NOVEMBER, 1813.

[flow

OCCASIONED BY THE BATTLE OF
WATERLOO.

Inscription.)

FEBRUARY, 1816.

Now that all hearts are glad, all faces (The last six lines are intended for an
bright,
Our aged sovereign sits; to the ebb and
Of states and kingdoms, to their joy or woe,
Insensible: he sits deprived of sight,
And lamentably wrapt in twofold night,
Whom no weak hopes deceived; whose
mind ensued,

Through perilous war, with regal fortitude,
Peace that should claim respect from law-
less might.
[divine
Dread King of kings, vouchsafe a ray
To his forlorn condition! let thy grace
Upon his inner soul in mercy shine;
Permit his heart to kindle, and embrace
(Though were it only for a moment's
space)

The triumphs of this hour; for they are
THINE!

ON THE DISINTERMENT OF THE REMAINS
OF THE DUKE D'ENGHIEN,

DEAR reliques! from a pit of vilest mould
Uprisen-to lodge among ancestral kings;
And to inflict shame's salutary stings
On the remorseless hearts of men grown
old

In a blind worship; men perversely bold
Even to this hour; yet at this hour they
quake;
[sake,
And some their monstrous idol shall for-
If, to the living, truth was ever told
By aught surrendered from the hollow
grave:
[brave!
O murdered prince! meek, loyal, pious,
The power of retribution once was given;
But 'tis a rueful thought that willow-
bands

So often tie the thunder-wielding hands
Of justice, sent to earth from highest
heaven!

the day: "When the Austrians took Hockheim, in one part of the engagement they got to the brow of the hill, whence they had their first view of the Rhine. They instantly halted-not a gun was fired-not a voice heard: they stood gazing on the river, with those feelings which the events of the last fifteen years at once called up. Prince Schwartzenberg rode up to know the cause of this sudden stop: they then gave three cheers, rushed after the enemy, and drove them into the water."

INTREPID Sons of Albion! not by you
Is life despised; ah, no, the spacious earth
Ne'er saw a race who held, by right of birth,
So many objects to which love is due.
Ye slight not life-to God and nature true;
But death, becoming death, is dearer far,
When duty bids you bleed in open war:
Hence hath your prowess quelled that
impious crew.

Heroes! for instant sacrifice prepared,
Yet filled with ardour, and on triumph bent,
Mid direst shocks of mortal accident,
To you who fell, and you whom slaughter
spared,
[event,

To guard the fallen, and consummate the
Your country rears this sacred monument!

OCCASIONED BY THE SAME BATTLE.
FEBRUARY, 1816.

THE bard, whose soul is meek as dawning
day,
[severe;
Yet trained to judgments righteously
Fervid, yet conversant with holy fear,
As recognizing one Almighty sway:
He whose experienced eye can pierce the
array

Of past events,-to whom, in vision clear,
The aspiring heads of future things appear,
Like mountain-tops whose mists have rolled

away:

Nor wanted lurking hamlet, dusky towns,
And scattered rural farms of aspect bright,
And, here and there, between the pastoral
downs,

Assoiled from all incumbrance of our time,*The azure sea upswelled upon the sight.

He only, if such breathe, in strains devout
Shall comprehend this victory sublime;
And worthily rehearse the hideous rout,
Which the blest angels, from their peaceful
clime

Beholding, welcomed with a choral shout.

Laudes, quam

clarius indicant

Pierides; neque
Si charta sileant quod bene feceris,
Mercedem tuleris."-HOR. Car. 8, Lib. 4.
WHEN the soft hand of sleep had closed
the latch

On the tired household of corporeal sense,
And Fancy, keeping unreluctant watch,
Was free her choicest favours to dispense;
I saw, in wondrous perspective displayed,
A landscape more august than happiest
skill

Of pencil ever clothed with light and shade;
An intermingled pomp of vale and hill,
City, and naval stream, suburban grove,
And stately forest where the wild deer rove;

"From all this world's encumbrance did himself assoil."-Spenser,

Fair prospect, such as Britain only shows!
But not a living creature could be seen
Through its wide circuit, hushed in deep
repose,

Yea, even to sadness, quiet and serene!
Amid this solitude of earth and sky,
Through portal clear as loop-hole in a

storm

Opening before the sun's triumphant eye,
Issued, to sudden view, a radiant form!
Earthward it glided with a swift descent:
Saint George himself this visitant may be;
And ere a thought could ask on what intent
He sought the regions of humanity,
A thrilling voice was heard, that vivified
City and field and flood,--aloud it cried,

"Though from my celestial home,
Like a champion armed I come;
On my helm the dragon crest,
And the red cross on my breast;
I, the guardian of this land,
Speak not now of toilsome duty-
Well obeyed was that command,
Hence bright days of festive beauty;
Haste, virgins, haste !-the flowers which
summer gave

Have perished in the field;

Lyield

But the green thickets plenteously shall
Fit garlands for the brave,

That will be welcome, if by you entwined!
Haste, virgins, haste ;-and you, ye matrons

While from the crowd bursts forth a From your first mansions,-exiled all too

the author has given way to exultation, un- tion; and, by permitting, they invite her to give checked by these distresses, it might be suffici-way to the courageous instincts of human nature, ent to protect him from a charge of insensibility, and to strengthen and to refine them by culshould he state his own belief that the sufferings ture. But some have more than insinuated will be transitory. On the wisdom of a very that a design exists to subvert the civil characlarge majority of the British nation rested that ter of the English people by unconstitutional generosity which poured out the treasures of applications and unnecessary increase of military this country for the deliverance of Europe: and power. The advisers and abettors of such a in the same national wisdom, presiding in time design, were it possible that it should exist, of peace over an energy not inferior to that would be guilty of the most heinous crime, which has been displayed in war, they confide, which, upon this planet, can be committed. The who encourage a firm hope, that the cup of our author, trusting that this apprehension arises wealth will be gradually replenished. There from the delusive influences of an honourable will, doubtless, be no few ready to indulge in jealousy, hopes that the martial qualities he regrets and repinings: and to feed a morbid venerates will be fostered by adhering to those satisfaction, by aggravating these burthens in good old usages which experience has sanctioned: imagination, in order that calamity so confi- and by availing ourselves of new means of indently prophesied, as it has not taken the shape disputable promise: particularly by applying, in which their sagacity allotted to it, may appear its utmost possible extent, that system of tuition as grievous as possible under another. But the whose master-spring is a habit of gradually enbody of the nation will not quarrel with the lightened subordination :-by imparting knowgain, because it might have been purchased at a ledge, civil, moral, and religious, in such measure less price and, acknowledging in these suffer- that the mind, among all classes of the commuings, which they feel to have been in a great de-nity, may love, admire, and be prepared and gree unavoidable, a consecration of their noble accomplished to defend that country under whose efforts, they will vigorously apply themselves to protection its faculties have been unfolded, and remedy the evil. its riches acquired ;-by just dealing towards all orders of the state, so that no members of it being trampled upon, courage may everywhere continue to rest immovably upon its ancient English foundation, personal self-respect;-by adequate rewards, and permanent honours, conferred upon the deserving; by encouraging athletic exercises and manly sports among the peasantry of the country;-and by especial care to provide and support institutions, in which, during a time of peace, a reasonable proportion of the youth of the country may be instructed in military science.

Nor is it at the expense of rational patriotism or in disregard of sound philosophy, that the author hath given vent to feelings tending to encourage a martial spirit in the bosoms of his countrymen, at a time when there is a general outcry against the prevalence of these dispositions. The British army, both by its skill and valour in the field, and by the discipline which has rendered it much less formidable than the armies of other powers to the inhabitants of the several countries where its operations were carried on, has performed services that will not allow the language of gratitude and admiration to be suppressed or restrained (whatever be the temper of the public mind) through a scrupulous dread lest the tribute due to the past should prove an injurious incentive for the future. Every man deserving the name of Briton adds his voice to the chorus which extols the exploits of his countrymen, with a consciousness, at times overpowering the effort, that they transcend all praise. But this particular sentiment, thus irresistibly excited, is not sufficient. The nation would err grievously, if she suffered the abuse which other states have made of military power, to prevent her from perceiving that no people ever was, or can be, independent, free, or secure, much less great, in any sane application of the word, without martial propensities

The author has only to add, that he should feel little satisfaction in giving to the world these limited attempts to celebrate the virtues of his country, if he did not encourage a hope that ǝ subject, which it has fallen within his province to treat only in the mass, will by other poets be illustrated in that detail which its importance calls for, and which will allow opportunities to give the merited applause to PERSONS as well as to THINGS.

This Ode was published along with other pieces, now interspersed through this Volume,

ODE.

FOR A GENERAL THANKSGIVING,

JANUARY 18, 1816.

and an assiduous cultivation of military virtues. THE MORNING OF THE DAY APPOINTED Nor let it be overlooked, that the benefits derivable from these sources are placed within the reach of Great Britain, under conditions peculiarly favourable. The same insular position which, by rendering territorial incorporation impossible, utterly precludes the desire of conquest under the most seductive shape it can assume, enables her to rely, for her defence against foreign foes, chiefly upon a species of armed force from which her own liberties have nothing to fear. Such are the privileges of her situa

HAIL, universal source of pure delight!
Thou that canst shed the bliss of gratitude
On hearts howe'er insensible or rude;
Whether thy orient visitations smite
The haughty towers where monarchs dwell;
Or thou, impartial sun, with presence bright