Classic Poem

I.

Remote from Liberty and Truth,
By Fortune's Crime, my early Youth
Drank Error's poison'd Springs.
Taught by dark Creeds and Mystic Law,
Wrapt up in reverential Awe,
I bow'd to Priests and Kings.

II.

Soon Reason dawn'd, with troubl'd Sight
I caught the Glimpse of painful Light,
Afflicted and afraid.
Too weak it shone to mark my way,
Enough to tempt my Steps to stray
Along the dubious Shade.

III.

Restless I roam'd, when from afar
Lo Hooker shines! the friendly Star
Sends forth a steady Ray;
Thus cheer'd, and eager to pursue,
I mount, till glorious to my View,
L OCKE spreads the Realms of Day.

IV.

Now warm'd with Noble S IDNEY'S Page,
I pant with all the Patriot's Rage,
Now wrapt in P LATO'S Dream,
With M ORE and H ARRINGTON around
I tread fair Freedom's magic Ground,
And trace the flatt'ring Scheme.

V.

But soon the beauteous Vision flies;
And hideous Specters now arise,
Corruption's direful Train:
The partial Judge perverting Laws,
The Priest forsaking Virtue's Cause,
And Senates Slaves to Gain.

VI.

Vainly the pious Artist's Toil
Would rear to Heaven a mortal Pile,
On some immortal Plan;
Within a sure, tho' varying Date,
Confin'd alas! is ev'ry State
Of Empire and of Man.

VII.

What tho' the Good, the Brave, the Wise
With adverse Force undaunted rise,
To break th' eternal Doom:
Tho' C ATO liv'd, tho' T ULLY spoke,
Tho' B RUTUS dealt the Godlike Stroke,
Yet perish'd sated R OME .

VIII.

To swell some future Tyrant's Pride,
Good F LEURY pours the Golden Tide
On Gallia 's smiling Shores;
Once more her Fields shall thirst in vain
For wholesome Streams of honest Gain,
While Rapine wastes her Stores.

IX.

Yet glorious is the great Design,
And such, O P ULTNEY ! such is thine;
To prop a Nation's Frame.
If crush'd beneath the sacred Weight,
The Ruins of a falling State
Shall tell the Patriot's Name.