Page:The Poetical Works of Thomas Parnell (1833).djvu/279

Rh patterns to men of genius. These that follow shall attack others, because they are excelled by them. The next rank shall make an author's being read a sufficient ground of opposition. Here march my grammarians, skilled to torture words; there my sons of sophistry, ever ready to wrest a meaning. Observe how faint the foremost of the procession appear; and how they are now lost in yonder mists, which roll about the cave of oblivion! This shows, it is not for themselves that they are to be known; the world will consider them only as managing a part of thy endowments, and so know them by thy name while they live, that their own shall be lost for ever. But see how my cave still swarms! how every age produces men, upon whom the preservation of thy memory devolves. My darling, the fates have decreed it! Thou art Zoilus, and Zoilus shall be eternal. Come, my serpents, applaud him with your hisses, that is all which now can be done; in modern times, my sons shall invent louder instruments, and artificial imitations; noises which drowning the voice of merit, shall furnish a concert to delight them." Here she arose to clasp him in her arms, a strange noise was heard, the critic started at it, and his vision forsook him.

It was with some confusion that he lay musing awhile upon what he had seen; but reflecting, that the goddess had given him no answer concerning his success in Egypt, he strengthened his heart in his ancient self-love and enmity to others,