Refiftless, overwhelming; horrors seize
The mariners; death in their eyes appears,
They ftare, they lave, they pump, they fwear, they
(Vain efforts!) still the battering waves rush in,
Implacable, till, delug'd by the foam,
The fhip finks foundering in the vast abyss.
ROM low and abject themes the groveling Mufe
Now mounts aërial, to fing of arms
Triumphant, and emblaze the martial acts
"Of Britain's hero; may the verse not fink
Beneath his merits, but detain awhile
Thy ear, O Harley*! (though thy country's weal
Depends on thee, though mighty Anne requires
Thy hourly counfels) fince, with every art
Thyfelf adorn'd, the mean effays of youth
Thou wilt not damp, but guide, wherever found,
The willing genius to the Mufes' feat:
Therefore thee first, and last, the Muse shall fing.
Long had the Gallic monarch, uncontrol'd,
Enlarg'd his borders, and of human force
Opponent flightly thought, in heart elate,
As erft Sefoftris (proud Egyptian king,
That monarchs harness'd to his chariot yokt
(Base fervitude!) and his dethron'd compeers
Lasht furious; they in fullen majefty
Drew the uneafy load); nor less he aim'd
At univerfal fway: for William's arm
Could nought avail, however fam'd in war;
This poem was infcribed to the Right Honourable Robert Harley, Efq; 1705, then Speaker of the Honourable House of Commons, and Secretary of State.
Nor armies leagu'd, that diverfly essay'd
To curb his power enormous; like an oak,
That stands secure, though all the winds employ
Their ceaseless roar, and only sheds its leaves,
Or mast, which the revolving spring restores :
So ftood he, and alone; alone defy'd
The European thrones combin'd, and still
Had fet at nought their machinations vain,
But that great Anne, weighing th' events of war
Momentous, in her prudent heart, thee chose,
Thee, Churchill to direct in nice extremes
Her banner'd legions. Now their pristine worth.
The Britons recollect, and gladly change
Sweet native home for unaccustom'd air,
And other climes, where different food and foil.
Portend distempers; over dank, and dry,
They journey toilfome, unfatigued with length
Of march, unftruck with horror at the fight
Of Alpine ridges bleak, high-ftretching hills,.
All white with fummer's fnows. They go beyond 3
The trace of English fteps, where fcarce the found
Of Henry's arms arriv'd; fuch strength of heart
Thy conduct and example gives; nor fmall
Encouragement: Godolphin, wife and just,
Equal in merit, honour, and fuccess,
To Burleigh (fortunate alike to serve
The best of Queens): he, of the royal store
Splendidly frugal, fits whole nights devoid
Of sweet repofe, induftrious to procure
The foldier's ease; to regions far remote.
His care extends; and to the British host
Makes ravish'd countries plenteous as their own.
And now, O Churchill at thy wisht approach
The Germans, hopeless of fuccefs, forlorn,
With many an inroad gor'd, their drooping cheer
New-animated rouze; not more rejoice
The miserable race of men, that live
Benighted half the year, benumm'd with frofts
Perpetual, and rough Boreas' keenest breath,
Under the polar Bear, inclement sky!
When firft the fun with new-born light removes.
The long-incumbent gloom; gladly to thee
Heroic laurel'd Eugene yields the prime,
Nor thinks it diminution, to be rankt
In military honour next, although
His deadly hand fhook the Turcheftan throne
Accurs'd, and prov'd in far-divided lands.
Victorious; on thy powerful fword alone
Germania and the Belgic coast relies,
Won from th' encroaching sea: that fword great Anne
Fix'd not in vain on thy puiffant fide,
When thee sh' enroll'd her garter'd knights among,
Illuftrating the noble lift; her hand
Affures good omens, and Saint George's worth
Enkindles like defire of high exploits.
Immediate fieges, and the tire of war,
Roll in thy eager mind; thy plumy creft
Nods horrible; with more terrific port
Thou walk'ft, and feem'ft already in the fight.
What spoils, what conquests, then did Albion hope
From thy atchievements! yet thou hast surpast
Her boldest vows, exceeded what thy foes
Could fear or fancy; they, in multitude
Superior, fed their thoughts with prospect vain
Of victory and rapine, reckoning what
From ranfom'd captives would accrue.
Jovial his mate bespoke : O friend, observe
How gay
with all th' accoutrements of war
The Britons come, with gold well fraught, they come
Thus far our prey, and tempt us, to fubdue
Their recreant force; how will their bodies stript
Enrich the victors, while the vultures fate
Their maws with full repast!-Another, warm'd
With high ambition, and conceit of prowess
Inherent, arrogantly thus prefum'd:
What if this fword, full often drench'd in blood
Of bafe antagonists, with griding edge
Should now cleave sheer the execrable head
Of Churchill, met in arms! or if this hand,
Soon as his army difarray'd 'gins swerve,
Should stay him flying, with retentive gripe,
Confounded and appal'd! no trivial price
Should fet him free, nor fmall fhould be my praise
To lead him fhackled, and expos'd to scorn
Of gathering crowds, the Britons' boafted chief.
Thus they, in fportive mood, their empty taunts
And menaces expreft; nor could their prince
In arms, vain Tallard, from opprobrious speech
Refrain: Why halt ye thus, ye Britons? Why
Decline the war? Shall a morafs forbid
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