LIBERTY traced from the pastoral ages, and the first uniting of neighbouring families into civil government. The several establishments of Liberty, in Egypt, Persia, Phoenicia, Pa lestine, slightly touched upon, down to her great establish ment in Greece. Geographical description of Greece. Sparta and Athens, the two principal states of Greece, described. Influence of Liberty over all the Grecian states; with regard to their Government, their Politeness, their Virtues, their Arts and Sciences. The vast superiority it gave them, in point of force and bravery, over the Persians, exemplified by the action of Thermopylæ, the battle of Marathon, and the retreat of the Ten Thousand. Its full exertion, and most beautiful effects, in Athens. Liberty the source of free Phiosophy. The various schools which took their rise from Socrates. Enumeration of Fine Arts: Eloquence, Poetry, Music, Sculpture, Painting, and Architecture; the effects of Liberty in Greece, and brought to their utmost perfection there. Transition to the modern state of Greece. Why Liberty declined, and was at last entirely lost among the Greeks. Concluding Reflection.

PART III. - ROME.

As this part contains a description of the establhisment of Liberty in Rome, it begins with a view of the Grecian Colonies settled in the southern parts of Italy, which with Sicily constituted the Great Greece of the Ancients. With these colonies, the Spirit of Liberty and of Republics spreads over Italy. Transition to Pythagoras and his philosophy, which he taught through these free states and cities. Amidst the many small Republics in Italy, Rome the destined seat of Liberty. Her establishment there dated from the expulsion of the Tarquins. How differing from that in

Greece. Reference to a view of the Roman Republic given a the First Part of this Poem: to mark its Rise and Fall the peculiar purport of this. During its first ages, the greatest force of Liberty and Virtue exerted. The source wl.ence derived the Heroic Virtues of the Romans. Enumeration of these Virtues. Thence their security at home; their glory, success, and empire abroad. Bounds of the Roman Empire geographically described. The states of Greece restored to Liberty by Titus Quintius Flaminius, the highest instance of public generosity and beneficence. The loss of Liberty in Rome Its causes, progress, and completion in the death of Brutus. Rome under the Emperors. From Rome the Goddess of Liberty goes among the Northern Nations; where, by infusing into them her spirit and general principles, she lays the groundwork of her future establishments; sends them in vengeance on the Roman Empire, now totally enslaved; and then, with Arts and Sciences in her train, quits earth during the Dark Ages. The celestial regions, to which Liberty retired, not proper to be opened to the view of mortals.

PART IV. - BRITAIN.

DIFFERENCE betwixt the Ancients and Moderns slightly touched upon. Description of the Dark Ages. The Goddess of Liberty, who, during these, is supposed to have left earth, returns, attended with Arts and Science. She first descends on Italy. Sculpture, Painting, and Architecture fix at Rome, to revive their several arts by the great models of antiquity there, which many barbarous invasions had not been able to destroy. The revival of these arts marked out. That sometimes arts may flourish for a while under despotic governments, though never the natural and genuine production of them. Learning begins to dawn. The Muse and Science attend Liberty, who, in her progress towards Great Britain, raises several free states and cities. These enurer

ated. Author's exclamation of joy, upon seeing the British seas and coasts rise in the vision, which painted whatever the Goddess of Liberty said. She resumes her narration. The Genius of the Deep appears, and, addressing Liberty, associates Great Britain into his dominion. Liberty received and congratulated by Britannia, and the native Genii or Virtues of the Island. These described. Animated by the presence of Liberty, they begin their operations. Their beneficent influence contrasted with the works and delusions of opposing Demons. Concludes with an abstract of the English history, marking the several advances of Liberty, down to her complete establishment at the Revolution.

PART V.- THE PROSPECT.

The author addresses the Goddess of Liberty, marking the happiness and grandeur of Great Britain, as arising from her influence. She resumes her discourse, and points out the chief Virtues which are necessary to maintain her establish ment there. Recommends, as its last ornament and finishing, Sciences, Fine Arts, and Public Works. The encouragement of these urged from the example of France, though under a despotic government. The whole concludes with a prospect of future times, given by the Goddess of Liberty: this described by the author, as it passes in vision before him.

LIBERTY.

PART I.

ANCIENT AND MODERN ITALY COMPARED

O MY lamented Talbot!* while with thee
The Muse gay roved the glad Hesperian round,
And drew the inspiring breath of ancient arts,
Ah! little thought she her returning verse
Should sing our darling subject to thy Shade.
And does the mystic veil, from mortal beam,
Involve those eyes where every virtue smiled,
And all thy Father's candid spirit shone?
The light of reason, pure, without a cloud;
Full of the generous heart, the mild regard;
Honour disdaining blemish, cordial faith,
And limpid truth, that looks the very soul.
But to the death of mighty nations turn
My strain; be there absorpt the private tear. †
Musing, I lay; warm from the sacred walks,
Where at each step imagination burns:
While scatter'd wide around, awful and hoar,
Lies, a vast monument, once glorious Rome,
The tomb of empire! Ruins! that efface
Whate'er, of finish'd, modern pomp can boast.

* Charles Richard Talbot, Esq. See Memoir, p. liv.

The lines on his friend Mr. Talbot's death, originally designed by Thomson for the commencement of "Liberty," wil. be found in his letter to Dr. Cranston, at p. lxix. of the Memoir.

Snatch'd by these wonders to that world where

thought

Unfetter'd ranges, Fancy's magic hand

Led me anew o'er all the solemn scene,

Still in the mind's pure eye more solemn dress'd :
When straight, methought, the fair majestic Power
Of Liberty appear'd. Not, as of old,
Extended in her hand the cap, and rod,

Whose slave-enlarging touch gave double life;
But her bright temples bound with British oak,
And naval honours nodded on her brow.
Sublime of port: loose o'er her shoulder flow'd
Her sea-green robe, with constellations gay.
An island-goddess now; and her high care
The Queen of Isles, the mistress of the main.
My heart beat filial transport at the sight;
And, as she moved to speak, the awaken'd Muse
Listen'd intense. Awhile she look'd around,
With mournful eye the well known ruins mark'd,
And then, her sighs repressing, thus began:

'Mine are these wonders, all thou seest is mine; But ah, how changed! the falling poor remains Of what exalted once the Ausonian shore. Look back through time, and, rising from the gloom,

Mark the dread scene, that paints whate'er I say.

The great Republic see! that glow'd, sublime. With the mix'd freedom of a thousand states; Raised on the thrones of kings her curule chair, And by her fasces awed the subject world.