 | Poetical essays on Several Occasions |  |
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To Miss Raleigh,
Great Grand-daughter of the famous Sir W. Raleigh.
Igneus est illi vigor, & cœlestis origo
Seminibus.
Virg. Æn. VI.
Seminibus.
Virg. Æn. VI.
As in a tender Plant impress'd we see
The mimic Features of the parent Tree;
Or as young Painters, in their first Essay,
The Soul within in each light Sketch betray:
So, rising Raleigh, 'midst your Bloom we trace
The Rays of Greatness dawning in your Face;
And wondring view, as in a Picture shine
Sublime Ideas, and an Air divine:
The vivid Strokes in Miniature proclaim
Your genuine Title, and deserved Name.
Like Prints in Sand, or Images in Sleep,
Th'Impression's obvious, tho' the Stamp not deep.
We need no lineal Pedigrees of Books,
But read the fair Tradition in your Looks;
Your true Descent each Lineament betrays,
And the immortal Origin displays.
So the fair Morning, spangled o'er with Gold,
Does by Degrees its glorious Light unfold:
Thus infant Letters grav'd upon the Bark,
Grow with the Stock, and still improve the Mark.
The mimic Features of the parent Tree;
Or as young Painters, in their first Essay,
The Soul within in each light Sketch betray:
So, rising Raleigh, 'midst your Bloom we trace
The Rays of Greatness dawning in your Face;
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Sublime Ideas, and an Air divine:
The vivid Strokes in Miniature proclaim
Your genuine Title, and deserved Name.
Like Prints in Sand, or Images in Sleep,
Th'Impression's obvious, tho' the Stamp not deep.
We need no lineal Pedigrees of Books,
But read the fair Tradition in your Looks;
Your true Descent each Lineament betrays,
And the immortal Origin displays.
So the fair Morning, spangled o'er with Gold,
Does by Degrees its glorious Light unfold:
Thus infant Letters grav'd upon the Bark,
Grow with the Stock, and still improve the Mark.
Fresh to our View Sir Walter's Actions rise,
And all the Hero sparkles in your Eyes:
Fresh o'er his Grave triumphant Lawrels bloom,
And the new Foliage blossoms round his Tomb.
And all the Hero sparkles in your Eyes:
Fresh o'er his Grave triumphant Lawrels bloom,
And the new Foliage blossoms round his Tomb.
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See! the great Patriot rears his rev'rend Head
With Tears of Joy, and smiling leaves the Dead.
Now his pale Image beckons you along,
His Wounds still bleeding for his Country's Wrong;
He points you out a glorious Path to tread,
The Path of Liberty, for which he bled.
Bids you each Tyrant's servile Cause disdain,
Great Ends pursue, and bravely suffer Pain.
Fir'd with these godlike Views, he, undismay'd,
Saw glitter o'er his Head the fatal Blade:
That awful Head which Years had silver'd o'er,
The Ruffians saw, relentless as before.
Wit, Valour, Learning, Virtue plead in vain,
The last low Sands of drooping Life to gain.
Infernal Zeal! to antedate his Doom,
Whom trembling Age stood ready to consume.
With Tears of Joy, and smiling leaves the Dead.
Now his pale Image beckons you along,
His Wounds still bleeding for his Country's Wrong;
He points you out a glorious Path to tread,
The Path of Liberty, for which he bled.
Bids you each Tyrant's servile Cause disdain,
Great Ends pursue, and bravely suffer Pain.
Fir'd with these godlike Views, he, undismay'd,
Saw glitter o'er his Head the fatal Blade:
That awful Head which Years had silver'd o'er,
The Ruffians saw, relentless as before.
Wit, Valour, Learning, Virtue plead in vain,
The last low Sands of drooping Life to gain.
Infernal Zeal! to antedate his Doom,
Whom trembling Age stood ready to consume.
Then gush'd the Tears from each Spectator's Eye,
Deep groan'cth e Croud, and Nature seem'd to sigh;
A pale Concern did in each Face appear,
All but in his, whose solemn Fate drew near.
Deep groan'cth e Croud, and Nature seem'd to sigh;
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All but in his, whose solemn Fate drew near.
But the Muse startles at the tragic Tale,
And o'er the bloody Sequel draws a Veil,
Your tender Grief unwilling to renew,
And bring the sad Catastrophe to view.
And o'er the bloody Sequel draws a Veil,
Your tender Grief unwilling to renew,
And bring the sad Catastrophe to view.
Curst be those Villains who his Fate conspir'd,
By Jesuits prompted, and by Traytors hir'd.
Thus did thy King thy brave Exploits requite;
Thus let thee basely fall to Spanish Spite;
Thus, guarded by a Mob, ignobly march;
A Scaffold rais'd for thy triumphal Arch.
By Jesuits prompted, and by Traytors hir'd.
Thus did thy King thy brave Exploits requite;
Thus let thee basely fall to Spanish Spite;
Thus, guarded by a Mob, ignobly march;
A Scaffold rais'd for thy triumphal Arch.
Hear how sedate the dying Hero speaks,
And in prophetic Stile his Passion breaks.
And in prophetic Stile his Passion breaks.
“Mourn not my Fate, the Scene of Life is short,
“Death throws the Die, and we are Nature's Sport;
“Yet if we bravely live, and bravely die,
“'Tis but a kind Transition to the Sky.
“Still o'er the Grave this Spoil the Virtuous claim,
“To mock their Fun'rals, and survive in Fame:
“While like a Stream still fed by fresh Supplies,
“We o'er our Ruins more illustrious rise;
“And in succeeding Progenies behold
“Our Age renew'd again as we grow old.
“Death throws the Die, and we are Nature's Sport;
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“'Tis but a kind Transition to the Sky.
“Still o'er the Grave this Spoil the Virtuous claim,
“To mock their Fun'rals, and survive in Fame:
“While like a Stream still fed by fresh Supplies,
“We o'er our Ruins more illustrious rise;
“And in succeeding Progenies behold
“Our Age renew'd again as we grow old.
“Pleas'd I foresee, as I my Breath resign,
“A sparkling Female in my Lineage shine,
“Whose gen'rous Breasts an Infant Heir shall nurse,
“Whom Rome in vain shall threat, and Spaniards curse;
“Their golden Mines his conq'ring Hand shall seize,
“Free vassal'd Realms, and triumph o'er the Seas;
“Shall barb'rous Climes to Softness civilize,
“And spread the painted Flags in polar Skies.
“Then shall Astrea reign, grim Discord cease,
“And o'er Britannia pour a balmy Peace.
“A sparkling Female in my Lineage shine,
“Whose gen'rous Breasts an Infant Heir shall nurse,
“Whom Rome in vain shall threat, and Spaniards curse;
“Their golden Mines his conq'ring Hand shall seize,
“Free vassal'd Realms, and triumph o'er the Seas;
“Shall barb'rous Climes to Softness civilize,
“And spread the painted Flags in polar Skies.
“Then shall Astrea reign, grim Discord cease,
“And o'er Britannia pour a balmy Peace.
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Rise, destin'd Virgin! rise, convinc'd we find,
The glorious Prophecy for you design'd.
The public Care your blooming Graces win,
See, sighing Youths their early Vows begin.
To own your Name the Great themselves are proud,
And in your Lap unsought their Presents croud.
See, Patriots strive to give your Merit due,
For Friends to Liberty are Friends to you.
With gen'rous Love their Hearts already glow,
Still may their Favours with your Virtues grow.
The glorious Prophecy for you design'd.
The public Care your blooming Graces win,
See, sighing Youths their early Vows begin.
To own your Name the Great themselves are proud,
And in your Lap unsought their Presents croud.
See, Patriots strive to give your Merit due,
For Friends to Liberty are Friends to you.
With gen'rous Love their Hearts already glow,
Still may their Favours with your Virtues grow.
So Dido, melted with his youthful Charms,
Clasp'd the divine Ascanius in her Arms;
The little Hero's Heart o'erflow'd with Joy,
While with rich Gifts she crown'd the beauteous Boy;
Fair in whose radiant Mien began to bloom,
The future Greatness of immortal Rome.
Clasp'd the divine Ascanius in her Arms;
The little Hero's Heart o'erflow'd with Joy,
While with rich Gifts she crown'd the beauteous Boy;
Fair in whose radiant Mien began to bloom,
The future Greatness of immortal Rome.
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Shine on, bright Nymph! and may your Charms subdue
As many Slaves as your great Grandsire slew.
Still may his godlike Virtues fire your Breast,
Still be his Image on your Mind imprest;
Be that the Mirror which you most admire,
Mortality itself can rise no higher.
As many Slaves as your great Grandsire slew.
Still may his godlike Virtues fire your Breast,
Still be his Image on your Mind imprest;
Be that the Mirror which you most admire,
Mortality itself can rise no higher.
| Poetical essays on Several Occasions | |