40

Chiefs, by whose Virtue mighty Rome was rais'd,
And Poets, who those chiefs sublimely prais'd!
Oft I the traces you have left explore,
Your alhes visit, and your urns adore ;
Oft kiss, with lips devout, fome mould'ring stone,
With ivy's venerable shade o'ergrown;
Those hallow'd ruins better pleas'd to see
Than all the pomp of modern Luxury.

As late on Virgil's tomb fresh flow'rs I strow'd, While with th'inspiring Muse my bosom glow'd, Crown'd with eternal bays my ravilh'd

eyes 45 Beheld the Poet's awful Form arise : Stranger, he said, whose pious hand has paid These grateful rites to my attentive shade, When thou shalt breathe thy happy native air, To Pope this message from his Master bear:

50 Great Bard, whose numbers I myself inspire, To whom I gave my own harmonious lyre, If high exalted on the Throne of Wit, Near Me and Homer thou aspire to fit, No more let meaner Satire dim the

rays 55 That flow majestic from thy nobler Bays; In all the flow'ry paths of Pindus stray, But shun that thorny, that unpleasing way;

Nor, when each soft engaging Muse is thine,
Address the least attractive of the Nine. 60

Of thee more worthy were the task, to raise
A lasting Column to thy Country's Praise,
To sing the Land, which yet

alone can boast
That Liberty corrupted Rome has lost;
Where Science in the arms of Peace is laid, 65
And plants her Palm beneath the Olive's shade.
Such was the Theme for which my lyre I strung,
Such was the People whose exploits I sung;
Brave, yet refin’d, for Arms and Arts renown'd,
With diff'rent bays by Mars and Phæbus crown'd,
Dauntless opposers of Tyrannic Sway,
But pleas’d, a mild AUGUSTUS to obey.

If these commands submissive thou receive,
Immortal and unblam'd thy name shall live;
Envy to black Cocytus shall retire,
And howl with Furies in tormenting fire;
Approving Time shall consecrate thy Lays,
And join the Patriot's to the Poet's Praise.

75

GEORGE LYTTELTON.

PASTORALS,

WITH A

Discourse on PASTORAL,

Written in the Year M DCC IV.

Rura mihi et rigui placeant in vallibus amnes,
Flumina amem, sylvasque, inglorius !

VIRGI