The Works of the Right Honourable Sir Chas. Hanbury Williams ... From the Originals in the Possession of His Grandson The Right Hon. The Earl of Essex and Others: With Notes by Horace Walpole ... In Three Volumes, with Portraits |
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| I. |
AN ODE,
HUMBLY INSCRIBED TO THE
RIGHT HONOURABLE
WILLIAM EARL OF BATH:
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| II. |
| III. |
 | The Works of the Right Honourable Sir Chas. Hanbury Williams |  |
190
AN ODE, HUMBLY INSCRIBED TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE WILLIAM EARL OF BATH:
April 1743.
WHEN last I sung, I promis'd then,
If Clio smil'd, to write again,
Reflection to renew;
And by this Ode my lord you'll find,
Tho' you break yours with all mankind,
I keep my word with you.
If Clio smil'd, to write again,
Reflection to renew;
And by this Ode my lord you'll find,
Tho' you break yours with all mankind,
I keep my word with you.
And sure the most judicious muse,
A prop'rer theme could never chuse,
To answer her intention:
Each day so variously you act,
She's never at a loss for fact,
Or tortur'd for invention.
A prop'rer theme could never chuse,
To answer her intention:
Each day so variously you act,
She's never at a loss for fact,
Or tortur'd for invention.
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But do aspiring thoughts return,
And does again ambition burn,
Would the dead embers blaze?
And dar'st thou hope that courts or pow'r,
Thy reputation can restore,
Or thy sunk credit raise?
And does again ambition burn,
Would the dead embers blaze?
And dar'st thou hope that courts or pow'r,
Thy reputation can restore,
Or thy sunk credit raise?
'Tis av'rice prompts you, but in vain,
You strive that Treasury to regain,
Which you let slip last year;
To that, while yet his country's friend,
Th' unspotted Comm'ner might pretend,
But not the tainted peer.
You strive that Treasury to regain,
Which you let slip last year;
To that, while yet his country's friend,
Th' unspotted Comm'ner might pretend,
But not the tainted peer.
For who'll confirm the high-flown choice,
Do you expect the people's voice,
Will the court do the thing?
No; by your own superior parts,
Tho' you have lost the people's hearts,
You have not gain'd the King.
Do you expect the people's voice,
Will the court do the thing?
No; by your own superior parts,
Tho' you have lost the people's hearts,
You have not gain'd the King.
On what foundation would'st thou stand?
Who will reach out a helping hand?
We ne'er can trust you more;
And Walpole's party won't forget,
The urger of their leader's fate,
The spoiler of his pow'r.
Who will reach out a helping hand?
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And Walpole's party won't forget,
The urger of their leader's fate,
The spoiler of his pow'r.
Hopes of success you see are vain,
And would'st thou launch thy bark again,
In the decline of life?
From whence can all this madness flow?
These are the counsels of some foe,
Or of that friend, your wife.
And would'st thou launch thy bark again,
In the decline of life?
From whence can all this madness flow?
These are the counsels of some foe,
Or of that friend, your wife.
'Tis she presents you with the views
Her av'rice paints, say, knowing muse,
Thou'rt not afraid to tell it;
'Tis she that thinks (mistaken dame)
You've still some remnant left of fame,
And prudently would sell it.
Her av'rice paints, say, knowing muse,
Thou'rt not afraid to tell it;
'Tis she that thinks (mistaken dame)
You've still some remnant left of fame,
And prudently would sell it.
But should compliance still prevail,
And you set up yourself to sale,
Her sage advice to follow;
From ev'ry side you'll meet disgrace,
The King won't buy you with a place,
The people with a hollo!
And you set up yourself to sale,
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From ev'ry side you'll meet disgrace,
The King won't buy you with a place,
The people with a hollo!
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