 | Collected poems of Samuel Davies : 1723-1761 |  |
208
PERTH-AMBOY
Nassau Hall, September 27, 1759.
[_]
Yesterday the annual Commencent was held here. The Revd. Mr. Samuel Davies, lately elected President of the College of New-Jersey, delivered a Latin Oration, to the universal Applause of all his learned and numerous Auditors. The young Gentlemen (about 25 in Number) who were admitted to the usual Degrees in the Arts, performed the accustomed Exercises with uncommon Facility and Correctness. The whole Ceremony concluded with the followed ODE, set to Music by Mr. James Lyon, and of the Students.
On the downy Lap of Peace,
In the gentle Muses Seat,
Unmov'd at War's tremendous Roar,
That Consternation spreads from Shore to Shore,
O'er solid Continents, and tossing Waves,
From haughty Monarchs down to Slaves,
Low cringing at their Feet;
Far from Terror's loud Alarms,
Peaceful Nassau! in thee we sing—
We sing great George upon the throne,
And Amherst brave in Arms;
Amherst brave in Arms;
While Bernard, in their milder charms,
Makes the royal Virtues known.
Chor.
We sing great George, &c. &c.209
Gleaming tremendous, determines the War:
At th' approaching Vengeance struck
Gallic Slaves, tho' long enur'd
To face the wide destroying Sword
At a proud Tyrant's Word,
Now disorder'd and broke,
Despairing, confounded
With Terrors surrounded
by Amherst's Name subdu'd,
By dread of Vengeance close pursu'd,
Vengeance due to sacred British Blood,
The useless Sword they drop.
Nor dare for safety hope,
But in swift flight,
Beneath the Shade of Guilt-concealing Night.
We sing great George upon the Throne,
And Amherst brave in Arms,
Amherst brave in Arms;
While Bernard, in their milder Charms,
Make the royal Virtues known.
Happy, happy, happy, still,
Safe from all the Alarms of ill;
While George, the Friend of Man, adorns the Throne,
And Amherst shines in Arms;
While Bernard makes the royal Virtues known,
In all their milder Charms.
Happy, &c. &c.
| Collected poems of Samuel Davies : 1723-1761 | |