Shall fpurn at freedom's faithful band; Or deal their vengeance with a woman's hand! I care not that in Arno's plain, Or on the sportive banks of Seine, From public themes the Mufe's quire Where priests the ftudious head command, Say, what can public themes afford, Save venal honours to an hateful lord, Referv'd for angry heaven and scorn'd of honest famé? IV. 2. But here, where freedom's equal throne To all her valiant fons is known; Where all are conscious of her cares, And each the power, that rules him, shares; Here let the bard, whose daftard tongue Bid public praise farewell: Let him to fitter climes remove, Far Far from the heroe's and the patriot's love, And lull mysterious monks to flumber in their cell. IV. 3. O HASTINGS, not to all Can ruling heav'n the fame endowments lend: That to one general weal their different powers they bend, Though with new honours the patrician's line He best shall prove, Whose lays the foul with nobleft paffions move. But thee, O progeny of heroes old, Thee to feverer toils thy fate requires: The fate which form'd thee in a chofen mould, Or thy own EDWARD teach his race, Though Gaul's proud genius fank beneath his hand. V. 1. From V. 1. From rich domains and fubject farms, Where, long foretold, The People reigns: ; And judgeth what he fees; and, as he judgeth, wills. V. 2. Here be it thine to calm and guide The fwelling democratic tide; To watch the ftate's uncertain frame, To freedom's banifh'd foes; That monster, which is daily found Expert and bold thy country's peace to wound; Yet dreads to handle arms, nor manly counsel knows. V. 3. 'Tis highest heaven's command, That guilty aims fhould fordid paths pursue ; That what enfnares the heart fhould curb the hand, And virtue's worthlefs foes be falfe to glory too. But look on freedom. fee, through every age, What labours, perils, griefs, hath fhe difdain'd! What arms, what regal pride, what priestly rage, · Have her dread offspring conquer'd or fuftain'd! For Albion well have conquer'd. Let the ftrains Of happy fwains, Which now refound Where Scarfdale's cliffs the fwelling paftures bound, Where Candish, Booth, and Osborne fate; Of papal fnares and lawless arms, They plann'd for freedom this her aweful reign. VI. I. This reign, these laws, this public care, Which Naffau gave us all to fhare, Had Had ne'er adorn'd the English name, Could fear have filenc'd freedom's claim. But fear in vain attempts to bind Those lofty efforts of the mind Which focial good infpires; Where men, for this, affault a throne, Each adds the common welfare to his own; And each unconquer'd heart the strength of all acquires. VI. 2. Say, was it thus, when late we view'd Our fields in civil blood imbrued? When fortune crown'd the barbarous hoft, And half the astonish'd ifle was loft? Did one of all that vaunting train, Durft one in counfels pledge his life? Stake his luxurious fortunes in the ftrife? Or lend his boasted name his vagrant friends to cheer? VI. 3. Yet, HASTINGS, these are they, Who challenge to themselves thy country's love: The true; the conftant: who alone can weigh, What glory should demand, or Liberty approve! But |