In purpling circles now the glory spreads,
A host of angels now unveil their heads,

While Heav'n's own music triumphs on the gale.
Ah see, two white-rob'd seraphs lead
Thy Father's venerable shade!
He bends from yonder cloud of gold,
While they, the ministers of light,

Bear from his breast a mantle bright,

And with the Heav'n-wove robe thy youthful limbs enfold!

"Receive this mystic gift, my Son! (he cries)
"And (for so wills the Sov'reign of the skies)
"With this receive, at Albion's anxious hour,
"A double portion of my patriot zeal,
"Active to spread the fire it dar'd to feel

"Thro' raptur'd Senates, and with awful pow'r
"From the full fountain of the tongue
"To roll the rapid tide along,

"Till a whole nation caught the flame.
"So on thy Sire shall Heav'n bestow

"A blessing TULLY fail'd to know,
"And redolent in thee diffuse thy father's fame.

"Nor thou, ingenuous Boy! that Fame despise, "Which lives and spreads abroad in Heav'n's pure eyes, "The last best energy of noble mind; "Revere thy Father's shade; like him disdain "The tame, the timid, temporizing train,

"Awake to self, to social int'rest blind :

"Young as thou art, Occasion calls;
"Thy country's scale or mounts or falls
“As thou and thy compatriots strive ;
"Scarce is the fatal moment past,

"That trembling ALBION deem'd her last ; "O knit the union firm, and bid an Empire live.

"Proceed, and vindicate fair Freedom's claim, “Give life, give strength, give substance to her name; "The native rights of Man with Fraud contest; "Yes, snatch them from Corruption's baleful pow'r, "Who dares, in Day's broad eye, those rights devour, "While Prelates bow, and bless the Harpy feast. "If foil'd at first, resume thy course,

"Rise strengthen'd with Antæan force;
"So shall thy toil in conquest end.
"Let others court the tinsel things
"That hang upon the smile of Kings,

"Be thine the Muse's wreath; be thou the PEOPLE'S

FRIEND."

ODE XLV.

SUNG BY

MR. WEBB,

AT THE ANNIVERSARY DINNER

OF THE

SOCIETY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL INFORMATION,

At the Shakspeare Tavern, on Tuesday, the 14th Day of May, 1782.

BY SIR WILLIAM JONES.

VERDANT myrtle's branchy pride

Shall my biting falchion wreathe :

Soon shall grace each manly side,

Tubes that speak, and points that breathe.

Thus, Harmodius, shone thy blade!

Thus, Aristogiton, thine!

Whose, when Britain sighs for aid,

Whose shall now delay to shine?

Dearest youths, in islands blest,
Not, like recreant idlers, dead,

You with fleet Pelides rest,

And with godlike Diomed.

Verdant myrtle's branchy pride
Shall my thirsty blade entwine:
Such, Harmodius, deck'd thy side!
Such, Aristogiton, thine!

They the base Hipparchus slew,

At the feast for Pallas crown'd; Gods! how swift their poniards flew ! How the monster ting'd the ground!

Then, in Athens all was peace,
Equal laws and liberty :

Nurse of arts, and eye of Greece !
People valiant, firm, and free!

Not less glorious was thy deed,
Wentworth, fix'd in Virtue's cause;

Nor less brilliant be thy meed,
Lenox, friend to equal laws!

High in Freedom's temple rais'd,

See Fitz-Maurice beaming stand,

For collected virtues prais'd,

Wisdom's voice, and Valour's hand!

Ne'er shall Fate their eyelids close:

They, in blooming regions blest, With Harmodius shall repose, With Aristogiton rest.

Noblest chiefs, a hero's crown

Let the Athenian patriots claim : You less fiercely won renown; You assum'd a milder name.

They through blood for glory strove, You more blissful tidings bring; They to death a tyrant drove,

You to fame restor'd a KING.

Rise, Britannia, dauntless rise!
Cheer'd with triple Harmony,
Monarch good, and nobles wise,
People valiant, firm, and FREE !