POPE. The least confusion but in one, not all That system only, but the whole must fall. Let earth unbalanc'd from her orbit fly, Planets and suns run lawless through the 20 sky; Let ruling angels from their spheres be hurl'd, Being on being wreck'd, and world on world, Heaven's whole foundations to the centre nod, And Nature tremble to the throne of God: All this dread Order break-for whom? for thee? 25 Vile worm!-O madness! pride! impiety! What if the foot, ordain'd the dust to tread, Or hand to toil, aspir'd to be the head? What if the head, the eye, or ear, repin'd To serve mere engines to the ruling Mind? Just as absurd for any part to claim To be another, in this gen'ral frame: Just as absurd to mourn the tasks or pains, The great directing Mind of All ordains. All are but parts of one stupendous whole, Whose body Nature is, and God the Soul: That chang'd through all, and yet in all the same, as in th'ethereal frame, Warms in the sun, refreshes in the breeze, Glows in the stars, and blossoms in the trees, Lives through all life, extends through all extent, Great in the earth, 40 Spreads undivided, operates unspent; As full, as perfect, in a hair as heart; He fills, he bounds, connects, and equals all. blame. Cease then, nor Order imperfection name; Submit.-In this, or any other sphere, see, All Discord, Harmony not understood; One truth is clear, Whatever is, is right. THE ORIGIN OF SUPERSTITION Who first taught souls enslav'd and realms undone, Th'enormous faith of many made for one; That proud exception to all Nature's laws, T'invert the world, and counterwork its cause? 5 Force first made conquest, and that conquest law; Till Superstition taught the tyrant awe, Then shar'd the tyranny, then lent it aid, inade. And Gods of conqu'rors, slaves of subjects She 'midst the lightning's blaze, and thunder's sound, When rock'd the mountains, and when groan'd the ground, to pray She taught the weak to bend, the proud they: To pow'rs unseen, and mightier far than She, from the rending earth and bursting skies, 15 Saw Gods descend, and fiends infernal rise: Such as the souls of cowards might conceive, believe. And, form'd like tyrants, tyrants would 20 Zeal, then, not Charity, became the guide; more; Altars grew marble then, and reek'd with gore: Then first the flamen Next his grim idol With Heav'n's own tasted living food: 25 blood; smear'd with human thunders shook the world below, And play'd the God an engine on his foe. So drives Self-love, through just and through unjust, To one Man's pow'r, ambition, lucre, lust: 30 JOHN GAY. JOHN GAY was born in 1688 at Barnstaple in Devonshire, and when young was apprenticed to a silk mercer in London; but his tastes unfitted him for this employment. After a few years he left his situation, and having attracted the notice of Pope and other literary men of the day by his first work entitled, Rural Sports' (1711), he was appointed secretary to Anne, Duchess of Monmouth, in which office he continued till the year 1714, when he accompanied the Earl of Clarendon (who was then ambassador of Queen Anne) to Hanover, where he remained till the Queen's death. In 1716 Gay brought out his fables, which are highly esteemed as specimens of their class, but they A BALLAD. "Twas when the seas were roaring With hollow blasts of wind, A damsel lay deploring, All on a rock reclined. Is UNIVARSITY CALIFORNIA often approach the style of tales, and are rather allegories than fables. In 1727 he published the most celebrated of his productions, viz.: the Beggar's Opera,' which met with universal success: so that the author may be said to have laid the foundation of the English opera through this piece. He died soon after (1732) in his forty-fifth year, and was interred in Westminster Abbey, where a handsome monument has been erected to his memory. He also wrote a number of ballads, a poem called the Shepherd's Week,' and another with the title: "Trivia, or the Art of walking the Streets of London; all of which possess considerable merit. 20 Wide o'er the foaming billows, 5 But what's the loss of treasure, But none that loves you so. How can they say that nature Has nothing made in vain; Why then beneath the water, Should hideous rocks remain? No eyes the rocks discover That lurk beneath the deep, To wreck the wandering lover, And leave the maid to weep. 15 25 30 35 THE SHEPHERD AND THE PHILO- Remote from cities, liv'd a swain, 'From Nature, too, I take my rule, To shun contempt and ridicule. I never with important air, In conversation overbear. Can grave and formal pass for wise 65 5 Kites, hawks, and wolves deserve their fate. Through all the country rais'd his name. 10 Thus ev'ry object of creation A deep Philosopher (whose rules 20 25 30 The Shepherd modestly replied,- "The daily labours of the bee Can furnish hints to contemplation; Thy fame is just,' the Sage replies; But he who studies Nature's laws, THE HARE AND MANY FRIENDS. A hare, who in a civil way, As forth she went, at early dawn, And measures back her mazy round; 'Let me,' says she, 'your back ascend, 25 'How can that strong intrepid mind And owe my safety to a friend. You know my feet betray my flight; To friendship ev'ry burthen's light.' The horse replied, 'Poor honest puss! It grieves my heart to see thee thus: 30 Be comforted, relief is near; For all your friends are in the rear.' She next the stately bull implor'd; The goat remark'd her pulse was high, Attack a weak, defenceless kind? Those jaws should prey on nobler food, How harmless is our fleecy care! 15 20 25 'Friend,' says the Wolf, 'the matter weigh: 40 The sheep was feeble, and complain'd 45 His sides a load of wool sustain'd; Said he was slow, confess'd his fears; For hounds eat sheep as well as hares. 50 She now the trotting calf address'd To save from death a friend distress'd. Shall I,' says he, 'of tender age, In this important care engage? Older and abler pass'd you by: How strong are those! how weak am I! Should I presume to bear you hence, Those friends of mine might take offence. Excuse me, then. You know my heart, But dearest friends, alas! must part. How shall we all lament!- Adieu! For, see, the hounds are just in view.' THE SHEPHERD'S DOG AND THE WOLF. 55 60 Their club's perpetual president. 30 5 He caught their manners, looks, and airs; If e'er his highness meant a joke, Elate with flatt'ry and conceit, 'Puppy, that curs'd vociferation 'How weak is pride!' returns the sire; 'All fools are vain, when fools admire! But know, what stupid asses prize, Lions and noble beasts despise.' |