The Same Ode
Imitated.
[The Man that's resolute and just]
By William Walsh, Esq;
1
The Man that's resolute and just,
Firm to his Principles and Trust,
Nor Hopes, nor Fears, can bind:
No Passions his Designs controul;
Nor Love, that Tyrant of the Soul,
Can shake his steady Mind.
2
Nor Parties, for Revenge engag'd;
Nor Threatenings of a Court enrag'd;
Nor Storms where Fleets despair:
Not Thunder pointed at his Head;
The shatter'd World may strike him dead,
Not touch his Soul with Fear.
3
From this the Grecian Glory rose;
By this the Romans aw'd their Foes;
Of this their Poets sing:
These were the Paths their Heroes trod;
These Arts made Hercules a God,
And great Nassau a King.
4
Firm on the rolling Deck he stood,
Unmov'd he saw the breaking Flood,
With blackening Storms combine:
‘Virtue, he cry'd, will force its Way;
‘The Wind may for a while delay,
‘Not alter our Design.
5
‘The Man, whom selfish Hopes inflame,
‘Or Vanity allures to Fame,
‘May be to Fears betray'd:
‘But here a Church for Succour flies;
‘Insulted Law expiring lies,
‘And loudly calls for Aid.
6
‘Yes, Britons, yes, with ardent Zeal,
‘I come, the wounded Heart to heal,
‘The wounding Hand to bind.
‘See! Tools of arbitrary Sway,
‘And Priests, like Locusts, scour away
‘Before the Western Wind.
7
‘Law shall again her Force resume,
‘Religion, clear'd from Clouds of Rome,
‘With brighter Rays advance.
‘The British Fleet shall rule the Deep;
‘The British Youth, as rous'd from Sleep,
‘Strike Terror into France.
8
‘Nor shall these Promises of Fate
‘Be limited to my short Date;
‘When I from Cares withdraw,
‘Still shall the British Sceptre stand,
‘Still flourish in a Female Hand,
‘And to Mankind give Law.
9
‘She shall Domestic Foes unite;
‘Monarchs beneath her Flags shall fight;
‘Whole Armies drag her Chain:
‘She shall lost Italy restore,
‘Shall make th'Imperial Eagle soar,
‘And give a King to Spain.
10
‘But know, these Promises are given,
‘These great Rewards impartial Heaven
‘Does on these Terms decree;
‘That, strictly punishing Mens Faults,
‘You let their Consciences and Thoughts
‘Rest absolutely free.
11
‘Let no false Politics confine,
‘In narrow Bounds, your vast Design
‘To make Mankind unite;
‘Nor think it a sufficient Cause
‘To punish Men by penal Laws,
‘For not believing right.
12
‘Rome, whose blind Zeal destroys Mankind;
‘Rome's Sons shall your Compassion find,
‘Who ne'er Compassion knew.
‘By nobler Actions theirs condemn:
‘For what has been reprov'd in Them,
‘Can ne'er be prais'd in You.’
13
These Subjects suit not with the Lyre;
Muse! to what Height dost Thou aspire?
Pretending to rehearse
The Thoughts of Gods and godlike Kings.
Cease, cease, to lessen lofty Things
By mean ignoble Verse.
1707