Which still unfolded stand, by night, by day,
Pervious to winds, and open ev'ry way,

As flames by nature to the skies ascend,

As weighty bodies to the centre tend,

As to the sea returning rivers roll,

430

And the touch'd needle trembles to the pole;

Hither, as to their proper place, arise

All various sounds from earth, and seas, and skies,

Or spoke aloud, or whisper'd in the ear;

435

Nor ever silence, rest, or peace is here.

439

As on the smooth expanse of crystal lakes The sinking stone at first a circle makes, The trembling surface by the motion stirr'd, Spreads in a second circle, then a third; Wide, and more wide, the floating rings advance, Fill all the wat❜ry plain, and to the margin dance : Thus ev'ry voice and sound, when first they break On neighb'ring air, a soft impression make; Another ambient circle then they move; That, in its turn, impels the next above; Through undulating air the sounds are sent,

And spread o'er all the fluid element.

445

There various news I heard of love and strife, Of peace and war, health, sickness, death, and life, Of loss and gain, of famine and of store,

Of storms at sea, and travels on the shore,

450

Of prodigies, and portents seen in air,

Of fires and plagues, and stars with blazing hair,
Of turns of fortune, changes in the state.
The falls of fav'rites, projects of the great,
Of old mismanagements, taxations new,
All neither wholly false, nor wholly true.

455

460

466

Above, below, without, within, around, Confus'd, unnumber'd multitudes are found, Who pass, repass, advance, and glide away, Hosts rais'd by fear, and phantoms of a day : Astrologers, that future fates foreshew, Projectors, quacks, and lawyers not a few ; And priests, and party-zealots, num'rous bands; With home-born lies, or tales from foreign lands, Each talk'd aloud, or in some secret place, And wild impatience star'd in ev'ry face. They flying rumours gather'd as they roll'd, Scarce any tale was sooner heard than told; And all who told it added something new, And all who heard it made enlargements too; In ev'ry ear it spread, on ev'ry tongue it grew. Thus flying east and west, and north and south, News travell'd with increase from mouth to mouth. So from a spark, that kindled first by chance, With gath'ring force the quick'ning flames advance, Till to the clouds their curling heads aspire, And tow'rs and temples sink in floods of fire.

470

475

When thus ripe lies are to perfection sprung, Full grown, and fit to grace a mortal tongue, Thro' thousand vents, impatient, forth they flow, And rush in millions on the world below.

480

Fame sits aloft, and points them out their course, Their date determines, and prescribes their force: Some to remain, and some to perish soon,

Or wane and wax alternate like the moon.
Around a thousand winged wonders fly,

485

Borne by the trumpet's blast, and scatter'd through the sky.

There, at one passage, oft you might survey A lie and truth contending for the way;

And long 'twas doubtful, both so closely pent,

490

Which first should issue through the narrow vent: At last agreed, together out they fly,

Inseparable now the truth and lie;

The strict companions are for ever join'd,

495

500

And this or that unmix'd, no mortal e'er shall find.
While thus I stood, intent to see and hear,
One came, methought, and whisper'd in my ear,
What could thus high thy rash ambition raise?
Art thou, fond youth, a candidate for praise?
'Tis true, said I, not void of hopes I came,
For who so fond as youthful bards of fame?
But few, alas! the casual blessing boast,
So hard to gain, so easy to be lost,

505

510

How vain that second life in others' breath,
Th' estate which wits inherit after death!
Ease, health, and life, for this they must resign,
(Unsure the tenure, but how vast the fine!)
The great man's curse, without the gains, endure,
Be envy'd, wretched, and be flatter'd, poor;
All luckless wits their enemies profest,
And all successful, jealous friends at best.
Nor fame I slight, nor for her favours call;
She comes unlook'd for, if she comes at all.
But if the purchase costs so dear a price,
As soothing folly, or exalting vice;

Oh! if the Muse must flatter lawless sway,

And follow still where Fortune leads the way;
Or if no basis bear my rising name,

But the fall'n ruins of another's fame;

515

520

Then teach me, Heav'n! to scorn the guilty bays, Drive from my breast that wretched lust of praise; Unblemish'd let me live, or die unknown :

Oh! grant an honest fame, or grant me none !

END OF VOLUME I.