A light too keen for mortals; wraps a view
Too foft'ning fair, for thofe that here in dust
Muft cheerful toil out their appointed years.
A fenfe of higher life would only damp
The school-boy's task, and spoil his playful hours.
Nor could the child of Reafon, feeble Man,
With vigour thro' this infant being drudge;
Did brighter worlds, their unimagin'd bliss
Difclofing, dazzle and diffolve his mind.

565

570

BRITAIN:

Being the FOURTH PART of

LIBERTY,

A

POE M.

VOL. II.

D

[86]

The CONTENTS of PART IV. IFFERENCE betwixt the Ancients and Moderns flightly touch'd upon; to Ver. 30. Description of the dark ages. The GODDESS of LIBERTY, who during these is supposed to have left earth, returns, attended with ARTS and SCIENCE; to Ver. 100. She first 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 destroy. The revival of these arts marked out. That sometimes 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 Muse and Science attend Li BERTY, who in her progress towards GREAT BRITAIN raises feveral free ftates and cities. These enumerated; to Ver. 381. Author's exclamation of joy, upon feeing the British feas and coafts rise in the Vision which painted whatever the GODDESS of LIBERTY faid. She re fumes her narration. The Genius of the Deep appears, and addressing LIBERTY, affociates GREAT BRI TAIN into his dominion; to Ver. 451. LIBERTY received and congratulated by BRITANNIA, and the Native Genii or Virtues of the island. These described. Animated by the presence of LIBERTY, they begin their operations. Their beneficent influence contrasted with the works and delusions of opposing Demons; to Ver. 626. Concludes with an abstract of the English history, marking the feveral Advances of LIBERTY, down to her compleat establishment at the Revolution.

LIBERTY.

PART

IV.

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

STRU

“Ah, GODDESS, what a change! Is earth the fame?

"Of the fame kind the ruthlefs race fhe feeds?

"And does the fame fair fun, and ether spread
"Round this vile fpot their all-enliv'ning foul?
"Lo! beauty fails; loft in unlovely forms.
"Of little pomp, magnificence no more
"Exalts the mind, and bids the public fmile:
"While to rapacious int'reft Glory leaves
"Mankind, and ev'ry grace of life is gone."

5

To this the Pow'R, whofe vital radiance calls

Ια

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. "True, Genius droops; the tender ancient taste "Of Beauty, then frefh-blooming in her prime, "But faintly trembles thro' the callous foul; "And Grandeur, or of morals, or of life,