423 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1794. 



Pleasure was hunted through each impious mode; 



An Isis she, and he the vine-ciown'd god. 



Old Nile, astonish'd, on lii? bosom bore 



Monsifcis' more strange than e'er deform'd his shore j 



For what so monstrous sight beneath the skies 



As self-created human deities ? — 



But heaven, for vengeful retribution, means 



The sword and asp should close these frantic scenes. 



Spectators mute the sorrowing captains stand. 



While empire shoulders from his palsied hand : 



But rous'd at length, unwilling, to the fight, 



His star at Actium sunk in endless night. 



With equal pomp, as when down Cydnus' stream 



Her burnish'd prow struck back the sun's bright beam. 



The enchantress bade her bloated train prepare 



To meet the horrors of the naval war ; 



But the first shouts her trembling spirits quail j 



She flies, and he pursues her shameful sail : 



His heart -strings to the harlot's rudder tied. 



What lust began, his dotage ratified : 



In Alexandria's towers he vtil'd his head. 



Where, self-cxpell'd, the vital spirit fled. 



He tried all vices, and surpass'd in all. 



Luxurious, cruel, wild, and prodigal j 



Lavish of hours, of character, and gold. 



But warlike, hardy, and in dangers bold ; 



Hi» mind was suited to the boist'rous times, 



A soldier's virtues, and a tyrant's crimes, 



A Protestant Uncle to his Protestant Nieces, on their visiting Whrdour- 

 Castle, in JHlts, tht seat of Lord Arundel, on St. Peters day, 17t)4. 

 By Mr. Seward. 



"THIS not the splendid house of pray' r, 

 X The burnish'd gold's well-order'd glare. 

 The altar's beautt^ous form emboss'd, f 



With marbles from each distant coast, 

 ^ The clouds of incense that arise 



And waft their fragrance to the skies : 

 *Tis not the flood of burning day 

 The tapci's dazzling lights display : 

 'Tis not the lengthen'd no*^es and flow 

 Ti e organ's diapasons blow, 

 The sounds the pious virgiris breathe 

 To the enraptur'd crowd beneath, 

 A-^ they their tuneful voices raise 

 To accents soft of prayer and praise ; 



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