But why their fev'ral merits need I tell? Why on each honour'd fage's praises dwell? WILMOT how well his place, or FOSTER fills? Or fhrew'd sense beaming from the eye of WILLS? Such, while thou fee'ft the public care engage, Their fame increasing with increasing age, Rais'd by true genius, bred in Phœbus' school, Whose warmth of foul found judgment knew to cool; - With fuch illuftrious proofs before your eyes, Think not, my friend, youv'e too much wit to rife: Think of the bench, the coif, long robe, and fee, And leave the Press to ********* *** ** ** The First Book of the HENRIADE. Tranflated from the French of M. De VOLTAIRE. HY chieftain, France, of try'd illuftrious worth, TH By right of conqueft king, by right of birth, I fing. Who, tutor'd in misfortune's school, There learnt the nobleft science, how to Rule; Bad Faction's furious difcord ceafe to rave, Valiant to conquer, merciful to fave ; Baffled the daring League's rebellious schemes, MAYENNE'S proud hopes, and Spain's ambitious dreams: With civil prudence bleft, with martial fire, A nation's conqueror, and a nation's fire. Truth, heavenly maid, from th' Empyræan height Defcend, and with thy ftrong and pureft light My verfe illume! and O, let mortals hear Thy facred word, and awfully revere ! Be Be thou my guide! thy fage experience brings 'Tis thine, bleft maid, and only thine, to show Still VALOIS reign'd, and funk in pleasure's bow'r, O'er a mad state held loose the reigns of pow'r : The trampled Law had loft its ancient force, And Right confounded, miss'd her even course. 'Twas thus when VALOIS France's fceptre bore, Scepter'd indeed, but now a king no more; Not glory's minion now, the voice of fame Swell'd the loud trumpet to the hero's name; His laurels wither'd, and all blafted now, Which conqueft hung upon his infant brow; Whose progress Europe mark'd with confcious fear, Whose lofs provok'd his country's common tear, When, the long train of all his virtues known, The North admiring call'd him to the throne. In fecond rank, the light which strikes the eyes, Rais'd to the first, grows dim, and feebly dies. From war's ftern foldier, active, firm, and brave, He funk a monarch, pleafure's abject flave. Lull'd with soft eafe, forgetful all of state, His weakness totter'd with a kingdom's weight; While loft in floth, and dead to glorious fame, The fons of riot govern'd in his name. QUELUS, St. MAIGRIN, death-cemented pair, JOYEUSE the gay, and D'ESPERNON the fair, The careless king in pleasure plung'd with these, In luft intemperate, and lethargic ease. Mean Mean time, the GUISES, fortunate and brave, Catch'd the fair moment which his weakness gave. Then rose the fatal League in evil hour, That dreadful rival of his waning pow'r. The people blind, their facred Monarch brav'd, Within |