309:042,000[' ]| 309:042,000[' ]| 309:042,000[' ]| 309:042,000[' ]| 309:042,001[A ]| While crowds of princes your deserts proclaim, 309:042,002[A ]| Proud in their numbers to enrol your name; 309:042,003[A ]| While emperors to you commit their cause, 309:042,004[A ]| And Anna's praises crown the vast applause; 309:042,005[A ]| Accept, great leader, what the Muse recites, 309:042,006[A ]| That in ambitious verse attempts your fights. 309:042,007[A ]| Fired and transported with a theme so new, 309:042,008[A ]| Ten thousand wonders opening to my view 309:042,009[A ]| Shine forth at once; sieges and storms appear, 309:042,010[A ]| And wars and conquests fill the important year, <10> 309:042,011[A ]| Rivers of blood I see, and hills of slain, 309:042,012[A ]| And Iliad rising out of one campaign. 309:042,013[A ]| The haughty Gaul beheld, with towering pride, 309:042,014[A ]| His ancient bounds enlarged on every side, 309:043,015[A ]| Pirene's lofty barriers were subdued, 309:043,016[A ]| And in the midst of his wide empire stood; 309:043,017[A ]| Ausonia's states, the victor to restrain, 309:043,018[A ]| Opposed their Alps and Apennines in vain, 309:043,019[A ]| Nor found themselves, with strength of rocks immured, 309:043,020[A ]| Behind their everlasting hills secured; <20> 309:043,021[A ]| The rising Danube its long race began, 309:043,022[A ]| And half its course through the new conquests ran; 309:043,023[A ]| Amazed and anxious for her sovereign's fates, 309:043,024[A ]| Germania trembled through a hundred states; 309:043,025[A ]| Great Leopold himself was seized with fear; 309:043,026[A ]| He gazed around, but saw no succour near; 309:043,027[A ]| He gazed, and half abandoned to despair 309:043,028[A ]| His hopes on Heaven, and confidence in prayer. 309:043,029[A ]| To Britain's queen the nations turn their eyes, 309:043,030[A ]| On her resolves the Western world relies, <30> 309:043,031[A ]| Confiding still, amidst its dire alarms, 309:043,032[A ]| In Anna's council's and in Churchill's arms. 309:043,033[A ]| Thrice happy Britain, from the kingdoms rent, 309:043,034[A ]| To sit the guardian of the continent! 309:043,035[A ]| That sees her bravest son advanced so high, 309:043,036[A ]| And flourishing so near her prince's eye; 309:043,037[A ]| Thy favourites grow not up by fortune's sport, 309:043,038[A ]| Or from the crimes and follies of a court; 309:043,039[A ]| On the firm basis of desert they rise, 309:043,040[A ]| From long-tried faith, and friendship's holy ties: <40> 309:043,041[A ]| Their sovereign's well-distinguished smiles they share, 309:043,042[A ]| Her ornaments in peace, her strength in war; 309:043,043[A ]| The nations thank them with a public voice, 309:043,044[A ]| By showers of blessings Heaven approves their choice; 309:043,045[A ]| Envy itself is dumb, in wonder lost, 309:043,046[A ]| And factions strive who shall applaud them most. 309:043,047[A ]| Soon as soft vernal breezes warm the sky, 309:043,048[A ]| Britannia's colours in the zephyrs fly; 309:044,049[A ]| Her chief already has his march begun, 309:044,050[A ]| Crossing the provinces himself had won, <50> 309:044,051[A ]| Till the Moselle, appearing from afar, 309:044,052[A ]| Retards the progress of the moving war. 309:044,053[A ]| Delightful stream, had Nature bid her fall 309:044,054[A ]| In distant climes, far from the perjured Gaul; 309:044,055[A ]| But now a purchase to the sword she lies, 309:044,056[A ]| Her harvests for uncertain owners rise, 309:044,057[A ]| Each vineyard uncertain of its master grows, 309:044,058[A ]| And to the victor's bowl each vintage flows. 309:044,059[A ]| The discontented shades of slaughtered hosts, 309:044,060[A ]| That wandered on her banks, her heroes' ghosts, <60> 309:044,061[A ]| Hoped, when they saw Britannia's arms appear, 309:044,062[A ]| The vengeance due to their great deaths was near. 309:044,063[A ]| Our godlike leader, ere the stream he passed, 309:044,064[A ]| The mighty scheme of all his labours cast, 309:044,065[A ]| Forming the wondrous year within his thought; 309:044,066[A ]| His bosom glowed with battles yet unfought. 309:044,067[A ]| The long, laborious march he first surveys, 309:044,068[A ]| And joins the distant Danube to the Maese, 309:044,069[A ]| Between whose floods such pathless forests grow, 309:044,070[A ]| Such mountains rise, so many rivers flow: <70> 309:044,071[A ]| The toil looks lovely in the hero's eyes, 309:044,072[A ]| And danger serves but to enhance the prize. 309:044,073[A ]| Big with the fate of Europe, he renews 309:044,074[A ]| His dreadful course, and the proud foe pursues: 309:044,075[A ]| Infected by the burning Scorpion's heat, 309:044,076[A ]| The sultry gales round his chafed temples beat, 309:044,077[A ]| Till on the borders of the Maine he finds 309:044,078[A ]| Defensive shadows and refreshing winds. 309:044,079[A ]| Our British youth, with inborn freedom bold, 309:044,080[A ]| Unnumbered scenes of servitude behold, <80> 309:044,081[A ]| Nations of slaves, with tyranny debased, 309:044,082[A ]| (Their Maker's image more than half defaced,) 309:045,083[A ]| Hourly instructed, as they urge their toil, 309:045,084[A ]| To prize their queen, and love their native soil. 309:045,085[A ]| Still to the rising sun they take their way 309:045,086[A ]| Through clouds of dust, and gain upon the day; 309:045,087[A ]| When now the Neckar on its friendly coast 309:045,088[A ]| With cooling streams revives the fainting host, 309:045,089[A ]| That cheerfully its labours past forgets, 309:045,090[A ]| The midnight watches, and the noonday heats. <90> 309:045,091[A ]| O'er prostrate towns and palaces they pass, 309:045,092[A ]| (Now covered o'er with weeds and hid in grass,) 309:045,093[A ]| Breathing revenge; whilst anger and disdain 309:045,094[A ]| Fire every breast, and boil in every vein: 309:045,095[A ]| Here shattered walls, like broken rocks, from far 309:045,096[A ]| Rise up in hideous views, the guilt of war, 309:045,097[A ]| Whilst here the vine o'er hills of ruin climbs, 309:045,098[A ]| Industrious to conceal great Bourbon's crimes. 309:045,099[A ]| At length the fame of England's hero drew, 309:045,100[A ]| Eugenio to the glorious interview. <100> 309:045,101[A ]| Great souls by instinct to each other turn, 309:045,102[A ]| Demand alliance, and in friendship burn; 309:045,103[A ]| A sudden friendship, while with stretched-out rays 309:045,104[A ]| They meet each other, mingling blaze with blaze. 309:045,105[A ]| Polished in courts, and hardened in the field, 309:045,106[A ]| Renowned for conquest, and in council skilled, 309:045,107[A ]| Their courage dwells not in a troubled flood 309:045,108[A ]| Of mounting spirits, and fermenting blood: 309:045,109[A ]| Lodged in the soul, with virtue overruled, 309:045,110[A ]| Inflamed by reason, and by reason cooled, <110> 309:045,111[A ]| In hours of peace content to be unknown, 309:045,112[A ]| And only in the field of battle shown: 309:045,113[A ]| To souls like these, in mutual friendship joined, 309:045,114[A ]| Heaven dares intrust the cause of humankind. 309:045,115[A ]| Britannia's graceful sons appear in arms, 309:045,116[A ]| Her harassed troops the hero's presence warms, 309:046,117[A ]| Whilst the high hills and rivers all around 309:046,118[A ]| With thundering peals of British shouts resound: 309:046,119[A ]| Doubling their speed, they march with fresh delight, 309:046,120[A ]| Eager for glory, and require the fight. <120> 309:046,121[A ]| So the staunch hound the trembling deer pursues, 309:046,122[A ]| And smells his footsteps in the tainted dews, 309:046,123[A ]| The tedious track unravelling by degrees: 309:046,124[A ]| But when the scent comes warm in every breeze, 309:046,125[A ]| Fired at the new approach, he shoots away 309:046,126[A ]| On his full stretch, and bears upon his prey. 309:046,127[A ]| The march concludes, the various realms are past, 309:046,128[A ]| The immortal Schellenberg appears at last: 309:046,129[A ]| Like hills the aspiring ramparts rise on high, 309:046,130[A ]| Like valleys at their feet the trenches lie; <130> 309:046,131[A ]| Batteries on batteries guard each fatal pass, 309:046,132[A ]| Threatening destruction; rows of hollow brass, 309:046,133[A ]| Tube behind tube, the dreadful entrance keep, 309:046,134[A ]| Whilst in their wombs ten thousand thunders sleep: 309:046,135[A ]| Great Churchill owns, charmed with the glorious sight, 309:046,136[A ]| His march o'erpaid by such a promised fight. 309:046,137[A ]| The western sun now shot a feeble ray, 309:046,138[A ]| And faintly scattered the remains of day; 309:046,139[A ]| Evening approached; but, oh! what hosts of foes 309:046,140[A ]| Were never to behold that evening close! <140> 309:046,141[A ]| Thickening their ranks, and wedged in firm array, 309:046,142[A ]| The close-compacted Britons win their way: 309:046,143[A ]| In vain the cannon their thronged war defaced 309:046,144[A ]| With tracts of death, and laid the battle waste; 309:046,145[A ]| Still pressing forward to the fight, they broke 309:046,146[A ]| Through flames of sulphur, and a night of smoke, 309:046,147[A ]| Till slaughtered legions filled the trench below, 309:046,148[A ]| And bore their fierce avengers to the foe. 309:046,149[A ]| High on the works the mingling hosts engage; 309:046,150[A ]| The battle, kindled into tenfold rage <150> 309:047,151[A ]| With showers of bullets and with storms of fire, 309:047,152[A ]| Burns in full fury; heaps on heaps expire; 309:047,153[A ]| Nations with nations mixed confus'dly die, 309:047,154[A ]| And lost in one promiscuous carnage lie. 309:047,155[A ]| How many generous Britons meet their doom, 309:047,156[A ]| New to the field, and heroes in the bloom! 309:047,157[A ]| The illustrious youths, that left their native shore 309:047,158[A ]| To march where Britons never marched before, 309:047,159[A ]| (O fatal love of fame! O glorious heat, 309:047,160[A ]| Only destructive to the brave and great!) <160> 309:047,161[A ]| After such toils o'ercome, such dangers past, 309:047,162[A ]| Stretched on Bavarian ramparts breathe their last. 309:047,163[A ]| But hold, my Muse, may no complaints appear, 309:047,164[A ]| Nor blot the day with an ungrateful tear: 309:047,165[A ]| While Marlborough lives, Britannia's stars dispense 309:047,166[A ]| A friendly light, and shine in innocence. 309:047,167[A ]| Plunging through seas of blood his fiery steed 309:047,168[A ]| Where'er his friends retire, or foes succeed; 309:047,169[A ]| Those he supports, these drives to sudden flight, 309:047,170[A ]| And turns the various fortunes of the fight. <170> 309:047,171[A ]| Forbear, great man, renowned in arms, forbear 309:047,172[A ]| To brave the thickest terrors of the war, 309:047,173[A ]| Nor hazard thus, confused in crowds of foes, 309:047,174[A ]| Britannia's safety, and the world's repose; 309:047,175[A ]| Let nations, anxious for thy life, abate 309:047,176[A ]| This scorn of danger and contempt of fate: 309:047,177[A ]| Thou liv'st not for thyself; thy queen demands 309:047,178[A ]| Conquest and peace from thy victorious hands; 309:047,179[A ]| Kingdoms and empires in thy fortune join, 309:047,180[A ]| And Europe's destiny depends on thine. <180> 309:047,181[A ]| At length the long-disputed pass they gain, 309:047,182[A ]| By crowded armies fortified in vain; 309:047,183[A ]| The war breaks in, the fierce Bavarians yield, 309:047,184[A ]| And see their camp with British legions filled. 309:048,185[A ]| So Belgian mounds bear on their shattered sides 309:048,186[A ]| The sea's whole weight, increased with swelling tides; 309:048,187[A ]| But if the rushing wave a passage finds, 309:048,188[A ]| Enraged by watery moons, and warring winds, 309:048,189[A ]| The trembling peasant sees his country round 309:048,190[A ]| Covered with tempests, and in oceans drowned. <190> 309:048,191[A ]| The few surviving foes dispersed in flight, 309:048,192[A ]| (Refuse of swords, and gleanings of a fight,) 309:048,193[A ]| In every rustling wind the victor hear, 309:048,194[A ]| And Marlborough's form in every shadow fear, 309:048,195[A ]| Till the dark cope of night with kind embrace 309:048,196[A ]| Befriends the rout, and covers their disgrace. 309:048,197[A ]| To Donawert, with unresisted force, 309:048,198[A ]| The gay, victorious army bends its course. 309:048,199[A ]| The growth of meadows, and the pride of fields, 309:048,200[A ]| Whatever spoils Bavaria's summer yields, <200> 309:048,201[A ]| (The Danube's great increase,) Britannia shares, 309:048,202[A ]| The food of armies, and support of wars: 309:048,203[A ]| With magazines of death, destructive balls, 309:048,204[A ]| And cannons doomed to batter Landau's walls, 309:048,205[A ]| The victor finds each hidden cavern stored, 309:048,206[A ]| And turns their fury on their guilty lord. 309:048,207[A ]| Deluded Prince! how is thy greatness crossed, 309:048,208[A ]| And all the gaudy dream of empire lost, 309:048,209[A ]| That proudly set thee on a fancied throne, 309:048,210[A ]| And made imaginary realms thy own! <210> 309:048,211[A ]| Thy troops that now behind the Danube join, 309:048,212[A ]| Shall shortly seek for shelter from the Rhine, 309:048,213[A ]| Nor find it there: surrounded with alarms, 309:048,214[A ]| Thou hopest the assistance of the Gallic arms; 309:048,215[A ]| The Gallic arms in safety shall advance, 309:048,216[A ]| And crowd thy standards with the power of France, 309:048,217[A ]| While to exalt thy doom, the aspiring Gaul 309:048,218[A ]| Shares thy destruction, and adorns thy fall. 309:048,219[A ]| Unbounded courage and compassion joined, 309:049,220[A ]| Tempering each other in the victor's mind, <220 > 309:049,221[A ]| Alternately proclaim him good and great, 309:049,222[A ]| And make the hero and the man complete. 309:049,223[A ]| Long did he strive the obdurate foe to gain 309:049,224[A ]| By proffered grace, but long he strove in vain; 309:049,225[A ]| Till fired at length, he thinks it vain to spare 309:049,226[A ]| His rising wrath, and gives a loose to war. 309:049,227[A ]| In vengeance roused, the soldier fills his hand 309:049,228[A ]| With sword and fire, and ravages the land, 309:049,229[A ]| A thousand villages to ashes turns, 309:049,230[A ]| In crackling flames a thousand harvests burns. <230> 309:049,231[A ]| To the thick woods the woolly flocks retreat, 309:049,232[A ]| And mixed with bellowing herds confus'dly bleat; 309:049,233[A ]| Their trembling lords the common shade partake, 309:049,234[A ]| And cries of infants sound in every brake: 309:049,235[A ]| The listening soldier fixed in sorrow stands, 309:049,236[A ]| Loth to obey his leader's just commands; 309:049,237[A ]| The leader grieves, by generous pity swayed, 309:049,238[A ]| To see his just commands so well obeyed. 309:049,239[A ]| But now the trumpet, terrible from far, 309:049,240[A ]| In shriller clangors animates the war, <240> 309:049,241[A ]| Confederate drums in fuller consort beat, 309:049,242[A ]| And echoing hills the loud alarm repeat: 309:049,243[A ]| Gallia's proud standards, to Bavaria's joined, 309:049,244[A ]| Unfurl their gilded lilies in the wind; 309:049,245[A ]| The daring prince his blasted hopes renews, 309:049,246[A ]| And while the thick embattled host he views 309:049,247[A ]| Stretched out in deep array, and dreadful length, 309:049,248[A ]| His heart dilates, and glories in his strength. 309:049,249[A ]| The fatal day its mighty course began, 309:049,250[A ]| That the grieved world had long desired in vain: <250> 309:049,251[A ]| States that their new captivity bemoaned, 309:049,252[A ]| Armies of martyrs that in exile groaned, 309:050,253[A ]| Sighs from the depth of gloomy dungeons heard, 309:050,254[A ]| And prayers in bitterness of soul preferred, 309:050,255[A ]| Europe's loud cries, that Providence assailed, 309:050,256[A ]| And Anna's ardent vows, at length prevailed; 309:050,257[A ]| The day was come when heaven designed to show 309:050,258[A ]| His care and conduct of the world below. 309:050,259[A ]| Behold, in awful march and dread array 309:050,260[A ]| The long-expected squadrons shape their way! <260> 309:050,261[A ]| Death, in approaching terrible, imparts 309:050,262[A ]| An anxious horror to the bravest hearts; 309:050,263[A ]| Yet do their beating breasts demand the strife, 309:050,264[A ]| And thirst of glory quells the love of life. 309:050,265[A ]| No vulgar fears can British minds control: 309:050,266[A ]| Heat of revenge and noble pride of soul 309:050,267[A ]| O'erlook the foe, advantaged by his post, 309:050,268[A ]| Lessen his numbers, and contract his host. 309:050,269[A ]| Though fens and funds possessed the middle space, 309:050,270[A ]| That unprovoked they would have feared to pass, <270> 309:050,271[A ]| Nor fens nor floods can stop Britannia's bands, 309:050,272[A ]| When her proud foe ranged on their borders stands. 309:050,273[A ]| But, O my Muse, what numbers wilt thou find 309:050,274[A ]| To sing the furious troops in battle joined! 309:050,275[A ]| Methinks I hear the drum's tumultuous sound 309:050,276[A ]| The victor's shouts and dying groans confound, 309:050,277[A ]| The dreadful burst of cannon rend the skies, 309:050,278[A ]| And all the thunder of the battle rise. 309:050,279[A ]| 'Twas then great Marlborough's mighty soul was proved, 309:050,280[A ]| That, in the shock of charging hosts unmoved, <280> 309:050,281[A ]| Amidst confusion, horror, and despair, 309:050,282[A ]| Examined all the dreadful scenes of war; 309:050,283[A ]| In peaceful thought the field of death surveyed, 309:050,284[A ]| To fainting squadrons sent the timely aid, 309:050,285[A ]| Inspired repulsed battalions to engage, 309:050,286[A ]| And taught the doubtful battle where to rage. 309:051,287[A ]| So when an angel by divine command 309:051,288[A ]| With rising tempests shakes a guilty land, 309:051,289[A ]| Such as of late o'er pale Britannia passed, 309:051,290[A ]| Calm and serene he drives the furious blast; <290> 309:051,291[A ]| And, pleased the Almighty's orders to perform, 309:051,292[A ]| Rides in the whirlwind, and directs the storm. 309:051,293[A ]| But see the haughty house-hold troops advance! 309:051,294[A ]| The dread of Europe, and the pride of France.. 309:051,295[A ]| The war's whole art each private soldier knows, 309:051,296[A ]| And with a general's love of conquest glows; 309:051,297[A ]| Proudly he marches on, and, void of fear, 309:051,298[A ]| Laughs at the shaking of the British spear: 309:051,299[A ]| Vain insolence! with native freedom brave, 309:051,300[A ]| The meanest Briton scorns the highest slave; <300> 309:051,301[A ]| Contempt and fury fire their souls by turns, 309:051,302[A ]| Each nation's glory in each warrior burns, 309:051,303[A ]| Each fights, as in his arm the important day 309:051,304[A ]| And all the fate of his great monarch lay: 309:051,305[A ]| A thousand glorious actions, that might claim 309:051,306[A ]| Triumphant laurels, and immortal fame , 309:051,307[A ]| Confused in clouds of glorious actions lie, 309:051,308[A ]| And troops of heroes undistinguished die. 309:051,309[A ]| O Dormer, how can I behold thy fate, 309:051,310[A ]| And not the wonders of thy youth relate! <310> 309:051,311[A ]| How can I see the brave, the gay, the young, 309:051,312[A ]| Fall in the cloud of war and lie unsung! 309:051,313[A ]| In joys of conquest he resigns his breath, 309:051,314[A ]| And, filled with England's glory, smiles in death. 309:051,315[A ]| The rout begins, the Gallic squadrons run, 309:051,316[A ]| Compelled in crowds to meet the fate they shun; 309:051,317[A ]| Thousands of fiery steeds with wounds transfixed 309:051,318[A ]| Floating in gore, with their dead masters mixed, 309:052,319[A ]| Midst heaps of spears and standards driven around, 309:052,320[A ]| Lie in the Danube's bloody whirlpools drowned, <320> 309:052,321[A ]| Troops of bold youths, born on the distant Soane, 309:052,322[A ]| Or sounding borders of the rapid Rhone, 309:052,323[A ]| Or where the Seine her flowery fields divides, 309:052,324[A ]| Or where the Loire through winding vineyards glides; 309:052,325[A ]| In heaps the rolling billows sweep away, 309:052,326[A ]| And into Scythian seas their bloated corps convey. 309:052,327[A ]| From Blenheim's towers the Gaul, with wild affright, 309:052,328[A ]| Beholds the various havoc of the fight; 309:052,329[A ]| His waving banners, that so oft had stood, 309:052,330[A ]| Planted in fields of death, and streams of blood, <330> 309:052,331[A ]| So wont the guarded enemy to reach, 309:052,332[A ]| And rise triumphant in the fatal breach, 309:052,333[A ]| Or pierce the broken foe's remotest lines, 309:052,334[A ]| The hardy veteran with tears resigns. 309:052,335[A ]| Unfortunate Tallard! Oh, who can name 309:052,336[A ]| The pangs of rage, of sorrow, and of shame, 309:052,337[A ]| That with mixed tumult in thy bosom swelled! 309:052,338[A ]| When first thou saw'st thy bravest troops repelled, 309:052,339[A ]| Thine only son pierced with a deadly wound, 309:052,340[A ]| Choked in his blood, and gasping on the ground, <340> 309:052,341[A ]| Thyself in bondage by the victor kept! 309:052,342[A ]| The chief, the father, and the captive wept. 309:052,343[A ]| An English Muse is touched with generous woe, 309:052,344[A ]| And in the unhappy man forgets the foe. 309:052,345[A ]| Greatly distressed! Thy loud complaints forbear, 309:052,346[A ]| Blame not the turns of fate, and chance of war; 309:052,347[A ]| Give thy brave foes their due, nor blush to own 309:052,348[A ]| The fatal field by such great leaders won, 309:052,349[A ]| The field whence famed Eugenio bore away 309:052,350[A ]| Only the second honours of the day. <350> 309:053,351[A ]| With fields of gore that from the vanquished fell, 309:053,352[A ]| The marshes stagnate, and the rivers swell. 309:053,353[A ]| Mountains of slain lie heaped upon the ground, 309:053,354[A ]| Or 'midst the roarings of the Danube drowned; 309:053,355[A ]| Whole captive hosts the conqueror detains 309:053,356[A ]| In painful bondage and inglorious chains; 309:053,357[A ]| Even those who 'scape the fetters and the sword, 309:053,358[A ]| Nor seek the fortunes of a happier lord, 309:053,359[A ]| Their raging king dishonours, to complete 309:053,360[A ]| Marlborough's great work, and finish the defeat. <360> 309:053,361[A ]| From Memminghen's high domes, and Augsburg's walls, 309:053,362[A ]| The distant battle drives the insulting Gauls; 309:053,363[A ]| Freed by the terror of the victor's name, 309:053,364[A ]| The rescued states his great protection claim; 309:053,365[A ]| Whilst Ulm the approach of her deliverer waits, 309:053,366[A ]| And longs to open her obsequious gates. 309:053,367[A ]| The hero's breast still swells with great designs, 309:053,368[A ]| In every thought the towering genius shines: 309:053,369[A ]| If to the foe his dreadful course he bends, 309:053,370[A ]| O'er the wide continent his march extends; <370> 309:053,371[A ]| If sieges in his labouring thoughts are formed, 309:053,372[A ]| Camps are assaulted, and an army stormed; 309:053,373[A ]| If to the fight his active soul is bent, 309:053,374[A ]| The fate of Europe turns on its event. 309:053,375[A ]| What distant land, what region, can afford 309:053,376[A ]| An action worthy his victorious sword? 309:053,377[A ]| Where will he next the flying Gaul defeat, 309:053,378[A ]| To make the series of his toils complete? 309:053,379[A ]| Where the swoln Rhine, rushing with all its force, 309:053,380[A ]| Divides the hostile nations in its course, <380> 309:053,381[A ]| While each contracts its bounds, or wider grows, 309:053,382[A ]| Enlarged or straitened as the river flows, 309:054,383[A ]| On Gallia's side a mighty bulwark stands, 309:054,384[A ]| That all the wide extended plain commands; 309:054,385[A ]| Twice, since the war has kindled, has it tried 309:054,386[A ]| The victor's rage, and twice has changed its side. 309:054,387[A ]| As oft whole armies, with the prize o'erjoyed, 309:054,388[A ]| Have one long summer on its walls employed. 309:054,389[A ]| Hither our mighty chief his arms directs, 309:054,390[A ]| Hence future triumphs from the war expects; <390> 309:054,391[A ]| And though the dog-star had its course begun, 309:054,392[A ]| Carries his arms still nearer to the sun: 309:054,393[A ]| Fixed on the glorious action he forgets 309:054,394[A ]| The change of seasons, and increase of heats: 309:054,395[A ]| No toils are painful that can danger show, 309:054,396[A ]| No climes unlovely that contain a foe. 309:054,397[A ]| The roving Gaul, to his own bounds restrained, 309:054,398[A ]| Learns to encamp within his native land, 309:054,399[A ]| But soon as the victorious host he spies, 309:054,400[A ]| From hill to hill, from stream to stream he flies: <400> 309:054,401[A ]| Such dire impressions in his heart remain 309:054,402[A ]| Of Marlborough's sword, and Hochstet's fatal plain: 309:054,403[A ]| In vain Britannia's mighty chief besets 309:054,404[A ]| Their shady coverts, and obscure retreats; 309:054,405[A ]| They fly the conqueror's approaching fame, 309:054,406[A ]| That bears the force of armies in his name. 309:054,407[A ]| Austria's young monarch, whose imperial sway 309:054,408[A ]| Sceptres and thrones are destined to obey, 309:054,409[A ]| Whose boasted ancestry so high extends 309:054,410[A ]| That in the pagan gods his lineage ends, <410> 309:054,411[A ]| Comes from afar, in gratitude to own 309:054,412[A ]| The great supporter of his father's throne; 309:054,413[A ]| What tides of glory to his bosom ran, 309:054,414[A ]| Clasped in the embraces of the godlike man! 309:054,415[A ]| How were his eyes with pleasing wonder fixed 309:054,416[A ]| To see such fire with so much sweetness mixed, 309:055,417[A ]| Such easy greatness, such a graceful port, 309:055,418[A ]| So turned and finished for the camp or court! 309:055,419[A ]| Achilles thus was formed with every grace, 309:055,420[A ]| And Nireus shone but in the second place; <420> 309:055,421[A ]| Thus the great father of almighty Rome 309:055,422[A ]| (Divinely flushed with an immortal bloom, 309:055,423[A ]| That Cytherea's fragrant breath bestowed) 309:055,424[A ]| In all the charms of his bright mother glowed. 309:055,425[A ]| The royal youth by Marlborough's presence charmed, 309:055,426[A ]| Taught by his counsels, by his actions warmed, 309:055,427[A ]| On Landau with redoubled fury falls, 309:055,428[A ]| Discharges all his thunder on its walls, 309:055,429[A ]| O'er mines and caves of death provokes the fight, 309:055,430[A ]| And learns to conquer in the hero's sight. <430> 309:055,431[A ]| The British chief, for mighty toils renowned, 309:055,432[A ]| Increased in titles, and with conquests crowned, 309:055,433[A ]| To Belgian coasts his tedious march renews, 309:055,434[A ]| And the long windings of the Rhine pursues, 309:055,435[A ]| Clearing its borders from usurping foes, 309:055,436[A ]| And blessed by rescued nations as he goes. 309:055,437[A ]| Treves fears no more, freed from its dire alarms; 309:055,438[A ]| And Traerbach feels the terror of his arms, 309:055,439[A ]| Seated on rocks her proud foundations shake, 309:055,440[A ]| While Marlborough presses to the bold attack, <440> 309:055,441[A ]| Plants all his batteries, bids his cannon roar, 309:055,442[A ]| And shows how Landau might have fallen before. 309:055,443[A ]| Scared at his near approach, great Louis fears 309:055,444[A ]| Vengeance reserved for his declining years, 309:055,445[A ]| Forgets his thirst of universal sway, 309:055,446[A ]| And scarce can teach his subjects to obey; 309:055,447[A ]| His arms he finds on vain attempts employed, 309:055,448[A ]| The ambitious projects for his race destroyed, 309:055,449[A ]| The work of ages sunk in one campaign, 309:055,450[A ]| And lives of millions sacrificed in vain. <450> 309:056,451[A ]| Such are the effects of Anna's royal cares: 309:056,452[A ]| By her, Britannia, great in foreign wars, 309:056,453[A ]| Ranges through nations, whereso'er disjoined, 309:056,454[A ]| Without the wonted aid of sea and wind. 309:056,455[A ]| By her the unfettered Ister's states are free, 309:056,456[A ]| And taste the sweets of English liberty: 309:056,457[A ]| But who can tell the joys of those that lie 309:056,458[A ]| Beneath the constant influence of her eye! 309:056,459[A ]| Whilst in diffusive showers her bounties fall, 309:056,460[A ]| Like heaven's indulgence, and descend on all, <460> 309:056,461[A ]| Secure the happy, succour the distressed, 309:056,462[A ]| Make every subject glad, and a whole people blessed. 309:056,463[A ]| Thus would I fain Britannia's wars rehearse, 309:056,464[A ]| In the smooth record of a faithful verse; 309:056,465[A ]| That, if such numbers can o'er time prevail, 309:056,466[A ]| May tell posterity the wondrous tale. 309:056,467[A ]| When actions, unadorned, are faint and weak, 309:056,468[A ]| Cities and countries must be taught to speak; 309:056,469[A ]| Gods may descend in factions form the skies, 309:056,470[A ]| And rivers from their oozy beds arise; <470> 309:056,471[A ]| Fiction may deck the truth with spurious rays, 309:056,472[A ]| And round the hero cast a borrowed blaze. 309:056,473[A ]| Marlborough's exploits appear divinely bright, 309:056,474[A ]| And proudly shine in their own native light; 309:056,475[A ]| Raised of themselves, their genuine charms they boast, 309:056,476[A ]| And those who paint them truest praise them most.