Her piety itself would blame, If her regrets should waken thine. 26 To cure thy woe, she shows thy fame; Lest the great mourner should forget, 27 William his country's cause could fight, 28 How heroes rise, how patriots set, Thou, greater still, must these excel. 29 The last fair instance thou must give, 30 Thy virtue, whose resistless force 31 For Britain's sake, for Belgia's, live; 32 Vanquish again, though she be gone, Whose garland crowned the victor's hair; And reign, though she has left the throne, 33 Fair Britain never yet before Breathed to her king a useless prayer; Fond Belgia never did implore, While William turned averse his ear. 34 But should the weeping hero now Relentless to their wishes prove; Should he recall, with pleasing woe, The object of his grief and love; 35 Her face with thousand beauties blest, Her mind with thousand virtues stored, Her power with boundless joy confessed, Her person only not adored; 36 Yet ought his sorrow to be checked; 37 She was instructed to command, Great king, by long obeying thee; 38 But oh! 'twas little, that her life O'er earth and water bears thy fame; In death, 'twas worthy William's wife, Amidst the stars to fix his name. 39 Beyond where matter moves, or place Receives its forms, thy virtues roll; From Mary's glory, angels trace The beauty of her partner's soul. 40 Wise Fate, which does its Heaven decree 41 Alone to thy renown 'tis given, Unbounded through all worlds to go; IN IMITATION OF ANACREON. Let the wretches know, I write, Bid the warbling Nine retire; 10 AN ODE. 1 THE merchant, to secure his treasure, 2 My softest verse, my darling lyre, When Cloe noted her desire, That I should sing, that I should play. 3 My lyre I tune, my voice I raise; 4 Fair Cloe blushed: Euphelia frowned: I sung and gazed: I played and trembled; Remarked, how ill we all dissembled. AN ENGLISH BALLAD ON THE TAKING OF NAMUR BY THE KING OF GREAT Dulce est desipere in loco.1 1 SOME folks are drunk, yet do not know it; So might not Bacchus give you law? Was it a Muse, O lofty Poet, Or virgin of St Cyr, you saw? 1 The taking of Namur by the French in the year 1692, and the retaking it by the British 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. Ꭰ Why all this fury? What's the matter, That oaks must come from Thrace to dance; Must stupid stocks be taught to flatter, And is there no such wood in France? Why must the winds all hold their tongue? If they a little breath should raise, Would that have spoiled the Poet's song, Or puffed away the monarch's praise? 2 Pindar, that eagle, mounts the skies: While Virtue leads the noble way: Too like a vulture Boileau flies, Where sordid Interest shows the prey. When once the Poet's honour ceases, From reason far his transports rove; And Boileau, for eight hundred pieces, Makes Louis take the wall of Jove. 3 Neptune and Sol came from above, Shaped like Megrigny and Vauban:1 They armed these rocks, then showed old Jove Of Marli wood the wondrous plan. Such walls, these three wise gods agreed, By human force could ne'er be shaken; you and I in Homer read But Of gods, as well as men, mistaken. Sambre and Maese their waves may join; But ne'er can William's force restrain: He'll pass them both, who passed the Boyne; Remember this and arm the Seine. 4 Full fifteen thousand lusty fellows With fire and sword the fort maintain; |