Posthumous Works of Dr. George Sewell ... To which are added Poems on Several Occasions, Published in his Life-Time |
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VERSES To His Grace The Duke of Marlborough,
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 | Posthumous Works of Dr. George Sewell |  |
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VERSES To His Grace The Duke of Marlborough,
Upon the Rebellion in 1715.
Once more, Great Prince, in shining Arms appear,
And draw that Sword which Gallia us'd to fear:
All other Nations have thy Succour Known;
The last great Task is to Relieve thy Own.
Afflicted Europe, when she sought thy Aid,
The Price of Liberty in Glory paid;
But Duty here no Foreign Motive needs,
It is enough to Thee—that Britain bleeds:
Ungrateful Britain! Prodigal in Ill,
To thee Ungrateful—yet thy Country still.
And draw that Sword which Gallia us'd to fear:
All other Nations have thy Succour Known;
The last great Task is to Relieve thy Own.
Afflicted Europe, when she sought thy Aid,
The Price of Liberty in Glory paid;
But Duty here no Foreign Motive needs,
It is enough to Thee—that Britain bleeds:
Ungrateful Britain! Prodigal in Ill,
To thee Ungrateful—yet thy Country still.
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Go, Mighty Chief, and draw thy Vet'rans forth,
Lead them to Conquest in the Frozen North:
O'er barb'rous Wilds and Mountains spread thy Name,
That ev'ry Clime may share in Marlb'ro's Fame.
Go, teach the Rebel who his Sov'reign Braves,
That thy Hand Punishes, as well as Saves;
That George in Virtues Great, by Nature Good,
Would free the stubborn Slaves—without their Blood;
But since the giddy Rout for Slaughter calls,
By his own Choice the wilful Traytor falls.
Lead them to Conquest in the Frozen North:
O'er barb'rous Wilds and Mountains spread thy Name,
That ev'ry Clime may share in Marlb'ro's Fame.
Go, teach the Rebel who his Sov'reign Braves,
That thy Hand Punishes, as well as Saves;
That George in Virtues Great, by Nature Good,
Would free the stubborn Slaves—without their Blood;
But since the giddy Rout for Slaughter calls,
By his own Choice the wilful Traytor falls.
Such Transient Storms have rose in ev'ry Age,
The rash Results of dying Faction's Rage.
A While these Meteors terrible appear,
And fill the Weak, and Ignorant with Fear;
The Wise, undaunted on their Course attend,
Knowing their Rise, they calculate their End.
Pretended Kings, and Prophets, are the Test
By which we judge of, and Obey the Best.
The rash Results of dying Faction's Rage.
A While these Meteors terrible appear,
And fill the Weak, and Ignorant with Fear;
The Wise, undaunted on their Course attend,
Knowing their Rise, they calculate their End.
Pretended Kings, and Prophets, are the Test
By which we judge of, and Obey the Best.
30
Then, Britain, give vain Terrors to the Air,
It is the Traytor's only to despair.
It is the Traytor's only to despair.
When thy great Hero arm'd to Vengeance rose,
Who ever trembl'd—but his Country's Foes?
Already Justice walks, Guilt flies away,
Leaves her own Land in others to betray;
And only now the Refuse Rabble wait
A Nobler Death, unworthy of that Fate,
Honour'd by Marl'bro's Victory—A Fall
That might become a Roman, or a Gaul.
Who ever trembl'd—but his Country's Foes?
Already Justice walks, Guilt flies away,
Leaves her own Land in others to betray;
And only now the Refuse Rabble wait
A Nobler Death, unworthy of that Fate,
Honour'd by Marl'bro's Victory—A Fall
That might become a Roman, or a Gaul.
| Posthumous Works of Dr. George Sewell | |