Classic Poem

BOOK II.

O H ARCOURT ! whom the' ingenuous love of arts
Has carried from thy native soil beyond
The' eternal alpine snows, and now detains
In Italy's waste realms, how long must we
Lament thy absence? whilst in sweet sojourn
Thou view'st the relics of old Rome, or what
Unrivall'd authors by their presence made
For ever venerable, rural seats,
Tibur and Tusculum, or Virgil's urn,
Green with immortal bays, which haply thou,
Respecting his great name, dost now approach
With bended knee, and strow with purple flowers,
Unmindful of thy friends, that ill can brook
This long delay. At length, dear youth! return,
Of wit and judgment ripe in blooming years,
And Britain's isle with Latin knowledge grace;
Return and let thy father's worth excite
Thirst of pre-eminence. See how the cause
Of widows and of orphans he asserts
With winning rhetoric and well-argu'd law!
Mark well his footsteps, and like him deserve
Thy prince's favour, and thy country's love.
Meanwhile, although the Massic grape delights,
Pregnant of racy juice, and Formian hills
Temper thy cups, yet wilt not thou reject
Thy native liquors: lo! for thee my mill
Now grinds choice apples, and the British vats
O'erflow with generous Cider. Far remote
Accept this labour, nor despise the Muse
That, passing lands and seas, on thee attends.
Thus far of Trees; the pleasing task remains
To sing of Wines and autumn's blest increase.
The' effects of art are shown, yet what avails
'Gainst Heav'n? oft notwithstanding all thy care
To help thy plants, when the small fruitery seems
Exempt from ills, an oriental blast
Disastrous flies, soon as the hind fatigued
Unyokes his team; the tender freight, unskill'd
To bear the hot disease, distemper'd pines
In the year's prime! the deadly plague annoys
The wide enclosure: think not vainly now
To treat thy neighbours with mellifluous cups,
Thus disappointed: if thy former years
Exhibit no supplies, alas! thou must
With tasteless water wash thy droughty throat.
A thousand accidents the farmer's hopes
Subvert or check: uncertain all his toil,
Till lusty Autumn's lukewarm days, allay'd
With gentle colds, insensibly confirm
His ripening labours. Autumn to the fruits
Earth's various lap produces, vigour gives
Equal, intenerating milky grain,
Berries, and sky-dyed plums, and what in coat
Rough, or soft rind, or bearded husk or shell,
Fat olives, and pistachio's fragrant nut,
And the pine's tasteful apple: autumn paints
Ausonian hills with grapes, whilst English plains
Blush with pomaceous harvests, breathing sweets.
O let me now when the kind early dew
Unlocks the' embosom'd odours walk among
The well-rang'd files of trees, whose full-ag'd stores
Diffuse ambrosial steams, than myrrh or naid
More grateful, or perfuming flowery bean!
Soft whispering airs and the lark's matin song
Then woo to musing, and becalm the mind,
Perplex'd with irksome thoughts. Thrice happy time,
Best portion of the various year, in which
Nature rejoiceth, smiling on her works
Lovely, to full perfection wrought! But ah!
Short are our joys, and neighbouring griefs disturb
Our pleasant hours! inclement Winter dwells
Contiguous; forthwith frosty blasts deface
The blithsome year: trees of their shrivell'd fruits
Are widow'd, dreary storms o'er all prevail!
Now, now the time, ere hasty suns forbid
To work, disburden thou thy sapless wood
Of its rich progeny: the turgid fruit
Abounds with mellow liquor; now exhort
Thy hinds to exercise the pointed steel
On the hard rock, and give a wheely form
To the' expected grinder; now prepare
Materials for thy mill, a sturdy post
Cylindric, to support the grinder's weight
Excessive, and a flexile fallow entrench'd,
Rounding, capacious of the juicy hoard.
Nor must thou not be mindful of thy press,
Long ere the vintage, but with timely care
Shave the goat's shaggy beard, lest thou too late
In vain shouldst seek a strainer, to dispart
The husky terrene dregs from purer must.
Be cautious next a proper steed to find
Whose prime is past; the vigorous horse disdains
Such servile labours; or, if forc'd, forgets
His past achievements and victorious palms:
Blind Bayard rather, worn with work and years,
Shall roll the' unwieldy stone; with sober pace
He'll tread the circling path, till dewy eve
From early dayspring, pleas'd to find his age,
Declining, not unuseful to his lord.
Some when the press by utmost vigour screw'd
Has drain'd the pulpous mass, regale their swine
With the dry refuse; thou, more wise, shalt steep
Thy husks in water, and again employ
The pondrous engine. Water will imbibe
The small remains of spirit, and acquire
A vinous flavour; this the peasants blithe
Will quaff, and whistle as thy tinkling team
They drive, and sing of Fusca's radiant eyes,
Pleas'd with the medley draught. Nor shalt thou
Reject the Apple-cheese, though quite exhaust;
Ev'n now 'twill cherish and improve the roots
Of sickly plants; new vigour hence convey'd,
Will yield an harvest of unusual growth:
Such profit springs from husks discreetly us'd!
The tender Apples from their parents rent
By stormy shocks, must not neglected lie
The prey of worms. A frugal man I knew,
Rich in one barren acre, which subdued
By endless culture, with sufficient must
His casks replenish'd yearly: he no more
Desir'd nor wanted, diligent to learn
The various seasons, and by skill repel
Invading pests; successful in his cares,
Till the damp Libyan wind, with tempests arm'd
Outrageous, bluster'd horrible amidst
His Cider grove: o'erturn'd by furious blasts
The sightly ranks fall prostrate, and around
Their finitage scatter'd, from the genial boughs
Stripp'd immature: yet did he not repine,
Nor curse his stars! but prudent, his fall'n heaps
Collecting, cherish'd with the tepid wreaths
Of tedded grass and the sun's mellowing beams,
Rivall'd with artful heats, and thence procur'd
A costly liquor, by improving time
Equall'd with what the happiest vintage bears.
But this I warn thee, and shall always warn,
No heterogeneous mixtures use, as some
With watry turnips have debas'd their wines,
Too fiugal; nor let the crude humours dance
In heated brass, steaming with fire intense,
Although Devonia much commends the use
Of strengthening Vulcan: with their native strength
Thy wines sufficient other aid refuse,
And when the' allotted orb of time's complete,
Are more commended than the labour'd drinks.
Nor let thy avarice tempt thee to withdraw
The priest's appointed share; with cheerful heart
The tenth of thy increase bestow, and own
Heaven's bounteous goodness; that will sure repay
Thy grateful duty. This neglected, fear
Signal vengeance; such as overtook
A miser, that unjustly once withheld
The clergy's due: relying on himself,
His fields he tended with successless care
Early and late, when or unwish'd-for rain
Descended, or unseasonable frosts
Curb'd his increasing hopes, or when around
The clouds dropp'd fatness, in the middle sky
The dew suspended staid, and left unmoist
His execrable glebe. Recording this,
Be just and wise; and tremble to transgress.
Learn now the promise of the coming year
To know, that by no flattering signs abus'd
Thou wisely may'st provide. The various moon
Prophetic and attendant stars explain
Each rising dawn; ere icy crusts surmount
The current stream, the heavenly orbs serene
Twinkle with trembling rays, and Cynthia glows
With light unsullied: now, the fowler, warn'd
By these good omens, with swift early steps
Treads the crimp earth, ranging through fields and glades
Offensive to the birds: sulphureous death
Checks their mid flight, and heedless while they strain
Their tuneful throats the towering heavy lead
O'ertakes their speed: they leave their little lives
Above the clouds, precipitant to earth.
The woodcock's early visit and abode
Of long continuance in our temperate clime,
Foretel a liberal harvest. He, of times
Intelligent, the harsh Hyperborean ice
Shuns for our equal winters: when our suns
Cleave the chill'd soil, he backward wings his way
To Scandinavian frozen summers, meet
For his numb'd blood. But nothing profits more
Than frequent snows: O may'st thou often see
Thy furrows whiten'd by the woolly rain
Nutricious! secret nitre lurks within
The porous wet, quickening the languid glebe.
Sometimes thou shalt with fervent vows implore
A moderate wind: the Orchat loves to wave
With winter wind, before the gems exert
Their feeble heads: the loosen'd roots then drink
Large increment, earnest of happy years.
Nor will it nothing profit to observe
The monthly stars, their powerful influence
O'er planted fields, what vegetables reign
Under each sign. On our account has Jove
Indulgent, to all moons some succulent plant
Allotted, that poor helpless man might slake
His present thirst, and matter find for toil.
Now will the corinths, now the rasps, supply
Delicious draughts; the quinces now, or plums
Or cherries, or the fair Thisbein fruit,
Are press'd to wines: the Britons squeeze the works
Of sedulous bees; and, mixing odorous herbs,
Prepare balsamic cups, to wheezing lungs
Medicinal, and short-breath'd ancient sires.
But if thou'rt indefatigably bent
To toil, and omnifarious drinks wouldst brew,
Besides the Orchat every hedge and bush
Affords assistance; ev'n afflictive birch,
Curs'd by unletter'd idle youth, distils
A limpid current from her wounded bark,
Profuse of nursing sap. When solar beams
Parch thirsty human veins, the damask'd meads,
Unforc'd, display ten thousand painted flowers
Useful in potables. Thy little sons
Permit to range the pastures; gladly they
Will mow the cowslip posies faintly sweet,
From whence thou artificial wines shalt drain
Of icy taste; that, in mid fervours, best
Slake craving thirst, and mitigate the day.
Happy lirne! whose most wholesome air
Poisons envenom'd spiders, and forbids
The baleful toad and viper from her shore:
More happy in her balmy draughts, (enrich'd
With miscellaneous spices, and the root
For thirst-abating sweetness prais'd) which wide
Extend her fame, and to each drooping heart
Present redress, and lively health convey.
See how the Belgae, sedulous and stout,
With bowls of fattening mum, or blissful cups
Of kernel-relish'd fluids, the fair star
Of early Phosphorus salute, at noon
Jocund with frequent rising fumes! by use
Instructed thus to quell their native phlegm
Prevailing, and engender wayward mirth.
What need to treat of distant climes, remov'd
Far from the sloping journey of the year,
Beyond Petsora and islandic coasts,
Where ever-during snows, perpetual shades
Of darkness, would congeal their livid blood,
Did not the Arctic track spontaneous yield
A cheering purple berry, big with wine
Intensely fervent, which each hour they crave,
Spread round a flaming pile of pines? and oft
They interlard their native drinks with choice
Of strongest brandy, yet scarce with these aids
Enabled to prevent the sudden rot
Of freezing nose, and quick-decaying feet.
Nor less the sable borderers of Nile,
Nor who Taprobane manure, nor they
Whom sunny Barneo bears, are stor'd with streams
Egregious, rum and rice's spirit extract:
For here expos'd to perpendicular rays,
In vain they covet shades and Thrascia's gales,
Pining with equinoctial heat, unless
The cordial glass perpetual motion keep
Quick circuiting: nor dare they close their eyes,
Void of a bulky charger near their lips,
With which in often interrupted sleep
Their flying blood compels to irrigate
Their dry-furr'd tongues, else minutely to death
Obnoxions, dismal death! the' effect of drought.
More happy they born in Columbus' world,
Carybbes, and they whom the cotton plant
With downy-sprouting vests arrays: their woods
Bow with prodigious nuts that give at once
Celestial food and nectar; then at hand
The lemon uncorrupt with voyage long,
To vinous spirits added, (heavenly drink!)
They with pneumatic engine ceaseless draw,
Intent on laughter: a continual tide
Flows from the exhilirating fount. As when
Against a secret cliff with sudden shock
A ship is dash'd, and, leaking, drinks the sea;
The' astonish'd mariners aye ply the pump,
Nor stay nor rest till the wide breach is clos'd;
So they (but cheerful) unfatigued still move
The draining sucker, then alone concern'd
When the dry bowl forbids their pleasing work.
But if to hoarding thou art bent, thy hopes
Are frustrate, shouldst thou think thy pipes will flow
With early limpid wine. The hoarded store
And the harsh draught, must twice endure the sun's
Kind strengthening heat, twice winter's purging cold.
There are, that a compounded fluid drain
From different mixtures, woodcock, pippin, moyle,
Rough eliot, sweet pearmain: the blended streams
(Each mutually correcting each) create
A pleasurable medley, of what taste
Hardly distinguish'd; as the showery arch
With listed colours gay, or, azure, gules,
Delights and puzzles the beholder's eye,
That views the watry braid with thousand shows
Of painture varied, yet is unskill'd to tell
Or where one colour rises or one faints.
Some Ciders have by art or age unlearn'd
Their genuine relish, and of sundry wines
Assum'd the flavour: one sort counterfeits
The Spanish product; this, to Gauls has seem'd
The sparkling nectar of Champaign; with that
A German oft has swill'd his throat, and sworn
Deluded, that imperial Rhine bestow'd
The generous rummer, whilst the owner, pleas'd,
Laughs inly at his guests, thus entertain'd
With foreign vintage from his Cider cask.
Soon as thy liquor from the narrow cells
Of close-prest husks is freed, thou most refrain
Thy thirsty soul; let none persuade to broach
Thy thick unwholesome undigested cates;
The hoary frosts and northern blasts take care
Thy muddy beverage to serene, and drive,
Precipitant, the baser ropy lees.
And now thy wine's transpicuous, purg'd from all
Its earthy gross; yet, let it feed a while
On the fat refuse, lest too soon disjoin'd
From sprightly, it to sharp or vapid change.
When to convenient vigour it attains
Suffice it to provide a brazen tube
Inflext; self-taught and voluntary flies
The defecated liquor, through the vent
Ascending, then by downward track convey'd
Spouts into subject vessels lovely clear;
As when a noontide sun with summer beams
Darts through a cloud, her watry skirts are edg'd
With lucid amber or undrossy gold;
So, and so richly, the purg'd liquid shines.
Now also when the colds abate nor yet
Full summer shines, a dubious season, close
In glass thy purer streams, and let them gain
From due confinement spirit and flavour new.
For this intent the subtle chemist feeds
Perpetual flames, whose unresisted force
O'er sand and ashes and the stubborn flint
Prevailing, turns into a fusil sea,
That in his furnace bubbles sunny-red;
From hence a glowing drop with hollow'd steel
He takes, and by one efficacious breath
Dilates to a surprising cube, or sphere,
Or oval, and fit receptacles forms
For every liquid, with his plastic lungs,
To human life subservient: by his means
Ciders in metal frail improve; the moyle
And tasteful pippin in a moon's short year
Acquire complete perfection: now they smoke
Transparent, sparkling in each drop, delight
Of curious palate, by fair virgins crav'd.
But harsher fluids different lengths of time
Expect: thy flask will slowly mitigate
The eliot roughness: stirom, firmest fruit,
Embottled long as Priameian Troy
Withstood the Greeks, endures, ere justly mild:
Soften'd by age it youthful vigour gains,
Fallacious drink! Ye honest men! beware,
Nor trust its smoothness; the third circling glass
Suffices virtue: but may hypocrites,
(That slily speak one thing another think,
Hateful as hell) pleas'd with the relish weak
Drink on unwarn'd, till by enchanting cups
Infatuate they their wily thoughts disclose,
And through intemperance grow a while sincere!
The farmer's toil is done; his cades mature
Now call for vent; his lands exhaust permit
To' indulge a while. Now solemn rites he pays
To Bacchus, author of heart-cheering mirth.
His honest friends at thirsty hour of dusk
Come uninvited; he, with bounteous hand
Imparts his smoking vintage, sweet reward
Of his own industry; the well-fraught bowl
Circles incessant, whilst the humble cell
With quavering laugh and rural jest resounds.
Ease and content, and undissembled love,
Shine in each face; the thoughts of labour past
Increase their joy: as from retentive cage
When sullen Philomel escapes, her notes
She varies, and of past imprisonment
Sweetly complains; her liberty retriev'd
Cheers her sad soul, improves her pleasing song.
Gladsome they quaff, yet not exceed the bounds
Of healthy temperance, nor encroach on night,
Season of rest; but well-bedew'd repair
Each to his home with unsupplanted feet:
Ere Heav'n's emblazon'd by the rosy dawn
Domestic cares awake them; brisk they rise,
Refresh'd, and lively with the joys that flow
From amicable talk and moderate cups
Sweetly interchang'd. The pining lover finds
Present redress, and long oblivion drinks
Of coy Lucinda. Give the debtor wine;
His joys are short and few; yet when he drinks
His dread retires; the flowing glasses add
Courage and mirth; magnificent in thought,
Imaginary riches he enjoys,
And in the jail expatiates uncontin'd.
Nor can the poet Bacchus' praise indite,
Debar'd his grape. The Muses still require
Humid regalement, nor will aught avail
Imploring Phaebus with unmoisten'd lips.
Thus to the generous bottle all incline,
By parching thirst allur'd. With vehement suns
When dusty summer bakes the crumbling clods
How pleasant is't beneath the twisted arch
Of a retreating bower in mid-day's reign,
To ply the sweet carouse, remote from noise,
Secur'd of feverish heats! When the' aged year
Inclines and Boreas' spirit blusters frore
Beware the' inclement heavens; now let thy hearth
Crackle with juiceless boughs; thy lingering blood
Now instigate with the' Apple's powerful streams
Perpetual showers and stormy guests confine
The willing ploughman, and December warns
To annual jollities; now sportive youth
Carol incondite rhythms with suiting notes,
And quaver unharmonious; sturdy swains
In clean array for rustic dance prepare,
Mix'd with the buxom damsels; hand in hand
They frisk and bound, and various mazes weave,
Shaking their brawny limbs, with uncouth mien
Transported, and sometimes an oblique leer
Dart on their loves, sometimes an hasty kiss
Steal from unwary lasses; they with scorn
And neck reclin'd, resent the ravish'd bliss:
Meanwhile blind British bards with volant touch
Traverse loquacious strings, whose solemn notes
Provoke to harmless revels; these among
A subtle artist stands; in wondrous bag
That bears imprison'd winds (of gentler sort
Than those which eist Laertes son enclos'd)
Peaceful they sleep; but let the tuneful squeeze
Of labouring elbow rouse them, out they fly
Melodious, and with sprightly accents charm.
Midst these disports forget they not to drench
Themselves with bellying goblets; nor when spring
Returns, can they refuse to usher in
The fresh-born year with loud acclaim, and store
Of jovial draughts; now, when the sappy boughs
Attire themselves with blooms, sweet rudiments
Of future harvest. When the Gnossian Crown
Leads on expected autumn, and the trees
Discharge their mellow burdens, let them thank
Boon Nature, that thus annually supplies
Their vaults, and with her former liquid gifts
Exhilarates their languid minds, within
The golden mean confin'd; beyond there's nought
Of health or pleasure: therefore, when thy heart
Dilates with fervent joys, and eager soul
Prompts to pursue the sparkling glass, be sure
'Tis time to shun it: if thou wilt prolong
Dire compotation, forthwith reason quits
Her empire to confusion, and misrule,
And vain debates; then twenty tongues at once
Conspire in senseless jargon; nought is heard
But din, and various clamour, and mad rant:
Distrust and jealousy to these succeed,
And anger-kindling taunt, the certain bane
Of well-knit fellowship. Now horrid frays
Commence; the brimming glasses now are hurl'd
With dire intent; bottles with bottles clash
In rude encounter; round their temples fly
The sharp edg'd fragments, down their batter'd cheeks
Mixt gore and Cider flow. What shall we say
Of rash Elpenor, who in evil hour
Dried an immeasurable bowl, and thought
To' exhale his surfeit by irriguous sleep,
Imprudent? him death's iron sleep opprest,
Descending careless from his couch; the fall
Luxt his neck-joint, and spinal marrow bruis'd.
Nor need we tell what anxious cares attend
The turbulent mirth of wine, nor all the kinds
Of maladies that lead to Death's grim cave,
Wrought by intemperance, joint-racking gout,
Intestine stone, and pining atrophy,
Chill, even when the sun with July-heats
Fries the scorch'd soil, and dropsy, all afloat,
Yet craving liquids; nor the Centaurs' tale
Be here repeated, how with lust and wine
Inflam'd they fought, and spilt their drunken souls
At feasting hour. Ye heavenly Powers that guard
The British Isles! such dire events remove
Far from fair Albion, nor let civil broils
Ferment from social cups. May we, remote
From the hoarse brazen sound of war, enjoy
Our humid products, and with seemly draughts
Enkindle mirth and hospitable love!
Too oft, alas! has mutual hatred drench'd
Our swords in native blood; too oft has pride,
And hellish discord, and insatiate thirst
Of others' rights, our quiet discompos'd.
Have we forgot how fell destruction lag'd
Wide-spreading, when by Eris' torch incens'd
Our fathers warr'd? what heroes signaliz'd
For loyalty and prowess, met their fate
Untimely, undeserv'd! how Bertie fell,
Compton, and Granville, dauntless sons of Mars,
Fit themes of endless grief, but that we view
Their virtues yet surviving in their race!
Can we forget how the mad headstrong rout
Defied their prince to arms, nor made account
Of faith or duty, or allegiance sworn?
Apostate, atheist rebels! bent to ill,
With seeming sanctity and cover'd fraud,
Instill'd by him who first presum'd to' oppose
Omnipotence: alike their crime; the' event
Was not alike: these triumph'd; and in height
Of barbarous malice and insulting pride
Abstain'd not from imperial blood. O fact
Unparallel'd! O Charles! O best of kings!
What stars their black disastrous influence shed
On thy nativity, that thou shouldst fall
Thus by inglorious hands, in this thy realm
Supreme and innocent; adjudg'd to death
By those thy mercy only would have sav'd!
Yet was the Cider land unstain'd with guilt;
The Cider land, obsequious still to thrones,
Abhor'd such base disloyal deeds, and all
Her pruning-hooks extended into swords,
Undaunted to assert the trampled rights
Of Monarchy; but ah! successless she
However faithful: then was no regard
Of right or wrong; and this once happy land,
By home-bred fury rent, long groan'd beneath
Tyrannic sway, till fair revolving years
Our exil'd Kings and Liberty restor'd.
Now we exult, by mighty Anna's care
Secure at home, while she to foreign realms
Sends forth her dreadful legions, and restrains
The rage of kings. Here nobly she supports
Justice oppress'd; here, her victorious arms
Quell the ambitious: from her hand alone
All Europe fears revenge or hopes redress.
Rejoice, O Albion! sever'd from the world
By Nature's wise indulgence, indigent
Of nothing from without, in one supreme
Entirely blest, and from beginning time
Design'd thus happy: but the fond desire
Of rule and grandeur multiplied a race
Of kings, and numerous sceptres introduc'd,
Destructive of the public weal: for now
Each potentate as wary fear, or strength,
Or emulation urg'd, his neighbour's bounds
Invades, and ampler territory seeks
With ruinous assault: on every plain
Host cop'd with host; dire was the din of war
And ceaseless, or short truce haply procur'd
By havoc and dismay, till jealousy
Rais'd new combustion. Thus was peace in vain
Sought for by martial deeds and conflict stern,
Till Edgar grateful (as to those who pine
A dismal half-year-night the orient beam
Of Phaebus' lamp) arose, and into one
Cemented all the long-contending powers;
Pacific monarch! then her lovely head
Concord rear'd high, and all around diffus'd
The spirit of love. At ease the bards new strung
Their silent harps, and taught the woods and vales
In uncouth rhythms to echo Edgar's name.
Then gladness smil'd in every eye, the years
Ran smoothly on, productive of a line
Of wise heroic kings, that by just laws
Establish'd happiness at home, or crush'd
Insulting enemies in farthest climes.
See lion-hearted Richard, with his force
Drawn from the north to Jewry's hallow'd plains
Piously valiant (like a torrent swell'd
With wintry tempests, that disdains all mounds,
Breaking a way impetuous, and involves
Within its sweep, trees, houses, men) he press'd
Amidst the thickest battle, and o'erthrew
Whate'er withstood his zealous rage: no pause,
No stay of slaughter found his vigorous arm,
But the unbelieving squadrons, turn'd to flight,
Smote in the rear, and with dishonest wounds
Mangled behind. The Soldan as he fled
Oft call'd on Alla, gnashing with despite
And shame, and murmur'd many an empty curse.
Behold Third Edward's streamers blazing high
On Gallia's hostile ground! his right withheld
Awakens vengeance. O imprudent Gauls,
Relying on false hopes, thus to incense
The warlike English! One important day
Shall teach you meaner thoughts. Eager of fight
Fierce Brutus' offspring to the adverse front
Advance resistless, and their deep array
With furious inroad pierce: the mighty force
Of Edward twice o'erturn'd their desperate king;
Twice he arose and join'd the horrid shock:
The third time with his wide-extended wings
He fugitive declin'd superior strength,
Discomfited: pursued, in the sad chase
Ten thousands ignominious fall; with blood
The vallies float. Great Edward thus aveng'd
With golden Iris his broad shield emboss'd.
Thrice glorious Prince! whom Fame with all her tongues
For ever shall resound. Yet from his loins
New authors of disscusion spring: from him
Two branches that in hosting long contend
For sovereign sway: (and can such anger dwell
In noblest minds?) But little now avail'd
The ties of friendship: every man, as led
By inclination or vain hope, repair'd
To either camp, and breath'd immortal hate
And dire revenge. Now horrid slaughter reigns;
Sons against fathers tilt the fatal lance,
Careless of duty; and their native grounds
Distain with kindred blood: the twanging bows
Send showers of shafts that on their barbed points
Alternate ruin bear. Here might you see
Barons and peasants on the' embattled field
Slain or half-dead, in one huge ghastly heap
Promiseuously amass'd. With dismal groans
And ejulation, in the pangs of death
Some call for aid neglected; some o'erturn'd
In the fierce shock lie gasping and expire,
Trampled by fiery coursers. Horror thus
And wild uproar and desolation reign'd,
Unrespited. Ah! who at length will end
This long pernicious fray? what man has Fate
Reserv'd for this great work? — Hail, happy Prince
Of Tudor's race, whom in the womb of Time
Cadwallador foresaw! thou, thou art he,
Great Richmond Henry! that by nuptial rites
Must close the gates of Janus, and remove
Destructive discord. Now no more the drum
Provokes to arms, or trumpet's clangor shrill
Affrights the wives or chills the virgin's blood;
But joy and pleasure open to the view
Uninterrupted! With presaging skill
Thou to thy own unitest Fergus' line
By wise alliance. From thee James descends,
Heaven's chosen favourite, first Britannic king:
To him alone hereditary right
Gave power supreme: yet still some seeds remain'd
Of discontent; two nations under one,
In laws and interest diverse, still pursued
Peculiar ends, on each side resolute
To fly conjunction: neither fear nor hope,
Nor the sweet prospect of a mutual gain,
Could aught avail, till prudent Anna said —
" Let there be Union;" straight with reverence due
To her command they willingly unite,
One in affection, laws, and government,
Indissolubly firm; from Dubris south
To northern Orcades her long domain.
And now thus leagued by an eternal bond
What shall retard the Britons' bold designs,
Or who sustain their force, in union knit,
Sufficient to withstand the powers combin'd
Of all this globe? At this important act
The Mauritanian and Cathaian kings
Already tremble, and the' unbaptiz'd Turk
Dreads war from utmost Thule. Uncontroll'd
The British navy through the ocean vast
Shall wave her double Cross, to' extremest climes
Terrific, and return with odorous spoils
Of Araby well-fraught, or Indus' wealth,
Pearl and barbaric gold: meanwhile the swains
Shall unmolested reap what Plenty strows
From well-stor'd horn, rich grain and timely fruits.
The elder year Pomona, pleas'd, shall deck
With ruby-tinctur'd births, whose liquid store
Abundant flowing in well-blended streams
The natives shall applaud; while glad they talk
Of baleful ills, caus'd by Bellona's wrath
In other realms. Where'er the British spread
Triumphant banners, or their fame has reach'd
Diffusive, to the utmost bounds of this
Wide universe, Silurian Cider borne
Shall please all tastes, and triumph o'er the vine.