Valentine Verses or, Lines of Truth, Love, and Virtue. By the Reverend Richard Cobbold |
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KING GEORGE THE THIRD. |
 | Valentine Verses |  |
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KING GEORGE THE THIRD.
Honor the King!—Pray tell me, tell me how?
Must worship him as God? O no, no, no!
Kings are but mortal! honor lasts its day;
His Majesty and ministers must pass away.
If ranks of men for mutual support,
To laws of wisdom happily resort,
With one consent acknowledging a King,
Their lord and governor, and kindly bring
The grateful tribute in affection true,
Say not they pay him grudgingly his due.
Kings have great cares, temptations more than we,
Much to discharge to make their people free.
No common lot the sway of England's crown,
In times of trouble ministers have known;
Long may they know that wisdom is a plant,
More strong in structure than the elephant;
Swift as the horse, as patient as the slave,
Free as the light'ning, fearless as the brave;
Sharp as the sword, more subtle than the snake,
Alive to liberty, to love awake:—
Long may this knowledge actuate the great,
Preserve the King, his ministers, and state.
Must worship him as God? O no, no, no!
Kings are but mortal! honor lasts its day;
His Majesty and ministers must pass away.
If ranks of men for mutual support,
To laws of wisdom happily resort,
With one consent acknowledging a King,
Their lord and governor, and kindly bring
The grateful tribute in affection true,
Say not they pay him grudgingly his due.
Kings have great cares, temptations more than we,
Much to discharge to make their people free.
No common lot the sway of England's crown,
In times of trouble ministers have known;
Long may they know that wisdom is a plant,
More strong in structure than the elephant;
246
Free as the light'ning, fearless as the brave;
Sharp as the sword, more subtle than the snake,
Alive to liberty, to love awake:—
Long may this knowledge actuate the great,
Preserve the King, his ministers, and state.
Say not, ye furious, I write this line
To flatter any one, to seek to shine,
To court the great, to praise the rich and proud,
To gain the plaudits of the assembled crowd:
I write for love, and rather would I crave
Good will of one, that one in spirit brave,
Than court for Sov'reigns what I could not bear,
Or say a word with sycophantic air.
Pause then my friend, and whilst thou view'st the King,
Thine heart's affection tribute let it bring.
To flatter any one, to seek to shine,
To court the great, to praise the rich and proud,
To gain the plaudits of the assembled crowd:
I write for love, and rather would I crave
Good will of one, that one in spirit brave,
Than court for Sov'reigns what I could not bear,
Or say a word with sycophantic air.
Pause then my friend, and whilst thou view'st the King,
Thine heart's affection tribute let it bring.
Hast thou a father? has he been to thee
That which a parent to a child should be?
The King had his, who was to him as much,
And had he children would himself be such.
King George the Third, the father of his race,
My pencil's touch can ill describe his face.
Ne'er saw I Majesty!—Some stately tree,
Oak, ash, or maple, has appeared to me
Of form majestic; but a mighty king
I never saw one—never saw such thing!
King George the Third! report, or love, or fame,
Has stampt amongst us honor on his name;
In life domestic, he was lov'd of those
Who lov'd themselves, and fought against his foes.
Thou lov'st thyself.—I pray thee let us sing,
With hearts of honesty, God save the king!
That which a parent to a child should be?
The King had his, who was to him as much,
And had he children would himself be such.
King George the Third, the father of his race,
My pencil's touch can ill describe his face.
Ne'er saw I Majesty!—Some stately tree,
Oak, ash, or maple, has appeared to me
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I never saw one—never saw such thing!
King George the Third! report, or love, or fame,
Has stampt amongst us honor on his name;
In life domestic, he was lov'd of those
Who lov'd themselves, and fought against his foes.
Thou lov'st thyself.—I pray thee let us sing,
With hearts of honesty, God save the king!
| Valentine Verses | |