As filent Night, yet active as the day.
The more the bold, the bustling, and the bad,
Press to ufurp the reins of power, the more
Behoves it Virtue, with indignant zeal,
To check their combination. Shall low views
Of sneaking int'rest or luxurious vice,
The villain's passions, quicken more to toil,
And dart a livelier vigour thro' the foul,
Than those that, mingled with our truest good,

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With present honour and immortal fame
Involve the good of all? An empty form,

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Is the weak virtue that amid the shade

Lamenting lies, with future schemes, amus'd,
While Wickedness and Folly, kindred powers,
Confound the world. A Talbot's, different far,

Sprung ardent into action, that difdain'd
To lose in death-like floth one pulse of life
That might be sav'd; disdain'd for coward Ease

And her infipid pleasures, to resign

The prize of glory, the keen sweets of toil,

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And those high joys that teach the truly great 65 To live for others, and for others die.

Early, behold! he breaks benign on life. Not breathing more beneficence, the Spring Leads in her swelling train the gentle Airs; While gay, behind her, fmiles the kindling waste 70 Of ruffian storms and winter's lawless rage. In him Astræa, to this dim abode

Of ever-wandering men, return'd again;
To bless them his delight, to bring them back,
From thorny error, from unjoyous wrong,
Into the paths of kind primeval faith,

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Of happiness and justice. All his parts,
His virtues all, collected, fought the good
Of human-kind. For that he, fervent, felt
The throb of patriots when they model states; 80
Anxious for that, nor needful sleep could hold
His still-awaken'd foul; nor friends had charms
To fteal, with pleasing guile, one useful hour;
Toil knew no languor, no attraction joy.
Thus with unwearied steps, by Virtue led,
He gain'd the summit of that sacred hill
Where, rais'd above black Envy's dark'ning clouds,
Her spotless temple lifts its radiant front.

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Be nam'd, victorious Ravagers! no more;
Vanish, ye human Comets! shrink your blaze, go
Ye that your glory to your terrors owe,

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As o'er the gazing defolated earth
You scatter famine, pestilence, and war!
Vanish before this vernal fun of Fame!
Effulgent sweetness! beaming life and joy.
How the heart listen'd while he pleading spoke!
While on the enlighten'd mind, with winning art,
His gentle reason so perfuafive stole,
That the charm'd hearer thought it was his own.
Ah! when, ye Studious of the laws! again

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Shall fuch enchanting lessons bless your ear?
When shall again the darkest truths, perplext,
Be fet in ample day? when shall the harsh

And arduous open into smiling ease?
The folid mix with elegant delight?
His was the talent with the pureft light

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At once to pour conviction on the foul,
And warm with lawful flame th' impassion'd heart.
That dangerous gift with him was safely lodg'd
By Heaven. He, sacred to his country's caufe, 110
To trampled Want and Worth, to suffering Right,
To the lone Widow's and her Orphan's woes,
Reserv'd the mighty charm. With equal brow,
Despising then the smiles or frowns of Power,

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He all that noblest eloquence effus'd,
Which generous passion, taught by reafon, breathes:
Then spoke the man, and over barren Art
Prevail'd abundant Nature. Freedom then
His client was, Humanity and Truth.

Plac'd on the feat of justice, there he reign'd 120
In a superior sphere of cloudless day,
A pure intelligence. No tumult there,
No dark emotion, no intemp'rate heat,
No paffion e'er disturb'd the clear serene
That round him spread. A zeal for right alone, 125
The love of justice, like the steady fun,
Its equal ardour lent; and sometimes rais'd
Against the fons of Violence, of Pride,

And bold Deceit, his indignation gleam'd,
Yet still by fober dignity restrain'd.
As intuition quick, he snatch'd the truth,
Yet with progressive patience, step by step,
Self-diffident, or to the flower kind,
He thro' the maze of falsehood trac'd it on,
Till, at the last, evolved, it full appear'd,
And even the lofer own'd the just decree.

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But when, in fenates, he, to freedom firm, Enlighten'd freedom, plann'd falubrious laws, His various learning, his wide knowledge, then, His infight deep into Britannia's weal, Spontaneous seem'd from fimple sense to flow, And the plain patriot smooth'd the brow of law. No specious swell, no frothy pomp of words, Fell on the cheated ear: no study'd maze Of declamation to perplex the right, He darkening threw around: safe in itself, In its own force, all-powerful Reason spoke; While on the great, the ruling point, at once He stream'd decisive day, and show'd it vain To lengthen farther out the clear debate. Conviction breathes conviction; to the heart, Pour'd ardent forth in eloquence unbid, The heart attends; for let the venal try Their every hard'ning stupifying art, Truth must prevail, zeal will enkindle zeal, And Nature, skilful touch'd, is honest still.

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Behold him in the councils of his prince. What faithful light he lends? How rare, in courts, Such wisdom! such abilities! and, join'd To virtue so determin'd, public zeal, And honour of fuch adamantine proof, As even Corruption, hopeless, and o'er-aw'd, Durst not have tempted! Yet of manners mild, And winning every heart, he knew to please, Nobly to please; while equally he scorn'd Or adulation to receive or give. Happy the state where wakes a ruling eye Of such inspection keen, and general care! Beneath a guard so vigilant, so pure, Toil may resign his careless head to rest, And ever-jealous Freedom sleep in peace. Ah! loft untimely! lost in downward days! And many a patriot counsel with him loft! Counsels that might have humbled Britain's foe, Her native foe, from eldest time by Fate Appointed, as did once a Talbot's arms. Let Learning, Arts, let univerfal Worth, Lament a patron loft, a friend and judge. Unlike the fons of Vanity, that, veil'd Beneath the patron's prostituted name, Dare facrifice a worthy man to pride, And flush confufion o'er an honest cheek. When he conferr'd a grace, it seem'd a debt Which he to merit, to the public, paid,

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