275

Oppreffion, Fraud, Confufion, and Affright,
Fierce fiends, that ravag'd in the gloomy night
Of lawless power, defeated, fly before his dazling light.
So to th' eclipfing moon, by the ftill fide

Of fome lone thicket, reveling haggs provide

Dire charins, that threat the fleeping neighbourhood, 280 And quaff, with magic mix'd, vast bowls of human blood;

But, when the dawn reveals the purple east,
They vanish fullen from th' unfinish'd feast.
Here joyful crouds triumphant arches rear
To their deliverer's praife; glad fenates there, 285
In fplendid pomp, the regal ftate confer.

Hibernia's fields new triumphs then fupply; The rival kings, in arms, the fate of empire try. See where the Boyne two warring hofts divides, And rolls between the fight his murmuring tides! 290 In vain-hills, forests, streams, muft all give place, When William leads, and victory 's the chace.

Thou faw'ft him, Boyne! when thy charg'd waters

bore

The fwimming courfers to th' oppofing shore,

And, round thy banks, thou heard'&t the murdering

cannons roar.

What more than mortal bravery inspir'd

The daring troops, by his example fir'd !

295

Thou faw'it their wondrous deeds; to Neptune's court Thy flying waves convey'd the fwift report,

And, red with flaughter, to their father fhow'd 300 Streams not their own, and a difcolour'd flood.

Here, on th' ætherial mould, hurl'd from afar,
Th' exploded ball had mark'd a dinted scar.
?Twas deftin'd thus; for when, all glowing-red,
The angel took it from the forge, he said;
This part be left unfated from the foe!
And, fcarce escap'd, once let the Hero know,
How much to my protection he shall owe;
Yet, from the batter'd shield, the ball shall bound,
And on his arm inflict a fcarlet wound.

305

310 Elfewhere, behold NAMUR's proud turrets rise, Majestic to the fight, advancing to the skies! The Meufe and Sambre here, united flow, Nature's defence against th' invading foe: Induftrious art her ftrength of walls supplies : Before the town the British army lies.

315

The works are mann'd; with fury they contend; These thunder from the plains, those from the walls defend.

Red globes of fire from bellowing engines fly,

And lead a sweeping blaze, like comets, through the sky. The kindled region glows; with deafening found They burft; their iron entrails, hurl'd around,

See, where the genius of the war appears,

Nor huns the labour, nor the danger fears!

325

In clouds of fulphurous fmoke he shines more bright, For Glory round him waits, with beams of living light. At length the widen'd gates a conquest own,

And to his arms refign the yielding town.

Here,

335

Here, from the field return'd, with olive crown'd, Applauding throngs their welcome prince furround: Bright honours in his glorious entry fhine, And peace reftor'd concludes the great design. Long, o'er the figur'd work, with vast surprize, Admiring Neptune roll'd his ravifh'd eyes; Then, rifing from his throne, thus call'd aloud; "Ye lovely daughters of the briny flood! "Hafte, comb your filver locks, and straight prepare "To fill my train, and gaze in upper air. "This day, majestic glories you shall see ; Come, all ye watery powers, who under me "Your little tridents wield,and rule the boisterous fea! "What God, that views the triumphs here difplay'd, "Can to fuch worth refufe his heavenly aid?" He faid no more-but bade two Tritons found Their crooked fhells, to spread the fummons round. Through the wide caves the blast is heard afar; With speed two more provide his azure car,

340

345

A concave hell; two the finn'd courfers join:
All wait officious round, and own th' accustom'd fign;
The god afcends; his better hand sustains

The three-fork'd fpear, his left directs the reins.
Through breaking waves, the chariot mounts him high;
Before its thundering course, the frothy waters fly;
He gains the furface; on his either fide, 355
The bright attendants, rang'd with comely pride,
Advance in just array, and grace the pompous tide.
Meanwhile Britannia's king confpicuous stood,
And, from his deck, furvey'd the boundless flood.

Smooth was the glaffy scene, the fun beheld
His face unclouded in the liquid field.
The gazing Nereids, in a fhining train,
Inclofe the ruler of the British main,

And sweetly fing; fufpended winds forbear

360

Their loud complaints, the foothing lay to hear. 365 "Hail, facred charge; they cry; the beauties we "Of Neptune's court, are come t' attend on thee "Accept our offer'd aid! thy potent sway, "Unbounded by the land, these watery realms obey; "And we, thy fubject-powers, our duteous homage

pay.

370

"See Neptune's felf, inferior in command,
"Presents his trident to thy honour'd hand!"
They faid; the fire approach'd with awe profound;
The rite perform'd, their hells the Tritons found;
Swell'd with the fhrill alarm, the joyful billows bound.

Now, from the fhore, Britannia first defcries

White fails afar; then bulky veffels rise,
Nearer to view; her beating heart foretells
The pleafing news, and eager tranfport feels.
Safe to her arms, imperial Neptune bears

Th' intrufted charge, then diving disappears.

}

380

THE

TH

HOUGH the great lofs we fuffered in the death of the king has been fo happily fupplied by her majesty's accession to the throne, and her late coronation justly filled the hearts of her fubjects with joy; yet fo glorious a reign as the laft will always be remembered with admiration by all good and wife men ; and your Grace has given fufficient proofs that you are of that number. It can never therefore be thought too late to offer a juft tribute to his late majesty's memory, and to that of his great ancestors, a race fo illuftriously diftinguished in Europe; though this indeed might fooner have been attempted, but for many interruptions, too inconsiderable for your Grace's notice. How I have performed is humbly fubmitted to your Grace's judgment, and to the judgment of all