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THE TEMPLE OF FAME.
Price One Shilling.
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The Temple of Fame.
L [...] Cheron inv.
Saml. Gribelin Junr. Sculp.
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THE TEMPLE OF FAME: A VISION.
By Mr. POPE.
THE SECOND EDITION.
LONDON: Printed for BERNARD LINTOTT between the two Temple-Gates in Fleetſtreet. 1715.
THE TEMPLE OF FAME.
[7]IN that ſoft Seaſon when deſcending Showers
Call forth the Greens, and wake the riſing Flowers;
When opening Buds ſalute the welcome Day,
And Earth relenting feels the Genial Ray;
[8] As balmy Sleep had charm'd my Cares to Reſt,
And Love it ſelf was baniſh'd from my Breaſt,
(What Time the Morn myſterious Viſions brings,
While purer Slumber ſpread their golden Wings)
A Train of Phantoms in wild Order roſe,
And, join'd, this Intellectual Scene compoſe.
I ſtood, methought, betwixt Earth, Seas, and Skies;
The whole Creation open to my Eyes:
In Air ſelf-balanc'd hung the Globe below,
Where Mountains riſe, and circling Oceans flow;
Here naked Rocks and empty Waſtes were ſeen,
There tow'ry Cities, and the Foreſts green:
Here ſailing Ships delight the wand'ring Eyes;
There Trees, and intermingl'd Temples riſe:
[9] Now a clear Sun the ſhining Scene diſplays,
The tranſient Landſcape now in Clouds decays.
O'er the wide Proſpect as I gaz'd around,
Sudden I heard a wild promiſcuous Sound,
Like broken Thunders that at diſtance roar,
Or Billows murm'ring on the hollow Shoar:
Then gazing up, a glorious Pile beheld,
Whoſe tow'ring Summit ambient Clouds conceal'd.
High on a Rock of Ice the Structure lay,
Steep its Aſcent, and ſlipp'ry was the Way;
The wond'rous Rock like Parian Marble ſhone,
And ſeem'd to diſtant Sight of ſolid Stone.
Inſcriptions here of various Names I view'd,
The greater Part by hoſtile Time ſubdu'd;
Yet wide was ſpread their Fame in Ages paſt,
And Poets once had promis'd they ſhould laſt.
[10] Some freſh engrav'd appear'd of Wits renown'd;
I look'd again, nor cou'd their Trace be found.
Criticks I ſaw, that others Names deface,
And fix their own with Labour in their place:
Their own like others ſoon their Place reſign'd,
Or diſappear'd, and left the firſt behind.
Nor was the Work impair'd by Storms alone,
But felt th' Approaches of too warm a Sun:
For Fame, impatient of Extreams, decays
Not more by Envy than Exceſs of Praiſe.
Yet Part no Injuries of Heav'n cou'd feel,
Like Cryſtal faithful to the graving Steel:
The Rock's high Summit, in the Temple's Shade,
Nor Heat could melt, nor beating Storm invade.
There Names inſcrib'd unnumber'd Ages paſt
From Time's firſt Birth, with Time it ſelf ſhall laſt;
[11] Theſe ever new, nor ſubject to Decays,
Spread, and grow brighter with the Length of Days.
So Zembla's Rocks (the beauteous Work of Froſt)
Riſe white in Air, and glitter o'er the Coaſt;
Pale Suns, unfelt, at diſtance roll away,
And on th' impaſſive Ice the Lightnings play:
Eternal Snows the growing Maſs ſupply,
Till the bright Mountains prop th' incumbent Sky:
As Atlas fix'd, each hoary Pile appears,
The gather'd Winter of a thouſand Years.
On this Foundation Fame's high Temple ſtands;
Stupendous Pile! not rear'd by mortal Hands.
Whate'er proud Rome, or artful Greece beheld,
Or elder Babylon, its Frame excell'd.
[12] Four Faces had the Dome, and ev'ry Face
Of various Structure, but of equal Grace:
Four brazen Gates, on Columns lifted high,
Salute the diff'rent Quarters of the Sky.
Here fabled Chiefs in darker Ages born,
Or Worthies old, whom Arms or Arts adorn,
Who Cities rais'd, or tam'd a monſtrous Race;
The fourfold Walls in breathing Statues grace:
Heroes in animated Marble frown,
And Legiſlators ſeem to think in Stone.
Weſtward, a ſumptuous Frontiſpiece appear'd,
On Dorick Pillars of white Marble rear'd,
Crown'd with an Architrave of antique Mold,
And Sculpture riſing on the roughen'd Gold.
[13] In ſhaggy Spoils here Theſeus was beheld,
And Perſeus dreadful with Minerva's Shield:
There great Alcides ſtooping with his Toil,
Reſts on his Club, and holds th' Heſperian Spoil.
Here Orpheus ſings; Trees moving to the Sound
Start from their Roots, and form a Shade around:
Amphion there the loud creating Lyre
Strikes, and beholds a ſudden Thebes aſpire;
Cythaeron's Ecchoes anſwer'd to his Call,
And half the Mountain roll'd into a Wall:
There might you ſee the length'ning Spires aſcend,
The Domes ſwell up, the widening Arches bend,
The growing Tow'rs like Exhalations riſe,
And the huge Columns heave into the Skies.
[14]
The Eaſtern Front was glorious to behold,
With Diamond flaming, and Barbarick Gold.
There Ninus ſhone, who ſpread th' Aſſyrian Fame,
And the great Founder of the Perſian Name:
There in long Robes the Royal Magi ſtand,
Grave Zoroaſter waves the circling Wand:
The ſage Chaldaeans rob'd in White appear'd,
And Brachmans deep in deſert Woods rever'd.
Theſe ſtop'd the Moon, and call'd th' unbody'd Shades
To Midnight Banquets in the glimm'ring Glades;
Made viſionary Fabricks round them riſe,
And airy Spectres skim before their Eyes;
Of Taliſmans and Sigils knew the Pow'r,
And careful watch'd the Planetary Hour.
Superior, and alone, Confucius ſtood,
Who taught that uſeful Science, to be good.
[15]
But on the South a long Majeſtick Race
Of Aegypt's Prieſts the gilded Niches grace,
Who meaſur'd Earth, deſcrib'd the ſtarry Spheres,
And trac'd the long Records of Lunar Years.
High on his Car Seſoſtris ſtruck my View,
Whom ſcepter'd Slaves in golden Harneſs drew:
His Hands a Bow and pointed Jav'lin hold,
His Giant Limbs are arm'd in Scales of Gold.
Between the Statues Obelisks were plac'd,
And the learn'd Walls with Hieroglyphicks grac'd.
Of Gothick Structure was the Northern Side,
O'erwrought with Ornaments of barb'rous Pride.
There huge Coloſſes roſe, with Trophies crown'd,
And Runick Characters were grav'd around:
[16] There ſate Zamolxis with erected Eyes,
And Odin here in mimick Trances dies.
There, on rude Iron Columns ſmear'd with Blood,
The horrid Forms of Scythian Heroes ſtood,
Druids and Bards (their once loud Harps unſtrung)
And Youths that dy'd to be by Poets ſung.
Theſe and a thouſand more of doubtful Fame,
To whom old Fables gave a laſting Name,
In Ranks adorn'd the Temple's outward Face;
The Wall in Luſtre and Effect like Glaſs,
Which o'er each Object caſting various Dies,
Enlarges ſome, and others multiplies.
Nor void of Emblem was the myſtick Wall,
For thus Romantick Fame increaſes all.
[17]
The Temple ſhakes, the ſounding Gates unfold,
Wide Vaults appear, and Roofs of fretted Gold,
Rais'd on a thouſand Pillars, wreath'd around
With Lawrel-Foliage, and with Eagles crown'd:
Of bright, tranſparent Beryl were the Walls,
The Freezes Gold, and Gold the Capitals:
As Heaven with Stars, the Roof with Jewels glows,
And ever living Lamps depend in Rows.
Full in the Paſſage of each ſpacious Gate
The ſage Hiſtorians in white Garments wait;
Grav'd o'er their Seats the Form of Time was found,
His Scythe revers'd, and both his Pinions bound.
Within, ſtood Heroes who thro' loud Alarms
In bloody Fields purſu'd Renown in Arms.
High on a Throne with Trophies charg'd, I view'd
The Youth that all things but himſelf ſubdu'd;
[18] His Feet on Sceptres and Tiara's trod,
And his horn'd Head expreſs'd the Libyan God.
There Caeſar, grac'd with both Minerva's, ſhone;
Caeſar, the World's great Maſter, and his own;
Unmov'd, ſuperior ſtill in every State;
And ſcarce deteſted in his Country's Fate.
But chief were thoſe who not for Empire fought,
But with their Toils their People's Safety bought:
High o'er the reſt Epaminondas ſtood;
Timoleon, glorious in his Brother's Blood;
And Scipio, Saviour of the Roman State,
Great in his Triumphs, in Retirement great.
Here too the Wiſe and Good their Honours claim,
Much-ſuff'ring Heroes, of leſs noiſy Fame,
[19] Fair Virtue's ſilent Train: Supreme of theſe
Here ever ſhines the Godlike Socrates.
Here triumphs He whom Athens did expel,
In all things Juſt, but when he ſign'd the Shell.
Here his Abode the martyr'd Phocion claims,
With Agis, not the laſt of Spartan Names:
Unconquer'd Cato ſhews the Wound he tore,
And Brutus his ill Genius meets no more.
But in the Centre of the hallow'd Quire
Six pompous Column's o'er the reſt aſpire;
Around the Shrine it ſelf of Fame they ſtand,
Hold the chief Honours, and the Fane command.
High on the firſt, the mighty Homer ſhone;
Eternal Adamant compos'd his Throne;
[20] Father of Verſe! in holy Fillets dreſt,
His Silver Beard wav'd gently o'er his Breaſt;
Tho' blind, a Boldneſs in his Looks appears,
In Years he ſeem'd, but not impair'd by Years.
The Wars of Troy were round the Pillar ſeen:
Here fierce Tydides wounds the Cyprian Queen:
Here Hector glorious from Patroclus Fall,
Here dragg'd in Triumph round the Trojan Wall,
Motion and Life did ev'ry Part inſpire,
Bold was the Work, and prov'd the Maſter's Fire;
A ſtrong Expreſſion moſt he ſeem'd t'affect,
And here and there diſclos'd a brave Neglect.
A Golden Column next in Rank appear'd,
On which a Shrine of pureſt Gold was rear'd;
[21] Finiſh'd the whole, and labour'd ev'ry Part,
With patient Touches of unweary'd Art:
The Mantuan there in ſober Triumph ſate,
Compos'd his Poſture, and his Look ſedate;
On Homer ſtill he fix'd a reverend Eye,
Great without Pride, in modeſt Majeſty.
In living Sculpture on the Sides were ſpread
The Latian Wars, and haughty Turnus dead;
Eliza ſtretch'd upon the fun'ral Pyre,
Aeneas bending with his aged Sire:
Troy flam'd in burniſh'd Gold, and o'er the Throne
Arms and the Man in Golden Cyphers ſhone.
Four Swans ſuſtain a Carr of Silver bright,
With Heads advanc'd, and Pinions ſtretch'd for Flight:
[22] Here, like ſome furious Prophet, Pindar rode,
And ſeem'd to labour with th' inſpiring God.
A-croſs the Harp a careleſs Hand he flings,
And boldly ſinks into the ſounding Strings.
The figur'd Games of Greece the Column grace,
Neptune and Jove ſurvey the rapid Race:
The Youth's hang o'er their Chariots as they run
The fiery Steeds ſeem ſtarting from the Stone;
The Champions in diſtorted Poſtures threat,
And all appear'd Irregularly great.
Here happy Horace tun'd th' Auſonian Lyre
To ſweeter Sounds, and temper'd Pindar's Fire:
Pleas'd with Alcaeus manly Rage t'infuſe
The ſofter Spirit of the Sapphick Muſe.
[23] The poliſh'd Pillar different Sculptures grace;
A Work outlaſting Monumental Braſs.
Here ſmiling Loves and Bacchanals appear,
The Julian Star and Great Auguſtus here.
The Doves that round the Infant Poet ſpread
Myrtles and Bays, hung hov'ring o'er his Head.
Here in a Shrine that caſt a dazling Light,
Sate fix'd in Thought the mighty Stagyrite;
His Sacred Head a radiant Zodiack crown'd,
And various Animals his Sides ſurround;
His piercing Eyes, erect, appear to view
Superior Worlds, and look all Nature thro'.
With equal Rays immortal Tully ſhone,
The Roman Roſtra deck'd the Conſul's Throne:
[24] Gath'ring his flowing Robe, he ſeem'd to ſtand,
In Act to ſpeak, and graceful, ſtretch'd his Hand:
Behind, Rome's Genius waits with Civick Crowns,
And the Great Father of his Country owns.
Theſe maſſie Columns in a Circle riſe,
O'er which a pompous Dome invades the Skies:
Scarce to the Top I ſtretch'd my aking Sight,
So large it ſpread, and ſwell'd to ſuch a Height.
Full in the midſt, proud Fame's Imperial Seat
With Jewels blaz'd, magnificently great;
The vivid Em'ralds there revive the Eye;
The flaming Rubies ſhew their ſanguine Dye;
Bright azure Rays from lively Saphirs ſtream,
And lucid Amber caſts a Golden Gleam.
[25] With various-colour'd Lights the Pavement ſhone,
And all on fire appear'd the glowing Throne;
The Dome's high Arch reflects the mingled Blaze,
And forms a Rainbow of alternate Rays.
When on the Goddeſs firſt I caſt my Sight,
Scarce ſeem'd her Stature of a Cubit's height,
But ſwell'd to larger Size, the more I gaz'd,
Till to the Roof her tow'ring Front ſhe rais'd.
With her, the Temple ev'ry Moment grew,
And ampler Viſta's open'd to my View,
Upward the Columns ſhoot, the Roofs aſcend,
And Arches widen, and long Iles extend.
Such was her Form, as antient Bards have told,
Wings raiſe her Arms, and Wings her Feet infold;
A Thouſand buſy Tongues the Goddeſs bears,
And Thouſand open Eyes, and Thouſand liſt'ning Ears.
[26] Beneath, in Order rang'd, the tuneful Nine
(Her Virgin Handmaids) ſtill attend the Shrine:
With Eyes on Fame for ever fix'd, they ſing;
For Fame they raiſe the Voice, and tune the String.
With Time's firſt Birth began the Heav'nly Lays,
And laſt Eternal thro' the Length of Days.
Around theſe Wonders as I caſt a Look,
The Trumpet ſounded, and the Temple ſhook,
And all the Nations, ſummon'd at the Call,
From diff'rent Quarters fill the crowded Hall:
Of various Tongues the mingled Sounds were heard;
In various Garbs promiſcuous Throngs appear'd;
Thick as the Bees, that with the Spring renew
Their flow'ry Toils, and ſip the fragrant Dew,
[27] When the wing'd Colonies firſt tempt the Sky,
O'er dusky Fields and ſhaded Waters fly,
Or ſettling, ſeize the Sweets the Bloſſoms yield,
And a low Murmur runs along the Field.
Millions of ſuppliant Crowds the Shrine attend,
And all Degrees before the Goddeſs bend;
The Poor, the Rich, the Valiant, and the Sage,
And boaſting Youth, and Narrative old Age.
Their Pleas were diff'rent, their Requeſt the ſame,
For Good and Bad alike are fond of Fame.
Some ſhe diſgrac'd, and ſome with Honours crown'd;
Unlike Succeſſes equal Merits found.
Thus her blind Siſter, fickle Fortune reigns,
And undiſcerning, ſcatters Crowns and Chains.
[28]
Firſt at the Shrine the Learned World appear,
And to the Goddeſs thus prefer their Prayer:
Long have we ſought t'inſtruct and pleaſe Mankind,
With Studies pale, with Midnight Vigils blind;
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:
[29] By juſt degrees they ev'ry moment riſe,
Fill the wide Earth, and gain upon the Skies.
At ev'ry Breath were balmy Odours ſhed,
Which ſtill grew ſweeter as they wider ſpread:
Leſs fragrant Scents th' 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 curſt,
And the beſt Men are treated like the worſt,
Do thou, juſt Goddeſs, call our Merits forth,
And give each Deed th' exact intrinſic Worth.
Not with bare Juſtice ſhall your Act be crown'd,
(Said Fame) but high above Deſert renown'd:
[30] Let fuller Notes th' applauding World amaze,
And the loud Clarion labour in your Praiſe.
This Band diſmiſs'd, behold another Crowd
Prefer'd the ſame Requeſt, and lowly bow'd,
The conſtant Tenour of whoſe well ſpent Days
No leſs deſerv'd a juſt Return of Praiſe.
But ſtrait the direful Trump of Slander ſounds,
Thro' the big Dome the doubling Thunder bounds:
Loud as the Burſt of Cannon rends the Skies,
The dire Report thro' ev'ry Region flies:
In ev'ry Ear inceſſant Rumours rung,
And gath'ring Scandals grew on ev'ry Tongue.
From the black Trumpet's ruſty Concave broke
Sulphureous Flames, and Clouds of rolling Smoke:
[31] The pois'nous Vapor 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 cry'd) amidſt Alarms and Strife,
We ſail'd in Tempeſts down the Stream of Life;
For thee whole Nations fill'd with Flames and Blood,
And ſwam to Empire thro' the purple Flood.
Thoſe Ills we dar'd thy Inſpiration own,
And all that Virtue ſeem'd was done for thee alone.
Ambitious Fools! (the Queen reply'd, and frown'd)
Be all your Acts in dark Oblivion crown'd;
There ſleep forgot, with mighty Tyrants gone,
Your Statues moulder'd, and your Names unknown.
[32] A ſudden Cloud ſtrait ſnatch'd them from my Sight,
And each Majeſtick Phantom ſunk in Night.
Then came the ſmalleſt Tribe I yet had ſeen,
Plain was their Dreſs, and modeſt was their Mein.
Great Idol of Mankind! we neither claim
The Praiſe of Merit, nor aſpire to Fame;
But ſafe in Deſerts from the Applauſe of Men,
Would die unheard of, as we liv'd unſeen.
'Tis all we beg thee, to conceal from Sight
Thoſe Acts of Goodneſs, which themſelves requite.
O let us ſtill the ſecret Joy partake,
To follow Virtue ev'n for Virtue's ſake.
And live there Men who ſlight immortal Fame?
Who then with Incenſe ſhall adore our Name?
[33] But, Mortals know, 'tis ſtill our greateſt Pride,
To blaze thoſe Virtues which the Good would hide.
Riſe! Muſes, riſe! add all your tuneful Breath,
Theſe muſt not ſleep in Darkneſs and in Death.
She ſaid: in Air the trembling Muſick floats,
And up the Winds triumphant ſwell the Notes;
So ſoft, tho' high, ſo loud, and yet ſo clear,
Ev'n liſt'ning Angels lean'd from Heaven to hear:
To fartheſt Shores th' Ambroſial Spirit flies,
Sweet to the World, and grateful to the Skies.
Next theſe a youthful Train their Vows expreſt,
With Feathers crown'd, with gay Embroid'ry dreſt:
Hither, they cry'd, direct your Eyes, and ſee
The Men of Pleaſure, Dreſs, and Gallantry:
[34] Ours is the Place at Banquets, Balls and Plays;
Sprightly our Nights, polite are all our Days;
Courts we frequent, where 'tis our pleaſing Care
To pay due Viſits, and addreſs the Fair:
In fact, 'tis true, no Nymph we cou'd perſuade,
But ſtill in Fancy vanquiſh'd ev'ry Maid;
Of unknown Dutcheſſes leud Tales we tell,
Yet would the World believe us, all were well.
The Joy let others have, and we the Name,
And what we want in Pleaſure, grant in Fame.
The Queen aſſents, the Trumpet rends the Skies,
And at each Blaſt a Lady's Honour dies.
Pleas'd with the ſtrange Succeſs, vaſt Numbers preſt
Around the Shrine, and made the ſame Requeſt:
[35] What you (ſhe cry'd) unlearn'd in Arts to pleaſe,
Slaves to your ſelves, and ev'n fatigu'd with Eaſe,
Who loſe a Length of undeſerving Days;
Wou'd you uſurp the Lover's dear-bought Praiſe?
To juſt Contempt, ye vain Pretenders, fall,
The Peoples Fable, and the Scorn of all.
Strait the black Clarion ſends a horrid Sound,
Loud Laughs burſt out, and bitter Scoffs fly round,
Whiſpers were heard, with Taunts reviling loud,
And ſcornful Hiſſes ran thro' all the Croud.
Laſt, thoſe who boaſt of mighty Miſchiefs done,
Enſlave their Country, or uſurp a Throne;
Or who their Glory's dire Foundation laid,
On Sovereigns ruin'd, or on Friends betray'd,
[36] Calm, thinking Villains, whom no Faith can fix,
Of crooked Counſels and dark Politicks;
Of theſe a gloomy Tribe ſurround the Throne,
And beg to make th' immortal Treaſons known.
The Trumpet roars, long flaky Flames expire,
With Sparks, that ſeem'd to ſet the World on fire.
At the dread Sound, pale Mortals ſtood aghaſt,
And ſtartled Nature trembled with the Blaſt.
This having heard and ſeen, ſome Pow'r un⯑known
Strait chang'd the Scene, and ſnatch'd me from the Throne.
Before my View appear'd a Structure fair,
Its Site uncertain, if in Earth or Air;
[37] With rapid Motion turn'd the Manſion round;
With ceaſeleſs Noiſe the ringing Walls reſound:
Not leſs in Number were the ſpacious Doors,
Than Leaves on Trees, or Sands upon the Shores;
Which ſtill unfolded ſtand, by Night, by Day,
Pervious to Winds, and open ev'ry way.
As Flames by Nature to the Skies aſcend,
As weighty Bodies to the Center tend,
As to the Sea returning Rivers roll,
And the touch'd Needle trembles to the Pole:
Hither, as to their proper Place, ariſe
All various Sounds from Earth, and Seas, and Skies.
Or ſpoke aloud, or whiſper'd in the Ear;
Nor ever Silence, Reſt or Peace is here.
As on the ſmooth Expanſe of Cryſtal Lakes,
The ſinking Stone at firſt a Circle makes;
[38] The trembling Surface, by the Motion ſtir'd,
Spreads in a ſecond Circle, then a third;
Wide, and more wide, the floating Rings advance,
Fill all the wat'ry Plain, and to the Margin dance.
Thus ev'ry Voice and Sound, when firſt they break,
On neighb'ring Air a ſoft Impreſſion make;
Another ambient Circle then they move.
That, in its turn, impels the next above;
Thro' undulating Air the Sounds are ſent,
And ſpread o'er all the fluid Element.
There various News I heard, of Love and Strife,
Of Peace and War, Health, Sickneſs, Death, and Life;
Of Loſs and Gain, of Famine and of Store,
Of Storms at Sea, and Travels on the Shore,
[39] Of Prodigies, and Portents ſeen in Air,
Of Fires and Plagues, and Stars with blazing Hair,
Of Turns of Fortune, Changes in the State,
The Falls of Fav'rites, Projects of the Great,
Of old Miſmanagements, Taxations new;—
All neither wholly falſe, nor wholly true.
Above, below, without, within, around,
Confus'd, unnumber'd Multitudes are found,
Who paſs, repaſs, advance, and glide away;
Hoſts rais'd by Fear, and Phantoms of a Day.
Aſtrologers, that future Fates foreſhew,
Projectors, Quacks, and Lawyers not a few;
And Prieſts and Party-Zealots, num'rous Bands
With home-born Lyes, or Tales from foreign Lands;
[40] Each talk'd aloud, or in ſome ſecret Place,
And wild Impatience ſtar'd in ev'ry Face:
The flying Rumours gather'd as they roll'd,
Scarce any Tale was ſooner heard than told;
And all who told it, added ſomething new,
And all who heard it, made Enlargements too,
In ev'ry Ear it ſpread, on ev'ry Tongue it grew.
Thus flying Eaſt and Weſt, and North and South,
News travel'd with Increaſe from Mouth to Mouth;
So from a Spark, that kindled firſt by Chance,
With gath'ring Force the quick'ning Flames ad⯑vance;
Till to the Clouds their curling Heads aſpire,
And Tow'rs and Temples ſink in Floods of Fire.
[41]
When thus ripe Lyes are to perfection ſprung,
Full grown, and fit to grace a mortal Tongue,
Thro' thouſand Vents, impatient forth they flow,
And ruſh in Millions on the World below.
Fame ſits aloft, and points them out their Courſe,
Their Date determines, and preſcribes their Force:
Some to remain, and ſome to periſh ſoon,
Or wane and wax alternate like the Moon.
Around a thouſand winged Wonders fly,
Born by the Trumpet's Blaſt, and ſcatter'd thro' the Sky.
There, at one Paſſage, oft you might ſurvey
A Lye and Truth contending for the way;
And long 'twas doubtful, both ſo cloſely pent,
Which firſt ſhould iſſue thro' the narrow Vent:
[42] At laſt agreed, together out they fly,
Inſeparable now, the Truth and Lye;
The ſtrict Companions are for ever join'd,
And this or that unmix'd, no Mortal e'er ſhall find.
While thus I ſtood, intent to ſee and hear,
One came, methought, and whiſper'd in my Ear;
What cou'd thus high thy raſh Ambition raiſe?
Art thou, fond Youth, a Candidate for Praiſe?
'Tis true, ſaid I, not void of Hopes I came,
For who ſo fond as youthful Bards of Fame?
But few, alas! the caſual Bleſſing boaſt,
So hard to gain, ſo eaſy to be loſt:
How vain that ſecond Life in others Breath,
Th' Eſtate which Wits inherit after Death!
[43] Eaſe, Health, and Life, for this we muſt reſign,
(Unſure the Tenure, but how vaſt the Fine!)
The Great Man's Curſe without the Gains endure,
Be envy'd, wretched, and be flatter'd poor;
All luckleſs Wits our Enemies profeſt,
And all ſucceſsful, jealous Friends at beſt.
Nor Fame I ſlight, nor for her Favours call;
She comes unlook'd for, if ſhe comes at all:
But if the Purchaſe coſts ſo dear a Price,
As ſoothing Folly, or exalting Vice:
Oh! if the Muſe muſt flatter lawleſs Sway,
And follow ſtill where Fortune leads the way;
Or if no Baſis bear my riſing Name,
But the fall'n Ruins of Another's Fame:
Then teach me, Heaven! to ſcorn the guilty Bays;
Drive from my Breaſt that wretched Luſt of Praiſe;
[44] Unblemiſh'd let me live, or die unknown,
Oh grant an honeſt Fame, or grant me none!
Appendix A NOTES.
[45]SOME modern Criticks, from a pre⯑tended Refinement of Taſte, have declar'd themſelves unable to reliſh allegorical Poems. 'Tis not eaſy to penetrate into the meaning of this Criticiſm; for if Fable be al⯑low'd one of the chief Beauties, or as Ariſtotle calls it, the very Soul of Poetry, 'tis hard to com⯑prehend how that Fable ſhould be the leſs valua⯑ble for having a Moral. The Ancients conſtantly made uſe of Allegories: My Lord Bacon has com⯑pos'd an expreſs Treatiſe in proof of this, entitled, The Wiſdom of the Antients; where the Reader may ſee ſeveral particular Fictions exemplify'd and explain'd with great Clearneſs, Judgment and Learning. The Incidents indeed, by which the Al⯑legory is convey'd, muſt be vary'd, according to the different Genius or Manners of different Times: and they ſhould never be ſpun too long, or too much clogg'd with trivial Circumſtances, or little Parti⯑cularities. We find an uncommon Charm in Truth, when it is convey'd by this Side-way to our Ʋnder⯑ſtanding; and 'tis obſervable, that even in the moſt ignorant Ages this way of Writing has found Reception. Almoſt all the Poems in the old Pro⯑vençal [46] had this Turn; and from theſe it was that Petrarch took the Idea of his Poetry. We have his Trionfi in this kind; and Boccace purſu'd in the ſame Track. Soon after Chau⯑cer introduc'd it here, whoſe Romaunt of the Roſe, Court of Love, Flower and the Leaf, Houſe of Fame, and ſome others of his Wri⯑tings are Maſter-pieces of this ſort. In Epick Poetry, 'tis true, too nice and exact a Purſuit of the Allegory is juſtly eſteem'd a Fault; and Chau⯑cer had the Diſcernment to avoid it in his Knight's Tale, which was an Attempt towards an Epick Poem. Arioſto, with leſs judgment, gave in⯑tirely into it in his Orlando; which tho' carry'd to an Exceſs, had yet ſo much Reputation in Italy, that Taſſo (who reduc'd Heroick Poetry to the juſter Standard of the Ancients) was forc'd to prefix to his Work a ſcrupulous Explanation of the Allegory of it, to which the Fable it-ſelf could ſcarce have directed his Readers. Our Country⯑man Spencer follow'd, whoſe Poem is almoſt intire⯑ly allegorical, and imitates the manner of Arioſto rather than that of Taſſo. Ʋpon the whole, one may obſerve this ſort of Writing (however diſ⯑continu'd of late) was in all Times ſo far from being rejected by the beſt Poets, that ſome of them have rather err'd by inſiſting in it too cloſely, and carrying it too far: And that to infer from thence that the Allegory it ſelf is vicious, is a pre⯑ſumptuous Contradiction to the Judgment and Practice of the greateſt Genius's, both ancient and modern.
Appendix A.1 Pag. II. ver. 3.
So Zembla's Rocks, &c.
[47]Tho' a ſhort Veriſimilitude be not requir'd in the Deſcriptions of this viſionary and allegorical kind of Poetry, which admits of every wild Object that Fancy may preſent in a Dream, and where it is ſufficient if the moral Meaning atone for the Im⯑probability: Yet Men are naturally ſo deſirous of Truth, that a Reader is generally pleas'd, in ſuch a Caſe, with ſome Excuſe or Alluſion that ſeems to reconcile the Deſcription to Probability and Na⯑ture. The Simile here is of that ſort, and ren⯑ders it not wholly unlikely that a Rock of Ice ſhould remain for ever, by mentioning ſomething like it in the Northern Regions, agreeing with the Accounts of our modern Travellers.
Appendix A.2 P. 12. ver. 1.
Four Faces had the Dome, &c.
The Temple is deſcrib'd to be ſquare, the four Fronts with open Gates facing the different Quar⯑ters of the World, as an Intimation that all Na⯑tions of the Earth may alike be receiv'd into it. The Weſtern Front is of Grecian Architecture: the Dorick Order was peculiarly ſacred to Heroes and Warriors. Thoſe whoſe Statues are here men⯑tion'd, were the firſt Names of old Greece in Arms and Arts.
Appendix A.3 Pag. 13. ver. 3.
There great Alcides, &c.
This Figure of Hercules is drawn with an eye to the Poſition of the famous Statue of Farneſe.
Appendix A.4 Pag. 14. ver. 4.
And the great Founder of the Perſian Name.
[48]Cyrus was the Beginner of the Perſian, as Ni⯑hus was of the Aſſyrian Monarchy. The Magi and Chaldeans (the chief of whom was Zoroaſter) employ'd their Studies upon Magick and Aſtrology, which was in a manner almoſt all the Learning of the antient Aſian People. We have ſcarce any Account of a moral Philoſopher except Confucius, the great Lawgiver of the Chineſe, who liv'd about two thouſand Years ago.
Appendix A.5 Pag. 15. ver. 2.
Egypt's Prieſts, &c.
The Learning of the old Egyptian Prieſts con⯑ſiſted for the moſt part in Geometry and Aſtrono⯑my: They alſo preſerv'd the Hiſtory of their Na⯑tion. Their greateſt Hero upon Record is Seſoſ⯑tris, whoſe Actions and Conqueſts may be ſeen at large in Diodorus, &c. He is ſaid to have caus'd the Kings he vanquiſh'd to draw him in his Chariot. The Poſture of his Statue, in theſe Verſes, is correſpondent to the Deſcription which Herodotus gives of one of this Prince's Statues remaining in his own time.
Appendix A.6 Pag. 15. ver. 11.
Of Gothick Structure was the Northern Side.
The Architecture is agreeable to that part of the World. The Learning of the Northern Nations lay more obſcure than that of the reſt. Zamolxis [49] was the Diſciple of Pythagoras, who taught the Immortality of the Soul to the Scythians. Odin, or Woden, was the great Legiſlator and Hero of the Goths. They tell us of him that being ſub⯑ject to Fits, he perſuaded his Followers, that du⯑ring thoſe Trances he receiv'd Inſpirations from whence he dictated his Laws. He is ſaid to have been the Inventor of the Runic Characters.
Appendix A.7 Pag. 16. ver. 5.
Druids and Bards, &c.
Theſe were the Prieſts and Poets of thoſe Peo⯑ple, ſo celebrated for their ſavage Virtue. Thoſe heroick Barbarians accounted it a Diſhonour to die in their Beds, and ruſh'd on to certain Death in the Proſpect of an After-Life, and for the Glory of a Song from their Bards in Praiſe of their Actions.
Appendix A.8 Pag. 17. ver. ult.
The Youth that all things but himſelf ſubdu'd.
Alexander the Great: The Tiara was the Crown peculiar to the Aſian Princes: His Deſire to be thought the Son of Jupiter Ammon caus'd him to wear the Horns of that God, and to repreſent the ſame upon his Coins, which was continu'd by ſe⯑veral of his Succeſſors.
Appendix A.9 Pag. 18. ver. 10.
Timoleon glorious in his Bro⯑ther's Blood.
Timoleon had ſav'd the Life of his Brother Timophanes in the Battel between the Argives [50] and Corinthians; but afterwards kill'd him when he affected the Tyranny, preferring his Duty to his Country to all the Obligations of Blood.
Appendix A.10 Pag. 19. ver. 3.
—He whom Athens did expel,
In all things juſt, but when he ſign'd the Shell.
Ariſtides, who for his great Integrity was diſtin⯑guiſh'd by the Appellation of the Juſt. When his Countrymen would have baniſh'd him by the O⯑ſtraciſm, where it was the Cuſtom for every Man to ſign the Name of the Perſon he voted to Exile in an Oyſter-Shell; a Peaſant, who could not write, came to Ariſtides to do it for him, who readily ſign'd his own Name. Vide Plutarch. See the ſame Author of Phocion, Agis, &c.
Appendix A.11 Pag. 19. ver. 9.
But in the Center of the hallow'd Quire, &c.
In the midſt of the Temple, neareſt the Throne of Fame, are plac'd the greateſt Names in Learn⯑ing of all Antiquity. Theſe are deſcrib'd in ſuch Attitudes as expreſs their different Characters. The Columns on which they are rais'd are adorn'd with Sculptures, taken from the moſt ſtriking Subjects of their Works; which are ſo executed, as that the Sculpture bears a Reſemblance in its Manner and Character, to the Manner and Cha⯑racter of their Writings.
Appendix A.12 Pag. 21. ver. 13.
Four Swans ſuſtain, &c.
[51]Pindar being ſeated in a Chariot, alludes to the Chariot-races he celebrated in the Grecian Games. The Swans are the Emblems of the Ode, as their ſoaring Poſture intimates the Sublimity and Acti⯑vity of his Genius. Neptune preſided over the Iſthmian, and Jupiter over the Olympian Games.
Appendix A.13 Pag. 22. ver. 13.
Pleas'd with Alcaeus Man⯑ly Rage t' infuſe
The ſofter Spirit of the Sapphick Muſe.
This expreſſes the mixt Character of the Odes of Horace. The ſecond of theſe Verſes alludes to that Line of his:
Spiritum Graiae tenuem Camoenae.
As another which follows, to that,
Exegi Monumentum aere perennius.
The Action of the Doves hints at a Paſſage in the 4th Ode of his third Book.
Me fabuloſae Vulture in Appulo,
Altricis extra limen Apuliae,
Ludo fatigatumque ſomno,
Fronde nova puerum Palumbes
Texêre; mirum quod foret omnibus—
Ut tuto ab atris corpore viperis
Dormirem & urſis: ut permerer ſacra
[52] Lauroque, collataque myrto,
Non ſine Dis animoſus infans.
Which may be thus Engliſh'd;
While yet a Child, I chanc'd to ſtray,
And in a Deſart ſleeping lay;
The ſavage Race withdrew, nor dar'd
To touch the Muſes future Bard:
But Cytheraea's gentle Dove
Myrtles and Bays around me ſpread,
And crown'd your Infant Poet's Head,
Sacred to Muſick and to Love.
FINIS.
Appendix B BOOKS printed for Bernard Lintott.
[]Appendix B.1
- Miſcellanies.
- Tranſlation of the Iliad of Homer.
- A The firſt Book of Statius Thebais Tranſlated.
- The Fable of Vertumnus and Pomona from the 14th Book of Ovid's Metamorphoſis.
- To a Young Lady with the Works of Voiture.
- On Silence.
- To the Author of a Poem Entituled Succeſſion.
- An Ode for Muſick on St. Cecilia's Day.
- Windſor Forreſt.
- An Eſſay on Criticiſm.
- The Tragedies of Jane Shore and the Lady Jane Gray. By N. Rowe Eſq Poet Laureat.
- Callipaedia, Or the Art of getting pretty Children. Tranſlated by Mr. Oldiſworth
- Art of Cooke [...] in Imitation of Horace's Art of Poetry by Dr. King. 2d. Edition.
- The Art of Love in Imitation of Ovid De Arte Amandi. By Dr. King.
- The Iliad of Homer, tranſlated from the Greek into Blank Verſe, by Mr. Ozel, Mr Broom, and Mr. Oldiſworth. To which are added, a Preface, the Life of Homer, and Notes by Madam Dacier; illuſtrated with 26 Cuts copy'd by the beſt Gravers from the Paris Plates deſign'd by Coypel, in 5 Vol. 120. The ſecond Edition. Price 15 s.
- The Odes, Epodes, and Carmen Seculare of Horace in Latin and Engliſh, with a Tranſlation of Dr. Bently's Notes. To which are added, Notes upon Notes: By ſeveral Hands. Price 10 s.
- The Works of Virgil, tranſlated by the Right Honourable the Earl of Lauderdale. Printed in 2 Vol. with a new Elzevir Letter, Price 6 s.
- Praelectiones Poeticae in Scholâ naturalis Philoſophiae Oxon. habitae, Authore Joſepho Trapp. A.M. Price 2 s. 6 d.
N.B. The ſecond Vol. is now Publiſh'd. - A ſecond Edition of an Hiſtorical Account of the Heathen Gods and Heroes; neceſſary for the underſtanding of the ancient Poets. Being an Improvement of whatever has been hitherto written by the Greek, Latin, French and Engliſh Authors upon that Subject. By Dr. King. For the Uſe of Weſtminſter and all other Schools. Illu⯑ſtrated with Variety of Copper Plates. Price 2 s.
- [] Quintus Curtius's Hiſtory of the Wars of Alexander, with a large Map of the Countries he conquer'd, and an Index. Printed in 120 on a fine Paper and new Elzevir Letter, in 2 Vol. Price 6 s.
- The Tragedies of Ajax, Electra and OEdipus, tranſlated from the Greek of Sophocles into Blank Verſe. In 120. Price 12 d. each.
- The celebrated Works of Monſieur de Moliere, containing all his Comedies, Interludes, &c. with a large Account of his Life and remarkable Death; who, as he was acting the Part of Death in one of his Plays, was taken ill, and dyed a few Hours after. To which are added, Extracts out of divers Authors, concerning ſeveral Cir⯑cumſtances relating to the Life of Moliere; as likewiſe Judgment up⯑on ſome of his Pieces: Alſo his Effigies engrav'd on Copper from an Original by Mr. Vertue. Printed in 6 Vol. 120 on a fine Paper and Elzevir Letter. Price 15 s.
- The Lives of illuſtrious Men done into Engliſh from the original Latin of C. Nepos. Non pluribus impar. Price 2 s. 6 d.
- The third Edition of the Clergyman's Recreation, ſhewing the Plea⯑ſure and Profit of the Art of Gardening. By John Laurence, A.M. Rector of Yelvertoft in Northamptonſhire. Price 1 s.
- A Critical Diſcourſe upon the Iliad of Homer, tranſlated from the French of Mr. de la Motte, a Member of the French Academy. By Mr Theobald. Price 1 s.
- The Works of Mr. Edmund Smith, late of Chriſt-Church, Ox⯑ford; Containing, I. Phaedra and Hippolytus. II. A Poem on the Death of Mr. John Philips. III. Bodleian Speech. IV. Pocockius, &c. To which is prefix'd his Character by Mr. Oldiſworth; and his Epi⯑taph by the Reverend Mr. Adams of Chriſt Church, Price 1 s. 6 d.
- The Works of Mr. Thomas Southerne, in 2 Vol. 120. The Firſt Vol. containing The Loyal Brother, or The Perſian Prince. The Diſappointment, or The Mother in Faſhion. Sir Anthony Love, or The Rambling Lady. The Wives Excuſe, or Cuckolds make them⯑ſelves. The ſecond Volume containing, The Maids laſt Prayer, or Any rather than fail. The Fatal Marriage, or The Innocent Adultery. Oroonoko. The Fate of Capua. Pr. 5 s.
- PLAYS by the Right Honourable the Lord Landſdown, (viz.) The She Gallants, a Comedy: Heroick Love, a Tragedy, and The Jew of Venice, a Comedy.
- A Treatiſe upon the Modes, or a Farewel to French Kicks. Eſt Modus in Rebus. The Modes depend upon the Senſe. Of which the chief Heads are as follows. I. The Influence of Valour and Beauty upon the Modes. II. The Genius of the French as to Epick Poetry, Eloquence, and Medals. III. Taſte of the French for Muſick, Paint⯑ing, and their Pleas for dictating their Modes to the Britiſh Nation, and their Civility. IV. Maxims for ſuch as Travel in France, and a Speech proper for Travellers. V. The great Cheapneſs of French Workmanſhip, with a Story of Cornelius Agrippa. VI. An Eſſay of Perukes, and of Poetry, and of French Education. VII. Ad⯑vice to the Painters, with the Hiſtory of the Feather. VIII. A [] Story of an Embaſſador that came into England a thouſand Years ago. IX. Skill in Opticks neceſſary for a Head-dreſſer. X. An account of the Dutch Gentry, and of Military Exerciſes. XI. Paral⯑lel between Dreſs and Muſick. XII. Apology to the French Refu⯑gees, Pr. 1 s.
- The Works of Mr. George Farquhar, containing all his Letters, Poems, Eſſays and Comedies publiſh'd in his Life Time, viz. Love and a Bottle, The Conſtant Couple, or a Trip to the Jubilee. Sir Harry Wild Air. Inconſtant, or The Way to Win him. The Twin Rivals, The Recruiting Officer, and The Beaux Stratagem, with Cuts prefix'd to each Comedy. Pr. 6 s.
- The diverting Hiſtory of the Count de Gabalis; Containing, I. An Account of the Roſicrucian Doctrine of Spirits, viz. Sylphs, Sala⯑manders, Gnomes, and Daemons; ſhewing their various influence up⯑on human Bodies. II. The Nature and Advantages of Studying the Occult Sciences. III. The Carnal Knowledge of Women to be renounc'd. IV. Adam's Fall not occaſion'd by eating the Ap⯑ple, but by his carnal Knowledge of Eve. V. The Riſe, Progreſs and Decay of Oracles. VI. A Parallel between Ancient and Modern Prieſtcraft. To which is prefix'd Monſieur Bayle's Account of this Work, and of the Sect of the Roſicrucians. The 2d Edition, Pr. 1 s. 6 d.
- The Works of the celebrated and ancient Engliſh Poet Geoffrey Chaucer; carefully compar'd not only with former Editions of Value, but with many rare and ancient Manuſcripts: from the collating of which the Text is in a great meaſure reſtor'd and perfected; many Errors and Corruptions that have crept in and continued in all the Editions hitherto printed, are amended; and many whole Lines omitted in all the printed Editions are inſerted in their proper places. Three entire new Tales of this Author in Manuſcript (never yet printed) have been recover'd, and will be added to this Edition. By which Alterations, Additions and Amendments, this Work is in a manner become new. A moſt uſeful and copious Gloſſary for the better underſtanding of this Poet than has yet been printed, will be added at the End. Begun by John Urry late Student of Chriſt-Church, and compleated by the Care of the Students of Chriſt-Church. Propoſals are now Printed, and Subſcriptions taken in for the Bene⯑fit of the Executor, and for the carrying on the Building of Peck⯑water Quadrangle; by the Undertaker Bernard Lintott.
Appendix B.2 BOOKS preparing for the Preſs,
- A Compleat Body of Divinity, under the Title of Theologia Spe⯑culativa & Practica. In Two Volumes, Folio: In the Firſt Volume will be explain'd the Principles, in the Second the Duties of Natural and Reveal'd Religion. The Firſt Volume will be form'd upon theſe General Heads. I. The Exiſtence and Attributes of God. II. Creation and Providence. III. Divine Revelation and the Holy Scriptures. IV. The Articles of the Chriſtian Faith, as contain'd [] in the Apoſtles Creed. V. The Articles of the Church of Eng⯑land, ſo far as they may admit of a diſtinct Conſideration from thoſe of the Creed. VI. The Rewards and Puniſhments propos'd in the Old and New Teſtament. The General Heads of the Second Volume will be I. The moral and immutable Diſtinction of Good and Evil. II. The poſitive Commands of God. III. The Ten Com⯑mandments. IV. Our Saviour's Sermon on the Mount. V. The Relative Duties. VI. The Evangelical Precepts which have not fallen directly under the foregoing Heads. VII. The Reaſonableneſs, Ne⯑ceſſity, and Meaſures of Evangelical Obedience. By the Reverend RICHARD FIDDES, B.D. Rector of Halſham in Holderneſs in the County of York.
- The Second Edition of a compendious Hiſtory of the Church from the Beginningof the World to this Time. To which is added a compleat chronological Table, and large Indexes to each Volume. Written in French: By Lewis Ellis Du Pin, Doctor of the Sorbonne, and Regius Profeſſor of Divinity at Paris. In Four Volumes 120. Printed on a new Elzevir Letter.
- A practical Expoſition of the Beatitudes, in the firſt Part of our Saviour's Sermon on the Mount. By James Gardiner, M.A. Sub-Dean of Lincoln. Price 3s. 6 d.
- A practical Expoſition of the latter Part of our Saviour's Sermon on the Mount, from the Beatitudes, to the End of the Sermon. By James Gardiner, M.A. Sub-Dean of Lincoln. Price 4s. 6d.
- Four Offices of Prayer and Devotion, anſwering four of the moſt important Occaſions of a Chriſtian Life. I. An Office of Preparation for Death, to be us'd often in the Days of Health. II. A Penitential Office for Times of Humiliation and Confeſſion; more eſpecially for Faſting Days. III. An Office commemorative of our bleſſed Saviour's Sufferings, Death, Reſurrection, &c. for the Redemption of the World. IV. An Office of Preparation for the holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. All theſe carefully com⯑piled out of the holy Scriptures, the Church Liturgy, and many of the beſt and moſt approv'd Books of Devotion, both of the former and preſent Age. By William Tilly, D.D. Price 2 s. 6 d.
- Six Sermons on ſeveral Occaſions, (viz.) I. The Difference be⯑tween the Revolution and the Rebellion, preach'd Jan. 30. II. The Reſtoration of the King, the Act of God, May 29. III. The Neceſſity of Praying both for Church and State, March 7. IV. The Duty of fearing God and the King, April 10. 1715. V. Obedience to the King enforc'd from the Benefits and Advantages of a wiſe and juſt Adminiſtration, June 19. VI. Liberty and the Goſpel a⯑gainſt Popery and Slavery, July 24. By the Reverend T. Goddard, M.A. Canon of Windſor. Price 1 s.
- Citation Suggestion for this Object
- TextGrid Repository (2020). TEI. 3700 The temple of fame a vision By Mr Pope. University of Oxford Text Archive. . https://hdl.handle.net/21.T11991/0000-001A-5C48-D