But come, thou habitant of heav'n! Virtue, bright queen, to whom 'tis given The graces wait its portals nigh, Which perfect fhall endure thro' vaft eternity. Come, and thy gracious aid impart, What is the world's, the people's gazè? Hence with the bubble fame, and idle breath of praise ! Whether, adown the ftream of time, I pass with easy profp'rous fails; But stedfast steer, when tempefts rife That rend my shatter'd bark, or mount it to the skies. So So come what will, the adverse scene, Then, whether Fate's refiftless fhears, Or, in my Prime, my doom be spoke, HEROIC HEROIC STANZA S, On the Succeffes of his MAJESTY's Arms, and the Greatness of the ENGLISH NATION; 1762. I. AIL facred mufe! thou harbinger of fame, HA! To Britain's glory found the lofty rhime; A pleasing task her greatness to proclaim, And stamp her honours on the page of time. II. For fure, the praises of her warlike train, To the harmonious deathless lyre belong; For them, fweet CLIO, raise the rapt'rous strain, And the rich tide of mufic pour along. III. As when the monarchs of the bestial race, Triumphant, rove the fterile Lybian fand; The tyger fierce, and lordly pard they chafe, Nor dare the trembling flocks their rage withstand; IV. Or, as the fovereigns of the briny flood, From shore to shore, imperial, cleave their way; Before them fly the fearful finny brood, And all confefs their wide-extended fway; So So when Britannia lifts her glitt'ring fpear, Her enfigns blazing o'er th' embattl'd field; Heart-ftruck with awe, and chill'd with instant fear, Her foes inglorious fly, or trembling yield. VI. Or if fome BLAKE her navies, vengeful, lead Not Carthage old, for opulence renown'd, VIII. D Her's is fair COMMERCE to earth's distant end, IX. True to her ports, her num'rous veffels bear X. Well doth Britannia the fair path pursue, ; At home, t'encreafe each happy fubject's store, XI. Won by the valour of her martial bands, Lo! this new world boafts her aufpicious name; Scant are the tracts the lordly Gaul commands, And leffen'd proud Iberia's ample claim. Thro' yon XII. fair ifles that grace the western main, Like gems bespangling Neptune's azure vest, Or ftars that deck the blue etherial plain, The feats of British heroes are confeft. XIII. Struck |