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TO THE SAME, WITH A REGULATION SASH, ON HIS ENTERING THE LOYAL WOODSTOCK VOLUNTEERS, AS LIEUTENANT.
And now, my Academic Friend,
A different verse the Muse must send;
A different wreath in haste must twine
Around fair Oxford's classic shrine;
With bolder hand must sweep the lyre
To mark the Student-Hero's fire.
Vidonia's juice must cheer no more
The peaceful hours of learned lore;
For, ah! to days like these belong
Less pleasing gifts, and harsher song.
A different verse the Muse must send;
A different wreath in haste must twine
Around fair Oxford's classic shrine;
With bolder hand must sweep the lyre
To mark the Student-Hero's fire.
Vidonia's juice must cheer no more
The peaceful hours of learned lore;
For, ah! to days like these belong
Less pleasing gifts, and harsher song.
Lo! crimson War usurps the throne
Where Science us'd to reign alone;
The thund'ring drum assails her bowers,
Her holy fanes, her lofty towers;
And loud within her cloisters pale
The sights and sounds of strife prevail;
And Wisdom's self resigns awhile
Her sables with a Patriot's smile;
While every son of Science glows
To meet Britannia's threat'ning foes.
Where Science us'd to reign alone;
The thund'ring drum assails her bowers,
Her holy fanes, her lofty towers;
And loud within her cloisters pale
The sights and sounds of strife prevail;
And Wisdom's self resigns awhile
Her sables with a Patriot's smile;
While every son of Science glows
To meet Britannia's threat'ning foes.
Go then, my Friend, where Honour calls,
And quit awhile thy Sacred Walls;
Go join the glory-breathing train
On yonder consecrated plain:
E'en on the spot
which Britain gave
To grace her Warrior great and brave,
Illustrious Churchill! “Albion's pride,”
Let him thy virtuous ardour guide.
Behold the Column, where he stands
Superior o'er the spacious lands;
Ah! think his awful Figure moves,
And each heroic act approves!
Mark what his trophied Pillar shows,
And “sink like him thy Country's foes;”
By deeds like his embalm thy name;
By worth like his deserve thy fame;
Be, all his Trump sublime has rung,
And all thy Father's Muse has sung!
And quit awhile thy Sacred Walls;
Go join the glory-breathing train
On yonder consecrated plain:
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To grace her Warrior great and brave,
Illustrious Churchill! “Albion's pride,”
Let him thy virtuous ardour guide.
Behold the Column, where he stands
Superior o'er the spacious lands;
Ah! think his awful Figure moves,
And each heroic act approves!
Mark what his trophied Pillar shows,
And “sink like him thy Country's foes;”
By deeds like his embalm thy name;
By worth like his deserve thy fame;
Be, all his Trump sublime has rung,
And all thy Father's Muse has sung!
But soon as kinder Fates shall yield
Less iron harvests of the field,
When the proud Menacer has known
Her Sons can guard true Freedom's Throne;
When, ev'ry sterner duty o'er,
Fair Peace to Science shall restore
Her Heroes to the studious shade,
Where all but Wisdom's laurels fade,
—Save that the Goddess deigns to twine
Her sapient bay round Valour's shrine—
When War's dread fires no more shall burn,
O mayst thou safe, dear Youth, return,
A classic Victor to the scene
Where Wadham waves her sacred green!
May Learning then resume her Isle,
And crown thy labours with a smile!
Less iron harvests of the field,
When the proud Menacer has known
Her Sons can guard true Freedom's Throne;
When, ev'ry sterner duty o'er,
Fair Peace to Science shall restore
Her Heroes to the studious shade,
Where all but Wisdom's laurels fade,
—Save that the Goddess deigns to twine
Her sapient bay round Valour's shrine—
When War's dread fires no more shall burn,
O mayst thou safe, dear Youth, return,
A classic Victor to the scene
Where Wadham waves her sacred green!
May Learning then resume her Isle,
And crown thy labours with a smile!
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And when, in fuller time, thy heart
Shall fonder images impart,
Shall sigh for Wisdom's brightest meed,
Mayst thou in love as war succeed!
May the young Soldier's early fame
Assist the Scholar's awful claim,
To charm some virtuous Maiden's eyes,
And Worth and Beauty be the prize!
Shall fonder images impart,
Shall sigh for Wisdom's brightest meed,
Mayst thou in love as war succeed!
May the young Soldier's early fame
Assist the Scholar's awful claim,
To charm some virtuous Maiden's eyes,
And Worth and Beauty be the prize!
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