V. I..

From rich domains and fubject farms,
They led the ruftic youth to arms;
And kings their stern atchievements fear'd;
While private strife their banners rear'd.
But loftier scenes to thee are shown,
Where empire's wide-establish'd throne
No private master fills:

Where, long foretold, The People reigns:
Where each a vaffal's humble heart disdains;

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 state's uncertain frame,

And baffle faction's partial aim:
But chiefly, with determin'd zeal,

To quell that fervile band, who kneel

To freedom's banish'd foes;

That monfter, 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

V. 3.

'Tis highest heaven's command,

That guilty aims fhould fordid paths pursue ;

That what enfnares the heart should curb the hand, And virtue's worthless foes be falfe to glory too.

But look on freedom. fee, through every age, What labours, perils, griefs, hath fhe disdain'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 strains Of happy fwains,

Which now refound

Where Scarfdale's cliffs the fwelling paftures bound,

Bear witness. there, oft let the farmer hail
The facred orchard which imbowers his gate,
And fhew to ftrangers paffing down the vale,
Where Candish, Booth, and Osborne fate;
When bursting from their country's chain,
Even in the midst of deadly harms,

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 inspires;

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 afstonish'd ifle was loft?

Did one of all that vaunting train,
Who dare affront a peaceful reign,
Durst one in arms appear?

Durst one in counfels pledge his life?

Stake his luxurious fortunes in the ftrife?

Or lend his boafted name his vagrant friends to cheer?

VI. 3..

Yet, HASTINGS, these are they,

Who challenge to themselves thy country's love:

The true; the constant: who alone can weigh,

But let their works declare them. Thy free powers,

The

generous powers of thy prevailing mind, Not for the tasks of their confederate hours,

Lewd brawls and lurking flander, were defign'd.
Be thou thy own approver. Honest praise
Oft nobly sways

Ingenuous youth:

But, fought from cowards and the lying mouth,
Praise is reproach. Eternal GOD alone

For mortals fixeth that fublime award.

He, from the faithful records of his throne,

Bids the hiftorian and the bard

Dispose of honour and of scorn;

Discern the patriot from the flave;

And write the good, the wife, the brave, For leffons to the multitude unborn.

ODE

FOR

For treafon quell'd and laws fecur'd,

In every nation Time displays.
The palm of honourable praise.
Envy may rail; and faction fierce

May strive: but what, alas! can Those

(Though bold, yet blind and fordid foes)
To gratitude and love oppose,

To faithful story and persuasive verse?

VOL. VI.

C

I. 2. O