The Works of Richard Owen Cambridge Including several pieces never before published: with an account of his life and character, by his son, George Owen Cambridge |
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ON THE APPOINTMENT OF LORD TEMPLE TO BE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY. |
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 | The Works of Richard Owen Cambridge |  |
303
ON THE APPOINTMENT OF LORD TEMPLE TO BE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY.
HIS royal eye his royal foot survey'd,
His left hand with the glitt'ring sword-knot play'd;
At distance due the scarlet band appear,
Who move by clock-work with the day and year.
Nearer the youths in gaudy velvets drest;
The fair with flow'rets crown'd and naked breasts;
Autumnal fronts which various arts repair;
And statesmen, reverend in their silver hair.
His left hand with the glitt'ring sword-knot play'd;
At distance due the scarlet band appear,
Who move by clock-work with the day and year.
Nearer the youths in gaudy velvets drest;
The fair with flow'rets crown'd and naked breasts;
304
And statesmen, reverend in their silver hair.
Then Phæton his gracious Prince bespoke.
O King! unless this change be all a joke,
All Devonshire's invention, dream or sport,
Confirm thy promise in this crouded court;
Think not that vulgar token I demand,
A rape committed on your royal hand,
That common prostitute—but on thy life,
O speak to me and whisper to my wife.
Then thrice the monarch shook his anxious head;
At length—Yes—I will speak to thee, he said.
My fleet I give thee for my promise sake,
But 'tis a promise I had rather break.
O Phaeton! consider what you ask!
Ev'n for a seaman what an arduous task!
You're a mere landman, you was never hurl'd
By rapid tempests round the rolling world.
The charge you claim asks such experienced skill
As not our cabinet combined could fill.
Not ev'n our William, godlike in command,
Who rolls his dreadful thunders o'er the land,
On this uncertain element would dare—
And which of you with William shall compare?
O King! unless this change be all a joke,
All Devonshire's invention, dream or sport,
Confirm thy promise in this crouded court;
Think not that vulgar token I demand,
A rape committed on your royal hand,
That common prostitute—but on thy life,
O speak to me and whisper to my wife.
Then thrice the monarch shook his anxious head;
At length—Yes—I will speak to thee, he said.
My fleet I give thee for my promise sake,
But 'tis a promise I had rather break.
305
Ev'n for a seaman what an arduous task!
You're a mere landman, you was never hurl'd
By rapid tempests round the rolling world.
The charge you claim asks such experienced skill
As not our cabinet combined could fill.
Not ev'n our William, godlike in command,
Who rolls his dreadful thunders o'er the land,
On this uncertain element would dare—
And which of you with William shall compare?
Perhaps your Lordship, judging in your haste,
Conceives the sea a place laid out in taste.
Or, in a calenture, believes the main
Umbrageous verdure and a flow'ry plain:
Temples above and bridges all below—
Perhaps you fancy 'tis another Stowe.
Alas! th' insidious element you'll find
By turns to calm, by turns to rage inclined.
Weigh well the storms in each tempestuous sea,
The restless roll of the Biscayan bay.
There treach'rous Dunkirk, and Saint Malo's here,
Alike conceal the lurking privateer.
In southern seas the uncertain power of Spain,
In northern, dread the more uncertain Dane;
Your islands now th' adventurous French invade,
Now prey with ease on your defenceless trade.
Besides a seaman is a stubborn thing,
Much worse to rule than a submissive king.
Judge not by me of this rebellious crew,
Trust me, my Lord, they more resemble you.
Yet merchants clam'ring at the chance of war,
Are louder than the patriot or the tar.
Nor think I want my promise to evade,
When only this department I dissuade.
Honours, preferments, freely chuse the best,
And call promotion from the East or West;
Thy choice in Ireland, or the Indias make,
And thence a government or pension take.
Whate'er you ask you surely shall obtain,
But to ask wisely you must ask again.
Conceives the sea a place laid out in taste.
Or, in a calenture, believes the main
Umbrageous verdure and a flow'ry plain:
Temples above and bridges all below—
Perhaps you fancy 'tis another Stowe.
Alas! th' insidious element you'll find
By turns to calm, by turns to rage inclined.
306
The restless roll of the Biscayan bay.
There treach'rous Dunkirk, and Saint Malo's here,
Alike conceal the lurking privateer.
In southern seas the uncertain power of Spain,
In northern, dread the more uncertain Dane;
Your islands now th' adventurous French invade,
Now prey with ease on your defenceless trade.
Besides a seaman is a stubborn thing,
Much worse to rule than a submissive king.
Judge not by me of this rebellious crew,
Trust me, my Lord, they more resemble you.
Yet merchants clam'ring at the chance of war,
Are louder than the patriot or the tar.
Nor think I want my promise to evade,
When only this department I dissuade.
307
And call promotion from the East or West;
Thy choice in Ireland, or the Indias make,
And thence a government or pension take.
Whate'er you ask you surely shall obtain,
But to ask wisely you must ask again.
| The Works of Richard Owen Cambridge | |