Meanwhile I labour with eternal drought,
And restless with, and rave; my parched throat
Finds no relief, nor heavy eyes repofe:
But if a flamber haply does invade
My weary limbs, my fancy 's ftill awake,
Thoughtful of drink, and eager, in a dream,
Tipples imaginary pots of ale,

In vain; awake I find the fettled thirt
Still gnawing, and the pleasant phantom curfe.

Thus do I live, from pleasure quite debarr'd,
Nor tafce the fruits that the fun's genial rays
Mature, john-apple, nor the downy peach,
Nor walnut in rough-furrow'd coat fecure,
Nor medlar fruit delicious in decay;
Afflictions great! yet greater ftill remain :
My galligafkins, that have long withstood
The winter's fury, and encroaching frotts,
By time fubdued (what will not time subdue!)
An horrid chafm difclos'd with orifice
Wide, difcontinuous; at which the winds
Eurus and Aufter, and the dreadful force
Of Boreas, that congeals the Cronian waves,
Tumultuous enter with dire chilling blasts,
Portending agues. Thus a well-fraught ship,
Long fail'd fecure, or through th' Ægean deep,
Or the Ionian, till cruifing near
The Lilybean fhore, with hideous crush
On Scylla, or Charybdis (dangerous rocks!)
She strikes rebounding; whence the shatter'd oak,
So fierce a fhock unable to withstand,
Admits the fea, in at the gaping fide
The crowding waves gush with impetuous rage,
Refiftlefs, overwhelming; horrors seize
The mariners; death in their eyes appears,
They ftare, they lave, they pump, they fwear, they

pray:

(Vain efforts!) fill the battering waves rush in, Implacable, till, delug'd by the foam, The fhip finks foundering in the vast abyss.

F

BLENHEIM.

ROM low and abject themes the groveling Mufe
Now mounts aërial, to fing of arms
Triumphant, and emblaze the martial acts
Of Britain's hero; may the verfe not fink
Geneath his merits, but detain awhile
Thy car, O Harley! (though thy country's weal
Depends on thee, though mighty Anne requires
Thy hourly counfels) fince, with every art
Thyfelf adorn'd, the mean effays of youth.
Thou wilt not damp, but guide, wherever found,
The willing genius to the Mufes' feat:
Therefore thee firit, and laft, the Mufe fhall fing.

Long had the Gallic monarch, uncontrol'd,
Enlarg'd his borders, and of human force
Opponent flightly thought, in heart elate,
As erft Sefoftris (proud Egyptian king,
That monarchs harness'd to his chariot yokt

* This poem was infcribed to the Right Honorable Robert Harley, Efq. 1705, then Speaker of the Honorable Houfe of Commons, and Secretary of State.

(Bafe fervitude!) and his dethron'd compeers
Lafht furious; they in fullen majefty
Drew the uneafy load); nor less he aim'd
At univerfal fway: for William's arm
Could nought avail, however fam'd in war;
Nor armies leagu'd, that diverfly effay'd
To curb his power enormous; like an oak,
That stands fecure, though all the winds employ
Their ceafelefs roar, and only fheds its leaves,
Or maft, which the revolving spring reftores:
So flood he, and alone; alone defy'd
The European thrones combin'd, and still
Had fet at nought their machinations vain,
But that great Anne, weighing th' events of war
Momentous, in her prudent heart, thee chofe,
Thee, Churchill! to direct in nice extremes
Her banner'd legions. Now their priftine worth
The Britons recollect, and gladly change
Sweet native home for unaccustom'd air,
And other climes, where different food and foil
Portend diftempers; over dank, and dry,
They journey toilfome, unfatigued with length
Of march, unftruck with horror at the fight
Of Alpine ridges bleak, high-ftretching hills,
All white with fummer's fnows. They go beyond
The trace of English fteps, where fcarce the found
Of Henry's arms arriv'd; fuch ftrength of heart
Thy conduct and example gives; nor fmall
Encouragement: Godolphin, wife and juft,
Equal in merit, honor, and fuccefs,
To Burleigh (fortunate alike to serve
The best of Queens): he, of the royal ftore
Splendidly frugal, fits whole nights devoid
Of fweet repofe, induftrious to procure
The foldier's eafe; to regions far remote

His care extends; and to the British hoft
Makes ravag'd countries plenteous as their own.
And now, O Churchill at thy wisht approach
The Germans, hopeless of fuccefs, forlorn,
With many an inroad gor'd, their drooping cheer
New-animated rouze; not more rejoice
The miferable race of men, that live
Benighted half the year, benumb'd with frofts
Perpetual, and rough Boreas' keeneft breath,
Under the polar Bear, inclement sky!

When first the fun with new-born light removes
The long-incumbent gloom; gladly to thee
Heroic laurel'd Eugene yields the prime,
Nor thinks it diminution, to be rankt
In military honor next, although

His deadly hand fhook the Turcheftan throne
Accurs'd, and prov'd in fair-divided lands
Victorious; on thy powerful sword alone
Germania and the Belgic coaft relies,

Won from th' encroaching fea: that fword great Anne
Fix'd not in vain on thy puiffant fide,

When thee fh' enroll'd her garter'd knights among,
Illustrating the noble lift; her hand

Affures good omens, and Saint George's worth
Enkindles like defire of high exploits.
Immediate fieges, and the tire of war,
Roll in thy eager mind; thy plumy creft
Nods horrible; with more terrific port
Thou walk'ft, and seem'ft already in the fight.

What fpoils, what conquefts, then did Albion hope From thy atchievements! yet thou hast surpast

Her

The hideous noife. What can they do? or how
Withstand his wide-deftroying fword? or where
Find fhelter, thus repuls'd? Behind, with wrath
Refiftlefs, th' eager English champions prefs,
Chaftifing tardy flight; before them rolls
His current fwift, the Danube vaft and deep,
Supreme of rivers! to the frightful brink,
Urg'd by compulfive arms, foon as they reacht,
New horror chill'd their veins: devote they faw
Themfelves to wretched doom; with efforts vain,
Encourag'd by defpair, or obftinate

To fall like men in arms, fome dare renew
Feeble engagement, meeting glorious fate
On the firm land; the reft, difcomfited,
And pusht by Marlborough's avengeful hand,
Leap plunging in the wide-extended flood.
Bands numerous as the Memphian foldiery
That fwell'd the Erythrain wave, when wall'd
The unfroze waters marvelloufly stood,
Obfervant of the great command. Upborne
By frothy billows thoufands float the ftream
In cumbrous mail, with love of farther fhore;
Confiding in their hands, that fed'lous ftrive
To cut th' outrageous fluent in this distress,
Ev'n in the fight of death, fome tokens fhew
Of fearless friendship, and their finking mites
Suftain: vain love, though laudable! abforb'd
By a fierce eddy, they together found
The vaft profundity; their horfes paw
The fwelling furge with fruitless toil: furcharg'd
And in his courfe obftructed by large fpoil,
The river flows redundant, and attacks
The lingering remnant with unufual tide;
Then rolling back, in his capacious lap
Ingulfs their whole militia, quick immers'd.
So when fome fweltering travellers retire
To leafy shades, near the cool funless verge
Of Paraba, Brazilian ftream; her tail
Of vaft extention from her watery den,
A grifly Hydra fuddenly fhoots forth,
Infidious, and with curl'd envenom'd train
Embracing horridly, at once the crew
Into the river whirls: th' unweeting prey
Entwisted roars, th' affrighted flood rebounds.

Nor did the British fquadrons now furceafe
To gall their foes o'erwhelm'd; full many felt
In the moist element a fcorching death,
Pierc'd finking; fhrouded in a dufky cloud
The current flows, with livid miffive flames
Boiling, as once Pergamean Xanthus boil'd,
Inflam'd by Vulcan, when the fwift-footed fon
Of Peleus to his baleful banks purfued
The ftraggling Trojans: nor lefs eager drove
Victorious Churchill his defponding foes
Into the deep immenfe, that many a league
Impurpled ran, with gufhing gore diftained.

Thus the experienc'd valour of one man, Mighty in conflict, refcued harrafs'd powers From ruin impendent, and th' afflicted throne Imperial, that once lorded o'er the world, Suftain'd. With prudent ftay, he long defer'd The rough contention, nor would deign to rout An hoft difparted; when in union firm Embody'd they advanc'd, collecting all

Their ftrength, and worthy feem'd to be fubdued:

He the proud boafters fent, with stern affault,
Down to the realms of Night. The British toulsy
(A lamentable race!) that ceas'd to breathe,
On Landen-plains, this heavenly gladfome air,
Exult to fee the crowding ghofts defcend
Unnumber'd; well aveng'd, they quit the cares
Of mortal life, and drink th' oblivious lake.
Not fo the new inhabitants: they roam
Erroneous, and difconfolate; themselves
Accufing, and their chiefs, improvident
Of military chance; when lo! they see,
Through the dun mift, in blooming beauty fresh,
Two lovely youths, that amicably walked
O'er verdant meads, and pleas'd, perhaps, revolv'è
Anna's late conquefts: * one, to empire born,
Egregious Prince, whofe manly childhood fhew'd
His mingled parents, and portended joy
Unfpeakable; thoa, his affociate dear
Once in this world, nor now by fate disjoin'd,
Had thy prefiding ftar propitious fhone,
Should ft Churchill be! but Heaven severe cut fort
Their fpringing years, nor would this ifle fhould beat
Gifts fo important! them the Gallic shades
Surveying, read in either radiant look
Marks of exceffive dignity and grace,
Delighted; till, in one, their curious eye
Difcerns their great fubduer's awful mien,
And correfponding features fear; to them
Confufion! ftrait the airy phantoms fleet,
With headlong hafte, and dread a new purfait.
The image pleas'd with joy paternal smiles.

Erough, O Mufe: the fadly-pleafing theme
Leave, with thefe dirk abodes, and re-afcend
To breathe the upper air, where triumphs wait
The conqueror, and fav'd nations' joint acclaim.
Hark! how the cannon, inoffenfive now,
Gives figns of gratulation; ftruggling crouds
From every city flow; with ardent gaze
Fixt, they behold the British Guide, of fight
Infatiate; whilft his great redeeming hand
Each prince affects to touch refpectful. See
How Pruffia's King transported entertains
His mighty guest! to him the royal pledge,
Hope of his realm, commits (with better fate,
Than to the Trojan chief Evander gave
Unhappy Pallas) and intreats to fhew
The fkill and rudiments auftere of war.
See, with what joy, him Leopold declares
His great Deliverer; and courts t' accept
Of titles, with fuperior modesty

Better refus'd! Meanwhile the haughty King
Far humbler thoughts now learns: defpair, and fear,
Now first he feels; his laurels all at once
Torn from his aged head in life's extreme,
Distract his foul! nor can great Boileau's harp
Of various-founding wire, beft taught to calm
Whatever paffion, and exalt the foul
With higheft ftrains, his languid fpirits cheer:
Rage, fhame, and grief, alternate in his breast.

But who can tell what pangs, what sharp remorse,
Torment the Boian prince? from native foil
Exil'd by fate, torn from the dear embrace
Of weeping confort, and depriv'd the fight

Of his young guiltless progeny, he feeks
Inglorious fhelter, in an alien land;
Deplorable! but that his mind averfe
To right, and infincere, would violate
His plighted faith: why did he not accept
Friendly compofure offer'd? or well weigh
With whom he must contend? encountering fierce
The Solymean Sultan, he o'erthrew

His moony troops, returning bravely smear'd
With Painim blood effus'd; nor did the Gaul
Not find him once a baleful foe: but when,
Of counsel rafh, new measures he pursues,
Unhappy Prince! (no more a prince) he fees
Too late his error, forc'd t' implore relief
Of him, he once defy'd. O deftitute

Of hope, unpity'd! thou fhould'ft first have thought
Of perfevering ftedfaft; now upbraid
Thy own inconftant, ill-afpiring heart.
Lo! how the Noric plains, through thy default
Rife hilly, with large piles of flaughter'd knights,
Beft men, that warr'd ftill firmly for their prince
Though faithlefs, and unfhaken duty fhew'd;
Worthy of better end. Where cities ftood,
Well fenc'd and numerous, defolation reigns,
And emptinefs, difmay'd, unfed, unhous'd;
The widow and the orphan stroll around
The defert wide; with oft-retorted eye
They view the gaping walls, and poor remains

Of manfions, once their own (now loathfome haunts
Of birds obfcene,) bewailing loud the lofs
Of spouse, or fire, or fon, ere manly prime,
Slain in fad conflict, and complain of fate
As partial, and too rigorous; nor find
Where to retire themfelves, or where appease
Th' afflictive keen defire of food, expos'd
To winds, and ftorms, and jaws of favage beafts.
Thrice happy Albion! from the world disjoin'd
By Heaven propitious, blifsful feat of peace!
Learn from thy neighbours miferies to prize
Thy welfare; crown'd with Nature's choiceft gift.
Remote thou hear'ft the dire effect of war,
Depopulation, void alone of fear

And peril, whilft the difinal fymphony
Of drums and clarions, other realms annoys.
Th' Iberian fceptre undecided, here
Engages mighty hofts in wafteful ftrife:

From different climes the flower of youth defcends,
Down to the Lufitanian vales, refolv'd
With utmost hazard to enthrone their prince,
Gallic or Auftrian; havoc dire enfues,
And wild uproar: the natives dubious whom
They must obey, in confternation wait,
Till rigid conqueft will pronounce their liege.
Nor is the brazen voice of war unheard
On the mild Latian fhore: what fighs and tears
Hath Eugene caus'd! how many widows curfe
His cleaving faulcheon! fertile foil in vain!
What do thy paftures, or thy vines avail,
Best boon of Heaven! or huge Taburnus, cloath'd
With olives, when the cruel battle mows
The planters, with their harveft immature?
See, with what outrage from the frosty north,
The early-valiant Swede draws forth his wings
In battailous array, while Volga's ftream
Sends oppofite, in fhaggy armour clad,
Hier borderers; on mutual laughter bent,

They rend their countries. How is Poland vext
With civil broils, while two elected kings
Contend for fway? unhappy nation, left
Thus free of choice! The English, undisturb'd
With fuch fad privilege, fubmifs obey

Whom Heaven ordains fupreme, with reverence due,
Not thraldom, in fit liberty fecure:

From fcepter'd kings, in long defcent deriv'd,
Thou, Anna, ruleft; prudent to promote
Thy people's eafe at home, nor ftudious lefs
Of Europe's good; to thee, of kingly right
Sole arbitrefs, declining thrones and powers
Sue for relief; thou bid't thy Churchill go,
Succour the injur'd realms, defeat the hopes
Of haughty Louis, unconfin'd; he goes
Obfequious, and the dread command fulfils,
In one great day. Again thou giv'ft in charge
To Kooke, that he fhould let that monarch know,
The empire of the ocean wide diffus'd

Is thine; beheld with winged fpeed he rides
Undaunted o'er the labouring main t' affert
Thy liquid kingdoms; at his near approach
The Gallic navies impotent to bear
His volly'd thunder, torn, diffever'd, fcud,
And blefs the friendly interpofing night.

Hail, mighty Queen! referv'd by Fate to grace
The new-born age: what hopes may we conceive
Of future years, when to thy early reign
Neptune fubmits his trident, and thy arms
Already have prevail'd to th' utmost bound
Hefperian, Calpe, by Alcides fixt,
Mountain fublime, that cafts a thade of length
Immeafurable, and rules the inland waves!
Let others, with infatiate thirst of rule,
Invade their neighbours lands, neglect the ties
Of leagues and oaths; this thy peculiar praise
Be fili, to study right, and quell the force
Of kings perfidious; let them learn from thee
That neither ftrength, nor policy refin'd,
Shall with fuccefs be crown'd, where juftice fails.
Thou, with thy own content, not for thy felf,
Subdueft regions, generous to raise

The fuppliant knee, and curb the rebel neck.
The German boafts thy conquefts, and enjoys
The great advantage; nought to thee redounds
But fatisfaction from thy confcious mind.

Aufpicious Queen! fince in thy realms, fecure
Of peace thou reign'ft, and victory attends
Thy diftant enfigns, with compaffion view
Europe embroil'd; ftill thou (for thou alone
Sufficient art) the jarring kingdoms ire,
Reciprocally ruinous; fay who

Shall wield th' Hefperian, who the Polish fword,
By thy decree? the trembling lands fhall hear
Thy voice, obedient, left thy scourge should bruife
Their ftubborn necks, and Churchill, in his wrath,
Make them remember Blenheim with regret.

Thus fhall the nations, aw'd to peace, extol
Thy power, and juftice: Jealoufies and Fears,
And Hate infernal banish'd, fhall retire
To Mauritania, or the Bactrian coafts,
Or Tartary, engendering difcords fell
Among the enemies of truth; while arts
Pacific, and inviolable love,

Flourish in Europe. Hail, Saturnian days

Returning!

Returning in perpetual tenor run
Delectable, and fhed your influence sweet
On virtuous Anna's head: ye happy days,
By her reftor'd, her juft defigns complete,
And, mildly on her fhining, blefs the world!

Thus, from the noify world exempt, with ease
And plenty bleft, amid the mazy groves,
(Sweet folitude!) where warbling birds provoke
The filent Mufe, delicious rural feat
Of St. John, English Memmius, I prefum'd
To fing Britannic trophies, inexpert

Of war, with mean attempt; while he intent
(So Anna's will ordains) to expedite
His military charge*, no leifure finds

To ftring his charming fhell: but when return'd
Confummate Peace fhall rear her chearful head;
Then fhall his Churchill, in fublimer verse,
For ever triumph; latest times fhall learn
From fuch a Chief to fight, and Bard to fing.

AD HENRICUM ST. JOHN, ARMIG. 1706.

Qui recife finibus Indicis

Benignus herbæ, das mihi divitem
Haurire fuccum, et fauveolentes
Sæpe tubis iterare fumos;

Qui folus acri refpicis afperum
Siti palatum, proluis et mero,

Dulcem elaborant cui faporem
Hefperii pretiumque, foles:
Ecquid reponam muneris omnium
Exors bonorum? prome reconditum,

Pimplæa, carmen, defidéfque
Ad numeros, age, tende chordas.
Ferri fecundo mens avet impetu,
Quá cygniformes per liquidum æthera,

Te, diva, vim præbente, vates
Explicuit Venufinus alas:

Solers modorum, feu puerum trucem,
Cum matre flavâ, feu caneret rofas

Et vina, cyrrhæis Hetrufcum
Rite beans equitem fub antris.

At non Lyæi vis generofior
Affluxit illi; fæpe licet cadum

Jacket Falernum, fæpe Chia
Munera, lætitiamque testæ.
Patronus illi non fuit artium
Celebriorum; fed nec amantior

Nec charus æquè. O! quæ medullas
Flamma fubit, tacitofque fenfus!
Pertentat, ut téque et tua munera
Gratus recordor, mercurialium

Princeps virorum! et ipfe Mufæ
Cultor, et ufque colende Mufis!

He was then Secretary of War.

Sed me minantem grandia deficit
Receptus ægrè fpiritus, ilia

Dum pulfat ima, ac inquietum
Tuffis agens fine more pectus.
Altè petito quaffat anhelitu;
Funefta planè, ni mihi balfamum
Diftillet in venas, tuæque

Lenis opem ferat hauftus uvæ.
Hanc fumo, parcis et tibi poculis
Libo falutem; quin precor, optima
Ut ufque conjux fofpitetur,
Perpetuo recreans amore.

Te confulentem militiæ fuper
Rebus togatum. Macte! tori decus,
Formofa cui Francisca ceffit,
Crine placens, niveoque collo!
Quam Gratiarum cura decentium
O! O! labellis cui Venus infidet!
Tu forte felix: me Maria
Macerat (ah miferum!) videndo:
Maria, quæ me fidereo tuens
Obliqua vultu per medium jecur

Trajecit, atque excuffit omnes
Protinus ex animo puellas.
Hanc ulla mentis fpe mihi mutuæ
Utcunque defit, nocte, die vigil

Sufpiro; nec jam vina fomnos
Nec revocant, tua dana, fumi.

TO HENRY ST. JOHN, ESQUIRE, 1706'.

Thou, from India's fruitful foil,
That doft that fovereign herb † prepare,

In whofe rich fumes I lofe the toil
Of life, and every anxious care:
While from the fragrant lighted bowl
I fuck new life into my foul.

Thou, only thou art kind to view

The parching flames that I fuftain;
Which with cool draughts thy casks subdue,
And wash away the thirsty pain

With wines, whofe ftrength and taste we prize,
From Latian funs and nearer skies.

O! fay, to blefs thy pious love,

What vows, what offerings, thall I bring?
Since I can fpare, and thou approve,
No other gift, O hear me fing!
In numbers Phoebus does infpire,
Who ftrings for thee the charming lyre.