Record profane and sacred, drown the muse,

Tho' loud, and far out-thread her threatening song.

Still further, Holles! suffer me to plead

That I speak freely, as I speak to thee:

Guilt only startles at the name of guilt;

And truth, plain truth, is welcome to the wise.

Thus what seem'd my presumption is thy praise.

Praise, and immortal praise, is virtue's claim;

And virtue's sphere is action: yet we grant

Some merit to the trumpet's loud alarm,