The Poetical Works Of the Right Honourable Charles [Montagu] Late Earl of Halifax. With His Lordship's Life including the History of his Times. The Second Edition |
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ODE ON THE MARRIAGE Of Her Royal Highness The Princess Anne, AND Prince George of Denmark. |
 | The Poetical Works Of the Right Honourable Charles [Montagu] |  |
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ODE ON THE MARRIAGE Of Her Royal Highness The Princess Anne, AND Prince George of Denmark.
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I.
Whilst black Designs (that direful Work of Fate)Distract the lab'ring State;
Whilst (like the Sea) around loud Discords roar,
Breaking their Fury on the frighted Shoar;
And England does like brave Vienna stand,
Besieg'd by Infidels on either Hand?
What means this peaceful Train? this pompous Sight?
What means this Royal beauteous Pair?
This Troop of Youths, and Virgins heav'nly fair?
That does at once astonish and delight.
Great Charles and his Illustrious Brother here,
No bold Assassinate need fear,
Here is no harmful Weapon found,
Nothing but Cupid's Darts, and Beauty here can wound.
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II.
How grateful does this Scene appearTo us, who might too justly fear
We never should have seen again
Ought bright, but Armour on the Plain?
Ne'er in their chearful Garb t'have seen the Fair,
While all with melting Eyes, and wild dishevel'd Hair,
Had mourn'd their Brothers, Sons, and Husbands slain.
These dusky Shadows make this Scene more bright,
The Horror adds to the Delight.
This glorious Pomp our Spirits chears; from hence
We lucky Omens take, new Happiness commence.
III.
Thus when the gathering Clouds a Storm prepare,And their black Force Associate in the Air;
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Who with kind Warmth and powerful Rays,
Them to that envy'd Height,
From their mean native Earth did raise.)
A thoughtful Sadness sits on all,
Expecting where the full charg'd Clouds will fall:
But if the Heav'nly Bow
Deck'd like a gawdy Bride appears,
And all her various Robes displays,
Painted by th' conq'ring Sun's triumphant Rays,
It Mortals drooping Spirits chears,
Fresh Joy, new Light, each Visage wears:
Again the Seaman trusts the Main,
The jocund Swains their Coverts leave again:
Again, in pleasant warbl'ing Notes,
The chearful Poets of the Wood extend their tuneful Throats.
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IV.
Then, then, my Muse, raise with the Lyre thy Voice,And with thy Lays make Fields and Woods rejoyce:
For lo! the heav'nly Pledge appears,
And in bright Characters the Promise bears:
The factious Deluge shall prevail no more,
In vain they foam, in vain they rage,
Buffet in vain the unmov'd Shore,
Her Charms, and Charles's Power, their Fury shall asswage.
See! see! how decently the bashful Bride
Does bear her Conquests, with how little Pride
She views that Prince, the Captive of her Charms,
Who made the North with Fear to quake,
And did that powerful Empire shake;
Before whose Arms, when great Gustavus led,
The frighted Roman Eagles fled.
V.
Whatever then was his Desire,His Cannons did command in Fire:
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His Love in tim'rous Sighs he breaths,
While all his Spoils, and glorious Wreaths
Of Lawrel, at her Feet the vanquish'd Warrior lays.
Great Prince! by that Submission you'll gain more
Than e'er your haughty Courage won before;
Here on your Knees a greater Trophy gain,
Than that you brought from Lunsden's famous Plain;
Where, when your Brother fired with Success,
Too daringly upon the Foe did press,
And was a Captive made; then you alone
Did with your single Arm support the Throne.
Your generous Breast with Fury boiling o'er,
Like Lightning thro' their scatter'd Troops you flew,
And from th' amazed Foe the Royal Prize in Triumph bore.
VI.
You have your Ancestors in this one Act outdone,Tho' their successful Arms did this whole Isle o'er-run.
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You, to enjoy one spotless as your Fame.
Before them, as they march'd, the Country fled,
And back behind them threw
Their Curses as they flew:
On the bleak Shore, expecting you, they stand,
And with glad Shouts conduct to Land:
Thro' gaping Crowds you're forc'd to press your way,
While Virgins sigh, the young Men shout, and old ones pray.
And with this beauteous Lady you may gain
(This Lady that alone
Of greater Value is than any Throne)
Without that Rapine, Guilt, and Hate,
By a calm and even Fate,
That Empire, which they did so short a while maintain.
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