ODE SUR LA PRISE DE NAMUR, PAR LES ARMES DU ROY, L'ANNEE MDCXCII. PAR MONSIEUR BOILEAU DESPREAUX. AN ENGLISH BALLAD, ON THE TAKING OF NAMUR, BY THE KING OF GREAT BRITAIN, MDCXCV. ODE SUR LA PRISE DE NAMUR, PAR LES ARMES DI ROY, L'ANNEE MDCXCII. PAR MONSIEUR BOILEAU DESPREAUX. QUELLE docte et sainte yvresse Dans ses chansons immortelles, Si, dans l'ardeur qui m'inspire, AN ENGLISH BALLAD ON THE TAKING OF NAMUR BY THE KING OF Dulce est desipere in loco.1 SOME folks are drunk, yet do not know it: Or virgin of St. Cyr, you saw? Why all this fury? What's the matter, That oaks must come from Thrace to dance? Pindar, that eagle, mounts the skies: Where sordid Int'rest shows the prey. 1 This ballad received great alterations after the first edition of it. The taking of Namur by the French in the year . Est-ce Apollon et Neptune, Et par cent bouches horribles Dix mille vaillans Alcides Namur, devant tes murailles 1692, and the retaking it by the English in the year 1695, were considered by each nation as events which contributed to raise the honour and reputation of the respective kingdoms. Both sieges were carried on by the rival monarchs in person, and the success of each was celebrated by the best writers of the times. It may be doubted whether there ever was a burlesque more agreeably or happily executed than this by our excellent countryman. Neptune and Sol came from above, Shap'd like Megrigny and the Vauban :1 They arm'd these rocks: then show'd old Jove Of Marli wood the wondrous plan. Such walls, these three wise gods agreed, But you and I in Homer read Of gods, as well as men, mistaken. Sambre and Maese their waves may join; Full fifteen thousand lusty fellows With fire and sword the fort maintain; Each was a Hercules, you tell us, Yet out they march'd like common men. Cannons above, and mines below, Did death and tombs for foes contrive: Yet matters have been order'd so, That most of us are still alive. If Namur be compar❜d to Troy; Then Britain's boys excell'd the Greeks: 1 Two celebrated engineers. 2 In the year 1690, notwithstanding numberless difficulties, this famous passage of the river brought on a general engagement, which entirely destroyed the power of King James, and put an end to every hope of success, which he had before entertained from his expedition to Ireland. |