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

Glory! thou idol of th'exalted soul,
Thou emanation of th'eternal mind,
Whose vivid beams the mists of life controul,
And rouse the man superior to mankind,
To thee the muse aspires, on trembling wings,
Happy, if royal William listen while she sings

II

But, oh, inform me, for thou best can'st tell,
In whom so bright thy magic image lives!
Behold his worth o'er dignity excell!
He gives to grandeur all that grandeur gives:—
Goddess, I view thee radiant in his fame,
Confess the distant warmth, and sooth th'encourag'd flame.

III

When each celestial virtue proudly strove
Whose pow'r supreme should in the Prince be shewn,
You, sweet enchantress! charm'd his heart to love,
And in his bosom fix'd your sun-bright throne.
There saw the graces ripen and refine,
And taught the Great and Good in fairest light to shine.

IV

Inspir'd by thee, he glow'd with martial flame,
With emulation of immortal deeds;
Such as at Agincourt gain'd deathless fame,
Or such of Cressy's plain as record reads;
And long'd to act the wond'rous conquests o'er:
Britannia soon admir'd, whom now her sons adore.

V

Ready he wak'd at war's sonorous call,
And brav'd at Dettingen the hostile field;
And whilst our Sov'reign triumph'd o'er the Gaul,
Sunk pride in dust, and made ambition yield,
Full in his view, the offspring-warriour bled!
The blood was Brunswick!—Glory, from thy fountain-head.

VI

At Fontenoy thou wert the hero's guide;
Thee he pursu'd in action and in thought;
Lewis, afraid, progressive valour ey'd:
Amaz'd to see how English courage fought:
Tho' vict'ry smil'd not, tho' alliance fail'd,
Yet in thy brightest roll the mighty day prevail'd,

VII

Hark, Caledonia threats her sister land!
Again her clans unite in bold array;
Rome's honour'd Vagrant heads the factious band,
Who rage for plunder, and who kill for pay;
Invasion succours, freedom takes th'alarm;
Arm! loyalty exclaims; the nation echoes—Arm.

VIII

The british squadrons dare rebellion's pow'r,
Hopeful to meet thee on th'important day;
But, ah, our genius govern'd not the hour!
Oh, mem'ry snatch thy images away!
The Valiant wing'd th'imputed flight of fear;
Thou, Glory, wert eclips'd; no Cumberland was near.

IX

The clouds of dread the wond'ring isle o'ercast,
On base subversion, rises pale dismay;
Near, and more near, the mad banditti haste,
And terror and destruction mark their way;
Now, with parental care our Monarch grieves,
And to his warlike son his royal mandate gives.

X

'Twas you, oh, Goddess! whisper'd to the throne,
To bid your fav'rite fight the gen'ral cause;
His parent-king's, his country's, and his own,
And be—what e'er a mighty hero was:
Warm'd by your fires, tho bleak the frozen skies,
He quits the arms of ease, and on to vengeance flies.

XI

Rebellion now precipitates retreat;
The Duke's advances, Treason's hope confound;
Their conscious hearts anticipate defeat,
And Cumberland bears millions in the sound:
The trait'rous bands to native wilds proceed;
But justice can pursue where ever guilt can lead.

XII

To time's last hour thou, Glory, shalt display
The honours William at Culloden won;
Where vain presumption fell th'unpity'd prey,
And slaughter crush'd what perfidy begun:
His abject life the frustrate Leader bore,
But visionary realms, and golden dreams were o'er.

XIII

When Noah sought th'avenging flood to prove,
Forth from the ark he bade the raven roam;
This embassy was hapless; but the dove,
Like William, brought the olive-emblem home;
Hear the sav'd nation, emulous commend,
Prince, patriot, gen'ral, conq'ror, guardian, friend!

XIV

Imperial Goddess! 'tis to thee we owe
Whate'er his soul suggests, or arm atchieves;
Despair shall wound us from no foreign blow,
While shines thy sun, and godlike William lives,
Not unreveng'd proud Gallia shall provoke,
If Heav'n and thou but prompt the great vindictive stroke.

XV

Diffuse that warmth thy much-lov'd hero feels;
Render our councils what they were of yore;
Expell the heart that sense of wrong conceals,
And in the land thy sacred shrine restore.
Oh, save our country! ev'ry Briton cries,
Thou glad'ner of the earth, thou bright'ner of the skies.