The PROGRESS of ENVY. *

Written in the year 1751.

IT

A

I.

H me! unhappy state of mortal wight,
Sith Envy's fure attendant upon fame,
Ne doth she rest from rancorous defpight,
Until the works him mickle woe and fhame;
Unhappy he whom ENVY thus doth spoil,
Ne doth fhe check her ever restless hate,
Until the doth his reputation foil :

Ah! luckless imp is he, whofe worth elate,
Forces him pay this heavy tax for being great.

II.

*It was not originally intended to infert the above poem, occafioned by LAUDER's attack on the character of MILTON, in this collection; and it is now done merely to oblige feveral fubfcribers, who have particularly defired it,

II.

There ftood an ancient mount, yclept Parnass,
(The fair domain of facred poefy)

Which, with fresh odours ever-blooming, was
Besprinkled with the dew of Castaly;

Which now in foothing murmurs whisp'ring glides,
Wat'ring with genial waves the fragrant foil,
Now rolls adown the mountain's steepy fides,
Teaching the vales full beauteously to smile,
DameNATURE's handy-work, not form'd by lab'ringtoil.

III.

The MUSES fair, these peaceful fhades among, With skilful fingers fweep the trembling ftrings; The air in filence liftens to the fong,

And TIME forgets to ply his lazy wings; Pale-vifag'd CARE, with foul unhallow'd feet, Attempts the fummit of the hill to gain,

Ne can the hag arrive the blissful seat ; Her unavailing ftrength is spent in vain, CONTENT fits on the top, and mocks her empty pain.

TV.

Oft PHOEBUS felf left his divine abode, And here enfhrouded in a fhady bow'r, Regardless of his state, lay'd by the God, And own'd fweet mufic's more alluring pow'r. On either fide was plac'd a peerlefs wight, Whose merit long had fill'd the trump of FAME; This, FANCY's darling child, was SPENSER hight, Who pip'd full pleasing on the banks of Tame; That no lefs fam'd than He, and MILTON was his name.

V

In these cool bow'rs they live fupinely calm;
Now harmless talk, now emulously sing;

While VIRTUE, pouring round her facred balın,
Makes happiness eternal as the fpring.

Alternately they fung; now SPENSER 'gan,

Of joufts and tournaments, and champions strong; Now MILTON fung of difobedient man,

And Eden loft: The bards around them throng, Drawn by the wondrous magic of their princes' song.

vi.

Not far from thefe, Dan CHAUCER, antient wight, A lofty feat on Mount Parnaffus held,

Who long had been the Muses' chief delight; His reverend locks were filver'd o'er with eld; Grave was his vifage, and his habit plain ; And while he fung, fair nature he display'd, In verse albeit uncouth, and fimple strain ; Ne mote he well be seen, fo thick the shade, Which elms and aged oaks had all around him made.

VII.

Next SHAKESPEARE fat, irregularly great,
And in his hand a magic rod did hold,
Which vifionary beings did create,

And turn the fouleft drofs to pureft gold:
Whatever spirits rove in earth or air,
Or bad or good, obey his dread command;
To his behefts these willingly repair,

Those aw'd by terrors of his magic wand,

The which not all their pow'rs united might withstand.

VIII.

Befide the bard there ftood a beauteous maid, Whofe glittering appearance dimm'd the eyen ; Her thin-wrought vefture various tints display'd, FANCY her name, yfprong of race divine; Her mantle * wimpled low, her filken hair, Which loofe adown her well-turn'd shoulders ftray'd, She made a net to catch the wanton air,' Whofe love-fick breezes all around her play'd, And feem'd in whispers foft to court the heav'nly maid.

IX.

And ever and anon fhe wav'd in air

A fceptre, fraught with all-creative pow'r:
She wav'd it round: Eftfoons there did appear
Spirits and witches, forms unknown before :
Again she lifts her wonder-working wand;
Eftfoons upon the flow'ry plain were seen
The gay inhabitants of fairie land,
And blithe attendants upon MAB their queen
In mystic circles danc'd along th' inchanted green.

X.

Wimpled. A word ufed by Spenfer for hung down. The line inclofed within Commas is one of Fairfax's in his tranflation of Taffo.