Here, on th' ætherial mould, hurl'd from afar, 305 310 Elsewhere, behold NAMUR's proud turrets rife, Majeftic to the fight, advancing to the skies! The Meufe and Sambre here united flow, Nature's defence against th' invading foe: Industrious art her strength of walls fupplies: Before the town the British army lies. 315 The works are mann'd; with fury they contend; Thefe thunder from the plains, thofe from the walls defend. Red globes of fire from bellowing engines fly, And lead a sweeping blaze, like comets, through the sky. The kindled region glows; with deafening found They burft; their iron entrails, hurl'd around, See, where the genius of the war appears, 325 In clouds of fulphurous fmoke he thines more bright, For Glory round him waits, with beams of living light. At length the widen'd gates a conquest own, And to his arms refign the yielding town. Here, 335 Here, from the field return'd, with olive crown'd, Applauding throngs their welcome prince surround : Bright honours in his glorious entry shine, And peace restor❜d concludes the great defign. Long, o'er the figur'd work, with vast surprize, Admiring Neptune roll'd his ravish'd eyes; Then, rising from his throne, thus call'd aloud; "Ye lovely daughters of the briny flood! "Hafte, comb your filver locks, and straight prepare "To fill my train, and gaze in upper air. "This day, majestic glories you shall see ; "Come, all ye watery powers, who under me "Your little tridents wield, and rule the boisterous fea! "What God, that views the triumphs here difplay'd, "Can to fuch worth refuse his heavenly aid?” He faid no more-but bade two Tritons found Their crooked fhells, to spread the fummons round. Through the wide caves the blaft is heard afar; With speed two more provide his azure car, 340 345 A concave fhell; two the finn'd courfers join: The three-fork'd spear, his left directs the reins. 355 The bright attendants, rang'd with comely pride, Meanwhile Britannia's king conspicuous stood, D 2 Smooth was the glaffy fcene, the fun beheld His face unclouded in the liquid field. And fweetly fing; fufpended winds forbear 360 Their loud complaints, the foothing lay to hear. 365 "Hail, facred charge; they cry; the beauties we "Of Neptune's court, are come t'attend on thee; "Accept our offer'd aid! thy potent sway, "Unbounded by the land, thefe watery realms obey; "And we, thy fubject-powers, our duteous homage 'pay. "See Neptune's felf, inferior in command, 370 They faid; the fire approach'd with awe profound; The rite perform'd, their fhells the Tritons found; Swell'd with the fhrill alarm, the joyful billows bound. Now, from the fhore, Britannia first descries White fails afar; then bulky veffels rife, 380 THE TH HOUGH the great lofs we fuffered in the death of the king has been fo happily fupplied by her majesty's acceffion to the throne, and her late coronation justly filled the hearts of her subje&s with joy; yet fo glorious a reign as the laft will always be remembered with admiration by all good and wife men; and your Grace has given fufficient proofs that you are of that number. It can never therefore be thought too late to offer a just tribute to his late majesty's memory, and to that of his great ancestors, a race fo illuftriously distinguished in Europe; though this indeed might fooner have been attempted, but for many interruptions, too inconfideráble for your Grace's notice. How I have performed is humbly submitted to your Grace's judgment, and to the judgment of all thofe gentlemen who are used to entertain themfelves with writings of this fort. But if, through the author's want of genius, the Poem felf should be thought inconfiderable, I am fure it will have fome diftinction from the great names it celebrates, and the great patron it is inscribed to. And to whom should the praises of eminent virtue be addreffed, but to fuch as are poffeffed of great virtues themfelves? To whom can I better present the chief characters of a noble and ancient family, than to your Grace, whose family is fo ancient and fo noble? And here I am proud to acknowledge that fome of my relations have been honoured with marks of favour from your Grace's illuftrious ancestors. This I confefs has long given me the ambition of offering my duty to your Grace; but chiefly that valuable character your Grace has obtained among all worthy perfons. I have not room to enlarge here, nor is there any need of it on a subject fo well known as your Grace's merits. Therefore I conclude with my humble request, that your Grace would favour this Ode with your acceptance, and do me the honour of believing that among the croud of your admirers, there is not one who is more paffionately or fincerely fo, than Your Grace's most humble, and moft obedient fervant, JOHN HUGHES. THE |