Saw ye not yon myrtle wave? One dearer name remains. Prepare, prepare! Soon the charm shall be complete. [sing. Return, sweet Muse, for Althorp3 bids me 'Tis she—and, as she smiles, the breathing lyre Leaps from his silken bands, and darts etherial fire. Bright son of evening, lucid star, O'er heaven's pure azure spreads her gleam: Like thee serenely fair, By love united and the nuptial vow, Thou seest the mirthful train Dance to the' unlabour'd strain, Seest bound with myrtle every youthful brow, Shine forth, ye silver eyes of night, [light. And gaze on virtues crown'd with treasures of de And thou, the golden tressed child of morn, Whene'er thy all inspiring heat Bids bursting rosebuds hill and mead adorn, See them with every gift that Jove bestows, With every joy replete, Save, when they melt at sight of human woes. 3 Lady Georgiana, eldest daughter of Earl Spencer, and wife of William Cavendish, fifth Duke of Devonshire. Flow smoothly, circling hours, And o'er their heads unblended pleasure pour; Nor let your fleeting round Their mortal transports bound, But fill their cup of bliss, eternal powers, Till Time himself shall cease, and suns shall blaze no more. Each morn, reclined on many a rose New forms of dignity and grace, The' expressive air, the' impassion'd face, Which, as they soar above the jasper sky, Below them suns unknown and worlds unnumber'd leave. While thou by listening crowds approved, Loved by the Muse and by the poet loved, Althorp, shouldst emulate the fame Of Roman patriots and the' Athenian name; Shouldst charm with full persuasive eloquence, With all thy mother's grace, and all thy father's sense, 5 + Lady Althorp has an extraordinary talent for drawing historic subjects, and expressing the passions in the most simple manner. 5 Georgiana Poyntz, Countess Spencer. The' applauding senate; whilst, above thy Exulting Liberty should smile, [head, Then, bidding dragon-born Contention cease, Should knit the dance with meek-eyed Peace, And by thy voice impell'd should spread An universal joy around her cherish'd isle. But ah! thy public virtues, youth! are vain In this voluptuous, this abandon'd age, When Albion's sons with frantic rage, In crimes alone and recreant baseness bold, Freedom and Concord, with their weeping train, Repudiate; slaves of vice, and slaves of gold! They, on starry pinions sailing Through the crystal fields of air, Mourn their efforts unavailing, Lost persuasions, fruitless care: Truth, Justice, Reason, Valour, with them fly To seek a purer soil, a more congenial sky. Beyond the vast Atlantic deep A dome by viewless Genii shall be raised, Commerce with fleets shall mock the waves, What scenes I view! what sounds I hear! This for my friend-but, gentle nymphs, no more AN ODE IN IMITATION OF ALCEUS. Οι λίθοι, δε ξυλα, υδε Τεχνη τεκίονων αἱ πολεις εισιν Αλλ' οπε ποτ' αν ωσιν ΑΝΔΡΕΣ Αύτως σωζειν ειδότες, Ενλαυθα τείχη και πόλεις. ALC. quoted by Aristides. WHAT constitutes a state? Not high raised battlement or labour'd mound, Thick wall or moated gate; Not cities proud with spires and turrets crown'd; Not bays and broad-arm'd ports, [pride. Where, laughing at the storm, rich navies ride; With powers as far above dull brutes endued As beasts excel cold rocks and brambles rude; Men, who their duties know, But know their rights, and, knowing, dare main tain; Prevent the long aim'd blow, And crush the tyrant while they rend the chain: These constitute a state, And sovereign law, that state's collected will, Sits empress, crowning good, repressing ill; The fiend, Discretion, like a vapour sinks, Hides his faint rays, and at her bidding shrinks. Than Lesbos fairer and the Cretan shore! Shall Britons languish, and be men no more? Those sweet rewards, which decorate the brave, "Tis folly to decline, And steal inglorious to the silent grave. ABERGAVENNY, March 31, 1781. |