Thofe miracles 'twas needlefs to renew; The chofen flock has now the promis'd land in view. XV. A warlike prince afcends the regal state, A prince, long exercis'd by fate: Long may he keep, tho' he obtains it late! Heroes in heaven's peculiar mold are caft; They, and their poets, are not form'd in hafte : Man was the first in God's defign, and man was made the last. Falfe heroes, made by flattery fo, Heav'n can strike out, like sparkles, at a blow; With hardning cold, and forming heat, Before 'twas try'd and found a master-piece. View then a monarch ripen'd for a throne. Alcides thus his race began, O'er infancy he swiftly ran; The future god, at firft, was more than man: Even o'er his cradle lay in wait, And there he grapled first with fate : In his young hands the hiffing snakes he prest ; Thus, by degrees, he rose to Jove's imperial feat; His father's rebels, and his brother's foes; That form'd his manhood, to fubdue XVII. As after Numa's peaceful reign, 'Tis rous'd, and with a new strong nerve the fpear already fhakes. No neighing of the warrior steeds, No drum, or louder trumpet, needs His voice, his fole appearance, makes them bold. Gaul and Batavia dread th' impending blow; Too well the vigour of that arm they know; They lick the dust, and crouch beneath their fatal foe. Long may they fear this awful prince, And not provoke his lingring fword; Peace is their only fure defence, Their beft fecurity his word. In all the changes of his doubtful state, His valour can triumph o'er land and main : With conquest basely bought, and with inglorious gain. XVIII. For once, O heav'n, unfold thy adamantine book; If not thy firm immutable decree, At least the second page of great contingency; To starve the royal virtues of his mind. They do; and, with a distant view, I fee Th' amended vows of English loyalty: In orderly array, a martial, manly train. A conquering navy proudly spread; While, starting from his oozy bed, To view and recognize his ancient lord again: BRITANNIA REDIVIVA: A POEM on the PRINCE, born on the 10th June 1688. Ο UR vows are heard by times, and heav'n takes care To grant, before we can conclude the pray'r: Preventing angels met it half the way, And fent us back to praife, who came to pray. Just on the day, when the high-mounted fun Did fartheft in its northern progress run, He bended forward, and ev'n stretch'd the sphere Beyond the limits of the lengthen'd year, To view a brighter fun in Britain born; That was the business of his longest morn; The glorious object seen, 'twas time to turn. Departing fpring could only stay to shed Her gloomy beauties on the genial bed, But left the manly fummer in her stead, With timely fruit the longing land to chear, And to fulfil the promise of the year. Betwixt two seasons comes th' aufpicious heir, This age to bloffom, and the next to bear. * Laft folemn Sabbath faw the church attend, To ftamp their image on the promis'd feed. Drawn down from heav'n; but long be banish'd thence, To mend our crimes whole ages would require; The facred cradle to your charge receive, *Whit-Sunday. |