Though blind, a boldness in his looks appears ; A golden column next in rank appear’d, upon the funeral pyre; Æneas bending with his aged sire: Troy flamed in burning gold, and o'er the throne • Arms and the man' in golden ciphers shone. Four swans sustain a car of silver bright, With heads advanced, and pinions stretch'd for flight: Here, like some furious prophet, Pindar rode, And seem'd to labour with the’ inspiring god. Across the harp a careless hand he flings, And boldly sinks into the sounding strings. The figured games of Greece the column grace; Neptune and Jove survey the rapid race: The youths hang o'er their chariots as they run; The fiery steeds seem starting from the stone; The champions in distorted postures threat ; Here happy Horace tuned the’ Ausonian lyre Here, in a shrine that cast a dazzling light, With equal rays immortal Tully shone; These massy columns in a circle rise, O'er which a pompous dome invades the skies: Scarce to the top I stretch'd my aching sight, So large it spread, and swelld to such a height, Full in the midst proud Fame's imperial seat With jewels blazed, magnificently great; The vivid emeralds there revive the eye, The flaming rubies show their sanguine dye, Bright azure rays from lively sapphires stream, And lucid amber casts a golden gleam, With various colour'd light the pavement shone, Around these wonders as I cast a look, Millions of suppliant crowds the shrine attend, the rich, the valiant, and the sage, First at the shrine the learned world appear, And to the goddess thus prefer their prayer ;• Long have we sought to’instruct and please manWith studies pale, with midnight vigils blind; [kind, But thank'd by few, rewarded yet by none, We here appeal to thy superior throne: On wit and learning the just prize bestow, For fame is all we must expect below.' The goddess heard, and bade the Muses raise The golden trumpet of eternal praise :From pole to pole the winds diffuse the sound, That fills the circuit of the world around; Not all at once, as thunder breaks the cloud, The notes at first were rather sweet than loud; By just degrees they every moment rise, Fill the wide earth, and gain upon the skies. At every breath were balmy odours shed, Which still grew sweeter, as they wider spread; Less fragrant scents the unfolding rose exhales, Or spices breathing in Arabian gales. Next these the good and just, an awful train, Thus on their knees address'd the sacred fane: • Since living virtue is with envy cursed, And the best men are treated like the worst, Do thou, just goddess, call our merits forth, And give each deed the exact intrinsic worth.' Not with bare justice shall your act be crown'd, (Said Fame) but high above desert renown'd: Let fuller notes the’ applauding world amaze, And the loud clarion labour in your praise.' This band dismiss’d, behold another crowd Preferr'd the same request, and lowly bow'd; The constant tenor of whose well-spent days No less deserved a just return of praise. But straight the direful trump of Slander sounds ; Through the big dome the doubling thunder bounds; Loud as the burst of cannons rends the skies, The dire report through every region flies, In every ear incessant rumours rung, And gathering scandals grew on every tongue. From the black trumpet's rusty concave broke Sulphureous flames, and clouds of rolling smoke: The poisonous vapour blots the purple skies, And withers all before it as it flies. A troop came next,who crowns and armour wore, And proud defiance in their looks they bore: • For thee (they cried) amidst alarms and strife, We sail'd in tempests down the stream of life; Forthee whole nations fill’d with flames and blood, And swam to empire through the purple flood : Those ills we dared, thy inspiration own; What virtue seem m’d, was done for thee alone.' * Ambitious fools! (the queen replied, and frown'd) Be all your acts in dark oblivion drown'd; There sleep forgot, with mighty tyrants gone, Your statues moulder’d, and your names unknown!' A sudden cloud straight snatch'd them from my And each majestic phantom sunk in night. [sight, |