THE

ENGLISH POETS.

L ANSDOWNE'S

PO EM S.

TO THE

Of antique stock her high descent she brings, EARL OF PETERBOROUGH,

Born to renew the race of Britain's Kings ;

Who could deserve, like her, in whom we see Ox bis baffy Accompl foment of the Marriage between United, all that Paris found in three. bis Royal Highness and ibe Princess Mary d'Ejte, O equal Pair ! when both were set above of Medera. Written several years after, in imita- All other merit, but each other's love. tion of the Style of Mr. Waller.

Welcome, bright Princess, to Great Britain's More,

As Berecynthia to bigh Heaven, who bore
Our Britith Jove his nuptial hours employs: That shining race of Goddesses and Gods
So Fate ordains, that all our hopes may be,

That fill'd the skies, and rul'd be blest abodes :
And all our prospect, gallant York, in thee.

From thee, my muse expects as noble Themes, By the lime with aspiring Queens are led,

Another Mars and Jove, another James ; Each languishing to mount his royal bed ;

Our future hopes, all from thy womb arise ; His youth, his wisdom, and his early fame

Our present joy and safety, from your eyes, Create in every breast a rival Aame :

Those charming eyes, which shine to reconcile Remo eft Kings sit trembling on their thrones,

To harmony and peace, our stubborn Ilie. As if no diftince could secure their crowns ;

On brazen Memnon, Phæbus cafts a ray, Fearing his valour, wisely they contend

And the tough metal, so salutes the day. To bribe with beauty lo renown'd a friend ;

The British Dame, fam'd for refiftless grace, Beauty the price, there need no other arts,

Contends not now, but for the second place, Love is the sureft bait for heroes hearts :

Our love suspended, we neglect the fair Nor can the Fair conceal as high concern,

For whom we burn'd, to gaze adoring here. To see the Prince, for whom, unseen, they burn. So ling the syrens with enchanting sound, Brive York, attending to the general voice,

Enticing all to listen and be drown'd; At length resolves to make the withd-for choice,

Till Orpheus ravish'd in a nobler strain, To noble Mordaunt, generous and just,

They ceas’d to sing, or, singing, charm'd in vain. Of his great heart, he gives the sacred trust :

This bleft alliance, Peterborough, may " Thy choice, said he, Mull well direct that heart,

Th’indebted Nation bounteously repay ; " Where thou, my best belov'd, haft such a part,

Thy statues, for the Genius of our lund, " In council oft, and oft in battle try'd,

With palin adorn'd, on every threshold stand. “ Beiwixt thy master, and the world decide.”

-Utinam modo dicere fossem The chosen Mercury prepares t' obey

Carmina digna Dea : Certe eft Dca car mine digna. This high command. Gently ve winds convey And with auspicious gales his fafety wait, On whom depend Great Britain's hopes and fate. So Jason with his Argonauts, from Greece To Cholcos fil'd, to seek the Golden Fleece.

Spokon by the Aut)or, beirg then not twelve years of As when the Goddefles came down of old

Age, to her Royal Highness the Duchefs of York, On Ida's hill, so many ages:old,

ar Trinity College in Cambridge. With gifts their young Dardanian Judge they try'd,

HEN join'd in one, the Good, the Fair, the And each bade high to win him to her side ;

Great, So temp: they him, and emulrusy vie

Descend to view the Muses humble seat, To bribe a voice that empires wɔuld not buy ; Though in mean lines, they their vast joys declare, With balls and banquets, his pleas'd sense they bait, Yet for Sinceri:y and Truth, they dare And Queens and Kings upon his pleasures wait. With your own Tasso's mighty self compare.

Th impartial Judge surveys with vist delight Then, bright and merciful as Hear'n, receive All that the sun surrounds of fair and bright,

From them such praises, as to Heav’n they give, Then, friąly juft, he with adoring eyes,

Their prisises for that gentle influence, To radiant Exe gives the royal prize.

Which those auspicious lights, your eyes, dispense; VOL. V.

B

Those

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M

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Thore radiant eyes, whose irrefiftless Alame

TO THE KING. Strikes Envy dumb, and keeps Sedition tame :

EROES of old, by rapine, and by spoil, They can to gazing multitudes give law,

In search of fame, did all the world embroil ; Convert the factious, and the rebel awe;

Thus to their Gods each then ally'd his name, They conquer for the Duke, where-e'er you tread,

This sprang from Jove, and that from Titan came : Millions of profeiytes, behind are led ;

With equal valour, and the same success, Through crowds of new-made converts fill you go,

Dread King, might'st thou the universe oppress; Pleas'd and triumphant at the glorious how.

But Christian laws constrain thy martial pride, Happy that Prince who has in you obtain'd

Peace is thy choice, and Piety thy guide ; A greater conquest than his arms e'er gain'd.

By thy example Kings are taught to sway,
With all War's rage, he may abroad o'ercome,

Heroes to fight, and saints may learn to pray.
But Love's a gentler victory at home ;
Securely here, he on that face relies,

From Gods descended, and of race divine,
Lays by his arms, and conquers with your eyes.

Nestor in council, and Ulysses shine ; And all the glorious actions of his life

But in a day of battle, all would yield
Thinks well rewarded, bleft with such a wife.

To the fierce master of the seven-fold shield:
Their very deities were grac'd no more,
Mars had the courage, Jove the thunder bore.
But all perfections meet in James alone,

And Britain's King is all the Gods in one.
TO THE KING.
In the first rear of his Majesty's Reigr.

TO THE AUTHOR,
AY all thy years, like this, auspicious be,
And bring thee crowns, and peace, and victory!

On his forcgcing Verses to the King.
Scarce hadit thou time t’unsheath thy conqu’ring blade,

BY MR. EDMUND WALLER.
It did but glitter, and the rebels fed :
Thy sword, the safeguard of thy brother's throne,

N early plant, which such a blossom bears, Is now as much the bulwark of thy own.

And thews a genius so beyond his years, Aw'd by thy fame, the trembling nations fend A judgment that could make so fair a choice, Throughout the world, to court so firm a friend.

So high a subject to employ his voice ; The guilty Senates, that refusèd thy sway,

Still as it grows, how sweetly will he fing
Repent their crime, and hasten to obey ;

The growing greatness of our matchless King.
Tribute they raise, and vows and oft'rings bring,
Confess their phrenzy, and confirm their King,
Who with their venom overspread thy soil,

ANSWER
Those scorpions of the state, present their oil.
So the world's Saviour, like a mortal dreft,

'HEN into Libya the young Grecian came, Although by daily miracles confeft,

To talk with Hammon, and consult for fame; Accused of evil doctrine by the Jews,

When from the sacred tripod where he stood,
The giddy crowd their rightħul Prince refuse; The priest inspir’d, Taluted him a God;
But when they saw such terror in the skies,

Scarce such a joy that haughty victor knew,
The temple rent, their King in glory rise ;

Thus own'd by heaven, as I, thus prais'd by you. Seiz'd wi' h amaze, they own'd their lawful Lord, Whoe'er their names can in thy numbers show, And ftruck with guilt, bow'd, tremblid, and ador'd.

Have more than empire, and immortal grow;
Ages to come shall scorn the pow’rs of old,
When in thy verse, of greater Gods they're told;

Our beauteous Queen, and royal James's name,
TO THE KING.

For Jove and Juno shall be plac'd by fame ;

Thy Charles for Neptune hall the seas command, HO' train't in arms, and learn'd in martial arts,

And Sachariffa thall for Venus ftand:
Thou choosest, not to conquer men, but hearts; Greere shall no longer bouit, nor haughty Rome,

But think from Britain all the Gods did come.
Expecting nations for thy triumphs wait,
But thou preter'it the name of just to GREAT.
So Jove fulpends his subject world to doom,
Which, would he please to thunder, he'd consume.

To the immortal Memory of
O! could the ghosts of mighty heroes dead,

MR. EDMUND WALLER, Return on earth, and quit th' Elyfian shade! Brutus to James would trust the people's cause; Thy justice is a stronger guard than law's.

LIKE partaking of celestial fire, Marius and Sylla would resign to thee,

Poets and Heroes to renown aspire, Nor Cæfar and great Pompey rivals be ;

Till crown'd with honour, and immortal name, Or rivals only, who should beft obey,

By wit, or valour, led to equal fame, And Cato give his voice for regal (way.

They mingle with the Gods who breath'd the noble fame.

To

то

MR. WALLER.

W

TH

UPON HIS

DEATH.

A

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