Their brows with roses and with myrtles bound; The lovely Thais by his side, Sat like a blooming eastern bride, In flower of youth and beauty's pride.~ None but the brave, None but the brave, None but the brave, deserve the fair. With flying fingers touch'd the lyre: The song began from Jove, When he to fair Olympia press'd, And stamp'd an image of himself, a sovereign of the world. The list ning crowd admire the lofty sound; A present deity, they shout around; A present deity; the vaulted roofs rebound. And seems to shake the spheres. The praise of Bacchus, then, the sweet musician sung; The jolly god in triumph comes! He shows his honest face: Now give the hautboys breath-he comes! he comes! Bacchus, ever fair and young, Drinking joys did first ordain: Bacchus' blessings are a treasure ; Drinking is the soldier's pleasure: Rich the treasure ; Sweet the pleasure; Sweet is pleasure, after pain. Sooth'd with the sound, the king grew vain: Fought all his battles o'er again; And thrice he routed all his foes, and thrice he slew the slain. His glowing cheeks, his ardent eyes; He chose a mournful muse, He sung Darius, great and good, Fall'n, fall'n, fall'n, fall'n, With downcast look the joyless victor sat, The various turns of fate below; The mighty-master smil'd to see Softly sweet, in Lydian measures, Never ending, still beginning. Take the good the gods provide thee. The many rend the skies with loud applause, Who caus'd his care; And sigh'd and look'd, sigh'd and look'd, At length, with love and wine at once oppress'd, Now strike the golden lyre again; A louder yet, and yet a louder strain : And rouse him like a rattling peal of thunder. Has rais'd up his head, As awak'a from the dead Revenge! revenge! Timotheus cries See the furies arise! See the snakes that they rear, How they hiss in their hair, And the sparkles that flash from their eyes! Each a torch in his hand! These are Grecian ghosts, that in battle were slain. Give the vengeance due to the valiant crew. To light him to his prey; And, like another Helen-fir'd another Troy. Thus long ago, Ere heaving bellows learn'd to blow, Timotheus to his breathing flute And sounding lyre Could swell the soul to rage, or kindle soft desire. Inventress of the vocal frame. The sweet enthusiast, from her sacred store, And added length to solemn sounds, With nature's mother wit, and arts unknown before. Let old Timotheus yield the prize, Or both divide the crown: He rais'd a mortal to the skies; She drew an angel down. ༣* PART II. Lessons in Speaking. SECTION 1. ELOQUENCE OF THE PULPIT. 1.—On Truth and Integrity.—TILLOtson. Tearance, and many more. RUTH and integrity have all the advantages of apIf the show of any thing be good for any thing, I am sure the reality is better; for why does any man dissemble, or seem to be that which he is not, but because he thinks it good to have the qualities he pretends to? For, to counterfeit and dissemble, is to put on the appearance of some real excelJency. Now, the best way for a man to seem to be any thing, is really to be what he would seem to be. Besides, it is often as troublesome to support the pretence of a good quality, as to have it; and if a man have it not, it is most likely he will be discovered to want it; and then all his labor to seem to have it, is lost. There is something unnatural in painting, which a skilful eye will easily discern from native beauty and complexion. It is hard to personate and act a part long; for where truth is not at the bottom, nature will always be endeavouring to return, and will betray herself at one time or other. Therefore, if any man think it convenient to seem good, let him be so indeed; and then his goodness will appear to every one's satisfaction; for truth is convincing, and carries its own light and evidence along with it; and will not only commend us to every man's conscience, but, which is much more, to God, who searcheth our hearts: so that, upon all accounts, sincerity is true wisdom. Particularly as to the affairs of this world, integrity hath many advantages over all the artificial modes of dissimulation and deceit. It is much the plainer and easier, much the safer and more secure way of dealing in the world; it hath less of trouble and difficulty, of entanglement and perplexity, of danger and hazard in it; it is the shortest and nearest way to our end, carrying us thither in a straight line; and will hold out and last longest. The arts of deceit and cunning continually grow weaker, and less effectual and serviceable to those that practise them; whereas integrity gains strength by use; and the more and longer any man practiseth it the greater service it does him, by confirming his reputation, and encouraging those with whom he hath to do to repose the greatest confidence in him; which is an unspeakable advantage in business and the affairs of life. A dissembler must be always upon his guard, and watch himself carefully, that he do not contradict his own pretensions: for he acts an unnatural part, and therefore must put a continual force and restraint upon himself; whereas, he that acts sincerely, hath the easiest task in the world; because he follows nature, and so is put to no trouble and care about his words and actions; he needs not invent any pretence beforehand, nor make excuses afterwards, for any thing he hath said or done. A But insincerity is very troublesome to manage. hypocrite hath so many things to attend to, as make his life a very perplexed and intricate thing. A liar hath need of a good memory, lest he contradict at one time, what he said at another. But truth is always consistent with itself, and needs nothing to help it out; it is always near at hand, and sits upon our lips, and is ready to drop out before we are aware; whereas a lie is troublesome, and one trick needs a great many more to make it good. Add to all this, that sincerity is the most compendious wisdom, and an excellent instrument for the speedy dis'patch of business. It creates confidence in those we have to deal with, saves the labor of many inquiries, and brings things to an issue in a few words. It is like travelling in a plain beaten road, which commonly brings Y |