 | [Upon Prince Madoc's Expedition ... , in] The American Weekly Mercury. No. 739 |  |
Upon Prince Madoc's Expedition to the Country now called America, in the 12th Century.
Humbly inscrib'd to the worthy Society of Ancient Britons, meeting at Philadelphia, March the 1st, 1733–4.
Fama volet Madoci viresque acquirat eundo.
While other Bards of Grecian Heroes treat,
Or Roman Arms, or Saxon Worth repeat,
Or of Cadwallader, or Arthur tell,
Or on Saint David's fam'd Atcheivements dwell;
Attempt my Muse, to quit the noted Throng,
And after Madoc soar in loftier Song.
Or Roman Arms, or Saxon Worth repeat,
Or of Cadwallader, or Arthur tell,
Or on Saint David's fam'd Atcheivements dwell;
Attempt my Muse, to quit the noted Throng,
And after Madoc soar in loftier Song.
Had Madoc reign'd, when Cæsar first came o're,
And pitch'd his Standard on the British Shore,
Britain by Rome had (doubtless) ne'er been gain'd,
And Rome 'gainst Cæsar would her Rights maintain'd;
His Courage would have worsted Cæsar's skill,
As Lions rows'd the subt'list Huntsmen kill.
He'd not have shun'd, but scorn'd the Roman stroke,
And made the noblest use of British Oak.
He'd not have sculk'd in Forests when pursu'd,
But built a Fleet, and Cæsars Fleet subdu'd.
Neglecting Civil Wars and Gallic Foes
Cæsar's proud Spirit would have Madoc chose.
With such a Rival long would Cæsar fight,
But fall at last by his superior Might;
Yet by such Fall would greater Glory bought,
Than all the Honour that his Vict'ries got,
Had Britain then (as since but seiz'd the Main,
Cæsar and all the World might strive in vain.
And pitch'd his Standard on the British Shore,
Britain by Rome had (doubtless) ne'er been gain'd,
And Rome 'gainst Cæsar would her Rights maintain'd;
His Courage would have worsted Cæsar's skill,
As Lions rows'd the subt'list Huntsmen kill.
He'd not have shun'd, but scorn'd the Roman stroke,
And made the noblest use of British Oak.
He'd not have sculk'd in Forests when pursu'd,
But built a Fleet, and Cæsars Fleet subdu'd.
Neglecting Civil Wars and Gallic Foes
Cæsar's proud Spirit would have Madoc chose.
With such a Rival long would Cæsar fight,
But fall at last by his superior Might;
Yet by such Fall would greater Glory bought,
Than all the Honour that his Vict'ries got,
Had Britain then (as since but seiz'd the Main,
Cæsar and all the World might strive in vain.
If Hannibal gave Rome so Sore a blow,
And Triumphs reap'd on Alpine Rocks and Snow;
What would not Madoc's Peerless Force have done!
On raging Seas what Trophies would he won!
Who first this unknown Indian World survey'd,
Repas'd, return'd and conquer'd, undismay'd;
Defied the Terrors of the stormy Flood,
And fought his Way thro' Swamps of Savage Blood;
Then fixt his People in the promis'd Land,
As Israels Sons were led by Joshua's Hand.
And Triumphs reap'd on Alpine Rocks and Snow;
What would not Madoc's Peerless Force have done!
On raging Seas what Trophies would he won!
Who first this unknown Indian World survey'd,
Repas'd, return'd and conquer'd, undismay'd;
Defied the Terrors of the stormy Flood,
And fought his Way thro' Swamps of Savage Blood;
Then fixt his People in the promis'd Land,
As Israels Sons were led by Joshua's Hand.
Above Confinement in the Worlds old Bound,
New Realms he sought, and what he sought he found.
No common Rule could satiate his Soul,
(A Soul by Nature fram'd above controul)
But with the Sun he round the Ocean hurl'd,
And to himself engross'd a new-found-World:
Yet this without the Magnet's Help he did,
When Arts in Vice and Ignorance were hid.
New Realms he sought, and what he sought he found.
No common Rule could satiate his Soul,
(A Soul by Nature fram'd above controul)
But with the Sun he round the Ocean hurl'd,
And to himself engross'd a new-found-World:
Yet this without the Magnet's Help he did,
When Arts in Vice and Ignorance were hid.
Without, distress'd by conq'ring Henry's Wars,
At Home forsaken by fraternal Jars,
He thought, (which would have Archimedes crown'd)
But he both thought, and prov'd, The World was round,
Then he infer'd that there must surely be
Vast Tracts of Land beyond the Spherick sea;
Where he might Barb'rous Nations overcome,
And by his Sword obtain a Better Home;
Where he with Conquests might his Valour fill,
And found an Empire spacious as his Will.
At Home forsaken by fraternal Jars,
He thought, (which would have Archimedes crown'd)
But he both thought, and prov'd, The World was round,
Then he infer'd that there must surely be
Vast Tracts of Land beyond the Spherick sea;
Where he might Barb'rous Nations overcome,
And by his Sword obtain a Better Home;
Where he with Conquests might his Valour fill,
And found an Empire spacious as his Will.
The Hero thought, and to Perfection brought,
What only he could do, that only thought.
On like Adventures later Kings have sent;
But Madoc would not send to search but went.
What only he could do, that only thought.
On like Adventures later Kings have sent;
But Madoc would not send to search but went.
The nimble Stag by Hounds and Horn deter'd,
And beat from Shelter by the treach'rous Herd,
Collecting all his Spirits leaps the Pales,
And reigns in safety in the senceless Dales.
From bit'rest Plants the Bee her Honey stills;
And with rich Stores her new built City fills.
Deep under-Ground rich Mines of Gold are laid,
From roughest Stones the polish'd Diamond's made.
The violent Force of harden'd Steel gives vent
To hidden Fires within the Flint-stone pent.
Distress and Toil from Madoc thus drew forth
The glorious Treasures of his innate Worth.
And beat from Shelter by the treach'rous Herd,
Collecting all his Spirits leaps the Pales,
And reigns in safety in the senceless Dales.
From bit'rest Plants the Bee her Honey stills;
And with rich Stores her new built City fills.
Deep under-Ground rich Mines of Gold are laid,
From roughest Stones the polish'd Diamond's made.
The violent Force of harden'd Steel gives vent
To hidden Fires within the Flint-stone pent.
Distress and Toil from Madoc thus drew forth
The glorious Treasures of his innate Worth.
No more let Babylon of Wonders boast;
Let Persian Feats in this Eclipse be lost;
Though Alexander fills the highest Chair,
And to the second Cæsar does repair,
(This by himself, That by Historians plac'd,)
When Honor's Table's with their Presence grac'd;
Where other Greek and Roman Heroes meet,
And as they merit, take their proper Seat;
Yet will The Welch-man (to the Worlds surprise)
In State triumphant far above them rise;
For they ALL ent'ring at the common Gate,
Meet but with Pref'rence of the second Rate;
But HE th' Herculian Pillars first remov'd,
Which to the REST too hard a Task had prov'd;
And then by Means peculiarly his own;
Shot the Atlantick Gulphs and Storm'd Renown;
Thus having burst Fame's strong but private Door,
He'll seise her Throne, which none durst touch before.
Let Persian Feats in this Eclipse be lost;
Though Alexander fills the highest Chair,
And to the second Cæsar does repair,
(This by himself, That by Historians plac'd,)
When Honor's Table's with their Presence grac'd;
Where other Greek and Roman Heroes meet,
And as they merit, take their proper Seat;
Yet will The Welch-man (to the Worlds surprise)
In State triumphant far above them rise;
For they ALL ent'ring at the common Gate,
Meet but with Pref'rence of the second Rate;
But HE th' Herculian Pillars first remov'd,
Which to the REST too hard a Task had prov'd;
And then by Means peculiarly his own;
Shot the Atlantick Gulphs and Storm'd Renown;
Thus having burst Fame's strong but private Door,
He'll seise her Throne, which none durst touch before.
Were Homer now alive to hear of this,
He'd write his Madocks, burn his Odysses.
Could Virgil live his Æneads he'd surpess,
And Madoc's Prowess in Heroics dress.
Had we a Miltons Genius to rehearse
Great Madoc's mighty Deeds in English Verse;
The new-gain'd World would be a proper Thing,
To add to what that PRINCE of BARDS did sing.
He'd write his Madocks, burn his Odysses.
Could Virgil live his Æneads he'd surpess,
And Madoc's Prowess in Heroics dress.
Had we a Miltons Genius to rehearse
Great Madoc's mighty Deeds in English Verse;
The new-gain'd World would be a proper Thing,
To add to what that PRINCE of BARDS did sing.
For what great Ends of Fate he did embark,
(As faithful Noah went on board his Ark,)
Why like the Patriarch laugh'd at for his Scheme,
The Tides of Providence the Prince did stem;
Why Britons, thus transported, were conceal'd;
Why still preserv'd unmixt, is not reveal'd;
But Time (perhaps) the Cause hereof will show,
Which now th' Omniscient Powr's alone do know.
From sacred Writ; and Reasons Laws we're taught,
That GOD ne'er brings to pass such Things for nought.
Cyrus, and Alexander, Cæsar too,
Their bold Exploits for Ends of Fate did do:
Whence we conclude that Madoc acted thus,
For some great Ends of GOD unknown to us,
Though if by past Events we may presume,
To trace the Workings of Almighty Doom;
We may infer, that Madoc's wond'rous Deed
For some such noble Uses was decreed;
As by choice ancient Writings to confate
The Whims, for which the Scepticks now dispute;
Or by the help of this old British Nation,
To shew the Salvages the Lords Salvation;
And by their BRAVE Assistance to augment
The ENGLISH EMPIRE with this Continent.
(As faithful Noah went on board his Ark,)
Why like the Patriarch laugh'd at for his Scheme,
The Tides of Providence the Prince did stem;
Why Britons, thus transported, were conceal'd;
Why still preserv'd unmixt, is not reveal'd;
But Time (perhaps) the Cause hereof will show,
Which now th' Omniscient Powr's alone do know.
From sacred Writ; and Reasons Laws we're taught,
That GOD ne'er brings to pass such Things for nought.
Cyrus, and Alexander, Cæsar too,
Their bold Exploits for Ends of Fate did do:
Whence we conclude that Madoc acted thus,
For some great Ends of GOD unknown to us,
Though if by past Events we may presume,
To trace the Workings of Almighty Doom;
We may infer, that Madoc's wond'rous Deed
For some such noble Uses was decreed;
As by choice ancient Writings to confate
The Whims, for which the Scepticks now dispute;
Or by the help of this old British Nation,
To shew the Salvages the Lords Salvation;
And by their BRAVE Assistance to augment
The ENGLISH EMPIRE with this Continent.
Tho' this Encomium's short of Madoc's Praise,
As much as Sternhold wants of Brady's Bays;
Yet Madoc's boundless Fame will never dye,
But fly, and flourish, as it still shall fly.
As much as Sternhold wants of Brady's Bays;
Yet Madoc's boundless Fame will never dye,
But fly, and flourish, as it still shall fly.
Content no longer with one Champions Name,
Let Cambria's Sons this Hero's Feats proclaim,
And to SAINT DAVIDS joyn PRINCE MADOC's Fame.
Let Cambria's Sons this Hero's Feats proclaim,
And to SAINT DAVIDS joyn PRINCE MADOC's Fame.
Philo Cambrensis.
Jun. 29. 1733–4.
| [Upon Prince Madoc's Expedition ... , in] The American Weekly Mercury. No. 739 | |