Then, looking up from Sire to Sire, explor'd Convey'd unbroken Faith from Sire to Son, Adi buk The Workman from the Work diftin&t was known, 230 And fimple Reafon never fought but One: E're Wit oblique had broke that steady Light, For Nature knew no Right Divine in Men, 235 GA 240 That was but Love of God, and this of Man. Who first taught Souls enflav'd, and Realms undone Th'enormous Faith of Many made for one? That proud Exception to all Nature's Laws, Then (17) Then fhar'd the Tyranny, and lent it Aid, And Gods of Conqu'rors, Slaves of Subjects made: She taught the Weak to bend, the Proud to pray, 255 260 Altars grew Marble then, and reek'd with Gore: 265 Then first the Flamen tafted living Food; Next his grim Idol fmear'd with human Blood; With Heav'ns own Thunders fhook the World below, And play'd the God an Engine on his Foe. 275 So drives Self-Love, thro' Juft, and thro' Unjuft, 270 To One man's Pow'r, Ambition, Lucre, Luft: The fame Self-Love, in All, becomes the Cause Of what reftrains him, Government and Laws. For what one likes, if others like as well, What ferves one Will when many Wills rebel? How fhall he keep, what fleeping or awake A weaker may furprize, a stronger take? His Safety must his Liberty reftrain; All join to guard what each defires to gain. Forc'd into Virtue thus by Self-Defence, Ev❜n Kings learn'd Justice and Benevolence; Self-Love forfook the Path it first pursu’d, And found the private in the publick Good. 280 'Twas then, the ftudious Head or gen'rous Mind, Follow'r of God, or Friend of Humankind, Poet or Patriot, rofe, but to restore The Faith and Moral, Nature gave before; 285 Taught (19) Taught Pow'rs due Ufe to People and to Kings, 290 That touching one, must strike the other too, The according Musick of a well-mix'd State. · 295 For Forms of Government let Fools conteft; Man, like the gen'rous Vine, fupported lives, 300 305 310 On On their own Axis as the Planets run, Yet make at once their Circle round the Sun: And one regards Itself, and one the Whole. 320 Thus God and Nature link'd the gen'ral Frame, And bade Self-Love and Social be the fame. FIN NI S. ARIS N. B. The Reft of this Work will be publifhed the next Winter, |