* The living Throne, the faphire-blaze, Where Angels tremble, while they gaze, He faw; but, blafted with excess of light, Clos'd his eyes in endless night. Behold, where Dryden's lefs presumptuous car, Wide o'er the fields of Glory bear z Two Courfers of ethereal race, a With necks in thunder cloath'd, and long-refounding pace. * For the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels-And above the firmament, that was over their heads, was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a faphire-ftone.-This was the appearance of the glory of the Lord. Ezekiel i. 20, 26, 28. ν Ὀρθαλμῶν μὲν ἀμερσε· δίδει δ ̓ ἡδειαν αὐτήν. HOMER. OD. z Meant to exprefs the itately march and founding energy of Dry den's rhimes. Haft thou cloathed his neck with thunder? Job. III. 3. III. 3. Hark, his hands the lyre explore! Bright-ey'd Fancy hovering o'er Scatters from her pictur'd urn b Thoughts, that breathe, and words,that burn. < But ah! 'tis heard no more Oh! Lyre divine, what daring Spirit Wakes thee now? tho' he inherit b Words, that weep, and tears, that speak. Cowley. We have had in our language no other odes of the fublime kind, than that of Dryden on St. Cecilia's day: for Cowley (who had his merit) yet wanted judgement, style, and harmony, for such a task, That of Pope is not worthy of fo great a man. Mr. Mafon indeed of late days has touched the true chords, and with a masterly hand, in fome of his Choruses,-above all in the last of Caractacus, Hark! heard ye not yon footstep dread? &c. Nor Nor the pride, nor ample pinion, d That the Theban Eagle bear Sailing with fupreme dominion Thro' the azure deep of air: Yet oft before his infant eyes would run Such Forms, as glitter in the Mufe's ray With orient hues, unborrow'd of the Sun: Yet fhall he mount, and keep his diftant way Beyond the limits of a vulgar fate, Beneath the Good how far-but far above the Great. ત Διὸς πρὸς ὄρνιχα θείον. Olymp. 2. Pindar compares himself to that bird, and his enemies to ravens that croak and clamour in vain ! below, while it purfues its flight, regardless of their noife. THE |