How your fad fickening art now hangs her head, As the learn'd fon is worship'd like the fire; I fhow'd of old, how vital currents glide, 315 320 Then, Willis, why fpontaneous actions here, 325 And whence involuntary motions there: And how the fpirits, by mechanic laws, In wild careers tumultuous riots caufe. Nor would our Wharton, Bates, and Gliffon, lie 330 But now fuch wondrous fearches are forborn, And Pæan's art is by divifions torn. Then let your Charge attend, and I 'll explain How her loft health your science may regain. Hafte, and the matchlefs Atticus addrefs, 335 From Heaven and great Naffau he has the mace. Arts he fupports, and learning is his care. Blunts their keen edge, and grinds their harpy claws; On the fad ftate of virtuous poverty. When: Whene'er he speaks, Heaven! how the liftening throng Dwells on the melting mufic of his tongue! His arguments are emblems of his mien, Mild, but not faint, and forcing, though ferene; And, when amidst his olives plac'd he stands, Than when his laurel-diadem he wears. Would Phoebus, or his Granville, but infpire Still may th' immortal man his cares repeat, They 've strove for ruin long without fuccefs. 345 350 355 360 365 370 When t When, late, Jove's eagle from the pile fhall rife. Neglects the earth, to give the heavens a star. And all the ftatues of the gods had spoke. No more the Sage his raptures could pursue: 375 380 He paus'd; and Celfus with his Guide withdrew. 385. CLARE CLAREMONT: Addreffed to the Right Honourable the Earl of CLARE, afterwards Duke of NEWCASTLE. "-Dryadum fylvas, faltufque fequamur “Intactos, tua, Mæcenas, haud mollia juffa." VIRG. PREFACE. THEY that have feen those two excellent poems of Cooper's-hill and Windfor-foreft; the one by Sir J. Denham, the other by Mr. Pope; will shew a great deal of candour if they approve of this. It was written. upon giving the name of Claremont to a villa, now belonging to the earl of Clare. The fituation is fo agreeable and furprizing, that it inclines one to think fome place of this nature put Ovid at first upon the ftory of Narciffus and Echo. It is probable he had obferved fome fpring arifing amongst woods and rocks, where echos were heard; and fome flower bending over the ftream, and by confequence reflected from it. After reading the story in the third book of the Metamor phofis, phofis, it is obvious to object (as an ingenious friend has already done) that the renewing the charms of a nymph, of which Ovid had difpoffeffed her, "vox tantùm atque offa fuperfunt," is too great a violation of poetical authority. I dare fay the gentleman who is meant, would have been well pleafed to have found no faults. There are not many authors one can fay the fame of: experience fhews us every day that there are writers who cannot bear a brother fhould fucceed, and the only refuge from their indignation is by being inconfiderable; upon which reflection, this thing ought to have a pretence to their favour. They who would be more informed of what relates to the ancient Britons, and the Druids their priests, may confult Pliny, Ovid, and the other claffic authors that have mentioned them. CLAREMON T. WHAT frenzy has of late poffefs'd the brain! Though few can write, yet fewer can refrain. So rank our foil, our bards rife in fuch store, None |