Lewesdon Hill, with other poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

When Frederic, when the Usurper turn'd
With baffled arms and insolence abash'd,
From fearless Warsaw's radiant walls,
(For, crested with the Sons of Liberty,
Then stood they fearless and secure,)
No less than was that mount in Israel once,
Where Angels rode in fiery guard

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Around the Prophet . Ever such defence
Be made for freedom, and usurpers
Abated and confounded in their pride,
As Frederic now! He, when he turn'd,
Thus gave mad utterance to his spleeny mood:—
This royal merchandise of war

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That wont to bring towns, cities, provinces,
To kings for profit, is become
A losing trade, or only serves to enrich
My shrewder neighbours, they who fight
In quarrels not their own, and wisely sell
The lives, unprofitable else,
Of their obedient multitude: but I,
Cursed be the hour I did so, I
Who had the wealthiest of the world my dupe,
England, to pay me lavish hire
For service ne'er peform'd, must needs, O fool!
To this most perilous venture run
On mine own credit: therefore am I made

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A very bankrupt; all my hopes
Of victory, dominion, fortune, fame,
All ruin'd, and my royal word,
My promises and threats alike held vile
As the vain Brunswick's menaces,
Horrible once, now laugh'd at and despised.
For who now fears me, or believes?—
But let me from this ruinous assault,
With what is left me, safe retire,
And I will yet regain the credulous ear
Of Her, whose unexhausted wealth
Exceeds all measure but her easy faith,
Good England:—O that I were now

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In England, with my royal Brother there,
Giving a false alarm in jest
To Weymouth town, and Buckinghamshire Captains .

“And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an Host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, fear not; for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw: and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” —2 Kings, ch. vi. v. 15, &c.

About the commencement of the war in 1793, the late king used to visit Weymouth for some weeks of the summer, when the Buckinghamshire militia attended his majesty as a guard of honour. It was during one of these visits that this military occurrence is reported to have taken place.