Jadis si prompts à marcher, Cependant l'effroy redouble La flame et le fer en main: C'en est fait. Je viens d'entendre De Namur pris à vous yeux. Would it not spoil his noble task, If any foolish Phrygian there is Impertinent enough to ask, How far Namur may be from Paris? Two stanzas more before we end, Of death, pikes, rocks, arms, bricks, and fire; Leave them behind you, honest friend, And with your countrymen retire. 'Tis done. In sight of these commanders Send, Fame, this news to Trianon, That Boufflers may new honours gain ; 4 Count Guiscard was commander of the town of Namur, and Marshal Boufflers of the castle. 5 M. de Tourville commanded the French squadron, which engaged Admiral Russell off La Hogue, in 1692. THE GARLAND. THE pride of every grove I chose, And every nymph and shepherd said, That in her hair they look'd more gay Than glowing in their native bed. Undress'd at evening, when she found Their odours lost, their colours pass'd, She changed her look, and on the ground Her garland and her eye she cast. That eye dropp'd sense distinct and clear, As any Muse's tongue could speak, When from its lid a pearly tear Ran trickling down her beauteous cheek. Dissembling what I knew too well, My love, my life, (said I) explain This change of humour; pr'ythee tell, That falling tear-what does it mean?' She sigh'd; she smiled; and to the flowers Pointing, the lovely moralist said, 'See, friend, in some few fleeting hours, See yonder what a change is made! Ah me! the blooming pride of May At dawn poor Stella danced and sung, I saw and kiss'd her in her shroud. Such as she is who died to-day, Such I, alas! may be to-morrow; Go, Damon, bid thy Muse display The justice of thy Chloe's sorrow.' THE VICEROY. A BALLAD. To the tune of Lady Isabella's Tragedy; or, the Stepmother's Cruelty.' OF Nero1, tyrant, petty king, Who heretofore did reign He hated was by rich and poor, 1 This satire was justly levelled at Lord Coningsby, for his mal-administration when he was one of the Lords Justices of Ireland. Full proud and arrogant was he, The guilty he would still set free, He with a haughty impious nod A patriot' of high degree, And, arm'd with truth, impeach'd the Don In low but faithful rhymes. The articles recorded stand Attend, and justly I'll recite The heads set in their native light, That traitorously he did abuse 2 The Earl of Bellamont impeached Coningsby of hightreason in the English parliament. 3 Sabbati, 16 die Decembris, 5 Gulielmi et Mariæ, 1693. |