In useless spite his lofty malice show? Why, in a mischief of the meaner kind, Exhaust the vigour of a ranc'rous mind; But, soon as Fame the fairy-gifts proclaim'd, Quick-rising wrath his ready soul inflamed To swear, by vows that e'en the wicked tie, The nymph should weep her varied destiny; That every gift, that now appear'd to shine In her fair face, and make her smiles divine, Should all the poison of his magic prove, And they should scorn her, whom she sought for love. His spell prepared, in form an ancient dame, A fiend in spirit, to the cot he came; There gain'd admittance, and the infant press'd (Muttering his wicked magic) to his breast; And thus he said: --"Of all the powers who wait On Jove's decrees, and do the work of fate, Was I, alone, despised or worthless, found, Weak to protect, or impotent to wound? See then thy foe, regret the friendship lost, And learn my skill, but learn it at your cost. "Know, then, O child! devote to fates severe, The good shall hate thy name, the wise shall fear; Wit shall deride, and no protecting friend Thy shame shall cover, or thy name defend. Thy gentle sex, who, more than ours, should spare A humble foe, will greater scorn declare; The base alone thy advocates shall be, Or boast alliance with a wretch like thee." He spake, and vanish'd, other prey to find, And waste in slow disease the conquer'd mind. Awed by the elfin's threats, and fill'd with dread The parents wept, and sought their infant's bed; Despair alone the father's soul possess'd; But hope rose gently in the mother's breast; For well she knew that neither grief nor joy Pain'd without hope, or pleased without alloy; And while these hopes and fears her heart divide, A cheerful vision bade the fears subside. She saw descending to the world below An ancient form, with solemn pace and slow. "Daughter, no more be sad" (the phantom cried), "Success is seldom to the wise denied; In idle wishes fools supinely stay, Be there a will, and wisdom finds a way: Why art thou grieved? Be rather glad, that he Who hates the happy, aims his darts at thee, But aims in vain; thy favour'd daughter lies Serenely blest, and shall to joy arise. For, grant that curses on her name shall wait, (So Envy wills, and such the voice of Fate,) Yet if that name be prudently suppress'd, She shall be courted, favour'd, and caress'd. "For what are names? and where agree mankind, In those to persons or to acts assign'd? Brave, learn'd, or wise, if some their favourites call, Have they the titles or the praise from all? Not so, but others will the brave disdain As rash, and deem the sons of wisdom vain; The self-same mind shall scorn or kindness move, And the same deed attract contempt and love. "So all the powers who move the human soul, With all the passions who the will control, Have various names--One giv'n by Truth Divine, (As Simulation thus was fixed for mine,) The rest by man, who now, as wisdom's prize My secret counsels, now as art despise;