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BRITAIN:

Being the FOURTH PART of

LIBERTY,

A

POE M.

****

DIE

IFFERENCE betwixt the Ancients and Moderns flightly touched upon; to Ver. 30. Defeription of the dark ages. The GODDESS of LIBERTY, who, during thefe, is fuppofed to have left earth, returns, attended with ARTS and SCIENCE; to Ver. 1oo. She firft defcends on Italy. Sculpture, Painting, and Architecture fix at Rome, to revive their several arts by the great models of antiquity there, which many barbarous invafions had not been able to deftroy. The revival of thefe arts marked out. That fometimes 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 Mufe and Science attend LIBERTY, who, in her progress towards GREAT BRITAIN, raises several free ftates and cities. These enumerated; to Ver. 381. Author's exclamation of joy, upon feeing the Britifh feas and coafts rife in the Vilion, which painted whatever the GODDESS of LIBERTY faid. She refumes her narration. The Genius of the Deep appears, and, addreffing LIBERTY, affociates GREAT BRITAIN into his dominion; to Ver. 451. LIBERTY received and congratulated by BRITANNIA, and the Native Genii or Virtues of the island. These defcribed. Animated by the prefence of LIBERTY, they begin their operations. Their beneficent influence contrafted with the works and delufions of oppofing Demons; to Ver. 626. Concludes with an abstract of the English history, marking the several advances of LIBERTY, down to her compleat establishment at the Revolution.

LIBERTY.

PART IV.

TRUCK with the rifing fcene, thus I, amaz'd,

S T

"Ah, GODDESS, what a change! Isearth the fame ? "Of the fame kind the ruthless race fhe feeds? "And does the fame fair fun and aether spread, "Round this vile spot, their all-enlivening foul? "Lo! beauty fails; loft 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, whofe vital radiance calls From the brute mafs of man an order'd world. "Wait till the morning fhines, and from the depth "Of Gothic darkness springs another day.

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"" True, Genius droops; the tender antient taste 15 "Of Beauty, then fresh blooming in her prime, "But faintly trembles thro' the callous foul; "And Grandeur, or of morals, or of life, "Sinks into safe purfuits, and creeping cares. "Even cautious Virtue seems to stoop her flight, "And aged life to deem the generous deeds "Of youth romantic. Yet in cooler thought "Well-reafon'd, in refearches piercing deep.. "Through nature's works, in profitable arts,

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<< And

"And all that calm Experience can disclose,
*(Slow guide, but fure) behold the world anew
"Exalted rife, with other honours crown'd;
"And, where My SPIRIT wakes the finer powers,
"Athenian laurels still afresh fhall bloom."

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Oblivious ages pafs'd; while earth, forfook By her beft GENII, lay to DEMONS foul, And unchain'd FURIES, an abandon'd prey. CONTENTION led the van; first small of size, But foon dilating, to the skies she towers : Then, wide as air, the livid FURY fpread, And high her head above the stormy clouds, She blaz'd in omens, fwell'd the groaning winds With wild furmizes, battlings, founds of war: From land to land the mad'ning trumpet blew, And pour'd her venom thro' the heart of man. Shook to the pole, the North obey'd her call. Forth rufh'd the bloody POWER OF GOTHIC WAR, War against human-kind: RAPINE, that led Millions of raging robbers in his train :

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Unlistening, barbarous FORCE, to whom the fword 45
Is reafon, honour, law: the FOE OF ARTS
By monsters follow'd, hideous to behold,

That claim'd their place. Outragious-mix'd with these
Another fpecies of tyrannic rule,

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Unknown before, whose cancrous shackles feiz'd
Th' envenom'd foul; a wilder FURY, SHE
Even o'er her + ELDER SISTER tyranniz'd ;
Or, if perchance agree'd, inflam'd her rage:
Dire was her train, and loud: the SABLE BAND,
Thundering," Submit ye Laity! Ye prophane! 55
"Earth is the LORD's, and therefore OURS; let kings
"Allow the common claim, and half be theirs ;

Church power, or ecclesiastical tyranny. + Civil tyranny

If not, behold! the facred lightning flies.:" SCHOLASTIC DISCORD, with an hundred tongues, For fcience uttering jangling words obfcure, Where frighted reafon never yet could dwell: Of peremptory feature, CLERIC PRIDE, Whofe reddening cheek no contradiction bears; And HOLY SLANDER, his affociate firm, On whom the Lying Spirit ftill defcends: E Mother of tortures! PERSECUTING ZEAL, 1 High-flashing in her hand the ready torch, Or ponyard bath'd in unbelieving blood; Hell's fierceft fiend! of faintly brow demure, Affuming a celeftial feraph's name,

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While fhe beneath the blafphemous pretence
Of pleafing PARENT HEAVEN, the Source of Love!
Has wrought more horrors, more detested deeds,
Than all the reft combin'd. Led on by her,
And wild of head to work her fell defigns,..
Came idiot SUPERSTITION; round with ears
Innumerous ftrow'd, ten thousand monkifh forms
With legends ply'd them, and with tenets, meant
To charm or scare the fimple into slaves,
And poison reason; grofs, She swallows all,
The most abfurd believing ever most.
Broad o'er the whole her universal night,
The gloom still doubling, IGNORANCE diffus'd.
Nought to be feen but vifionary monks
To councils ftrolling, and embroiling creeds;
* Banditti Saints, disturbing distant lands;
And unknown nations, wandering for a home.
All lay revers'd: the facred arts of rule
Turn'd to flagitious leagues againft mankind,
And arts of plunder more and more avow'd ;

* Crufades.

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