Which still grew sweeter as they wider spread;[106] 315 Less fragrant scents th' unfolding rose exhales, Or spices breathing in Arabian gales. Next these the good and just, an awful train, Thus on their knees address the sacred fane. Since living virtue is with envy cursed, 320 And the best men are treated like the worst, Do thou, just goddess, call our merits forth, And give each deed th' exact intrinsic worth.[107] Not with bare justice shall your act be crowned, (Said Fame,) but high above desert renowned:[108] 325 Let fuller notes th' applauding world amaze, And the loud clarion labour in your praise. This band dismissed, behold another crowd Preferred the same request, and lowly bowed; The constant tenour of whose well spent days 330 No less deserved a just return of praise. But straight the direful trump of slander sounds; Through the big dome the doubling thunder bounds; Loud as the burst of cannon rends the skies, The dire report through ev'ry region flies, 335 In ev'ry ear incessant rumours rung, And gath'ring scandals grew on ev'ry tongue. From the black trumpet's rusty concave broke Sulphureous flames, and clouds of rolling smoke:[109] The pois'nous vapour blots the purple skies, 340 And withers all before it as it flies. A troop came next, who crowns and armour wore, And proud defiance in their looks they bore: For thee, (they cried,) amidst alarms and strife, We sailed in tempests down the stream of life; 345 For thee whole nations filled with flames and blood, And swam to empire through the purple flood. Those ills we dared, thy inspiration own, What virtue seemed, was done for thee alone. Ambitious fools! (the queen replied, and frowned) 350 Be all your acts in dark oblivion drowned; There sleep forgot, with mighty tyrants gone, Your statues mouldered, and your names unknown![110] A sudden cloud straight snatched them from my sight, And each majestic phantom sunk in night. 355 Then came the smallest tribe I yet had seen; Plain was their dress, and modest was their mien. Great idol of mankind! we neither claim The praise of merit, nor aspire to fame! But safe in deserts from th' applause of men, 360 Would die unheard of, as we lived unseen; 'Tis all we beg thee, to conceal from sight Those acts of goodness, which themselves requite. O let us still the secret joy partake, To follow virtue ev'n for virtue's sake.[111] 365 And live there men, who slight immortal fame? Who then with incense shall adore our name? But, mortals! know, 'tis still our greatest pride