HA

APPY the man, who, void of cares and strife, In silken or in leathern purse retains A Splendid Shilling: he nor hears with pain New oysters cry'd, nor sighs for cheerful ale; But with his friends, when nightly mists arise, To Juniper's Magpie, or Town-hall ' repairs: Where, mindful of the nymph, whose wanton eye Transfix'd his soul, and kindled amorous flames, Chloe, or Phillis, he each circling glass Wisheth her health, and joy, and equal love. Meanwhile, he smokes, and laughs at merry tale, Or pun ambiguous, or conundrum quaint. But I, whom griping Penury surrounds, And Hunger, sure attendant upon Want, With scanty offals, and small acid tiff, (Wretched repast!) my meagre corpse sustain: Then solitary walk, or doze at home In garret vile, and with a warming puff Regale chill'd fingers; or from tube as black As winter-chimney, or well-polish'd jet, Exhale mundungus, ill-perfuming scent: Not blacker tube, nor of a shorter size, Smokes Cambro-Briton (vers'd in pedigree, Sprung from Cadwallador and Arthur, kings Full famous in romantic tale) when he O'er many a craggy hill and barren cliff, Upon a cargo of fam'd Cestrian cheese, High over-shadowing rides, with a design To vend his wares, or at th' Arvonian mart, Or Maridunum, or the antient town Yclep'd Brechinia, or where Vaga's stream Encircles Ariconium, fruitful soil!

Whence flow nectareous wines, that well may vie With Massic, Setin, or renown'd Falern.

I Two noted alehouses in Oxford, 1700.

Thus while my joyless minutes tedious flow,
With looks demure, and silent pace, a Dun,
Horrible monster! hated by gods and men,
To my aërial citadel ascends,

With vocal heel thrice thundering at my gate,
With hideous accent thrice he calls; I know
The voice ill-boding, and the solemn sound.
What should I do? or whither turn? Amaz'd,
Confounded, to the dark recess I fly

Of wood-hole; straight my bristling hairs erect
Through sudden fear; a chilly sweat bedews
My shuddering limbs, and (wonderful to tell!)
My tongue forgets her faculty of speech;
So horrible he seems! His faded brow,
Entrench'd with many a frown, and conic beard,
And spreading band, admir'd by modern saints,
Disastrous acts forbode; in his right hand
Long scrolls of paper solemnly he waves,
With characters and figures dire inscrib'd,
Grievous to mortal eyes; (ye gods, avert
Such plagues from righteous men!) Behind him
stalks

Another monster, not unlike himself,
Sullen of aspect, by the vulgar call'd
A catchpole, whose polluted hands the gods,
With force incredible, and magic charms,
First have endued: if he his ample palm
Should haply on ill-fated shoulder lay
Of debtor, straight his body, to the touch
Obsequious (as whilom knights were wont)
To some enchanted castle is convey'd,
Where gates impregnable, and coercive chains,
In durance strict detain him, till, in form
Of money, Pallas sets the captive free.

Beware, ye debtors! when ye walk, beware,
Be circumspect; oft with insidious ken
The caitiff eyes your steps aloof, and oft
Lies perdue in a nook or gloomy cave,
Prompt to enchant some inadvertent wretch
With his unhallow'd touch. So (poets sing)
Grimalkin, to domestic vermin sworn
An everlasting foe, with watchful eye
Lies nightly brooding o'er a chinky gap,

Protending her fell claws, to thoughtless mice
Sure ruin. So her disembowell'd web
Arachne, in a hall or kitchen, spreads
Obvious to vagrant flies: she secret stands
Within her woven cell; the humming prey,
Regardless of their fate, rush on the toils
Inextricable, nor will aught avail

Their arts, or arms, or shapes of lovely hue;
The wasp insidious, and the buzzing drone,
And butterfly, proud of expanded wings
Distinct with gold, entangled in her snares,
Useless resistance make: with cager strides,
She towering flies to her expected spoils;
Then, with envenom'd jaws, the vital blood
Drinks of reluctant foes, and to her cave
Their bulky carcasses triumphant drags.

So pass my days. But, when nocturnal shades
This world envelop, and th' inclement air
Persuades men to repel benumbing frosts
With pleasant wines, and crackling blaze of wood;
Me, lonely sitting, nor the glimmering light
Of make-weight candle, nor the joyous talk
Of loving friend, delights; distress'd, forlorn,
Amidst the horrours of the tedious night,
Darkling I sigh, and feed with dismal thoughts
My anxious mind; or sometimes mournful verse
Indite, and sing of groves and myrtle shades,
Or desperate lady near a purling stream,
Or lover pendent on a willow-tree.
Meanwhile I labour with eternal drought,

And restless wish, and rave; my parched throat
Finds no relief, nor heavy eyes repose:
But if a slumber haply does invade
My weary limbs, my fancy 's still awake,
Thoughtful of drink, and eager, in a dream,
Tipples imaginary pots of ale,

In vain; awake I find the settled thirst
Still gnawing, and the pleasant phantom curse.
Thus do I live, from pleasure quite debarr'd,
Nor taste the fruits that the Sun's genial rays
Mature, john-apple, nor the downy peach,
Nor walnut in rough-furrow'd coat secure,
Nor medlar, fruit delicious in decay;
Afflictions great! yet greater still remain:
My galligaskins, that have long withstood
The winter's fury, and encroaching frosts,
By time subdued (what will not time subdue!)
An horrid chasm disclos'd with orifice
Wide, discontinuous; at which the winds
Eurus and Auster, and the dreadful force
Of Boreas, that congeals the Cronian waves,
Tumultuous enter with dire chilling blasts,
Portending agues. Thus a well-fraught ship,
Long sail'd secure, or through th' Ægean deep,
Or the Ionian, till cruising near

The Lilybean shore, with hideous crush
On Scylla, or Charybdis (dangerous rocks!)
She strikes rebounding; whence the shatter'd oak,
So fierce a shock unable to withstand,
Admits the sea; in at the gaping side
The crowding waves gush with impetuous rage,
Resistless, overwhelming; horrours seize
The mariners; Death in their eyes appears,
They stare, they lave, they pump, they swear, they

pray:

(Vain efforts!) still the battering waves rush in, Implacable, till, delug'd by the foam, The ship sinks foundering in the vast abyss.

BLENHEIM.

FROM low and abject themes the groveling Muse
Now mounts aërial, to sing of arms

Triumphant, and emblaze the martial acts
Of Britain's hero; may the verse not sink
Beneath his merits, but detain a while
Thy ear, O Harley! (though thy country's weal
Depends on thee, though mighty Anne requires
Thy hourly counsels) since, with every art
Thyself adorn'd, the mean essays of youth
Thou wilt not damp, but guide, wherever found,
The willing genius to the Muses' seat:
Therefore thee first, and last, the Muse shall sing.
Long had the Gallic monarch, uncontrol'd,
Enlarg'd his borders, and of human force
Opponent slightly thought, in heart elate,
As erst Sesostris; (proud Egyptian king,
That monarchs harness'd to his chariot yok'd,
(Base servitude!) and his dethron'd compeers
Lash'd furious; they in sullen majesty
Drew the uneasy load) nor less he aim'd
At universal sway: for William's arm
Could nought avail, however fam'd in war;
Nor armies leagu'd, that diversly essay'd
To curb his power enormous; like an oak,
That stands secure, though all the winds employ
Their ceaseless roar, and only sheds its leaves,
Or mast, which the revolving spring restores:
So stood he, and alone; alone defy'd
The European thrones combin'd, and still
Had set at nought their machinations vain,
But that great Anne, weighing th' events of war
Momentous, in her prudent heart, thee chose,
Thee, Churchill! to direct in nice extremes
Her banner'd legions. Now their pristine worth
The Britons recollect, and gladly change
Sweet native home for unaccustom'd air,
And other climes, where different food and soil
Portend distempers; over dank, and dry,
They journey toilsome, unfatigued with length
Of march, unstruck with horrour at the sight
Of Alpine ridges bleak, high-stretching hills,
All white with summer's snows. They go beyond
The trace of English steps, where scarce the sound
Of Henry's arms arriv'd; such strength of heart
Thy conduct and example gives; nor small
Encouragement: Godolphin, wise and just,
Equal in merit, honour, and success,
To Burleigh: (fortunate alike to serve
The best of queens) he, of the royal store
Splendidly frugal, sits whole nights devoid
Of sweet repose, industrious to procure
The soldier's ease; to regions far remote
His care extends; and to the British host
Makes ravish'd countries plenteous as their own.
And now, O Churchill at thy wish'd approach
The Germans, hopeless of success, forlorn,
With many an inroad gor'd, their drooping cheer
New-animated rouze; not more rejoice
The miserable race of men, that live
Benighted half the year, benumb'd with frosts
Perpetual, and rough Boreas' keenest breath,
Under the polar Bear, inclement sky!
When first the Sun with new-born light removes

This poem was inscribed to the right honourable Robert Harley, esq. 1705, then speaker of the honourable house of commons, and secretary of

state.

The long-incumbent gloom; gladly to thee
Heroic laurel'd Eugene yields the prime,
Nor thinks it diminution to be rank'd
In military honour next, although

[Anne

His deadly hand shook the Turchestan throne
Accurs'd, and prov'd in far-divided lands
Victorious; on thy powerful sword alone
Germania and the Belgic coast relies,
Won from th' encroaching sea: that sword great
Fix'd not in vain on thy puissant side,
When thee sh' enroll'd her garter'd knights among,
Illustrating the noble list; her hand

Assures good omens, and Saint George's worth
Enkindles like desire of high exploits.
Immediate sieges, and the tire of war,
Roll in thy eager mind; thy plumy crest
Nods horrible; with more terrific port

Thus one

Thou walk'st, and seem'st already in the fight.
What spoils, what conquests, then did Albion hope
From thy achievements! yet thou hast surpast
Her-boldest vows, exceeded what thy foes
Could fear or fancy; they, in multitude
Superior, fed their thoughts with prospect vain
Of victory and rapine, reckoning what
From ransom'd captives would accrue.
Jovial his mate bespoke: "O friend, observe
How gay with all th' accoutrements of war
The Britons come, with gold well fraught, they come
Thus far our prey, and tempt us to subdue
Their recreant force; how will their bodies stript
Enrich the victors, while the vultures sate
Their maws with full repast!"-Another, warm'd
With high ambition, and conceit of prowess
Inherent, arrogantly thus presum'd:
"What if this sword, fuil often drench'd in blood
Of base antagonists, with griding edge
Should now cleave sheer the execrable head
Of Churchill, met in arms! or if this hand,
Soon as his army disarray'd 'gins swerve,
Should stay him flying, with retentive gripe,
Confounded and appail'd! no trivial price
Should set him free, nor small should be my praise
To lead him shackled, and expos'd to scorn
Of gathering crowds, the Britons' boasted chief."
Thus they, in sportive mood, their empty taunts
And menaces exprest; nor could their prince
In arms, vain Tallard, from opprobrious speech
Refrain: "Why halt ye thus, ye Britons? Why
Decline the war? Shall a morass forbid
Your easy march? Advance; we 'll bridge a way,
Safe of access." Imprudent, thus t' invite
A furious lion to his folds! That boast
He ill abides; captiv'd, in other plight
He soon revisits Britany, that once
Resplendent came, with stretch'd retinue girt,
And pompous pageantry; O hapless fate,
If any arm, but Churchill's, had prevail'd!
No need such boasts, or exprobrations false
Of cowardice; the military mound
The British files transcend, in evil hour

For their proud foes, that fondly brav'd their fate.
And now on either side the trumpets blew,
Signal of onset, resolution firm
Inspiring, and pernicious love of war.
The adverse fronts in rueful conflict meet,
Collecting all their might; for on th' event
Decisive of this bloody day depends
The fate of kingdoms: with less vehemence
The great competitors for Rome engag'd,
Cæsar, and Pompey, on Pharsalian plains,

Where stern Bellona, with one final stroke, Adjudg'd the empire of this globe to one. Here the Bavarian duke his brigades leads, Gallant in arms, and gaudy to behold,

Bold champion! brandishing his Noric blade,
Best-temper'd steel, successless prov'd in field!
Next Tallard, with his Celtic infantry
Presumptuous comes; here Churchill, not so prompt
To vaunt as fight, his hardy cohorts joins
With Eugene's German force. Now from each
The brazen instruments of Death discharge
Horrific flames, and turbid streaming clouds
Of smoke sulphureous; intermixt with these
Large globous irons fly, of dreadful hiss,
Singeing the air, and from long distance bring
Surprising slaughter; on each side they fly
By chains connext, and with destructive sweep
Behead whole troops at once; the hairy scalps
Are whirl'd aloof, while numerous trunks bestrew
Th' ensanguin'd field: with latent mischief stor'd
Showers of granadoes rain, by sudden burst
Disploding murderous bowels, fragments of steel,
And stones, and glass, and nitrous grain adust;
A thousand ways at once the shiver'd orbs
Fly diverse, working torment, and foul rout
With deadly bruise, and gashes furrow'd deep.
Of pain impatient, the high-prancing steeds
Disdain the curb, and, flinging to and fro,
Spurn their dismounted riders; they expire
Indignant, by unhostile wounds destroy'd.

Thus through each army Death in various shapes
Prevail'd; here mangled limbs, here brains and gore
Lie clotted; lifeless some: with anguish these
Gnashing, and loud laments invoking aid,
Unpity'd, and unheard; the louder din

Of guns, and trumpets' clang, and solemn sound
Of drums, o'ercame their groans. In equal scale
Long hung the fight; few marks of fear were seen,
None of retreat. As when two adverse winds,
Sublim'd from dewy vapours, in mid-sky
Engage with horrid shock, the ruffled brine
Roars stormy, they together dash the clouds,
Levying their equal force with utmost rage;
Long undecided lasts the airy strife:
So they incens'd; till Churchill, viewing where
The violence of Tallard most prevail'd,
Came to oppose his slaughtering arm; with speed
Precipitant he rode, urging his way

O'er hills of gasping heroes, and fall'n steeds
Rolling in death: Destruction, grim with blood, -
Attends his furious course. Him thus enrag'd,
Descrying from afar, some engineer,
Dextrous to guide th' unerring charge, design'd
By one nice shot to terminate the war.
With aim direct the levell'd bullet flew,
But miss'd her scope (for Destiny withstood
Th' approaching wound) and guiltless plough'd her
Beneath his courser; round his sacred head [way
The glowing balls play innocent, while he
With dire impetuous sway deals fatal blows
Amongst the scatter'd Gauls. But O! beware,
Great warrior! nor, too prodigal of life,
Expose the British safety: hath not Jove
Already warn'd thee to withdraw? Reserve
Thyself for other palms. Ev'n now thy aid,
Eugene, with regiments unequal prest,
Awaits; this day of all his honours gain'd
Despoils him, if thy succour opportune
Defends not the sad hour: permit not thou
So brave a leader with the vulgar herd

To bite the ground unnoted.-Swift, and fierce
As wintry storm, he flies, to reinforce
The yielding wing; in Gallic blood again
He dews his reeking sword, and strews the ground
With headless ranks: (so Ajax interpos'd
His sevenfold shield, and screen'd Laertes' son,
For valour much, and warlike wiles, renown'd,
When the insulting Trojans urg'd him sore
With tilted spears) unmanly dread invades
The French astony'd; straight their useless arms
They quit, and in ignoble flight confide,
Unseemly yelling; distant hills return

The hideous noise. What can they do? or how
Withstand his wide-destroying sword? or where
Find shelter, thus repuls'd? Behind, with wrath
Resistless, th' eager English champions press,
Chastizing tardy flight; before them rolls
His current swift, the Danube vast and deep,
Supreme of rivers! to the frightful brink,
Urg'd by compulsive arms, soon as they reach'd,
New horrour chill'd their veins: devote they saw
Themselves to wretched doom; with efforts vain,
Encourag'd by despair, or obstinate

To fall like men in arms, some dare renew
Feeble engagement, meeting glorious fate
On the firm land; the rest, discomfited,
And push'd by Marlborough's avengeful hand,
Leap plunging in the wide-extended flood.
Bands numerous as the Memphian soldiery,
That swell'd the Erythræan wave, when wall'd
The unfroze waters marvellously stood,
Observant of the great command. Upborne
By frothy billows thousands float the stream
In cumbrous mail, with love of further shore;
Confiding in their hands, that sed'lous strive
To cut th' outrageous fluent in this distress,
Ev'n in the sight of Death, some tokens show
Of fearless friendship, and their sinking mates
Sustain vain love, though laudable! absorb'd
By a fierce eddy, they together sound
The vast profundity; their horses paw
The swelling surge with fruitless toil: surcharg'd,
And in his course obstructed by large spoil,
The river flows redundant, and attacks
The lingering remnant with unusual tide;
Then rolling back, in his capacious lap
Ingulfs their whole militia, quick immers'd.
So when some sweltering travellers retire
To leafy shades, near the cool sunless verge
Of Paraba, Brazilian stream; her tail
Of vast extension from her watry den,
A grisly Hydra suddenly shoots forth,
Insidious, and with curl'd envenom'd train
Embracing horridly, at once the crew
Into the river whirls: th' unweeting prey
Entwisted roars, th' affrighted flood rebounds.

Nor did the British squadrons now surcease To gall their foes o'erwhelm'd; full many felt In the moist element a scorching death, Pierc'd sinking; shrouded in a dusky cloud The current flows, with livid missive flames Boiling, as once Pergamean Xanthus boil'd, Inflam'd by Vulcan, when the swift-footed son Of Peleus to his baleful banks pursued The straggling Trojans: nor less eager drove Victorious Churchill his desponding foes Into the deep immense, that many a league Empurpled ran, with gushing gore distain'd.

Thus the experienc'd valour of one man, Mighty in conflict, rescued harass'd powers

From ruin impendent, and th' afflicted throne
Imperial, that once lorded o'er the world,
Sustain'd. With prudent stay, he long deferr'd
The rough contention, nor would deign to rout
An host disparted; when in union firm
Embody'd they advanc'd, collecting all
Their strength, and worthy seem'd to be subdued:
He the proud boasters sent, with stern assault,
Down to the realms of Night. The British souls,
(A lamentable race!) that ceas'd to breathe,
On Landen-plains, this heavenly gladsome air,
Exult to see the crowding ghosts descend
Unnumber'd; well aveng'd, they quit the cares
Of mortal life, and drink th' oblivious lake.
Not so the new inhabitants: they roam
Erroneous, and disconsolate; themselves
Accusing, and their chiefs, improvident
Of military chance; when lo! they see,
Through the dun mist, in blooming beauty fresh,
Two lovely youths, that amicably walked
O'er verdant meads, and pleas'd, perhaps, revolv'd
Anna's late conquests; one 2, to empire born,
Egregious prince, whose manly childhood show'd
His mingled parents, and portended joy
Unspeakable; thou 3, his associate dear
Once in this world, nor now by Fate disjoin'd,
Had thy presiding star propitious shone,
Should'st Churchill be! but Heaven severe cut short
Their springing years, nor would this isle should boast
Gifts so important! them the Gallic shades
Surveying, read in either radiant look
Marks of excessive dignity and grace,
Delighted; till, in one, their curious eye
Discerns their great subduer's awful mien,
And corresponding features fear; to them
Confusion! straight the airy phantoms fleet,
With headlong haste, and dread a new pursuit.
The image pleas'd with joy paternal siniles.

Enough, O Muse: the sadly-pleasing theme
Leave, with these dark abodes, and reascend
To breathe the upper air, where triumphs wait
The conqueror, and sav'd nations' joint acclaim.
Hark! how the cannon, inoffensive now,
Gives signs of gratulation; struggling crowds
From every city flow; with ardent gaze
Fix'd they behold the British guide, of sight
Insatiate; whilst his great redeeming hand
Each prince affects to touch respectful. Sce
How Prussia's king transported entertains
His mighty guest! to him the royal pledge,
Hope of his realm, commits (with better fate,
Than to the Trojan chief Evander gave
Unhappy Pallas) and entreats to show
The skill and rudiments austere of war.
See, with what joy, him Leopold declares
His great deliverer; and courts t' accept
Of titles, with superior modesty

Better refus'd! Meanwhile the haughty king
Far humbler thoughts now learns: despair, and fear,
Now first he feels; his laurels all at once
Torn from his aged head in life's extreme,
Distract his soul! nor can great Boileau's harp
Of various sounding wire, best taught to calm
Whatever passion, and exalt the soul
With highest strains, his languid spirits cheer:
Rage, shame, and grief, alternate in his breast.

But who can tell what pangs, what sharp remorse, Torment the Boian prince? from native soil

2 Duke of Gloucester. 3 Marquis of Blandford.

Exil'd by Fate, torn from the dear embrace
Of weeping consort, and depriv'd the sight
Of his young guiltless progeny, he seeks
Inglorious shelter, in an alien land;
Deplorable! but that his mind averse
To right, and insincere, would violate
His plighted faith: why did he not accept
Friendly composure offer'd? or well weigh
With whom he must contend? encountering fierce
The Solymean sultan, he o'erthrew

His moony troops, returning bravely smear'd
With Painim blood effus'd; nor did the Gaul
Not find him once a baleful foe: but when,
Of counsel rash, new measures he pursues,
Unhappy prince! (no more a prince) he sees
Too late his errour, forc'd t' implore relief
Of him, he once defy'd, O destitute

Of hope, unpity'd! thou should'st first have thought
Of persevering stedfast; now upbraid
Thy own inconstant, ill-aspiring heart.
Lo! how the Noric plains, through thy default
Rise hilly, with large piles of slaughter'd knights,
Best men, that warr'd still firmly for their prince
Though faithless, and unshaken duty show'd;
Worthy of better end. Where cities stood,
Well fenc'd and numerous, desolation reigns,
And emptiness; dismay'd, unfed, unhous'd,
The widow and the orphan strole around
The desert wide; with oft-retorted eye
They view the gaping walls, and poor remains
Of mansions, once their own, (now loathsome haunts
Of birds obscene) bewailing loud the loss
Of spouse, or sire, or son, ere manly prime,
Slain in sad conflict, and complain of Fate
As partial, and too rigorous; nor find
Where to retire themselves, or where appease
Th' afflictive keen desire of food, expos'd
To winds, and storms, and jaws of savage beasts.
Thrice happy Albion! from the world disjoin'd
By Heaven propitious, blissful seat of peace!
Learn from thy neighbours' miseries to prize
Thy welfare; crown'd with Nature's choicest gift.
Remote thou hear'st the dire effect of war,
Depopulation, void alone of fear

And peril, whilst the dismal symphony
Of drums and clarions, other realms annoys.
Th' Iberian sceptre undecided, here
Engages mighty hosts in wasteful strife:
From different climes the flower of youth descends
Down to the Lusitanian vales, resolv'd
With utmost hazard to enthrone their prince,
Gallic or Austrian; havoc dire ensues,
And wild uproar: the natives, dubious whom
They must obey, in consternation wait,
Till rigid Conquest will pronounce their liege.
Nor is the brazen voice of War unheard
On the mild Latian shore: what sighs and tears
Hath Eugene caus'd! how many widows curse
His cleaving falchion! fertile soil in vain!
What do thy pastures, or thy vines avail,
Best boon of Heaven! or huge Taburnus, cloth'd
With olives, when the cruel battle mows
The planters, with their harvest immature?
See, with what outrage from the frosty north,
The early-valiant Swede draws forth his wings
In battailous array, while Volga's stream
Sends opposite, in shaggy armour clad,
Her borderers: on mutual slaughter bent,
They rend their countries. How is Poland vex'd
With civil broils, while two elected kings

Contend for sway? unhappy nation, left
Thus free of choice! The English, undisturb'd
With such sad privilege, submiss obey

Whom Heaven ordains supreme, with reverence due,
Not thraldom, in fit liberty secure :

From sceptred kings, in long descent deriv'd,
Thou, Anna, rulest; prudent to promote
Thy people's ease at home, nor studious less
Of Europe's good; to thee, of kingly right,
Sole arbitress, declining thrones, and powers
Sue for relief; thou bid'st thy Churchill go,
Succour the injur'd realms, defeat the hopes
Of haughty Louis, unconfin'd; he goes
Obsequious, and the dread command fulfils,
In one great day. Again thou giv'st in charge
To Rooke, that he should let that monarch know,
The empire of the ocean wide diffus'd
Is thine behold! with winged speed he rides
Undaunted o'er the labouring main t' assert
Thy liquid kingdoms; at his near approach
The Gallic navies, impotent to bear
His volly'd thunder, torn, dissever'd, scud,
And bless the friendly interposing night.

Hail, mighty queen! reserv'd by Fate to grace
The new-born age: what hopes may we conceive
Of future years, when to thy early reign
Neptune submits his trident, and thy arms
Already have prevail'd to th' utmost bound
Hesperian, Calpe, by Alcides fix'd,
Mountain sublime, that casts a shade of length
Immeasurable, and rules the inland waves!
Let others, with insatiate thirst of rule,
Invade their neighbours lands, neglect the ties
Of leagues and oaths; this thy peculiar praise
Be still, to study right, and quell the force
Of kings perfidious; let them learn from thee,
That neither strength, nor policy refin'd,
Shall with success be crown'd, where justice fails.
Thou, with thy own content, not for thyself,
Subduest regions, generous to raise

The suppliant knee, and curb the rebel neck.
The German boasts thy conquests, and enjoys
The great advantage; nought to thee redounds
But satisfaction from thy conscious mind.

Auspicious queen! since in thy realms secure
Of peace thou reign'st, and victory attends
Thy distant ensigns, with compassion view
Europe embroil'd; still thou (for thou alone
Sufficient art) the jarring kingdoms' ire,
Reciprocally ruinous; say who

Shall wield th' Hesperian, who the Polish sword,
By thy decree? the trembling lands shall hear
Thy voice, obedient, lest thy scourge should bruise
Their stubborn necks, and Churchill, in his wrath,
Make them remember Blenheim with regret.

Thus shall the nations, aw'd to peace, extol
Thy power and justice: Jealousies and Fears,
And Hate infernal, banish'd, shall retire
To Mauritania, or the Bactrian coasts,
Or Tartary, engendering discords fell
Amongst the enemies of Truth; while arts
Pacific, and inviolable love,
Flourish in Europe. Hail, Saturnian days
Returning! in perpetual tenour run
Delectable, and shed your influence sweet
On virtuous Anna's head: ye happy days,
By her restor'd, her just designs complete,
And, mildly on her shining, bless the world!

Thus, from the noisy world exempt, with ease And plenty blest, amid the mazy groves,