is dread retires, the flowing glaffes add ourage and mirth: magnificent in thought, maginary riches he enjoys,
nd in the gaol expatiates unconfin'd. For can the poet Bacchus' praise indite, Debarr'd his grape: The Mufes ftill require Humid reglement, nor will aught avail mploring Phebus, with unmoiften'd lips. Thus to the generous bottle all incline,
By parching thirst allur'd: With vehement funs When dufty fummer bakes the crumbling clods, How pleafant 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 hers' When th' aged year Inclines, and Boreas' spirit blufters frore, Beware th' inclement heavens; now let thy hearth Crackle with juicelefs boughs; thy lingering blood Now inftigate with th' apple's powerful streams. Perpetual showers, and formy gufts confine The willing Plowman, and December warns To annual jollities; now fportive youth Carol incondite rhythms, with fuiting notes, And quaver unharmonious; sturdy fwains In clean array for rustic dance prepare, Mixt with the buxom damfels: hand in hand They frisk and bound, and various mazes weave, Shaking their brawny limbs, with uncouth mein, Transported, and fometimes an oblique leer Dart on their loves, fometimes an hafty kifs Steal from unwary laffes; they with fcorn, And neck reclin'd, refent the ravish'd blifs. Meanwhile blind British bards with volant touch Traverte loquacious ftrings, whofe folemn notes Provoke to harmless revels; thefe among, A fubtle artist ftinds, in wondrous bag That bears imprifon'd winds (of gentler fort Than thofe, which erft Laertes' fon enclos'd). Peaceful they fleep; but let the tuneful fqueeze Of labouring elbow rouze them, out they fly Melodious, and with fprightly accents charm. 'Midft thefe defports, forget they not to drench Themselves with bellying goblets; nor, when fpring Returns, can they refufe to ufher in
The fresh-born year with loud acclaim, and store Of jovial draughts, now, when the fappy boughs Attire themselves with blooms, fweet rudiments Of future harveft: When the Gnoffian crown Leads on expected autumn, and the trees Difcharge their mellow burdens, let them thank Boon Nature, that thus annually fupplies 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 plenfure. Therefore, when thy heart Dilates with ferven joys, and eager foul Prompts to pursue the fparkling glafs, be fure 'Tis time to fhun it; if thou wilt prolong Dire compotation, forthwith reafon quits Her empire to confufion, and mifrule,
And vain debates: then twenty tongues at once Confpire in fenfelefs jargon, nought is heard Bu din, and various clamor, and mad rant: Diftruft, and jealousy to thefe fucceed, And anger-kindling taunt, the certain bane Of well-knit fellow hip. Now horrid frays Commence, the brimming glaffes now are hurl'd
With dire intent; bottles with bottles clai
In rude encounter, round their temples fly
The fharp-edg'd fragments, down their batter'd cheeks Mixt gore and cyder flow. What shall we say Of rafh Elpenor, who in evil hour
Dry'd an immeafurable bowl, and thought T'exhale his furfeit by irriguous deep, Imprudent? him death's iron-fleep oppreft, Defcending carelefs from his couch; the fall Luxt his neck-joint, and fpinal marrow bruis'd. Nor nced 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, Inteftine ftone, and pining atrophy, Chill even when the fun with july heats Fries the fcorch'd foil, and dropfy all-a-float, Yet craving liquids: nor the Centaurs tale Be here repeated; how, with luft and wine Inflam'd, they fought, and fpilt their drunken fouls At feafting hour. Ye heavenly Powers that guard The British iles, fuch dire events remove
Far from fair Albion, nor let civil broils Ferment from focial cups: May we, remote From the hoarfe, brazen found of war, enjoy Our humid products, and with feemly draughts Enkindle mirth, and hofpitable love.
Too oft, alas! has mutual hatred drench'd Our fwords in native blood; too oft has pride, And hellish difcord, and infatiate thirst Of others rights, our quiet difcompos'd. Have we forgot, how fell deftruction rag'd Wide-fpreading, when by Eris' torch incens'd Our fathers warr'd? what heroes, fignaliz'd For loyalty and prowels, met their fate Untimely, undeferv'd! how Bertie fell, Compton, and Granville, dauntless fons of Mars, Fit themes of endless grief, but that we view Their virtues yet furviving in their race! Can we forget, how the mad, headstrong rout Defy'd their prince to arms, nor made account Of faith or duty, or allegiance fworn? Apoftate, atheift rebels! bent to ill, With feeming fanctity, and cover'd fraud, Inftill'd by him, who first prefum'd t' oppofe Omnipotence; alike their crime, th' event Was not alike; these triumph'd, and in height Of barbarous malice, and infulting pride, Abftain'd not from imperial blood. O fact Unparallel'd! O Charles, O beft of Kings! What stars their black difaftrous influence shed On thy nativity, that thou should't fall Thus, by inglorious hands, in this thy realm, Supreme and innocent, adjudg'd to death By thofe thy mercy only would have fav'd! Yet was the Cyder-I and unftain'd with guilt; The Cyder-land obfequious ftill to thrones, Abhorr'd fuch bafe difloyal deeds, and all Her pruning-hooks extended into fwords, Undaunted, to affert the trampled rights Of monarchy; but, ah fuccefslefs the, 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 fway, till fair revolving years Our exil'd King, and Liberty reflor'd. Now we exult, by mighty Anna's care
Secure at home, while fhe to foreign realms Sends forth her dreadful legions, and restrains The rage of Kings: Here, nobly she supports Juftice opprefs'd; here, her victorious arms Quell the ambitious: From her hand alone All Europe fears revenge, or hopes redrefs. Rejoice, O Albion! fever'd from the world By Nature's wife indulgence, indigent Of nothing from without; in one supreme Intirely bleft; and from beginning time Defign'd thus happy; but the fond defire Of rule, and grandeur multiply'd a race Of Kings, and numerous fceptres 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 feeks With ruinous affault; on every plain Hoft cop'd with host, dire was the din of war, And ceafelefs, or fhort truce haply procur'd By havoc, and difmay, till jealousy Rais'd new combuftion. Thus was peace in vain Sought for by martial deeds, and conflict stern: Till Edgar grateful (as to those who pine A difmal half-year night, the orient beam Of Phoebus' lamp) arofe, 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 fpirit of love. At eafe, the bards new ftrung Their filent harps, and taught the woods and vales, In uncouth rhythms, to echo Edgar's name. Then gladness fmil'd in every eye; the years Ran fmoothly on, productive of a line Of wife heroic Kings, that by just laws Establish'd happiness at home, or cruth'd Infulting enemies in fartheft climes.
See lion-hearted Richard, with his force Drawn from the north, to Jewry's hallow'd plains! Piously valiant (like a torrent fwell'd
With wintery tempefts, that disdains all mounds, Breaking away impetuous, and involves
Within its fweep, trees, houfes, men) he prefs'd Amidst the thickeft battle, and o'erthrew Whate'er withstood his zealous rage: no pause, No ftay of flaughter, found his vigorous arm, But th' unbelieving fquadrons 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 curfe.
Behold third Edward's ftreamers blazing high On Gallia's hoftile ground! his right withheld, Awakens vengeance. O imprudent Gauls, Relying on falfe hopes, thus to incenfe The warlike English! One important day Shall teach you meaner thoughts. Eager of fight, Fierce Brutus' off-fpring to the adverfe front Advance refiftlefs, and their deep array With furious inroad pierce: the mighty force Of Edward twice o'erturn'd their defperate King, Twice he arofe, and join'd the horrid fhock: The third time, with his wide-extended wings, He fugitive declin'd fuperior ftrength, Difcomfited; pursued, in the fad chace Ten thousand ignominious fall; with blood
The vallies float. Great Edward thus aveng'd With golden Iris his broad fhield emboss'd.
Thrice glorious prince! whom Fame with all her tongues
For ever fhall refound. Yet from his loins New authors of diffenfion fpring; from him Two branches, that in hofting long contend For fov'ran fway; and can fuch anger dwell In nobleft minds? but little now avail'd The ties of friendship; every man, as led Fy inclination, or vain hope. repair'd To either camp, and breath'd immortal hate, And dire revenge. Now horrid flaughter reigns: Sons against fathers tilt the fatal lance, Careless of duty, and their native grounds Diftain with kindred blood; the twanging bows Send fhowers of shafts, that on their barbed points Alternate ruin bear. Here might you fee Barons and peasants on th' embattled field Slain or half-dead, in one huge, ghaftly heap Promifcuously amafs'd. With dismal groans, And ejulation, in the pangs of death Some call for aid, neglected; fome o'erturn'd In the fierce hock, lie gafping, and expire, Trampled by fiery courfers: Horror thus, And wild uproar, and defolation, reign'd Unrefpited. Ah! who at length will end This lon, pernicious fray? what man has fate Referv'd for this great work?-Hail, happy prince Of Tudor's race, whom in the womb of time Cadwallador forefaw! thou, thou art he Great Richmond Henry, that by nuptial rites Muft close the gates of Janus, and remove Destructive difcord. Now no more the drum Provokes to arms, or trumpet's clangor fhrill Affrights the wives, or chills the virgin's blood; But joy and pleasure open to the view Uninterrupted! with prefaging skill Thou to thy own uniteft Fergus' line By wife alliance: from thee James defcends, Heaven's chofen favourite, first Britannic king. To him alone hereditary right
Gave power fupreme; yet still fome feeds remain'd Of difcontent: two nations under one, In laws and intereft diverfe, ftill pursued Peculiar ends, on each fide refolute To fly conjunction; neither fear, nor hope, Nor the sweet prospect of a mutual gain, Could aught avail, till prudent Anna faid, Let there be union; strait with reverence due To her command, they willingly unite, One in affection, laws and government, Indiffolubly firm; from Dubris fouth, To Northern Orcades, her long domain.
And now, thus leagued by an eternal bond, What fhall retard the Britons bold defigns, Or who futain 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 th' unbaptiz'd Turk Dreads war from utmoft Thule. Uncontrol'd The British navy through the ocean vast Shall wave her double crofs, t' extremeft 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 ftrows From well-ftor'd horn, rich grain, and timely fruits. The elder year, Pomona, pleas'd, fhall deck With ruby-tinctur'd births, whofe liquid store Abundant, flowing in well-blended streams, The natives fhall applaud; while glad they talk Of balefull ills, caus'd by Bellona's wrath In other realms; where'er the British spread Triumphant banners, or their fame has reach'd Diffufive, to the utmoft bounds of this Wide univerfe, Silurian cyder borne
Shall please all taftes, and triumph o'er the vine.
"Per ambages, Deorumque minifteria "Præcipitandus eft liber fpiritus.'
Whofe fhrilling clang reach'd heaven's extremeft sphere, Rouz'd at the blaft, the gods with winged speed To learn the tidings came, on radiant thrones With fair memorials, and impreffes quaint Emblazon'd o'er they fate, devis'd of old
By Muliber, nor small his fkili I ween. There the relates what Churchill's arm had wrought, On Blenheim's bloody plain. Up Bacchus rofe, By his plamp cheek and barrel belly known, The pliant tendrils of a juicy vine Around his rofy brow in ringlets curl'd; And in his hand a bunch of grapes he held, The enfigns of the god! with ardent tone
He mov'd, that ftraight the nectar'd bowl fhould flow, Devote to Churchill's health, and o'er all heaven Uncommon orgies thould be kept till eve,
Till ali were fued with immortal mouft,
1706. Delicious tipple! that, in heavenly veins Affimilated, vigorous ichor bred, Superior to Frontiniac, or Bordeaux, Or old Falern, Campania's beft increase ; Or the more dulcet juice the happy ifles From Palma or Forteventura fend.
English tipple, and the potent grap
Which in the conclave of Celeftial Powers Bred fell debate, fing, Nymph of heavenly stem, Who on the hoary top of Pen-main-maur Merlin the feer didft vifit, whilft he fate With aftrolabe prophetic, to forefee Young actions iffuing from the Fates Divan. Full of thy power infus'd by nappy ALE, Darkling he watch'd the planetary orbs,
In their obfcure fojourn o'er heaven's high cope. Nor ceas'd till the gray dawn with orient dew Impearl'd his large muftachoes, deep enfconc'd Beneath his over-fhadowing orb of hat, And ample fence of elephantin nose. Scornful of keeneft polar winds, or fleet, Or hail, fent rattling down from wintery Jove. (Vain efforts on his feven-fold mantle, made Of Caledonian rug, immortal woof!) Such energy of foul to raise the fong, Deign, Goddefs, now to me; nor then withdraw Thy pure prefiding power, but guide my wing, Which nobly meditates no vulgar flight.
Now from th' enfanguin'd Ifter's reeking flood Tardy with many a corfe of Boïan knight, And Gallic deep ingulft, with barbed fleeds Promiscuous, Fame to high Olympus flew, Shearing th' expanse of heaven with active plume; Nor fwitter from Plinlimmon's steepy top The ftaunch Gerfaulcon through the buxom air Stoops on the fteerage of his wings, to trufs The quarry, hern, or mallard, newly fprung From creek, whence bright Sabrina bubbling forth, Runs faft a Naïs through the flowery meads, To fpread round Uriconium's towers her freams. Her golden trump the goddefs founded thrice,
Joy flush'd on every face, and pleasing glee Inward affent difcover'd, till uprofe Ceres, not blithe, for marks of latent woe Cim on her vifage lour'd: fuch her deport When Arethufa from her reedy bed
Told her how Dis young Proferpine had rap'd, To fway his iron fceptre, and command In gloom tartareous half his wide domain. Then, fighing, thus fhe faid" Have I fo long Employ'd my various art, t' enrich the lip Of Earth, all-bearing mother; and my iore Communicated to the unweeting hind, And shall not this pre-eminence obtain ?” Then from beneath her Tyrion vest she took The bearded ears of grain the most admir'd, Which gods call Chrithe, in terreftrial speech Ey-cleped Barley. 'Tis to this, the cry'd,
The British cohorts owe their martial fame And far-redoubted prowefs, matchless youth! This, when returning from the foughten field, Or Noric, or Iberian, feam'd with fears, (Sad fignatures of many a dreadful gash!) The veteran, caroufing, foon reftores Puiffance to his arm, and ftrings his nerves! And, as a fnake, when firft the rofy hours Shed vernal fweets o'er every vale and mead, Rolls tardy from his cell obfcure and dank; But, when by genial rays of fummer fun Purg'd of his flough, he nimbly thrids the brake, Whetting his fting, his crefted head he rears Terrific, from each eye retort he shoots Enfanguin'd rays, the diftant fwains admire His various neck, and fpires bedropt with gold: So at each glaf's the harrafs'd warrior feels Vigour renate; his horrent arms be takes, And rufting faulchion. on whofe ample hilt This poem is taken from a folio copy, 1706, Long Victory fat dormant: foon fhe fakes communicated from the Lambeth Library by Dr. Du- Her drowsy wings, and follows to the war, carel, in which the name of Philips was inferted in With fpeed fuccinct, where foon his marttial port the hand-writing of Abp. Tenifon. It was publish-She recognizes, whil he haughty tands ed by T. Bennet, the Bookfeller for whom Blen- On the rough edge of battle, and bestows heim" was printed: another ftrong prefumptive proof Wide torment on the ferried îles, fo us'd Frequent in Lold emprize, to work fad rout, of this being by the fame author, N. 6751 VOL. II.
And havock dire; thefe the bold Briton mows, Daun lefs as Deities exempt from fate, Ardent to deck his brow with mural gold, Or civic wreath of oak, the victor's meed. Such is the power of ale with vines embower'd, While dangling bunches court his thirsting lip; Sullen he fits, and fighing ofts extols
The beverage they quaff, whose happy foil Prolific Dovus laves, or Trenta's urn Adorns with waving Chrithe (joyous scenes Cf vegetable gold ) fecure they dwell,
Nor feel th' eternal fnows that cloath their cliffs: Nor curfe th' inclement air, whose horrid face Scowls like that Arctic heaven, that drizzling sheds Perpetual winter on the frozen (kirts
Of Scandinavia and the Baltic main,
Where the young tempefts first are taught to roar. Srug in their ftraw-built huts, or darkling earth'd In cavern'd rock they live (fmall need of art To form fpruce architrave, or cornice quaint, On Parian marble, with Corinthian grace Prepar'd-there on well-fuel'd hearth they chat, Wait black pots walk the round with laughing ale Surcharg'd; or brew'd in planetary hour, When March weigh'd night and day in equal scale: Or in October tunn'd, and mellow grown With feven revolving funs, the raicy juice, Strong with delicious flavour, ftrikes the fenfe. Nor wants on vaft circumference of board, Of Arthur's imitative, large furloin Of ox, or virgin-heifer, wont go browse The meads of Longovicum (fattening foil Replete with clover-grafs, and foodful fhrub). Planted with fprigs of rosemary it stands, Meet paragon (as far as great with small May correfpond) for fome Panchæan hill, Embrown'd with fultry skies, thin-fet with palm, And olive rarely interfpers'd, whose shade Skreens hofpitably from the Tropic Crab The quiver'd Arabs' vagrant clan, that waits Infidious fome rich caravan, which fares To Mecca, with Barbaric gold full fraught.
Thus Britain's hardy fons, of ruftic mould, Patient of arms, ftill quafh th' afpiring Gaul, Bleft by my boon: which when they flightly prize, Should they, with high defence of triple brafs Wide-circling, live immur'd (as erft was tried By Bacon's charms, on which the fickening moon Look'd wan, and chearless mew'd her crefcent horns Whilft Demogorgon heard his stern beheft) Thrice the prevailing power of Gallia's arms Should there refiftless ravage, as of old Great Pharamond, the founder of her fame, Was wont, when first his marshal'd peerage pafs'd The fubject Rhene. What though Britannia boafts Herfelf a world, with ocean circumfus'd? 'Tis Ale that warms her fons t' affert her claim And with full volley makes her naval tubes Thunder difaftrous doom to opponent powers!
Nor potent only to enkindle Mars, And fire with knightly prowess recreant fouls: It fcience can encourage, and excite The mind to ditties blithe, and charming fong. Thou, Pallas, to my fpeech just witness bear: How oft haft thou thy votaries beheld
At Crambo merry met, and hymning thrill With voice harmonic each, whilft others frisk In mazy dance, or Ceftrian gambols fhew, Elate with mighty joy, when to the brim Chritheian nectar crown'd the lordly bowl. (Equal to Neftor's ponderous cup, which a'd A hero's arm to mount it on the board, Ere he th' embattail'd Pylians led, to quell The pride of Dardan youth in hofting dire), Or if, with front unblefs'd, came towering in Proctor armipotent, in ftern deport Refembling turban'd Turk, when high he wields His fcimeter with huge two-handed sway. Alarm'd with threatening accent, harsher far Than that ill-omen'd found the bird of night, With beak uncomely bent, from dodder'd oak Screams out, the fick man's trump of doleful doom 1 Thy jocund fons confront the horrid van, That crowds his gonfalon of seven foot fize: And with their rubied faces ftand the foe; Whilft they of fober guife contrive retreat, And run with ears erect; as the tall ftag Unharbour'd by the wood-man quits his layre, And flies the yerning pack which close pursue, So they not bowfy dread th' approaching for: They run, they fly, till flying on obfcure, Night-founder'd in town-ditches ftagnant gurge, Soph rowls on Soph promiscuous.-Caps aloof Quadrate and circular confus'dly fly. The sport of fierce Norwegian tempefts, tost By Thrafcia's coadjutant, and the roar Of loud Euroclydon's tumultuous gufts."
She said: the fire of Gods and men supreme, With afpect bland, attentive audience gave, Then nodded awful: from his fhaken locks Ambrofial fragrance flew the fignal given By Ganymede the skinker foon was ken'd; With Ale he Heaven's capacious goblet crown'd, To Phrygian mood Apollo tun'd his lyre, The Mufes fang alternate, all carous'd, But Bacchus murmuring left th' aflembled powers.
Drown Reafon and all fuch weak foes,
I fcorn to obey her command;
Could the ever fuppofe I'd be led by the nofe, And let my glafs idly stand? Reputation's a bugbear to fools,
A foe to the joys of dear drinking, Made ufe of by tools, who'd fet us new rules, And bring us to politic thinking.
Fill them all, I'll have fix in a hand, For I've trifled an age away;
'Tis in vain to command, the fleeting fand Rolls on, and cannot stay.
Come, my lads, move the glafs, drink about, We'll drink the universe dry;
We'll fet foot to foot, and drink it all out, If once we grow fober we die.
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