图书图片
PDF
ePub

Since in this crowded dome thy skill divine
Did laurel-wreaths round Granta's sceptre twine ↑

CHORUS.

What countless forms, with frantic mien,
Have flitted o'er yon darken'd scene!
They come-they rage-they disappear-
The storm is woe-the pause is fear-

RECITATIVE.

But who is he that treads th' uncertain gloom,
That comes the last, nor shares the general doom?

AIR AND QUARTETT.

Vain now each mighty name,
Through ages long descended;
Each banner's storied fame,
Which conquest once attended.

RECITATIVE.

From height to height the Alpine Eagle flown,
Screams, as he finds no wild remain his own.

RECITATIVE.

With sullen march recede
The Russian's wasted train;
The high, indignant Swede
Th' Oppressor braves in vain ;

In dim eclipse the Crescent's glories fade;
And the far Indian sees th' approaching shade :
Where, 'mid the clouds of war,

1

Where now the fortune of the Austrian Star?

The high-born Maid, in bridal garlands shown,
Leads up the last sad pomp, that speaks a world o'erthrown.

CHORUS.

The shout is heard on high

Britannia! hark-they fly-they fly-
Hark-fallen is the foe, and thine the victory.-
On Alexandria's plains glad sounds arise;

Vimeira loud replies;

The Conquerors of the World are conquer'd now-
Rise, bind the laurels on thy brow;

Britannia,

CAMBRIDGE INSTALLATION ODE.

Britannia, rise !-'t is thine 't is thine

To roll the thunders of the blazing Line, And bid the ruin wide the scatter'd foe pursue; And thine, to rush amain

Along th' embattled plain,

253

Four o'er the opposing ranks, and sweep them from the view.

RECITATIVE AND AIR.

On Talavera's height,

And 'mid Barrosa's fight,

High beat each English heart with triumph warm; And England's Genius o'er the battle's storm Rose proud, and show'd her Edward's laurell'd form, While near was seen the sable Warrior Son, Crown'd, as on Poictiers' day, with wreaths from Cressy won.

AIR.

O Gloster! pleas'd to thee while Granta bends,"
And gives her sceptre to thy faithful hand,
Oh think, while round the baleful storm extends,
Why yet thy native land,

Why yet the lov'd, the beauteous Isle
In peace can rest, in virtue smile

RECITATIVE.

[ocr errors]

'Mid States in flames and ruins hurl'd,
Why England yet survives the World ?—

AIR.

From hardy sports, from manly schools,
From Truth's pure lore in Learning's bower,
From equal Law, alike that rules

The People's will, the Monarch's power;
From Piety, whose soul sincere

Fears God, and knows no other fear ;
From Loyalty, whose high disdain
Turns from the fawning, faithless train;
From deeds, the historian's records show,
Valour's renown and Freedom's glow:
"T is hence that springs th' unconquer'd fire,
That bids to Glory's heights aspire.

AIR.

O Gloster! hence the sage's aim, ''
The scholar's toil, the statesman's fame,
The flaming sword, still ready found
To guard the Paradise around→
Here in their last retreat are seen
The peaceful Arts, the Classic Muse;
And heavenly Wisdom here her light serene,
Her holy calm can still diffuse.

AIR AND CHORUS..

No common cause, no vulgar sway
Now, Gloster, claim thy gen'rous zeal➡
In England's bliss is Europe's stay,

And England's hope in Granta's weal.

AIR.

i

Thee have the marshall'd hosts of France
Seen on their firmest ranks advance;
Thine was the soldier's fearless glow,
And thine the skill that watch'd around
Sham'd and repuls'd, the conscious foe
The laurel gave, though Fortune frown'd;
And England heard, with loud acclaim,
The promise of thy youthful fame;

[blocks in formation]

The modest Virtues on thy steps attend-
To thee the sons of grief and pain
For pity turn, nor turn in vain ;

The hapless African has call'd thee Friend-
Oh, ever thou the gen'rous cause defend !

CHORUS.

Pursue thy course !-an honest fame is thine-
And Granta still shall bless the day,
Granta, that ever lov'd a Brunswick's name,
The honour'd day, that saw her thus consign
To thee the ensigns of her sway;

Thee, Guardian of her Laws, her Rights, her Fame,
Son of her matron Lore, Prince of her Monarch's Line.

THE

[blocks in formation]

Say, why should Dutchesses engross our tongues?
Rise, honest Muse, and sing of Mrs. Lungs!

1

[ocr errors]

ON Tuesday last, the Dowager Lungs, the most eminent Ballad Singer within the bills of mortality, gave her annual rout, at her wooden villa, in Tothill Fields, to all the fashion, beauty, and genius of the vicinity.

When the chimes of Westminster were announcing the death of day, the company began to arrive in taxed carts, buggies, and caravans. On alighting from their carriages, the parties were severally served with an antediluvian offering of gin and gingerbread, which the hostess delivered herself, with her accustomed dignity and grace. The saloon of her cottage ornée was aptly decorated (like the interior of the Luxembourg Palace) with the progress of individual heroism: on the naval side were the graven adventures of Kyd the Pirate; and on the land side were those of the dauntless, and, we trust, inimitable Jerry Abershaw. The niches of the apartment were filled with bottles of rum, aniseed, and Deady's proof gin; and, "not to speak it profanely," many a pair of ruby lips smacked with ecstacy, as they condescended (a niodish phrase) to taste their contents, in rapid succession, and quick time!

In the potatoe garden, au derriere, a beautiful awning was erected: this was iluminated at each corner with parish lamps, and covered with two pair of dow las sheets, to shield the votaries of pleasure from the chilling dews of the evening. When the company were seated, Dr. Bosky, a local Pedagogue (who officiated as the arbiter pro tempore, as he was the only visitor who had gone through the vulgar drudgery of learning

learning to read), proposed to recite an Ode to his Tom Cat, which he had written in Sapphic measure, for the particular amusement of the Ladies. As the proposition passed nem. con. the rusty Author hemmed, stroked his cravat with symptoms of l'amour propre, and thus pompously began:

Who drives the mice away from Cheshire cheeses?
Who tells that rain will come whene'er he sneezes ?
Who claws the table's legs whene'er he pleases?

My Pussy!

Who, like a Lord, in Pleasure's rosy bower,
Will doze away full many an idle hour?
Who licks up all the cream, like men in power ?

My Pussy!

Who creeps, by night, along the Bridewell walls,
And perks, and purs, when Grimalkina squalls,
And fears no censure while he caterwauls?

My Pussy!

Who claims sweet modesty's unsullied meed ?
When stern necessity impels the need,
Who scratches, decently, to hide the deed?

My Pussy!

We lost the remaining stanzas of this matchless and delectable ode, because the covesse (hostess) threw a killing frown towards the ardent Bard, as significant that her delicacy had been invaded by the figurative tenour of the last verse; on which he prudently abandoned the recitation, and slunk, blushing, into the ranks of the beau monde !

Joe the Sandman now entertained the ladies with a comic imitation of the courtship of two cats in a gutter, in the manner of the celebrated Mr. Lath, the Comedian; after which Mr. O'Blarney vociferated the famous old Irish ballad of

"As my true-love and I went huffing together."

But

« 上一页继续 »