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Enclos'd they fight; the forefts fhine around

The works are mann'd; with fury they contend;

With Bafting fires; the thunder'd hills rebound,? These thunder from the plains, thofe from cont walls

And the shock'd country, wide beneath, rebel

lows to the found.

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

[quite. Rich tents, and stores of war, the victor's toils reThen peace enfues; and, in a thining train, The friendly chiefs assemble on the plain. An ardent zeal the Gallic general warms To fce the youth, that kindled fuch alarms; Wondering he views; fecure the foldiers prefs Round their late dread, and the glad treaty blefs. Next, on the broad circumferetice is wrought The nine years war for lov'd Britannia fought; The cause the fame : fair libeity betray'd, And banish'd justice, fly to him for aid. Here failing ships are drawn, the crowded ftrand, And heaven's avenger hattening to the land. Oppreffion, fraud, confufion, and affright, Fierce fiends, that ravag'd in the gloomy night Of lawless power, defeated, fly before his dazzling light.

So to th' eclipfing moon, by the still fide
Of fome lone thicket, revelling hags provide
Dire charms, that threat the fleeping neighbour-
hood,
[blood;

And quaff, with magic mix'd, vaft howls of human
But, when the dawn reveals the purple east,
They vanifh fullen from th' unfinish'd feast.
Here joyful crowds triumphant arches rear
To their deliverer's praife; glad fenates there,
In fplendid pomp, the regal state confer.

Hibernia's fields new triumphs then fupply;
The rival kings, in arms, the face of empire try.
See where the Boyne two warring hosts divides,
And rolls between the fight his murmuring tides!
in vain-hills, forefts, ftrcams, muft all give place,
When William leads, and victory's the chace.
Thou faw'it him, Boyne! when thy charg'd
waters bore

The swimming courfers to th' oppofing fhore, And, round thy banks, thou heard'it the murdering cannons roar.

[court

What more than mortal bravery infpir'd
The daring troups, by his example fir'd!
Thou faw'ft their wondrous deeds; to Neptune's
Thy flying waves convey'd the swift report,
And, red with flaughter, to their father how'd
Streams not their own, and a difcolour'd flood.

Here, on th' æthereal mould, hurl'd from afar,
Th' exploded ball had mark'd a dinted scar.
'Twas deftin'd thus; for when all glowing red,
The angel took it from the forge, he faid;
This part be left unfated from the foe!
And, fcarce efcap'd, once let the hero know,
How much to my protection he shall owe;
Yet, from the batter'd fhield, the ball fhall bound,
And on his arm inflict a fcarlet wound,

Elsewhere, behold Namur's proud turrets rife, Majestic to the fight, advancing to the fkics! The Meufe and Sambre here united flow, Nature's defence against th' invading foe: Industrious art her strength of walls fupplics : Before the town the British army lies.

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Bright honours in his glorious entry fhine,
And peace reftor'd concludes the great design.

Long o'er the figur'd work, with vaft furprise, Admining Neptune roll'd his raviih'd eyes; Then, rifing from his throne, thus call'd aloud; "Ye lovely daughters of the briny food! [pare "Hafte, comb your filver locks, and itraight pre"To fill my train, and gaze in upper air. "This day, majeftic glories you shall fee; "Come, all ye watery powers, who under me "Your little tridents wield, and rule the boifterous fea!

"What God, that views the triumphs here difplay'd,

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"Can to such worth refufe his heavenly aid?"
He faid no more-but bade two Tritons found
Their crooked shells, to spread the fummons round
Through the wide caves the blast is heard afar;
With speed two more provide his azure car,
A concave fhell; two the finn'd courfers join:
All wait officious round, and own th' accustom'd
fign;

The god afcends; his better hand fuftains

The three-fork'd fpear, his left directs the reins.
'Through breaking waves, the chariot mounts him
high;

Before its thundering courfe, the frothy waters fly;
He gains the turface; on his either fide,
The bright attendants, rang'd with comely pride,
Advance in just array, and grace the pompous

tide.

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Hail, facred charge, they cry; the beauties we "Of Neptune's court, are come t'attend on thee; Accept our offer'd aid! thy potent fway, "Unbounded by the land, thefe watery realms [mage pay. And we thy fubject-powers our duteous ho

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"See Neptune's felf, inferior in command, "Prefents his trident to thy honour'd hand!" They faid; the fire approach'd with awe profound; [found; The rite perform'd, their fhells the Tritons Swell'd with the fhrill alarm, the joyful billows bound.

Now, from the fhore, Britannia firft defcries White fails afar; then bulky veffels rife, Nearer to view; her beating heart foretels The pleasing news, and eager tranfport feels. Safe to her arms, imperial Neptune bears Th' entrusted charge, then diving difappears.

Therefore I conclude with my humble reque that your Grace would favour this ode with you acceptance, and do me the honour of believing that, among the crowd of your admirers, there is not one who is more paffionately or fincerely fo, than Your Grace's most humble, And most obedient fervant, JOHN HUGHES,

THE HOUSE OF NASSAU.

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MAY IT PLEASE YOUR GRACE,

THOUGH the great lofs we fuffered in the death of the king has been fo happily fupplied by her majefty's acceffion to the throne, and her late coronation juftly filled the hearts of her fubjects with joy; yet fo glorious a reign as the laft will always be remembered with admiration by all good and wife men; and your Grace has given fufficient proofs, that you are of that number. It can never therefore be thought too late to offer a just tribute to his late majefty's memory, and to that of his great ancestors, a race fo illuftriously distinguished in Europe; though this indeed might fooner have been attempted, but for many interruptions, too inconfiderable for your Grace's notice. How I have performed is humbly fubmitted to your Grace's judgment, and to the judgment of all those gentlemen who are ufed to entertain themselves with writings of this fort. But if, through the author's want of genius, the poem itself fhould be thought inconfiderable, I am fure it will have fome distinction from the great names it celebrates, and the great patron it is infcribed to. And to whom

should the praises of eminent virtue be addressed, but to fuch as are poffeffed of great virtues themselves? To whom can I better prefent the chief characters of a noble and ancient family, than to your Grace, whofe family is fo ancient and fo noble? And here I am proud to acknowledge that fome of my relations have been honoured with marks of favour from your Grace's illuftrious anceftors. This I confess has long given me the ambition of offering my duty to your Grace; but chiefly that valuable character your Grace has obtained among all worthy perfons. I have not

room to enlarge here, nor is there any need of it on a fubject fo well known as your Grace's merits.

I.

GODDESS of numbers, and of thoughts fublime!
Celefiial mufe! whofe tuneful fong
Can fix heroic acts, thut glide along

Down the vast sea of ever wafting time,
And all the gilded images can stay,
Till time's vaft fea itself be roll'd away;
O now aflift with confecrated ftrains!
Let art and nature join to raise
A living monument of praise

O'er William's great remains.
While Thames, majestically fad, and flow,
Seems by that reverend dome to flow,
Which new-interr'd his facred urn contains.
If thou, O mufe, would'st e'er immortal be,
This fong bequeaths thee immortality;

For William's praite can ne'er expire,
Thou nature's felf at laft muft die,
And all this fair-erected sky

Muft fink with earth and fea, and melt away in fire,

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From heaven itself the illuftrious line began;
Ten ages in descent it ran,

In each delcent inçrcas'd with honours new.
Never did heaven's Supreme inspire
In mortal breasts a nobler fire,
Nor his own image livelier drew.
Of pure æthereal flame their fouls he made,
And, as beneath his forming hands they grew,
He blefs'd the mafter-work, and faid;
"Go forth, my honour'd champions, go,
"To vindicate my caufe below!
"Awful in power, defend for me

Religion, juftice, liberty,
"And at alpiring tyranny,
"My delegated thunder throw!

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"For this, the great Naffovian name I raise, "And still this character divine, "Distinguish'd through the race shall shine, "Zeal for their country's good, and thirst of virtuous praife."

IV.

Now look, Britannia, look, and see
Through the clear glass of history,

From whom thy mighty fovereign came,

And take a large review of far extended fame.

See, crowds of heroes rife to fight!
Adolphus, with imperial fplendor gay:
Brave Philibert, unmatch'd in fight,

Who led the German eagle to his prey; [way, Through Lombardy he mark'd his conquer'd And made proud Rome and Naples own his unrefifted might.

His gallant nephew next appears,

And on his brows the wreaths of conqueft wears, Though ftreaming wounds the martial figure stain ;

For thee, great | Charles, in battle slain,
Slain in all a foldier's pride,

He fell triumphant by thy fide,

And falling fought, and fighting dy'd,

And lay, a manly corpfe, extended on the plain.

V.

See next, majeftically great,
The founder of the Belgic flate!
The fun of glory, which fo bright
Beam'd on all the darling line,
Did, from its golden urn of light,
On William's head redoubled fhine;
His youthful looks diffus'd an awe.

Charles, who had try'd the race before,
And knew great merits to explore,
When he his rifing virtue faw,
He put in friendship's noble claim ;
To his imperial court the hero brought,
And there by early honours fought
Alliance with his future fame.

O generous fympathy, that binds
In chains unfeen the bravest minds!

O love to worthy deeds, in all great fouls the fame!

VI.

But time at laft brought forth th' amazing day,
When Charles, refolv'd to difengage
From empire's toils his weary age,
Gave with each hand a crown away.
Philip, his haughty fon, afraid

Of William's virtues, bafely chofe
His father's favourite to depofe;

His tyrant reign requir'd far other aid; [rofe;
And Alva's fiery duke, his fcourge of vengeance,
With flames of inquifition rofe from hell,
Of flaughter proud, and infolent in blood.
What hand can paint the scenes of tragic woes?
What tongue, fad Belgia! can thy ftory tell,
When with her lifted axe proud murder food,
And thy brave fons, in crowds unnumber'd, fell,
The fun, with horror of the fight,
Withdraws his fickly beams, and throuds

*Adolphus the emperor, of the houfe of Nallau. + Rene of Naffau. H Charles V,

His muffled face in fullen clouds, And, on the fcaffolds, faintly fheds a pale malignant light.

VIT.

Thus Belgia's liberty expiring lay,
And almost gafp'd her generous life away,
Till Orange hears her moving cries ;
He hears, and marching * from afar,
Brings to her aid the sprightly war.

At his approach, reviv'd with fresh supplies
Of gather'd strength, fhe on her murderers flics.
But heaven, at firft, refolv'd to try

By proofs adverse his conftancy.
Four armies loft, two gallant brothers † flain,
Will he defperate war maintain?
Though rolling tempefts darken all the sky,
And thunder breaks around his head,
Will he again the faithlefs fea explore,

And, oft driven back, ftill quit the shore?
He will his foul averfe to dread,

Unwearied, ftill the spite of fortune braves, Superior, and § ferene, amidst the stormy waves.

VIII.

Such was the man, fo vaft his mind!

The fteady inftrument of fate,

To fix the basis of a rifing state!

My mufe with horror views the fcene behind,
And fain would draw a fhade, and fain
Would hide his deftin'd end, nor tell
How he the dreaded foe of Spain,
More fear'd than thousands on the plain,
By the vile hand of a bold ruffian fell.
No more-th' ungrateful profpect let us leave!
And, in his room, behold arise,
Bright as th' immortal twins that grace the skies,
A noble pair, his abfence to retrieve!

In these the hero's foul furvives,
And William doubly in his offspring lives.

IX.

Maurice, for martial greatness, far
His father's glorious fame exceeds;
Henry alone can match his brother's deeds;
Both were, like Scipio's fons, the thunderbolts of
None e'er, than Maurice, better knew, [war.
Camps, fieges, battles, to ordain;

None e'er, than Henry, fiercer did purfue
The flying foe, or earlier conquefts gain.
For fcarce fixteen revolving years he told,
When, eager for the fight, and bold,
Inflam'd by glory's fprightly charms,
His brother brought him to the field;
Taught his young hand the truncheon well t▸
wield,

And practis'd him betimes to arms.

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How Maurice, touch'd with tender care Of Henry's fafety, begg'd him to remove; Henry refus'd his blooming youth to spare, But with his much-lov'd Maurice vow'd to prove

Th' extremes of war, and equal dangers fhare. O generous ftrife! and worthy fuch a pair! How dear did Albert this contention pay ! Witness the floods of ftreaming gore ; Witness the trampled heaps, that chok'd the plain,

And flopp'd the victors in their way; Witness the neighbouring fea, and fandy fhore, Drunk with the purple life of twice three thorfand flain!

x1.

Fortune, that on her wheel capricious ftands, And waves her painted wings, inconftant, proud,

Hood-wink'd, and fhaking from her hands
Promifcuous gifts among the crowd,
Reftlefs of place, and still prepar'd for flight,
Was conftant here, and fecm'd restor❜d to fight;
Won by their merit, and refolv'd to blefs
The happy brothers with a long fuccefs-

Maurice, the first refign'd to fate:
The youngest had a longer date,
And liv'd the space appointed to complete
The great republic, rais'd fo high before;
Finish'd by him, the stately fabric bore
Its lofty top afpiring to the fky:

In vain the winds and rains around it beat;
In vain, below, the waves tempeftuous roar,
They dash themselves, and break, and back-
ward fly,

Difpers'd and murmuring at his feet.
Iufulting Spain the fruitlefs ftrife gives o'er,
And claims dominion there no more,
Then Henry, ripe for immortality,

His flight to heaven cternal fprings, And, o'er his quiet grave, peace fpreads her downy wings.

XII,

His fon, a fecond William, fills his place,
And climbs to manhood with fo fwift a pace,
As if he knew he had not long to flay;
Such young Marcellus was, the hopeful grace
Of ancient Rome, but quickly fnatch'd away.
Breda beheld th' adventurous boy,
His tender limbs in fhining armour drefs'd,
Where, with his father, the hot fiege he prefs'd.
His father faw, with pleating joy,

His own reflected worth, and youthful charms
exprefs'd.
[alarms,

But, when his country breath'd from war's His martial virtues lay obfcure;

Nor could a warrior, fam'd for arms,

Th' inglorious reft endure;
But ficken'd foon, and fudden dy'd,
And left in tears his pregnant bride,

His bride, the daughter of Britannia's king;
Nor faw th' aufpicious pledge of nuptial love,
Which from that happy marriage was to
Spring,
[above.

But with his great forefathers gain'd a blissful seat

XIII.

Here pause, my mufe! and wind up higher
The strings of thy Pindaric lyre!
Then with bold ftrains the lofty fong purfue;
And bid Britannia once again review

The numerous worthies of the line.
See, like immortals, how they fhine!
Each life a history alone!

And last, to crown the great design,
Look forward, and behold them all in one!
Look, but fpare thy fruitleís tears-
'Tis thy own William next appears.
Advance, celeftial form! let Britain fee
Th' accomplish'd glory of thy race in thee!

XIV.

So, when fome fplendid triumph was to come,
In long proceffion through the streets of Rome,
The crowd beheld, with vast surprise,
The glittering train in awful order move,
To the bright temple of Feretrian Jove; (eyes;
And trophies borne along employ'd their dazzled
But when the laurel'd emperor, mounted high
Above the reft, appear'd to fight,

In his proud car of victory,

Shining with rays exceffive bright,
He put the long preceding pomp to flight;
Their wonder could no higher rife,

With joy they throng his chariot wheels, and rend with fhouts the fkies.

XV.

To thee, great prince! to thy extensive mind,
Not by thy country's narrow bounds confin'd,
The fates an aniple fcene afford;

And injur'd nations claim the fuccour of thy fword.
No refpite to thy toils is given,

[kind.

Till thou afcend thy native heaven:
One hydra-head cut off, ftill more abound,
And twins fprout up to fill the wound.
So endless is the task that heroes find
To tame the monfter vice, and to reform man-
For this, Alcides heretofore,
And mighty Thefeus, travel'd o'er
Vast tracts of fea and land, and flew [prey;
Wild beafts and ferpents gorg'd with human
From ftony dens fierce lurking robbers drew,
And bid the cheerful traveller pals on his peace-
ful way.
[purfue,

Yet, though the toilfome work they long
To rid the world's wild pathlefs field,
Still poisonous weeds and thorns in cluflers

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Great Julius, who with generous envy view'd
The ftatue of brave Philip's braver fon,
And wept to think what fuch a youth fubdued,
While, more in age,
age,
himfeif had yet fo little done,
Had wept much more, it he had liv'd to fee
The glorious deeds atchiev'd by thee;
To fee thee at a beardlefs age,
Stand arm'd against th' invader's rage,
And bravely fighting for thy country's liberty;
While he inglorious laurels fought,
And not to fave his country fought;
While he—O ftain upon the greatest name,
That e'er before was known to fame!
When Rome, his awful mother, did demand
The sword from his unruly hand,

The sword she gave before,
Enrag'd, he fpurn'd at her command,

Hurl'd at her breait the impious freel, and bath'd

it in her gore.

XVIII.

Far other battles thou haft won, Thy standard ftill the public good: Lavish of thine, to fave thy people's blood: And when the hardy task of war was done, With what a mild well-temper'd mind, (A mind unknown to Rome's ambitious fon) Thy powerful armies were refign'd; This victory o'er thyself was more, Than all thy conquefts gain'd before: 'Twas more than Philip's fon could do, When for new worlds the madman cry'd; Nor in his own wild breast had spy'd Towers of ambition, hills of boundless pride, Too great for armies to subdue.

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Whoe'er thy warlike annals reads,

Behold reviv'a our valiant Edward's deeds. Great Edward † and his glorious fon Will own themselves to thee outdone, [wen. Though Crecy's defperate fight eternal honours Though the fifth Henry too does claim A fhining place among Britannia's kings, And Agincourt has rais'd his lofty name; Yet the loud voice of ever-living fame Of thee more numerous triumphs fings. But, though no chief contends with thee, In all the long records of history,

Thy own great deeds together ftrive, Which thall the fairest light derive, On thy immortal memory; Whether Seneff's amazing field To celebrated Mons fhall yield; Or both give place to more amazing Boyne; Or if Namur's well-cover'd fiege muft all the reft outshine!

XXI.

While in Hibernia's fields the labouring swain Shall pass the plough o'er skull's of warriors flair, And turn up bones, and broken spears, Amaz'd, he'll shew his fellows of the plain, The relicks of victorious years

[regair. And tell, how swift thy arms that kingdom die Flandria, a longer witnefs to thy glory,

With wonder too repeats thy tory;

How oft the foes thy lifted fword have seen
In the hot battle, when it bled

At all its open veins, and oft have fled,
As if their evil genius thou hadft been: [pear,
How, when the blooming fpring began t' ap-
And with new life reftor'd the year,
Confederate princes us'd to cry:

"Call Britain's king-the fprightly trumpet found,
"And spread the joyful fummons round!
"Call Britain's king, and victory!""

So when the flower of Greece, to battle led
In beauty's caufe, just vengeance swore
Upon the foul adulterer's head,

That from her royal lord the ravish'd Helen bore,
The Grecian chiefs, of mighty fame,

Impatient for the fon of Thetis wait; At last the fon of Thetis came; Troy fhook her nodding towers, and mourn'd th’ impending fate.

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