Of debtor, ftrait his body, to the touch
Obfequious (as whilom knights were wont)
To fome enchanted caftle is convey'd,
Where gates impregnable, and coercive chains,
In durance ftri&t detain him, till, in form
Of money, Pallas fets the captive free.
Beware ye debtors! when ye walk, beware,
Be circumfpect; oft with infidious ken
The caitiff eyes your steps aloof, and oft
Lies perdue in a nook or gloomy cave,
Prompt to inchant fome inadvertent wretch
With his unhallow'd' touch. So (poets sing)
Grimalkin, to domestic vermin fworn
An everlasting foe, with watchful eye
Lies nightly brooding o'er a chinky gap,
Protending her fell claws, to thoughtless mice
Sure ruin. So her difembowel'd web
Arachne, in a hall or kitchen, spreads
Obvious to vagrant flies: fhe fecret stands
Within her woven cell; the humming prey,
Regardless of their fate, rush on the toils
Inextricable, nor will aught avail
Their arts, or arms, or fhapes of lovely hue;
The wafp infidious, and the buzzing drone,
And butterfly proud of expanded wings
Difline with gold, entangled in her fnares,
Ufelefs refiftance make: with eager ftrides,
She towering flies to her expected spoils;
Then, with envenom'd jaws, the vital blood
Drinks of reluctant foes, and to her cave
Their bulky carcases triumphant drags.
So pafs my days. But, when nocturnal shades
This world invelop, and th' inclement air
Perfuades men to repel benumbing frosts
With pleafant wines, and crackling blaze of wood;
Me, lonely fitting, nor the glimmering light
Of make-weight candle, nor the joyous talk
Of loving friend, delights; diftrefs'd, forlorn,
Amidst the horrors of the tedious night,
Darkling I figh, and feed with difmal thoughts
My anxious mind; or fometimes mournful verfe
Indite, and fing of groves and myrtle fhades,
Or defperate lady near a purling stream,
Or lover pendent on a willow-tree.
Meanwhile I labour with eternal drought,
And reftlefs with, and rave; my parched throat
Finds no relief, nor heavy eyes repose:
But if a flumber haply does invade
My weary limbs, my fancy's ftill awake,
Thoughtful of drink, and eager, in a dream,
Tipples imaginary pots of ale,
In vain; awake I find the settled thirst
Still gnawing, and the pleasant phantom curfe.
Thus do I live, from pleafure quite debarr'd,
Nor tafte the fruits that the fun's genial rays
Mature, john-apple, nor the downy peach,
Nor walnut in rough-furrow'd coat fecure,
Nor medlar fruit delicious in decay;
Afflictions great! yet greater still remain:
My Galligafkins, that have long withstood
The winter's fury, and encroaching frofts,
By time fubdued (what will not time fubdue!)
An horrid chafm difclos'd with orifice
Wide, difcontinuous; at which the winds
Eurus and Aufter, and the dreadful force
Of Boreas, that congeals the Cronian waves,
Tumultuous enter with dire chilling blafts,
Fortending agues. Thus a well-fraught ship,
Long fail'd fecure, or through th' Ægean dep
Or the Ionian, till cruifing near
The Lilybean fhore, with hideous crush
On Scylla, or Charybdis (dangerous rocks!)
She ftrikes rebounding; whence the shatter
So fierce a fhock unable to withstand,
Admits the fea; in at the gaping fide
The crowding waves gush with impetuous ragt
Refiftlefs, overwhelming; horrors feize
The mariners; death in their eyes appears,
They stare, they lave, they pump, they f
they pray:
(Vain efforts!) ftill the battering waves rubi
Implacable, till, delug'd by the foam,
The fhip finks foundering in the vast abyfi.
FROM low and abject themes the groveling Ma
Now mounts aërial, to fing of arms
Triumphant, and emblaze the martial acts
Of Britain's hero; may the verse not fink
Beneath his merits, but detain a while
Thy ear, O Harley*! (though thy country'
Depends on thee, though mighty Anne requ
Thy hourly counfels) fince, with every art
Thyfelf adorn'd, the mean effays of youth
Thou wilt not damp, but guide, wherever fo
The willing genius to the Mufes' feat:
Therefore thee first, and last, the Mufe hall ig
Long had the Gallic monarch, uncontrol,
Enlarg'd his borders, and of human force
Opponent flightly thought, in heart elate,
As erft Sefoftris (proud Egyptian king,
That monarchs harnefs'd to his chariot yokt
(Bafc fervitude!) and his dethron'd compeers
Lafht furious; they in fullen majesty
Drew the uneafy load; nor lefs he aim'd
At universal sway: for William's arm
Could nought avail, however fam'd in war;
Nor armies leagu'd, that diverfly effay'd
To curb his power enormous; like an oak,
That stands fecure, though all the winds empley
Their ceaseless roar, and only sheds its leaves,
Or mast, which the revolving fpring reftores.
So flood he, and alone; alone defy'd
The European thrones combin'd, and ftill
Had fet at nought their machinations vain,
But that great Anne, weighing th' events of war
Momentous, in her prudent heart, thee chole,
Thee, Churchill! to direct in nice extremes
Her banner'd legions. Now their priftine was
The Britons recollect, and gladly change
Sweet native home for unaccustom'd air,
And other climes, where different food and fad
Portend diftempers; over dank, and dry,
They journey toilfome, unfatigued with length
* This poem was infcribed to the Right Honoura Robert Harley, Efq. 1705, then Speaker of the Hout. Commons, and Secretary of State.
Of march, unftruck with horror at the fight
Of Alpine ridges bleak, high-stretching hills
All white with fummer's fnows. They go beyond
The trace of English fteps, where fcarce the found
Of Henry's arms arriv'd; fuch ftrength of heart
Thy conduct and example gives; nor small
Encouragement: Godolphin, wife and juft,
Equal in merit, honour, and fuccefs,
To Burleigh (fortunate alike to ferve
The best of Queens): he, of the royal store
Splendidly frugal, fits whole nights devoid
Of fweet repofe, indufirious to procure
The foldier's ease; to regions far remote
His care extends; and to the British hoft
Makes ravish'd countries plenteous as their own.
And now, O Churchill! at thy wisht approach
The Germans, hopeless of fuccefs, forlorn,
With many an inroad gor'd, their drooping cheer
New-animated roufe; not more rejoice
The miserable race of men, that live
Benighted half the year, benumb'd with frosts
Perpetual, and rough Boreas' keeneft breath,
Under the polar Bear, inclement sky!
When firft the fun with new-born light removes
The long-incunibent gloom; gladly to thee
Heroic laurel'd Eugene yields the prime,
Nor thinks it diminution, to be rankt
In military honour next, although
His deadly hand fhook the Turchestan throne
Accurs'd, and prov'd in far-divided lands
Victorious; on thy powerful fword alone
Germania and the Belgic coaft relies,
Won from th' encroaching fea: that sword great
Anne
Fix'd not in vain on thy puiffant fide,
When thee fh'enroll'd her garter'd knights among,
Illuftrating the noble lift; her hand
Affures good omens, and Saint George's worth
Enkindles like defire of high exploits.
Immediate fieges, and the tire of war,
Roll in thy eager mind; thy plumy creft
Nods horrible; with more terrific port
Thou walk', and feem'ft already in the fight.
What fpoils, what conquests, then did Albion,
hope
From thy atchievements! yet shou haft furpaft
Her boldeft vows, exceeded what thy foes
Could fear or fancy; they, in multitude
Superior, fed their thoughts with prospect vain
of victory and rapine, reckoning what
From rantom'd captives would accrue. Thus one
Jovial his mate befpoke: O friend, obferve
How gay with all th'accoutrements of war
The Britons come, with gold well fraught, they
Thus far our prey, and tempt us to fubdue
Their recreant force; how will their bodies ftript
Enrich the victors, while the vultures fate
Their maws with full repast !—Another, warm'd
With high ambition, and conceit of prowess
Inherent, arrogantly thus prefum'd:
What if this word, full often drench'd in blood
Of bafe antagonists, with griding edge
Should now cleave theer the execrable head
Of Churchill, met in arms! or if this hand,
Soon as his army difarray'd 'gins swerve,
Should stay him flying, with retentive gripe,
Confounded and appal'd! no trivial price"
Should fet him free, nor fmall fhould be my praise
To lead him shackled, and expos'd to scorn
Of gathering crowds, the Briton's boasted chief.
Thus they, in fportive mood, their empty taunts
And menaces exprest; nor could their prince
In arms, vain Tallard, from opprobrious speech
Refrain: Why halt ye thus, ye Britons? Why
Decline the war? Shall a morafs forbid
Your easy match? Advance; we'll bridge a way
Safe of accefs. Imprudent, thus t' invite
A furious lion to his folds! That boaft
He ill abides; captiv'd, in other plight
He foon revifits Britany, that once
Refplendent came, with ftretcht retinue girt,
And pompous pageantry; O hapless fate,
If any arm, but Churchill's, had prevail'd!
No need fuch boasts, or exprobrations false
Of cowardice; the military mound
The British files tranfcend, in evil hour
For their proud foes, that fondly brav'd their fate
And now on either fide the trumpets blew,
Signal of onfet, resolution firm
Infpiring, and pernicious love of war.
The adverse fronts in rueful conflict meet,
Collecting all their might; for on th`event
Decifive of this bloody day depends
The fate of kingdoms: with lefs vehemence
The great competitors for Rome engag'd,
Cæfar, and Pompey, on Pharfalian plains,
Where ftern Bellona, with one final stroke,
Adjudg'd the empire of this globe to one.
Here the Bavarian duke his brigades leads,
Gallant in arms, and gaudy to behold,
Bold champion! brandishing his Noric blade,
Beft temper'd fteel, fuccefslefs prov'd in field!
Next Tallard, with his Celtic infantry
Presumptuous comes; here Churchill, not fo prompt
To vaunt as fight, his hardy cohorts joins
With Eugene's German force. Now from each
The brazen inftruments of death discharge
Horrific flames, and turbid streaming clouds
Of smoke fulphureous; intermixt with these
Large globous irons fly, of dreadful hifs,
Singeing the air, and from long distance bring
Surprising flaughter; on each fide they fly
By chains connext, and with destructive sweep
Behead whole troops at once; the hairy fcalps
Are whirl'd aloof while numerous trunks beftrew
Th'enfanguin'd field: with latent mischief ftor'd
Showers of granadoes rain, by sudden burst
Difploding murderous bowels, fragments of fteel,
And ftones, and glass, and nitrous grain aduft;
A thousand ways at once the fhiver'd orbs
Fly diverfe, working torment, and foul rout
With deadly bruise, and gafhes furrow'd deep.
Of pain impatient, the high-prancing fteeds
Difdain the curb, and, flinging to and fro,
Spurn their difmounted riders; they expire
Indignant, by unhoftile wounds deftroy'd.
Thus through each army death in various fhapes Prevail'd; here mangled limbs, here brains and gore
Lie clotted; lifeless some: with anguish these
Gnashing, and loud laments invoking aid,
Unpity'd, and unheard; the louder din
Of
guns, and trumpets' clang, and folemn found
Of drums, o'ercame their groans. In equal fcale
Long hung the fight; few marks of fear were
feen,
None of retreat. As when two adverse winds,
Sublim'd from dewy vapours, in mid-sky
Engage with horrid fhock, the ruffled brine
Roars stormy, they together dash the clouds,
Levying their equal force with utmost rage;
Long undecided lasts the airy ftrife:
So they incens'd; till Churchill, viewing where
The violence of Tallard moft prevail'd,
Came to oppofe his flaughtering arm; with speed
Precipitant he rode, urging his way
O'er hills of gafping heroes, and fall'n steeds
Rolling in death: deftruction, grim with blood,
Attends his furious courfe. Him thus enrag'd,
Defcrying from afar, some engineer,
Dextrous to guide th' unerring charge, design'd
By one nice fhot to terminate the war.
With aim direct the levell'd bullet flew,
But mifs'd her fcope (for Destiny withstood
Th' approaching wound) and guiltless plough'd
Beneath his courfer; round his facred head
The glowing balls play innocent, while he
With dire impetuous fway deals fatal blows
Amongst the fcatter'd Gauls. But O! beware,
Great warrior! nor, too prodigal of life,
Expose the British safety: hath not Jove
Already warn'd thee to withdraw? Referve
Thyfelf for other palms. Ev'n now thy aid
Eugene, with regiments unequal prest,
Awaits; this day of all his honours gain'd
Defpoils him, if thy fuccour opportune
Defends not the fad hour: pernit not thou
So brave a leader with the vulgar herd
To bite the ground unnotted.-Swift, and fierce
As wintery storm, he flies, to reinforce
The yielding wing; in Gallic blood again
He dews his reeking sword, and ftrews the ground
With headless ranks (fo Ajax interpos'd
His fevenfold fhield, and screen'd Laertes' fon,
For valour much, and warlike wiles, renown'd,
When the infulting Trojans urg'd him fore
With tilted fpears): unmanly dread invades
The French aftony'd; ftrait their useless arms
They quit, and in ignoble flight confide,
Unfeemly yelling; diftant hills return
The hideous noife. What can they do? or how
Withstand his wide-destroying sword? or where
Find fhelter, thus repuls'd? Behind, with wrath
Refiftlefs, th' eager English champions prefs,
Chaftiling tardy flight; before them rolls
His current swift, the Danube vaft and deep,
Supreme of rivers! to the frightful brink,
Urg'd by compulsive arms, foon as they reacht,
New horror chill'd their veins: devote they faw
Themselves to wretched doom; with efforts vain,
Encourag'd by despair, or obftinate
To fall like men in arms, fome dare renew
Feeble engagement, meeting glorious fate
On the firm land; the reft, discomfited,
And pusht by Marlborough's avengeful hand,
Leap plunging in the wide-extended flood.
Bands numerous as the Memphian foldiery
That fwell'd the Erythræan wave, when wall'd
The unfroze waters marvellously stood,
Obfervant of the great command. Upborne
By frothy billows thousands float the stream
In cumbrous mail, with love of farther there;
Confiding in their hands, that fed'lous ftrive
To cut th' outrageous fluent in this distress,
Ev'n in the fight of death, fome tokens fhew
Of fearless friendship, and their finking mates
Sustain vain love, though laudable! absorb'd
By a fierce eddy, they together found
The vast profundity; their horses paw
The swelling furge with fruitlefs toil surcharge.
And in his courfe obftructed by large spoil,
The river flows redundant, and attacks
The lingering remnant with unusual tide;
Then rolling back, in his capacious lap
Ingulfs their whole militia, quick immers'd.
So when some fweltering travellers retire
To leafy shades, near the cool sunless verge
Of Paraba, Brazilian stream; her tail
| Of vaft extenfion from her watery den,
A grifly Hydra fuddenly shoots forth.
Infidious, and with curl'd envenom'd train
Embracing horridly, at once the crew
Into the river whirls: th' unweeting prey
Entwisted roars, th' affrighted flood rebounds.
Nor did the British fquadrons now furceafe
To gall their foes o'erwhelm'd; full many felt
In the moist element a fcorching death,
Pierc'd finking; shrouded in a dusky cloud
The current flows, with livid miflive flames
Boiling, as once Pergamean Xanthus boil'd,
Inflam'd by Vulcan, when the swift-footed foa
Of Peleus to his baleful banks pursued
The fraggling Trojans: nor lefs eager drove
Victorious Churchill his defponding foes
Into the deep immense, that many a league
Impurpled ran, with gushing gore diftained.
Thus the experienc'd valour of one man, Mighty in conflict, rescued harrass'd powers From ruin impendent, and th' afflicted throne Imperial, that once lorded o'er the world, Suftain'd. With prudent stay he long defer'd The rough contention, nor would deign to rout An hoft difparted; when in union firm Embody'd they advanc'd, collecting all Their ftrength, and worthy seemed to be subdued. He the proud boafters fent, with stern assault, Down to the realms of Night. The British fools, (A lamentable race!) that ceas'd to breathe, On Landen plains, this heavenly gladfome air, Exult to see the crowding ghosts descend Unnumber'd; well aveng'd, they quit the cares Of mortal life, and drink th' oblivious lake. Not fo the new inhabitants: they roam Erroneous, and disconsolate; themselves Accufing, and their chiefs, improvident Of military chance; when lo! they see, Through the dun mist, in blooming beauty freft, Two lovely youths, that amicably walked
'er verdant meads, and pleas'd, perhaps, revolv'd Anna's late conquefts; one, to empire born, Egregious Prince, whose manly childhood fhew'd His mingled parents, and portended joy. Unspeakable; † thou, his affociate dear Once in this world, nor now by fate disjoin'd, Had thy prefiding ftar propitious fhone, Should't Churchill be! but Heaven fevere cut [boaft Their fpringing years, nor would this ifle fhould Gifts fo important! them the Gallic fhades Surveying, read in either radiant look Marks of exceffive dignity and grace, Delighted; till, in one, their curious eye Difcerns their great fubduer's awful mien, And correfponding features fear; to thena Confufion! ftrait the airy phantoms fleet, With headlong hafte, and dread a new pursuit. The image pleas'd with joy paternal smiles.
Enough, O Mufe: the fadly-pleafing theme
Leave, with these dark abodes, and re-afcend
To breathe the upper air, where triumphs wait
The conqueror, and fav'd nations' joint acclaim.
Hark! how the cannon, inoffenfive now,
Gives figns of gratulation; ftruggling crowds
From every city flow; with ardent gaze
Fixt, they behold the British Guide, of fight
Infatiate; whilft his great redeeming hand
Each prince affects to touch respectful. See
How Pruffia's King transported entertains
His mighty gueft! to hin the royal pledge,
Hope of his realm, commits (with better fate,
Than to the Trojan Chief Evander gave
Unhappy Pallas) and entreats to shew
The skill and rudiments auftere of war.
See, with what joy, him Leopold declares
His great Deliverer; and courts t'accept
Of titles, with fuperior modesty
Better refus'd! Meanwhile the haughty King
Far humbler thoughts now learns: defpair, and
Now first he feels; his laurels all at once
Torn from his aged head in life's extreme,
Distract his foul! nor can great Boileau's harp
Of various founding wire, beft taught to calm
Whatever paffion, and exalt the foul
With highest strains, his languid fpirits cheer:
Rage, fhame, and grief, alternate in his breast.
But who can tell what pangs, what sharp re-
morfe,
Torment the Boian prince? from native foil
Exil'd by Fate, torn from the dear embrace
Of weeping confort, and depriv'd the fight
Of his young guiltless progeny, he feeks
Inglorious fhelter, in an alien land;
Deplorable! but that this mind averfe
To right, and insincere, would violate
His plighted faith: why did he not accept
Friendly compofure offer'd ? or well weigh
With whom he must contend? encountering fierce
The Solymean Sultan, he o'erthrew
His moony troops, returning bravely smear'd
With Painim blood effus'd; nor did the Gaul
Not find him once a baleful foe: but when,
* Duke of Gloucefter + Marquis of Blandford.
Of counsel rafh, new measures he pursues,
Unhappy Prince! (no more a Prince) he fees
Too late his error, forc'd t' implore relief
Of him, he once defy'd. O deftitute
Of hope, unpity'd! thou should'st first have thought
Of perfevering ftedfast; now upbraid
Thy own inconftant, ill-afpiring heart.
Lo! how the Noric plains, through thy default
Rife hilly, with large piles of flaughter'd knights,
Beft men, that warr'd ftill firmly for their prince
Though faithlefs, and unshaken duty fhew'd';
Worthy of better end. Where cities stood,
Well fene'd and numerous, defolation reigns,
And emptiness, difmay'd, unfed, unhous'd;
The widow and the orphan ftrole around
The defert wide; with oft retorted eye
They view the gaping walls, and poor remains
Of manfions, once their own (now loathfome
haunts
Of birds obfcene), bewailing loud the lofa
Of fpoufe, or fire, or fon, ere manly prime,
Slain in fad conflict, and complain of fate
As partial, and too rigorous; nor find
Where to retire themselves, or where appease
Th' afflictive keen defire of food, expos'd
To winds, and forms, and jaws of favage beasts.
Thrice happy Albion! from the world disjoin'
By Heaven propitious, blifsful feat of peace!
Learn from thy neighbours miferies to prize
Thy welfare; crown'd with Nature's choiceft gift.
Remote thou hear'ft the dire effect of war,
Depopulation, void alone of fear
And peril, whilft the difmal fymphony
Of drums and clarions, other realms annoys.
Th' Iberian fceptre undecided, here
Engages mighty hosts in wafteful strife:
From different climes the flower of youth de-
fcends,
Down to the Lufitanian vales, refolv'd
With utmost hazard to enthrone their prince,
Gallis or Auftrian; havoc dire enfues,
And wild uproar: the natives dubious whom
They must obey, in consternation wait,
Till rigid conqueft will pronounce their liege.
Nor is the brazen voice of war unheard
On the mild Latian fhore: what fighs and tears
Hath Eugene caus'd! how many widows curfe
His cleaving faulcheon! fertile foil in vain!
What do thy pastures, or thy vines avail,
Best boon of Heaven! or huge Taburnus, cloth'&
With olives, when the cruel battle mows
The planters, with their harvest immature?
See, with what outrage from the frosty north,
The early valiant Swede draws forth his wings
In battailous array, while Volga's ftreant
Sends oppofite, in fhaggy armour clad,
Her borderers; on mutual flaughter bent,
They rend their countries, How is Poland vex
With civil broils, while two elected kings
Contend for fway? unhappy nation, left
Thus free of choice! The English, undi@urb'd
With fuch fad privilege, fubmifs obey
Whom Heaven ordains fupreme, with reverence
Not thraldom, in fit liberty fecure:
From fcepter'd kings, in long descent deriv❜d,
Thou, Anna, ruleft: prudent to promote
Thy people's ease at home, nor studious lefs
Of Europe's good; to thee, of kingly right,
Sole arbitrefs, declining thrones, and powers
Sue for relief; thou bid'ft thy Churchill go,
Succour the injur'd realms, defeat the hopes
Of haughty Louis, unconfin'd; he goes
Obfequious, and the dread command fulfils,
In one great day. Again thou giv'ft in charge
To Rooke, that he should let that monarch know,
The empire of the ocean wide diffus'd
Is thine; behold! with winged fpeed he rides
Undaunted o'er the labouring main t'affert
Thy liquid kingdoms; at his near approach
The Gallic navies inipotent to bear
His volly'd thunder, torn, diffever'd, fcud,
And bless the friendly interpofing night.
Hail, mighty Queen! referv'd by Fate to grace
The new-born age: what hopes may we conceive
Of future years, when to thy early reign
Neptune fubmits his trident, and thy arms
Already have prevail'd to th' utmoft bound
Hefperian, Calpe, by Alcides fixt,
Mountain fublime, that cafts a fhade of length
Immeasurable, and rules the inland waves!
Let others, with infatiate thirst of rule,
Invade their neighbours lands, neglect the ties
Of leagues and oaths; this thy peculiar praise.
Be ftill, to study right, and quell the force
Of kings perfidious; let then learn from thee
That neither ftrength, nor policy refin'd,
Shall with fuccefs be crown'd, where juftice fails.
Thou, with thy own content, not for thyself,
Subdueft regions, generous to raise
The fuppliant knee, and curb the rebel neck.
The German boasts thy conquefts, and enjoys
The great advantage; nought to thee redounds
But fatisfaction from thy conscious mind.
Aufpicious Queen! fince in thy realms, fecure
Of peace thou reign'ft, and victory attends
Thy diftant enfigns, with compaffion view
Europe embroil'd; still thou (for thou alone
Sufficient art) the jarring kingdoms ire,
Reciprocally ruinous; fay who
Shall wield th' Hefperian, who the Polish fword,
By thy decree? the trembling lands fhall hear
Thy voice, obedient, left thy scourge should bruife
Their ftubborn necks, and Churchill, in his wrath,
Make them remember Blenheim with regret.
Thus fhall the nations, aw'd to peace, extol
Thy power, and justice: Jealoufies and Fears,
And Hate infernal banish'd, shall retire
To Mauritania, or the Bactrian coafts,
On Tartary, engendering difcords fell
Amongst the enemies of truth; while arts
Pacific, and inviolable love,
Flourish in Europe. Hail, Saturnian days
Returning in perpetual tenor run
Delectable, and fhed your influence sweet
On virtuous Anna's head: ye happy days,
By her restor'd, her just designs complete,
And, mildly on her thining, blefs the world!
Thus, from the noify world exempt, with eafe And plenty bleft, amid the mazy groves,
(Sweet folitude!) where warbling birds provoke
The filent Mufe, delicious rural feat
Of St. John, English Memmius, I prefum'd
To fing Britannic trophies, inexpert
Of war, with mean attempt; while he intent
(So Anna's will ordains) to expedite
His military charge*, no leifure finds
To ftring his charming fhell: but when return'd
Confummate Peace fhall rear her cheerful head;
Then fhall his Churchill, in fublimer verse,
For ever triumph; latest times shall learn
From fuch a Chief to fight, and Bard to fing.
AD HENRICUM ST. JOHN, ARMIG. 1706.
O qui recife finibus Indicis
Benignus herbæ, das mihi divitem
Haurire fuccum, et fauveolentes
Sæpe tubis itcrare fumos;
Qui folus acri refpicis afperum
Siti palatum, proluis et mero,
Dulcem olaborant cui faporem
Hefperii pretiumque, foles:
Ecquid reponam muneris omnium
Exors bonorum? prome reconditum,
Pimplæa, carmen, defidéfque
Ad numeros, age, tende chordas.
Ferri fecunda mens avet impetu,
Quà cygniformes per liquidum æthera,
Te, diva, vim præbente, vates
Explicuit venufinus alas:
Solers modorum, feu puerum trucem,
Cum matre flavâ, feu caneret rolas
Et vina, cyrrhæies Hetrufcum
Rite beans equitem sub antris.
At non Lyæi vis generofior
Affluxit illi; fæpe licet cadum
Jadet Falernum, fæpe Chia
Munera, lætitiamque teftæ.
Patronus illi non fuit artium
Celebriorum; fed nec amantior
Nec chares æquè. O! quæ medullas
Flanıma fubit, tacitofque fenfus !
Pertentat, ut téque et tua munera
Gratus recordor, mercurialium
Princeps virorum! et ipfe Mufæ Cultor, et ufque colende Mufts! Sed me minantem grandia deficit Receptus ægrè fpiritus, ilia
Dum pulfat ima, ac inquietum
Taffius agens fine more pectus.
He was then Secretary of War.
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