowing worship GoD aright, 475
Is yet more kingly; this attracts the foul,
Governs the inner man, the nobler part;
That other o'er the body only reigns,
And oft by force, which to a gen'rous mind
So reigning can be no fincere delight.
Besides, to give a kingdom hath been thought
Greater and nobler done, and to lay down
Far more magnanimous, than to assume.
Riches are needless then, both for themselves,
And for thy reason why they should be fought,
To gain a scepter, oftest better mifs'd.
486
The end of the second book.
S
fpake the Son of GOD; and SATAN flood A-while as mute, confounded what to say, What to reply, confuted and convinc'd Of his weak arguing, and fallacious drift: At length collecting all his Serpent wiles, With foothing words renew'd, him thus accosts.
5
I fee thou know'ft what is of use to know, What best to say canst say, to do canft do ; Thy actions to thy words accord, thy words To thy large heart give utterance due; thy heart 10 Contains of good, wife, juft, the perfect shape.
Should
Should kings and nations from thy mouth confult, I Thy counfel would be as the oracle
URIM and THUMMIM, thofe oraculous gems
[
20
On AARON's breast, or tongue of feers old 15
Infallible; or wert thou fought to deeds
That might require th' array of war, thy skill
Of conduct would be such, that all the world
Could not sustain thy prowess, or fubfift
In battel, though against thy few in arms.
These god-like virtues wherefore doft thou hide,
Affecting private life, or more obfcure
In favage wilderness? wherefore deprive
All earth her wonder at thy acts, thy felf
The fame and glory? glory, the reward
That fole excites to high attempts, the flame
Of moft erected fpirits, most temper'd pure
Ætherial, who all pleasures else despise,
All treasures and all gain esteem as dross,
And dignities and pow'rs, all but the higheft. 30
Thy years are ripe, and over-ripe; the fon
Of MACEDONIAN PHILIP had ere these
1: Won ASIA, and the throne of CYRUS held At his dispose; young SCIPIO had brought down E
The
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