Poems on Several Occasions :: :: University of Virginia Library

No! not through envious Time's continued Course
Not ev'ry Age degenerates from the past;
Whether for Toils of War and rugged Force,
Or Arts, whose fair Memorials ever last.

II

Tho' twice the Strength in Diomede appear,
That Heroes Nerves, when Homer liv'd, could show;
Tho' Turnus hurl'd a Rock, half-dead with Fear,
Which Twelve selected Romans could not throw.

III

Tho' blind Mæonides unmatch'd displays
His Fire, and Pindar scarce 'till Cowley known;
Tho' Antient Pyramids and Temples raise,
And Græcians wake to Life the breathing Stone.

IV

When wild Octavius, in Augustus lost,
Bless'd his Italians with a Golden Reign,
What Worthies rise, their Country's happy Boast,
The Dignity of Nature to maintain!

272

V

The Soul's whole Vigour Cæsar's Smiles forth call,
And glorious Genii round his Empire sprung;
Vitruvius nobly plan'd the pillar'd Wall,
And with immortal Grandeur Maro sung.

VI

Again Hesperia rises to Renown,
And Tyber's Sons again bright Honour share,
When Leo bounteous wore the Triple Crown,
A better Sov'reign than a Prelate far.

VII

Then Raphael's all-creating Art appear'd,
Rival to Nature, and shall live as long:
Then from her Trance old Poesy uprear'd,
Inspir'd her Vida with a Christian Song.

VIII

Nor wants illustrious Names my Country dear,
Where pious Anne and learn'd Eliza reign'd.
Lo! Tudors and Plantagenets appear,
And Charles the Martyr consecrates the Land.

IX

In Stuart's Age what Merit claims the Lyre,
While Halcyon Years with cloudless Splendor run?
See! Jones's Piles immortalize the Sire;
Hark! Siren Dryden warbles to the Son.

X

What Heroines attend Britannia's Throne,
Thy Pencil's Pride, Vandike, or Lely thine?
Nor Oglethorpe with meanest Lustre shone,
But asks the loftiest and the strongest Line.

273

XI

Augustan Court, when Oglethorpe was there,
Scene of the brightest Wits, and brightest Eyes!
Among the fairest not disown'd for Fair,
Among the wisest ever own'd as Wise.

XII

Her constant Soul, unwarp'd by sunny Rays,
Convey'd no Poison to her Prince's Ear;
But Truths, while Faction stamps, and Cringers gaze,
She only dar'd to speak, and He to hear.

XIII

'Mong many faithless, strictly faithful found,
'Mong many daily wav'ring, still the same:
Prudent to chuse, and wise to keep her Ground,
Nor brib'd, nor sooth'd, nor frighted from her Aim.

XIV

Heaven's Rod afflictive prov'd her Virtue's Pow'r,
In Storms as well as Calms too quickly try'd;
Sleepless She guards her Sov'reign's dying Hour,
Nor starts a Moment from his honour'd Side.

XV

Charles to no Saint his dying Soul commends,
Nor owns Conversion to the Papal Sway;
No Romish Priest, no Huddleston attends,
With useless Unction, his expiring Clay.

XVI

'Twas this unfault'ring, unappall'd She spoke,
When Ideot Jesuits spur'd with headlong Reign.
But when weak Rulers press their Iron Yoke,
Sure Way to lose is meriting to gain.

274

XVII

Thrown from her Place, from Royal Favour thrown,
A Fall more grievous to a gen'rous Mind,
This Truth, tho' grating, She persists to own,
And mocks the Violence of th' adverse Wind.

XVIII

When o'er her Master's Head the Clouds grew black,
And prosp'rous William reach'd his happy Port,
When Summer Flies by Swarms their Lord forsake,
She joins uncourtly to the falling Court.

XIX

Can publick Good on private Guilt rely?
Can worst Ingratitude from Conscience spring?
Then well-paid Veterans from their Chief may fly,
And pension'd Fav'rites may desert their King.

XX

Not wise Nassau her stubborn Duty charm'd,
Not all His mighty Spirit Her's controll'd;
She scorns his Anger, tho' with Legions arm'd,
Rejects his Bounty, and derides his Gold.

XXI

Fit Consort for her Spouse! whose Faith unfeign'd
While Monmouth sleeps, his Sword undaunted draws,
When Bothwell-Bridge rebellious Scots maintain'd,
With Clerks and Captains worthy of their Cause.

XXII

Admir'd and courted by the stronger Side,
To Danger proof, his spotless Honour blaz'd;
Condemn'd by Fools, by Sycophants decry'd,
Rever'd by William, and by Mary prais'd.

275

XXIII

And Thou, their Heir, with undiminish'd Fame
Transmit Hereditary Glory down;
Let Publick Good thy utmost Ardour claim,
Careless of Coxcombs Fleer and Villains Frown.

XXIV

Drag out foul Tyrants to th' astonish'd Light,
Where human Devils chain'd their Captives hold;
For legal Liberties unwearied fight,
Nor leave a Gyve unbroken, tho' of Gold.

XXV

In distant Climes a safe Asylum give,
Where friendless Want, not Criminals, may run;
Where Faith Divine and Virtue may revive,
And flourish kindly in another Sun:

XXVI

Whether from barb'rous Tortures, Mercy stil'd,
And Jesuits Cruelties, they take their way;
Or fly, by lawless Civil Pow'r exil'd,
Or starve by Statesmen's Ministerial Sway.

XXVII

Unchanging Truth thy Parents both demand,
And Courage nothing mortal can controul:
Like them in Life, like them too fearless stand
In the last Conflict of the parting Soul.

XXVIII

The duteous Son what piercing Sorrows wound,
When dying Pangs a Mother's Breast assail!
In Senates, as in Camps, intrepid found,
Then the Heart trembles, and the Spirits fail!

276

XXIX

Fast by her Side behold him anxious laid,
To see the dearest Life on Earth expire;
Of filial Love the last hard Office paid.—
Thou, Pope, through Sympathy assume the Lyre.