"Behold him figur'd here !"---He said, and held, Refulgent, to his view the guardian shield.

On the rich mould, inwrought with skill divine, 220
Great William's wars in splendid sculpture shine:
Here how his saving pow'r was first display'd,
And Holland rescu'd by his youthful aid;
When, kindling in his soul, the martial flame
Broke fiercely out, preluding future fame,
And round the frontiers dealt avenging fire;
Swift from the hot pursuit the blasted foes retire:
Then battles, sieges, camps, are grav'd afar,
And the long progress of the dreadful war.
Above the rest Seneffe's immortal fight,

In larger figures offer'd to the sight,

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With martial terror charms, and gives a fierce delight.
Here the confed'rate troops are forc'd to yield,
Driv'n by unequal numbers thro' the field:

With his bright sword young Nassau there withstands
Their flight; with pray'rs and blows he urges his

commands,

Upbraids their fainting force, and boldly throws

Himself the first amidst the wond'ring foes.

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240

What dare not men by such a gen'ral led!
Rallying with shouts, their hero at their head,
Fir'd with new rage, asham'd they once did fly,
Resolv'd to overcome, or resolute to die,
Thro' trampled heaps of slain they rush to victory.
Earth trembles at the charge! Death, Blood, and Prey,
Insatiate riot all the murd'rous day;
Nor night itself their fury can allay,

2

245

Till the pale moon, that sickens at the sight,
Retires behind a cloud to blind the bloody fight.

Again the shield in savage prospect shows
An ancient abbey*, which rough woods inclose;
And precipices vast abruptly rise,

Where, safe encamp'd, proud Luxemburgh defies
All open violence or close surprise.

But see! a second Hannibal from far,

250

Up the steep height conducts th' entangled war: 255 Brave Ossory, attended with the pride

Of English valour, charges by his side.

Inclos'd they fight; the forests shine around

With flashing fires; the thunder'd hills rebound,
And the shock'd country, wide beneath, re-bellows to

the sound,

260

Forc'd from their holds, at length they speed their

flight;

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Rich tents, and stores of war, the victors' toils requite.
Then peace ensues; and in a shining train
The friendly chiefs assemble on the plain.
An ardent zeal the Gallic gen'ral warms
To see the youth that kindled such alarms;
Wond'ring he views; secure the soldiers press
Round their late dread, and the glad treaty bless.
Next on the broad circumference is wrought
The nine years' war for lov'd Britannia fought; 270
The cause the same: fair Liberty betray'd,

And banish'd Justice, fly to him for aid.

* St. Dennis, near Mons.

Here sailing ships are drawn, the crowded strand,
And Heav'n's avenger hast'ning to the land.
Oppression, Fraud, Confusion, and Affright,
Fierce fiends, that ravag'd in the gloomy night

275

Of lawless pow'r, defeated, fly before his dazzling light. So to th' eclipsing moon, by the still side

279

Of some lone thicket, revelling hags provide
Dire charms, that threat the sleeping neighbourhood,
And quaff, with magic mix'd, vast bowls of human

blood;

But when the dawn reveals the purple east,
They vanish sullen from th' unfinish'd feast.
Here joyful crowds triumphant arches rear
To their deliv'rer's praise; glad senates there,
In splendid pomp, the regal state confer.

285

Hibernia's fields new triumphs then supply; The rival kings, in arms, the fate of empire try. See where the Boyne two warring hosts divides, And rolls between the fight his murm'ring tides! 290 In vain---hills, forests, streams, must all give place When William leads, and victory 's the cha e. Thou saw'st him, Boyne! when thy charg'd waters The swimming coursers to th' opposing shore, [bore And round thy banks thou heard'st the murd'ring

cannons roar.

What more than mortal bravery inspir'd

The daring troops, by his example fir'd!

295

Thou saw'st their wondrous deeds; to Neptune's Court Thy flying waves convey'd the swift report,

And, red with slaughter, to their father show'd
Streams not their own, and a discolour'd flood.
Here, on th' etherial mould, hurl'd from afar,
Th' exploded ball had mark'd a dinted scar.
'Twas destin'd thus; for when, all glowing red,
The angel took it from the forge, he said,
"This part be left unfated from the foe!
"And, scarce 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 scarlet wound."

Elsewhere behold Namur's proud turrets rise,

Majestic to the sight, advancing to the skies!
The Meuse and Sambre here united flow,
Nature's defence against th' invading foe;
Industrious Art her strength of walls supplies;
Before the town the British army lies.

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305.

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315

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

Red globes of fire from bellowing engines fly,

And lead a sweeping blaze, like comets, thro' the sky.
The kindled region glows; with deaf'ning sound 321
They burst; their iron entrails, hurl'd around,
Strow with thick-scatter'd deaths the crimson ground.
See where the Genius of the war appears,

Nor shuns the labour, nor the danger fears!

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In clouds of sulph'rous smoke he shines 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 resign the yielding town.

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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 design. Long o'er the figur'd work, with vast surprise, Admiring Neptune roll'd his ravish'd eyes; Then, rising from his throne, thus call'd aloud, "Ye lovely Daughters of the briny Flood! "Haste, comb your silver locks, and straight prepare "To fill my train, and gaze in upper air: "This day majestic glories you shall see ; "Come, all ye wat'ry pow'rs who under me

340

"Your little tridents wield, and rule the boist'rous'

sea!

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"What god, that views the triumphs here display'd, "Can to such worth refuse his heav'nly aid?" He said no more---but bade two Tritons sound Their crooked shells, to spread the summons round. Thro' the wide caves the blast is heard afar; With speed two more provide his azure car,

A concave shell; two the finn'd coursers join:

All wait officious round, and own th' accustom'd

sign.

The god ascends; his better hand sustains

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The three-fork'd spear, his left directs the reins. Thro' breaking waves the chariot mounts him high; Before its thund'ring course the frothy waters fly: