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النشر الإلكتروني

TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS

FREDERICK,

OF WALES.

PRINCE O

SIR,

WH

WHEN I reflect upon that ready condefcenfion, that preventing generofity, with which YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS received the following poem under your protection; I can alone afcribe it to the recommendation, and influence of the fubject. In you the cause and concerns of Liberty have fo zealous a patron, as entitles whatever may have the leaft tendency to promote them, to the distinction of your favour. And who can entertain this delightful reflection, without feeling a pleasure far fuperior to that of the fondeft author: and of which all true lovers of their country must participate? To behold the nobleft difpofitions of the prince, and of the patriot, united: an overflowing benevolence, generofity, and candour of heart, joined to an enlightened zeal for Liberty, an intimate persuafion that on it depends the happiness and glory both of

kings and people: to see these fhining out in public virtues, as they have hitherto finiled in all the focial lights and private accomplishments of life, is a prospect that cannot but inspire a general sentiment of satisfaction and gladness, more eafy to be felt than expreffed. If the following attempt to trace Liberty, from the firft ages down to her excellent establishment in GREAT BRITAIN, can at all merit your approbation, and prove an entertainment to YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS; if it can in any degree anfwer the dignity of the fubject, and of the name under which I presume to fhelter it; I have my beft reward: particularly as it affords me an opportunity of declaring that I am, with the greatest zeal and refpect,

SIR,

YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS's

Moft obedient

And most devoted Servant,

JAMES THOMSON.

The CONTENTS of PART І.

HE following Poem is thrown into the form of a

T Poetical Vision. Its Scene the ruins of ancient

Rome. The GODDESS of LIBERTY, who is supposed to Speak through the whole, appears, characterised as BRITISH LIBERTY; to Ver. 44. Gives a view of Ancient Italy, and particularly of Republican Rome, in all her magnificence and glory; to Ver. 112. This contrasted by Mo dern Italy; its valleys, mountains, culture, cities, people; the difference appearing strongest in the Capital City Rome; to Ver. 234. The ruins of the great works of LIBERTY more magnificent than the borrowed pomp of OPPRESSION; and from them revived Sculpture, Painting, and Architecture; to Ver. 256. The old Romans apostrophiz'd, with regard to the feveral melancholy changes in ITALY : HORACE, TULLY, and VIRGIL, with regard to their Tibur, Tufculum, and Naples; to Ver. 287. That once finest and most ornamented part of Italy, all along the Coast of Baie, how changed; to Ver. 321. This defolation of Italy applied to Britain; to Ver. 344. Address to the GODDESS of LIBERTY, that she would deduce from the first ages, her chief establishments, the description of which conftitute the subject of the following parts of this Poem. She affents, and commands what She says to be fung in Britain; whose happiness, arifing from freedom, and a limited monarchy, she marks ; to Ver. 391. An immediate VISION attends, and paints her words.

VOL. II.

Invocation.

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LIBERTY.

PART I.

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My lamented TALBOT! while with thee

The Mufe gay rov'd the glad Hefperian round,
And drew th' inspiring breath of ancient arts ;
Ah! little thought the her returning verfe
Should fing our darling fubject to thy Shade.
And does the mystic veil, from mortal beam,
Involve thofe eyes where ev'ry virtue smil'd,
And all thy FATHER'S candid spirit fhone?
The light of reafon, pure, without a cloud;
Full of the gen'rous heart, the mild regard;
Honour difdaining blemish, cordial faith,
And limpid truth, that looks the very foul.
But to the death of mighty nations turn,
My ftrain; be there abforpt the private tear.

Mufing, I lay; warm from the facred walks,
Where at each step imagination burns:
While scatter'd wide around, awful, and hoar,
Lies, a vaft monument, once-glorious Rome,

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The tomb of empire! ruins! that efface

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Whate'er, of finifh'd, modern pomp can boast. Snatch'd by thefe wonders to that world where thought Unfetter'd ranges, Fancy's magic hand

Led me anew o'er all the folemn scene,

Still in the mind's pure eye more folemn dreft,
When straight, methought, the fair majestic Pow'R
Of LIBERTY appear'd. Not, as of old,
Extended in her hand the cap, and rod,
Whofe flave-enlarging touch gave double life:
But her bright temples bound with British oak,
And naval honours nodded on her brow.
Sublime of port: loose o'er her fhoulder flow'd
Her fea-green robe, with conftellations gay.
An ifland-goddefs now; and her high care
The Queen of Ifles, the miftrefs of the main.
My heart beat filial transport at the fight;
And, as fhe mov'd to fpeak, th' awaken'd Mufe
Liften'd intenfe. A while fhe look'd around,
With mournful eye the well-known ruius mark'd,
And then, her fighs repreffing, thus began.

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Mine are these wonders, all thou fee'ft is mine; 40 But ah how chang'd! the falling poor remains Of what exalted once th' Aufonian fhore.

Look back thro' time; and, rifing from the gloom,

Mark the dread fcene, that paints whate'er I fay.

The great Republic fee! that glow'd, sublime,

With the mixt freedom of a thousand states;
Rais'd on the thrones of Kings her Curule Chair,
And by her Fafces aw'd the fubject world.

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