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 |  |
Painful thy task, O Bard, to sing
Of danger to our much-loved King,
Yet pleasure every heart must feel to know
That Providence averts each nearly fatal blow:
See, with a parent leader's pride,
Round his brave troops the Monarch ride;
From some fell tube the leaden death,
Which clse had robb'd our Sire of breath,
By heaven's kind aid is turn'd aside:
Scarce had the sun that memorable day
On ocean's surface ceas'd to play,
When, as his people's shouts their Sovereign hail,
They see a desp'rate hand his life assail;
Yes, while surrounded by each dearest friend,
Wife, children, all that love and friendship blend,
His family of Britons mark'd how near
The King of terrors,—while with doubt and fear
All were impress'd, save one, that one was he
Who knew not but he yet might be
The victim of a fatal shot reserved;
Yes, George, by interposing heav'n preserved,
With confidence, as brave as mild,
Bow'd to his people, sigh'd, and smiled!
Made the assassin's safety first his care,
And bade his guards the unhappy maniac spare.
Of danger to our much-loved King,
Yet pleasure every heart must feel to know
That Providence averts each nearly fatal blow:
See, with a parent leader's pride,
Round his brave troops the Monarch ride;
From some fell tube the leaden death,
271
By heaven's kind aid is turn'd aside:
Scarce had the sun that memorable day
On ocean's surface ceas'd to play,
When, as his people's shouts their Sovereign hail,
They see a desp'rate hand his life assail;
Yes, while surrounded by each dearest friend,
Wife, children, all that love and friendship blend,
His family of Britons mark'd how near
The King of terrors,—while with doubt and fear
All were impress'd, save one, that one was he
Who knew not but he yet might be
The victim of a fatal shot reserved;
Yes, George, by interposing heav'n preserved,
With confidence, as brave as mild,
Bow'd to his people, sigh'd, and smiled!
Made the assassin's safety first his care,
And bade his guards the unhappy maniac spare.
| A Metrical History of England | |