 | Poems |  |
140
AN ODE TO THE MARCHIONESS OF GRANBY.
“With awful port and carriage grand
I saw him lead his gallant band:
Ocean's rough waves safely crost,
I saw him on Germania's coast,
There the British colours flying,
British drums and shouts resound:
There the British coursers neighing,
Snuff the air, and paw the ground!
Still wonder, her finger her ruby lip pressing,
Sate fix'd in a cloud o'er the throng;
As slow, in order just, the heroes march'd along!
But when thy manly soldier came,
I saw, I mark'd each speaking face:
Each eye was fix'd, illustrious dame,
And every finger mark'd his martial grace!
Great Granby—Rutland's noble son;
Thro' all the crowd—was heard aloud,
And every voice and heart was one:
“Safety on his helmet play:
“Conquest mark his falchion's way.”
I saw him lead his gallant band:
Ocean's rough waves safely crost,
I saw him on Germania's coast,
There the British colours flying,
British drums and shouts resound:
There the British coursers neighing,
Snuff the air, and paw the ground!
Still wonder, her finger her ruby lip pressing,
Sate fix'd in a cloud o'er the throng;
As slow, in order just, the heroes march'd along!
But when thy manly soldier came,
I saw, I mark'd each speaking face:
Each eye was fix'd, illustrious dame,
And every finger mark'd his martial grace!
Great Granby—Rutland's noble son;
Thro' all the crowd—was heard aloud,
And every voice and heart was one:
“Safety on his helmet play:
“Conquest mark his falchion's way.”
II.
Thus on her couch, while pensive Granby lay,—Her hand upheld her head with cares opprest:
What marvel, when her hero was away,
That tears her eyes, that terror fill'd her breast?
141
She heard—she knew—she blest the sound:—
For if old bards have rightly sung,
Deeply read in ancient story:
The guardian genius of each race,
When mortals to appear among,
They disrobe them of the glory,
Which cloaths the splendid children of the skies,
Wove in light, and far too bright,
For dazzled human eyes:
They then assume the form, the grace,
The tone of voice, the turn of face,
And all the manner of the line,
O'er which the laws of heav'n their guardian care assign.
He spoke—she heard, she knew the sound;
“And is he safe, she rose, she cried,
“And is he safe on hostile ground?
“Safety on his helmet play:
“Conquest mark his falchion's way!”
Who can wonder at the throng;—
Heav'n applaud and hear the song!
Who can wonder—these admire?
Wheresoe'er my soldier moves,
Every bosom is on fire,
Every eye, that views him, loves!
Tell me, gentle genius, tell,
I a thousand truths wou'd know:
On his cheeks with roseate glow
Still doth health delight to dwell!
Tell me gentle genius tell!
Every grateful truth discover,
Ease the wife, the friend, the lover,
142
Tell me gentle genius, where.”
III.
With smiles serene,Such as ever beaming play
On the brows of spirits blest,
In the realms of endless day,
And diffuse, where'er they move,
Like the gay sun, thro' every breast,
Light and comfort, joy and love!
With smiles serene,
He saw the generous passions as they strove:
He saw applauding, wav'd his head,
With amaranthine flowrets crown'd:
His rich celestial plumage shook, and shed
Ambrosial odours all reviving round:
And thus with tender sympathy addrest,
And thus with tone mellifluous lull'd to rest
The heaven-born passions, all approv'd,
That anxious throbb'd within her breast.
IV.
“Matchless wife—on golden pinion,Summon'd by thy tender care,
From Germania's vex'd dominion,
Like a sun-beam thro' the air,
Have I wing'd my azure way;
Ocean's wide waste
In a moment o'er-past
At the summons of virtue no spirit can stay.
143
Cease to fear and cease to mourn.
From antient times and annals old,
The care of many a baron bold
Of Rutland's gallant line,
Hath claim'd my watchful hand and eye;
To save, to raise in glory high,
The pleasing business mine.
But when the honour of the race,
The high-born heroes I re-trace,
Heroes, who now in golden domes,
Where everlasting pleasure blooms,
Drink the pure nectar of delight,
My charge thro' all the radiant day,
My watch thro' all the night:
None, none amidst them I survey,
Whose generous worth and ample mind,
Noble soul and nature kind,
So well my services repay,
So enkindle each desire,
Higher still to raise and higher
In the sounding song of fame,
As him, to whom the power divine
Has to thy care, bright fair, and mine,
Allotted equal claim!
V.
Now his country calls to arms;Hush each tender female fear:
Now the generous ardour warms;
Trust him to his guardian's care.
144
Rank with hostile rank engage:
At his side attendant ever,
I from danger will deliver:
When the glowing ball shall fly,
Levell'd from the roaring mouth of death:
I will turn it harmless by,
And bid it fan him with its guiltless breath.
When just on his head descending,
The battle-ax cleaves the air:
From the fierce ruin defending,
I will suspend it there.
Helm, or habergeon may fail,
Greaves of brass, or coat of mail:
Trustier armour shall he prove,
In his Guardian's care and love,
VI.
Nor in the wild rage of the battle alone,Shall the banner of safety around him be thrown:
The sickly troop and pale,
That on disease's camp attend,
Not daring to assail
Whom heav'n and rosy health defend,
Gnashing their teeth shall growl and fly;—
But why, great Marlborough , gracious heav'n, ah why?
I see his Genius stand in speechless trance:
Drooping his sky-tinctur'd plumes,
Inverted his celestial lance!
145
Down his bright visage all unbidden creep.
Oh that every virtue join'd,
The prudent head, the feeling heart,
The manly, martial, melting mind,
Cou'd not arrest awhile th' unerring dart!
VII.
Cou'd not—but why indulge the plaintive mood?Or why the just decrees of God arraign?
He wills, and what He wills, is wise, is good;
And who shall dare complain?
Suffice it, fair one, that to thee
Is given the blest security,
Ere the gayly circling sun
Thro' the Zodiac hath run,
On thy bosom's downy rest,
On the throbbings of thy breast
Thy soldier to receive,
With all the melting bliss
Chaste affection has to give.
VIII.
Rapturous Hymen then shall comeYoung desire, with purple bloom;
Innocence in milk-white vest,
Truth unzon'd with open breast:
With all the loves, that crown'd with roses
Ever dance in jocund play,
Round the couch on which reposes
146
In softest trance united:
Squint suspicion far a way,
And all the snaky brood of hell,
That in the harlot's bought smiles mask,
And serpentine embraces dwell!
And I, with that illustrious spirit,
Who preserves the matchless merit
Of thy high-born house, whose glory
Liveth long in ancient story,
Will weave a web of richest texture,
Of each line's grand intermixture;
Which to latest times shall share,
Our mutual and united love,
Our mutual and united care.
IX.
Till the happy hour arrive,Live resign'd and chearful live,
Fair blooming branch of Seymour's stately tree!
Close by thy hero's side,
I will preserve, will guard, and guide,
And safe restore to Britain and to thee!
And returning, round his head
My sevenfold shield, of heavenly temper made,
Impervious to each mortal stroke,
Will all-protecting spread.”
147
X.
Thus while he spoke,Attention listen'd on her face:
And every gentle passion strove
To glow with most attracting grace,
Affection, just concern, soft fear, and patriot love:
But judging silence here a sin,
They joined all in one request,
And spoke the burden of her breast:
“Gentle genius, no delay,
Quickly, quickly then return:
Haste thee, guardian, haste away,
Painful is a moment's stay,
For thy instant departure impatient I burn:
Oh tarry not, but haste and spread
Thy shield, of heavenly temper made,
Blest genius, round my lord's, my lover's valued head.”
| Poems | |