--------- Tolluntur in Altum
Ut Lapsu graviore ruant--------
Claud. in Rufinum
THE PREFACE.
ACcording to Mode I stop the
Reader at the Entrance, with a Word
or two in behalf of the Entertainment, he is like to find within.
I must therefore, tell him, that he will not meet the common
Road of Poems, a great many Lines, without any Plan or Design,
nor
Inundations of Similes, the Wantonness of injudicious Fancy, which
our
Modern Poets without Regard to the Subject, like Mr. Bays, are sure
to clap in where they are monstrous. Homerin the First Book of
Ilias, has scarce one,
because Passion prevail'd and discourses, in which
they had been too unnatural for so judicious and great a Poet to
make
Use of. This Poem, like the first Book of the Iliads, consists most of
passionate Discourses, and therefore cou'd not admit those calm and
boyish
Ornaments. If the Reader expects to find any Noisy and Confus'd
Descriptions of the Battle he will be disappointed. AfterHomer
scarceVirgil himself has succeeded in it; and I am very Confi-
dent the Best of our Modern Descriptions of that Kind, fall
infinitely
short of his. I own my Inability, it was a Task I durst not
under-
take, since it promis'd no Reward to my fruitless Toil but the
Scandal
of Imitation, or Confusion. The Design, which in all Poems is the
greatest Proof of Mastery, I took the greatest Care of; and if that
be
just I have my Aim. The finall Tribute of just Praise, which the
Blessed Champion of Truth the Arch-Angel, gives the Young Prince
of
Hannover is short of his Merits and my Will, and the future
Glory, that
he promises in his ripening Years, and is no more, than we may
reasonably
expect from so Brave a Beginning, and so Heroic a Race, and less
than
my Zeal for that Illustrious Family, the future Palladium of our Troy,
cou'd wish, and all True
Britains will ever pray for.
(5)
LIBERTAS TRIUMPHANS:
A POEM.
| AN Impious Doubt did oft my Mind invade, | 1 |
| And to vain Wand'rings my frail Thoughts betray'd; | 2 |
| Whether Mankind's the Care of Providence, | 3 |
| Or All whirl'd round by blind, unheedful Chance. | 4 |
| When the Wife Order of the World I saw, | 5 |
| And All directed by a Certain Law; | 6 |
| When I beheld the Threat'ning Billows Roar | 7 |
| Check'd, and confin'd by the surrounding Shoar; | 8 |
| The constant Changes of the rolling Year | 9 |
| In various grateful Seasons still appear; | 10 |
| The Shades succeeded by the Chearful Light. | 11 |
| And Day still falling in the Arms of Night; | 12 |
| Then vanquish'd Doubt forsook my anxious Breast, | 13 |
| And One o're-ruling Providence confess'd; | 14 |
| By whole firm Sanction every Orb moves round, | 15 |
| And all to certain Ends, by certain Means are bound. | 16 |
| By That the various Honours of the Field, | 17 |
| In different Times a different Product yield; | 18 |
| That fills with borrow'd Light the changeful Moon; | 19 |
| By That with Native Glory shines the Sun. | 20 |
| That cloath'd the Earth with various colour'd Robe; | 21 |
| And on its Axis poiz'd the pendent Globe. | 22 |
| But when I saw the Affairs of Humane Kind, | 23 |
| To such a Mist, so dark Night confign'd, | 24 |
| The Noxious long their prosperous Guilt enjoy, | 25 |
| The Pious always vext with dire Annoy. | 26 |
| When I beheld the Hunters of Mankind, | 27 |
| Success in all their Devastations find; | 28 |
| Fair Liberty to fell Oppression yield, | 29 |
| And Tyrants win the Trophies of the Field; | 30 |
| Grow Old Impious Arts, and Great by Blood; | 31 |
| And bear down All like an Impetuous Flood; | 32 |
| As they from Guilt fresh Blessings cou'd derive, | 33 |
| And the more wicked still the more shou'd thrive; | 34 |
| Religion to prevailing Doubt gave Way, | 35 |
| And all my Thoughts again began to stray; | 36 |
| Amid the puzling View my languid Faith | 37 |
| Unwillingly pursu'd the devious Path, | 38 |
| Where Fortune's plac'd the Sovereign of the World, | 39 |
| And all is in a wild Confusion hurl'd; | 40 |
| Ambiguous Notions of the Gods are shown, | 41 |
| And the wise Rule of Providence unknown. | 42 |
| The Fall of Lewis did at last controul | 43 |
| This anxious Tumult of my lab'ring Soul, | 44 |
| Absolv'd the Righteous Course of PROVIDENCE, | 45 |
| Too just, too wise for such a Cause as Chance. | 46 |
| No more I see with an uneasy Eye, | 47 |
| The TYRANT mounted by his Guilt so high, | 48 |
| Since he is set aloft with Pomp, and Fame, | 49 |
| That he may tumble down, with greater Pain, and Shame: | 50 |
| Assist Harmonious Genius of this Isle, | 51 |
| That on our Ancient Bards were't wont to smile; | 52 |
| Who didst the Heroe warm with Martial Fire, | 53 |
| And then the Bard to sing his Deeds inspire: | 54 |
| Who Chaucer, Spencer, Milton gavest to Fame, | 55 |
| By Nature made capacious of thy Flame, | 56 |
| Exert thy Pow'r, and all thy self infuse, | 57 |
| My Subject merits the sublimest Muse; | 58 |
| And as I shall no vulgar Deeds rehearse, | 59 |
| So raise my Song above the vulgar Verse. | 60 |
| The Drooping Lewis now with Cares opprest, | 61 |
| Revolves his mighty Losses in his Breast: | 62 |
| BLENHEIM, RAMILLY, TURIN weigh him down, | 63 |
| And BARCELONA shakes his guilty Crown. | 64 |
| He curses Fortune, damns his partial Stars, | 65 |
| For Providence he neither owns, nor fears. | 66 |
| To MAINTENON he takes his anxious Way, | 67 |
| And there his Words, his Agony betray. | 68 |
| Oh! MAINTENON, said he, how chang'd am I, | 69 |
| How fal'n from all my former Majesty! | 70 |
| How much unlike that Terror of the World, | 71 |
| Who, where I pleas'd, my sure Destruction hurl'd | 72 |
| Who on the Necks of trembling Monarchs trod, | 73 |
| And shook depending Nations, with my Nod, | 74 |
| That paid their Vows to me, as the more dreadful God. | 75 |
| Ah! how unlike that Lewis am I grown! | 76 |
| My Arms have now no Force, no Dread my Frown. | 77 |
| Help me to curse this blind Caprice of Chance, | 78 |
| That in One Moment has destroy'd thy FRANCE! | 79 |
| The Stately Fabrick sixty Years had rais'd, | 80 |
| By all admir'd, by every Nation prais'd, | 81 |
| One Fatal Day has levell'd with the Ground, | 82 |
| Despis'd, forgot, which once was so renown'd. | 83 |
| Look back, Look back, the glorious Scene behold! | 84 |
| The Universal Empire in my Hold! | 85 |
| Beneath my Pounce the Austrian Eagle cowr'd, | 86 |
| On ev'ry Side beset, off ev'ry Side o're-powr'd! | 87 |
| There the Hungarians with Confederate Arms, | 88 |
| Bavaria here press'd on with dire Alarms; | 89 |
| Almost within my Grasp th' Imperial Crown, | 90 |
| And the desponding Germans all my own! | 91 |
| When from yon Stubborn Isle behold advance | 92 |
| The British Troops, the ancient Scourge of FRANCE. | 93 |
| By a stupendious March they bring Relief, | 94 |
| Secure of Conquest with their Fated Chief! | 95 |
| At Schellenberg o're Hills they forc'd their Way, | 96 |
| And against pointed Cannon won the Day, | 97 |
| Leaving my Friends foul Rout, and vast Dismay. | 98 |
| This Ill, Tallard, with his Approach redress'd, | 99 |
| And soon their Dread, and headlong Flight repress'd. | 100 |
| At his Approach the fearful Troops grew brave, | 101 |
| Th' INVINCIBLE new Hopes, new Courage gave. | 102 |
| False was their Courage, and their Hopes were vain, | 103 |
| For Marlborough comes and bears down all amain | 104 |
| And with a Rage of Courage scowers the bloody Plain. | 105 |
| My Veteran Troops, inur'd to Victory, | 106 |
| Before his Men with Ignominy fly. | 107 |
| Their Honours gain'd in forty Years are gone! | 108 |
| They sink beneath a Genius greater than their own. | 109 |
| The Rest, but as the Shadows of the Slain, | 110 |
| No Life, no Heart, no Courage now retain, | 111 |
| For from the Foe with such a Dread they fly, | 112 |
| For Fear of Death, tho' unpursu'd, they dye. | 113 |
| Where e're Victorious Marlb'rough does appear, | 114 |
| My Troops retreat with one consenting Fear. | 115 |
| But yet, as if this Terror were too small, | 116 |
| Fate raises others to compleat my Fall. | 117 |
| EUGENE with Courage, and Revenge inspir'd | 118 |
| With Hopes of a peculiar Glory sir'd, | 119 |
| Forces o're Hills, and Lakes his Wondrous Way, | 120 |
| Vandosm unable is his Rapid Course to stay. | 121 |
| Like Thunder darted from the Hand of Jove, | 122 |
| His firm Battallions, and his Squadrons move, | 123 |
| To rescue SAVOY from my Conquering Arms, | 124 |
| And save Turin from her Impending Harms. | 125 |
| The fond Besiegers are besieg'd, and won! | 126 |
| And Oh! thy Lewis, Maintenon, undone! | 127 |
| Yet this my Pow'r does wound, and not my Fame, | 128 |
| This is ill Fortune, but it is no Shame, | 129 |
| To Veteran Troops with Honour we may yield, | 130 |
| And quit to Numbers the Contested Field. | 131 |
| Numbers in Arms grown old, a Warriour Throng, | 132 |
| And as the Macedonian Phalanx strong; | 133 |
| Each private Soldier by Experience made | 134 |
| Fit other Armies with Success to lead; | 135 |
| Such as upheld young Amnon, as a God, | 136 |
| Bore him triumphant through the Granic Flood, | 137 |
| And in One Battle funk the Persian Name, | 138 |
| And crown'd their Leader with Superior Fame. | 139 |
| But wild Confusion here o're-spreads my Face, | 140 |
| Oh! Shame abhorr'd! Oh! Infamous Disgrace! | 141 |
| Behold, in Catalonia's cursed Plains, | 142 |
| MORDANT unheard of Victories obtains. | 143 |
| Others to Numbers half their Glory owe, | 144 |
| And by themselves but vanquish half the Foe; | 145 |
| He by himself does my old Troops confound, | 146 |
| His Genius spreads its mighty Influence round; | 147 |
| Inspir'd by Him, his Handful of raw Men, | 148 |
| Fresh to the War, unknowing Discipline, | 149 |
| Scarce arm'd, compell my Generals to yield, | 150 |
| And from victorious Armies force the Field. | 151 |
| New Arts of War augment his growing Fame, | 152 |
| And Kingdoms yield to PETERBOROUGH'S Name | 153 |
| Oh! Maintenon afford me some Relief, | 154 |
| Or Lewis sinks beneath the ponderous Grief. | 155 |
| My Hopes of Empire all, alas! are dead, | 156 |
| That visionary Glory now is fled, | 157 |
| And all my Laurels wither on my Head. | 158 |
| My boldest Men, my bravest Leaders slain, | 159 |
| Or in you hated Isle in Bonds remain. | 160 |
| Oh! speak thou guardian Genius of my Throne, | 161 |
| Its chief Support is in thy Arts alone. | 162 |
| My Comfort speak, and give one gracious Smile, | 163 |
| A Woman has been fatal to yon Isle. | 164 |
| When France of yore beneath its Fury mourn'd | 165 |
| The Fortune of the War a Woman turn'd. | 166 |
| The fam'd Pucel reviv'd the drooping Gaul, | 167 |
| And freed her Country from a foreign Thral. | 168 |
| No less renown'd, or knowing, than that Dame, | 169 |
| Do thou at last restore thy Monarch's Fame, | 170 |
| And rescue me from my Ignoble Shame! | 171 |
| He said, For strugling Grief his Speech supprest, | 172 |
| And to his ghastly Looks confign'd the rest. | 173 |
| Fixt were his Eyes, their Lustre was no more, | 174 |
| And now of native Insolence, no haughty Image bore. | 175 |
| A livid Hue his alter'd Face o're-spread, | 176 |
| Excess of Woe depress'd his languid Head. | 177 |
| Scarce mov'd his Pulse, and scarce respir'd his Breath, | 178 |
| Captive all o're to imitated Death. | 179 |
| The haggard Crone beheld, with Looks aghast, | 180 |
| The ruful Lewis breathing now his last. | 181 |
| Full of Affright, her trembling Arms advance, | 182 |
| To rouze the Tyrant from his deadly Trance. | 183 |
| She shook him thrice, and thrice with hollow Voice, | 184 |
| And mystick Nods, and fascinating Noise, | 185 |
| She summons back the Soul now on the Wing, | 186 |
| And half in Sight of the infernal King. | 187 |
| The willing Soul obey'd the powerful Charm, | 188 |
| With hellish Hopes of farther Mischief warm. | 189 |
| Now half restor'd the drooping Lewis stood, | 190 |
| New Life his Eyes, New Motions found his Blood, | 191 |
| Desire, and Hope brush'd o're the Stagnant Flood: | 192 |
| His Limbs yet trembling, and his Visage wan; | 193 |
| When thus the Crone to comfort him began. | 194 |
| My Darling Monarch, why this fond Despair? | 195 |
| My Lewis, why this more, than Woman's Fear? | 196 |
| Below the Soul of that Great Man, design'd | 197 |
| By Fate the Monarch of all Humane Kind. | 198 |
| What tho' the Foe, by a blind Nod of Chance, | 199 |
| Has gain'd some Trophies from the Pow'rs of France: | 200 |
| Wilt thou exalt their petty Conquest higher? | 201 |
| And own they've conquer'd all that God-like Fire, | 202 |
| That made thee to unbounded Rule aspire? | 203 |
| Wilt thou advance their Luck to that Degree, | 204 |
| As now to own, that they have conquer'd Thee? | 205 |
| Far be the shameful Omen! Oh! Respire! | 206 |
| Stir up, my Lord, once more thy wonted Fire; | 207 |
| And give a Proof of thy untam'd Desire. | 208 |
| Had Ancient Rome given Way to such Despair, | 209 |
| And in the wild Extremity of War, | 210 |
| Consulted less her Courage, than her Fear; | 211 |
| When all her Armies were destroy'd at Home, | 212 |
| And Hanibal ev'n at the Gates of Rome; | 213 |
| The Punic State had sunk her glorious Name, | 214 |
| And ravish'd from her all her future Fame. | 215 |
| But from her Losses she new Vigour drew, | 216 |
| And from her slaughter'd Armies greater grew. | 217 |
| She from her Ruins lifts her Awful Head, | 218 |
| And Rome triumph'd, and vanquish'd Carthage fled. | 219 |
| If less of Force thy feeble Slaves enjoy, | 220 |
| Great Lewis can, with safer Arts, destroy. | 221 |
| Arts, which if yet pursu'd with wonted Care, | 222 |
| Now there had been no Cause of this Despair. | 223 |
| Reflect, and all thy spacious Conquests view, | 224 |
| Consider well to what they all were due, | 225 |
| To Gold how many, but to Arms how few. | 226 |
| How has thy Wisdom been of late misled, | 227 |
| And what vain Hopes have thy Ambition fed. | 228 |
| Thy Trophy's are not of the Sword, but Head. | 229 |
| Th' intruding Warriour 'twas, that shook thy Throne; | 230 |
| Thy Acquisitions spring from thee alone. | 231 |
| To prosperous Arts then now in Time return, | 232 |
| Nor thy past Losses impotently mourn, | 233 |
| To guard my Lewis, Lewis alone was born. | 234 |
| Thy Foes their wonted Vices still retain, | 235 |
| Disjointed Int'rest, and a Thirst of Gain. | 236 |
| Those to thy Wishes point the ready Way, | 237 |
| By Bribes you always won the doubtful Day, | 238 |
| Then to those Arts return, without abhorr'd Delay. | 239 |
| But this important Crisis of our Fate | 240 |
| Requires a solemn and mature Debate. | 241 |
| Retire my Lord, and needful Slumber take, | 242 |
| For I will for thy Glory keep awake. | 243 |
| She said, The Tyrant with new Life inspir'd, | 244 |
| Secure of Fortune, to his Rest retir'd. | 245 |
| Just in the Centre, in the Heart of France, | 246 |
| A proud ambitious Mountain does advance | 247 |
| Its cloudy Head, that ev'n to Heav'n wou'd swell, | 248 |
| Tho' its Foundations sink as low as Hell. | 249 |
| No kindly Herbage, no delightful Green | 250 |
| In all its barren Surface yet was seen, | 251 |
| But a bald Scurf, that thinly creeps the Rocks between. | 252 |
| The craggy Ciif@s in Precipices break, | 253 |
| Which frequent Earthquakes yet more dismal make; | 254 |
| Whose steepy Sides, and vast stupendious Height | 255 |
| With a pale Horror shock the Aching Sight: | 256 |
| No browzing Kids, no tender Lambs are there, | 257 |
| Thither no feather'd Choristers repair, | 258 |
| Ill-omend Birds alone still wing the foultry Air. | 259 |
| Their horrid Dens have there fell Beasts of Prey, | 260 |
| And noxious Serpents fill the slimy Way. | 261 |
| In all the Roomy Circuit we find | 262 |
| No Creature lov'd by Man, or Friend to Human Kind. | 263 |
| Upon the Summet of this cursed Place, | 264 |
| Opens a wide, and a tremend'ous Space, | 265 |
| A Chasm most horrible, and most profound | 266 |
| Whence drowsie Steams exhale, and spread around. | 267 |
| In subtil Volumes far and near they spread, | 268 |
| And on the passive French their Venom shed: | 269 |
| Lull'd by whose Fumes the wretched Race remains | 270 |
| Fond of their Lord, and pleas'd with all their Pains, | 271 |
| And hug with Pride their ignominious Chains. | 272 |
| Hither the Necromantic Crone, by Night, | 273 |
| While Lewis slept, pursu'd her devious Flight. | 274 |
| Swift as a falling Star she pierc'd the Ground. | 275 |
| And sunk ten thousand thousand Fathoms down. | 276 |
| When in a wish'd for, and malignant Hour, | 277 |
| Sh' arrives the Court of ARBITRARY POW'R: | 278 |
| Deep in the Womb of this aspiring Hill, | 279 |
| And near the Confines of it's Kindred Hell. | 280 |
| A vast and hollow space out-stretch'd around, | 281 |
| The gloomy Court of Lucifer is foun'd, | 282 |
| Above the Stars he Lucifer was nam'd, | 283 |
| And in Angellic Squadrons once was fam'd; | 284 |
| Till for SELF-LOVE driv'n thence and Pride untam'd. | 285 |
| Here by his servile Vassals he's ador'd, | 286 |
| TYRANNIS call'd, the ARBITRARY LORD, | 287 |
| Prodigious Piles on e'ry Side arise, | 288 |
| And with enormous Bulk the Sight surprize. | 289 |
| An useless Pomp to fill the wandring Eye, | 290 |
| Th' oppressive Sport of wanton Tyranny. | 291 |
| Here Pyramids lift up their spiry Heads, | 292 |
| While wide beneath their vast Foundation spreads | 293 |
| The ancient Tyrants of the fertile Nile, | 294 |
| Took hence the Model of the Memphian Pile. | 295 |
| When Israel they in hated Bondage tyde, | 296 |
| And Nations groan'd to satisfie their Pride, | 297 |
| While they by Venal Priests were deify'd. | 298 |
| Here a vast Lake, by dull Cocytus made, | 299 |
| With wide and spreading Arches was o're-laid, | 300 |
| Which massy Pillars wondrously sustain | 301 |
| Fixing their deep foundations in the Main. | 302 |
| Th' amazing Bridge in fam'd Puzoli's Bay, | 303 |
| Was copy'd hence by curs'd Calligula. | 304 |
| Large Naumachia's here themselves disclose, | 305 |
| There Stately Amphitheatres arose; | 306 |
| Where thoughtless Slaves, with a fantastick Joy, | 307 |
| To glut a Tyrant's Lust of Blood, in Sport themselves destroy. | 308 |
| High in the Midst a lofty Palace rose, | 309 |
| Which Ebony, and Dusky Jet compose. | 310 |
| The Stones were fasten'd with a curs'd Cement | 311 |
| Of Tears, and Sweat, and Blood of th' Innocent. | 312 |
| Hither the various Fiends each Hour resort | 313 |
| To fill the horrid Pomp of proud Tyrannis Court. | 314 |
| Philautia here obtain'd the foremost Place, | 315 |
| And Philotimia, with aspiring Face, | 316 |
| Of Parent bad the infamous Increase. | 317 |
| She led Oppression in her ghastly Train, | 318 |
| Rapine, and Slaughter, Atheism profane, | 319 |
| Fell Desolation, and insulting Pride, | 320 |
| Luxury, Want, Slavery, Homicide. | 321 |
| Blind AVARICE, to Reason Foe profest, | 322 |
| Held the next Place in the black Monarchs Breast; | 323 |
| The Favourite Mignon of the sovereign Fiend, | 324 |
| And most destructive Vice to Humankind. | 325 |
| Uneasy Care had plough'd his furrow'd Brow, | 326 |
| And low he seem'd beneath the Weight to bow. | 327 |
| A holy Leer his treacherous Aspect grac'd, | 328 |
| Which all Suspition of his Treason chac'd. | 329 |
| And gain'd him Trusts, which he with Ease betray'd, | 330 |
| For of the credulous Fools, he still his Market made. | 331 |
| He in his Train had base Hippocrisie, | 332 |
| Falsehood, Distrust, Corruption, Bribery, | 333 |
| Pale meagre Penury, Extortion vile, | 334 |
| Cunning, Deceit, that murder with a Smile. | 335 |
| All these conven'd were met in full Divan, | 336 |
| To undermine the Happiness of Man. | 337 |
| When in the Midst the Gallic Crone appear'd, | 338 |
| (By all the dark Assembly much rever'd, | 339 |
| For oft the dire Decrees which they enact, | 340 |
| Are by her Friendly Malice put in Act) | 341 |
| With one Consent they own'd their General Joy, | 342 |
| Secure of some new Motion of Annoy, | 343 |
| And swift Destruction to that hated Kind, | 344 |
| Form'd in the Image of th' omnific Mind. | 345 |
| When from his burnish'd Throne the Mimic God, | 346 |
| Smil'd horrible, and with a gracious Nod, | 347 |
| Th' important Bus'ness of her Voyage bad tell, | 348 |
| Secure of all th' Auxiliaries of Hell. | 349 |
| Hail Sovereign Pow'r! (For thus the Crone began) | 350 |
| Who dost by ancient Right dispose of Man! | 351 |
| Long o're the World thy Universal Sway | 352 |
| Made him to thee alone his Homage pay; | 353 |
| And yet the largest Share thy Will obey. | 354 |
| For where thy Idol Worship is unknown | 355 |
| Despotic Pow'rs thy Sov'reignty still own. | 356 |
| From thee their Right they draw, by thee they fix their Throne. | 357 |
| Thy great Vicegerent Lewis in Distress, | 358 |
| Brings me a Suppliant to this awful Place. | 359 |
| Permit me here his wondrous Worth to tell, | 360 |
| Worth, that may claim the utmost Help of Hell. | 361 |
| For Sixty Years thy Cause he has maintain'd | 362 |
| The Blood of Nations, which all Europe stain'd, | 363 |
| To glut thy Thirst of human Gore, he has drein'd. | 364 |
| Thee Rapine I attest, and Slaughter thee, | 365 |
| And thou wide-wasting Desolation be | 366 |
| A Witness sure for Lewis and for me. | 367 |
| Ye worthy Fav'rites of our Monarch tell, | 368 |
| How many Myriads by his Treachery fell. | 369 |
| Enow to gorge th' insatiate Thirst of Hell. | 370 |
| No Pact could hold him, and no Oath could bind, | 371 |
| By no Religion he would be confin'd. | 372 |
| He broke through all to glut your sacred Rage; | 373 |
| For you, with Heav'n it self, he glorious War did wage. | 374 |
| Ye * Gen@ose Altars witness here his Pride, | 375 |
| And † thou Victoir how he ev'n God defy'd, | 376 |
| His Picture there, and here his Statue stands, | 377 |
| Avowing rival Pow'r in his illustrious Hands. | 378 |
| Witness thou Southern and thou Western Plain, | 379 |
| What Millions banish'd and what Millions slain, | 380 |
| For daring God's Religion to maintain. | 381 |
| For these and many thousand Merits more, | 382 |
| Which as well known I easily pass o're, | 383 |
| Your present Help I earnestly Implore. | 384 |
| Confederate Pow'rs with an abhor'd Success, | 385 |
| On every Side thy faithful Lewis press, | 386 |
| And now reduce him to the last Distress. | 387 |
| The Friends of hated LIBERTY prevail, | 388 |
| Supported by the odiousBritish Zeal, | 389 |
| And the bold Efforts of a COMMON-WEAL. | 390 |
| You see the Wound, the Remedy bestow, | 391 |
| Redress the Injury, prevent the Blow; | 392 |
| My Master no Resourse, but You, does know. | 393 |
| She said, and Murmurs Hoarse spread all around. | 394 |
| While ev'ry Fiend the Cause with Fury own'd, | 395 |
| The dusky Caverns with the Din resound. | 396 |
| TYRANNIS shook his excecrable Head, | 397 |
| And from his snaky Looks new Terrors shed. | 398 |
| The Jarring Sounds then find a sudden Pause, | 399 |
| And a short Silence swallows up the Noise. | 400 |
| His execrable Head three Times he shook, | 401 |
| And thrice around he cast a baleful Look. | 402 |
| His Globe-like Eyes suffus'd with gloomy Fire, | 403 |
| He roll'd about repleat with raging Ire. | 404 |
| Thrice from his roomy Trunk with Terror rose | 405 |
| The hollow Eccho of a rumbling Noise; | 406 |
| Like distant Thunder breaking in the Air, | 407 |
| The frightful Promise of the Stormy War; | 408 |
| Pride, Rage, Disdain within his Bosom p@nt | 409 |
| Conflicting roll'd about for Want of Vent. | 410 |
| So Fire, and Sulphur, and imprison'd Air, | 411 |
| In AEætna's Caverns make a medly War, | 412 |
| For to their Rage when there's no Passage found, | 413 |
| But the Storm choak'd with the too pondrous Ground, | 414 |
| Convulsive Heavings shake the lab'ring Hill, | 415 |
| And stenchy Vapours all the Country fill; | 416 |
| Hoarse bellowing Roars its concave Womb sends out | 417 |
| Pale Fear and Horror spreading round about. | 418 |
| The Slavish Tribe observ'd and prostrate fell; | 419 |
| And full of Dread attend the Voice of Hell. | 420 |
| His strugling Pride his ready Accents broke, | 421 |
| But Rage made Way, and thus at last he spoke. | 422 |
| What shall a Puny STATE then curb my Will? | 423 |
| Shall routed LIBERTY resist me still? | 424 |
| Driv'n from the fertile Globe to barren Sands, | 425 |
| A Nook despis'd, dispute my dread Commands? | 426 |
| Me while so many Awful Kings obey, | 427 |
| Shall a poor COMMONWEALTH dispute my Sway? | 428 |
| A COMMON-WEALTH! I hate the Odious Thing. | 429 |
| LAW is their Rule, and GOD Himself their KING! | 430 |
| We sleep too long! th' aspiring Churles shall know, | 431 |
| What 'tis to rouze the dreadful Powr's below. | 432 |
| And that rebellious Isle shall share the vengeful Blow. | 433 |
| E'er now their darling LIBERTY I've broke, | 434 |
| And on them cast my Arbitrary Yoke. | 435 |
| For while they, strugled with my Will in vain | 436 |
| By their own * Tool I fixt my hated Chain: | 437 |
| And still my Passive Band my Cause maintain. | 438 |
| Go favourite Matron, with auspicious Speed, | 439 |
| Ascend with Joy, their Ruin is decreed, | 440 |
| And soon thy haughty Foes and mine shall bleed. | 441 |
| My faithful Slaves thy Orders shall attend; | 442 |
| Leave not with me one Brave, one Useful Fiend. | 443 |
| My Majesty suffices for my Throne, | 444 |
| Pleas'd with my self I ne'r can be alone. | 445 |
| Go my Philautia, Philo@imia go; | 446 |
| Distrust, and Idle Fears your Vigour show; | 447 |
| Supine Neglect, and meagre Envy fly, | 448 |
| Amuse, disturb, distract their fleeting Joy. | 449 |
| But above all industrious Av'rice take, | 450 |
| He my lov'd Cause, besure, will ne'r forsake. | 451 |
| When Roman Wisdom LIBERTY maintain'd, | 452 |
| And by her Virtue Soveraign Empire gain'd, | 453 |
| He undermin'd with Ease, their boasted Fame, | 454 |
| And left of LIBERTY an Empty Name; | 455 |
| He Scaurus, Crassus, Cateline o'recame. | 456 |
| Their pompous Virtues He it was betray'd, | 457 |
| And all Things soon at Rome He venal made; | 458 |
| The very State and War, he made a Trade. | 459 |
| 'Till having got a Universal Way, | 460 |
| For ready Tyranny he smooth'd the Way. | 461 |
| Galba by Him was gloriously undone, | 462 |
| He tumbl'd him headlong from his fleeting Throne. | 463 |
| He rules in Courts, and disappoints with Care, | 464 |
| What e'r, for Public Good, the PATRIOT Tribe prepare. | 465 |
| He rules in Camps, in Cities he bears Sway, | 466 |
| Nay, ev'n the CHURCH his Sacred Laws obey. | 467 |
| And with him take his Spouse Hypocrisie, | 468 |
| And his lov'd Twins Corruption, Bribery. | 469 |
| Begon, make Haste, now take your speedy Flight, | 470 |
| Thus doubly arm'd with all the Troops of Night, | 471 |
| Infect, confound the odious Realms of Light. | 472 |
| He said, And swift as Thought aloft they rise, | 473 |
| And with their foul Contagion, soon pollute the Skies. | 474 |
| Their Presence Nature in Convulsions own'd,. | 475 |
| And with their Weight contiguous Nations groan'd, | 476 |
| With Thunder roll'd the Air, with Earthquakes shook the Ground. | 477 |
| They to her Home the Gallic Crone convey, | 478 |
| Then to his Task each took his several Way. | 479 |
| Where e'r they went, o'r whom they did prevail, | 480 |
| Boots not to speak; their Labours did not fail. | 481 |
| France took new Life, and baffled Anjou's Arms, | 482 |
| Brought into Spain new Fears, and new Alarms, | 483 |
| The British Glory visibly now wains, | 484 |
| Almost extinguish'd in Almanza's Plains. | 485 |
| The German Lines to proud Villars give Way, | 486 |
| And to his Forces leave their Soil a Prey; | 487 |
| And cautious Vendosm keeps our Troops at Bay. | 488 |
| The Warlike SAVOY, of the Heroe Kind, | 489 |
| In spight of all his Bravery of Mind, | 490 |
| No promis'd Laurels at Tholoun can find. | 491 |
| The Gallic Tyrant's Hopes now higher soar, | 492 |
| And send out vaster Armies, than before. | 493 |
| The Friends of LIBERTY in vain repine, | 494 |
| Their promis'd Glories every where decline, | 495 |
| And all their Hopes are now in Help Divine. | 496 |
| Well were they there, sure to avert the Rod, | 497 |
| The SOURCE, and GUARDIAN of their Cause is GOD. | 498 |
| Where the Smooth Thames in soft Meanders strays, | 499 |
| And with his Crystal Streams the flowry Vale inlays; | 500 |
| A verdent Hill lifts up its gracious Head, | 501 |
| And with an easie Rise deceives, the Climber's Tread. | 502 |
| An ancient Pile its pleasing Summet crowns, | 503 |
| And to the Eye its Royal Founders owns. | 504 |
| The clement Air sweet Odours spreads around, | 505 |
| With Health and Plenty blessing all the Ground. | 506 |
| Delightful Prospects glad the wandring Eye, | 507 |
| On e'ry Side, with lov'd Variety. | 508 |
| A spacious Valley here spreads far, and wide, | 509 |
| With Meads, and Glebe, and Woods diversify'd, | 510 |
| Which Thames does with its fertile Waves divide. | 511 |
| There gentle Hills in graceful Order rise, | 512 |
| Not rough, nor Threatning, with bold Heads, the Skies, | 513 |
| With shady Forests crown'd; whose various Glade | 514 |
| The Huntsman's Theatre by Nature's made. | 515 |
| Augusta' Spires it does afar descry, | 516 |
| Fairest of Cities, Britain's lovely Eye, | 517 |
| The darling, zealous Child of Beauteous LIBERTY. | 518 |
| Near, RUNNY MEAD with Pleasure it surveys, | 519 |
| Of Old enobl'd, with peculiar Praise. | 520 |
| With righteous Force the FREE-BORN ENGLISH there | 521 |
| For Sacred MAGNA CHARTA did declare; | 522 |
| And with their ANCIENT RIGHTS and LIBERTY | 523 |
| Compell'd reluctant Tyrants to comply. | 524 |
| Third Edward here to conquer France was born, | 525 |
| And Valour, with new * Ornaments adorn. | 526 |
| Here ANNA yearly makes Her bless Retreat, | 527 |
| And with wife Counsels Gallic Fraud defeat. | 528 |
| ANNA, the Peoples Darling, and Defence, | 529 |
| The True Vicegerent of Omnipotence, | 530 |
| Here claims my Song, demands my grateful Praise, | 531 |
| Inspires at once, and vindicates my Lays. | 532 |
| Shall I her equal Justice first display? | 533 |
| Her Justice to Her Clemency gives Way, | 534 |
| Or shall I sing the Wonders of Her Arms | 535 |
| That keep from BRITAIN far, Wars dire Alarms? | 536 |
| That Gallic Pow'rs no further Terrors bear; | 537 |
| That EUROPE breaths afresh we owe to HER; | 538 |
| That the Imperial Eagle soars again | 539 |
| We owe to HER, to HER our Hopes of Spain: | 540 |
| To HER we owe this glorious Wars Success; | 541 |
| To HER the Promise of Approaching peace; | 542 |
| That we no more in hateful Factions err, | 543 |
| That UNION does new Happiness confer, | 544 |
| That our GREAT-BRITAIN is, we owe to HER. | 545 |
| That Right Religion, Piety and Truth | 546 |
| Adorn our Age, and give new Charms to Youth; | 547 |
| To HER we owe, to HER that Sacred LAW | 548 |
| Is by no haughty Faction kept in Awe, | 549 |
| But equal Blessings does on all bestow. | 550 |
| To HER, in fine, our LIBERTY we owe. | 551 |
| For ne'r is LIBERTY more glorious found, | 552 |
| Ne'r with more Safe, and Nobler Honours crown'd, | 553 |
| Than when beneath th' auspicious, guardian Wings | 554 |
| Of Wife, and Pious, Brave, and LEGAL Kings. | 555 |
| Where ANNA reigns fair LIBERTY's secure; | 556 |
| Ambitious Hopes no Factious Bravo's lure. | 557 |
| With popular Arts the People to betray, | 558 |
| And mount the Traytor to unbounded Sway. | 559 |
| PREROGATIVE that Formidable Name, | 560 |
| She for Her Peoples Good alone do's claim. | 561 |
| A Legal Pow'r to do Her People Right, | 562 |
| And execute the Laws with greater Might. | 563 |
| When Hot-brain'd Faction press'd her more to take, | 564 |
| She with Disdain the guilty Bribe threw back, | 565 |
| And with a God-like Ardour soon did prove, | 566 |
| She thought Her best Prerogative was LOVE: | 567 |
| Unknowing, and unheeding Tyrants Arts, | 568 |
| Chose still to reign in Her good Peoples Hearts. | 569 |
| Let Tyrants, with a Luciferian Pride | 570 |
| Be by their Venal Clergy deify'd. | 571 |
| For Deeds, that Hell it self wou'd shame to own, | 572 |
| And to Despotick Pow'r debase the Throne; | 573 |
| While, set above all Legal Limits, they | 574 |
| O'r wasted Regions bear detested Sway, | 575 |
| And make their People not their Care, but PREY; | 576 |
| ANNA, like Heav'n, by Stated Laws commands, | 577 |
| With a large Soul, and well-pleas'd, bounteous Hands, | 578 |
| Show'r Peace, and Plenty round Her British Lands. | 579 |
| The Mother of each Free-born Dennizen, | 580 |
| Her PRIDE's to Rule, not SERVILE BEASTS, but MEN. | 581 |
| Still may she live, thus crown'd with LOVE and FAME | 582 |
| Happy, and Prais'd, and * EVER BE THE SAME. | 583 |
| Drawn by these Charms to Kindred Heav'n well known, | 584 |
| Here Sacred LIBERTY has fixt her Throne. | 585 |
| Fair +†Philanthropia, with obliging Grace, | 586 |
| Darling of Heav'n, claims here the Fav'rite Place, | 587 |
| While ANNA fully is confest in her enchanting Face. | 588 |
| Next hoary Wisdom in Esteem we see; | 589 |
| Courage untam'd, and chearful Industry; | 590 |
| Celestial Reason unconfin'd, and free. | 591 |
| Religion pure, in Native Beauty's here, | 592 |
| No adventitious Dawb of Priest does wear; | 593 |
| Just as she did from Parent Heav'n descend, | 594 |
| While Truth and Honest Zeal Her Beck attend: | 595 |
| Here's joyful Victory with Laurel crown'd, | 596 |
| And gracious Peace with smiling Face is found, | 597 |
| Her Temples with the gladsome Olive bound. | 598 |
| Rich Plenty next with open Countenance | 599 |
| Around her Cornucopia does dispence. | 600 |
| The Liberal Arts, with Poesie at their Head, | 601 |
| Here all around Ambrosial Odours spread; | 602 |
| Their Off-spring Public Virtues next 'em stand, | 603 |
| While reverend Nomos guards the glorious Band. | 604 |
| Amid this Heav'nly Throng, with kindred Light, | 605 |
| Great MICHAEL now directs his welcome Flight. | 606 |
| With Looks serene he soon his Silence broke, | 607 |
| And thus, diffusing Joy around, he spoke. | 608 |
| Hail! Heav'n-born LIBERTY! to thee I'm sent, | 609 |
| On high Behest, from the OMNIPOTENT. | 610 |
| The ancient Foe of Man, with wonted Spight, | 611 |
| Fondly with Heav'n renews th' unequal Fight: | 612 |
| His Hellish Agents lie has sent abroad, | 613 |
| To undermine the fixt Decrees of GOD. | 614 |
| His footy Troops their various Engines play, | 615 |
| For what he can't prevent, he wou'd delay. | 616 |
| But fell Oppression and Tyrannic Thrall | 617 |
| Shall thrive no more, for Heav'n has doom'd their Fall. | 618 |
| Send hoary Wisdom forth, and Truth unblam'd, | 619 |
| With Public Virtue, Courage join untam'd; | 620 |
| And Victory with heav'nly Vengance arm'd, | 621 |
| And Philantrope with publick Love still warm'd. | 622 |
| Each Champion of our Cause let them inspire, | 623 |
| And every Heroe's Breast with Ardour fire. | 624 |
| The wish'd for Hours apace come rolling on, | 625 |
| Big with the prosperous Face of Christendom. | 626 |
| Base Slav'ry, and Idolatry shall fail, | 627 |
| And ancient TRUTH and LIBERTY prevail. | 628 |
| See where the Heroes now triumphant come, | 629 |
| The Scourge of France, and Terror of proud Rome! | 630 |
| By their Vindictive Arms it is decreed, | 631 |
| That blind, unbounded Tyranny shall bleed, | 632 |
| While they from Victory, to Victory proceed. | 633 |
| Near Odenard they first shall win the Day, | 634 |
| There Fate the Earnest of their Hopes shall pay, | 635 |
| And to compleater Conquest smooth the Way. | 636 |
| 'Till by their Swords each Hydra Head does fall, | 637 |
| And BRITAIN triumph o're the vanquish'd Gaul. | 638 |
| See Warlike MALBRO', and the Brave EUGENE, | 639 |
| And the NASSOVIAN AVERQUERQUE, Serene | 640 |
| In all the wildest Tempests of the War, | 641 |
| Untam'd by Age and Sickness still he'll share | 642 |
| The glorious Hazard of the coming Fight, | 643 |
| As Danger, and Fatigue were his Delight. | 644 |
| Wisdom, and Goodness all his Actions grace, | 645 |
| And still confess the Honours of his Race. | 646 |
| Another Prince behold of NASSAU's Name! | 647 |
| Undoubted Heir of his Immortal Fame. | 648 |
| But here, ye BRITISH GENII, here behold | 649 |
| The * Promise of your Future Age of Gold | 650 |
| His wond'rous Valour in the Bud infold. | 651 |
| See, like a God, the fearless Youth advance | 652 |
| His Maiden Sword against the Pow'r of France! | 653 |
| Fav'rite of Heav'n, for Heav'n his Sword he draws, | 654 |
| And first enobles in the Publick Cause. | 655 |
| See his Mock Rival to the Field they bring, | 656 |
| Having, with Gallic Arts, disclaim'd the King. | 657 |
| The spurious +† Knight to gather Lawrels came, | 658 |
| +†The Knight of St. George | 659 |
| But flies the Field with ignominious Shame, | 660 |
| A Witness only of Prince GEORGE'S Fame. | 661 |
| He sees, abash'd, by him his Guardians fall; | 662 |
| This is the GEORGE for BRITAIN, that for Gaul. | 663 |
| No Danger can his dauntless Heart controul. | 664 |
| A NATION'S Genius in ONE mighty Soul. | 665 |
| And Nations with his Virtues he shall bless, | 666 |
| In War their Safe-guard, and their Joy in Peace. | 667 |
| Neglected ARTS shall find his early Care, | 668 |
| The Heav'n born MUSE his royal Bounty share; | 669 |
| For great and Kingly Virtues she inspires, | 670 |
| With gen'rous Ardour every Heroe fires. | 671 |
| And the Dispencer of immortal Fame, | 672 |
| The MUSE alone can give a deathless Name | 673 |
| Whose Deeds are worthy of immortal Verse, | 674 |
| He loves the MUSE that must these Deeds rehearse. | 675 |
| No more shall bashful Merit then complain, | 676 |
| No more shall starve in his auspicious Reign. | 677 |
| While bold intruding Poetasters gain. | 678 |
| Taught by the Heroe, whom their Nation rules, | 679 |
| The very Court shall spurn the jingling Fools; | 680 |
| And by obliging Force of just Reward, | 681 |
| Compel to Throngs the yet reluctant Bard. | 682 |
| Oh! happy Race, who under him shall prove | 683 |
| The Golden Age of POETRY, of PLENTY, PEACE and LOVE. | 684 |
| But now with Speed send forth thy Godlike Train, | 685 |
| And All the Blessings, Heav'n has doom'd, obtain. | 686 |
| I to my grateful Charge must now repair, | 687 |
| And guard th' important Youth from all the Threats of War. | 688 |
| He said, And willing LIBERTY obey'd, | 689 |
| New Force, new Virtue to our Arms convey'd; | 690 |
| The Common Cause rear'd up again its Head, | 691 |
| And Hell's black Troops before the Victor fled; | 692 |
| For every where the Gallic Forces yeild, | 693 |
| And LIBERTY triumphant rides, thro' the contested Field. | 694 |
. * After his Bombarding that City, his Picture was set on St. Lewis Altar in Genoa. Back
. The Place de Victoir in Paris, where a Statue is erected to him with this Inscription, Viro immortali, &c. Back
. The Order of the Garter. Back
. *Semper eadem, the QUEEN's Motto. Back
. +†Love of Mankind. Back
. * Prince George Au-gustus of Hannover. Back