Humbly infcribed to the UE E E N. W I. WHEN great Auguftus govern'd ancient Rome, And fent his conqu' ing bands to foreign wars, Abroad when dreaded, and belov'd at home; He faw his fame increasing with his years; Horace, great bard (fo fate ordain'd) arose; And bold, as were his countrymen in fight, Snatch'd their fair actions from degrading profe, And fet their battles in eternal light: High as their trumpets tune his lyre he ftrung; When bright Eliza rul'd Britannia's state, III. But, greatest Anna! while thy arms purfue What poet fhall be found to fing thy name? What equal pen fhall write thy wond'rous reign? IV. Me all too mean for fuch a tafk I weet: Yet if the fov'reign lady deigns to fmile, I'll follow Horace with impetuous heat, And cloath the verfe in Spenfer's native ftyle. By thefe examples, rightly taught to fing, And fmit with pleasure of my country's praife, Stretching the plumes of an uncommon wing, High as Olympus I my flight will raife: And latest times fhall in my numbers read Anna's immortal fame, and Marlbro's hardy deed. V. As the ftrong eagle in the filent wood,. Lifts his fierce talon high, and darts the forked fire. VI. ་ Sedáte and calm thus victor Marlbro' fate, Shaded with laurels, in his native land; 'Till Anna calls him from his foft retreat, And gives her fecond thunder to his hand. Then leaving fweet repofe, and gentle cafe, With ardent speed he feeks the diftant foe :: Marching o'er hills and vales, o'er rocks and feas, He meditates, and ftrikes the wond'rous blow. Our thought flies flower than our general's fame : Grafps he the bolt ? (we afk) when he has hurl'd the flame. VII. When fierce Bavar on Judoign's fpacious plain Did from afar the British chief behold; Betwixt defpair, and rage, and hope, and pain, Something within his warring bofom roll❜d: He views that fav'rite of indulgent fame, Whom whilom he had met on Ifter's fhore: Too well, alas! the man he knows the fame, Whofe prowess there repell'd the Boyan pow'r : And fent them trembling thro' the frighted lands, Swift as the whirlwind drives Arabia's fcatter'd fand. VIII. His former loffes he forgets to grieve; Abfolves his fate, if with a kinder ray It now would fhine, and only give him leave His fide still smarting with the hunter's fpear, In fullen fury traverses the plain To find the vent'rous foe, and battle him again. Mifguided prince no longer urge thy fate, Thy fword did godlike liberty maintain, Muft from thy brow their falling honours shed; And their transplanted wreaths muft.deck a worthier head. X. Yet ceafe the ways of Providence to blame, And human faults with human grief confefs: 'Tis thou art chang'd; while heav'n is ftill the fame From thy ill councils date thy ill fuccefs. Impartial justice holds her equal scales: 'Till ftronger virtue does the weight incline; If over thee thy glorious foe prevails; He now defends the cause, that once was thine. Hark! the dire trumpets found their fhrill alarms Auverquerque, branch'd from the renown'd Naffaus Hoary in war, and bent beneath his arms, His glorious fword with dauntless courage draws. When anxious Britain mourn'd her parting lord, [run. Where-e'er great William led, or Maefe and Sambre XII, But brandish'd high, in an ill-omen'd hour And now fierce Gallia rufhes on her foes, Suftain the impulfe, and receive the war. Round their firm fides in vain the tempeft beats; And still the foaming wave with leffen'd power re treats. XIV. The rage difpers'd, the glorious pair advance,. With mingl'd anger, and collected might,. |