Poems on Several Occasions In Two Volumes. By Mr. Joseph Mitchell |
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AN ODE To the Right Honourable Sir ROBERT WALPOLE, Knight of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath;
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 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
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AN ODE To the Right Honourable Sir ROBERT WALPOLE, Knight of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath;
On his being Elected into, and Invested with the Ensigns of, the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
Thus shall it be done to the Man, whom the King delighteth to honour.
Esther.
Esther.
I
When fam'd Eliza grac'd the Throne;And England in its Lustre shone;
A Garter'd Commoner was seen,
Whose Counsels glorify'd the Queen!
He well deserv'd the Honours, that He wore—
Honours, paid Him, honour'd his Country more.
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II
So, while great George the Scepter wields;And ev'ry Land to Britain yields;
A Commoner supports the Crown,
And gives the Nation its Renown!
What Marks of Royal Favour are too great
For this distinguish'd Atlas of our State?
III
Behold! the gracious Monarch stillPrevents our Wishes, by his Will:
Before our grateful Voice is heard,
See! He confers the due Reward.
A greater Name, than great Eliza, gives!
A greater Name, than Walsingham, receives!
IV
Walpole, all Hail! thou honour'd Knight!Thy Country's Glory and Delight!
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Thou Arbiter of Europe's Fate!
How shall thy favour'd Mitchell wish Thee Joy?
And, in what Strain, his raptur'd Muse employ?
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O cou'd I, equal to the Theme,Thy Actions, and their Springs, proclaim!
Thy matchless Eloquence display!
And sing thy Soul-endearing Way!
Faction, and Foes, and People yet to Be,
Shou'd own the Garter borrow'd Grace of Thee.
VI
Dull'd by Petitionary Lays,My Muse could never reach thy Praise;
Tho', by the Great, the Godlike Stair
Indulg'd, and tempted ev'n to dare.
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With Giant Hopes, to scale the lofty Sky!
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Let D---d---t---n, or Young, shew forth(They better can, and know) thy Worth;
What Thou, in private Life, hast done;
And how, in publick Station, shone;
What Honours got; what Glory yet remains
To crown thy Fortune, and reward thy Pains—
VIII
Methinks, the wish'd-for Time is nigh,When Thou, O Walpole, Titled high,
Shalt fix the Crowd's adoring Eyes,
As now thy Virtues charm the Wise.
How will they worship, when they view the Duke,
Who, at the Knight, with Fear and Reverence, look?
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IX
Then let the Bards thy Bounty fed,Or whom thy Praise and Friendship made,
With Strength and Skill, united, Joyn
To make thy Monument divine—
No borrowed Ornaments they need to use:
Thy native Worth will best supply the Muse.
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Upon the noble Pile of Fame,Which Others rear to Walpole's Name,
May my small Turret find a Place,
Nor to the Building bring Disgrace!
Joyn'd to their Works, how lasting wou'd it be?
How shine, when gilded with the Praise of Thee?
| Poems on Several Occasions | |