A Metrical History of England Or, Recollections, in Rhyme, Of some of the most prominent Features in our National Chronology, from the Landing of Julius Caesar to the Commencement of the Regency, in 1812. In Two Volumes ... By Thomas Dibdin |
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 | A Metrical History of England |  |
To seek that school of military fame
Which venerable Frederick form'd to guide
The youthful warrior, teach him how to blend
With valours vehemence the needful curb
Which discipline supplies, the royal York,
Our sov'reign's second hope, had gone erewhile:
And as those maxims he imbibed, which since
In practice have secured the love of all,
Of each, or high or low, whom his command
Embraces;—there, ere yet matured his aims
To make the British soldier prize his lot,
To shelter from distress the widow, wife,
Or parent of the fearless youth who rush
On Gallic squadrons in their country's cause:
To rear the sons of Albion to renown,
By theories which mingle in the mind
Lights of religion and humanity,
And form the christian soldier in the man.
While great intents like these his wish employ'd,
Still softer feelings stole upon his mind,
Prussia's fair pride, the daughter of his host,
Taught the young soldier, that, from beauty's glance
No angle of the heart, howe'er by lines
Of caution fortified, is quite secure.
The sires of Britain and of Prussia smiled,
And blest their offsprings union, England saw
Her Prince's choice with pride, and hail'd with joy
The day by Hymen destined to entwine
With Frederica, Fred'rick's fate for life
The sons of Afric from their “hundred thrones,”
Have cause to bless enlightened Britain's voice,
Which, in full senate, the detested trade
Of human traffic marks with fit rebuke;
Places a bound to it's nefarious powers,
Pow'rs doom'd at length to wither! pow'rs accurs'd!
Which sacrificed to avarice, (as of old
Moloch's fell shrine was wet with infant blood,)
Freedom and life, and ev'ry heaven sent good:
The virgin's hope, the husband's virtuous bliss,
The father's fondness, and the mother's joy;
And, above all, the patriotic flame
Which, whether in the frozen arctic isles
Where stormy Zembla rears her ice-clad hills,
Or on the burning sands of Araby,
For ever vibrates on the feeling soul.
Like to that magic song of Home, which tunes
Helvetian hearts to mournful ecstacy!
No patriot he, no genuine Briton born
Who, basking in the beams of liberty,
Wou'd rise to wealth upon the servile chains
He heaps on fellow man! No freedom his
Whose mind (the worst of slav'ry) wears the badge
Of cursed thirst for gain;—but, oh! for him
Whose open heart, whose large enlighten'd mind,
Cou'd advocate the cause of wretchedness;
Expose the narrow selfish craft, which stain'd
The name of Commerce; rescue from reproach
The British merchant's honor, and restore
Degraded man, (yet not abased so low
As those who dare degrade him,) to his rights,
What rapture must be his! his manly heart,
Sentient for others, in itself must feel
Myriads of blessings, first by him bestow'd,
Returning on the source from whence they sprang!
Which venerable Frederick form'd to guide
The youthful warrior, teach him how to blend
With valours vehemence the needful curb
Which discipline supplies, the royal York,
Our sov'reign's second hope, had gone erewhile:
And as those maxims he imbibed, which since
In practice have secured the love of all,
Of each, or high or low, whom his command
Embraces;—there, ere yet matured his aims
255
To shelter from distress the widow, wife,
Or parent of the fearless youth who rush
On Gallic squadrons in their country's cause:
To rear the sons of Albion to renown,
By theories which mingle in the mind
Lights of religion and humanity,
And form the christian soldier in the man.
While great intents like these his wish employ'd,
Still softer feelings stole upon his mind,
Prussia's fair pride, the daughter of his host,
Taught the young soldier, that, from beauty's glance
No angle of the heart, howe'er by lines
Of caution fortified, is quite secure.
The sires of Britain and of Prussia smiled,
And blest their offsprings union, England saw
Her Prince's choice with pride, and hail'd with joy
The day by Hymen destined to entwine
With Frederica, Fred'rick's fate for life
256
Have cause to bless enlightened Britain's voice,
Which, in full senate, the detested trade
Of human traffic marks with fit rebuke;
Places a bound to it's nefarious powers,
Pow'rs doom'd at length to wither! pow'rs accurs'd!
Which sacrificed to avarice, (as of old
Moloch's fell shrine was wet with infant blood,)
Freedom and life, and ev'ry heaven sent good:
The virgin's hope, the husband's virtuous bliss,
The father's fondness, and the mother's joy;
And, above all, the patriotic flame
Which, whether in the frozen arctic isles
Where stormy Zembla rears her ice-clad hills,
Or on the burning sands of Araby,
For ever vibrates on the feeling soul.
Like to that magic song of Home, which tunes
Helvetian hearts to mournful ecstacy!
No patriot he, no genuine Briton born
257
Wou'd rise to wealth upon the servile chains
He heaps on fellow man! No freedom his
Whose mind (the worst of slav'ry) wears the badge
Of cursed thirst for gain;—but, oh! for him
Whose open heart, whose large enlighten'd mind,
Cou'd advocate the cause of wretchedness;
Expose the narrow selfish craft, which stain'd
The name of Commerce; rescue from reproach
The British merchant's honor, and restore
Degraded man, (yet not abased so low
As those who dare degrade him,) to his rights,
What rapture must be his! his manly heart,
Sentient for others, in itself must feel
Myriads of blessings, first by him bestow'd,
Returning on the source from whence they sprang!
His Royal Highness married the Princess Royal of Prussia, at Berlin, was re-married at St. James's the December following and most magnificently received at court with his royal bride.
| A Metrical History of England | |