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 |
|
