Are join'd; on every fide, wide-gaping engines wait, Teeming with fire, and big with certain fate; Ready to hurl destruction from above, In dreadful roar, mocking the wrath of Jove. Thus fearful does the face of adverse power appear; But British forces are unus'd to fear: Though thus oppos'd, they might, if William where not there. VI. But hark, the voice of war! behold the storm begin! The trumpet's clangor speaks in loud alarms, Mingling fhrill notes, with dreadful din Of cannons burft, and rattling clash of arms. Clamours from earth to heaven, from heaven to earth re bound, Diftinction in promifcuous noife is drown'd, Torrents of fire from brazen mouths are fent, Reddening with horid gloom the dusky smoke, When the huge Cyclops did with moulding thunderfweat, And maffive bolts on repercuffive anvils beat. VII. Amidft this rage, behold, where William stands, Undaunted, undifmay'd! With face ferene, difpenfing dread commands; Which, heard with awe, are with delight obey'd. For ev'ry fire his facred head must spare, Now many a wounded Briton feels the rage And now, with defperate force, and fresh attack, Through obvious deaths, refiftlefs way they make; Raifing high piles of earth, and heap on heap they lay, And then afcend; resembling thus (as far As As race of men inferior may) The fam'd gigantic war. When thofe tall fons of earth did heaven afpire; Uprooting hills, with most stupendous hale, The gods, with horror and amaze, look'd down, Mountain on mountain thrown, With threatening hurl, that shook th' ætherial firmament, Th' attempt did fear in heaven create ; Even Jove defponding fate, Till Mars, with all his force collected, flood. And pour'd whole war on the rebellious brood; Who, tumbling headlong from th' empyreal fkies, O'erwhelm'd thofe hills, by which they thought to rife. Mars on the gods did then his aid bestow, And now in godlike William ftorms with equal force be low.. IX. Still they proceed, with firm unshaken pace, Still they proceed; though all beneath, the labouring earth X. Hark, the triumphant shouts from every voice! Hark, how around, the hills rejoice, Hautboys and fifes and trumpets join'd, Heroic harmony prepare, And charm to filence every wind, And glad the late-tormented air. Whofe numerous troops the dreadful storm furvey'd : Unmov'd beheld the fortreft loft. William, William, their numerous troops with terror fill'd, Of Gorgon's head, to more amazement charm'd his foe. And fave from monster's rage the beauteous maid; Or more heroic was the deed; Or fhe to furer chains decreed, Than was Namur, till now by William freed. Defcend, my Mufe, from thy too-daring height, Defcend to earth, and ease thy wide-stretch'd wing For weary art thou grown of this unwonted flight, And doft with pain of triumphs fing. More fit for thee, resume thy rural reeds; For war let more harmonious harps be strung: Sing thou of love, and leave great William's deeds To him who fung the Boyne or him to whom he fung. THE THE BIRTH OF THE MUSE. To the Right Honourable CHARLES LORD HALIFAX. "Dignum laude virum Mufa vetat mori.” DESCEND, celeftial Mufe! thy fon infpire Belov'd of gods and men, thyself disclose; Extends their life and fame to ages yet unknown. And both at once the deftin'd courfe fhall end, One to preferve what t' other cannot fave, HOR. } To thee, O Montague, these strains are sung, |