BEDLAM

W

major parcas infane minori.

HERE proud Augufta, bleft with long

repose,

Her ancient Wall and ruin'd Bulwark fhows,
Close by a verdant Plain, with graceful Height
A stately Fabrick rifes to the fight.

Yet, though its Parts all elegantly shine,

;

And sweet Proportion crowns the whole Design,
Though Art, in strong expreffive Sculpture shown,
Confummate Art informs the breathing Stone
Far other Views than these within appear,
And Woe and Horror dwell for ever here;
For ever, from the echoing Roof rebounds
A dreadful Din of Miscellaneous Sounds:

From

1

From this, from that, from every Quarter rise
Loud Shouts, and fullen Groans, and doleful Cries:
Heart-foftning Plaints demand the pitying Tear,
And Peals of hideous Laughter fhock the Ear.
Thus when within fome heav'nly Form we find,
The Paflions rampant, and the Reason blind,
Griev'd, we behold fuch Beauty giv'n in vain,
And Nature's faireft Work furvey with Pain.
Within the Chambers which this Dome contains,
In all her frantick forms, Distraction reigns.
For, when the Sense from various Objects brings
Through Organs craz'd the Images of Things,
Ideas, all extravagant and vain,

In endless Swarms croud in upon the Brain:
The cheated Reafon true and falfe confounds,
And wild Conclufions forms from idle Grounds:

Then, if the Blood impetuous fwells the Veins, And Choler in the Conftitution reigns,

Out

Outragious Fury ftrait inflames the Soul,

Quick beats the Pulfe, and fierce the Eye-balls roll:
Ratling his Chains, the Wretch all raving lyes,

And roars, and foams, and Earth and Heav'n defies.
Not fo, when gloomy the black Bile prevails,
And lumpish Phlegm the thicken'd Mafs congeals;
All lifeless then is the poor Patient found,
And fits for ever moping on the Ground;

His active Pow'rs their Ufes all forego,

[know :

Nor Senfes, Tongue nor Limbs their Functions

In Melancholy loft, the vital Flame

Informs, and juft informs, the lifeless Frame.

If brisk the circulating Tides advance,

And nimble Spirits through the Fibres dance;
Then all the Images delightful rife,

The tickled Fancy fparkles thro' the Eyes;
The Mortal, to fantastick Mirth confign'd,
In ev'ry Gesture fhews his freakish Mind:

Frolick

Frolick and free, he laughs at Fortune's Pow'r, And plays ten thoufand Gambols in an Hour. Now entring in, my Mufe, thy Theme pursue

Through all the Dome and each Apartment

;

[view, Within this lonely Lodge, in folemn Port,

A fhiv'ring Monarch keeps his awful Court,

And, far and wide as boundless Thought can stray,

Extends a vaft imaginary Sway:

Utopian Princes bow before his Throne,

Lands unexifting his Dominion own,

And aiery Realms, and Regions in the Moon.
The Pride of Dignity, the Pomp of State,

The dazling Glories of the envy'd Great

Rife to his View, and in his Fancy fwell;
And Guards and Courtiers croud his empty Cell.
See how he stalks majestick through the Throng!
(Behind he trails his tatter'd Robes along)

And

And cheaply bleft, and innocently vain,
Enjoys the dear Delusion of his Brain;
In this fmall Spot expatiates unconfin'd,
Supreme of Monarchs, first of human Kind,
Such Joy, fuch Ecstasy as this, poffeft
On fome triumphal Day great Cæfar's Breast,
(Great Cefar, fcarce beneath the Gods ador'd,
The World's proud Victor, Rome's acknowledg'd
With all his Glories in their utmost Height,

Lord)

And all his Pow'r display'd before his Sight. Unnumber'd Trophies grace the pompous Train, And captive Kings indignant drag their Chain. With lawrel'd Enfigns glitt'ring from afar,

His Legions, glorious Partners of the War,

[Car : His conquering Legions march behind the golden Whilft Shouts on Shouts from gather'd Nations

And endless Acclamations rend the Skies.

[rife,

For