Pierc'd finking; shrouded in a dusky cloud
The current flows, with livid miffive flames
Boiling, as once Pergamean Xanthus boil'd,
Inflam'd by Vulcan, when the swift-footed fon
Of Peleus to his baleful banks purfued
The ftraggling Trojans: nor lefs eager drove
Victorious Churchill his defponding foes
Into the deep immenfe, that many a league
Impurpled ran, with gushing gore distained.
Thus the experienc'd valour of one man,
Mighty in conflict, rescued harrass'd powers
From ruin impendent, and th' afflicted throne
Imperial, that once lorded o'er the world,
Suftain'd. With prudent stay, he long defer'd
The rough contention, nor would deign to rout
An hoft difparted; when in union firm
Embody'd they advanc'd, collecting all
Their ftrength, and worthy feemed to be subdued :
He the proud boafters fent, with ftern affault,
Down to the realms of Night. The British fouls,-
(A lamentable race !) that ceas'd to breathe,
On Landen-plains, this heavenly gladfome air,
Exult to fee the crowding ghofts defcend
Unnumber'd; well aveng'd, they quit the cares
Of mortal life, and drink th' oblivious lake.
Not fo the new inhabitants: they roam
Erroneous, and difconfolate; themselves
Accufing, and their chiefs, improvident
Of military chance; when lo! they see,
Through the dun mift, in blooming beauty fresh,
Two lovely youths, that amicably walked
O'er verdant meads, and pleas'd, perhaps, revolv'd
Anna's late conquests ; one, to empire born,
Egregious Prince, whofe manly childhood fhew'd
His mingled parents, and portended joy
Unspeakable; † thou, his associate dear
Once in this world, nor now by fate disjoin'd,
Had thy prefiding star propitious fhone,
Should't Churchill be! but Heaven fevere cut fhort
Their fpringing years, nor would this ifle fhould boast
Gifts fo important! them the Gallic fhades
Surveying, read in either radiant look
Marks of exceffive dignity and grace,
Delighted; till, in one, their curious eye
Discerns their great subduer's awful mien,
And corresponding features fair; to them
Confufion! ftrait the airy phantoms fleet,
With headlong hafte, and dread a new purfuit.
The image pleas'd with joy paternal fmiles.
Enough, O Mufe: the fadly-pleafing theme
Leave, with these dark abodes, and re-afcend
To breathe the upper air, where triumphs wait
The conqueror, and fav'd nations' joint acclaim..
Hark! how the cannon, inoffenfive now,
Gives figns of gratulation; ftruggling crouds
From every city flow; with ardent gaze
Fixt, they behold the British Guide, of sight
Infatiate; whilft his great redeeming hand
† Marquis of Blandford.' C 2
Each prince affects to touch respectful. See
How Pruffia's King transported entertains
His mighty gueft! to him the royal pledge,
Hope of his realm, commits (with better fate,
Than to the Trojan Chief Evander gave
Unhappy Pallas) and intreats to fhew
The skill and rudiments auftere of war.
See, with what joy, him Leopold declares
His great Deliverer; and courts t' accept
Of titles, with fuperior modefty
Better refus'd! Meanwhile the haughty King
Far humbler thoughts now learns: defpair, and fear,
Now first he feels; his laurels all at once
Torn from his aged head, in life's extreme,
Boileau's harp
Diftract his foul; nor can great
Of various-founding wire, beft taught to calm
Whatever paffion, and exalt the foul
With highest strains, his languid spirits cheer :
Rage, fhame, and grief, alternate in his breast.
But who can tell what pangs, what sharp remorse,
Torment the Boian prince? from native foil
Exil'd by fate, torn from the dear embrace
Of weeping confort, and depriv'd the fight
Of his young guiltless progeny, he seeks
Inglorious fhelter, in an alien land;
Deplorable! but that his mind averse
To right, and infincere, would violate
His plighted faith: why did he not accept
Friendly composure offer'd? or well weigh
With whom he must contend? encountering fierce
The Solymean Sultan, he o'erthrew
His moony troops, returning bravely smear'd
With Painim blood effus'd; nor did the Gaul
Not find him once a baleful foe: but when,
Of counsel rash, new measures he pursues,
Unhappy Prince! (no more a Prince) he fees
Too late his error, forc'd t' implore relief
Of him, he once defy'd. O deftitute
Of hope, unpity'd! thou should'st first have thought
Of perfevering ftedfaft; now upbraid
Thy own inconstant ill-aspiring heart.
Lo! how the Noric plains, through thy default Rife hilly, with large piles of flaughter'd knights, Best men, that warr'd still firmly for their prince Though faithless, and unshaken duty shew'd; Worthy of better end.
Well fenc'd, and numerous defolation reigns,,
And emptinefs, dismay'd, unfed, unhous'd;
The widow and the orphan ftrole around
The defert wide; with oft-retorted eye
They view the gaping walls, and poor remains
Of manfions, once their own (now loathfome haunts
Of birds obscene), bewailing loud the lofs
Of spouse, or fire, or fon, ere manly prime
Slain in fad conflict, and complain of fate.
As partial, and too rigorous; nor find
Where to retire themfelves, or where appease
Th' afflictive keen defire of food, expos'd
To winds, and ftorms, and jaws of favage beasts.
Thrice happy Albion! from the world disjoin'd
By Heaven propitious, blissful seat of peace!
Learn from thy neighbours miferies to prize
Thy welfare; crown'd with Nature's choicest gift.
Remote thou hear'ft the dire effect of war,
Depopulation, void alone of fear
And peril, whilft the difmal fymphony
Of drums and clarions, other realms annoys.
Th' Iberian fceptre undecided, here
Engages mighty hofts in wafteful strife:
From different climes the flower of youth defcends,
Down to the Lufitanian vales, refolv'd
With utmoft hazard to enthrone their prince,
Gallic, or Auftrian; havoc dire enfues,
And wild uproar: the natives dubious whom
They must obey, in confternation wait,
Till rigid conquest will pronounce their liege.
Nor is the brazen voice of War unheard
On the mild Latian fhore: what fighs and tears
Hath Eugene caus'd! how many widows curfe
His cleaving faulcheon! fertile foil in vain!
What do thy pastures, or thy vines avail,
Best boon of Heaven! or huge Taburnus, cloath'
With olives, when the cruel battle mows
The planters, with their harvest immature ?
See, with what outrage from the frosty north,
The early-valiant Swede draws forth his wings
In battailous array, while Volga's stream
Sends oppofite, in fhaggy armour clad,
Her borderers; on mutual flaughter bent,
They rend their countries. How is Poland vext
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