III. Princefs! if our aged eyes Weep upon thy matchlefs wrongs, 'Tis because refentment ties All the terrors of our tongues. IV. Rome shall perish-write that word Perish hopeless and abhorr'd, Deep in ruin as in guilt. V. Rome for empire far renown'd Tramples on a thousand states, Soon her pride fhall kifs the ground Hark! the Gaul is at her gates. Other Romans fhall arise, VI. Heedlefs of a foldier's name, Sounds, not arms, fhall win the prize, Harmony the path to fame. VII. Then the progeny that springs From the forefts of our land, Arm'd with thunder, clad with wings, Shall a wider world command. VIII. Regions Cæfar never knew, Thy pofterity shall sway, Where his eagles never flew, None invincible as they. IX. Such the bard's prophetic words, Pregnant with celeftial fire, Bending as he fwept the chords Of his sweet but awful lyre. X. She, with all a monarch's pride, Felt them in her bofom glow, Rufh'd to battle, fought and died, Dying, hurl'd them at the foe. Ruffians, XI. Ruffens, pitylefs as proud, Tieav'n awards the vengeance due, Empire is on us beflow'd, Shame and ruin wait for you. HEROIS M. THERE was a time when Etna's filent fire Slept unperceiv'd, the mountain yet entire, In peace upon her floping fides matur'd. When on a day, like that of the last doom, She teem'd and heav'd with an infernal birth, And hang their horrors in the neighb'ring skies, It marches o'er the proftrate works of man, See it an uninform'd and idle mass, Without a foil t' invite the tiller's care, Or blade that might redeem it from defpair. Yet time at length (what will not time atchieve?) Once Once more the spiry myrtle crowns the glade, Oh bliss precarious, and unfafe retreats, Oh charming paradife of fhort-liv'd sweets! Again the mountain feels th' imprifon'd foe, Ten thousand swains the wafted scene deplore, That only future ages can restore. Ye monarchs, whom the lure of honour draws, Who write in blood the merits of your cause, Who strike the blow, then plead your own defence, Glory your aim, but justice your pretence; Behold in Ætna's emblematic fires The mischiefs your ambitious pride infpires. Fast by the stream that bounds your just domain, And tells you where ye have a right to reign, |