 | The Life and Poetical Works of James Woodhouse |  |
85
CORONATION OF GEORGE III. AND QUEEN CHARLOTTE.
Aurora with her faintest Light,
Mild harbinger of Day;
O'er every mountain's misty height
Diffus'd a feeble ray:
Mild harbinger of Day;
O'er every mountain's misty height
Diffus'd a feeble ray:
When Colinet a thrifty swain
No more in Dreams, forgot
His pastoral treasure on the plain
But rose and left his cot.
No more in Dreams, forgot
His pastoral treasure on the plain
But rose and left his cot.
Contented whistling o'er the mead,
Beside an aged oak;
He met young Damon as he stray'd,
And thus the swain bespoke.
COLINET.Beside an aged oak;
He met young Damon as he stray'd,
And thus the swain bespoke.
A fatted steerling from the stall,
That never bare the yoke;
Low shall his brindled forehead fall,
Beneath the fatal stroke.
DAMON.
Of all my choicest mellow fruit,
I'll drain my summer's hoard;
—Such might the nicest palate suit,
Or grace a prince's board!
COLINET.
The apple's heart some sparkling juice,
To shepherds ever dear!
Young Mopsus smiling shall produce,
In heavy goblets clear.
DAMON.
While nymphs and swains, in lovely pairs,
From neighbouring cots advance;
And to the Haut-boy's sprightly airs,
Shall frisk the wanton dance.
COLINET.
Between each dance ye jovial crowd,
With all their vocal powers;
In rapt'ring chorus long and loud,
Shall hail the blissful hours.
DAMON.
In rural strains we'll sing our joys,
To Europe's King of Kings;
Nor shall great George the swains despise
Whence all his glory springs.
86
—But still the flocks imprison'd fast,
Their hungry Vigils keep;
And while we scheme our rich repast,
We pine the murmuring sheep.
DAMON.
This happy day our fleecy charge,
Shall barren rocks exchange;
And o'er the meadows fat and large,
Without restraint shall range.
COLINET.
—Go fly ye harmless prisoners, fly,
Heaven's richest blessings share;
Come Damon to thy cottage hie,
And for the feast prepare.
DAMON.
But stop; where yonder stately tree,
With heavy branches bends;
I, Thrysis, learned shepherd see,
Who swiftly this way tends.
COLINET.
'Tis he the dear beloved youth,
With ever tuneful tongue;
Renown'd for loyalty and truth,
And mild enchanting song!
DAMON.
Or when his pipe with warbling notes,
Resounds fair Delia's praise;
So sweet the magic music floats,
The flocks forget to graize.
COLINET.
To him we'll frankly all bequeath,
The bards illustrious place;
And with a shining Laurel wreath;
His Iv'ry temples grace.
DAMON AND COLINET.
What lovely swain has thee befell?
Why glare thy steadfast eyes?
Tell, gentle Thrysis, quickly tell,
The cause of thy surprise.
THRYSIS.
Peace, shepherds peace, while I relate
Such an amazing tale:
—Might sooth a convict's dreary fate,
Might o'er Despair prevail.
Such an amazing tale:
—Might sooth a convict's dreary fate,
Might o'er Despair prevail.
When orient skies with Titan blush't
I trod the oozy shore;
The tempest's all in silence hush't
Had ceas'd their bellowing roar.
I trod the oozy shore;
The tempest's all in silence hush't
Had ceas'd their bellowing roar.
No more the mountains billows ride,
Across the wat'ry way;
But level all the peaceful tide
A polish't surface lay.
Across the wat'ry way;
But level all the peaceful tide
A polish't surface lay.
When sudden thro' its opening breast
Appear'd the ocean god!
In all his glittering pomp confest
Magnificently rode!
Appear'd the ocean god!
In all his glittering pomp confest
Magnificently rode!
Around the nymphs the sea-gods throng,
From every cavern'd seat;
The nereids lovely Charlotte sung,
While Tritons George repeat.
From every cavern'd seat;
The nereids lovely Charlotte sung,
While Tritons George repeat.
His spouse belov'd supreme was seen,
In pearl and amber known;
Faint semblance of the glorious Queen,
That gilds the British throne.
In pearl and amber known;
Faint semblance of the glorious Queen,
That gilds the British throne.
The snorting steeds the waters hurl'd
And shook their flowing manes;
And swift his rapid chariot whirl'd,
Along the liquid plains.
And shook their flowing manes;
And swift his rapid chariot whirl'd,
Along the liquid plains.
87
Approaching then the argent cliffs,
That skirt his favourite Isle,
His pond'rous trident high he lifts
Th' attendant gods recoil.
That skirt his favourite Isle,
His pond'rous trident high he lifts
Th' attendant gods recoil.
The rocks convuls'd beneath his force,
Cou'd scarce sustain the stroke;
Then he like cataracts loud and hoarse,
With thundering accent spoke.
Cou'd scarce sustain the stroke;
Then he like cataracts loud and hoarse,
With thundering accent spoke.
“All ye that haunt the coral grove,
“Your hoary monarch hear;
“Would you preserve your Neptune's Love
“Fair Albion's isle revere.
“Your hoary monarch hear;
“Would you preserve your Neptune's Love
“Fair Albion's isle revere.
“For by the realms where Pluto reigns,
“By Styx's sacred flood;
“That firm the unvarying oaths maintain
“Of each attesting god.
“By Styx's sacred flood;
“That firm the unvarying oaths maintain
“Of each attesting god.
“If e'er the vile perfidious bands,
“Of sacrilegious Gaul,
“Attempt these consecrated strands,
“Each haughty crest shall fall.
“Of sacrilegious Gaul,
“Attempt these consecrated strands,
“Each haughty crest shall fall.
“As George's glorious grandsire sway'd
“The empire of the sea;
“Let none his mightier heir invade
“Or dare to disobey.
“The empire of the sea;
“Let none his mightier heir invade
“Or dare to disobey.
“Come Demigods with songs we'll go
“His Charter to renew;”
He ceas'd: and swift as whirlwinds blow
His fleeting coursers flew.
“His Charter to renew;”
He ceas'd: and swift as whirlwinds blow
His fleeting coursers flew.
Then all th' obsequious bands divide
In Thames' silver stream;
And part their sounding shells apply'd
Part sang their darling theme.
In Thames' silver stream;
And part their sounding shells apply'd
Part sang their darling theme.
The hills with emulation burn
At George and Charlotte's name;
And George and Charlotte loud return
As oft as they proclaim.
At George and Charlotte's name;
And George and Charlotte loud return
As oft as they proclaim.
And as the mingled sound assends,
And warbles o'er the main;
My soul with raptur'd joy attends,
I scarce my voice restrain.
And warbles o'er the main;
My soul with raptur'd joy attends,
I scarce my voice restrain.
Soon as the dying flames expire,
Again with new alarms;
I heard a sweet symphonious Choir
With more extatic charms.
Again with new alarms;
I heard a sweet symphonious Choir
With more extatic charms.
I wondering turn'd and round me gaz'd
When lo! a dazling gleam;
With more transcendent lustre blaz'd
Than Sol's meridian beam!
When lo! a dazling gleam;
With more transcendent lustre blaz'd
Than Sol's meridian beam!
With regal port beheld from far
The sister wife of Jove;
Descended in her burnish'd car
From starry thrones above.
The sister wife of Jove;
Descended in her burnish'd car
From starry thrones above.
Fair Cytherea came behind,
In peerless charms array'd;
With Cupid on her breast reclin'd
The graces round her play'd!
In peerless charms array'd;
With Cupid on her breast reclin'd
The graces round her play'd!
With wisdom sparkling in her eye,
Serene as Vernal morn;
Minerva lighten'd all the sky
In shining armour borne.
Serene as Vernal morn;
Minerva lighten'd all the sky
In shining armour borne.
Awhile their golden chariots stay
Just o'er the rocky hills;
And as they Britons' Isle survey,
Ambrosial dews distils.
Just o'er the rocky hills;
And as they Britons' Isle survey,
Ambrosial dews distils.
Beneath the blest Immortal feet,
Old earth and ocean smil'd;
While with alternate converse sweet,
They thus the time beguil'd.
Old earth and ocean smil'd;
While with alternate converse sweet,
They thus the time beguil'd.
The Hours and Graces in their trains,
With trembling fingers run;
O'er silver Lute's aetherial strains
When Pallas thus begun.
With trembling fingers run;
O'er silver Lute's aetherial strains
When Pallas thus begun.
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“In heavenly minds could envy dwell,
“To see a blissful state;
“How must each rankling bosom swell,
“At Briton's happy fate!
“To see a blissful state;
“How must each rankling bosom swell,
“At Briton's happy fate!
“Here serene Pan has first his seat,
“To bless th' industrious swains;
“Their fields with healthy herds replete,
“With flocks their fertile plains.
“To bless th' industrious swains;
“Their fields with healthy herds replete,
“With flocks their fertile plains.
“Here Ceres with a bounteous hand,
“Unloads her copious horn;
“With plenty crowning all the Land,
“In heaps of golden corn.
“Unloads her copious horn;
“With plenty crowning all the Land,
“In heaps of golden corn.
“Pomona every orchard bends
“With pendant fruity show'rs;
“And Flora richest colours blends,
“To paint their vernal flow'rs.
“With pendant fruity show'rs;
“And Flora richest colours blends,
“To paint their vernal flow'rs.
“These various blessings to uphold;
“Vertumans lends his aid;
“And more than India's gums and gold,
“He gives in bounteous trade.
“Vertumans lends his aid;
“And more than India's gums and gold,
“He gives in bounteous trade.
“Great Mars his warlike offspring leads,
“Of firm undaunted soul;
“From Afric's Cape their Vict'ry spreads,
“To th' icey artic pole!
“Of firm undaunted soul;
“From Afric's Cape their Vict'ry spreads,
“To th' icey artic pole!
“With his resistless Ire inflam'd,
“They drive their treach'rous foes;
“Where Ganges for its Monsters fam'd,
“In countless channels flows.
“They drive their treach'rous foes;
“Where Ganges for its Monsters fam'd,
“In countless channels flows.
“On Coromandel's Di'mond Coast,
“Shall deathless Annals tell;
“Before Britannia's conquering host
“Each Gallic fortress fell.
“Shall deathless Annals tell;
“Before Britannia's conquering host
“Each Gallic fortress fell.
“In gummy woods where goree stands,
“Perfuming sea and skies;
“Or Senegal rolls golden sands,
“Their crimson standard flies.
“Perfuming sea and skies;
“Or Senegal rolls golden sands,
“Their crimson standard flies.
“Where Laurence through its rocky sides,
“A broad'ning current leads;
“Or serpentine Ohio glides,
“O'er ever verdant meads.
“A broad'ning current leads;
“Or serpentine Ohio glides,
“O'er ever verdant meads.
“Where vast Ni'gara Cataract falls,
“Montreal's faithful Isles;
“And Lonsbourg's degraded walls,
“Proclaim their martial toils.
“Montreal's faithful Isles;
“And Lonsbourg's degraded walls,
“Proclaim their martial toils.
“The Apalachians crow'd with snows,
“And Frederica's tower;
“And Guadalupe where summer glows,
“Confess their matchless power.
“And Frederica's tower;
“And Guadalupe where summer glows,
“Confess their matchless power.
“Thus Gallia's pilfer'd laurel droops,
“Her strength'n'd commerce fades;
“While Briton's bold Victorious troops,
“Her native shore invades.
“Her strength'n'd commerce fades;
“While Briton's bold Victorious troops,
“Her native shore invades.
“These numerous conquests to insure,
“See sapient George preside;
“Nor could his rights be more secure,
“Did I his counsels guide.
“See sapient George preside;
“Nor could his rights be more secure,
“Did I his counsels guide.
“His envied glories to cement,
“And crown all other joys;
“From vast Germania's continent
“He stole the loveliest prize!
“And crown all other joys;
“From vast Germania's continent
“He stole the loveliest prize!
“So sweetly shines her radiant eye,
“So striking is her mien;
“That none but Venus may out-vie,
“Or Jove's imperial Queen!”
“So striking is her mien;
“That none but Venus may out-vie,
“Or Jove's imperial Queen!”
Then Juno thus: “To Hymen's shrine,
“So gracefully she mov'd;
“Had Jove beheld the nymph Divine,
“The am'rous god had lov'd!
“So gracefully she mov'd;
“Had Jove beheld the nymph Divine,
“The am'rous god had lov'd!
“Her voice that might Euterpe shame,
“Charms every hearer's soul;
“And virtue's pure refining flame
“Shines through the lovely whole.”
“Charms every hearer's soul;
“And virtue's pure refining flame
“Shines through the lovely whole.”
89
Then Venus: “First when George I knew,
“Array'd in regal charms;
“My fancy, dear Adonis drew,
“I wish'd him in my arms!”
“Array'd in regal charms;
“My fancy, dear Adonis drew,
“I wish'd him in my arms!”
Then Juno: “Hear my fixt decree,
“Confirm'd by gods above;
“A lovely offspring they shall see,
“To crow(n) their virtuous Love!
“Confirm'd by gods above;
“A lovely offspring they shall see,
“To crow(n) their virtuous Love!
“To them shall each successive year,
“Successive honours bring;
“And still a future George appear,
“To reign Britannia's King.
“Successive honours bring;
“And still a future George appear,
“To reign Britannia's King.
“For Jove shall more propitious hear,
“And Britons more befriend;
“Whose prayers with reverential fear,
“From grateful hearts ascend!
“And Britons more befriend;
“Whose prayers with reverential fear,
“From grateful hearts ascend!
“Then where Sabea's fragrant gums,
“In spicey incense rise;
“Or where devot'd hecatombs
“Expire in sacrifice.
“In spicey incense rise;
“Or where devot'd hecatombs
“Expire in sacrifice.
“Ye clouds a ready homage pay,
“Your Sovereign Juno's due;
“Let none in Briton's Isle this day,
“Your mournful features view.”
“Your Sovereign Juno's due;
“Let none in Briton's Isle this day,
“Your mournful features view.”
Obedient with their gloomy shade,
The sable train retires;
Then Phoebus all his charms display'd
Diffusing brighter fires.
The sable train retires;
Then Phoebus all his charms display'd
Diffusing brighter fires.
Then Juno's birds their moony tails
And fluttering wings expand,
And skim as swift as vernal gales,
Above the shouting land.
And fluttering wings expand,
And skim as swift as vernal gales,
Above the shouting land.
Then Cytherea's milky doves,
And Pallos birds of Night;
Behind, o'er echoing Hills and Groves
Persued in hasty flight.
And Pallos birds of Night;
Behind, o'er echoing Hills and Groves
Persued in hasty flight.
—Oh Swains! shall this high heaven combine,
To honour Briton's King?
And shall not British shepherds join,
Their monarch's fame to sing?
To honour Briton's King?
And shall not British shepherds join,
Their monarch's fame to sing?
What swain with Liberty unblest,
But wou'd give all with glee?
Of all Golconda's wealth possest,
To live like Britons free.
But wou'd give all with glee?
Of all Golconda's wealth possest,
To live like Britons free.
He who at Taxes e'er complains,
A rebel spirit shews;
Who more from George and Freedom gains,
Than tributary dues.
A rebel spirit shews;
Who more from George and Freedom gains,
Than tributary dues.
Our Lambkins unmolested bleat,
By hostile hands unslain;
Secure we press the milky teat,
And hoard the bearded grain.
By hostile hands unslain;
Secure we press the milky teat,
And hoard the bearded grain.
Here no despotic tyrant's hand,
Extends his iron sway;
Who might our flocks our lives demand,
And none durst disobey.
Extends his iron sway;
Who might our flocks our lives demand,
And none durst disobey.
Our laws no pontiff disannuls
Nor our unfetter'd minds;
With anathematizing bulls,
In superstition binds.
Nor our unfetter'd minds;
With anathematizing bulls,
In superstition binds.
No fell inquisitions may here,
Erect their hellish court;
Who spreading dire infernal fear,
With tortur'd misery sport.
Erect their hellish court;
Who spreading dire infernal fear,
With tortur'd misery sport.
COLINET.
Oh Thrysis in Sylvan lays,
Shall every voice contend;
And with great George and Charlotte's praise;
—The mirthful day shall end.
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We'll quaff the deep capacious bowl,
A well-fed steer shall bleed;
So with a free and loyal soul,
Has Colinet decreed.
THRYSIS.
Nor shall our songs Britannia's Lord
With Cæsar's name disgrace;
Nor Briton's valiant sons record
With Rome's inferior race:
COLINET.
No, George and Charlotte most sublime,
Shall fill th' historic page;
And in immortal Whitehead's rhyme,
Descend through every age.
THRYSIS.
As we the foaming goblet drain,
We'll each pronounce his health,
May they old Nestor's years attain
Have Lydian Cresus' wealth.
We'll each pronounce his health,
May they old Nestor's years attain
Have Lydian Cresus' wealth.
And may their dread avenging steel,
Their conquest still pursue;
May treach'rous France still humbly kneel,
And purjur'd faith renew.
Their conquest still pursue;
May treach'rous France still humbly kneel,
And purjur'd faith renew.
May then the Sanguine sword be sheath'd,
Belona's Empire cease;
And all the world with olive wreath'd
Enjoy Eternal peace.
Belona's Empire cease;
And all the world with olive wreath'd
Enjoy Eternal peace.
COLINET.
See Shepherds now th' unwearied sun,
Has travell'd up the East
And half his toilsome four has run,
Haste, haste provide the feast.
J. Woodhouse, Rowley.
| The Life and Poetical Works of James Woodhouse | |