To the Right Honourable CHARLES, Earl of Orrery, thefe POEMs are most humbly dedicated by his Lordship's moft obliged, and most obedient Servant, E. FENTON,
“Augur, & fulgente decorus arcu
"Phœbus acceptufque novem Camoenis,
"Qui falutari levat arte feffos
"Corporis artus ;
"Alterum in Luftrum meliufque femper
BEGIN, celeftial fource of light,
To gild the new-revolving fphere;
And from the pregnant womb of night,
Urge on to birth the infant year.
Rich with aufpicious luftre rife,
Thou faireft regent of the skies,
Confpicuous with thy filver bow!
To thee, a god, 'twas given by Jove
To rule the radiant orbs above,
To Gloriana this below.
With joy renew thy deftin'd race,
And let the mighty months begin :
Let no ill omen cloud thy face,
Through all thy circle fmile ferene.
While the ftern minifters of fate
Watchful o'er pale Lutetia wait,
To grieve the Gaul's perfidious head;
The hours, thy offspring heavenly fair,
Their whiteft wings fhould ever wear,
And gentle joys on Albion shed.
When Ilia bore the future fates of Rome,
And the long honours of her race began,
Thus, to prepare the graceful age to come,
They from thy stores in happy order ran.
Heroes elected to the lift of fame,
Fix'd the fure columns of her rifing state :
Till the loud triumphs of the Julian name
Render'd the glories of her reign compleat,
Each year advanc'd a rival to the rest,
In comely fpoils of war, and great atchievements dreft.
Say, Phœbus, for thy fearching eye
Saw Rome the darling child of fate,
When nothing equal here could vie
In ftrength with her imperious state;
Say if high virtues there did reign
Exalted in a nobler ftrain,
Than in fair Albion thou haft feen :
Or can her demi-gods compare
Their trophies for fuccefsful war,
To those that rife for Albion's Queen!
When Albion firft majeftic fhew'd
High o'er the circling feas her head,
Her the great Father fmiling view'd,
And thus to bright Victoria faid :
Mindful of Phlegra's happy plain,
On which, fair nymph, you fix'd my reign,
This ifle to you fhall facred be;
Her hand shall hold the rightful scale,
And crowns be vanquifh'd, or prevail,
As Gloriana fhall decree.
Victoria triumph in thy great increase!
With joy the Julian ftem the Tyber claims,
Young Ammon's might the Granic waves confefs;
The Heber had a Mars, a Churchill Thames :
Roll, Sovereign of the ftreams! thy rapid tide,
And bid thy brother floods revere the Queen,
Whofe voice the hero's happy hand employ'd
To fave the Danube, and fubdue the Scine;
And, boldly just to Gloriana's fame,
Exalt thy filver urn, and duteous homage claim.
Advanc'd to thy meridian height,
On earth, great God of Day, look down:
Let Windfor entertain thy fight,
Clad in fair emblems of renown:
And whilft in radiant pomp appear
The names to bright Victoria dear,
Intent the long proceffion view:
Confefs none worthier ever wore
Her favours, or was deck'd with more,
Than fhe confers on Churchill's brow.
But oh withdraw thy piercing rays,
The nymph anew begins to moan,
Viewing the much-lamented fpace,
Where late her warlike William fhone:
There fix'd by her officious hand,
His fword and fceptre of command
To deathlefs fame adopted rest:
Nor wants three to compleat her woe,
Plac'd with respectful love below,
The ftar that beam'd on Gloucefter's breast.
O Phœbus! all thy faving power employ, Long let our vows avert the deftin'd woe, Ere Gloriana re-afcends the sky,
And leaves a land of orphans here below!
But when (fo Heaven ordains !) her fmiling ray
Distinguish'd o'er the balance shall prefide,
Whilft future kings her ancient fceptre sway,
May her mild influence all their councils guide:
To Albion ever conftant in her love,
Of Sovereigns here the beft, the brightest star above.
For lawless power, reclaim'd to right, And virtue rais'd by pious arms.
Let Albion be thy fair delight,
And fhield her fafe from threaten'd harms:
With flowers and fruit her bofom fill,
Let laurel rife on every hill
Fresh as the first on Daphne's brow :
Inftruct her tuneful fons to fing,
And make each vale with Pæans ring,
To Blenheim and Ramillia due.
Secure of bright eternal fame,
With happy wing the Theban fwan
Towering from Pifa's facred ftream,
Infpir'd by thee the fong began:
Through defarts of unclouded light,
When he harmonious took his flight,
The gods constrain'd the founding spheres:
Still Envy darts her rage in vain,
The luftre of his worth to ftain,
He growing whiter with his years.
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