The Fanciad An Heroic Poem. In Six Cantos. To His Grace the Duke of Marlborough, On The Turn of His Genius to Arms [by Aaron Hill] |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. | CANTO V. |
| VI. |
 | The Fanciad |  |
37
CANTO V.
Long, sigh'd the Genius, thoughtfully begloom'd;
At length, broke Silence; and her Theme resum'd.
At length, broke Silence; and her Theme resum'd.
Dread, what you heard, my Sons! and shun this Doom
Of Greece, rich Carthage, and all conqu'ring Rome.
Let your near Danger, now 'tis past, be known!
Th'impending Suff'ring was design'd your own!
Yes, Boaster France! had'st thou but known thy Day;
Known, where thy Strength, eluded Samson, lay:
Known, what resistless Odds, in War, befriend
The Sons of Steel, where Slaves of Gold contend;
Abstemious Patience Pride's great Work had done;
Commerce had still been lost—but Empire won!
Of Greece, rich Carthage, and all conqu'ring Rome.
Let your near Danger, now 'tis past, be known!
Th'impending Suff'ring was design'd your own!
Yes, Boaster France! had'st thou but known thy Day;
Known, where thy Strength, eluded Samson, lay:
Known, what resistless Odds, in War, befriend
The Sons of Steel, where Slaves of Gold contend;
Abstemious Patience Pride's great Work had done;
Commerce had still been lost—but Empire won!
38
(Heav'n!) to my frighted Fancy, let me paint
What, late, France was—then, boast her tim'd Restraint!
Twenty prompt Millions press'd her peopled Plains;
Who fed no Factions; and who felt no Chains:
Despotic Pow'r grew there, in plaintless Soil;
Peasants, who sung, in Want; and danc'd, in Toil!
Dependent Nobles, fir'd for martial Fame:
A Church, All linking to one Sov'reign Claim.
Her Sons too poor for Pride, too fierce for Trade:
Her King, too stor'd, to need a Merchant's Aid!
What, late, France was—then, boast her tim'd Restraint!
Twenty prompt Millions press'd her peopled Plains;
Who fed no Factions; and who felt no Chains:
Despotic Pow'r grew there, in plaintless Soil;
Peasants, who sung, in Want; and danc'd, in Toil!
Dependent Nobles, fir'd for martial Fame:
A Church, All linking to one Sov'reign Claim.
Her Sons too poor for Pride, too fierce for Trade:
Her King, too stor'd, to need a Merchant's Aid!
Vast, and self-mov'd, on came this Giant Soul!
Each Part connected, to propel the Whole:
For Conquest apt, and panting to begin:
And bursting ev'ry Rein, that held her in.
I saw th'all-daring Pow'r! Too near, she stood:
Hung o'er her Cliffs, and darken'd Half my Flood!
—Is there, I cry'd, in vast Ambition's Walk,
No dim proud Corner, where Mistake might stalk?
With fancy'd Forms, to scare misjudging Sight,
Till Shade seem Substance, and Deception Light?
There is!—Blind Envy shall contend, to share
Disputed Commerce—and enervate War:
Bloat humble Want, to wealthy Discontent:
Feed Strength, to Weakness: and give Faction Vent:
Till fading Lilies, by rank Weeds, o'ergrown,
The Priest's false Step shall shake the Prince's Throne.
Each Part connected, to propel the Whole:
For Conquest apt, and panting to begin:
And bursting ev'ry Rein, that held her in.
I saw th'all-daring Pow'r! Too near, she stood:
Hung o'er her Cliffs, and darken'd Half my Flood!
—Is there, I cry'd, in vast Ambition's Walk,
No dim proud Corner, where Mistake might stalk?
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Till Shade seem Substance, and Deception Light?
There is!—Blind Envy shall contend, to share
Disputed Commerce—and enervate War:
Bloat humble Want, to wealthy Discontent:
Feed Strength, to Weakness: and give Faction Vent:
Till fading Lilies, by rank Weeds, o'ergrown,
The Priest's false Step shall shake the Prince's Throne.
In Heav'n's kind Ear, I lodg'd th'accepted Pray'r:
(Still reigns my Marlbro's living Influence there!)
Walking, with Seraph Pow'rs, th'eternal Round,
Th'immortal Captain caught th'imploring Sound:
Where, on War's Theme, with Michael, he conferr'd,
And Cæsar's silent Soul, attentive, heard.
Strait, from unbounded Voids of azure Light,
Where Spirits, freed from Flesh, and bleach'd from Night,
Gliding, from Sun to Sun, new Worlds survey,
That roll, by Millions, and adorn their Way:
Th'all-rev'renc'd Leader call'd a wily Mind,
That left all Tinge of bodied Flegm behind;
One, that had Popes and Jesuits Ardour fir'd;
And slow-soul'd Mufties solemn Spleens inspir'd:
Now, stript and naked, skimm'd th'eternal Space,
Anxious for Office, and in Wait, for Place.
Go, cry'd the Voice Seraphic, faithful! try'd!—
In Fleury's brainy Cells, thy Entrance hide:
Heedful attend, where Thought's dim Embryos lie:
Fan the speck'd Fire—but bend its Flame awry.
Lure him th'Effects of pow'rful Wealth to dread:
And to try'd Traffick turn the Frenchman's Head.
(Still reigns my Marlbro's living Influence there!)
Walking, with Seraph Pow'rs, th'eternal Round,
Th'immortal Captain caught th'imploring Sound:
Where, on War's Theme, with Michael, he conferr'd,
And Cæsar's silent Soul, attentive, heard.
Strait, from unbounded Voids of azure Light,
Where Spirits, freed from Flesh, and bleach'd from Night,
Gliding, from Sun to Sun, new Worlds survey,
That roll, by Millions, and adorn their Way:
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That left all Tinge of bodied Flegm behind;
One, that had Popes and Jesuits Ardour fir'd;
And slow-soul'd Mufties solemn Spleens inspir'd:
Now, stript and naked, skimm'd th'eternal Space,
Anxious for Office, and in Wait, for Place.
Go, cry'd the Voice Seraphic, faithful! try'd!—
In Fleury's brainy Cells, thy Entrance hide:
Heedful attend, where Thought's dim Embryos lie:
Fan the speck'd Fire—but bend its Flame awry.
Lure him th'Effects of pow'rful Wealth to dread:
And to try'd Traffick turn the Frenchman's Head.
THERE! conqu'ring Guardian, of thy Country's Fame!
Bless'd be thy Spirit! deathless be thy Name!
There sprung the Mine, shall cost th'unwary Foe
A hundred Blenheims, in one, peaceful, Blow!
Bless'd be thy Spirit! deathless be thy Name!
There sprung the Mine, shall cost th'unwary Foe
A hundred Blenheims, in one, peaceful, Blow!
Now, Seas and Lands, Gaul's grasping Talon strains:
And rich Obstruction cloggs her tumid Veins.
Bound down to Av'rice, and improv'd, for Prey,
Terror shall hesitate Resolves away:
Reclaim of Rights revolt each stubborn Town,
And slic'd Exemptions lop the curtail'd Crown:
Heavy, on slow, chock'd, Wheels, th'encumber'd State
Shall drag stretch'd Faction's all-retarding Weight.
And rich Obstruction cloggs her tumid Veins.
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Terror shall hesitate Resolves away:
Reclaim of Rights revolt each stubborn Town,
And slic'd Exemptions lop the curtail'd Crown:
Heavy, on slow, chock'd, Wheels, th'encumber'd State
Shall drag stretch'd Faction's all-retarding Weight.
O, Policy! short-sighted Shade of Skill!
How small thy Grasp is! how immense, thy Will!
Who weigh'd the Weakness, of this dreaded Man?
Who mark'd, his Purpose blasted, by his Plan?
How have rash Kings concurr'd, to swell thy Fame,
Calm Fleury!—how be-gemm'd thy faded Name!
Blind to thy Scheme's Event, they fail'd to see
Republics rais'd on ruin'd Monarchy:
Fail'd to foremark th'exalted Peasant's Tread,
High in Trade's Sandals, o'er the Noble's Head:
And this fear'd Priest—prais'd Idol, of an Hour!
With nurs'd Rebellion, blast his Prince's Pow'r!
How small thy Grasp is! how immense, thy Will!
Who weigh'd the Weakness, of this dreaded Man?
Who mark'd, his Purpose blasted, by his Plan?
How have rash Kings concurr'd, to swell thy Fame,
Calm Fleury!—how be-gemm'd thy faded Name!
Blind to thy Scheme's Event, they fail'd to see
Republics rais'd on ruin'd Monarchy:
Fail'd to foremark th'exalted Peasant's Tread,
High in Trade's Sandals, o'er the Noble's Head:
And this fear'd Priest—prais'd Idol, of an Hour!
With nurs'd Rebellion, blast his Prince's Pow'r!
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So fall the lazy Logs, that load a Throne;
Lump Lords, of All Mens Passions, but their own!
Whose truant 'Scape from Care conceives no Storm,
Till the Waves reach them, and the Winds deform:
Then start they, half awake! stare, stamp, and rail;
Void and tempestuous, as th' o'ertaking Gale!
Fierce, in hot Fright, unhelm one erring Tool:
And, to new Masters, put their Faith to School.
Lump Lords, of All Mens Passions, but their own!
Whose truant 'Scape from Care conceives no Storm,
Till the Waves reach them, and the Winds deform:
Then start they, half awake! stare, stamp, and rail;
Void and tempestuous, as th' o'ertaking Gale!
Fierce, in hot Fright, unhelm one erring Tool:
And, to new Masters, put their Faith to School.
Hail, my sav'd Sons!—now, smile at threat'ning France,
Declin'd for ever, by misjudg'd Advance!
One glitt'ring Weakness light'ning both your Scales,
Quarrel secure, while neither's Weight prevails:
By one false Maxim, two fierce Nations cool'd—
That War's tough Sinews owe their Strength to Gold!
Trite Blindness!—Thousand falling States shall feel,
No Pow'r can e'er want Gold, whose Nerves are Steel.
This, Rome's old Gen'rals, born for Conquest, knew:
For whome, unsown, Earth's hostile Harvests grew.
This, knew lean Hunns, devouring Rome's Increase!
This, Greeks in Persia knew: and Turks, in Greece.
This, Goth Gustavus, meas'ring German Soil:
And All, th'un-number'd Wasters, paid by Spoil.
Declin'd for ever, by misjudg'd Advance!
One glitt'ring Weakness light'ning both your Scales,
Quarrel secure, while neither's Weight prevails:
By one false Maxim, two fierce Nations cool'd—
That War's tough Sinews owe their Strength to Gold!
Trite Blindness!—Thousand falling States shall feel,
No Pow'r can e'er want Gold, whose Nerves are Steel.
This, Rome's old Gen'rals, born for Conquest, knew:
For whome, unsown, Earth's hostile Harvests grew.
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This, Greeks in Persia knew: and Turks, in Greece.
This, Goth Gustavus, meas'ring German Soil:
And All, th'un-number'd Wasters, paid by Spoil.
O, Trade! fair Dalilah!—thy wanton Charms
Bind lap-laid Slumb'rers, while thy Fear disarms!
How sweet thy Smile! how dazzling is thy Glare!
Witchcraft thy Accents! Paradise thy Air!
Yet, weak'ning Wantonness thy Slaves destroys:
Nerveless thy Vot'ries! indolent thy Joys!
Sunk, and absorb'd, within thy soft Embrace,
Pants the lull'd Virtue, and forgets Disgrace.—
With Sense, too abject, and with Claim, too proud,
Thou shrink'st the Noble: and thou swell'st the Crowd.
Too tasteful Those, to leave luxurious Seats,
For Sun-burnt Marches, or for Sea-shook Fleets!
And These too want-less, to be train'd to Awe;
Where Mobs make Magistrates, and Brib'ry Law!
Bind lap-laid Slumb'rers, while thy Fear disarms!
How sweet thy Smile! how dazzling is thy Glare!
Witchcraft thy Accents! Paradise thy Air!
Yet, weak'ning Wantonness thy Slaves destroys:
Nerveless thy Vot'ries! indolent thy Joys!
Sunk, and absorb'd, within thy soft Embrace,
Pants the lull'd Virtue, and forgets Disgrace.—
With Sense, too abject, and with Claim, too proud,
Thou shrink'st the Noble: and thou swell'st the Crowd.
Too tasteful Those, to leave luxurious Seats,
For Sun-burnt Marches, or for Sea-shook Fleets!
And These too want-less, to be train'd to Awe;
Where Mobs make Magistrates, and Brib'ry Law!
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Unmark'd, these Remoras, close-cleaving, deep,
Hang on War's Motions, and retard her Sweep:
But Time's slow Scythe th'encumber'd Keel shall free,
Point the strait Course, and smooth th'obstructed Sea.
Thou, Faction! Head by Head, sop-silenc'd, fast,
Shalt rest thy Heels; and fold thy Arms at last!
Then, un-impeded Councils, lab'ring long,
Shall hit that Martial Medium, safely strong:
Where Trade, War, Pow'r, and Freedom, cen'tring, meet!
—A skill'd Militia! and a Guardian Fleet!
Hang on War's Motions, and retard her Sweep:
But Time's slow Scythe th'encumber'd Keel shall free,
Point the strait Course, and smooth th'obstructed Sea.
Thou, Faction! Head by Head, sop-silenc'd, fast,
Shalt rest thy Heels; and fold thy Arms at last!
Then, un-impeded Councils, lab'ring long,
Shall hit that Martial Medium, safely strong:
Where Trade, War, Pow'r, and Freedom, cen'tring, meet!
—A skill'd Militia! and a Guardian Fleet!
Till then—(long, intervening Shades I see!)
Darkness and Diffidence require not Me.
Farewel—your Howl shall break my Rest no more.
Bawl—till Sleep's destin'd Gag suspends your Roar.
Darkness and Diffidence require not Me.
Farewel—your Howl shall break my Rest no more.
Bawl—till Sleep's destin'd Gag suspends your Roar.
Here stopp'd the Genius.—Three wip'd Tears she shed:
And Clouds descending veil'd her tow'ry Head.
Three times, she sigh'd: then, lost, in slow Descent,
Sunk, thro' th'embracing Surge's press'd Extent:
Strait, dull, surrounding Flatness smooth'd the Deep;
Hush'd Winds, half whisp'ring, lull Design to sleep;
Fat stagnant Reeks unbrace reposing Air.
Wide, o'er Armenian Hills, flew frighted Care.
Happy Content saw Fame's close Curtain drawn:
And Three stretch'd Nations shar'd one pangless Yawn.
And Clouds descending veil'd her tow'ry Head.
Three times, she sigh'd: then, lost, in slow Descent,
Sunk, thro' th'embracing Surge's press'd Extent:
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Hush'd Winds, half whisp'ring, lull Design to sleep;
Fat stagnant Reeks unbrace reposing Air.
Wide, o'er Armenian Hills, flew frighted Care.
Happy Content saw Fame's close Curtain drawn:
And Three stretch'd Nations shar'd one pangless Yawn.
| The Fanciad | |