So ftrictly wert thou just to pay, Ev'n to the driblet of a day. Yet ftill we murmur and complain, The quails and manna fhould no longer rain; The chofen flock has now the promis'd land in view. XV. A warlike prince afcends the regal state, Long may he keep, though he obtains it late! Man was the first in God's design, and man was made the laft. Falfe heroes, made by flattery so, Heaven can strike out, like sparkles, at a blow; But ere a prince is to perfection brought, He cofts Omnipotence a fecond thought. With hardening cold, and forming heat, Before 'twas try'd and found a master-piece. XVI. View then a monarch ripen'd for a throne. Alcides thus his race began, O'er infancy he fwiftly ran; The future God at firft was more than man: Ev'n o'er his cradle lay in wait; And there he grappled first with fate : In his young hands the hiffing snakes he preft, Thus by degrees he rofe to Jove's imperial feat; His father's rebels, and his brother's foes; XVII. As, after Numa's peaceful reign, 'Tis rous'd, and with a new-ftrung nerve, the fpear already fhakes. No neighing of the warrior steeds, No drum, or louder trumpet, needs T' infpire the coward, warm the cold, His voice, his fole appearance makes them bold. Gaul Gaul and Batavia dread th' impending blow; Too well the vigour of that arm they know; They lick the duft, and crouch beneath their fatal foe, And not provoke his lingering fword; Their beft fecurity his word: In all the changes of his doubtful state, His valour can triumph o'er land and main; With conqueft bafely bought, and with inglorious gain. XVIII. For once, O heaven, unfold thy adamantine book; And let his wondering fenate fee, If not thy firm immutable decree, At least the fecond page of strong contingency; To tarve the royal virtues of his mind. Faith is a chriftian's and a fubject's teft, Oh give them to believe, and they are furely bleft. They do; and with a diftant view I fee Th' amended vows of English loyalty. And And all beyond that object, there appears In orderly array, a martial, manly train A conquering navy proudly spread; Th' afferted ocean rears his reverend head; The fafces of the main. VENI CREATOR SPIRITUS, PARAPHRASED. CREATOR fpirit, by whose aid The world's foundations first were laid, Come vifit every pious mind; Come pour thy joys on human kind; From fin and forrow fet us free, And make thy temples worthy thee, Thou Thou ftrength of his Almighty hand, Whofe power does heaven and earth command. Who doft the gifts of tongues difpenfe, And when rebellious they are grown, And peace, the fruit of love, beftow; Eternal Paraclete, to thee. } THE |