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To his Grace the Duke of Marlborough
on his late Successes in Flanders, 1706.
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 | Poems on Affairs of State |  |
77
To his Grace the Duke of Marlborough on his late Successes in Flanders, 1706.
While you, my Lord, with an extensive Hand,
O'er distant Provinces hold wide Command,
Mean are those Honours which the Muse can give,
That in your Name alone aspires to live.
She sees with Rapture your Victorious Arms,
The Dawn of Liberty's transporting Charms;
Tries her young Pinions, and would soar on high,
But dazzl'd, downward is compell'd to fly.
Yet who in silence can such Blessings share!
Thanks to the Gods a pleasing Tribute are.
Thrice happy Britain! Favourite of Heav'n!
To whom th'Almighty's righteous Hand has giv'n
A Queen, from Ages rolling down design'd
To break our Chains, and bless undone Mankind.
She was that Godlike Boon reserv'd in Store,
When e'er he should Nassau to Heav'n restore.
O'er distant Provinces hold wide Command,
Mean are those Honours which the Muse can give,
That in your Name alone aspires to live.
She sees with Rapture your Victorious Arms,
The Dawn of Liberty's transporting Charms;
Tries her young Pinions, and would soar on high,
But dazzl'd, downward is compell'd to fly.
Yet who in silence can such Blessings share!
Thanks to the Gods a pleasing Tribute are.
Thrice happy Britain! Favourite of Heav'n!
To whom th'Almighty's righteous Hand has giv'n
A Queen, from Ages rolling down design'd
To break our Chains, and bless undone Mankind.
She was that Godlike Boon reserv'd in Store,
When e'er he should Nassau to Heav'n restore.
And now impatient to discharge her Trust,
She bids the Sword shake off its slavish Rust;
Each Warlike Instrument obeys her Will,
As you, my Lord, command to save, or kill.
O'er all the Confines of the Christian World,
As Light'ning swift, her dread Commands are hurl'd.
Three mighty People rais'd from sad Distress,
The Po, the Danube, and the Rhine confess:
But where She does a nearer Friendship own,
She there in Plenty pours her Blessings down.
Replete with Joy, the grateful Dutch shall tell,
How Antwerp, Brussels, mighty Menin fell.
Those Towns which late, like an impending Storm,
Did all the Neighb'ring Provinces alarm,
Do now their Peace, their Liberty confirm.
She bids the Sword shake off its slavish Rust;
Each Warlike Instrument obeys her Will,
As you, my Lord, command to save, or kill.
O'er all the Confines of the Christian World,
As Light'ning swift, her dread Commands are hurl'd.
Three mighty People rais'd from sad Distress,
The Po, the Danube, and the Rhine confess:
But where She does a nearer Friendship own,
She there in Plenty pours her Blessings down.
Replete with Joy, the grateful Dutch shall tell,
How Antwerp, Brussels, mighty Menin fell.
78
Did all the Neighb'ring Provinces alarm,
Do now their Peace, their Liberty confirm.
Oft have Batavia's Sons our Queens implor'd,
As oft have known their sinking State restor'd:
When lab'ring under Alva's heavy Yoke
Eliza freed them, and their Bondage broke:
Again preserv'd by ANNA's Arms they rise,
And vanquish'd France forsakes the glorious Prize.
As oft have known their sinking State restor'd:
When lab'ring under Alva's heavy Yoke
Eliza freed them, and their Bondage broke:
Again preserv'd by ANNA's Arms they rise,
And vanquish'd France forsakes the glorious Prize.
In vain had Industry inlarg'd that Land,
Which Nature gave with a penurious Hand;
In vain all Arts they 'gainst the Waves explore,
Should Tyranny insult their wretched Shore.
Crown'd with Success, to curb the Seas they strive,
But can no Limits to Ambition give.
Nor shall Batavia feel alone that Influence,
Which Anna does by Churchil's Hand dispense:
Europe and all her grateful Sons shall tell,
By what Illustrious Chief proud Gallia fell;
How great her Danger, sudden her Relief,
Britannia's Glory, and the Tyrant's Grief.
Which Nature gave with a penurious Hand;
In vain all Arts they 'gainst the Waves explore,
Should Tyranny insult their wretched Shore.
Crown'd with Success, to curb the Seas they strive,
But can no Limits to Ambition give.
Nor shall Batavia feel alone that Influence,
Which Anna does by Churchil's Hand dispense:
Europe and all her grateful Sons shall tell,
By what Illustrious Chief proud Gallia fell;
How great her Danger, sudden her Relief,
Britannia's Glory, and the Tyrant's Grief.
Naked and bound Andromeda thus lay,
To the Sea's foulest Monster meant a Prey,
Nor Tears nor Pray'rs defer the fatal Day.
See! the Devourer from afar appears,
And his huge Crest above the Billows rears;
To either Shore the frighten'd Ocean flies,
And far above their Brim the Surges rise.
Look down O Ammon! See the wretched Maid!
Relent, ye Pow'rs, and send a Godlike Aid:
Our Vows are heard, the Gods a Hero give,
And the releas'd Andromeda shall live.
To the Sea's foulest Monster meant a Prey,
Nor Tears nor Pray'rs defer the fatal Day.
See! the Devourer from afar appears,
And his huge Crest above the Billows rears;
To either Shore the frighten'd Ocean flies,
And far above their Brim the Surges rise.
Look down O Ammon! See the wretched Maid!
Relent, ye Pow'rs, and send a Godlike Aid:
Our Vows are heard, the Gods a Hero give,
And the releas'd Andromeda shall live.
| Poems on Affairs of State | |