Here, on th' ætherial mould, hurl'd from afar,
Th' exploded ball had mark'd a dinted scar.

'Twas deftin'd thus; for when, all glowing-red,
The angel took it from the forge, he said; 305
This part
be left unfated from the foe!
And, fcarce escap'd, once let the Hero know,
How much to my protection he shall owe;
Yet, from the batter'd shield, the ball shall bound,
And on his arm inflict a fcarlet wound.

310

Elsewhere, behold NAMUR's proud turrets rise, Majeftic to the fight, advancing to the skies! The Meuse and Sambre here united flow, Nature's defence against th' invading foe: Industrious art her ftrength of walls fupplies : 315 Before the town the British army lies.

The works are mann'd; with fury they contend; These thunder from the plains, thofe from the walls defend.

Red globes of fire from bellowing engines fly,

And lead a fweeping 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,
Nor fhuns the labour, nor the danger fears!

325

In clouds of fulphurous fmoke he fhines 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,

Here, from the field return'd, with olive crown'd, Applauding throngs their welcome prince furround: 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, rifing 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 fee;

340

335

345

"Come, all ye watery powers, who under me
"Your little tridents wield, and rule the boisterous fea!
"What God, that views the triumphs here display'd,
"Can to fuch worth refufe his heavenly aid ?"
He faid no more-but bade two Tritons found
Their crooked shells, to fpread the fummons round.
Through the wide caves the blaft is heard afar;
With speed two more provide his azure car,
A concave fell; two the finn'd coursers join :
All wait officious round, and own th' accustom'd sign;
The god afcends; his better hand sustains

The three-fork'd fpear, his left directs the reins.
Through breaking waves, the chariot mounts him high;
Before its thundering courfe, the frothy waters fly;
He gains the furface; on his either fide,

355 The bright attendants, rang'd with comely pride, Advance in just array, and grace the pompous tide.

Meanwhile Britannia's king confpicuous stood, And, from his deck, furvey'd the boundless flood. Smooth

D 2

Smooth was the glaffy scene, the fun beheld
His face unclouded in the liquid field.
The gazing Nereids, in a fhining train,
Inclofe the ruler of the British main,

And sweetly fing; suspended winds forbear

360

Their loud complaints, the soothing 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, these watery realms obey; "And we, thy fubject-powers, our duteous homage

"pay.

370

"See Neptune's felf, inferior in command,
“Presents his trident to thy honour'd hand !”
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 defcries
White fails afar; then bulky vessels rife,
Nearer to view; her beating heart foretells
The pleafing news, and eager transport feels.
Safe to her arms, imperial Neptune bears
Th' intrufted charge, then diving disappears.

380

THE

THO

HOUGH the great lofs we suffered in the death of the king has been fo happily supplied by her majefty's acceffion to the throne, and her late coronation justly filled the hearts of her subjects with joy; yet so glorious a reign as the last 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 juft tribute to his late majesty's memory, and to that of his great ancestors, a race so illuftriously distinguished in Europe; though this indeed might fooner have been attempted, but for many interruptions, too inconfiderable for your Grace's notice. How I have performed is humbly fubmitted to your Grace's judgment, and to the judgment of all

thofe gentlemen who are used to entertain themselves with writings of this fort. But if, through the author's want of genius, the Poem itself fhould be thought inconfiderable, I am fure it will have fome diftinction from the great names it celebrates, and the great patron it is infcribed to. And to whom should the praises of eminent virtue be addressed, but to fuch as are poffeffed of great virtues themselves? To whom can I better present the chief characters of a noble and ancient family, than to your Grace, whofe 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 fubject fo well known as your Grace's merits. Therefore I conclude with my humble requeft, 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 most obedient fervant,

JOHN HUGHES.

THE