Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

ELIZA then, in Britain's happiest hour,
Held the just balance of contending pow'r;
Made English subjects bow the willing knee,
Who will not ferve, and are not happy free..
Beneath her facred reign the nation knows
No fad remembrance of its former woes;
Their flocks fecurely graz'd the fertile plain,.
Their garners bursting with their golden grain..
The ftately fhips, their fwelling fails unfurl'd,
Brought wealth and homage from the diftant world ::
All Europe watch'd Britannia's bold decree,
Dreaded by land, and monarch of the fea..
Wide o'er the waves his fleet exulting rode,
And fortune triumph'd over Ocean's GOD.
Proud London now, no more of barbarous fame,
To arms and commerce urg'd her blended claim.
Her pow'rs, in union leagu'd, together sate,
King, Lords, and Commons, in their threefold ftate.
Though feparate each their several intereft draw,
Yet all united form the ftedfaft law.

All three, one body's members, firm and fit,
Make but one pow'r in ftrong conjunction knit;

Pow'

Pow'r to itself of danger often found, But spreading terror to its neighbours round. Bleft, when the people duty's homage show, And pay their king the tribute which they owe! More bleft, when kings for milder virtues known, Protect their people's freedom from the throne! "Ah when, cry'd BOURBON, fhall our discord cease, "Our glory, Albion, rife, like thine, in peace ? “ Blush, blush, ye kings, ye lords of jarring states, "A Woman bids, and War hath clos'd its gates : "YOUR countries bleed with factious rage oppreft, “While SHE reigns happy o'er a people blest.”

Mean time the Hero reach'd the fea-girt isle,
Where freedom bids eternal plenty fmile;
Not far from William's Tow'r at diftance feen,
Stood the fam'd palace of the Virgin Queen.
Hither, the faithful MORNAY at his fide,
Without the noise and pageant pomp of pride,
The toys of grandeur which the vain pursue,
But glare unheeded to the Hero's view,

The

The Prince arriv'd: With bold and manly sense
He spoke, his frankness, all his eloquence;
Told his fad tale, and bow'd his lofty heart,
For France's woes, to act fubmiffion's part;

For needful aids the British Queen addrest,
While in the fuppliant shone the king confest.
"Com'ft thou, reply'd the Queen, with ftrange fur-

[ocr errors][merged small]

"Com'ft thou from VALOIs for the wifh'd allies? "Afk'st thou protection for a tyrant foe,

"Whose deadly hate work'd all thy fortune's woe? "Far as the golden fun begins to rise,

"To where he drives adown the western skies, "His ftrife and Thine to all the world is known: "Stand'ft thou for Him a friend at Britain's throne? "And is that hand, which VALOIS oft hath fear'd,. "Arm'd in his caufe, and for his vengeance rear'd ?" When thus the Prince: " A monarch's adverse fate "A

[ocr errors]

Wipes all remembrance out of former hate. "VALOIS was then a flave, his paffion's flave, "But now himself, a monarch firm and brave ;

65. He

"He bursts at once the ignominious chain, "Refumes the Hero, and afferts his reign. "Bleft, if of nature more affur'd and free, "He'd fought no aid but from himself and me! "But, led by fraud, and arts, all infincere, "He was my foe from weakness and from fear. "His faults die with me, when his woes I view, "I've gain'd the conqueft - grant me vengeance, "You!

"For know the work is thine, Illuftrious Dame, "To deck thy Albion's brows with worthiest fame. "Let thy protection spread her ready wings, "And fight with me the injur'd caufe of Kings !",

ELIZA then, for much fhe wifh'd to know, The various turns of France's long-felt woe, Whence rifing first the civil discord came,

And Paris kindled to rebellion's flame

"To me, Great Prince, thy griefs are not unknown, “Though brought imperfect, and by Fame alone; "Whose rapid wing too indifcreetly flies,

"And spreads abroad her indigefted lies.

"Deaf

"Deaf to her tales, from thee, Illuftrious Youth,

"From thee alone ELIZA seeks the truth.

have witness'd all the woe,

"Tell me, for you "VALOIS' brave friend, or VALOIS' conquering foe, Say, whence this friendship, this alliance grew, "Which knits the happy bond 'twixt him and you; "Explain this wond'rous change, 'tis you alone "Can paint the virtues which yourself hath shown. "Teach me thy woes, for know thy story brings "A moral leffon to the pride of kings."

"And must my memory then, Illuftrious Queen, "Recal the horrors of each dreadful fcene?

"O had it pleas'd th' Almighty Pow'r (which "knows,

"How my heart bleeds o'er all my country's woes) "Oblivion then had snatch'd them from the light, "And hid them buried in eternal night. "Nearest of blood, muft I aloud proclaim,

"The princes' madness, and expose their shame? "Reflection shakes my mind with wild dismay"But 'tis ELIZA's will, and I obey.

[blocks in formation]
« FöregåendeFortsätt »