Poems, chiefly pastoral By John Cunningham. The second edition. With the Addition of several pastorals and other pieces |
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 | Poems, chiefly pastoral |  |
233
AN ODE For the Birth-Day of the KING OF PRUSSIA.
Arma, Virumque cano.
Virg.
Recit.
More glorious than the comet's blaze,That through the starry region strays:
From Zembla to the Torrid Zone,
The mighty name of Prussia's known.
234
Air.
I.
Be banish'd from the books of fame,
Ye deeds in distant ages done;
Lost and inglorious is the name
Of Hannibal, or Philip's son:
Ye deeds in distant ages done;
Lost and inglorious is the name
Of Hannibal, or Philip's son:
Could Greece, or conquering Carthage sing
A hero great as Prussia's King!
A hero great as Prussia's King!
II.
Where restless Envy can't explore,
Or flatter'd Hope presume to fly;
Fate bade victorious Fred'ric soar,
For laurels that can never die.
Or flatter'd Hope presume to fly;
Fate bade victorious Fred'ric soar,
For laurels that can never die.
Could Greece, &c.
III.
His rapid bolts tremendous break,
Through nations arm'd in dread array,
Swift as the furious blasts that shake
The bosom of the frighted sea.
Through nations arm'd in dread array,
Swift as the furious blasts that shake
The bosom of the frighted sea.
Could Greece, &c.
235
IV.
In vain, to shake the throne of Jove,
With impious rage, the giants try'd;
'Gainst Fred'rick's force the nations strove
In vain—their haughty legions dy'd.
With impious rage, the giants try'd;
'Gainst Fred'rick's force the nations strove
In vain—their haughty legions dy'd.
Could Greece, &c.
V.
While Prudence guides his chariot wheels,
Thro' Virtue's sacred paths they roll;
Immortal Truth his bosom steels,
And guards him glorious to the goal.
Thro' Virtue's sacred paths they roll;
Immortal Truth his bosom steels,
And guards him glorious to the goal.
Could Greece, &c.
VI.
The vengeful lance Britannia weilds,
In comfort with her brave ally,
Saves her fair roses in the fields,
Where Gaul's detested lillies die.
In comfort with her brave ally,
Saves her fair roses in the fields,
Where Gaul's detested lillies die.
Wreaths of eternal friendship spring,
'Twixt mighty George and Prussia's King.
'Twixt mighty George and Prussia's King.
236
VII.
The jocund bowl let Britons raise,
And crown the jovial board with mirth;
Fill—to great Frederick's length of days,
And hail the hero's glorious birth—
And crown the jovial board with mirth;
Fill—to great Frederick's length of days,
And hail the hero's glorious birth—
Could Greece, or conquering Carthage sing
A chieftain fam'd like Prussia's King!
A chieftain fam'd like Prussia's King!
| Poems, chiefly pastoral | |