960 ANNUAL REGISTER, nol 



Conceptions ardent, labouring thought intense, 

 Creative Fancy's wild magnificence, 

 And all the dread sublimities of song, 

 These, Virtue, these, to thee alone belong j 

 These are celestial all, nor Tiindrcd hold 

 With ought of sordid or debasing mould : 

 Chill'd by the breath of Vice, their radiance dies/ 

 And brightest burns when lighted at the skies ; 

 Like vestal flames to purest bosoms given, 

 And kindled only by a ray from heaven*. 



But lo ! once more return the happy hours ; 

 Learning revisits her forsaken bowers. 

 To greet her lov'd approach, her chosen band 

 In joyful ranks unites on Gauges' strand. 

 'Twas thus of old, when swell'd the rushing Nile 

 From Nubian hills. Or Meroe's sun-burnt isle, 

 At once, w.ith all her priests, an awful train, 

 Transported Mempliis issued on the plain ; 

 The white-rob'd pontilf watch'd the sinking valey 

 And wav'd liis wand, and bade Osiris hail. 

 Not with less rapture Learning's votaries buray 

 And court her steps, and bless her glad retivcn. 

 Full in their front, with eye that upward soars/ 

 Apart the mighty Ilierophant adores, 

 Accomplish'd Jones ! whose hand to every art 

 Could unknown charms, and nameless grace impart. 

 His was the soul, by fear nor int'rcst sway'd. 

 The purest passions, and the wisest head : 

 Tlie heart so tender, and the wit so true. 

 Yet this no malice, that no weakness knew ; 

 The song, to A'irtue as the Muses dear. 

 Though glowing chaste, and lovely though severe. 

 What gorgeous trophies crown his youthful bloom-. 

 The spoils august of Athens and of Rome. 

 And lo ! untouch'd by British brows before,^ 

 Yet nobler trophies wait on Asia's shore : 

 There, at his magic voice what wonders rise ; 

 Th' astonish 'd ICast unfolds her niyt-teries : 

 Round her dark shrines a sudden blaze he showers. 

 And all unveil'd the proud Pantheon + towers. 

 Where, half unheard. Time's formless billows glide. 

 Alone he stetns the dira discover'd tide ; 



* The author has been prevented from proceeding to state other causes of th? 

 (Siccay of science, from want of time. 



t This alludes to the various eluciiiations which Sir W. Jones has given of Hindbo 

 lilj'thology, aod particuiavly to his " Essav on the Gods of Gr««ce,ltaly, and India." 



3 Wide 



