My barb'rous Muse, be ftill: immortal deeds DEAR SIR, To Mr. Henry Bendif. 221 225 227 Aug. 24. 1705. THE following fong was your's when first composed: the Muse then defcribed the general fate of mankind, that is, to be illmatched; and now the rejoices that you have efcaped the common mifchief, and that your foul has found its own mate. Let this ode then congratulate you both. Grow mutually in more complete likeness and love; perfevere and be happy. I perfuade myself you will accept from the prefs what the pen more privately infcribed to you long ago; and I am in no pain left you should take offence at the fabulous drefs of this poem; nor would weaker minds be fcandalized at it if they would give themfelves leave to reflect how many divine truths are fpoken by the holy writers in vifions and images, parables and dreams: nor are my wifer friends afhamed to defend it, fince the narrative is grave, and the moral so just and obvious. The Indian philofopher, Sep. 3. 1701. I. WHY fhould our joys transform to pain, Bendish, 'tis ftrange the charm that binds II. In vain I fought the wondrous cause, Then deep in thought within my breast My foul retir'd, and flumber dreft A bright inftructive scene. III. O'er the broad lands and cross the tide (Sweet rapture of the mind!) Till on the banks of Ganges' flood For facred ufe defign'd. IV. Hard by a venerable priest, Ris'n with his god the Sun from reft, Thrice he conjur'd the murm'ring ftream; And half-divine his tongue. 6 12 18 24 V. "He fang th' eternal rolling flame, "That vital mafs that ftill the fame "Does all our minds compofe, "But fhap'd in twice ten thousand frames, "Thence diff'ring fouls of diff'ring names And jarring tempers rofe. VI. "The mighty Pow'r that form'd the mind "One mould for ev'ry two defign'd, "And blefs'd the new-born pair; "This be a match for this," (he faid) "Then down he feat the fouls he made "To feek them bodies here: Vil. "But parting from their warm abode "And never join'd their hands: "On Europe's barb'rous lands. VIII. "Happy the youth that finds the bride "But oh! the crowds of wretched fouls IX. Thus fang the wondrous Indian bard, "Sure then," I cry'd, "might I but fee "That gentle nymph that twinn'd with me "I might be happy too. X. "Some courteous angel tell me where, 66 Swift as the wheel of Nature rolls The happy man. J. SERENE as light is Myron's foul And active as the fun, yet fleady as the pole; In manly beauty fhines his face, Ev'ry Muse and ev'ry Grace Makes his heart and tongue their seat, 54 Go 5 His heart profufcly good, his tongue divinely fweet. Myron, the wonder of our eyes, Behold his manhood scarce begun, Behold his race of virtue run, Nor Fame denies the merit nor withholds the prize; Her filver trumpets his renown proclaim: Which neither Rome nor Athens knew, Surly Japan and rich Peru 15 In barb'rous fongs pronounce the British hero's name: Airy blifs," the hero cry'd, May feed the tympany of pride, "But healthy fouls were never found “To live on emptiness and sound.” II. appears; Lo! at his honourable feet 20 25 Gather'd from the Indian coaft; Not Danae's lap could equal treasures boast When Jove came down in golden fhow'rs, "Blifs is not made of glitt'ring clay." III. Now Pomp and Grandeur court his head With fcutcheons, arms, and enfigns, fpread; Gay magnificence and state, Guards and chariots at his gate, 35 And flaves in endless order round his table wait: They learn the dictates of his eyes, And now they fall and now they rife, |