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 And quaff, with magic mix'd, vaft howls of human Hibernia's fields new triumphs then fupply; 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 Here, on th' æthereal mould, hurl'd from afar, 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. defend. the Bright honours in his glorious entry fhine, 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, "Can to such worth refufe his heavenly aid?" The god afcends; his better hand fuftains The three-fork'd fpear, his left directs the reins. Before its thundering courfe, the frothy waters fly; tide. 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 ་་ ubey; "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. 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! Down the vast sea of ever wafting time, O'er William's great remains. For William's praite can ne'er expire, Muft fink with earth and fea, and melt away in fire, From heaven itself the illuftrious line began; In each delcent inçrcas'd with honours new. Religion, juftice, liberty, "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 From whom thy mighty fovereign came, And take a large review of far extended fame. See, crowds of heroes rife to 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, 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, Charles, who had try'd the race before, O generous fympathy, that binds O love to worthy deeds, in all great fouls the fame! VI. But time at laft brought forth th' amazing day, Of William's virtues, bafely chofe His tyrant reign requir'd far other aid; [rofe; *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, At his approach, reviv'd with fresh supplies By proofs adverse his conftancy. And, oft driven back, ftill quit the shore? 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, In these the hero's foul furvives, IX. Maurice, for martial greatness, far None e'er, than Henry, fiercer did purfue And practis'd him betimes to arms. 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 Maurice, the first refign'd to fate: In vain the winds and rains around it beat; Difpers'd and murmuring at his feet. 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, His own reflected worth, and youthful charms 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; His bride, the daughter of Britannia's king; But with his great forefathers gain'd a blissful seat XIII. Here pause, my mufe! and wind up higher The numerous worthies of the line. And last, to crown the great design, XIV. So, when fome fplendid triumph was to come, In his proud car of victory, Shining with rays exceffive bright, With joy they throng his chariot wheels, and rend with fhouts the fkies. XV. To thee, great prince! to thy extensive mind, And injur'd nations claim the fuccour of thy fword. [kind. Till thou afcend thy native heaven: Yet, though the toilfome work they long Great Julius, who with generous envy view'd The sword she gave before, 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. 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 At all its open veins, and oft have fled, "Call Britain's king-the fprightly trumpet found, So when the flower of Greece, to battle led That from her royal lord the ravish'd Helen bore, 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. |