Neceffity, and feek the fplendid bribe.

The citron board, the bowl emboss'd with gems,
And tender foliage wildly wreath'd around
Of feeming ivy, by that artful hand,
Corinthian Thericles; whate'er is known
Of rareft acquifition; Tyrian garbs,
Neptunian Albion's high teftaceous food,
And flavour'd Chian wines with incenfe fum'd
To flake Patrician thirst: for these, their rights
In the vile streets they proftitute to fale;

Their ancient rights, their dignities, their laws,
Their native glorious freedom. Is there none,
Is there no villain, that will bind the neck

Stretch'd to the yoke? they come; the market throngs.
But who has most by fraud or force amass'd?
Who most can charm corruption with his doles?
He be the monarch of the state; and lo!

Didius, vile us'rer, through the crowd he mounts,
Beneath his feet the Roman eagle cow'rs,

And the red arrows fill his grasp uncouth.

O Britons, O my countrymen, beware,

Gird, gird your hearts; the Romans once were free,
Were brave, were virtuous.-Tyranny howe'er

• Didius Julianus, who bought the empire.

Deign'd

Deign'd to walk forth awhile in pageant state,
And with licentious pleasures fed the rout,
The thoughtless many: to the wanton found
Of fifes and drums they danc'd, or in the fhade
Sung Cæfar, great and terrible in war,

Immortal Cæfar! lo, a God, a God,'

He cleaves the yielding skies! Cæfar mean while
Gathers the ocean pebbles; or the gnat
Enrag'd purfues; or at his lonely meal

Starves a wide province; taftes, diflikes, and flings
To dogs and fycophants: a God, a God!

The flow'ry fhades and shrines obscene return.
But fee along the north the tempeft fwell

O'er the rough Alps, and darken all their fnows!
Sudden the Goth and Vandal, dreaded names,
Rush as the breach of waters, whelming all
Their domes, their villa's; down the festive piles,
Down fall their Parian porches, gilded baths,

And roll before the ftorm in clouds of duft.

Vain end of human strength, of human skill,

Conqueft, and triumph, and domain, and pomp,
And ease and luxury! O luxury,

Bane of elated life, of affluent states,

What dreary change, what ruin is not thine?

How doth thy bowl intoxicate the mind!
To the foft entrance of thy rofy cave

How doft thou lure the fortunate and great!
Dreadful attraction! while behind thee gapes
Th' unfathomable gulph where Afhur lies

O'erwhelm'd, forgotten; and high-boasting Cham;
And Elam's haughty pomp ; and beauteous Greece;
And the great queen of earth, imperial ROME.

THE

THE

SCHOOL-MISTRESS.

A POE M,

In Imitation of SPENSER.

BY WILLIAM SHENSTONE, Efq;

Audita voces, vagitus & ingens, Infantumque animæ flentes in Limine primo.

ADVERTISEMENT.

VIRG.

What particulars in Spenfer were imagin'd most proper for the Author's imitation on this occafion, are his language, his fimplicity, his manner of description, and a peculiar tenderness of fentiment remarkable throughout his works.

A

I.

H me! full forely is my heart forlorn,

To think how modest worth neglected lies While partial Fame doth with her blasts adorn Such deeds alone, as pride and pomp disguise;

Deeds of ill fort, and mischievous emprize!
Lend me thy clarion, goddess! let me try
To found the praise of merit, ere it dies
Such as I oft have chaunced to espy,
Loft in the dreary fhades of dull obfcurity.

II.

In every village mark'd with little spire,
Embow'r'd in trees, and hardly known to Fame,
There dwells, in lowly shed, and mean attire,
A matron old whom we school-mistress name;
Who boasts unruly brats with birch to tame.
They grieven fore, in piteous durance pent,
Aw'd by the pow'r of this relentless dame;
And oft-times on vagaries idly bent,

For unkempt hair, or task unconn'd, are forely fhent.
III.

And all in fight doth rise a birchen tree,

Which Learning near her little dome did stowe; Whilom a twig of small regard to fee, Though now fo wide its waving branches flow; And work the fimple vaffals mickle woe; For not a wind might curl the leaves that blew, But their limbs fhudder'd, and their pulse beat low ; And, as they look'd, they found their horror grew, And shap'd it into rods, and tingled at the view.

IV. So