Poems on Several Occasions :: :: University of Virginia Library

Begin, Celestial Muse! a tuneful Strain
Of Albion's Prince conducted o'er the Main;
Of Courts conceal'd in Waves, and Neptune's wat'ry Reign!
Sing, from beneath, how the Green Deity
Rose to the Sov'reign of the British Sea;
To Pow'r confess'd, the Triple Mace resign'd,
O'er-rul'd the Floods, and charg'd the Rebel Wind;
Secur'd his Passage homeward, and restor'd,
Safe to the loveli'st Isle, the best-lov'd Lord.

The generous Name of Montague has long
Been fam'd in Verse, and grac'd the Poet's Song;
In Verse, himself can happy Wonders do,
The best of Patrons, and of Poets too.
Amid the skilful Choir that court his Ear,
If he vouchsafe these ruder Lays to hear,
His bright Example, while to him I sing,
Shall raise my feeble Flight, and mount me on the Wing.

On Albion's Eastern Coast, an ancient Town
O'erlooks the Sea, to Mariners well-known;
Where the swift Stourus ends his Snaky Train,
And pays his Wat'ry Tribute to the Main:
Stourus, whose Stream, prolifick as it glides,
Two fertile Counties in its Course divides,
And rolls to Seaward with a Lover's Pace:
There beauteous Orwell meets his fond Embrace;
They mix their amorous Streams, the briny Tide
Receives 'em join'd; their crooked Shores provide
A spacious Bay within, for Anchor'd Ships to ride.
Here, on the Margin of the rolling Flood,
Divinely Fair, like Sea-born Venus, stood
Britannia's Genius, in a Robe array'd
Of broider'd Arms, and Heraldry display'd:

A Crown of Cities charg'd her graceful Brows;
In waving Curls her Hair luxuriant flows;
Celestial Glories in her Eyes are seen;
Her Stature tall, majestick is her Mien.
With such a Presence, thro' th'adoring Skies,
Shines the Great Parent of the Deities;
Such Tow'ry Honours on her Temples rise,
When, drawn by Lions, she proceeds in State;
Trains of Attendant-Gods around her Chariot wait;
The Mother-Goddess, with superior Grace,
Surveys, and numbers o'er her bright Immortal Race.

While thus the lovely Genius hovers o'er
The Water's Brink, and from the sandy Shore
Beholds th'alternate Billows fall and rise,
(By Turns they sink below, by Turns they mount the Skies:)
‘And must, she said—
‘Then paus'd, and drew a Sigh of anxious Love;
‘Must my dear Lord this faithless Ocean prove?
‘Escap'd the Chance of War, and Fraud of Foes,
‘Wilt thou to warring Waves thy sacred Life expose?
‘Why am I thus divided by the Sea,
‘From all the World, and all the World in Thee?
‘Cou'd Sighs and Tears the Rage of Tempests bind,
‘With Tears I'd bribe the Seas, with Sighs the Wind:

‘Soft-sighing Gales thy Canvas shou'd inspire;
‘But hence, ye boistrous Storms! far hence retire
‘To inland Woods; there your mad Pow'rs appease,
‘And scour the dusty Plains, or strip the Forest Trees;
‘Or, lodg'd in hollow Rocks, profoundly sleep,
‘And rest from the loud Labours of the Deep!
‘Why shou'd I fear?—If Heroes be the Care
‘Of Heav'n above, and Heav'n inclines to Pray'r,
‘Thou sail'st secure; my Sons with lifted Eyes,
‘And pious Vows, for Thee have gain'd the Skies.
‘Come then, my much-lov'd Lord! No more th'Alarms
‘Of wasteful War require thee from my Arms.
‘Thy Sword gives plenteous Peace; but, without Thee,
‘Peace has no Charms, and Plenty's Poverty.
‘At length enjoy, for whom you've fought, the Queen
‘Of Islands, bright, majestick, and serene!
‘Unveil'd from Clouds, which did her Form disguise,
‘And hid a thousand Beauties from thy Eyes.
‘A thousand Treasures unsurvey'd invite
‘Their Lord to various Scenes of new Delight.
‘Come see the Dow'r I brought! My spacious Downs,
‘My num'rous Counties, and my ancient Towns;
‘Landskips of rising Mountains, shaggy Woods,
‘Green Vallies, smiling Meadows, silver Floods,
‘And Plains with lowing Herds enrich'd around,
‘The Hills with Flocks, the Flocks with Fleeces crown'd.

‘All these with native Wealth thy Pow'r maintain,
‘And bloom with Blessings of thy easy Reign.
‘Haste, hoist thy Sails! and thro' the foamy Brine,
‘Rush to my Arms! henceforth be wholly mine;
‘After nine toilsome Years, let Slaughter cease,
‘And flourish now secure, in the soft Arts of Peace!”

She said; th'intreated Winds her Accents bore,
And wing'd the Message to the Belgick Shore.
The pious Heroe heard, nor cou'd delay
To meet the lovely Voice, that summon'd him away;
The lovely Voice, whose soft-complaining Charms
Before had call'd the Succour of his Arms,
Nor call'd in vain; when fir'd with gen'rous Rage
T'oppose the Fury of a barb'rous Age,
Like Jove with awful Thunder in his Hand,
Thro' Storms and Fleets at Sea, and Foes at Land,
He urg'd his daring Way; before his Sight,
On Silver Wings, bright Glory took her Flight,
And left, to guide his Course, long shining Tracks of Light!

And now once more embark'd, propitious Gales
Blow fresh from Shore, and fill his hollow Sails.
As when the golden God, that rules the Day,
Drives down his flaming Chariot to the Sea,
And leaves the Nations here involv'd in Night,
To distant Regions he transports his Light;

So William's Rays, by turns, two Nations chear;
And when he sets to them, he rises here.

Forsaken Belgia, ere the Ship withdrew,
Shed gen'rous Tears, and breath'd this soft Adieu;
‘Since Empire calls thee, and a glorious Throne,
‘Thy People's weighty Int'rests, and thy own;
‘(Tho' struggling Love wou'd fain persuade thy Stay)
‘Go, where thy better Fortune leads the Way!
‘Mean while my Loss, allow me to complain,
‘And wish—ah no! that partial Wish were vain.
‘Tho' honour'd Crete had nurs'd the thund'ring God,
‘Crete was not always blest with his Abode;
‘Nor was it fit, that William's Godlike Mind,
‘For Nations born, shou'd be to One confin'd.
‘This only grant, since I must ask no more,
‘Revisit once again your Native Shore!
‘That Hope my Sorrows shall beguile; and thou,
‘My happy Rival! wilt that Hope allow;
‘'Tis all th'Enjoyment, Fate has left me now.
‘So may'st thou, fair Britannia! ever be
‘Firm to thy Sov'reign's Love, and his to Thee!
‘While widow'd I’—There rising Sighs repress'd
Her fainting Voice, and stifled in the rest.

Now, while the bounding Vessel drives before
The gusty Gales, and leaves the less'ning Shore,

Behold the parting Clouds to Distance fly,
And Golden Glories, pouring from on high,
New dress the Day, and chear th'enlighten'd Sky!
One shooting Beam, like Lightning doubly bright,
Darts on the Middle Main its streaming Light.
Lo! William's Guardian Angel there descends;
To Neptune's Court his heav'nly Message tends:
In Arms Celestial, how he shines afar,
Like Pallas marching to th'awaken'd War!
His left Hand gripes a spacious Orb of Shield,
With thousand intercepted Dangers fill'd,
And Deaths of various Kind; his right displays
A temper'd Blade, that spreads a formidable Blaze.
He strikes the Waves; th'obsequious Waves obey,
And, op'ning in a Gulph, disclose the downward Way.

O Muse! by Thee conducted down, I dare
The Secrets of the Wat'ry World declare;
For Nothing scapes Thy View; to Thee 'tis giv'n,
To range the Space of Earth, and Seas, and Heav'n,
Descry a thousand Forms, conceal'd from Sight,
And in Immortal Verse, to give the Visions Light.

A Rock there lies, in Depth of Sea profound;
About its Clefts, rich Beds of Pearl abound,
Where sportful Nature, cov'ring her Retreat
With flowing Waters, holds her secret Seat;

In Woods of Coral, intricate she strays,
And wreathes the Shells of Fish a thousand ways,
And animates the Spawn of all her finny Race.
Th'unnumber'd Species of the fertile Tide,
In Shoals, around their mighty Mother, glide.
From out the Rock's wide Caverns deep below,
The rushing Ocean rises to its Flow;
And, ebbing, here retires; within its sides,
In roomy Caves the God of Sea resides.
Pillars unhewn, of living Stone, bear high
His vaulted Courts; in Storms the Billows fly
O'er th'echoing Roof, like Thunder thro' the Skies,
And warn the Ruler of the Floods to rise,
And check the raving Winds, and the swoln Waves chastise.
Rich Spoils, by plund'ring Tempests hither borne,
An Universe of Wealth, the Palace-Rooms adorn.
Before its Entrance, broken Wracks are seen
In Heaps deform'd, a melancholy Scene.
But far within, upon a mossy Throne,
With washy Ooze and Samphire overgrown,
The Sea-green King his forky Sceptre rears;
Awful his Aspect, numerous are his Years.
A Pearly Crown circles his Brows Divine;
His Beard and dewy Hair shed trickling Drops of Brine.

The River-Gods, his numerous Progeny,
On Beds of Rushes round their Parent lie.
Here Danube and the Rhine; Nile's secret Source
Dwells here conceal'd; hence Tiber takes his Course;
Hence rapid Rhodanus his Current pours;
And, issuing from his Urn, Majestick Padus roars;
And Alpheus seeks, with silent Pace, the lov'd Sicilian Shores.
But, chief in Honour, Neptune's darling Son,
The beauteous Thames lies nearest to his Throne.
Nor thou, fair Boyne! shalt pass unmention'd by,
Already sung in Strains, that ne'er shall die.

These, and a thousand more, whose winding Trains
Seek various Lands, the wealthy Sire maintains;
Each Day, the fluid Portions he divides,
And fills their craving Urns with fresh-recruited Tides.
But not alike; for oft his partial Care
Bestows on some a disproportion'd Share;
From whence their swelling Currents, o'er-supply'd,
Thro' delug'd Fields in noisy Triumph ride.

The God was just preparing to renew
His daily Task, when sudden in his View
Appear'd the Guardian Pow'r, all dazling-bright;
And, entring, flash'd the Caves with Beamy Light.
Boyne, Rhine, the Sambre, on their Banks had seen
The glorious Form, and knew his Martial Mien;

In Throngs th'admiring Nereids round him press'd,
And Tritons croud to view the Heav'nly Guest.
Then thus, advancing, He his Will explains,
‘O mighty Sov'reign of the liquid Plains!
‘Haste, to the Surface of the Deep repair,
‘This Solemn Day requires thy Presence there,
‘To rule the Storms, the rising Waves restrain,
‘And shake thy Sceptre o'er the govern'd Main.
‘By breathing Gales on thy Dominions driv'n,
‘To Thee, three Kingdoms Hopes in Charge are giv'n,
‘The Glory of the World, and Best-belov'd of Heav'n.
‘Behold him figur'd here!’—He said, and held,
Refulgent to his View, the Guardian Shield.
On the rich Mould, inwrought with Skill Divine,
Great William's Wars in splendid Sculpture shine.
Here, how his saving Pow'r was first display'd,
And Holland rescu'd by his Youthful Aid;
When, kindling in his Soul, the Martial Flame
Broke fiercely out, preluding future Fame,
And round the Frontiers dealt avenging Fire;
Swift from the hot Pursuit the blasted Foes retire.
Then Battles, Sieges, Camps are grav'd afar,
And the long Progress of the dreadful War.
Above the rest Seneffe's immortal Fight,
In larger Figures offer'd to the Sight,
With Martial Terror charms, and gives a fierce Delight.

Here the Confed'rate Troops are forc'd to yield,
Driv'n by unequal Numbers thro' the Field:
With his bright Sword, young Nassau there withstands
Their Flight; with Pray'rs and Blows he urges his Commands,
Upbraids their fainting Force, and boldly throws
Himself the first amidst the wond'ring Foes.
What dare not Men, by such a Gen'ral led?
Rallying with Shouts, their Heroe at their Head,
Fir'd with new Rage, asham'd they once did fly,
Resolv'd t'o'ercome, or resolute to die,
Thro' trampled Heaps of Slain they rush to Victory.
Earth trembles at the Charge; Death, Blood, and Prey,
Insatiate riot all the murd'rous Day;
Nor Night it self their Fury can allay;
Till the pale Moon, that sickens at the Sight,
Retires behind a Cloud, to blind the bloody Fight.

Again, the Shield in Savage Prospect shows
An ancient Abby, which rough Woods inclose;
And Precipices vast abruptly rise,
Where, safe encamp'd, proud Luxemburgh defies
All open Violence, or close Surprize.
But see! a second Hannibal from far,
Up the steep Height, conducts th'entangled War.
Brave Ossory, attended with the Pride
Of English Valour, charges by his Side.

Inclos'd they fight; the Forests shine around
With flashing Fires; the thunder'd Hills rebound,
And the shock'd Country, wide beneath, rebellows to the Sound.
Forc'd from their Holds, at length they speed their Flight;
Rich Tents, and Stores of War, the Victor's Toils requite.
Then Peace ensues; and, in a shining Train,
The Friendly Chiefs assemble on the Plain.
An ardent Zeal the Gallick General warms
To see the Youth, that kindled such Alarms;
Wond'ring he views; secure the Soldiers press
Round their late Dread, and the glad Treaty bless.

Next, on the broad Circumference is wrought
The nine Years War for lov'd Britannia fought;
The Cause the same: Fair Liberty betray'd,
And banish'd Justice, fly to Him for Aid.
Here sailing Ships are drawn, the crowded Strand,
And Heav'n's Avenger hast'ning to the Land.
Oppression, Fraud, Confusion, and Affright,
Fierce Fiends, that ravag'd in the gloomy Night
Of Lawless Pow'r, defeated, fly before his dazling Light.
So to th'eclipsing Moon, by the still Side
Of some lone Thicket, rev'lling Haggs provide
Dire Charms, that threat the sleeping Neighbourhood,
And quaff, with Magick mix'd, vast Bowls of Human Blood;

But, when the Dawn reveals the purple East,
They vanish sullen from th'unfinish'd Feast.
Here joyful Crouds, Triumphant Arches rear
To their Deliv'rer's Praise; glad Senates there,
In splendid Pomp, the Regal State confer.

Hibernia's Fields new Triumphs then supply;
The Rival Kings, in Arms, the Fate of Empire try.
See where the Boyne two Warring Hosts divides,
And rolls between the Fight his murm'ring Tides!
In vain—Hills, Forests, Streams must all give place,
When William leads, and Victory's the Chase.
Thou saw'st him, Boyne! when thy charg'd Waters bore
The swimming Coursers to th'opposing Shore,
And, round thy Banks, thou heard'st the murd'ring Cannons roar.
What more than Mortal Bravery inspir'd
The daring Troops, by his Example fir'd!
Thou saw'st their wondrous Deeds; to Neptune's Court
Thy flying Waves convey'd the swift Report,
And, red with Slaughter, to their Father show'd
Streams not their own, and a discolour'd Flood.

Here, on th'Ætherial Mould, hurl'd from afar,
Th'exploded Ball had mark'd a dinted Scar.
'Twas destin'd thus; for when, all glowing-red,
The Angel took it from the Forge, he said;

This Part be left unfated from the Foe!
And, scarce escap'd, once let the Heroe know,
How much to my Protection he shall owe;
Yet, from the batter'd Shield, the Ball shall bound,
And on his Arm inflict a scarlet Wound.

Else where, behold Namure's proud Turrets rise,
Majestick to the Sight, advancing to the Skies!
The Meuse and Sambre here united flow,
Nature's Defence against th'invading Foe:
Industrious Art her Strength of Walls supplies;
Before the Town the British Army lies.
The Works are mann'd; with Fury they contend;
These thunder from the Plains, those from the Walls defend.
Red Globes of Fire from bellowing Engines fly,
And lead a sweeping Blaze, like Comets, thro' the Sky.
The kindled Region glows; with deaf'ning Sound
They burst; their Iron Entrails, hurl'd around,
Strow with thick-scatter'd Deaths the crimson Ground.
See, where the Genius of the War appears,
Nor shuns the Labour, nor the Danger fears!
In Clouds of sulph'rous Smoke he shines more bright,
For Glory round him waits, with Beams of living Light,
At length the widen'd Gates a Conquest own,
And to his Arms resign the yielding Town.

Here, from the Field return'd, with Olive crown'd,
Applauding Throngs their welcome Prince surround:

Bright Honours in his glorious Entry shine,
And Peace restor'd concludes the great Design.

Long, o'er the Figur'd Work, with vast Surprize,
Admiring Neptune roll'd his ravish'd Eyes;
Then, rising from his Throne, thus call'd aloud;
‘Ye lovely Daughters of the briny Flood!
‘Haste, comb your Silver Locks, and straight prepare
‘To fill my Train, and gaze in upper Air.
‘This Day, Majestick Glories you shall see;
‘Come all ye Wat'ry Pow'rs, who under me
‘Your little Tridents wield, and rule the boist'rous Sea!
‘What God, that views the Triumphs here display'd,
‘Can to such Worth refuse his Heavenly Aid?’
He said no more,—but bade two Tritons sound
Their crooked Shells, to spread the Summons round.
Thro' the wide Caves the Blast is heard afar;
With Speed two more provide his Azure Car,
A Concave Shell; two the finn'd Coursers join:
All wait officious round, and own th'accustom'd Sign;
The God ascends; his better Hand sustains
The three-fork'd Spear, his left directs the Reins.
Thro' breaking Waves, the Chariot mounts him high;
Before its thund'ring Course, the frothy Waters fly;
He gains the Surface; on his either Side,
The bright Attendants, rang'd with comely Pride,
Advance in just Array, and grace the pompous Tide.

Mean while Britannia's King conspicuous stood,
And, from his Deck, survey'd the boundless Flood.
Smooth was the glassy Scene, the Sun beheld
His Face unclouded in the liquid Field.
The gazing Nereids, in a shining Train,
Inclose the Ruler of the British Main,
And sweetly sing; suspended Winds forbear
Their loud Complaints, the soothing Lay to hear.
‘Hail, Sacred Charge! they cry; the Beauties We
‘Of Neptune's Court, are come t'attend on Thee;
‘Accept our offer'd Aid! thy potent Sway,
‘Unbounded by the Land, these wat'ry Realms obey;
‘And We, thy Subject-Pow'rs, our duteous Homage pay.
‘See Neptune's Self, inferior in Command,
‘Presents his Trident to thy honour'd Hand!’
They said; the Sire approach'd with Awe profound;
The Rite perform'd, their Shells the Tritons sound;
Swell'd with the shrill Alarm, the joyful Billows bound.

Now, from the Shore, Britannia first descries
White Sails afar; then bulky Vessels rise
Nearer to View; her beating Heart foretells
The pleasing News, and eager Transport feels.
Safe to her Arms, Imperial Neptune bears
Th'intrusted Charge, then diving disappears.

Harwich.

The River Stoure, that runs between Suffolk and Essex.

St. Dennis near Mons.