ROBERT LOWTH, D D. BISHOP OF LONDON. 1710.1787. This eminent man is so well known, that little could be said of him here, which is not fresh in the mind of every scholar. He was the son of the Rev. William Lowth, Rector of Buriton, Hants, and gave at Winchester shool early promise of the talents which afterwards distinguished him. At Oxford he filled the chair of the Professor of Poetry for nine years, which he quitted in 1751. In 1762, he published his Introduction to English Grammar. In 1765, he entered into a controversy with Bishop Warburton, and, like all controversialists, the two antagonists disgraced themselves, and each other. But this conduct was not natural to Lowth; and when he and Warburton met, the latter, in his surprize at his amiable and gentle manners, bore ample testimony to his virtues. It is to the honor of both, that mutual shame produced a friendship; a rare instance of liberality between men of different opinions. Bishop Lowth died in consequence of a paralytick stroke, on the 3d of November, 1787. TO THE PEOPLE OF GREAT BRITAIN. BRITON! the thunder of the wrath divine, Due to thy father's crimes, and long with-held from thine, Shall burst with ten-fold rage on thy devoted head; Unless with conscious terrors awed, By meek, heart struck repentance led, Suppliant thou fall before the offended God: If haply yet thou may'st avert his ire; And stay his arm outstretch'd to launch the avenging fire. Did not high God of old ordain, When to thy grasp he gave the sceptre of the main, That empire in this favour'd land, Fix'd on religion's solid base should stand? When from thy struggling neck he broke The inglorious, galling, papal yoke, Humbled the pride of haughty Spain, And freed thee by a woman-hero's hand; He then confirm'd the strong decree: Briton, be virtuous and be free; Be truth, be sanctity thy guide: "Be humble: fear thy God; and fear thou nonebeside" Oft has the offended Power his rising anger shown: Led on by his avenging hand Rebellion triumphs in the land: Twice have her barbarous sons our war-train'd hosts o'erthrown. They fell a cheap inglorious prey; The ambitious victor's boast was half supprest, While heaven-bred fear, and wild dismay, Unmann'd the warriour's heart, and reign'd in every breast. Her arms to foreign lands Britainia bore ; With frequent conquests where the sires were crown'd; The sons ill-fated fell, and bit the hostile ground: The tame, war-trading Belgian fled, While in his cause the Briton bled: The Gaul stood wondering at his own success; Oft did his hardiest bands their wonted fears confess; Struck with dismay, and meditating flight, While the brave foe still urged the unequal fight, While William, with his Father's ardour fired, Through all the undaunted host the generous flame inspired! But heavier far the weight of shame And wildly these prevent, those basely shun the fight; Content with humble praise, the foe Avoids the long-impending blow; Improves the kind escape, and triumphs in his flight. The monstrous age, which still increasing years debase, Which teems with unknown crimes, and genders new disgrace, First, unrestrain'd by honour, faith, or shame, Confounding every sacred name, The hallow'd nuptial bed with lawless lust pro faned; Derived from this polluted source The dire corruption held its course Through the whole canker'd race, and tainted all the land. The ripening maid is versed in every dangerous art, That ill adorns the form while it corrupts the heart: Practised to dress, to dance, to play, In wanton mask to lead the way, To move the pliant limbs, to roll the luring eye; The midnight revels of the fair; Studious of every praise but virtue, truth, and sense. Thus lesson'd in intrigue, her early thought im proves, Nor meditates in vain forbidden loves; Soon the gay nymph in Cyprus' train shall rove Free and at large amidst the Idalian grove; Or haply jealous of the voice of fame, |