The Poetical Entertainer Or, Tales, Satyrs, Dialogues, And Intrigues, &c. Serious and Comical. All digested into such Verse as most agreeable to the several Subjects. To be publish'd as often as occasion shall offer [by Edward Ward] |
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A Congratulatory Poem to a certain Gentleman lately Honour'd by Her Majesty.
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 | The Poetical Entertainer |  |
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A Congratulatory Poem to a certain Gentleman lately Honour'd by Her Majesty.
When Storms arise, and all above looks dark,
And Rocks and Shelves surround the rowling Bark,
The Sailors grow dispirited with fear,
Till Stars auspicious do aloft appear,
And peeping through the breaking Clouds portend
The threat'ning Tempest to be near its end;
Then comforted with hopes they boldly steer,
And Joy to think fair Weather is so near.
And Rocks and Shelves surround the rowling Bark,
The Sailors grow dispirited with fear,
Till Stars auspicious do aloft appear,
And peeping through the breaking Clouds portend
The threat'ning Tempest to be near its end;
Then comforted with hopes they boldly steer,
And Joy to think fair Weather is so near.
So when a sinking Nation dreads her Doom,
'Twixt Enemies abroad and worse at home,
Dejected Thousands look, alas, dismay'd,
To see their Country beggar'd and betray'd,
Reflect on past Prosperity with pain,
And mov'd by present Fears aloud complain.
But when such Stars, such Patriots as you,
To the Throne Loyal, to your Country True,
Arise in Glory and adorn the Stage,
Your gen'rous Smiles a happy Change presage,
And in the midst of Danger let us see
The glimm'rings of a near Prosperity;
Such as revive a Nation in distress,
Enlarge our Hopes and make our Suff'rings less,
At such a time when blended Factions grin
And labour to prolong the bloody Scene.
But Royal Anna's Wisdom, and the Care
Of that Great Man her chosen Minister,
Back'd by such Friends as you, still give us hopes,
And if they fail our Constitution drops:
But all the wond'rous Steps already made,
Shew the Foundation of the Structure laid
With so much Art and Strength, that 'twill sustain
The greatest Work of Anna's glorious Reign;
A Work that must successfully go on,
Since Heav'n itself hath fix'd the Corner-Stone;
For, tho' unfinish'd, we may see there's more
Of God in e'ery Stroke than humane Pow'r.
So Prophets, when inspir'd with Pens divine,
Almighty Dictates shew in e'ery Line.
Nor could the Gracious Queen vouchsafe her Friends
A greater Instance of the Glorious Ends
Her Royal English Heart has now in view,
Than in the Honour she's conferr'd on You;
Who need no gaudy Herald to proclaim,
Or artful Tongue to magnify your Fame:
No Poet's Pen to set your Vertues forth,
Your Actions have enough confirm'd your Worth:
Your Hospitable House, where Plenty flows,
At once your Bounty and Discretion shows:
Your wise Deportment in your present Trust,
Declares you Gen'rous, Circumspect and Just.
The late great Honour to your Merits done,
Bears witness of your Duty to the Throne,
Whilst the whole Conduct of your Life defies
The Malice of your Whiggish Enemies;
And by Reverberation wounds the Hearts
Of Faction with their own ill-natur'd Darts;
As the firm Rock rebounds the Pebble-stone,
Against the Breast of him by whom 'twas thrown.
'Twixt Enemies abroad and worse at home,
Dejected Thousands look, alas, dismay'd,
To see their Country beggar'd and betray'd,
Reflect on past Prosperity with pain,
And mov'd by present Fears aloud complain.
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To the Throne Loyal, to your Country True,
Arise in Glory and adorn the Stage,
Your gen'rous Smiles a happy Change presage,
And in the midst of Danger let us see
The glimm'rings of a near Prosperity;
Such as revive a Nation in distress,
Enlarge our Hopes and make our Suff'rings less,
At such a time when blended Factions grin
And labour to prolong the bloody Scene.
But Royal Anna's Wisdom, and the Care
Of that Great Man her chosen Minister,
Back'd by such Friends as you, still give us hopes,
And if they fail our Constitution drops:
But all the wond'rous Steps already made,
Shew the Foundation of the Structure laid
With so much Art and Strength, that 'twill sustain
The greatest Work of Anna's glorious Reign;
A Work that must successfully go on,
Since Heav'n itself hath fix'd the Corner-Stone;
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Of God in e'ery Stroke than humane Pow'r.
So Prophets, when inspir'd with Pens divine,
Almighty Dictates shew in e'ery Line.
Nor could the Gracious Queen vouchsafe her Friends
A greater Instance of the Glorious Ends
Her Royal English Heart has now in view,
Than in the Honour she's conferr'd on You;
Who need no gaudy Herald to proclaim,
Or artful Tongue to magnify your Fame:
No Poet's Pen to set your Vertues forth,
Your Actions have enough confirm'd your Worth:
Your Hospitable House, where Plenty flows,
At once your Bounty and Discretion shows:
Your wise Deportment in your present Trust,
Declares you Gen'rous, Circumspect and Just.
The late great Honour to your Merits done,
Bears witness of your Duty to the Throne,
Whilst the whole Conduct of your Life defies
The Malice of your Whiggish Enemies;
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Of Faction with their own ill-natur'd Darts;
As the firm Rock rebounds the Pebble-stone,
Against the Breast of him by whom 'twas thrown.
May all your Loyal Wishes come to pass,
And downy Peace instead of War take place,
That the proud Whigs, those Vultures in disguise,
Who always threaten Mischief when they rise,
May perch no more on Churches, prey on Kings,
But droop their Heads and hang their soaring Wings;
And Loyal Worthies, like yourself, who scorn,
For Ill-got Wealth, to serve a Factious Turn;
B'enabl'd to recover, e're too late,
Their bleeding Country from a wretched State,
That when a glorious Peace is well secur'd,
And Men of Worth shall only be impowr'd,
In London the Pretorian Chair may prove
Your least Great Honour, and your next Remove.
And downy Peace instead of War take place,
That the proud Whigs, those Vultures in disguise,
Who always threaten Mischief when they rise,
May perch no more on Churches, prey on Kings,
But droop their Heads and hang their soaring Wings;
And Loyal Worthies, like yourself, who scorn,
For Ill-got Wealth, to serve a Factious Turn;
B'enabl'd to recover, e're too late,
Their bleeding Country from a wretched State,
That when a glorious Peace is well secur'd,
And Men of Worth shall only be impowr'd,
In London the Pretorian Chair may prove
Your least Great Honour, and your next Remove.
May the Fair Partner of your Cares and Joys,
Happy in you, and you in such a Choice,
All Honours, Comforts, and Enjoyments share,
Due to the Vertues of so blest a Pair;
That neither may determine whose Delights
Are most compleat, the Lady's or the Knight's;
But both from all Indispositions free,
Maintain the ballance of Felicity,
And to a pitch of such Contentment rise,
That you may turn this World to Paradise,
And taste of Heav'n before you mount the Skies.
Happy in you, and you in such a Choice,
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Due to the Vertues of so blest a Pair;
That neither may determine whose Delights
Are most compleat, the Lady's or the Knight's;
But both from all Indispositions free,
Maintain the ballance of Felicity,
And to a pitch of such Contentment rise,
That you may turn this World to Paradise,
And taste of Heav'n before you mount the Skies.
| The Poetical Entertainer | |