An
EPISTLE
from
FLORENCE
.
To
T.
A.
Esq
;
Tutor
to
the
Earl
of
P—
.
Written
in
the
Year
1740.
By
the
Honourable
—
.
WHEN
flourish'd
with
their
state
th'
ATHENIAN
name
,
And
Learning
and
Politeness
were
the
same
,
Philosophy
with
gentle
art
refin'd
The
honest
roughness
of
th'
unpractis'd
mind
:
She
call'd
the
latent
beams
of
Nature
forth
,
Guided
their
ardour
,
and
insur'd
their
worth
.
She
pois'd
th'
impetuous
Warrior's
vengeful
steel
,
Mark'd
true
Ambition
from
destructive
Zeal
,
Pointed
what
lustre
on
that
laurel
blows
,
Which
Virtue
only
on
her
sons
bestows
.
Hence
clement
CIMON
of
unspotted
fame
,
Hence
ARISTIDES'
ever
fav'rite
name
;
Heroes
,
who
knew
to
wield
the
righteous
spear
,
And
guard
their
native
tow'rs
from
foreign
fear
;
Or
in
firm
bands
of
social
Peace
to
bind
Their
Country's
good
,
and
benefit
mankind
.
She
trim'd
the
thoughtful
Statesman's
nightly
oil
,
Confirm'd
his
mind
beneath
an
empire's
toil
,
Or
with
him
to
his
silent
villa
stole
,
Gilded
his
ev'ning
hours
,
and
harmoniz'd
his
soul
.
To
woods
and
caves
she
never
bade
retreat
,
Nor
fix'd
in
cloyster'd
monkeries
her
seat
:
No
lonely
precepts
to
her
sons
enjoin'd
,
Nor
taught
them
to
be
men
,
to
shun
mankind
.
CYNICS
there
were
,
an
uncouth
selfish
race
,
Of
manners
foul
,
and
boastful
of
disgrace
:
Brutes
,
whom
no
Muse
has
ever
lov'd
to
name
,
Whose
Ignominy
is
their
only
fame
,
No
hostile
Trophies
grace
their
honour'd
urn
,
Around
their
tomb
no
sculptur'd
Virtues
mourn
;
Nor
tells
the
marble
into
emblems
grav'd
,
An
Art
discover'd
,
or
a
City
sav'd
.
Be
this
the
goal
to
which
the
Briton-Peer
Exalt
his
hope
,
and
press
his
young
career
!
Be
this
the
goal
to
which
,
my
Friend
,
may
you
With
gentle
skill
direct
his
early
view
!
Artful
the
various
studies
to
dispense
,
And
melt
the
schoolman's
jargon
down
to
sense
.
See
the
pedantick
Teacher
,
winking
dull
,
The
letter'd
Tyrant
of
a
trembling
school
;
Teaching
by
force
,
and
proving
by
a
frown
,
His
lifted
fasces
ram
the
lesson
down
.
From
tortur'd
strains
of
eloquence
he
draws
Barbarick
precepts
and
unmeaning
laws
,
By
his
own
sense
wou'd
TULLY'S
word
expound
,
And
a
new
VANDAL
tramples
classick
ground
.
Perhaps
a
Bigot
to
the
learned
page
,
No
modern
custom
can
his
thoughts
engage
;
His
little
farm
by
GEORGICK
rules
he
ploughs
,
And
prunes
by
metre
the
luxuriant
boughs
,
Still
from
ARATUS'
sphere
or
MARO'S
signs
,
The
future
calm
or
tempest
he
divines
,
And
fears
if
the
prognostick
Raven's
found
Et
sola
in
sicca
secum
spatiatur
arena
.
VIRG.
Expatiating
alone
along
the
dreary
round
.
What
scanty
precepts
!
studies
how
confin'd
!
Too
mean
to
fill
your
comprehensive
mind
:
Unsatisfy'd
with
knowing
when
or
where
Some
Roman
Bigot
rais'd
a
Fane
to
FEAR
;
On
what
green
medal
VIRTUE
stands
express'd
,
How
CONCORD'S
pictur'd
,
LIBERTY
how
dress'd
;
Or
with
wise
KEN
judiciously
define
,
When
Pius
marks
the
honorary
coin
Of
CARACALLA
,
or
of
ANTONINE
.
Thirsting
for
knowledge
,
but
to
know
the
right
,
Thro'
judgment's
optick
guide
th'
illusive
sight
,
To
let
in
rays
on
Reason's
darkling
cell
,
And
Prejudice's
lagging
mists
dispel
;
For
this
you
turn
the
Greek
and
Roman
page
,
Weigh
the
contemplative
and
active
Sage
,
And
cull
some
useful
flow'r
from
each
heroick
Age
.
Thence
teach
the
Youth
the
necessary
art
,
To
know
the
Judge's
from
the
Critick's
part
;
Show
how
ignoble
is
the
passion
,
FEAR
,
And
place
some
patriot
Roman's
model
near
;
Their
bright
examples
to
his
soul
instil
,
Who
knew
no
Fear
,
but
that
of
doing
ill
.
Tell
him
,
'tis
all
a
cant
,
a
trifle
all
,
To
know
the
folds
that
from
the
TOGA
fall
,
The
CLAVUS'
breadth
,
the
BULLA'S
golden
round
,
And
ev'ry
leaf
that
ev'ry
VIRTUE
crown'd
;
But
shew
how
brighter
in
each
honest
breast
Than
in
her
shrine
,
the
Goddess
stood
confess'd
.
Tell
him
,
it
is
not
the
fantastick
Boy
,
Elate
with
pow'r
and
swell'd
with
frantick
joy
,
'Tis
not
a
slavish
Senate
,
fawning
,
base
,
Can
stamp
with
honest
fame
a
worthless
race
;
Tho'
the
false
Coin
proclaim
him
great
and
wise
,
The
tyrant's
life
shall
tell
that
Coin
,
it
lies
.
But
when
your
early
Care
shall
have
design'd
To
plan
the
Soul
and
mould
the
waxen
Mind
;
When
you
shall
pour
upon
his
tender
Breast
Ideas
that
must
stand
an
Age's
test
,
Oh
!
there
imprint
with
strongest
deepest
dye
The
lovely
form
of
Goddess
LIBERTY
!
For
her
in
Senates
be
he
train'd
to
plead
,
For
her
in
Battles
be
he
taught
to
bleed
.
Lead
him
where
Dover's
rugged
cliff
resounds
With
dashing
seas
,
fair
Freedom's
honest
bounds
,
Point
to
yon
azure
Carr
bedropp'd
with
gold
,
Whose
weight
the
necks
of
Gallia's
sons
uphold
;
Where
proudly
sits
an
iron-scepter'd
Queen
,
And
fondly
triumphs
o'er
the
prostrate
scene
,
Cry
,
That
is
Empire
!
shun
her
baleful
path
,
Her
Words
are
Slavery
,
and
her
Touch
is
Death
!
Thro'
wounds
and
blood
the
Fury
drives
her
way
,
And
murthers
half
,
to
make
the
rest
her
prey
.
Thus
spoke
each
Spartan
matron
,
as
she
dress'd
With
the
bright
cuirass
the
young
soldier's
breast
;
On
the
new
warrior's
tender-sinew'd
thigh
,
Girt
Fear
of
Shame
and
Love
of
Liberty
.
Steel'd
with
such
precepts
,
for
a
cause
so
good
,
What
scanty
bands
the
Persian
host
withstood
!
Before
the
sons
of
Greece
let
Asia
tell
How
fled
her
Xerxes
.
Monarch
,
how
her
Millions
fell
!
When
arm'd
for
LIBERTY
,
a
Few
how
brave
!
How
weak
a
Multitude
,
where
each
a
Slave
!
No
welcome
Faulchion
fill'd
their
fainting
hand
,
No
Voice
inspir'd
of
favourite
Command
:
No
Peasant
fought
for
wealthy
lands
possess'd
,
No
fond
remembrance
warm'd
the
Parent's
breast
:
They
saw
their
lands
for
royal
riot
groan
,
And
toil
in
vain
for
banquets
,
not
their
own
;
They
saw
their
infant
Race
to
bondage
rise
,
And
frequent
heard
the
ravish'd
Virgin's
cries
,
Dishonour'd
but
to
cool
a
transient
gust
Of
some
luxurious
Satrap's
barb'rous
lust
.
The
greatest
curses
any
Age
has
known
,
Have
issued
from
the
Temple
or
the
Throne
;
Extent
of
ill
from
Kings
at
first
begins
,
But
Priests
must
aid
,
and
consecrate
their
sins
.
The
tortur'd
Subject
might
be
heard
complain
,
When
sinking
under
a
new
weight
of
chain
,
Or
more
rebellious
might
perhaps
repine
,
When
tax'd
to
dow'r
a
titled
Concubine
,
But
the
Priest
christens
all
a
Right
Divine
.
When
at
the
altar
a
new
Monarch
kneels
,
What
conjur'd
awe
upon
the
people
steals
!
The
chosen
HE
adores
the
precious
oil
,
Meekly
receives
the
solemn
charm
,
and
while
The
Priest
some
blessed
nothings
mutters
o'er
,
Sucks
in
the
sacred
grease
at
ev'ry
pore
:
He
seems
at
once
to
shed
his
mortal
skin
,
And
feels
Divinity
transfus'd
within
.
The
trembling
Vulgar
dread
the
royal
Nod
,
And
worship
God's
anointed
more
than
God
.
Such
Sanction
gives
the
Prelate
to
such
Kings
!
So
Mischief
from
those
hallow'd
fountains
springs
.
But
bend
your
eye
to
yonder
harrass'd
plains
,
Where
King
and
Priest
in
one
united
reigns
;
See
fair
Italia
mourn
her
holy
state
,
And
droop
oppress'd
beneath
a
papal
weight
:
Where
fat
Celibacy
usurps
the
soil
,
And
sacred
Sloth
consumes
the
peasant's
toil
:
The
holy
Drones
monopolize
the
sky
,
And
plunder
by
a
vow
of
Poverty
.
The
Christian
Cause
their
lewd
profession
taints
,
Unlearn'd
,
unchaste
,
uncharitable
Saints
.
Oppression
takes
Religion's
hallow'd
name
,
And
Priest-craft
knows
to
play
the
specious
game
.
Behold
how
each
enthusiastic
fool
Of
ductile
piety
,
becomes
their
tool
:
Observe
with
how
much
art
,
what
fine
pretence
,
They
hallow
Foppery
and
combat
Sense
.
Some
hoary
Hypocrite
,
grown
old
in
sin
,
Whose
thoughts
of
heav'n
with
his
last
hours
begin
,
Counting
a
chaplet
with
a
bigot
care
,
And
mumbling
somewhat
'twixt
a
charm
and
pray'r
,
Hugs
a
dawb'd
image
of
his
injur'd
Lord
,
And
squeezes
out
on
the
dull
idol-board
A
sore-ey'd
gum
of
tears
;
the
flannel
Crew
With
cunning
joy
the
fond
repentance
view
,
Pronounce
Him
bless'd
,
his
miracles
proclaim
,
Teach
the
slight
crow'd
t'
adore
his
hallow'd
name
,
Exalt
his
praise
above
the
Saints
of
old
,
And
coin
his
sinking
conscience
into
Gold
.
Or
when
some
Pontiff
with
imperious
hand
Sends
forth
his
edict
to
excise
the
land
,
The
tortur'd
Hind
unwillingly
obeys
,
And
mutters
curses
as
his
mite
he
pays
!
The
subtle
Priest
th'
invidious
name
forbears
,
Asks
it
for
holy
use
or
venal
pray'rs
;
Exhibits
all
their
trumpery
to
sale
,
A
bone
,
a
mouldy
morsel
,
or
a
nail
:
Th'
indolatrous
Devout
adore
the
show
,
And
in
full
streams
the
molten
off'rings
flow
.
No
pagan
object
,
nothing
too
profane
,
To
aid
the
Romish
zeal
for
Christian
gain
.
Each
Temple
with
new
weight
of
idols
nods
,
And
borrow'd
Altars
smoke
to
other
Gods
.
PROMETHEUS'
Vultur
MATTHEW'S
Eagle
proves
;
And
heav'nly
Cherubs
sprout
from
heathen
Loves
;
Young
GANYMEDE
a
winged
Angel
stands
By
holy
LUKE
,
and
dictates
God's
commands
:
St.
Apollos
.
APOLLO
,
tho'
degraded
,
still
can
bless
,
Rewarded
with
a
Sainthood
,
and
an
S
.
Each
convert
Godhead
is
apostoliz'd
,
And
JOVE
himself
by
At
St.
Peter's
an
old
statue
of
Jupiter
is
turned
into
one
of
St.
Peter
.
PETER'S
name
baptiz'd
.
ASTARTE
shines
in
Jewish
MARY'S
fame
,
Still
Queen
of
heav'n
,
another
and
the
same
.
While
the
proud
Priest
the
sacred
Tyrant
reigns
Of
empty
cities
and
dispeopled
plains
,
Where
fetter'd
Nature
is
forbid
to
rove
In
the
free
commerce
of
productive
Love
:
Behold
imprison'd
with
her
barren
kind
,
In
gloomy
cells
the
votive
Maid
confin'd
;
Faint
streams
of
blood
,
by
long
stagnation
weak
,
Scarce
tinge
the
fading
damask
of
her
cheek
;
In
vain
she
pines
,
the
holy
Faith
withstands
,
What
Nature
dictates
and
what
God
commands
:
But
if
some
sanguine
He
,
some
lusty
Priest
Of
jollier
morals
taste
the
tempting
feast
,
From
the
strong
grasp
if
some
poor
babe
arise
,
Unwelcome
,
unindear'd
,
it
instant
dies
;
Or
poisons
blasting
soon
the
hasty
joy
,
Th'
imperfect
seeds
of
infant
life
destroy
,
Fair
Modesty
,
thou
virgin
tender-ey'd
,
From
thee
the
Muse
the
grosser
acts
must
hide
,
Nor
the
dark
cloister's
mystick
rites
display
,
Whence
num'rous
brawny
Monkhoods
waste
away
,
And
unprolifick
,
tho'
forsworn
,
decay
.
BRITANNIA
smiling
,
views
her
golding
plains
From
mitred
bondage
free
and
papal
chains
;
Her
jocund
Sons
pass
each
unburthen'd
day
Securely
quiet
,
innocently
gay
:
Lords
of
themselves
the
happy
Rusticks
sing
,
Each
of
his
little
tenement
the
King
.
Twice
did
usurping
Rome
extend
her
hand
,
To
reinslave
the
new-deliver'd
land
;
Twice
were
her
sable
bands
to
battle
warm'd
,
With
pardons
,
bulls
,
and
texts
,
and
murthers
arm'd
;
Addit
&
Herculeos
Arcus
Hastamque
Minervae
,
Quicquid
habent
telorum
armamentaria
Coeli
.
JUV.
With
PETER'S
sword
and
MICHAEL'S
lance
were
sent
,
And
whate'er
stores
supply'd
the
Church's
armament
.
Twice
did
the
gallant
Albion
race
repell
The
Jesuit
legions
to
the
gates
of
hell
;
Or
whate'er
Angel
,
friend
to
Britain
,
took
Or
WILLIAM'S
or
ELIZA'S
guardian
look
.
Arise
,
young
Peer
!
shine
forth
in
such
a
cause
!
Who
draws
the
sword
for
Freedom
,
justly
draws
.
Reflect
how
dearly
was
that
Freedom
bought
;
For
that
,
how
oft
your
ancestors
have
fought
;
Thro'
the
long
series
of
our
princes
down
,
How
wrench'd
some
right
from
each
too
potent
Crown
.
See
abject
JOHN
,
that
vassal-Monarch
,
see
!
Bow
down
the
royal
neck
,
and
crouch
the
supple
knee
!
Oh
!
prostitution
of
imperial
State
!
To
a
vile
Romish
Priest's
vile
The
Pope's
Nuncio
.
Delegate
.
Him
the
bold
Barons
scorning
to
obey
,
And
be
the
subjects
of
a
subject
sway
;
Heroes
whose
names
to
latest
fame
shall
shine
,
Aw'd
by
no
visions
of
a
Right
Divine
,
That
bond
by
eastern
Politicians
wrought
,
Which
ours
have
learnt
,
and
Rabbi
Doctors
taught
,
To
straiter
banks
restrain'd
the
Royal
Will
,
That
great
prerogative
of
doing
ill
.
To
late
example
and
experience
dead
,
See
Henry
III
.
HENRY
in
his
Father's
footsteps
tread
.
Too
young
to
govern
,
immature
to
pow'r
,
His
early
follies
haunt
his
latest
hour
.
His
nobles
injur'd
,
and
his
realms
oppress'd
,
No
violated
Senate's
wrongs
redress'd
,
His
hoary
age
sinks
in
the
feeble
wane
Of
an
inglorious
,
slighted
,
tedious
reign
.
The
Muse
too
long
with
idle
glories
fed
,
And
train'd
to
trumpet
o'er
the
warlike
dead
,
The
wanton
fain
on
giddy
plumes
would
soar
,
To
Gallic
Loire
and
Jordan's
humbled
shore
;
Again
would
teach
the
Saracen
and
Gaul
,
At
Edward
I.
and
II
.
EDWARD'S
and
at
Henry
V.
HENRY'S
name
to
fall
;
Romantick
heroes
!
prodigal
of
blood
;
What
numbers
stain'd
each
ill-disputed
flood
!
Tools
to
a
Clergy
!
warring
but
to
feast
With
spoils
of
provinces
each
pamper'd
Priest
.
Be
dumb
,
fond
Maid
;
thy
sacred
ink
nor
spill
On
specious
Tyrants
,
popularly
ill
;
Nor
be
thy
comely
locks
with
Roses
dight
Of
either
victor
colour
,
Red
or
White
.
Foil'd
the
assassin
Richard
III
.
King
,
in
union
blow
The
blended
flow'rs
on
seventh
HENRY'S
brow
.
Peace
lights
again
on
the
forsaken
strand
,
And
banish'd
Plenty
re-assumes
the
land
.
No
nodding
crest
the
crouching
infant
frights
,
No
clarion
rudely
breaks
the
bride's
delights
;
Reposing
sabres
seek
their
ancient
place
To
bristle
round
a
gaping
Medusa's
head
in
the
armory
at
the
Tower
.
GORGON'S
face
.
The
wearied
arms
grotesquely
deck
the
wall
,
And
tatter'd
trophies
fret
the
Royal
Westminster-Hall
.
hall
.
But
Peace
in
vain
on
the
blood-fatten'd
plains
From
her
exuberant
horn
her
treasures
rains
:
She
deals
her
gifts
;
but
in
an
useless
hour
,
To
glut
the
iron
hand
of
griping
Pow'r
:
Such
LANCASTER
,
whom
harrass'd
Britain
saw
,
Mask'd
in
the
garb
of
antiquated
Law
:
More
politick
than
wise
,
more
wise
than
great
:
A
legislator
to
enslave
the
state
;
Coolly
malicious
;
by
design
a
knave
;
More
mean
than
false
,
ambitious
more
than
brave
;
Attach'd
to
Interest's
more
than
Honour's
call
;
More
strict
than
just
,
more
covetous
than
all
.
Not
so
the
Reveller
profuse
,
his
Henry
VIII
.
Son
,
His
contrast
course
of
tyranny
begun
;
Robust
of
limb
,
and
flush'd
with
florid
grace
,
Strength
nerv'd
his
youth
,
and
squar'd
his
jovial
face
.
To
feats
of
arms
and
carpet-combats
prone
,
In
either
field
the
vig'rous
monarch
shone
:
Mark'd
out
for
riot
each
luxurious
day
In
tournaments
and
banquets
danc'd
away
.
But
shift
the
scene
,
and
view
what
slaughters
stain
Each
frantick
period
of
his
barb'rous
reign
:
A
Tyrant
to
the
people
whom
he
rul'd
,
By
ev'y
potentate
he
dealt
with
,
fool'd
:
Sold
by
one
Cardinal
Woolsey
,
minister
,
to
all
unjust
;
Sway'd
by
each
dictate
of
distemper'd
lust
;
Changing
each
worship
that
controul'd
the
bent
Of
his
adult'rous
will
,
and
lewd
intent
;
Big
in
unwieldy
majesty
and
pride
,
And
smear'd
with
Queens
and
Martyrs
blood
,
He
dy'd
.
Pass
we
the
pious
Edward
VI
.
Youth
too
slightly
seen
;
The
murd'rous
zeal
of
a
weak
Romish
Mary
.
Queen
:
Nor
with
faint
pencil
,
impotently
vain
,
Shadow
the
glories
of
ELIZA'S
reign
,
Who's
still
too
great
,
tho'
some
few
faults
she
had
,
To
catalogue
with
all
those
Royal
bad
.
Arise
,
great
JAMES
!
thy
course
of
wisdom
run
!
Image
of
David's
philosophick
Son
!
He
comes
!
on
either
hand
in
seemly
state
,
Knowledge
and
Peace
,
his
fondled
handmaids
wait
:
Obscurely
learn'd
,
elaborately
dull
,
Of
quibbling
cant
and
grace
fanatick
full
,
Thron'd
in
full
senate
,
on
his
pedant
tongue
,
These
for
six
hours
each
weighty
morning
hung
;
For
these
each
string
of
royal
pow'r
he
strain'd
,
For
these
he
sold
whate'er
ELIZA
gain'd
;
For
these
he
squander'd
ev'ry
prudent
store
The
frugal
Princess
had
reserv'd
before
,
On
pension'd
sycophants
and
garter'd
boys
,
Tools
of
his
will
,
and
minions
of
his
joys
.
For
these
he
let
his
beggar'd
Queen
of
Bohemia
.
daughter
roam
;
Bubbled
,
for
these
,
by
Spanish
art
at
home
;
For
these
,
to
sum
the
blessings
of
his
reign
,
Poison'd
one
Son
Prince
Henry
,
and
Charles
I.
and
t'
other
sent
to
Spain
.
Retire
,
strict
Muse
,
and
thy
impartial
verse
In
pity
spare
on
CHARLES'S
bleeding
herse
;
Or
all
his
faults
in
blackest
notes
translate
To
tombs
where
rot
the
authors
of
his
fate
;
To
lustful
HENRIETTA'S
Romish
shade
,
Let
all
his
acts
of
lawless
pow'r
be
laid
;
Or
to
the
Archbishop
Laud
.
Priest
,
more
Romish
still
than
her
;
And
whoe'er
made
his
gentle
virtues
err
.
On
the
next
Charles
II
.
Prince
,
expell'd
his
native
land
,
In
vain
Affliction
laid
her
iron
hand
;
Fortune
,
or
fair
or
frowning
,
on
his
soul
Cou'd
stamp
no
virtue
,
and
no
vice
controul
:
Honour
,
or
morals
,
gratitude
,
or
truth
,
Nor
learn'd
his
ripen'd
age
,
nor
knew
his
youth
;
The
care
of
Nations
left
to
whores
or
chance
,
Plund'rer
of
Britain
,
pensioner
of
France
;
Free
to
buffoons
,
to
ministers
deny'd
,
He
liv'd
an
atheist
,
and
a
bigot
dy'd
.
The
reins
of
Empire
,
or
resign'd
or
stole
,
Are
trusted
next
to
JAMES'S
weak
controul
;
Him
,
meditating
to
subvert
the
laws
,
His
Hero
William
III
.
Son
in
Freedom's
beauteous
cause
Rose
to
chastise
:
Infelix
utcumque
ferent
ea
facta
minores
!
VIRG.
unhappy
still
!
howe'er
Posterity
the
gallant
action
bear
.
Thus
have
I
try'd
of
Kings
and
Priests
to
sing
,
And
all
the
ills
that
from
their
vices
spring
;
While
victor
GEORGE
thunders
o'er
either
Spain
,
Revenges
Britain
and
asserts
the
Main
;
To
—
Volentes
Per
populos
dat
jura
viamque
affectat
Olympo
.
VIRG.
willing
Indians
deals
our
equal
laws
,
And
from
his
Country's
voice
affects
applause
;
Illo
Virgilium
me
tempore
dulcis
alebat
Parthenope
,
studiis
florentem
ignobilis
otî.
VIRG.
What
time
fair
Florence
on
her
peaceful
shore
,
Free
from
the
din
of
war
and
battle's
roar
,
Has
lap'd
me
trifler
in
inglorious
ease
,
Modelling
precepts
that
may
serve
and
please
;
Yours
is
the
task
—
and
glorious
is
the
plan
,
To
build
the
Free
,
the
Sensible
,
Good
Man
.