In vain, in vain--the all-composing Hour Resistless falls: the Muse obeys the Pow'r. She comes! she comes! the sable Throne behold Of _Night_ primaeval and of _Chaos_ old! Before her, _Fancy's_ gilded clouds decay, 5 And all its varying Rain-bows die away. _Wit_ shoots in vain its momentary fires, The meteor drops, and in a flash expires. As one by one, at dread Medea's strain, The sick'ning stars fade off th' ethereal plain; 10 As Argus' eyes by Hermes' wand opprest, Clos'd one by one to everlasting rest; Thus at her felt approach, and secret might, _Art_ after _Art_ goes out, and all is Night. See skulking _Truth_ to her old cavern fled, 15 Mountains of Casuistry heap'd o'er her head! _Philosophy_, that lean'd on Heav'n before, Shrinks to her second cause, and is no more. _Physic_ of _Metaphysic_ begs defence, And _Metaphysic_ calls for aid on _Sense_! 20 See _Mystery_ to _Mathematics_ fly! In vain! they gaze, turn giddy, rave, and die. _Religion_ blushing veils her sacred fires, And unawares _Morality_ expires. For _public_ Flame, nor _private_, dares to shine; 25 Nor _human_ Spark is left, nor Glimpse _divine_! Lo! thy dread Empire, CHAOS! is restor'd; Light dies before thy uncreating word; Thy hand, great Anarch! lets the curtain fall, And universal Darkness buries All. 30 * * * * * ON MR. GAY IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY, 1732 Of Manners gentle, of Affections mild; In Wit, a Man; Simplicity, a Child: With native Humour temp'ring virtuous Rage, Form'd to delight at once and lash the age: Above Temptation, in a low Estate, 5 And uncorrupted, ev'n among the Great: A safe Companion, and an easy Friend, Unblam'd thro' Life, lamented in thy End. These are Thy Honours! not that here thy Bust Is mix'd with Heroes, or with Kings thy dust; 10 But that the Worthy and the Good shall say, Striking their pensive bosoms--_Here_ lies GAY. * * * * * NOTES THE RAPE OF THE LOCK INTRODUCTION