Progress. 3. Its Improvement.

A POEM.

_Antiquity of Poetry_

Sure when the Maker in his Heav'nly Breast
Design'd a Creature to command the rest,
Of all th' _Erected Progeny of Clay_
His Noblest Labour was his _First Essay_.
There shone th' Eternal Brightness, and a Mind
Proportion'd for the Father of Mankind.
The Vigor of Omnipotence was seen
In his high Actions, and Imperial Mien.
Inrich'd with Arts, unstudy'd and untaught,
With loftiness of Soul, and dignity of Thought
To Rule the World, and what he Rul'd to Sing,
And be at once the Poet and the King.
Whether his Knowledge with his breath he drew,
And saw the Depth of Nature at a View;
Or, new descending from th' Angelick race,
Retain'd some tincture of his Native Place.

Fine was the Matter of the curious Frame,
Which lodg'd his _Fiery Guest_[1], and like the same
Nor was a less Resemblance in his Sense,
His Thoughts were lofty, just his Eloquence.
Whene're He spoke, from his _Seraphick_ Tongue
Ten Thousand comely Graces, ever young,
With new _Calliopes_ and _Clio's_ sprung.
No shackling Rhyme chain'd the free Poet's mind,
Majestick was His Style, and unconfin'd.
Vast was each Sentence, and each wondrous strain
Sprung forth, unlabour'd, from His fruitful Brain.

[1] The Soul according to the Platonists. So _Virgil_: _Aurai
simplicis ig, nem._

But when He yielded to deluding Charms,
Th'Harmonious Goddess shun'd His empty Arms.
The Muse no more his sacred Breast inspir'd,
But to the Skies, her Ancient Seat, retir'd.
Yet here and there _Celestial Seeds_ She threw,
And rain'd _melodious Blessings_ as She flew.
Which some receiv'd, whom Gracious Heav'n design'd
For high Employments, and their Clay resin'd.
Who, of a _Species_ more sublime, can tame
The rushing God, and stem the rapid Flame.
When in their breasts th'impetuous _Numen_ rowls,
And with uncommon heaves swells their Diviner Souls.

Thus the Companion of the Godhead [Moses] sung,
And wrote upon those Reeds from whence he Sprung.
He, first of Poets, told how Infant Light,
Unknown before, dawn'd from the Womb of Night.
How Sin and Shame th' _Unhappy Couple_ knew,
And thro' affrighted _Eden_, more affrighted, flew.
How God advanc'd his Darling _Abram's_ fame,
In the sure Promise of his lengthen'd Name.
On _Horeb's_ Top, or _Sinah's_ flaming Hill
Familiar Heav'n reveal'd his Sacred W