A Collection Of Poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

Great Minister, whose gen'rous Soul disdains
The sordid Flatt'rer's unavailing Pains,
To whom in vain the abject Rhymer sings;
In vain the venal Muse extends her Wings.
On such cheap Incense thou with Scorn look'st down,
Yet on the modest Muse dost never frown,
Whose honest Art thy Actions wou'd rehearse,
And justly turn the Panegyrick Verse.

A Heroe's Soul supplies it-self with Fame,
And wou'd be injur'd by a borrow'd Name;

It want's not Praise, fill'd with its own desert,
Like Bullion Gold, tho' unadorn'd by Art.

But yet the Patriot's Cares, or Warrior's Fire,
The World in Silence never will admire.
The Nine, and Phœbus' Self forbid that crime,
Just Panegyrick is the Soul of Rhyme.
Hence for his Dorset Dryden's Harp was strung,
Hence to the Great Mecœnas Horace sung,
To Nassau, Prior, and to Brunswick Young.
Oh! were my Soul endu'd with equal Fire,
Such warmth Divine wou'd some kind Muse inspire,
Or Maro's then I'd scorn, or Pindar's Fame,
Equal to theirs my Verse, and greater far my Theme.

Yet mount, my Muse, enflam'd with juster Fire,
In Strains which Walpole only can inspire;
With his fair Acts adorn the slowing Verse,
Which loftiest Song may sing, or strictest Truth rehearse.

When Rome from Pontus' Shore Victorious turn'd,
And the great King his Strength inferiour mourn'd,
The Roman Name with Fear each Nation knew,
And with her Eagles certain Conquest flew:
Yet had not then the Prudent Tully rose,
And from Rome's Senate cull'd her fiercest Foes,
Struck by her Sons her blasted Fame had lain,
And her long Race of Consuls fought in vain.

BRITANNIA! thus with thickest Laurels crown'd
Her greater Pow'r, by trembling Gallia own'd:
Had well nigh fall'n, eclips'd her long Renown
And Nassau's Works, and Marlb'rough's Toils undone;
For Catilines fierce War was dreaded less,
Than Harley's treach'rous Arts, and St. John's fatal Peace.

This Walpole saw, and greatly dar'd oppose
United Pow'r, and Crouds of treach'rous Foes.

While he maintain'd his future Master's right,
Nor Chains cou'd hurt, nor threaten'd Death affright.
Till Brunswick came, (blest ever be the Day)
And sav'd the Realms which he was doom'd to Sway.
Th'illustrious Stranger saw the Wounds, and Griev'd,
Which Britain from her Guardians had receiv'd;
And view'd with noble Scorn a Wretch so mean
As dar'd, to gain a Smile, betray his Queen.
But fill'd with Joy he saw the Glorious few,
To their just Cause 'midst thousand Dangers true.
Thee, Walpole, chief his well judg'd Favours own,
Thee, who coud'st guard his Right, he bad defend his Throne.

And when some younger Guards of Britain's State,
That may in long Futurity be great;
Shall roll the well wrote Annals back with Care,
And Age impartially with Age compare:

See the Third Edward glorious in the Field,
And haughty FRANCE to youthful Henry yield.
Behold with joy Eliza's Halcyon Days,
And run great William's Labours o'er with Praise.
Where the First Brunswick's Reign the Pages tell,
Their Soul shall there in sweet Attention dwell.
Shall see or Tudor's Olives springing there,
Or Laurels which Plantagenets might wear.
There Churchill shone, Illustrious from his fall,
Less dreaded was Camillus by the Gaul.
Fair Commerce there with Plenty deck'd each Board,
And ENGLAND's Navies told the Seas their Lord.
That Period mark'd with fairest White shall stand,
When George by Walpole's Counsels rul'd the Land.

Nor yet the Panegyrick Page shall cease,
(For to recite a Brunswick's Acts is praise.)

The next great King shall shine with equal Fame;
Nor Titus yield to Old Vespasian's Name.
There too shall flourish Walpole's Patriot Cares,
The Virtue fix'd which in his Breast he wears;
Th'unchang'd Integrity, extensive Thought,
And deep Design to ripe Perfection brought:
The Zeal with which he pleads his Country's right,
And wrests the Sword from Kings resolv'd to Fight.

HE whose young Valour gain'd the Laurel Crown,
That but his second Praise with Pride shall own;
While from his calmer Greatness springs a Peace,
A Nations Joy, a Monarch's noble Ease.
For not the field of Death gives Fame alone,
Prevented Wars are more than Battles won.