With fancied rules and arbitrary laws And studied lines and fictious circles draws: Lord of his new hypothesis he reigns. He reigns how long! till some usurper rise, And he too, mighty thoughtful, mighty wise, Studies new lines, and other circles feigns. From this last toil again what knowledge flows? That all his predecessor's rules Were empty cant, all jargon of the Schools; That he on the other's ruin rears his throne; And shows his friend's mistake, and thence confirms his own. 6 On earth, in air, amidst the seas and skies, Which guides his doubts, and combats his despair) Through either ocean, foolish man! That pregnant word sent forth again, Might to a world extend each atom there; For every drop call forth a sea, a heaven for every star. 7 Let cunning Earth her fruitful wonders hide; How by her patient victor Death was slain; Low, reverently low, Make thy stubborn knowledge bow; 8 Then Faith, for Reason's glimmering light, shall give Her immortal perspective; And Grace's presence Nature's loss retrieve: With all their comments, never could invent So politic an instrument, To reach the Heaven of Heavens, the high abode, As was that ladder which old Jacob reared, TO THE COUNTESS OF EXETER,* PLAYING ON THE LUTE. WHAT charms you have, from what high race you sprung, Have been the pleasing subjects of my song: Unskilled and young, yet something still I writ, But when you please to show the labouring Muse But hear, rejoice, stand silent, and adore. The Persians thus, first gazing on the sun, Admired how high 'twas placed, how bright it shone; 10 But, as his power was known, their thoughts were raised; And soon they worshipped, what at first they praised. And Cowley's verse keeps fair Orinda young. 20 Strange force of harmony, that thus controls Our thoughts, and turns and sanctifies our souls; While with its utmost art your sex could move Our wonder only, or at best our love: You far above both these your God did place, That your high power might worldly thoughts destroy; 1 Anne, daughter of William Earl of Devonshire, and sister to the first Duke of Devonshire, widow also to Charles Lord Rich, was married to John Cecil Lord Burleigh, afterwards Earl of Exeter. That with your numbers you our zeal might raise, 27 And, like himself, communicate your joy. When to your native Heaven you shall repair, And with your presence crown the blessings there, Your lute may wind its strings but little higher, To tune their notes to that immortal choir. Your art is perfect here; your numbers do, More than our books, make the rude atheist know, That there's a Heaven, by what he hears below. As in some piece, while Luke his skill expressed, Some cherub finishes what you begun, 40 To burning Rome when frantic Nero played, Thine, like Amphion's hand, had waked the stone, 50 PICTURE OF SENECA DYING IN A BATH. BY JORDAIN. AT THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF EXETER'S AT BURLEIGH HOUSE. WHILE cruel Nero only drains The moral Spaniard's ebbing veins, Heightened revenge he should have took; And lives and speaks, restored and whole. 5 AN ODE. 1 WHILE blooming youth, and gay delight Sit on thy rosy cheeks confessed, Thou hast, my dear, undoubted right To triumph o'er this destined breast. My reason bends to what thy eyes ordain; For I was born to love, and thou to reign. 2 But would you meanly thus rely On power, you know I must obey? Exert a legal tyranny; And do an ill, because you may? Still must I thee, as atheists Heaven adore; 3 Take heed, my dear, youth flies apace; The thousand loves, that arm thy potent eye, |