A The CONTENTS of PART V. UTHOR addresses the GODDESS of LIBERTY, marking the happiness and grandeur of GREATBRITAIN, as arifing from HER influence, to Ver. 88 SHE refumes HER difcourfe, and points out the chief VIRTUES which are necessary to maintain HER EStaBLISHMENT there; to Ver. 374. Recommends, as ITS laft ornament and finishing, SCIENCES, FINE ARTS, and PUBLIC WORKS. The encouragement of thefe urg'd from the example of FRANCE, though under a defpotic government; to Ver. 549. The whole concludes with a PROSPECT of future times, given by the GOD. DESS of LIBERTY: this defcribed by the author, as it paffes in VISION before him. LIBERTY. PART V. H 5 ERE interpofing, as the GODDESS paus'd,"Oh bleft BRITANNIA! in THY presence bleft, "THOU guardian of mankind! whence fpring, alone, "All human grandeur, happiness and fame : "For toil, by THEE protected, feels no pain; "The poor man's lot with milk and honey flows; "And, gilded with thy rays, even death looks gay. "Let other lands the potent blessing boast "Of more exalting funs. Let Afia's woods, "Untended, yield the vegetable fleece: "And let the little infect-artist form, "On higher life intent, its filken tomb. "Let wondering rocks, in radiant birth, disclose "The various-tinctured children of the fun. "From the prone beam let more delicious fruits "A flavour drink, that in one piercing taste "Bids each combine. Let Gallic vineyards burst "With floods of joy; with mild balfamic juice "The Tuscan olive. Let Arabia breathe 15 20 "Her spicy gales, her vital gums diftil. "Turbid with gold, let fouthern rivers flow; "And orient floods draw foft, o'er pearls, their maze. "Let Afric vaunt her treasures; let Peru, Ee 3 "Deep 25 "Deep in her bowels her own ruin breed, "The yellow traitor that her bliss betray'd,— "Unequall'd blifs !-and to unequall'd rage! "Yet nor the gorgeous Eaft, nor golden South, "Nor, in full prime, that new-discover'd world, "Where flames the falling day, in wealth and praise Shall, with BRITANNIA vie, while, GODDESS, fhe 30 "Derives her praife from THEE, her matchlefs charms. "Her hearty fruits the hand of Freedom own; "And, warm with culture, her thick-clustering fields Prolific teem. Eternal verdure crowns "Her meads; her gardens finile eternal spring. "She gives the hunter horfe, unquell'd by toil, "Ardent, to rush into the rapid chace: She, whitening o'er her downs, diffusive, pours "Unnumber'd flocks: fhe weaves the fleecy robe, "That wraps the nations: fhe, to lusty droves, "The richelt pasture spreads; and, her's, deep-wave "Autumnal seas of pleasing plenty round. "Thefe her delight: and by no baneful herb, "No darting tyger, no grim lion's glare, "No fierce-defcending wolf, no ferpent roll'd "In fpires immenfe progreffive o'er the land, "Disturb'd. Enlivening these, and cities, full "Of wealth, of trade, of chearful toiling crouds: "Add thriving towns: add villages and farms, "Innumerous fow'd along the lively vale, "Where bold unrival'd peasants happy dwell:"Add ancient feats, with venerable oaks "Embofom'd high, while kindred floods below "Wind thro' the mead; and those of modern hand, "More pompous, add, that splendid shine afar: "Need I her limpid lakes, her rivers name 35 40 45 50 55 "Where swarm the finny race? Thee, chief, O Thames! "On "On whofe each tide, glad with returning fails, "Flows in the mingled harvest of mankind? "And thee, thou Severn, whofe prodigious fwell, 60 "And waves, resounding, imitate the main? "Why need I name her deep capacious ports, "That point around the world? And why her feas? "All ocean is her own, and every land "To whom her ruling thunder ocean bears. “She too the mineral feeds, th' obedient Lead, "And * that the Tyrian merchant sought of old, 65 "Not dreaming then of BRITAIN's brighter fame. 70 "She rears to Freedom an undaunted race: 66 Compatriot zealous, hospitable, kind, "Her's the warm CAMBRIAN: her's the lofty SCOT, "To hardship tam'd, active in arts and arms, "Fir'd with a restless, an inpatient flame, 75 "That leads him raptur❜d where Anibition calls: "And ENGLISH MERIT her's; where meet, combin'd, "Whate'er high fancy, found judicious thought, "An ample generous heart, undrooping soul, "And firm tenacious valour can bestow. 80 "Great nurfe of fruits, of flocks, of commerce, SHE! "Great nurfe of men! By THEE, OGODDESS, taught, "Her old renown I trace, difclose her fource “Of wealth, of grandeur; and to BRITONS fing "A ftrain the Mufes never touch'd before. 85 "But how fhall this THY mighty KINGDOM ftand? "On what unyielding bafe? how finish'd fhine " At this HER eye, collecting all its fire, Beam'd more than human; and HER awful voice, * Tin. Majeftic Majestic thus SHE rais'd-" To BRITONS bear 90 On VIRTUE can alone MY KINGDOM ftand, 95 100 105 While the determin'd voice and heart are fold? What boasted Freedom, fave a founding name? And what Election, but a market vile Of flaves felf-barter'd? VIRTUE, without THEE, Even justice warps to party, laws oppress, 110 Wide thro' the land their weak protection fails, 115 Rapine and guile and violence break loose, Everting life, and turning love to gall; Man hates the face of man, and Indian woods By thofe THREE VIRTUES be the frame sustain'd OF BRITISH FREEDOM: INDEPENDENT LIFE; 121 INTEGRITY IN OFFICE; and o'er all Supreme, A PASSION FOR THE COMMON-WEAL. |
