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The works of Mr. Thomas Brown

Serious and Comical, In Prose and Verse; In four volumes. The Fourth Edition, Corrected, and much Enlarged from his Originals never before publish'd. With a key to all his Writings

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An Imitation of the 6th Ode in Horace, l 1. Scriberis vario fortis, & hostium . . . .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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An Imitation of the 6th Ode in Horace, l 1. Scriberis vario fortis, & hostium . . . .

In the Year 1685. after the defeat of the Rebels in the West.

I.

Waller , in never-dying Verse,
Your glorious Triumphs may rehearse;
His lofty Muse for Panegyric fam'd,
May sing the Rebel-herd your Valour tam'd.
And all the mighty Blessings show,
Great James, and We to your wise Conduct owe.

II.

My unambitious Lyre tunes all her Strings
To lower Numbers, lower Things;
And Gods, and God-like Heroes do refuse
The Labour of a more exalted Muse.
Had she endeavour'd to relate
Great Alexander's Deeds, or Troy's unhappy Fate,

5

Or all the Wonders that by Drake were done,
Who travell'd with the Stars, and journey'd with the Sun;
As long a Space had the vain Labour held,
As that fam'd Town the Grecian Force repell'd.
As long had she the tiresom Work renew'd,
As mighty Drake thro' unknown Seas his wondrous Course pursu'd.

III.

The humble Muse too well her Weakness knows,
Nor on her feeble self, dares the high Task impose.
Tho' had not Heav'n the Power deny'd,
No other Theme had all her Thoughts employ'd.
'Tis hence she modestly declines to sing,
The immortal Triumphs of our war-like King;
Lest her unequal slender Vein
Shou'd lessen the great Actions of his glorious Reign.

IV.

Who can with all his boasted Fancy raise
To its just Height, Heroic Arthur's Praise,
Or worthily recount the Trophies won
By our great Edward, and his greater Son?
But oh! what Muse of all the Tribe below
Can mighty Mars in equal Numbers show,
Horrid in Steel, and moving from afar,
With all the solemn Pageantry of War,
Tho' the rough God shou'd his own Bard inspire,
And join the Martial Heat to the Poetic Fire.

V.

Harmless Combats, harmless Wars,
Slender Scratches, petty Jars,
Which youthful Blood, and wanton Love,
Amongst our amorous Couples move,
Employ my time, employ my Muse,
All other Subjects I refuse.