2 There are, with eyes unmoved and reckless heart Who saw thee from thy summit fall thus low, Who deem'd thy arm extended but to dart The public vengeance on thy private foe. But, spite of every gloss of envious minds, The owl-eyed race whom virtue's lustre blinds, Who sagely prove that each man hath his price, I still believed thy aim from blemish free, I yet, even yet, believe it, spite of thee, And all thy painted pleas to greatness and to vice. 3 'Thou didst not dream of liberty decay'd, Nor wish to make her guardian laws more strong: But the rash many, first by thee misled, Bore thee at length unwillingly along.' Rise from your sad abodes, ye cursed of old For faith deserted or for cities sold, Own here one untried, unexampled, deed; One mystery of shame from Curio learn, To beg the infamy he did not earn, And scape in Guilt's disguise from Virtue's offer'd meed. 4 For saw we not that dangerous power avow'd Whom Freedom oft hath found her mortal bane, Whom public Wisdom ever strove to exclude, And but with blushes suffereth in her train? Corruption vaunted her bewitching spoils, O'er court, o'er senate, spread in pomp her toils, And call'd herself the state's directing soul: Till Curio, like a good magician, tried With Eloquence and Reason at his side, By strength of holier spells the enchantress to control. 5 Soon with thy country's hope thy fame extends: The rescued merchant oft thy words resounds: Thee and thy cause the rural hearth defends: His bowl to thee the grateful sailor crowns: The learn'd recluse, with awful zeal who read Of Grecian heroes, Roman patriots dead, Now with like awe doth living merit scan: While he, whom virtue in his bless'd retreat Bade social ease and public passions meet, Ascends the civil scene, and knows to be a man. 6 At length in view the glorious end appear'd: We saw thy spirit through the senate reign; And Freedom's friends thy instant omen heard Of laws for which their fathers bled in vain. Waked in the strife the public Genius rose More keen, more ardent from his long repose; Deep through her bounds the city felt his call; Each crowded haunt was stirr'd beneath his power, And murmuring challenged the deciding hour Or that too vast event, the hope and dread of all. 7 O ye good powers who look on human kind, Instruct the mighty moments as they roll; And watch the fleeting shapes in Curio's mind, And steer his passions steady to the goal. O Alfred, father of the English name, O valiant Edward, first in civil fame, O William, height of public virtue pure, Bend from your radiant seats a joyful eye, Behold the sum of all your labours nigh, Your plans of law complete, your ends of rule secure.