This having heard and seen, some Pow'r un known Straight chang'd the scene, and snatch'd me from the throne. Before my view appear'd a structure fair, With rapid motion turn'd the mansion round; shores; Which still unfolded stand, by night, by day, As flames by nature to the skies ascend, 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 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; Of fires and plagues, and stars with blazing hair; The falls of fav'rites, projects of the great; Of old mismanagements, taxations new : 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 lies, or tales from foreign lands; Each talk'd aloud, or in some secret place; 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, When thus ripe lies 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, Borne by the trumpet's blast, and scatter'd thro' the sky. There, at one passage, oft you might survey A lie and truth contending for the way; And long 't was doubtful, both so closely pent, At last agreed, together out they fly, 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 could thus high thy rash ambition raise ? Art thou, fond youth, a candidate for praise ?" ""T is 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! Ease, health, and life, for this they must resign; Unsure the tenure, but how vast the fine! The great man's curse, without the gains, endure; |