Poems on Several Occasions With Imitations from Horace, Ovid, Martial, Theocritus, Bachylides, Anacreon, &c. To which is prefix'd A Discourse on Criticism, and the Liberty of Writing. In a letter to a Friend. By Samuel Cobb ... The Third Edition. To which is added, Poems on the Duke of Marlborough, Prince Eugene, the Electoral Prince of Hannover, with other Poems. Never before Printed |
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 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
Then EUGENE thrice repuls'd, with double might
Rebounded, like Antœus, to the Fight;
Reviving, as lopp'd Elms are us'd to grow
With second Youth, and flourish from the Blow.
The Fourth Attack to his Remembrance brought,
How he at CARPI and LUZARA fought.
How, nigh the Banks of Padus swelling Flood,
He dy'd Ausonian Fields with Gallick Blood.
Then Fame appear'd, and with her gilded Dart
Began to pierce the brave Italian's Heart;
Then might you see him, like a Lion, spring
With nimble Rage, on the Bavarian Wing,
Stung with new Praise, impatient of Delay;
Not Groves of Pikes, not Showers of Fire could stay
His Latian Fortunes: Now th' Elector flies,
And to the hollow Vales for refuge cries:
Then, with the Marshal, to the Woods retreats,
To hide that Shame which every Tree repeats.
Rebounded, like Antœus, to the Fight;
Reviving, as lopp'd Elms are us'd to grow
With second Youth, and flourish from the Blow.
251
How he at CARPI and LUZARA fought.
How, nigh the Banks of Padus swelling Flood,
He dy'd Ausonian Fields with Gallick Blood.
Then Fame appear'd, and with her gilded Dart
Began to pierce the brave Italian's Heart;
Then might you see him, like a Lion, spring
With nimble Rage, on the Bavarian Wing,
Stung with new Praise, impatient of Delay;
Not Groves of Pikes, not Showers of Fire could stay
His Latian Fortunes: Now th' Elector flies,
And to the hollow Vales for refuge cries:
Then, with the Marshal, to the Woods retreats,
To hide that Shame which every Tree repeats.
Nor were we hindmost in the Course of Fame,
Nor with less Zeal pursu'd the Noble Game.
Our Left, as far as England's Sons could do,
Copy'd their Great Original in View:
Who, with his Sword, where thickest Troops ingage,
Leaves bloody Footsteps of his manly Rage.
Then for new Glory does Occasion seek,
Rallies the Routed, and Recruits the Weak.
Watchful as Eagles, when a Danger's nigh,
As quick to see it, and as swift to fly:
As brave to dare, still constant in Success;
Great in his Presence, nor in Absence less.
As Leda's Son, conceal'd from mortal Sight,
Still shines in Consort with Fraternal Light;
So in his Brother is the DUKE the same,
And Fortune flies if she hear CHURCHILL's Name.
Go, Muse, and hail him; From BLEINHEIM he comes;
Hark! how the heartning Trumpets and the Drums
Sound him Victorious! see! pale Generals yeild
Their Thousands to the Genius of the Field.
Gowram is there, and from his heap of Spoils,
Looks down, and smiles on thy officious Toils.
To him resign up thy Parnassian Care;
In Mars and Thee, he has the largest Share:
Scarce can we know in which he does excel,
So bravely will he Fight, and Sing so well.
Should kind Bellona so much leisure give,
(If in his Verse they could obtain to live)
Heroes contented would receive their Doom,
And march unmourn'd, and joyful to the Tomb.
Nor with less Zeal pursu'd the Noble Game.
252
Copy'd their Great Original in View:
Who, with his Sword, where thickest Troops ingage,
Leaves bloody Footsteps of his manly Rage.
Then for new Glory does Occasion seek,
Rallies the Routed, and Recruits the Weak.
Watchful as Eagles, when a Danger's nigh,
As quick to see it, and as swift to fly:
As brave to dare, still constant in Success;
Great in his Presence, nor in Absence less.
As Leda's Son, conceal'd from mortal Sight,
Still shines in Consort with Fraternal Light;
So in his Brother is the DUKE the same,
And Fortune flies if she hear CHURCHILL's Name.
253
Hark! how the heartning Trumpets and the Drums
Sound him Victorious! see! pale Generals yeild
Their Thousands to the Genius of the Field.
Gowram is there, and from his heap of Spoils,
Looks down, and smiles on thy officious Toils.
To him resign up thy Parnassian Care;
In Mars and Thee, he has the largest Share:
Scarce can we know in which he does excel,
So bravely will he Fight, and Sing so well.
Should kind Bellona so much leisure give,
(If in his Verse they could obtain to live)
Heroes contented would receive their Doom,
And march unmourn'd, and joyful to the Tomb.
Now go, where Death, upon the smoky Plain,
Grins, eminent o'er Mountains of the Slain;
There sure, and only there, may WOOD be found,
With Blood and Carcasses incompass'd round:
WOOd us'd to Danger, but unus'd to fear,
Equal as Justice, and as Truth sincere.
No braver Man e'er drew an English Sword,
None truer to his Country, and his Word.
Grins, eminent o'er Mountains of the Slain;
254
With Blood and Carcasses incompass'd round:
WOOd us'd to Danger, but unus'd to fear,
Equal as Justice, and as Truth sincere.
No braver Man e'er drew an English Sword,
None truer to his Country, and his Word.
Could I but promise my Poetick Page,
Would reach the Heroes of a future Age,
Palmes, Wilkins, Ingoldsby, and North should shine,
With Webb and Orkney, in my deathless Line.
Would reach the Heroes of a future Age,
Palmes, Wilkins, Ingoldsby, and North should shine,
With Webb and Orkney, in my deathless Line.
But the DUKE calls: What Dangers does he court!
War has been gamesom yet, and seem'd to sport;
For now broke loose from all her brazen Chains,
O'er rising Mountains, and o'er subject Plains.
The Fury strides abroad, and Abitrary reigns.
Fear in the Front, her sure Fore-runner, goes,
And grisly Death behind whole Squadrons mows:
Twice Fifteen Hundred gallant Youths, as brave
As France could boast, (which might a Nation save
From gaping Ruin, nor have mist Success;
Had Holy ANNA's Piety been less,
Or less the Hero's Valour.) These in vain
Of their despair'd and hapless Fate complain.
QUEEN ANN, we cry, QUEEN ANN, the Vales resound;
To Heav'n loud Peals ascend, and Æther wound.
Terribly loud our Acclamations drove
The frighted Foes below, and Clouds above.
Here Angels throw Distraction, as they fled,
There dart new Beams upon the General's Head:
Who now, collected in himself, was seen;
His Laurels, amidst all the Thunder, Green.
Where shall the routed Horse Protection find,
Before them Water, and the Fire behind?
Between two Elements amaz'd they stood,
Till headlong push'd, they flounce and plunge tho rapid Flood.
Tallard alone, of all his Strength forsook,
Bows to the Greater Genius of the DUKE.
Surprizing Horrour in the rest appears,
Nor can the bravest Heart conceal his Fears;
Nor can they thus their sudden Fate prevent,
By trusting to a milder Element.
For bright Asariel, (who, by Heaven's Decree,
Can bind the Floods, or set their Torrents free;
At whose Command the Surges of the Deep,
Awaken'd, bellow, or retire to sleep;
Thus to Danubius spoke; Erect thy Head,
Thou Ancient River, from thy sedgy Bed.
See! where the florid boast of Gallick Pride
Disturbs thy Waters, and insults thy Tide
Call all thy Springs and Fountains to thy Aid,
Lest meaner Rivers thy weak force upbraid:
With thy whole strength surround thy destin'd Prey,
And imitate old Kishon's sweepy way.
Vain all their graceful Looks! nor shall the sight
Of dazling Arms prevail, nor valour fright:
If they attempt with feeble Hands to row,
Swell o'er their Heads, and plunge them deep below!
No mourning Friends their Bodies shall inter,
Be thou their Winding sheet, and Sepulcher.
War has been gamesom yet, and seem'd to sport;
For now broke loose from all her brazen Chains,
O'er rising Mountains, and o'er subject Plains.
The Fury strides abroad, and Abitrary reigns.
255
And grisly Death behind whole Squadrons mows:
Twice Fifteen Hundred gallant Youths, as brave
As France could boast, (which might a Nation save
From gaping Ruin, nor have mist Success;
Had Holy ANNA's Piety been less,
Or less the Hero's Valour.) These in vain
Of their despair'd and hapless Fate complain.
QUEEN ANN, we cry, QUEEN ANN, the Vales resound;
To Heav'n loud Peals ascend, and Æther wound.
Terribly loud our Acclamations drove
The frighted Foes below, and Clouds above.
Here Angels throw Distraction, as they fled,
There dart new Beams upon the General's Head:
Who now, collected in himself, was seen;
His Laurels, amidst all the Thunder, Green.
256
Before them Water, and the Fire behind?
Between two Elements amaz'd they stood,
Till headlong push'd, they flounce and plunge tho rapid Flood.
Tallard alone, of all his Strength forsook,
Bows to the Greater Genius of the DUKE.
Surprizing Horrour in the rest appears,
Nor can the bravest Heart conceal his Fears;
Nor can they thus their sudden Fate prevent,
By trusting to a milder Element.
For bright Asariel, (who, by Heaven's Decree,
Can bind the Floods, or set their Torrents free;
At whose Command the Surges of the Deep,
Awaken'd, bellow, or retire to sleep;
Thus to Danubius spoke; Erect thy Head,
Thou Ancient River, from thy sedgy Bed.
257
Disturbs thy Waters, and insults thy Tide
Call all thy Springs and Fountains to thy Aid,
Lest meaner Rivers thy weak force upbraid:
With thy whole strength surround thy destin'd Prey,
And imitate old Kishon's sweepy way.
Vain all their graceful Looks! nor shall the sight
Of dazling Arms prevail, nor valour fright:
If they attempt with feeble Hands to row,
Swell o'er their Heads, and plunge them deep below!
No mourning Friends their Bodies shall inter,
Be thou their Winding sheet, and Sepulcher.
Danubius heard, and with Impetuous rore
Collecting strength, lash'd the resounding shore.
The Warry War begins: With boiling wroth
He urges forward his Victorious Froth
The proud Gensd Arms, who hop'd their Lives to save,
And find protection from the fleeting Wave;
Deluded thus, in wild confusion swim,
And with vain blows afflict the passive Stream.
The River then, discharging on his Foes,
Mud, Sand, and Stones, his whole Artillery throws
From his vex'd bottom; some with violent strokes
He head long bears; some with hurl'd Gravel chokes:
With idle Swords some think to ward the blow,
Of billows breaking on their Heads below;
Others, despairing, rowl their ghastly Eyes
Tow'rds highest Heav'n and blame the cruel Skies.
Collecting strength, lash'd the resounding shore.
The Warry War begins: With boiling wroth
He urges forward his Victorious Froth
The proud Gensd Arms, who hop'd their Lives to save,
And find protection from the fleeting Wave;
Deluded thus, in wild confusion swim,
258
The River then, discharging on his Foes,
Mud, Sand, and Stones, his whole Artillery throws
From his vex'd bottom; some with violent strokes
He head long bears; some with hurl'd Gravel chokes:
With idle Swords some think to ward the blow,
Of billows breaking on their Heads below;
Others, despairing, rowl their ghastly Eyes
Tow'rds highest Heav'n and blame the cruel Skies.
Mean time the generous Horse of Warlike strain,
Unus'd to trample on the Liquid Plain,
Fearfully neighs; the Silver foam around
Snorting against the Banks, the Banks resound.
Till vainly fretting in his martial Breast,
A Mountain-Wave o'erwhelms the Noble Beast.
He and his Rider drown; the following weight
Of slain oppress them, and ensure their Fate.
For our quick shot, pour'd from the River's brink
Sends Crowds below; they now by hundreds sink;
While frequent Carcasses, and Foam, and Blood,
(A horrid mixture) fattens all the Flood.
Unus'd to trample on the Liquid Plain,
Fearfully neighs; the Silver foam around
Snorting against the Banks, the Banks resound.
Till vainly fretting in his martial Breast,
A Mountain-Wave o'erwhelms the Noble Beast.
He and his Rider drown; the following weight
Of slain oppress them, and ensure their Fate.
For our quick shot, pour'd from the River's brink
Sends Crowds below; they now by hundreds sink;
259
(A horrid mixture) fattens all the Flood.
Wives for their Husbands, Mothers for their Sons,
At home lament in never-ceasing Moans;
The tender Virgins for their Lovers weep,
Who under Hills of noisy Waters sleep,
No Earth their Bones preserves; no Urns their Ashes keep.
In troubled Mud they perish and consume,
And heaps of Billows are their flowing Tomb.
At home lament in never-ceasing Moans;
The tender Virgins for their Lovers weep,
Who under Hills of noisy Waters sleep,
No Earth their Bones preserves; no Urns their Ashes keep.
In troubled Mud they perish and consume,
And heaps of Billows are their flowing Tomb.
Hear, O Bavarian Licus, as you swell
Danubius, say how thy false Master fell.
Bear it to Dravus, let Tibiscus hear,
And sound it in the Transilvanian's Ear:
Tell him, whose Squadrons, trusting to the Wave,
Their fancied Friend, obtain'd a real Grave.
Tell him, that Princes, who on France rely,
Thus seek their Ruin, who for Refuge fly.
Danubius, say how thy false Master fell.
Bear it to Dravus, let Tibiscus hear,
And sound it in the Transilvanian's Ear:
Tell him, whose Squadrons, trusting to the Wave,
Their fancied Friend, obtain'd a real Grave.
Tell him, that Princes, who on France rely,
Thus seek their Ruin, who for Refuge fly.
260
But if the World by Tyranny opprest,
Begins to Groan, and heave its throbbing Breast;
If the sad Sound reach ANNA's pitying Ear,
Be still, ye Nations, and forget to fear.
If Empires, mourn, Her MARLBOROUGH is sent,
To stop their Tears; and calm the Continent.
If the wrong'd Austrian to Her Standard run,
She saves the Father, and enthrones the Son.
If we below Storm some important Fort,
She scales the Skies above, and shakes the Heav'nly Court.
Where'er the Wretched for Her Succour call,
The Equall Mother is alike to All;
Not raw in ills, nor ignorant of Grief,
She spreads Her Wings abroad, and sends Relief;
Her Colours fly, where they ne'er flew before,
Fierce Quarrels to decide, and Right restore.
If, when repairing to Imperial Aid,
The Bloody Cross of England is display'd,
On the Moselle, the Danube, or the Rhine,
Descending Angels bless the sacred Sign,
And happy Omens give, as once to Constantine;
When proud Maxentius with his Hellish Crew,
The new born Christian into Tyber threw.
Begins to Groan, and heave its throbbing Breast;
If the sad Sound reach ANNA's pitying Ear,
Be still, ye Nations, and forget to fear.
If Empires, mourn, Her MARLBOROUGH is sent,
To stop their Tears; and calm the Continent.
If the wrong'd Austrian to Her Standard run,
She saves the Father, and enthrones the Son.
If we below Storm some important Fort,
She scales the Skies above, and shakes the Heav'nly Court.
Where'er the Wretched for Her Succour call,
The Equall Mother is alike to All;
Not raw in ills, nor ignorant of Grief,
She spreads Her Wings abroad, and sends Relief;
Her Colours fly, where they ne'er flew before,
Fierce Quarrels to decide, and Right restore.
If, when repairing to Imperial Aid,
The Bloody Cross of England is display'd,
261
Descending Angels bless the sacred Sign,
And happy Omens give, as once to Constantine;
When proud Maxentius with his Hellish Crew,
The new born Christian into Tyber threw.
Now weary Death's Commission was expir'd,
And the Pale Glutton with the DUKE, retir'd;
War's Trumpet to Retreat was softly blown,
When Fame began to rattle with her own:
From th' obscure Village of Bleinheim she came;
(Obscure of old but now a noted Name)
Then o'er high Hills, o'er Seas, o'er Earth she flew;
Her Voice grew louder, as her Motion grew.
As smother'd Flames in nightly embers sleep,
When wretched Man Morphean Fetters keep,
Till bursting forth the secret Robber preys
On Houses first, then Towns in Ruin lays,
While forward Winds assist the waken'd Blaze:
Or as when Eurus, or when Auster pent
In subterranean Caverns, strain for vent;
Till, with soft Whispers breaking into Birth,
They roar, inlarg'd, and shake the frighted Earth.
Such Rumour was; so shook the Skies around;
The vaulted Skies rebellow'd with the sound.
Then from their Toils below, the Guardian Host
With Sailing wings made for the Starry Coast:
And there recounted how obedient They
Discharg'd the Business of th' Important Day.
Heav'n with repeated Hallelujah's rung,
And Saints the Triumphs of God's Vengeance sung;
They sung the Arrows from his angry Bow,
Wet with the Blood of Tyranny below.
How, for their Prince's crime, his awful Might
Tumbles proud Empires from their Airy height.
How Kingdoms flourish where good Monarchs sway,
Who Rule, like ANNA, and like ANNA, Pray.
And the Pale Glutton with the DUKE, retir'd;
War's Trumpet to Retreat was softly blown,
When Fame began to rattle with her own:
From th' obscure Village of Bleinheim she came;
(Obscure of old but now a noted Name)
Then o'er high Hills, o'er Seas, o'er Earth she flew;
Her Voice grew louder, as her Motion grew.
As smother'd Flames in nightly embers sleep,
When wretched Man Morphean Fetters keep,
Till bursting forth the secret Robber preys
On Houses first, then Towns in Ruin lays,
While forward Winds assist the waken'd Blaze:
262
In subterranean Caverns, strain for vent;
Till, with soft Whispers breaking into Birth,
They roar, inlarg'd, and shake the frighted Earth.
Such Rumour was; so shook the Skies around;
The vaulted Skies rebellow'd with the sound.
Then from their Toils below, the Guardian Host
With Sailing wings made for the Starry Coast:
And there recounted how obedient They
Discharg'd the Business of th' Important Day.
Heav'n with repeated Hallelujah's rung,
And Saints the Triumphs of God's Vengeance sung;
They sung the Arrows from his angry Bow,
Wet with the Blood of Tyranny below.
How, for their Prince's crime, his awful Might
Tumbles proud Empires from their Airy height.
How Kingdoms flourish where good Monarchs sway,
Who Rule, like ANNA, and like ANNA, Pray.
263
Surely the Father of all Power design'd
That softest Image of His Heavenly Mind,
To still the jarring World, and bless Mankind.
Ah happy Albion! cou'dst Thou justly prize
So great a Gift, and Favour of the Skies,
Nor Hell, not France should baffle a design
Form'd by a Senate, and a Queen, like Thine:
A Queen, who moves Heaven's Everlasting Throne,
To hear whose Voice fair Angels stop their own.
If future Victories thou mean'st to prove,
She speaks Below the Dialect Above.
Let all your Courage, all your Counsels fall
On proud Castile, and yet unhumbled Gaul;
Let not that Bane of Nations, Strife and Pride,
Or in your Senate or your Hearts reside.
Bethesda's Stream should now be calm and Cool,
Expect no second Angel at the Pool.
In the vext Spring no Vertue is conceal'd,
The Waters were but once disturb'd, and heal'd.
United Minds alone can France defeat,
Her Armies vanquish, and her Navy beat.
That softest Image of His Heavenly Mind,
To still the jarring World, and bless Mankind.
Ah happy Albion! cou'dst Thou justly prize
So great a Gift, and Favour of the Skies,
Nor Hell, not France should baffle a design
Form'd by a Senate, and a Queen, like Thine:
A Queen, who moves Heaven's Everlasting Throne,
To hear whose Voice fair Angels stop their own.
If future Victories thou mean'st to prove,
She speaks Below the Dialect Above.
Let all your Courage, all your Counsels fall
On proud Castile, and yet unhumbled Gaul;
Let not that Bane of Nations, Strife and Pride,
Or in your Senate or your Hearts reside.
Bethesda's Stream should now be calm and Cool,
Expect no second Angel at the Pool.
In the vext Spring no Vertue is conceal'd,
The Waters were but once disturb'd, and heal'd.
264
Her Armies vanquish, and her Navy beat.
So shall Your Admirals by Sea prevail,
So shall conspiring Winds on every Sail,
Blow with a gentle and propitious Gale.
So Frightning Drake's, and Raleighs, shall be seen,
When Rooks, and Shovels plough the Watry Green
Alcides, blushing, shall behold them go
Beyond his Pillars, and his Toils out do.
So shall conspiring Winds on every Sail,
Blow with a gentle and propitious Gale.
So Frightning Drake's, and Raleighs, shall be seen,
When Rooks, and Shovels plough the Watry Green
Alcides, blushing, shall behold them go
Beyond his Pillars, and his Toils out do.
So Glorious Duke, when in th' approaching Year
Thy Arms and Fortunes shall in France appear;
Plantagenets shall thy Attendants be,
And New Black Princes, shall arise in thee.
I see their Angels hover o'er thy Head,
And Ancient Vertue rising from the Dead.
Heav'n shall for Thee such Miracles produce,
And Fate confirms the Promise of the Muse.
Thy Arms and Fortunes shall in France appear;
Plantagenets shall thy Attendants be,
And New Black Princes, shall arise in thee.
I see their Angels hover o'er thy Head,
And Ancient Vertue rising from the Dead.
Heav'n shall for Thee such Miracles produce,
And Fate confirms the Promise of the Muse.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |