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Quantis, & quam funeftis concurritur iris,
Dum ferus hic stellas protegit, ille rapit!
Dum vulsos montes, ceu tela reciproca, torquent;
Et non mortali defuper igne pluunt;
Stat dubius cui se parti concedat OLYMPUS;
Et metuit pugnæ non fuperesse fuæ.
At fimul in cælis MESSIÆ infignia fulgent,
Et currus animes, armaque digna DEO;
Horrendumque rotæ ftrident, & fœva rotarum
Erumpunt torvis fulgura luminibus;
Et flammæ vibrant, & vera tonitrua rauco
Admistis flammis infonuere polo:
Excidit attonitis mens omnis, & impetus omnis,
Et caffis dextris irrita tela cadunt.

Ad pœnas fugiunt, & (ceu foret ORCUS asylum!)
Infernis certant condere se tenebris.
Cedite ROMANI Scriptores, cedite GRAIΙ,
Et quos FAMA recens, vel celebravit anus:
Hæc quicunque leget, tantùm cecinifle putabit
MEONIDEM Ranas, VIRGILIUM Culices.

SAM. BARROW. M. D.

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ON PARADISE LOST.

W

HEN I

beheld the POET blind, yet bold,

In flender book his vast design unfold: MESSIAH crown'd, GOD's reconcil'd decree, Rebelling Angels, the Forbidden Tree, Heav'n, Hell, Earth, Chaos, All! the argument Held me a while misdoubting his intent; That he would ruin (for I saw him strong) The Sacred truths to fable, and old song; (SO SAMPSON grop'd the Temple's posts in spight) The world o'erwhelming to revenge his fight.

Yet as I read, foon growing less severe,
I lik'd his project, the fuccess did fear;
Through that wide field how he his way should find,
O'er which lame faith leads understanding blind;
Left he perplex'd the things he would explain,
And what was easy, he should render vain.

Or if a work so infinite he spann'd,
Jealous I was that some less skilful hand
(Such as disquiet always what is well,
And by ill imitating would excell)
Might hence prefume, the whole creation's day
To change in scenes, and shew it in a Play.

Pardon me, mighty POET! nor despise
My causeless, yet not impious, furmife.
But I am now convinc'd, and none will dare
Within thy labors to pretend a share.
Thou haft not miss'd one thought that could be fit;

And all that was improper doft omit:
So that no room is here for writers left,

But to detect their ignorance, or theft.

That

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