275

Oppreffion, Fraud, Confufion, and Affright,
Fierce fiends, that ravag'd in the gloomy night
Oflawless power, defeated, fly before his dazling light.
So to th' eclipfing moon, by the still fide

Of fome lone thicket, reveling haggs provide

Dire charms, that threat the fleeping neighbourhood, 280 And quaff, with magic mix'd, vast bowls of human blood;

But, when the dawn reveals the purple east,
They vanish fullen from th' unfinish'd feast.
Here joyful crouds triumphant arches rear

To their deliverer's praife; glad fenates there, 285
In fplendid pomp, thé regal state confer.

}

Hibernia's fields new triumphs then fupply;
The rival kings, in arms, the fate of empire try.
See where the Boyne two warring hosts divides,
And rolls between the fight his murmuring tides! 290
In vain-hills, forefts, ftreams, must all give place,
When William leads, and victory 's the chace.
Thou faw'ft him, Boyne! when thy charg'd waters.
bore

The fwimming courfers to th' opposing shore,
And, round thy banks, thou heard'st the murdering

cannons roar.

What more than mortal bravery inspir'd
The daring troops, by his example fir'd!

295.

Thou faw'ft their wondrous deeds; to Neptune's court
Thy flying waves convey'd the fwift report,
And, red with flaughter, to their father fhow'd 300
Streams not their own, and a difcolour'd flood.

Here, on th' ætherial 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 said;
This part be left unfated from the foe!
And, fcarce escap'd, once let the Hero know,
How much to my protection he shall owe;
Yet, from the batter'd shield, the ball fhall bound,
And on his arm inflict a fcarlet wound.

305

310 Elsewhere, behold NAMUR's proud turrets rise, Majestic to the fight, advancing to the skies! The Meuse and Sambre here united flow, Nature's defence against th' invading foe: Industrious art her ftrength of walls fupplies : 315 Before the town the British army lies.

The works are mann'd; with fury they contend; These thunder from the plains, those from the walls defend.

Red globes of fire from bellowing engines fly,

And lead a sweeping blaze, like comets, through the sky.
The kindled region glows; with deafening found
They burft; their iron entrails, hurl'd around,
Strow with thick-fcatter'd deaths the crimson ground.
See, where the genius of the war appears,

Nor fhuns the labour, nor the danger fears!

325

In clouds of fulphurous smoke he thines more bright, For Glory round him waits, with beams of living light. At length the widen'd gates a conqueft own,

And to his arms refign the yielding town.

Here,

335

Here, from the field return'd, with olive crown'd, Applauding throngs their welcome prince furround Bright honours in his glorious entry shine, And peace reftor'd concludes the great design. Long, o'er the figur'd work, with vaft furprize, Admiring Neptune roll'd his ravish'd eyes; Then, rifing from his throne, thus call'd aloud; "Ye lovely daughters of the briny flood! "Haste, comb your filver locks, and straight prepare "To fill my train, and gaze in upper air. "This day, majestic glories you shall see; "Come, all ye watery powers, who under me "Your little tridents wield, and rule the boisterous fea! "What God, that views the triumphs here display'd, "Can to fuch worth refufe his heavenly aid?" He faid no more-but bade two Tritons found Their crooked fhells, to spread the fummons round. Through the wide caves the blaft is heard afar; With speed two more provide his azure car,

340

345

A concave hell; two the finn'd courfers join:
All wait officious round, and own th' accuftom'd fign;
The god afcends; his better hand sustains

The three-fork'd fpear, his left directs the reins.
Through breaking waves, the chariot mounts him high;
Before its thundering course, the frothy waters fly;
He gains the furface; on his either fide, 355
The bright attendants, rang'd with comely pride,
Advance in juft array, and grace the pompous tide.
Meanwhile Britannia's king confpicuous stood,
And, from his deck, furvey'd the boundless flood.

Smooth was the glaffy scene, the fun beheld

His face unclouded in the liquid field.

The gazing Nereids, in a shining train,
Inclofe the ruler of the British main,

And sweetly fing; suspended winds forbear

360

Their loud complaints, the foothing lay to hear. 365 "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 sway, "Unbounded by the land, these watery realms obey; "And we, thy fubject-powers, our duteous homage

66 pay.

"See Neptune's felf, inferior in command,
"Prefents his trident to thy honour'd hand !”

370

They faid; the fire approach'd with awe profound; The rite perform'd, their shells the Tritons found; Swell'd with the fhrill alarm, the joyful billows bound. Now, from the fhore, Britannia first defcries White fails afar; then bulky veffels rife, Nearer to view; her beating heart foretells The pleasing news, and eager transport feels. Safe to her arms, imperial Neptune bears Th' intrufted charge, then diving disappears.

280

THE

T

HOUGH the great loss we suffered in the death of the king has been fo happily supplied by her majesty's acceffion to the throne, and her late coronation justly filled the hearts of her subjects with joy; yet fo glorious a reign as the last 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 juft tribute to his late majesty'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 submitted to your Grace's judgment, and to the judgment of all