Poems on Several Occasions by Samuel Wesley. The Second Edition, with Additions |
 |
To the Right Honourable the EARL of OXFORD, On His Birth-Day.
|
 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
110
To the Right Honourable the EARL of OXFORD, On His Birth-Day.
A PINDARICK ODE
I
What Genius in the Bard must glow,Who soars a Birth-day to adorn?
Since what so frequent can we know,
Except to die, as to be born?
No vulgar Subject should inspire,
No grov'ling Artist tune the Lyre.
II
Low Ballad pictures to our EyesGeorge the Champion of our Land;
Nor can a Monarch higher rise,
Sculptur'd by a meaner Hand.
For Fate no human Pow'r can stay,
Oblivion sweeps the worthless Ode away;
Scarce in twelve Months conceiv'd, it hardly lives a Day.
III
No Romish Saint awakes my String,True Protestant the Lyre;
Nor need I Laurel from a King
To light Poetick Fire:
Words spontaneous dance along,
Fly, for OXFORD is the Song.
111
I
No Levellers in Pindar's DaysHad found that Pedigree was vain,
Nobility of antient Race
Has often claim'd his Lyrick Strain:
Mankind aright he understood,
Nor idly parted Great and Good.
II
'Tis little Fame Confinement bears,Pent in scanty Place or Time;
That sees not Centuries of Years,
Prison'd in its native Clime.
Or ever Norman William came,
In France illustrious flourish'd Harlay's Name;
Foes in Satire write, mistaking it for Shame.
III
Let Herald's Art with busy CareTrace Heroes through the Line;
'Tis Their's Time's Ruin to repair,
But to prevent it Mine.
One alone my Verse shall call,
One suffices for them all:
I
Who, chosen by his Country, fill'd,And worthy fill'd the Speaker's Chair;
To guide the various Senate skill'd,
Nor knew to lose a Question there:
Unbyas'd and undaunted found,
To chuse and to maintain his Ground.
112
II
Whom ever-glorious Anna chose,(Anna lov'd by God and Man!)
To calm the Rage of Foreign Foes,
Foes domestick to restrain;
Make warring Kings her Ballance own,
Give great Alcides' Straits to Britain's Crown,
Bid Austria's Eagle stoop, and lay the Thunder down.
III
Fortune in vain his Virtue crost,Conspicuous in the Tow'r;
Blest with what others cannot boast
In Plenitude of Power;
Blest, when seemingly undone,
In Himself and in his Son.
I
The Life this Birth-day gave his Heir,However late, too soon must end;
But Honour bright, and Virtue fair,
Can never to the Grave descend:
These still will shine to future Eyes,
'Till Learning and 'till Wisdom dies.
II
Our Tongue, tho' sensible and strong,Græcian Harmony denies,
Unable high as Pindar's Song
Or Amphion's Harp to rise.
Musick, 'tis said, the Stones could call,
Musick forbad the House when built to fall,
Less was the Pow'r that rais'd than that preserv'd the Wall.
113
III
If Oxford's Glory and his Sire'sUnequally I sing;
If loftier Numbers it requires,
And asks a stronger Wing;
Who t' adorn their Fame shall strive?
Who! while Pope is yet alive?
| Poems on Several Occasions | |