The Poetical Works of The Rev. Samuel Bishop ... To Which are Prefixed, Memoirs of the Life of the Author By the Rev. Thomas Clare |
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 | The Poetical Works of The Rev. Samuel Bishop |  |
3
ODES.
ODE I. ON THE KING's MARRIAGE.
WRITTEN FOR A FRIEND.
I
Soft rose the gales, ordain'd to bearTo Albion's coast the chosen Fair,
Her Monarch's future Bride;
When, lo! the Nymph, that loves to dwell
Deep in the pearl-enamell'd cell,
Where Albis' waters glide,
High o'er the wave appear'd, and strung
Her coral lyre, and thus she sung:
4
II
“Go, share the glory of a Throne,“Where Virtues, worthy of thine own,
“Congenial lustre shed:
“Go, share the transports of a breast,
“Whose cares shall give the Nations rest,
“And raise th' afflicted head:
“Shall burst th' incroaching tyrant's chain,
“And bid Ambition rage in vain.
III
“Obedient to the lot assign'd,“Thy country gives thee to mankind,
“And turns her raptur'd eye
“(Prophetic of thy future claim)
“To every dearer, nobler name,
“To every stronger tie,
“When grateful Nations shall contend
“To hail thee, Mother, Queen, and Friend.
5
IV
“Just to a Patriot's generous cares,“Indulgent to a Kingdom's prayers,
“Heaven's happiest influence shone;
“Each glory Victory's wreath bestows,
“Each radiance that from Virtue flows,
“At once adorn'd the Throne:
“The Brave, the Good, the Just, approv'd,
“And Freedom prais'd, because she lov'd.
V
“Thou, when domestic scenes of joy“His dearer, tenderer cares employ,
“Shalt seize the favouring hour:
“Thoughts, which thy softness will suggest,
“Shall charm at once, and raise his breast,
“And Love give Virtue power:
“Some added Wreath his brow shall bind;
“Some added Good enrich mankind.
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VI
“Then shall he bless thy kind concern,“Gladly to Love and Thee return,
“And own his toils repaid;
“Shall own that Heaven for him prepar'd
“The noblest toils, the best reward;
“And trace from Thee convey'd,
“To every age, on Britain's Throne,
“Desert and Glory, like his own.”
7
ODE II. TO THE QUEEN ON HER BIRTH-DAY.
WRITTEN 1764.
I
From all the bliss a Queen can feel,When a whole grateful Nation pays
(Ardent in duty, bold in zeal)
The annual tribute of it's praise,
II
The Royal Dame a moment stole—Laid down the wreaths her people wrought,
And, wrapt in sweet suspence of soul,
Indulged a Mother's tenderest thought.
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III
Where, sooth'd by Slumber's lenient hand,Two Boys, her infant offspring lay,
Intent she took her silent stand;
And gave each rising passion way.
IV
By turns Complacence smooth'd her brow,And Care all-anxious flush'd her cheek;
Now glow'd Remembrance; Fondness now
Inspir'd what utterance could not speak.
V
Oft Fancy prompted by concern,To urge an half-form'd tear began;
And Hope, that made her bosom burn,
Finish'd the pearl, and down it ran.
9
VI
While thus she stood, and look'd, and lov'd,And fonder still, and happier grew,
(For every look her love improv'd,
And love still sweeten'd every view,)
VII
Unseen the Cherubs hover'd near,Whom Fate to guard her sons ordain'd;
They mark'd each joy she felt, each tear,
And thus alternate speech maintain'd:
VIII
“See” (said the Heav'n-born Form, whose careBritannia's elder hope employ'd)
“What thoughts the Parent's bosom share,
“While Majesty is unenjoy'd.
10
IX
“Yet know, O Queen! 'tis but begun“The strong sensation thou must prove;
“Each year, that waits its course to run,
“Will bring new ecstasy of love.
X
“How will the soul, that scarce sustains“Ev'n now the dear employ to trace
“Features, where silent beauty reigns,
“Mere infant innocence and grace!
XI
“How will it throb, beneath th' excess,“The pangs, the agony of bliss,
“When from those lips soft sounds shall press
“To greet another day like this!
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XII
“How will the blood, thro' every vein“Run thrilling to the Mother's heart;
“When she shall see her Boy maintain,
“In the Boy's sport, the Prince's part!
XIII
“How will her bosom pant, to read“In every part some likeness caught;
“Some semblance of his Father's deed,
“Some copy of his Mother's thought!
XIV
“What will she say, when Reason's voice“Calls the young powers of action forth,
“Prompts him to choose; and founds his choice
“On plans of dignity and worth!
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XV
“How will she dread each vice she sees,“Each gay temptation Courts display,
“The charms of pleasure, grandeur, ease,
“The snares that glitter to betray!
XVI
“What bliss will intercept her fear,“Whene'er she sees her Hero rise,
“Tender to act, yet still severe
“To scorn, what virtue should despise!
XVII
“What genial warmth will raise her mind,“When any purpose seems to say,
“He knows what service to mankind
“The Great must owe, the Good must pay!
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XVIII
“When Echo dwells upon his name,“And gives it to the nations round,
“How will her heart enjoy th' acclaim,
“And beat and spring to every sound!”
XIX
So said th' angelic Spirit; and ceas'd:—And thus his Fellow-guardian cry'd:
“By all these joys, and all increas'd,
“The Mother's fondness must be try'd.
XX
“While forward, thro' each coming year,“Maternal care her eyes shall cast,
“My younger Boy, that slumbers near,
“Will give her back again the past:
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XXI
“Will show her every charm renew'd,“Each native charm his Brother bore;
“Or with peculiar pow'rs endu'd,
“Awake a joy unfelt before.
XXII
“That while the hopes her First-born gave“Are crown'd by every future deed;
“Her equal love may see as brave,
“As dear a progeny succeed.”
XXIII
Scarce had he spoke, when shouts and songClaim'd in the Queen her Britain's part;
She heard—and tow'rd th' applauding throng
Turn'd all the fullness of her heart.
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ODE III. ON CLASSIC DISCIPLINE.
I
Down the steep abrupt of hillsFurious foams the head-long Tide;
Thro' the mead the Rivulet trills,
Swelling slow in gentle pride.
Ruin vast, and dread dismay,
Mark the clamorous Cataract's way;
Glad increase, and bloom benign
Round the Streamlet's margin shine.
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II
Youth! with stedfast eye peruseScenes, to lesson thee display'd!
Yes,—in these the moral Muse
Bids thee know thyself portray'd!
Thou may'st rush with headstrong force,
Wasteful like the Torrent's course;
Or resemble Rills that flow,
Blest and blessing, as they go!
III
Infant sense to all our kind,Pure the young ideas brings;
From within the fountain mind,
Issuing at a thousand springs.
Who shall make the current stray
Smooth along the destin'd way?
Who shall, as it runs, refine?
Who?—but Classic Discipline!
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IV
She, whatever fond desire,Stubborn deed, or ruder speech,
Inexperience might inspire,
Or absurd indulgence teach,
Timely cautious shall restrain;
Bidding childhood own the rein:
She with Sport shall Labour mix;
She, excursive Fancy fix.
V
Prime support of learned lore,Perseverance joins her train;
Pages oft turn'd o'er and o'er,
Turning o'er and o'er again!
Giving, in due forms of school,
Sound, Significance, Utterance, Rule:
While the stores of Memory grow,
Great, tho' gradual; sure, tho' slow.
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VI
Patient Care, by just degrees,Word and Image learns to class;
Couples those; discriminates these,
As in strict review they pass:
Joins, as varying features strike,
Apt to apt; and like to like:
Till in meet array advance
Concord, Method, Elegance!
VII
Time meanwhile, from day to day,Fixes deeper Virtue's root;
Whence, in long succession gay,
Blossoms many a lively fruit:
Meek Obedience, following still,
Frank and glad, a wiser will!
Modest Candour, hearing prone,
Every judgment—save it's own!
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VIII
Emulation! whose keen eye,Forward still, and forward strains;
Nothing ever deeming high,
Where a higher hope remains!
Shame ingenuous, native, free,
Source of manly dignity!
Zeal, impartial to pursue
Right and just, and good and true!
IX
These, and every kindred Grace,More and more perfection gain;
While Attention loves to trace
Grave Record, or lofty Strain;
Noting, how in Virtue's pride
Sages liv'd; and Heroes died!
Conscious, how in Virtue's cause,
Genius gave, and claim'd applause!
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X
Thus with early culture blest,Thus to early toil inur'd,
Infancy's expanding breast
Glows with Sense and Powers matur'd;
Whence if future efforts raise
Moral, social, civil praise;
Thine is all th' Effect—be thine
The Glory—Classic Discipline!
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ODE IV. ON ELOQUENCE.
1
Auspicious influence marks th' important hour,When conscious sympathy owns th' august controul,
Which, strong to triumph in Persuasion's power,
Alarms, arrests, impels, commands the soul.
Accordant Passions recognise it's sway;
Convinced, applaud it; or subdued, obey;
The vocal Magic quells them, as they rise;
It calls, and Reason hears; it blames, and Folly dies.
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2
'Twas thus of old the Man of Athens spoke,When valour languish'd at the crush it fear'd;
While Philip form'd for Greece th' opprobrious yoke;
Now lull'd, now brav'd, the Spirit once rever'd:
“Awake,” he cry'd, “repel the Intruder's blow!
“Distrust the subtle, meet the daring Foe!
“'Tis sloth, not Philip, that disarms your rage;
“Success will crown the war, which Honour's champions wage.”
3
Silent, awhile, the crowd attend,Thro' gradual energies ascend,
From Shame to Hope, Revenge, Disdain:
They blush, reflect, resolve, unite;
Defy the attack; demand the fight;
And spurn th' insulting Traitor's chain:
Their throbbing breasts exalted impulse show;
And all their Sires in all their bosoms glow!
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1
Yet not to rouse alone th' emasculate mind,Or nerve the warrior's arm, does Speech display
Resistless rule:—all-various, unconfin'd,
It brings the soft sensations into day;
It gives the meliorated heart to feel
New joy from pity, and from joy new zeal;
Smooths the stern Front, which hard Resentments strain,
And bends tumultuous Will to Candour's mild domain.
2
Such was the bland effect, when Cæsar's earTo Tully's plea devout attention gave;
And check'd, in Indignation's mid career,
The World's Proprietor stood th' Orator's slave:
“I show thee, Cæsar,” said the Sage, “I show
“A Prize, no Conquest ever could bestow:
“Thyself must give it to thyself alone,—
“'Tis Mercy's hallow'd Palm!—O make it all thine own!”
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3
The mighty Master of mankind,Lur'd by the potent spell, resign'd
Each purpose of severer thought;
Forgot the wrongs, the toils he bore;
Indulged vindictive Wrath, no more;
And was, whatever Tully taught:
When Tully urg'd the convict Suppliant's prayer,
'Twas Pride to assent; 'twas Luxury to spare!
1
Britain! for thee, each emulous Muse has wroughtSome votive Wreath, some Trophy of Renown;
Some Meed of Excellence, Sons of thine have caught,
Where'er Exertion strove for Merit's Crown:
Where then more aptly can the Power divine
Of Classic Speech with genuine vigour shine,
Than where the Virtues live, whose genial fire
Could Rights like thine assert, and Laws like thine inspire?
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2
Methinks I see a land of Patriots riseSublime in native Eloquence! around
Th' astonish'd Nations fix their eager eyes;
And wonder, while they tremble at the sound.
They learn what labours fill the Hero's life,
What stedfast dignity, what generous strife!
What efforts best adorn him, and improve,
Justice, and bold Emprize, Benignity, and Love!
3
Rival of Deeds in annals old,By Greek and Roman Genius told,
O justify another claim!
With all their splendid Praise in view,
Preserve their manly Eloquence too,
To grace thy more illustrious Name!
The long records of British Glory swell
With Worth, which only British Tongues can tell!
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ODE V. ON DAY.
I.
Thron'd in Empyreal Glory's blaze,Th' Omnipotent call'd forth a living Ray:
“Go speed,” he said, “thy flight benign!
“And where I draw Creation's line,
“Be thou the Torch of Day!”
II.
Proud of so high behestThro' God's august abode,
The obedient Beam a Sun confest,
In Orbed Splendor rode.
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And hail'd the warm Effulgence as it past:
Life glow'd more vigorous, Beauty shone more gay:
The Power, whose blest decree
Bade Life and Beauty be,
To crown all Life and Beauty gave the Day.
III.
Across the wilds, amidst the groves,Mark where the feather'd Nation roves!
While eager Vision scarce pursues
Th' eternal change of glittering hues!
Yet vain those glittering hues, and vain
Must that eternal change remain,
Till Day, profuse of Light, illume
Each shadowy tint, and flash on every plume.
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IV.
Lo where the Eagle cuts his way,Towering athwart th' immense of sky!
No bounds his daring pinion stay;
No radiance dims his ardent eye.
Him heavenly Wisdom form'd of old,
Excess of spirit to disclose;
And taught his stedfast course to hold,
Where Day's concentrate Lustre rose.
V.
Thus he through trackless heights unwearied soars.Glad Day meanwhile salutes the flowery train,
Where sweets exhale from thousand, thousand pores;
And lavish Vegetation clothes the plain.
Nor scorn his chearing fervors to expand
The faithful marigold's recovering bloom;
Whose closing buds a mournful progeny stand,
While eve's chill shades their sullen reign assume.
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VI.
Busy din assails mine ears!Hurried echoes round me play!
'Tis War's rude voice! her banner'd Pomp she rears,
Insolent to flaunt it in the face of Day!
Commerce! rear thy banners too!
Raise thy shout of Civic Glee!
Day will rejoice thy trophied March to view,
That blazons Patriot Reign and peaceful Polity.
VII.
Health, O Day! exults to greet thee!Lusty Strength springs forth to meet thee!
Enterprise is fond to use thee!
Hope, midst gathering gloom, renews thee!
Science! Genius! love to trace thee,
Grac'd by thee! and skill'd to grace thee!
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VIII.
At heedless ease in thy prolific Heat,The tawny native of more Torrid Lands
Basks him luxurious:—while beneath his feet
His rampant crop, an unsought harvest stands.
To Temperate Climes vicissitude like thine
Alternate profit and delight supplies!
Care rests from toil, secure, at thy decline:
Rest plans new toils, secure to see thee rise!
Ev'n on his rock of everlasting Frost
The hard inhabitant of Greenland's shore
Buys thy brief stay, at twofold winter's cost,
And but resigns thee, to enjoy thee more!
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ODE VI.
[_]
[Spoken in the Public Examination Room (called the Chapel) at Merchant-Taylors' School, erected on the site of The Manor of the Rose, a House belonging to the Duke of Buckingham in the time of Henry VIII.]
I. 1.
'Tis near three ages, since on England's ThroneHer Henry, born a suffering Land to save,
Himself a Royal Merchant-Taylor shone,
And shar'd the charter'd Name, which first he gave;
Took honour from the honours he decreed,
And rank'd a Freeman, with the Men he freed.
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I. 2.
Then, on this spot, in Gothic Grandeur proud,Her tower'd battlements a Pile could boast,
Where festive pomp receiv'd a Noble crowd,
And princely Buckingham was lord and host.
High rose the vaulted aisles, with banners gay;
Loud echo'd thro' the halls the minstrel's lay.
I. 3.
From many a window's arched height,Transparent blazon gleam'd it's light;
Where counsel sage, and bold emprize
Inspir'd the valiant and the wise;
Or pageant masque, and revel frank,
Brought courtly dames in choral rank,
A glow of beauty to disclose,
Worthy th' illustrious roof, the Manor of the Rose.
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II. 1.
Those triumphs past, another period here,Of varied praise, but equal fame begun;
In Learning's cause a Civic Train appear:
From breast to breast the generous feelings run:
While Time a new record of glory reads;
And Classic Palm to Splendor's Plume succeeds.
II. 2.
To softer notes their lyres the Muses strung;Right glad their suffrage, and their part to bear;
And where at Power's command of old they sung,
At Bounty's call indulged a gentler care;
Intent with truth to arm, with arts to grace,
With virtues to exalt, the rising race.
II. 3.
Soon conscious of expanding hope,Munificence took larger scope;
Soon Isis on her verdant side,
Beheld with honourable pride,
34
And in long series flourish fair;
Transplanted to her sweet repose,
From this scholastic spot, this Manor of the Rose.
III. 1.
'Tis Fate's peculiar charge, 'tis hallow'd ground,Where'er Philanthropy delights to dwell:
Hence owners, like your Sires, the Mansion found;
Hence to such guardians as Yourselves, it fell.
They gave mankind what they devolv'd to You;
Your emulous zeal gives their desert it's due.
III. 2.
O! happiest omen of increasing weal!O! firmest basis of eternal date!
When the same Dome can to the world appeal,
As salutary now, as once 'twas great:
Then, Residence august of state supreme!
Now, Public Expectation's favourite theme!
35
III. 3.
Still, Commerce, thy domain extend!Reign studious Emulation's friend!—
Still, studious Emulation, twine
Some votive wreath, for friends like thine;
And when, from age to age, Renown
Transmits each bloom of Genius down,
Let her announce, that There it grows,
Where her first chaplets deck'd the Manor of the Rose!
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ODE VII. ON INSTRUMENTS OF MUSIC.
IRREGULAR.
I.
Where health and high spirits awaken the morn,And dash thro' the dews, that impearl the rough thorn,
To shouts and to cries
Shrill Echo replies;
While the Horn prompts the shout, and the shout greets the Horn.
II.
Loud across the upland ground,Sweetly mellowing down the vale,
The changeful Bells ring jocund round,
Where Joy bestrides the gale;
Herald eager to proclaim
The Lover's bliss, or Hero's fame.
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III.
Shall the Fiddle's sprightly strain,In Pleasure's realms our feet detain,
Where Youth and Beauty in the dance
Borrow new charms from Elegance?
IV.
Or shall we stray,Where stately thro' the public way,
Amidst the Trumpet's clangors and th' acclaim
Of civic zeal, in long procession move
Nobles and Chiefs of venerable fame;
Or haply Sovereign Majesty displays
To public view the lustre of its rays,
And proves at once, and wins, a Nation's love.
V.
Hark! how the solemn Organ callsAttention's sober ears to hallow'd walls;
38
Devotion seeks with stedfast eyes
The God, whose Glories every gloom pervade,
To whom for ever prayer is made,
And daily praises rise!
VI.
What notes in swiftest cadence running,Thro' many a maze of varied measure,
Mingled by the master's cunning,
Give th' alarm to festive pleasure?
Cambria! 'twas thus thy Harps of old,
Each gallant heart's recess explor'd;
Announcing Feats of Chieftains bold,
To grace the hospitable board.
VII.
Mark how the Soldier's eyeLooks proud defiance! How his heart beats high
39
What fans his martial fires?
What but the power of Sound?
The clamorous Drums his anxious ardour raise,
His blood flows quicker round;
At once he hears, he feels, enjoys, obeys.
VIII.
Where gath'ring storms incessant lower,And nigard Nature chills th' abortive grain;
From her bleak heights see Scotland pour
Blithe Lads and Lasses trim; an hardy train,
Down the crag, and o'er the lea,
Following still with hearty glee
The Bagpipes mellow minstrelsy.
IX.
Where cloudless suns with glowing diesTinge Italy's serener skies,
40
The Lover's Lute complains;
While ling'ring Echo learns the song,
Gives it the woods, and loth to lose
One accent of th' impassion'd Muse,
Bids woods return it to the plains.
X.
Time was when, stretch'd beneath the beechen shade,The simple Shepherd warbled his sweet lay;
Lur'd to his rustic Reed the gentle maid,
Welcom'd the morn, and caroll'd down the day.
Why do our Swains depart from ancient lore?
Why sounds no Past'ral Reed on Britain's shore?
—The Innocence, which tuned it, is no more!
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ODE VIII. TO THE EARL OF LINCOLN, ON THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE's RETIREMENT.
WRITTEN IN 1762.
I
“Fly, fly from Life's too busy scene,“To calm Repose, and joys serene,”
The pert declaimer cries:—
'Twas once, perhaps, at school his theme;
'Tis still the substance of each dream,
That fond conceit supplies:—
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II
—‘Ah! vainly to the Sylvan seat,‘To quiet, solitude, retreat,
‘Rash, restless passions lead,
‘There still the fickle heart will know
‘Some real want, or fancied woe;
‘There still the guilty bleed.’
III
To worthless Age, and thoughtless Youth,The Muse directs this solemn truth:—
The Muse whose cheerful lay
Hails a Newcastle to the shade,
To bliss, whose solid base was laid
In Glory's early day.
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IV
Whate'er the glow of anxious ZealFor universal joy and weal,
To sweeten sense can give;
Whate'er Remembrance, cheerful, clear,
Can paint, improve, adorn, endear,
Where'er He lives, will live.
V
The good his youthful labours gain'd,The toils his growing age sustain'd,
The praise a Nation owes,
Some generous strife, some glorious prise,
Will still to view successive rise,
And sanctify repose.
44
VI
Such joy, O Lincoln, Heaven prepares,Such joy, the produce of such cares,
Awaits Newcastle's rest:
The liberal Heart, and ready Hand,
That dealt their Blessings round the Land,
Should in their turn be blest.
VII
Retirement is but new employ;Where Virtue will again enjoy
The deeds she wrought before:
Tho' Time, on every moment's wing,
Some wreath of Pelham's Glory bring,
'Twill ne'er exhaust the store.
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VIII
Perhaps, to sooth the pains of age,That happy period will engage
His retrospective view;
When Brunswick hasted to approve,
And ever with the Sovereign's Love
The Statesman's Merit grew.
IX
Or haply, while his foot shall strayAlong the solitary way,
Fair Memory will recall
The hour when Learning's sacred voice
Hail'd him, her friend, her guide, her choice;
Her hope, her boast, her all.
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X
Nor yet less glad will pass the day,While pleas'd Reflection shall survey
Each dart, that Malice aim'd,
When Faction led forth all her train,
And still the rude, and weak, and vain
Enjoy'd the Work they blam'd.
XI
Then will the heart, that never thoughtA People's Good too dearly bought,
Rejoice o'er all it gave;
Compare the purchase with the cost;
Nor think the noble Bounty lost,
That flow'd, profuse to save.
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XII
Blest in himself and all around,With every Palm of Virtue crown'd,
Thro' Pleasure sweet, sincere,
The Sage will walk to Life's decline,
And bid the past and present join,
To make the future dear.
| The Poetical Works of The Rev. Samuel Bishop | |