 | Poems on several occasions |  |
II.—UPON THE JEWEL OF THE TOWER. 1716.
I
In glorious Anna's later time,When Whigs were stripp'd of sovereign power,
Their wits extoll'd in ballad-rhyme
A precious Jewel of the Tower.
II
O might they now repeat their art!How Britain would rejoice once more,
Could she but see the second part
Of that same Jewel in the Tower!
III
The second part to the same tune,To mend what was amiss before;
That greater care might now be shown
To keep the Jewel in the Tower.
615
IV
Case-harden'd Steele it did surpass,Yet still grew harder every hour:
And such a rarity, sure, was
No where so well as in the Tower!
V
The gems were once, we know, purloin'd:But now that trick can take no more;
They're safe in locks and bars confined:
And so should this, too, in the Tower.
VI
But let the counterfeit be shown,And cant abuse our ears no more;
The gem became the case of stone;
Walpole was Jewel of the Tower.
VII
It was not George's gem, they said,Nor of his partner Anna's store:
'Tis pity, then, he kept his head,
Or e'er came living from the Tower.
VIII
He ne'er deserved, we'll all agree,The same that Cæsar did before:
Subjects the gems of crowns may be,
But Whigs the monsters of the Tower.
616
IX
His claws at least should be securedFrom ever doing mischief more,
When safe in dens for life immured,
Like other monsters of the Tower.
X
So might his savage rage be stopp'd;So might he roar, but not devour;
Or slaughter beasts alone when coop'd,
Like other monsters, in the Tower.
XI
Murders at home and wars abroadMust sate his thirst of human gore:
Monsters so greedy after blood
Appear but seldom in the Tower.
XII
Since Whigs sang songs when you were in;Since, now you're out on 't, Tories lour;
There, all agree, you brightest shine:
Again be glorious in the Tower!
XIII
Not only ballads should displayThy merits, as they did before;
But bonfires brighten all thy way,
And guns salute thee at the Tower.
| Poems on several occasions | |