XII.

"The right alone is bold and ftrong; "Black, hovering clouds appall the wrong With dread of vengeance: nature's awful fire! "Lefs than one moment shouldft Thou frown, "Where is puiffance and renown?

"Thrones tremble, empires fink, or worlds expire. XIII.

"Let George the juft chastise the vain : "Thou, who durft curb the rebel main, "To mount the fhore when boiling billows rave! "Bid George repel a bolder tide,

"The boundlefs fwell of Gallic pride; "And check ambition's overwhelming wave.

XIV.

"And when (all milder means withstood)
"Ambition, tam'd by lofs of blood,

"Regains her reafon; then, on angels wings,
"Let peace defcend, and fhouting greet,

"With peals of joy, Britannia's fleet,

"How richly freighted! It, triumphant, brings "The poife of kingdoms, and the fate of kings.

IMPERIUM

IMPERIUM PELAGI.

A

NAVAL LYRICK:

WRITTEN IN IMITATION OF

PINDA R'S SPIRI T.

Occafioned by His MAJESTY's return, Sept. 1729, and the fucceeding PEACE.

i

PREF A CE.

A

Pindaric carries a formidable found; but there is

nothing formidable in the true nature of it; of which (with utmost submission) I conceive the critics have hitherto entertained a falfe idea. Pindar is as natural as Anacreon, though not so familiar. As a fixt ftar is as much in the bounds of nature, as a flower of the field, though lefs obvious, and of greater dignity. This is not the received notion of Pindar; I fhall therefore foon support at large that hint which is now given.

Trade is a very noble fubject in itself; more proper than any for an Englishman; and particularly feafonable at this juncture.

We have more fpecimens of good writing in every province, than in the fublime; our two famous Epic Poems excepted. I was willing to make an attempt where I had feweft rivals.

If, on reading this Ode, any man has a fuller idea of the real intereft, or poffible glory of his country, than before; or a stronger impreffion from it, or a warmer concern for it, I give up to the critic any farther reputation.

We have many copies and tranflations that pass for originals. This Ode I humbly conceive is an original, though it profeffes imitation. No man can be like Pindar, by imitating any of his particular works; any more than like Raphael, by copying the cartoons.

The