A collection of miscellany poems, letters, &c. by Mr. Brown, &c. ; to which is added, A character of a latitudinarian.

Labienus's Speech in Lucans Pharsalia▪ Translated by Mr. Dennis.

FUll of the Godhead in his Breast inshrin'd, He in these words explains his mighty mind; Words which oraculous Iove might dictate to mankind. And what should I of these vain Priests inquire▪ If I shou'd rather thus in Arms expire, With these high thoughts, & this unconquer'd fire, Than live ingloriously to hail a King, And my great Soul to vile Subjection bring? What shou'd I ask, if nothing be in Death, And nothing in this idle vapour, Breath? If the Good only be supremely great, Of Fortune independant, and of Fate? If the brave Patriot's glorious in distress, And Tyrants despicable in success? If in magnanimous attempts to fail Merits renown, as much as to prevail.

This shou'd I ask? all this I know, I feel: And how shou'd Hammon inborn truths reveal? Why shou'd the Powers their sacred Wills ex∣plain, Since all we do, say, think, those Powers ordain, Our wills are link'd to theirs by Fate's eternal Chain. God wants not men his meaning to convey, But in one breath said all that he can say; In that informing breath that kindled up our Clay▪ Nor wou'd he build in barren Sands his seat, That he to Fools ill Verses might repeat, And hide eternal truths in this obscure retreat. To Iove what certain seat can be consign'd? Where can the World's great Ruler be confin'd? This Universal Frame's the seat of that Eternal Mind. Why shou'd we seek him in this mystic Grove, Where-ever eye can reach, where-ever thought can rove,

Substance and space is all unbounded Iove. Let those who live in doubt (a foolish state) Consult these mighty Confidents of fate, Her irreversible decrees my constancy create▪ Alike the Coward and the Brave must fall, This mighty Iove has once declar'd for all, And these inspiring sounds to Roman actions 〈◊〉〈◊〉