Ev'n o'er his cradle lay in wait;
And there he grappled first with fate :
In his young hands the hiffing fnakes he preft,
So early was the Deity confeft;
Thus by degrees he rose to Jove's imperial feat;
Thus difficulties prove a foul legitimately great.
Like his, our hero's infancy was try'd;
Betimes the Furies did their fnakes provide;
And to his infant arms oppose
His father's rebels, and his brother's foes;
The more oppreft, the higher still he rose :
Those were the preludes of his fate,
That form'd his manhood, to fubdue
The hydra of the many-headed hiffing crew.
As, after Numa's peaceful reign,
The martial Ancus did the scepter wield,
Furbish'd the rufty fword again,
Refum'd the long-forgotten fhield,
And led the Latins to the dufty field;
So James the drowsy genius wakes
Of Britain long entranc'd in charms,
Reftiff and flumbering on its arms :
'Tis rous'd, and with a new-ftrung nerve, the spear already shakes.
No neighing of the warrior steeds,
No drum, or louder trumpet, needs
T' infpire the coward, warm the cold,
His voice, his fole appearance makes them bold.
Gaul and Batavia dread th' impending blow;
Too well the vigour of that arm they know;
They lick the duft, and crouch beneath their fatal foc, Long may they fear this awful prince,
And not provoke his lingering sword ;
Peace is their only fure defence,
Their beft fecurity his word :
In all the changes of his doubtful state,
His truth, like heaven's, was kept inviolate,
For him to promife is to make it fate.
His valour can triumph o'er land and main;
With broken oaths his fame he will not ftain;
With conqueft bafely bought, and with inglorious gain.
For once, O heaven, unfold thy adamantine book; And let his wondering fenate fee,
If not thy firm immutable decree,
At least the second page of ftrong contingency;
Such as confifts with wills originally free:
Let them with glad amazement look
On what their happiness may
Let them not ftill be obftinately blind,
Still to divert the good thou haft design'd,
Or with malignant penury,
To ftarve the royal virtues of his mind.
Faith is a chriftian's and a fubject's teft,
Oh give them to believe, and they are furely bleft.
They do; and with a diftant view I fee
Th' amended vows of English loyalty.
And all beyond that object, there appears
The long retinue of a profperous reign,
A feries of fuccefsful years,
In orderly array, a martial, manly train.
Behold ev'n the remoter fhores,
A conquering navy proudly fpread;
The British cannon formidably roars,
While, ftarting from his cozy bed,
Th' afferted ocean rears his reverend head;
To view and recognize his ancient lord again :
And, with a willing hand, reftores
The fafces of the main.
PARAPHRASED.
REATOR fpirit, by whofe aid
The world's foundations firft were laid,
Come vifit every pious mind;
Come pour thy joys on human kind;
From fin and forrow fet us free,
And make thy temples worthy thee.
O fource of uncreated light,
The Father's promised Paraclete!
Thrice holy fount, thrice holy fire,
Our hearts with heavenly love inspire ;
Come, and thy facred unction bring
To fanctify us, while we fing.
Plenteous of grace, defcend from high,
Rich in thy fevenfold energy!
Thou ftrength of his Almighty hand,
Whofe power does heaven and earth command.
Proceeding fpirit, our defence,
Who doft the gifts of tongues difpenfe,
And crown'ft thy gift with eloquence!
Refine and purge our earthly parts;
But, oh, inflame and fire our hearts!
Our frailties help, our vice controul,
Submit the fenfes to the foul;
And when rebellious they are grown,
Then lay thy hand, and hold them down.
Chace from our minds th' infernal foe,
And peace, the fruit of love, bestow;
And, left our feet fhould step aftray,
Protect and guide us in the way.
Make us eternal truths receive,
And practife all that we believe:
Give us thyfelf, that we may fee
The Father, and the Son, by thee.
Immortal honour, endless fame,
Attend th' Almighty Father's name:
The Saviour Son be glorify'd,
Who for loft man's redemption dy'd :
And equal adoration be,
Eternal Paraclete, to thee.
[NHAPPY I! who, once ordain'd to bear
God's juftice fword, and his vicegerent here,
Am now depos'd !-'gainst me my children rife,
My life must be their only sacrifice :
Highly they me accufe, but nothing prove;
But this is out of tenderness and love!
They feek to spill my blood; 'tis that alone
Muft for the nation's crying fins atone.
But careful Heaven forewarn'd me in a dream,
And fhew'd me that my dangers were extreme;
The heavenly vision spoke, and bade me flee
Th' ungrateful brood that were not worthy me:
Alarm'd I fled at the appointed time;
And mere neceffity was made my
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