 | War |  |
1
THE Argument.
Whilst others (in heroic, lofty verse)Great Fred'rick's name and Fred'rick's praise rehearse,
Mine be the task the English war to sing,
Great Britain's heroes, and Great Britain's king.
By arms and battles gloriously inspir'd,
(Replete with joy, with rapt'rous ardour fir'd)
I trace grim death, and our triumphant bands;
Thro' Indian, African, and Gallic lands;
Where Englishmen, at martial glory's call,
Throng to the war, and scourge the plotting Gaul!
There Caledonians, (dreadful in their arms!)
Rush fearless on, 'midst battle's loud alarms:
Thro' ranks of bay'nets, pikes, and hostile flame,
They hew the glorious path, to deathless fame!
Hibernians brave! with emulating glow!
Charge, pierce, repel, and chase the vanquish'd foe!
O'er ocean's space, my fancy wings its way;
Where George, the second, rules with sov'reign sway:
Thro' Neptune's realm, pursues our dauntless tars,
'Midst blust'ring storms, and dreadful naval wars!
The genius of the nation, rous'd once more,
With vengeful thunder arm'd, they shake the Gallic shore!
George, William, Edward, swell the lofty strain;
George, who commands upon the azure main.
Like these, the lordly lions speed their way;
The sire first roars, then sends his cubs to prey.
Next these stands rank'd the skillful Ligonier!
In battle brave! and to his sov'reign dear!
At Dettingen, (like Hector in the field,)
Hibernia's, boast; Britannia's faithful shield!
Fierce in assault! (when young) matur'd with age,
A hoary hero! and a warlike sage!
Our patriots names, and merits, I proclaim.
To decorate the great heroic theme!
Who stand unshock'd, amidst the glorious cause:
The Gallic dread! the props of British laws.
Their souls, their sentiments, and their desires,
Incorporate, and mix like two bright flaming fires.
Boscawen, Amherst, Hawke, (our Bulwark strong,)
Clive, Monckton, Saunders, grace the martial song!
Brave Townshend's worth I sing: who fiercely fought!
And seiz'd the palm a dying victor sought!
There Barrington, with Murray, brightly shines!
Marsh, Mason's, Sayer's names adorn the lines!
Holmes, Hardy, Watson, Pocock, honour claim,
Who gain'd in distant lands immortal fame!
Baird, Howe , Speke, Lockhart, Keppel are inroll'd,
Rivals in fame, and naval warriors bold!
All who engag'd, where Hawke to conquest flew,
Are register'd, with their encomiums due.
With those, whose arms, the burnish'd broad swords weild;
Macpherson, Fraser, Howe the terrors of the field:
Burton, whose soul is full of active zeal!
Dalling, and Ince, who fought for Britain's weal,
Each soldier signaliz'd, each daring tar!
(The light'nings! and the thunder bolts of war!)
Thro' glory's paths, I ardently pursue!
But only write, what they alone can do.
Like radiant Sol, when at meridian height,
The heroes blaze with self-efulgent light.
I sing how Wolfe, the faithless foe engag'd!
How, where he led, the battle fiercely rag'd!
The havoc of his war! the mould'ring walls!
Quebec's, Cape Breton's fate; the conquer'd Gauls!
His warlike deeds, no doubt, you'll all approve,
Whom vanquish'd foes admire! and conq'ring: Britain's love!
By bloody toils, he earn'd, on hostile ground,
That honour great; with which his mem'ry's crown'd!
In Britain's cause, (amid the martial strife,)
He fought! he conquer'd! and resign'd his life!
So Sampson flung proud Dagon's temple down!
Gain'd glorious death! and conquest & renown
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