Envied Britannia, sturdy as the oak, Which on her mountain-top she proudly bears, 239 Obstinate power, whom nothing can repel; 241 Not the fierce Saxon, nor the cruel Dane, Nor deep impression of the Norman steel, Nor Europe's force amass'd by envious Spain, Nor France on universal sway intent, Oft breaking leagues, and oft renewing wars ; Nor (frequent bane of weaken'd government) Their own intestine feuds and mutual jars : Those feuds and jars, in which I trusted more, Than in my troops, and fleets, and all the Gallic power. 251 To fruitful Rheims, or fair Lutetia's gate, What tidings shall the messenger convey? Shall the loud herald our success relate, Or mitred priest appoint the solemn day? Alas! my praises they no more must sing; They to my statue now must bow no more: Broken, repuls'd is their immortal king: Fallen, fallen for ever, is the Gallic powerThe woman chief is master of the war: Earth she has freed by arms, and vanquish'd Heaven by prayer. 260 While thus the ruin'd foe's despair commends Oh! deign to let the eldest of the nine To thee, our dearest dread; to thee, our softer king. Let Europe sav'd the column high erect, 270 Sublime the queen shall on the summit stand, 280 There fleets shall strive, by winds and waters toss'd, Till the young Austrian on Iberia's strand, Great as Æneas on the Latian coast, Shall fix his foot: and this, be this the land, Great Jove, where I for ever will remain, (The empire's other hope shall say) and here Vanquish'd, intomb'd I'll lie; or, crown'd, I'll reign! O virtue, to thy British mother dear! Like the fam'd Trojan suffer and abide; 289 For Anne is thine, I ween, as Venus was his guide. There, in eternal characters engrav'd, • Spain, from th' usurper Bourbon's arms retriev'd, son. 300 There Ister, pleas'd by Blenheim's glorious field, Through climes, where never British chief before streams Glorious as those of Boyne, and safe as those of Thames. 310 Vigo was surprised by the Duke of Ormond and Sir George Rooke, and the galleons taken and destroyed in the year 1702; Gibraltar by Sir George Rooke in 1704; and Barcelona by the Prince of Hesse and the Earl of Peterorough in 1705. Brabantia, clad with fields, and crown'd with towers, With decent joy shall her deliverer meet; Shall own thy arms, great queen, and bless thy powers, Laying the keys beneath thy subject's feet. Bright swords, and crested helms, and pointed spears, In artful piles around the work shall lie ; 821 And standards with distinguish'd honours bright, And, as fine art the spaces may dispose, The knowing thought and curious eye shall see Thy emblem, gracious queen, the British rose, Type of sweet rule and gentle majesty: The northern thistle, whom no hostile hand Unhurt too rudely may provoke, I ween; Hibernia's harp, device of her command, And parent of her mirth, shall there be seen: 331 Thy vanquish'd lilies, France, decay'd and torn, Shall with disorder'd pomp the lasting work adorn. Beneath, great queen, oh! very far beneath, For the fair fame of Anne and Albion's land, CANTATA. SET BY MONSIEUR GALLIARD. RECIT. ENEATH a verdant laurel's ample shade ARIET. Potent Venus, bid thy son Sound no more his dire alarms |