Let this fuffice: nor thou, great faint, refuse This humble tribute of no vulgar muse: Who, not by cares, or wants, or age depreft, Stems a wild deluge with a dauntless breast; And dares to fing thy praises in a clime Where vice triumphs, and virtue is a crime; Where e'en to draw the picture of thy mind, Is fatire on the most of human kind: Take it, while yet 'tis praise; before my rage, Unfafely just, break loose on this bad age; So bad, that thou thyself hadst no defence From vice, but barely by departing hence. Be what, and where thou art: to wish thy place, Were, in the beft, prefumption more than grace Thy relics, (fuch thy works of mercy are) Have, in this poem, been my holy care. As earth thy body keeps, thy foul the sky, For thou shalt make it live, because it fings of thee. When Damon, who defign'd to pass the day And fent his voice before him from afar. Nor needed, for prefaging Damon guess'd. Juft fuch, Amyntas, was thy promis'd race. What charms adorn'd thy youth, where nature fmil'd, And more than man was giv'n us in a child! In years. fo tender that prevented time : Heaven gave him all atonce; then fnatch'daway, Ere mortals all his beauties could furvey: MENAL CAS. The mother, lovely, tho with grief oppreft, Reclin'd his dying head upon her breast. The mournful family stood all around; One groan was heard, one univerfal found : All were in floods of tears and endless forrow drown'd. So dire a fadness fat on ev'ry look, E'en death repented he had giv'n the stroke. But promis'd length of life to those who yet remain'd. The mother's and her eldest daughter's grace, DAMO N. Such is my wish, and fuch my prophefy. For yet, my friend, the beauteous mould remains; Long may the exercise her fruitful pains! But, ah! with better hap, and bring a race More lafting, and endu'd with equal grace ! Equal fhe may, but farther nonè can go : For he was all that was exact below. MENAL CAS. Damon, behold yon breaking purple cloud; Hear'st thou not hymns and fongs divinely loud? There mounts Amyntas; the young cherubs play About their godlike mate, and fing him on his way. He cleaves the liquid air, behold he flies, And every moment gains upon the skies. The new come gueft admires th' ætherial state, The faphir portal, and the golden gate; And now admitted in the shining throng, He shows the passport which he brought along.. His passport is his innocence and grace, Well known to all the natives of the place. Now fing, ye joyful angels, and admire Your brother's voice that comes to mend your quire : Sing you, while endless tears our eyes beftow; For like Amyntas none is left below. |