94
Odes.
Fool! time no change of motion knows; 65
With equal speed the torrent flows,
To sweep fame, pow'r, and wealth away
The past is all by death possest;
And frugal Fate, that guards the rest,
By giving, bids him live to-day. 70
With equal speed the torrent flows,
To sweep fame, pow'r, and wealth away
The past is all by death possest;
And frugal Fate, that guards the rest,
By giving, bids him live to-day. 70
II.
O Gower! thro' all that destin'd space
What breath the pow'rs allot to me
Shall sing the virtues of thy race,
United and complete in thee.
O flow'r of ancient English faith! 75
Pursue th' unbeaten patriot path
In which, confirm'd, thy father shone:
The light his fair example gives
Already from thy dawn receives
A lustre equal to its own. 80
O Gower! thro' all that destin'd space
What breath the pow'rs allot to me
Shall sing the virtues of thy race,
United and complete in thee.
O flow'r of ancient English faith! 75
Pursue th' unbeaten patriot path
In which, confirm'd, thy father shone:
The light his fair example gives
Already from thy dawn receives
A lustre equal to its own. 80
III.
Honour's bright dome, on lasting columns rear'd,
Nor envy rusts, nor rolling years consume;
Loud pæans echoing round the roof are hear'd,
And clouds of incense all the void perfume.
There Phocion, Lælius, Capel, Hyde, 85
With Falkland seated near his side,
Fix'd by the Muse the temple grace;
Prophetic of thy happier fame
She, to receive thy radiant name,
Selects a whiter space. 90
Honour's bright dome, on lasting columns rear'd,
Nor envy rusts, nor rolling years consume;
Loud pæans echoing round the roof are hear'd,
And clouds of incense all the void perfume.
There Phocion, Lælius, Capel, Hyde, 85
With Falkland seated near his side,
Fix'd by the Muse the temple grace;
Prophetic of thy happier fame
She, to receive thy radiant name,
Selects a whiter space. 90
