The Works of Horace In English Verse :: :: University of Virginia Library

Thrice happy Bark, to whom is giv'n
The Pride of Earth, and Favourite of Heav'n,
Thy every guardian God implore,
And waft th'important Charge to Belgia's Shore;
Where Councils yet suspended wait
Britannia's last Resolves, and Europe's Fate.
So may the Winds with constant Gales
Fulfill thy Purpose, and inspire thy Sails;
Nereids and Nymphs attend thy Side,
Thy glitt'ring Stern protect, and gilded Pride.
Bold was the Man and bravely good,
Who tempted first the Sea's impetuous Flood,
Heard the Waves roar, the Tempests blow,
And sought in foreign Climes the distant Foe;

Who made his Country's Glory known,
And for the public Weal despis'd his own.
Auspicious Isle! in vain design'd,
By jealous Fate, a Stranger to Mankind,
Since uncontroul'd thy Offspring reign,
And sport, and triumph, on the harmless Main!
To manly Souls, resolv'd like theirs,
No Task has Danger, or no Danger, Fears.
Hence, Spirits of a Patriot Mould,
Daringly great, and fortunately bold,
Climbing th'imperial Seat, combine,
To sift the baffled Claim of Right Divine;
And to the World Instruction gave,
Distinguishing the Subject from the Slave.
Then lawless Pow'r receiv'd its Doom,
And Liberty reviv'd with native Bloom.
Though Nature, frugally inclin'd,
Has all her Gifts to narrow Bounds confin'd,
What will not Art and Pains supply?
O'er Waves forbad, in winged Tow'rs we fly,
And with Herculean Toil advance,
To quell th'united Pow'rs of Spain and France.
Nor Heav'n itself is unengag'd
In Wars, for Freedom and for Anna wag'd;

Rouz'd by her pious just Alarms,
Behold! The vengeful Thunderer in Arms,
Surveys the Field, with Slaughter spread,
And points his Churchill at the Tyrants Head.

1707.