Before him, such as in their souls infix'd Plagues. They astonish'd, all resistance lost, Yet half his strength he put not forth; but check, IX.-Alexander's Feast; or, the Power of Music.-An Od for St. Cecilia's Day.-DRYDEN. "TWAS at the royal feast, for Persia won By Philip's warlike son. Aloft in awful state The godlike hero sat On his imperial throne. His valient peers were plac'd around, Their brows with roses and with myrtles bound; . The lovely Thais by his side, Sat like a blooming eastern bride, 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 Glympia press'd, [world. And Stamp'd an image of himself, a sovereign of the 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; [slain. And thrice be routed all his foes, and thrice he slew the The master saw the madness rise; Soft pity to infuse: He sung Darius, great and good, With not a friend to close his eyes.> With downcast look the joyless victor sat, Revolving, in his alter'd soul, 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, 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'd from the dead; 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, And, unbury'd, remain Inglorious on the plain. Give the vengeance due to the valiant crew. To light him to his pray; 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. With nature's mother wit, and arts unknown before, Or both divide the crown: PART II. LESSONS IN SPEAKING. SECTION I. ELOQUENCE OF THE PULPIT. I.-On Truth and Integrity.-TILLOTSON. TRUTH and integrity have all the advantages of appearance, and many more. If 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 excellency. 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 labour to seem to have it, is lost. There a 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 endeav ouring 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 dissimula |