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TO THE

QUEEN,

ON HER

MAJESTY'S BIRTH-DAY.

FR

ROM this aufpicious day three kingdoms date
The faireft favours of indulgent Fate:

From this the months in radiant circles run,
As ftars receive their luftre from the fun.

To you the fceptres of all Europe bend,
The victor thofe revere, and thefe the friend;
Your filken reins the willing nations crave,
For 'tis your lov'd prerogative to fare.
Mild amidst triumphs, victory befłows
On you renown, and freedom on your foes ;
Obfervant of your will, the goddess brings
Palms in her hand, and healing in her wings.

But, as the brighteft beams and gentleft showers
Were once referv'd for Eden's opening flowers;
So, though remoter realms your influence fhare,
Britannia boats to be your darling care.
By your great wifdom and refiftlefs might,
Abroad we conquer, and at home unite:
Nature had join'd the lands; but you alone
Make their affections and their councils one;
You fpeak---the jarring principles remove,
And, clofe combin'd, the fifter-nations prove
Rivals alone in loyalty and love."

}

Wl.at

What power would now forbid the warrior-queen
To wave the red-crofs banners o'er the Seine ?
Others for titles urge the foldier's toil,
Or meanly feek the foe, to feize the spoil :
But you for right your pious arms employ,
And conquer to restore, and not destroy ;
Vouchfafing audience to your fuppliant foes,
You long to give the labouring world repofe;
Concurring juftice waits from you the word,
Pleas'd, when you fix the scales, to fheath the fword.
From this propitious omen we prefage
Unnumber'd bleffings to the coming age,
Eftablish'd Faith, the daughter of the skies,
Shall fee new temples by your bounty rife;
Commerce beneath the southern stars fhall thrive,
Inteftine feuds expire, and arts revive;
Safe in their fhades the Mufes fhall remain,
And fing the milder glories of your reign.

So, whilft offended heaven exerts its power,
Swift fly the lightnings, loud the thunders' roar,
But, when our incenfe reconciles the fkies,
Again the radiant beams begin to rife;
Soft Zephyrs gently waft the clouds away,
And fragrant flowers perfume the dawning day;
The groves around rejoice with echoing. ftrains,
And golden Plenty covers all the plains.

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AN

O D

D E

To the Right Honourable

JOHN LORD GOWER.

O'

WRITTEN IN THE SPRING, 1716.

I.

'ER Winter's long inclement fway,
At length the lufty Spring prevails;
And, fwift to meet the fmiling May,
Is wafted by the western gales.
Around him dance the rofy hours,
And damasking the ground with flowers,
With ambient fweets perfume the morn:
With fhadowy verdure flourish'd high,
A fudden youth the groves enjoy;
Where Philomel laments forlorn.

11.

By her awak'd, the woodland choir
To hail the coming god prepares;
And tempts me to resume the lyre,
Soft warbling to the vernal airs.
Yet once more, O ye Mufes! deign
For me, the meanest of your train,
Unblam'd t' approach your bleft retreat :
Where Horace wantons at your spring,
And Pindar fweeps a bolder ftring;
Whofe notes th' Aonian hills repeat.

Or

III.

Or if invok'd, where Thames's fruitful tides,
Slow through the vale in filver volumes play ;
Now your own Phœbus o'er the month prefides,
Gives Love the night, and doubly gilds the day:
Thither, indulgent to my prayer,

Ye bright harmonious nymph repair,
To fwell the notes I feebly raise :
So with infpiring ardors warm'd,
May Gower's propitious car be charm'd,
To listen to my lays.

I.

Beneath the Pole on hills of fnow,

Like Thracian Mars, th' undaunted Swede

To dint of fword defies the foe;

In fight unknowing to recede :

From Volga's banks, th' imperious Czar
Leads forth his furry troops to war ;
Fond of the fofter fouthern sky:
The Soldan gauls th' Illyrian coaft;
But foon the mifcreant moony host,
Before the victor-cross shall fly.

11.

But here, no clarion's fhrilling note
The Mufe's green retreat can pierce;
The grove, from noisy camps remote,
Is only vocal with my verse :
Here, wing'd with innocence and joy,
Let the foft hours that o'er me fly
Y 2

Drop

Drop freedom, health,

and gay

defires :

While the bright Seine, t' exalt the foul,
With fparkling plenty crowns the bowl;
And wit and focial mirth infpires.

III.

Enamour'd of the Seine, celeftial fair,
(The blooming pride of Thetis' azure train)
Bacchus, to win the nymph who caus'd his care,
Lafh'd his fwift tigers to the Celtic plain :
There fecret in her fapphire cell,

He with the Nais wont to dwell;
Leaving the nectar'd feasts of Jove :
And where her mazy waters flow,
He gave the mantling vine, to grow,
A trophy to his love,

I.

Shall man from Nature's fanction stray,
With blind Opinion for his guide;

And, rebel to her rightful fway,
Leave all her bounties unenjoy'd?

away:

Fool! Time no change of motion knows ;
With equal speed the torrent flows,
To fweep Fame, Power, and Wealth
The paft is all by Death poffefs'd;
And frugal Fate that guards the rest,
By giving, bids him live, to-day.

II.

O Gower! through all that deftin'd space
What breath the powers allot to me,

Shall fing the virtues of thy race

United, and complete in thee.

O flower

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