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To fweet retirements fee them safe convey'd,
And raise their battles in the rural fhade.
From fields of death to Woodstock's peaceful glooms,
(The poet's haunt) Britannia's hero comes→→→→
Begin, my Mufe! and softly touch the ftring;
Here Henry lov'd and Chaucer learnt to fing. 230
Hail, fabled Grotto! hail, Elysian Soil!
Thou fairest spot of fair Britannia's ifle!

Where kings of old conceal'd forgot the throne,
And beauty was content to shine unknown,
Where Love and War by turns pavilions rear, 235
And Henry's bow'rs near Blenheim's dome appear,
The weary'd champion lull in foft alcoves,
The nobleft boast of thy romantick groves.
Oft' if the Muse presage shall he be feen
By Rofamonda fleeting o'er the green,
In dreams be hail'd by heroes' mighty shades,
And hear old Chaucer warble thro' the glades;
O'er the fam'd echoing vaults his name shall bound,
And hill to hill reflect the fav'rite found.

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Here, here at least thy love for arms give o'er, 245 Nor one world conquer'd fondly wish for more; Vice of great fouls alone! O thirst of fame! The Muse admires it while fhe ftrives to blame. Thy toils be now to chase the bounding deer, Or view the courfers stretch in wild career. This lovely scene shall footh thy foul to rest, And wear each dreadful image from thy breast;

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With pleasure by thy conquefts fhalt thou fee
Thy queen triumphant and all Europe free:
No cares henceforth fhall thy repose destroy,
But what thou giv'ft the world thyself enjoy.
Sweet Solitude! when life's gay hours are pat
Howe'er we range in thee we fix at last :
Toft thro' tempeft'ous feas (the voyage o'er)
Pale we look back and blefs thy friendly fhore: 260
Our own frict judges our past life we scan,

And ask if glory hath enlarg'd the fspan?

If bright the profpect we the grave defy,
Truft future ages, and contented die.

When strangers from far diftant climes shall come
To view the pomp of this triumphant dome,
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Where rear'd aloft diffembled trophies stand,
And breathing labours of the sculptor's hand,
Where Kneller's art fhall paint the flying Gaul,
And Bourbon's woes fhall fill the ftory'd wall, 270
Heirs of thy blood shall o'er their bounteous board
Fix Europe's guard, thy monumental fword,
Banners that oft' have way'd on conquer'd walls,
And trumps that drown'd the groans of gasping
Fair dames fhall oft' with curious eye explore [Gauls;
The coftly robes that flaughter'd gen'rals wore, 276
Rich trappings from theDanube'swhirlpoolsbrought,
(Hesperian nuns the gorgeous broid'ry wrought)
Belts ftiff with gold, the Boian horfeman's pride,
And Gaul's fair flow'rs in human crimfen dy'd. 280

Of Churchill's race perhaps fome lovely boy
Shall mark the burnish'd steel that hangs on high,
Shall gaze tranfported on its glitt'ring charms,
And reach it struggling with unequal arms,
By figns the drum's tumult'ous found request, 285
Then feek in starts the hushing mother's breast.
So in the painter's animated frame,
Where Mars embraces the foft Paphian dame,
The little Loves in fport his falchion wield,
Or join their strength to heave his pond'rous fhield;
One ftrokes the plume in Tityon's gore imbru'd, 291
And one the spear that reeks with Typhon's blood,
Another's infant brows the helm fuftain,
He nods his creft, and frights the fhrieking train.
Thus the rude tempeft of the field o'erblown 295
Shall whiter rounds of fmiling years roll on,
Our victors bleft in peace forget their wars,
Enjoy paft dangers and abfolve the stars.
But, oh! what forrows fhall bedew your urns,
Ye honour'd Shades! whom widow'd Albien mourns?
If your thin forms yet difcontented moan,
And haunt the mangled manfions once your own,
Behold what flow'rs the pious Mufes firow,
And tears which in the midst of triumph flow;
Cyprefs and bays your envy'd brows furround, 305
Your names the tender matron's heart fhallwound,
And the foft maid grow penfive at the sound!

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Accept, great Anne! the tears their mem❜ry draws Who nobly perifh'd in their fov'reign's cause ; For thou in pity bidft the war give o'er, Mournft thy flain heroes, nor wilt venture more. Vaft price of blood on each victorious day! (But Europe's freedom doth that price repay.) Lamented triumphs! when one breath must tell That Marlb'rough conquer'd and that Dormer fell. Great Queen! whofe name ftrikes haughty monarchs pale,

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On whofe juft fceptre hangs Europa's fcale,
Whofe arm like Mercy wounds, decides like Fate,
On whofe decree the nations anxious wait;
From Albion's cliffs thy wide extended hand
Shall o'er the main to far Peru command;
So vaft a track whofe wide domain fhall run
Its circling fkies fhall fee no fetting fun!
Thee, thee an hundred languages fhall claim,
And favage Indians swear by Anna's name;
The line and poles fhall own thy rightful fway,
And thy commands the fever'd globe obey.

Round the vast ball thy new dominions chain
The wat'ry kingdoms and control the main;
Magellan's flraits to Gibraltar they join,
Acrofs the feas a formidable line.

The fight of adverse Gaul we fear no more,
But pleas'd fee Dunkirk now a guiltless shore.

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In vain great Neptune tore the narrow ground,
And meant his waters for Britannia's bound;
Her giant Genius takes a mighty firide,
And fets his foot beyond th' encroaching tide;
On either bank the land its master knows,
And in the midst the subject ocean flows.

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So near proud Rhodes across the raging flood, 340 Stupendous form! the vast Coloffus ftood, (While at one foot their thronging gallies ride) A whole hour's fail fcarce reach'd the further fide, Betwixt his brazen thighs in loose array Ten thousand streamers on the billows play.

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By Harley's counfels Dunkirk now restor'd To Britain's empire owns her ancient lord: In him transfus'd his godlike father reigns, Rich in the blood which fwell'd that patriot's veins, Who boldly faithful met his fov'reign's frown, 350 And fcorn'd for gold to yield th' important town. His fon was born the ravish'd prey to claim, And France still trembles at an Harley's name. A fort fo dreadful to our English shore

Our fleets scarce fear'd the fands or tempefts more,355 Whofe vast expenses to fuch fums amount,

That the tax'd Gaul scarce furnish'd out th' account, Whofe walls fuch bulwarks fuch vast tow'rsrefrain, Its weakest ramparts are the rocks and main.

His boaft great Louis yields, and cheaply buys 360 Thy friendship, Anna! with the mighty prize.

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