"The wealthy farmer from his toils shall cease, "The ploughman from the yoke his smoking steers re lease, "And join to solemnize the festival of Peace. "No more for want of hands th' unlabour'd field, "Choak'd with rank weeds, a sickly crop shall yield: "Calm Peace returns; behold her shining train! "And fruitful plenty is restor'd again."--Apollo ceas'd---The Muses take the sound, 120 From voice to voice th' harmonious notes rebound, On lofty pillars climbing to the skies! 125 130 * The choir of St. Paul's was first opened on the day of thanksgiving for the peace. Of bulk stupendous, its proud pile it rears, 135 140 145. Shines with delightful blue and dazzling gold. For Peace restor'd, and Heav'n's indulgence bless. 150 155 And bade the heav'ns in destin'd circles roll, The polish'd spheres commenc'd their harmony, Alt nature in a chorus did agree, And the world's birth-day was a jubilee. 159 ON KING WILLIAM's RETURN FROM HOLLAND, 1699. Addressed to the Right Hon. CHARLES MONTAGUE, ESQ. BEGIN, celestial Muse! a tuneful strain Of Albion's prince conducted o'er the main ; reign: Sing from beneath, how the green deity Rose to the sov'reign of the British sea; To pow'r confess'd the triple mace resign'd, 5 O'er-rul'd the floods, and charg'd the rebel wind; The gen'rous name of Montagu has long The best of patrons and of poets too. 10 45 Shall raise my feeble flight, and mount me on the wing. On Albion's eastern coast, an ancient town * O'erlooks the sea, to mariners well known, * Harwich. Where the swift Stourus* ends his snaky train, Of broider'd arms, and heraldry display'd: 20 25 30 35 40 Trains of attendant gods around her chariot wait; The mother-goddess, with superior grace, Surveys and numbers o'er her bright immortal race. The water's brink, and from the sandy shore 45 *The river Stoure, that runs between Suffolk and Essex. Beholds th' alternate billows fall and rise, (By turns they sink below, by turns they mount the "And must," she said----- [skies) 50 Then paus'd, and drew a sigh of anxious love; "Must my dear lord this faithless ocean prove? "Escap'd the chance of war and fraud of foes, "Wilt thou to warring waves thy sacred life expose? "Why am I thus divided by the sea, "From all the world, and all the world in thee? "Could sighs and tears the rage of tempests bind, 55 With tears I'd bribe the seas, with sighs the wind: Soft-sighing gales thy canvas should inspire. 66 "But hence, ye boist'rous storms! far hence retire "To inland woods; there your mad pow'rs appease, "And scour the dusty plains, or strip the forest trees; "Or lodg'd in hollow rocks, profoundly sleep, 61 "And rest from the loud labours of the deep! "Why should I fear?---If heroes be the care "Of Heav'n above, and Heav'n inclines to pray'r, "Thou sail'st secure ; my sons with lifted eyes 65 And pious vows for thee have gain'd the skies. "Come, then, my much-lov'd lord! No more th'alarms "Of wasteful war require thee from my arms. Thy sword gives plenteous peace; but without thee "Peace has no charms, and plenty's poverty. 70 At length enjoy, for whom you'ave fought, the queen "Of islands, bright, majestic, and serene ! "Unveil'd from clouds which did her form disguise, "And hid a thousand beauties from thy eyes. |