Divides the hostile nations in its course,

380

While each contracts its bounds, or wider grows,
Enlarged or straightened as the river flows,
On Gallia's side a mighty bulwark stands,
That all the wide extended plain commands;
Twice, since the war was kindled, has it tried
The victor's rage, and twice has changed its side;
As oft whole armies, with the prize o'erjoyed,
Have the long summer on its walls employed.
Hither our mighty chief his arms directs,
Hence future triumphs from the war expects;
And, though the dog-star had its course begun,
Carries his arms still nearer to the sun :
Fixed on the glorious action, he forgets
The change of seasons, and increase of heats:
No toils are painful that can danger show,
No climes unlovely, that contain a foe.

385

390

395

The roving Gaul, to his own bounds restrained,
Learns to encamp within his native land,
But soon as the victorious host he spies,

From hill to hill, from stream to stream he flies:

400

Such dire impressions on his heart remain
Of Marlborough's sword, and Hocstet's fatal plain :
In vain Britannia's mighty chief besets

Their shady coverts, and obscure retreats;

They fly the conqueror's approaching fame,
That bears the force of armies in his name.

405

Austria's young monarch, whose imperial sway Sceptres and thrones are destined to obey,

Whose boasted ancestry so high extends
That in the pagan gods his lineage ends,
Comes from afar, in gratitude to own

410

The great supporter of his father's throne:
What tides of glory to his bosom ran,
Clasped in th' embraces of the godlike man!
How were his eyes with pleasing wonder fixed
To see such fire with so much sweetness mixed,
Such easy greatness, such a graceful port,

415

So turned and finished for the camp or court!
Achilles thus was formed with every grace,
And Nireus shone but in the second place;
Thus the great father of almighty Rome
(Divinely flushed 15 with an immortal bloom
That Cytherea's fragrant breath bestowed)
In all the charms of his bright mother glowed.

420

The royal youth by Marlborough's presence charmed,

425

Taught by his counsels, by his actions warmed,

On Landau with redoubled fury falls,

Discharges all his thunder on its walls,

O'er mines and caves of death provokes the fight,
And learns to conquer in the hero's sight.

430

The British chief, for mighty toils renowned,
Increased in titles, and with conquests crowned,
To Belgian coasts his tedious march renews,
And the long windings of the Rhine pursues,
Clearing its borders from usurping foes,.
And blest by rescued nations as he goes.

435

Treves fears no more, free'd from its dire alarms;
And Traerbach feels the terror of his arms,
Seated on rocks her proud foundations shake,

While Marlborough presses to the bold attack,16

440

Plants all his batteries, bids his cannon roar,

And shows how Landau might have fallen before.

Scared at his near approach, great Louis fears
Vengeance reserved for his declining years,
Forgets his thirst of universal sway,

445

And scarce can teach his subjects to obey;
His arms he finds on vain attempts employed,
Th' ambitious projects for his race 1 destroyed,
The work of ages sunk in one campaign,
And lives of millions sacrificed in vain.

17

450

Such are th' effects of Anna's royal cares; By her, Britannia, great in foreign wars,

15

1705, His features flushed.

16

1705, to the dire attack. 17 1705, of his race.

Ranges through nations, wheresoe'er disjoined,
Without the wonted aid of sea and wind.
By her th' unfettered Ister's states are free,
And taste the sweets of English liberty:
But who can tell the joys of those that lie
Beneath the constant 18 influence of her eye!
Whilst in diffusive showers her bounties fall
Like heaven's indulgence, and descend on all,
Secure the happy, succour the distrest,

455

460

Make every subject glad, and a whole people blest.
Thus would I fain Britannia's wars rehearse,

465

In the smooth records of a faithful verse ;
That, if such numbers can o'er time prevail,
May tell posterity the wonderous tale.
When actions, unadorned, are faint and weak,
Cities and countries must be taught to speak;
Gods may descend in factions from the skies,
And rivers from their oozy beds arise;
Fiction may deck the truth with spurious rays,
And round the hero cast a borrowed blaze.
Marlborough's exploits appear divinely bright,
And proudly shine in their own native light;
Raised of themselves, their genuine charms they

boast,

And those who paint them truest, praise them most.

18 1705. Within the constant.

470

475

Na 155.

The Tatler

THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 1710.

Aliena negotia curat,

Excussus propriis.--HOR.

From my own apartment, April 5. THERE lived some years since within my neighbourhood a very grave person, an upholsterer, who seemed a man of more than ordinary application to business. He was a very early riser, and was often 5 abroad two or three hours before any of his neighbours. He had a particular carefulness in the knitting of his brows, and a kind of impatience in all his motions, that plainly discovered he was always intent on matters of importance. Upon my inquiry 10 into his life and conversation, I found him to be the greatest newsmonger in our quarter; that he rose before day to read the Post Man; and that he would take two or three turns to the other end of the town before his neighbours were up, to see if there were 15 any Dutch mails come in. He had a wife and several children; but was much more inquisitive to know what passed in Poland than in his own family, and was in greater pain and anxiety of mind for King Augustus's welfare than that of his nearest 20 relations. He looked extremely thin in a dearth of news, and never enjoyed himself in a westerly wind.

This indefatigable kind of life was the ruin of his. shop; for about the time that his favourite prince left the crown of Poland, he broke and disappeared.

This man and his affairs had been long out of my 5 mind, till about three days ago, as I was walking in St. James's Park, I heard somebody at a distance hemming after me: and who should it be but my old neighbour the upholsterer? I saw he was reduced. to extreme poverty, by certain shabby superfluities 10 in his dress for notwithstanding that it was a very sultry day for the time of the year, he wore a loose greatcoat and a muff, with a long campaign-wig out of curl; to which he had added the ornament of a pair of black garters buckled under the knee. Iş Upon his coming up to me, I was going to inquire into his present circumstances; but was prevented by his asking me, with a whisper, Whether the last letters brought any accounts that one might rely upon from Bender? I told him, None that I heard 20 of; and asked him, Whether he had yet married his eldest daughter? He told me, No. But pray, says he, tell me sincerely, what are your thoughts of the king of Sweden? (for though his wife and children were starving, I found his chief concern 25 at present was for this great monarch). I told him, that I looked upon him as one of the first heroes of the age. But pray, says he, do you think there is anything in the story of his wound? and finding me surprised at the question, Nay, says he, 3o I only propose it to you. I answered, that I thought there was no reason to doubt of it. But why in the heel, say he, more than in any other