And all the Statues of the Palace live. Then hosts embattled stretch their lines afar, The trumpets sound, the feather'd arrows fly, "Here, as on circumstance Narrations dwell, And tell what moves, and hardly seem to tell, The toil of Heroes on the dusty plains, Or on the green the merriment of Swains, Reflection speaks: then all the Forms that rose In life's inchanted scene themselves compose; Whilst the grave voice, controling all the spells, With solemn utterance, thus the Moral tells: 'So Public Worth its enemies destroys, 'Or Private Innocence itself enjoys.' "Here all the Passions, for their greater sway, 380 290 And with Desirings wounds the tender hearts. 310 "Pass further through the Dome, another view Would now the pleasures of thy mind renew, Where oft Description for the colors goes, Which raise and animate its native shows; Where oft Narration seeks a florid grace To keep from sinking ere 'tis time to cease; Where easy turns Reflection looks to find, When Morals aim at dress to please the mind; Where lively Figures are for use array'd, And these an Action, those a Passion, aid. "There modest Metaphors in order sit, With unaffected, undisguising Wit, That leave their own, and seek another's place, 320 Not forc❜d, but changing with an easy pace, And Truth preserves her shape, and shines the more. "By these the beauteous Similies reside, In look more open, in design ally'd, And dress and practise with resembling air. "There Repetitions one another meet, Expressly strong, or languishingly sweet, And raise the sort of sentiment they please, And urge the sort of sentiment they raise. "There close in order are the Questions plac'd, 340 350 "There strange Commotion, naturally shown, Speaks on regardless that she speaks alone, Nor minds if they to whom she talks be near, Nor cares if that to which she talks can hear. The warmth of Anger dares an absent Foe; The words of Pity speak to tears of Woe; The Love that hopes, on errands sends the breeze; And Love despairing moans to naked trees. 360 "There stand the new Creations of the Muse, Poetic Persons, whom the Writers use Whene'er a cause magnificently great Would fix attention with peculiar weight. 'Tis hence that humble Provinces are seen Transform'd to Matrons with neglected mien, Who call their Warriors in a mournful sound, And shew their Crowns of Turrets on the ground, While over Urns reclining Rivers moan They should enrich a nation not their own. 'Tis hence the Virtues are no more confin'd To be but rules of reason in the mind; The heavenly Forms start forth, appear to breathe, And in bright shapes converse with men beneath; h; 37. In council Prudence as a Goddess aids. "There Exclamations all the voice employ In sudden. Alushes of Concern or Joy: Then seem the sluices, which the Passions bound,____ To burst asunder with a speechless sound ; And then with tumult and surprize they roll, "There rising Sentences attempt to speak, Which Wonder, Sorrow, Shame, or Anger, break; 38 That what remains behind is more than guess'd. And I could dwell-but when would thought be free? Engaging Method ranges all the band, 390 And smooth Transition joins them hand in hand: 'Tis here that, guided by the Muses' fire, Which in a deep untroubled leisure meet, Serenely ravishing, politely sweet. 400 From hence the Charms that most engage they choose, And, as they please, the glittering objects use; |