Classic Poem

6

Greatness of Mind and Fortune too
The' Olympique Trophees shew.
Both their several parts must doe
In the noble Chase of Fame ,
This without that is Blind , that without this is Lame .
Nor is fair Virtues Picture seen aright
But in Fortunes golden light.
Riches alone are of uncertain date,
And on short-Man long cannot wait.
The Vertuous make of them the best,
And put them out to Fame for Interest .
With a frail good they wisely buy
The solid Purchase of Eternity .
They whilst Lifes air they breath, consider well and know
Th'account they must hereafter give below.
Whereas th'unjust and Covetous above,
In deep unlovely vaults,
By the just decrees of Jove
Unrelenting torments prove,
The heavy Necessary effects of Voluntary Faults .

7

Whilst in the Lands of unexhausted Light
Ore which the God-like Suns unwearied sight
Nere winks in Clouds , or Sleeps in Night ,
An endless Spring of Age the Good enjoy,
Where neither Want does pinch , nor Plenty cloy .
There neither Earth nor Sea they plow ,
Nor ought to Labour ow
For Food , that whil'st it nour'ishes does decay ,
And in the Lamp of Life consumes away.
Thrice had these men through mortal bodies past,
Did thrice the tryal undergo,
Till all their little Dross was purg'ed at last,
The Furnace had no more to do.
Then in rich Saturns peaceful state
Were they for sacred Treasures plac'ed,
The Muse-discovered World of Islands Fortunate .

8

Soft-footed Winds with tuneful voyces there
Dance through the perfum'd Aire.
There Silver Rivers through enameld Meadows glide,
And golden Trees enrich their side.
Th' illustrious Leaves no dropping Autumn fear,
And Jewels for their fruit they bear,
Which by the Blest are gathered
For Bracelets to the Arm, and Guirlands to the Head.
Here all the Hero 's, and their Poets live,
Wise Rhadamanthus did the Sentence give,
Who for his justice was thought fit
With Soveraign Saturn on the Bench to sit.
Peleus here, and Cadmus reign,
Here great Achilles wrathful now no more,
Since his blest Mother (who before
Had try'ed it on his Body'in vain)
Dipt now his Soul in Stygian Lake ,
Which did from thence a divine Hardness take,
That does from Passion and from Vice Invulnerable make .