If all, united, thy ambition call, 285 From ancient ftory learn to scorn them all. In hearts of Kings, or arms of Queens who lay, NOTES. 290 to I-columbkill, defcribing the church there, tells us, that "In one corner is a pe"culiar inclosure, in which "were the monuments of "the kings of many diffe men, who have overturned | Sachavarel, in his Voyage the Liberties of their Country. The times, in which others fucceeded in this attempt, were fuch as faw the fpirit of Liberty fuppreffed and stifled by a general luxury and venality: But Cromwell fubdued his country, when this fpirit was at its height, by a fuccessful strug 66 rent nations, as Scotland, "Ireland, Norway, and the Ifle of Man. THIS (faid the person who fhewed me 66 66 "ftone) was the monument "of the Great TEAGUE, "king of Ireland. I had gle against court-oppreffion;" place, pointing to a plain and while it was conducted and fupported by a set of the greatest Geniuses for government the world ever faw embarked together in one common cause. VER. 283. Or ravish'd with the whiffling of a Name,] And even this fantaftic glory fometimes fuffers a terrible reverse. 66 never heard of him, and "could not but reflect of "how little value is Great"nefs that has barely left a 66 name fcandalous to a na"tion, and a grave which "the meaneft of mankind "would never envy.". Now Europe's laurels on their brows behold, 295 But ftain'd with blood, or ill exchang'd for gold: Then fee them broke with toils, or funk in eafe, Or infamous for plunder'd provinces. Oh wealth ill-fated! which no act of fame 300 E'er taught to shine, or fanctify'd from shame! The only point where human bliss stands still, The joy unequal'd, if its end it gain, And if it lofe, attended with no pain: VARIATIONS. After 316. in the MS. Ev'n while it seems unequal to difpofe, 305 310 315 And checquers all the good Man's joys with woes, Without fatiety, tho' e'er fo blefs'd, And but more relifh'd as the more diftrefs'd: Lefs pleafing far than Virtue's very tears: 320 Good, from each object, from each place acquir'd, For ever exercis'd, yet never tir'd; Never elated, while one man's opprefs'd; Never dejected, while another's blefs'd; And where no wants, no wishes can remain, 325° Since but to wish more Virtue, is to gain. See the fole blifs Heav'n could on all bestow! Which who but feels can taste, but thinks can know : Yet poor with fortune, and with learning blind, The bad must miss; the good, untaught, will find: Slave to no fect, who takes no private road, But looks thro' Nature, up to Nature's God; VARIATIONS. 'Tis but to teach him to fupport each state, 331 Which confcience gives, and nothing can destroy. Thefe lines are extremely finished. In which there is fuch a foothing fweetnefs in the melancholy harmony of the verfification, as if the poet was then in that tender office in which he was moft officious, and in which all his Soul came out, the condoling with fome good man in affliction. 335 Pursues that Chain which links th’immenfe defign, NOTES. Hope, the moft powerful "of the Divinities, in go"verning the ever-changing "and inconftant temper of "mortal men." To dè under ἑαυτῷ ἀδικον ξυνειδότι ἡδεῖα ἐλπὶς ἀεὶ πάρεςι, καὶ ἀγαθὴ γηροτρόφος, ὡς καὶ Πίνδαρος λέγει. Χαριέντως γάρ τοι, ὦ Σώκρατες, τῦτ ̓ ἐκεῖνος εἶπεν, ὅτι ὃς ἂν δικαίως καὶ ὁσίως VER. 341. For him alone," joy, and is the fupport and Hope leads from goal to goal, "comfort of his old age. &c.] PLATO, in his firit" book of a Republic, hath a remarkable paffage to this purpose. "He whofe confcience does not reproach him, has chearful Hope, “ for his companion, and “ the fupport and comfort • of his old age, according “ to Pindar. For this great 66 poet, O Socrates, very ἢ τὸν βίον διαγάγῃ, γλυκεῖα οἱ καρ " elegantly fays, That he “ who leads a juft and holy | 66 66 δίαν ατάλλεσα γηροτρόφος συνπορεί ἐλπὶς, ἃ μάλιςα θνατῶν πολύςρο " life has always amiable | φον γνώμαν κυβερνά. In the fame Hope for his companion, manner Euripides fpeaks in "which fills his heart with his Hercules furens, Οὗτος δ ̓ ἀνὴς ἄριςος, ὅσις ἐλπίσιν Πέποιθεν αἰεί, τὸ δ ̓ ἀπορεῖν, ἀνδρὸς κακα. 105. 'Till lengthen'd on to Faith, and unconfin'd, It pours the blifs that fills up all the mind. He fees, why Nature plants in Man alone 345 Hope of known blifs, and Faith in bliss unknown: (Nature, whofe dictates to no other kind Are giv'n in vain, but what they feek they find) 350 Self-love thus pufh'd to focial, to divine, Gives thee to make thy neighbour's bleffing thine. Is this too little for the boundless heart? Extend it, let thy enemies have part: 355 Grafp the whole worlds of Reafon, Life, and Senfe, In one close system of Benevolence: Happier as kinder, in whate'er degree, And height of Bliss but height of Charity. 360 God loves from Whole to Parts: But human foul Muft rife from Individual to the Whole. Self-love but ferves the virtuous mind to wake, As the fmall pebble ftirs the peaceful lake; NOTES. "He is the good man in "without hope in the world "whose breaft Hope fprings" is the portion of the eternally But to be : "wicked." |