Poems on Several Occasions | ||
252
An ODE,
(In Allusion to the 2d of Horace)
To His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales,
In the Year 1720.
Quem vocet Divum Populus ruentis
Imperi Rebus? ------
Hor. Ode 2. Lib. 1.
Imperi Rebus? ------
Hor. Ode 2. Lib. 1.
------ Præsens Divus habebitur
Augustus ------
Ib. Ode 5. Lib. 3.
Augustus ------
Ib. Ode 5. Lib. 3.
I
Enough, his Wrath Almighty GodHas pour'd upon a Rebel Race:
Britannia reels beneath the Load,
And, sinking, supplicates his Grace.
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II
The humbled Nation, now, too late,In dire Effects its Folly finds;
We mourn the Mis'ry of our State,
And curse the rash, projective, Minds.
III
Our Babylon had towr'd so high,So Lawless was our Conduct grown,
'Twas fit that Judgment from the Sky
Shou'd crush the weak Supporters down.
IV
How keen we labour'd to be Great,By preying on our Neighbour's Store?
To what curst Heights we push'd our Fate,
And rose, to make our Fall the more?
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V
O'er all the Banks the Waters broke,And delug'd quite the fruitful Plain;
Strong Damms cou'd scarce resist the Shock,
And Mounds were rear'd, but rear'd in vain.
VI
As Clouds obscure Meridian Rays,Merit became the common Jest:
Fortune look'd kind on knavish Ways,
And Blockheads have succeeded best.
VII
They, who, at Distance, saw the Scene,And mark'd what foreign Sharpers won,
Fear'd Conquests might be made again,
Or we, by Civil War undone.
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VIII
The Nobles, who with Rabble join'd,To gather in the golden Show'r,
Are whelm'd alike in Grief of Mind,
Alike most miserably Poor.
IX
His private Suff'rings who can bear?Or what the publick Loss retrieve?
Whom shall we beg our Cries to hear?
What Pow'r our ruin'd State will save?
X
In vain, we look to neighbouring Lands—They labour in the like Distress;
Or mock our Mis'ry, since our Hands
Have wrought the Woes, our Tongues confess.
256
XI
Kind Heav'n, whom will thy Pity sendTo lift Britannia's drooping Head?
What living Patriot can defend?
Or wilt thou raise one from the Dead?
XII
Ye Ministers of State awake,And prove the Virtues you possess:
'Tis Yours to act for Britain's Sake,
And all our Grievances redress.
XIII
O S---, thou favour'd Peer!Thy Honesty and Pow'r exert:
Now is the Time thy Fame to clear,
And show you have our Weal at Heart.
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XIV
S---e, renown'd in Peace and War!Adorn'd with ev'ry liberal Art!
More, if you can, your self endear,
By acting, now, a Patriot's Part.
XV
N---le, here, your Interest try:You cannot too officious prove:
With Fortune raise your Honour high,
And win, by Merit, lasting Love.
XVI
O P---r, Oracle of Law,Convince us of the Skill you boast,
And from the Depths of Ruin, draw
Our publick Credit, ere 'tis lost.
258
XVII
A---e, thou dear, distinguish'd Chief,Whose Sword was never drawn in vain,
Whose Counsel can afford Relief,
The Ballance of our State maintain.
XVIII
Britannia's Case, at Home, O S---r,Regard, and sure Assistance send,
If yet, from Europe's grand Affair,
You can your godlike Thoughts unbend.
XIX
Thy Patriot-Zeal, and Conduct, nowWhen Matters at a Crisis stand,
In future Management, bestow,
O W---e, for a groaning Land.
259
XX
But ah! in vain, we look below,And Aid from mortal Hands implore;
To Pow'r superior we must go,
That, only, can our Bliss restore.
XXI
When shall Britannia see againHer Monarch come renown'd from far,
Whose Absence aggravates her Pain,
In whom her Hopes all center'd are?
XXII
Let ne'er succeeding Times record,Or neighbouring Pow'rs in Triumph boast,
That G---e, like an unfaithful Lord,
In G---y, his B---n lost.
260
XXIII
O Wales, Augustus of our Days,Vouchsafe to cast an Eye abroad,
And, by the Brightness of your Rays,
Assert your Self a second God,
XXIV
While your great Sire prolongs his StayAt Courts, less worthy present Care,
The People, you was born to sway,
To you address their ardent Pray'r.
XXV
Be it your Glory, to confoundThe Foes of Royalty, and Peace:
Make publick Credit yet renown'd,
Our Trade revive, our Murmuring cease.
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XXVI
O when, beneath Augustus' Wing,Shall Sister-Arts illustrious rise?
When shall the sacred Muses sing,
In British, as in Roman, Skies.
Poems on Several Occasions | ||