At length the widen'd gates a conquest own, 335 340 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 defign. Long o'er the figur'd work, with vaft furprife, 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 ftraight prepare "To fill my train, and gaze in upper air. "This day, majestic glories you shall fee; "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 refuse 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, A concave fhell; two the finn'd coursers join: All wait officious round, and own th' accustom'd fign; The god afcends; his better hand fuftains The three-fork'd spear, 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. D 2 345 Mean Meanwhile Britannia's king confpicuous flood, And, from his deck, survey'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 fweetly fing; fufpended winds forbear Their loud complaints, the foothing lay to hear. "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, 360 365 "Unbounded by the land, these watery realms obey; "And we, thy fubject-powers, our duteous homage "See Neptune's felf, inferior in command, 370 They faid; the fire approach'd with awe profound;The rite perform'd, their shells the Tritons found; Swell'd with the fhrill alarm, the joyful billows bound. Now, from the fhore, Britannia firft defcries White fails afar; then bulky veffels rife, Nearer to view; her beating heart foretels The pleafing news, and eager transport feels. Safe to her arms, imperial Neptune bears Th' intrufted charge, then diving disappears. 380 THE MAY IT PLEASE YOUR GRACE, HOUGH the great lofs we fuffered in the death THO of the king has been so happily supplied by her majesty's acceffion to the throne, and her late coronation juftly filled the hearts of her fubjects with joy; yet fo glorious a reign as the last 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 just tribute to his late majesty's memory, and to that of his great ancestors, a race fo illuftriously distinguished in Europe; though this indeed might fooner have been attempted, but for many interruptions, too inconfiderable for your Grace's notice. How I have performed is humbly submitted to your Grace's judgment, and to the judgment of all D 3 thofe thofe gentlemen who are used to entertain themfelves with writings of this fort. But if, through the author's want of genius, the Poem itself should be thought inconfiderable, I am fure it will have fome distinction from the great names it celebrates, and the great patron it is infcribed to. And to whom should the praises of eminent virtue be addreffed, but to fuch as are poffeffed of great virtues themselves? To whom can I better present the chief characters of a noble and ancient family, than to your Grace, whose family is fo ancient and fo noble? And here I am proud to acknowledge that fome of my relations have been honoured with marks of favour from your Grace's illustrious ancestors. This I confefs has long given me the ambition of offering my duty to your Grace; but chiefly that valuable character your Grace has obtained among all worthy perfons, I have not room to enlarge here, nor is there any need of it on a subject so well known as your Grace's merits. Therefore I conclude with my humble requeft, that your Grace would favour this Ode with your acceptance, and do me the honour of believing that, among the crowd of your admirers, there is not one who is more paffionately or fincerely so, than Your Grace's most humble, And most obedient fervant, JOHN HUGHES. THE HOUSE O F NASSA U. I. GODI ODDESS of numbers, and of thoughts fublime! Can fix heroic acts, that glide along O'er William's great remains. While Thames, majestically fad, and flow, Muft fink with earth and sea, and melt away in fire. II. Begin the fpring of virtue trace, That, from afar-defcending, flow'd Through the rich veins of all the godlike race, And fair renown on all the godlike race bestow'd! D 4 5 15 20 This |