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. |
BRITANNIA'S GHOST
TO THE
EARL OF BATH. |
 | II. |
| III. |
 | The Works of the Right Honourable Sir Chas. Hanbury Williams |  |
209
BRITANNIA'S GHOST TO THE EARL OF BATH.
WHILE Pultney, seeking lost repose,
His downy pillow prest;
Fresh horrors in his soul arose,
And further banish'd rest.
His downy pillow prest;
Fresh horrors in his soul arose,
And further banish'd rest.
For, lo, Britannia by his side,
All ghastly pale and wan,
Thus in deep doleful accent cry'd;
“Oh, base perfidious man!
All ghastly pale and wan,
Thus in deep doleful accent cry'd;
“Oh, base perfidious man!
“How can'st thou hope that balmy sleep
“Should close thy guilty eyes;
“When all Britannia's sons must weep
“Her fall'n thy sacrifice.
“Should close thy guilty eyes;
“When all Britannia's sons must weep
“Her fall'n thy sacrifice.
210
“Long had she trusted to thine aid,
“Against her bosom foe;
“Depending on the vows you made,
“To ward the fatal blow.
“Against her bosom foe;
“Depending on the vows you made,
“To ward the fatal blow.
“Hence she each traitor had supprest,
“Or boldly had defy'd;
“Till leaning on her Guardian's breast,
“His treacherous arm she spy'd.
“Or boldly had defy'd;
“Till leaning on her Guardian's breast,
“His treacherous arm she spy'd.
“‘And art thou Pultney?’ said she, ‘fie!
“‘Thou of the traitor crew!
“‘Nay, brave Cæsar like I'll die,
“‘Since Brutus lives in you.’
“‘Thou of the traitor crew!
“‘Nay, brave Cæsar like I'll die,
“‘Since Brutus lives in you.’
“But, oh, why must Britannia bleed,
“To sate Ambition's flame;
“Ah, titles thence you'll gain indeed,
“But gain with endless shame.
“To sate Ambition's flame;
“Ah, titles thence you'll gain indeed,
“But gain with endless shame.
“How can you e'er atonement make,
“For all your broken vows?—
“Why, cancel your late grand mistake,
“Her interest to espouse.
“For all your broken vows?—
“Why, cancel your late grand mistake,
“Her interest to espouse.
211
“So shall her genius yet revive,
“You barter guilt for fame;
“She shall revere you when alive,
“When dead, adore your name.”
“You barter guilt for fame;
“She shall revere you when alive,
“When dead, adore your name.”
“Ah! too,” he said, “too false I've prov'd,
“Too fickle vile a thing,
“Ever to be sincerely loved,
“By Country, Court, or King.”
“Too fickle vile a thing,
“Ever to be sincerely loved,
“By Country, Court, or King.”
Hereat the spectre disappear'd,
But Conscience in its stead;
Dire cursing legions quickly reared,
Round his devoted head.
But Conscience in its stead;
Dire cursing legions quickly reared,
Round his devoted head.
Then to his wife he, raving, cried,
“Thou daughter of perdition;
“Britannia's ruin'd by thy pride;
“I'm damn'd by thy ambition.”
“Thou daughter of perdition;
“Britannia's ruin'd by thy pride;
“I'm damn'd by thy ambition.”
| The Works of the Right Honourable Sir Chas. Hanbury Williams | |