This band dismiss'd, behold another crowd Preferr'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 straight 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:
The pois'nous vapour 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 cried) "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;

What virtue seem'd, was done for thee alone."
"Ambitious fools!" (the Queen replied, and

frown'd)

"Be all your acts in deep oblivion drown'd: There sleep forgot, with mighty tyrants gone;

Your statues moulder'd, and your names unknown!"

A sudden cloud straight snatch'd them from my

sight,

And each majestic phantom sunk in night.

Then came the smallest tribe I yet had seen;

Plain was their dress, and modest was their

mien.

"Great idol of mankind! we neither claim

The praise of merit, nor aspire to fame;

But, safe in deserts from th' applause of men,
Would die unheard of, as we liv'd unseen.

"T is all we beg thee, to conceal from sight

Those acts of goodness which themselves requite. Oh 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? But, mortals! know, 't is 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 music floats, And on the winds triumphant swell the notes; So soft tho' high, so loud and yet so clear, Ev'n list'ning angels lean from heav'n 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 ex

press'd,

With feathers crown'd, with gay embroid'ry dress'd;

"Hither," (they cried), "direct your eyes, and see The men of pleasure, dress, and gallantry;

Ours is the place at banquets, balls, and plays;
Sprightly our nights, polite are all our days;
Courts we frequent, where 't is our pleasing care
To pay
due visits, and address the fair:

In fact, 't is true, no nymph we could persuade,
But still in fancy vanquish'd ev'ry maid;
Of unknown Duchesses lewd 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 press'd

Around the shrine, and made the same request:

66

What, you!" (she cry'd) "unlearn'd in arts to

please,

Slaves to yourselves, and ev'n fatigu'd with ease,

Who lose a length of undeserving days

Would you usurp the Lover's dear-bought praise?
To just contempt, ye vain pretenders, fall;
The people's fable and the scorn of all!"
Straight the black clarion sends a horrid sound,
Loud laughs burst out, and bitter scoffs fly

round;

Whispers are heard, with taunts reviling loud, And scornful hisses run thro' all the crowd.

Last, those who boast of mighty mischiefs done, Enslave their country, or usurp a throne; Or who their glory's dire foundation laid On Sov'reigns ruin'd, or on friends betray'd; Calm thinking villains, whom no faith could fix, Of crooked counsels and dark politics :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.