Oh fact accurft! what tears has Albion fhed, Heav'ns, what new wounds! and how her old have bled? She faw her fons with purple death expire, Her facred domes involv'd in rolling fire, A dreadful series of inteftine wars, 320 324 At length great ANNA faid-" Let Discord ceafe !" She faid, the world obey'd, and all was Peace! In that bleft moment from his oozy bed Old father Thames advanc'd his rev'rend head. His treffes drop'd with dews, and o'er the stream His fhining horns diffus'd a golden gleam: 330 Grav'd on his urn appear'd the moon, that guides His fwelling waters, and alternate tides; VARIATIONS. VER. 319. Originally thus in the MS. The Since that dire morn what tears has Albion shed, VER. 315. Thus in the MS. Till Anna rofe and bade the Furies ceafe; Let there be Peace fhe faid, and all was Peace. Between Verse 328 and 329, originally stood these lines, From shore to fhore exulting fhouts he heard, fhone, Fictitious stars, and glories not her own. P, The figur'd ftreams in waves of filver roll'd, 339 The Kennet fwift, for filver eels renown'd; And fullen Mole, that hides his diving flood; 345 349 High in the midft, upon his urn reclin❜d, (His fea-green mantle waving with the wind) The God appear'd: he turn'd his azure eyes Where Windfor-domes and pompous turrets rife ; Then bow'd and spoke; the winds forget to roar, And the hush'd waves glide softly to the shore. Hail, facred Peace! hail long-expected days, That Thames's glory to the ftars shall raise! Tho' Tyber's ftreams immortal Rome behold, 355 Tho' foaming Hermus fwells with tides of gold, From heav'n itself tho' fev'n-fold Nilus flows, And harvefts on a hundred realms bestows; Thefe now no more fhall be the Mufe's themes, Loft in my fame, as in the fea their ftreams. 360 Let Let Volga's banks with iron squadrons shine, No more my fons fhall die with British blood 365 Of war or blood, but in the sylvan chace ; 370 The trumpet fleep, while chearful horns are blown, 375 Their ample bow, a new Whitehall afcend! Thy trees, fair Windfor! now shall leave their And half thy forefts rufh into thy floods, VER. 376 And Temples rife,] The fifty new Churches. P. VER. 351. Originally thus in the MS. ; Let Venice boaft her Tow'rs amidst the Main, VOL. I. Bear Bear Britain's thunder, and her Cross display, 385 To the bright regions of the rifing day; Tempt icy feas, where fcarce the waters roll, Where clearer flames glow round the frozen Pole; Or under fouthern skies exalt their fails, Led by new ftars, and borne by spicy gales! For me the balm fhall bleed, and amber flow, The coral redden, and the ruby glow, The pearly shell its lucid globe infold, 390 394 The time fhall come, when free as feas or wind 399 And VER.. 388. Where clearer flames glow round the frozen Pole.] The Poet is here recommending the advantages of commerce, and therefore the extremities of heat and cold, are not represented in a forbidding manner as again, Or under fouthern fkies exalt their fails, Led by new fars, and borne by Spicy gales. But in the Dunciad, where the mifchief of Dulness is defcribed, they are painted in all their inclemencies, See round the Poles where keener Spangles shine, Where fpices Smoke beneath the burning line. VER. 396. Unbounded Thames, etc.] A wish that London may be made a FREE PORT. P. VARIATIÓN S. VER. 383, etc. were originally thus, Now shall our fleets the bloody Cross display Or And naked youths and painted chiefs admire Our speech, our colour, and our strange attire! 410 In brazen bonds, fhall barb'rous Discord dwell; 420 Here cease thy flight, nor with unhallow'd lays Touch the fair fame of Albion's golden days: The thoughts of Gods let GRANVILLE's verse recite, And bring the fcenes of op'ning fate to light. My humble Muse, in unambitious strains Paints the green forests and the flow'ry plains, F 2 VARIATIONS. 425 Where Or those green ifles, where headlong Titan steeps Tempt icy feas, etc. VER. 421. P. IMITATIONS: Quo, Mufa, tendis? define pervicax Hor. |