BRITAIN. Liberty. PART IV. The Contents. DIFFERENCE betwixt the ancients and the moderns slightly touched upon, to ver. 30. Description of the dark ages. The goddess of Liberty, who, during these, is supposed to have left earth, returns, attended with arts and sciences, to ver. 100. She first descends on Italy. Sculpture, Painting, and Architecture fix at Rome, to revive their several arts by the great models of antiquity there, which many barbarous invasions had not been able to destroy. The revival of these arts marked out. That sometimes arts may flourish for a while under despotic governments, though never the natural and genuine production of them, to ver. 254. Learning begins to dawn. The Muse and Science attend Liberty, who, in her progress towards Great Britain, raises several free states and cities. These enumerated, to ver. 381. Author's exclamation of joy, upon seeing the British seas and coast rise in the vision, which painted whatever the goddess of Liberty said. She resumes her narration. The genius of the deep appears, and, addressing Liberty, associates Great Britain into his dominion, to ver. 451. Liberty received and congratulated by Britannia and the native genii or virtues of the island. These described. Animated by the presence of Liberty, they begin their operations. Their beneficent influence contrasted with the works and delusions of opposing demons, to ver. 626. Concludes with an abstract of the English history, marking the several advances of Liberty, down to her complete establishment at the revolution. STRUCK with the rising scene, thus I, amaz'd: "Ah! goddess, what a change! Is earth the same ? "Of the same kind the ruthless race she feeds? "And does the same fair sun and æther spread "Round this vile spot their all-enlivening soul? "Lo! Beauty fails; lost in unlovely forms "Of little pomp, Magnificence no more "Exalts the mind, and bids the public smile; "While to rapacious interest Glory leaves "Mankind, and every grace of life is gone." To this the power, whose vital radiance calls From the brute mass of man an order'd world. "Wait till the morning shines, and from the depth "Of Gothic darkness springs another day. "True, Genius droops; the tender ancient taste "Of Beauty, then fresh-blooming in her prime, "But faintly trembles thro' the callous soul, "And Grandeur, or of morals or of life, "Sinks into safe pursuits and creeping cares. "E'en cautious Virtue seems to stoop her flight, "And aged Life to deem the generous deeds "Of youth romantic: yet in cooler thoughtn "Well-reason'd, in researches piercing deep "Thro' Nature's works, in profitable arts, "And all that calm Experience can disclose, (Slow guide, but sure) behold the world anew "Exalted rise, with other honours crown'd; "And, where My spirit wakes the finer powers, "Athenian laurels still afresh shall bloom.' 66 Oblivious ages pass'd, while Earth, forsook 5 10 15 20 25 19 30 35 She blaz'd in omens, swells the groaning winds 40 Unlistening, barbarous Force, to whom the sword 45 By monsters follow'd, hideous to behold, That claim'd their place. Outrageous mix'd with these Another species of tyrannic rule*, Unknown before, whose cancrous shackles seiz'd 50 Th' envenom'd soul; a wilder fury, she E'en o'er her elder sisterf, tyranniz'd; Or if, perchance, agreed, inflam'd her rage. Dire was her train, and loud: the sable band Thund'ring...." Submit, ye laity! ye profane! "Earth is the Lord's, and therefore ours: let kings "Allow the common claim, and half be theirs ; "If not, behold! the sacred lightning flies!" Scholastic Discord, with a hundred tongues, For science uttering jangling words obscure, Where frighted Reason never yet could dwell; Of peremptory feature, Cleric Pride, 55 60 Whose reddening cheek no contradiction bears: * Church power, or ecclesiastical tyranny. + Civil tyranny. 65 Assuming a celestial seraph's name, 70 75 80 85 90 Pure plain Devotion to a solemn farce† ; Brave ancient Freedom to the rage of slaves, Crusades. †The corruptions of the church of Rome. chief. 95 Vassalage, whence the attachment of the clans to their Duelling. At last Heaven's best inexplicable scheme, 100 105 110 Of vengeance hast thou drain'd! Goths, Vandals, Huns, Yet warm with brothers', husbands, fathers' blood, 115 To violation dragg'd, and mingled death? What conflagrations, earthquakes, ravage, floods, And, succourless and bare, the poor remains * The Hierarchy. 120 125 130 |