O DE ON BRUT US. But I. IS faid, that favorite, mankind, Was made the lord of all below; yet the (a) doubtful are (b) concern'd to find, 'Tis (c) only one man tells another fo. And, for this great dominion here, But how abfurdly, we may fee with shame. REASON, that folemn trifle! light as air; Driv'n up and down by (e) cenfure or applause: By partial love away 'tis blown, Or the least prejudice can weigh it down; How weak, at beft, is REASON! yet the grave II. In all thofe wits, whofe names have spread fo wide, And ev❜n the force of time defy'd, Some failings yet may be descry'd. In whom we should that deed the most deteft, As fnow defcending from fome lofty hill, And gild their eloquence with (g) praise of him. away this heap of fev'nteen hundred years. III. In vain 'tis urg'd by an (6) illustrious wit, M Happy for Rome had been that noble pride; The world had then remain'd in peace, and only BRUTUS dy'd. For he, whofe foul difdains to own Subjection to a tyrant's frown, And his own life would rather end; Would, fure, much rather kill himself, than only hurt his friend. To his own sword in the Philippian field He might have chofen (i) elfe to live, IV. Our country challenges our utmost care, Above whate'er he does befides enjoy; But may he, for their fakes, his fire or fons destroy? For facred juftice, or for publick good, Scorn'd be our wealth, our honour, and our blood: In fuch a caufe, want is a happy ftate; Ev'n low difgrace would be a glorious fate; And death itself, when noble fame furvives, But 'tis not, furely, of so fair renown, To fpill another's blood, as to expose our own: (1) V. "Can we ftand by unmov'd, and fee "Our mother robb'd and ravifh'd? Can we be "Excus'd, if in her cause we never stir, "Pleas'd with the strength and beauty of the ravisher? Thus fings our bard with almost heat divine; 'Tis pity that his thought was not (m) as strong as fine, Wou'd it more justly did the case express, Or that its beauty and its grace were less. (Thus a nymph fometimes we see, Who fo charming seems to be, That, jealous of a soft surprize, We scarce durft truft our eager eyes) Such a fallacious ambush to escape, It were but vain to plead a willing rape; A valiant fon would be provok'd the more; [before; With all the folemn and the facred scene; The violated* dame walk'd fmilingly along, • Rome. And in the midst of the most sacred dance, Often fhe caft a kind admiring glance On the bold struggler for delight; Who afterwards appear'd fo moderate and cool, VI. But, oh! that this were all which we can urge (In this (q) dull age fcarce understood) [fing. Infpires us with unusual warmth, her injur'd rites to (r) Affift, ye angels! whofe immortal blifs, Tho' more refin'd, chiefly confifts in this! (S) How plainly your bright thoughts to one another Oh! how ye all agree in harmony divine ! [shine! The race of mutual love with equal zeal ye run; A (t) course, as far from any end, as when at first begun. (u) Ye faw, and fmil'd upon this matchless pair, Who ftill betwixt 'em did so many virtues share, Some which belong to peace, and fame to strife, That all the excellence of human-kind |