041:04,000[A  ]| <The birth of the muse:>
041:04,000[A  ]| <to$4$ the right honourable Charles, Lord Halifax>
041:04,001[A  ]| Descend, Celestial Muse!  thy Son inspire
041:04,002[A  ]| Of thee to$9$ sing; infuse the Holy Fire.
041:04,003[A  ]| Beloved of Gods and Men, thyself disclose;
041:04,004[A  ]| Say, from what Source thy Heavenly Power arose,
041:04,005[A  ]| Which$6#1$ from unnumbered Years delivering down
041:04,006[A  ]| The Deeds of Heroes deathless in$4$ Renown,  
041:04,007[A  ]| Extends their Life and Fame to$4$ Ages yet unknown.
041:04,008[A  ]| Time and the Muse set forth with equal Pace;
041:04,009[A  ]| At once the Rivals started to$4$ the Race:
041:04,010[A  ]| And both at once the destined Course shall end,
041:04,011[A  ]| Or both to$4$ all Eternity contend.
041:04,012[A  ]| One to$9$ preserve what the other cannot save,
041:04,013[A  ]| And rescue Virtue rising from the Grave.
041:04,014[A  ]| To$4$ thee, O Montague, these Strains are sung,
041:04,015[A  ]| For$4$ thee my Voice is tuned, and speaking Lyre is strung;
041:04,016[A  ]| For$3$ every Grace of every Muse is thine,  
041:04,017[A  ]| In$4$ thee their various Fires united shine,  
041:04,018[A  ]| Darling of Phoebus and the tuneful Nine!  
041:04,019[A  ]| To$4$ thee alone I dare my Song commend,  
041:04,020[A  ]| Whose Nature can forgive, and Power defend, 
041:04,021[A  ]| And show by$4$ Turns the Patron and the Friend.  
041:04,022[A  ]| Begin, my Muse, from Jove derive thy Song,
041:04,023[A  ]| Thy Song of right, does first to$4$ Jove belong:
041:04,024[A  ]| For$3$ thou thyself art of Celestial Seed,
041:04,025[A  ]| Nor dare a Sire inferior boast the Breed.
041:04,026[A  ]| When first the Frame of this vast Ball was made,
041:04,027[A  ]| And Jove with Joy the finished Work surveyed;
041:04,028[A  ]| Vicissitude of Things, of Men and States,
041:04,029[A  ]| Their Rise and Fall were destined by$4$ the Fates.
041:04,030[A  ]| Then Time had first a Name; by$4$ firm Decree
041:04,031[A  ]| Appointed Lord of all Futurity,
041:04,032[A  ]| Within whose ample Bosom Fates repose
041:04,033[A  ]| Causes of Things, and secret Seeds enclose,
041:04,034[A  ]| Which$6#1$ ripening there, shall one Day gain a Birth,
041:04,035[A  ]| And force a Passage through the teeming Earth.
041:04,036[A  ]| To$4$ him they give, to$9$ rule the spacious Light,
041:04,037[A  ]| And bound the yet unparted Day and Night;
041:04,038[A  ]| To$9$ wing the Hours that$6#1$ whirl the rolling Sphere,
041:04,039[A  ]| To$9$ shift the Seasons, and conduct the Year.
041:04,040[A  ]| Duration of Dominion and of Power
041:04,041[A  ]| To$4$ him prescribe, and fix each fated Hour.
041:04,042[A  ]| This mighty Rule, to$4$ Time the Fates ordain,
041:04,043[A  ]| But yet to$4$ hard Conditions bind his Reign.
041:04,044[A  ]| For$4$ every beauteous Birth he brings to$4$ Light,
041:04,045[A  ]| (How good soever and grateful in$4$ his sight,)
041:04,046[A  ]| He must again to$4$ Native Earth restore,
041:04,047[A  ]| And all his Race with Iron Teeth devour.
041:04,048[A  ]| Nor Good, nor Great shall escape his hungry Maw,
041:04,049[A  ]| But bleeding Nature prove the rigid Law.
041:04,050[A  ]| Not yet, the loosened Earth aloft was slung,
041:04,051[A  ]| Or poised amid the Skies in$4$ Balance hung.
041:04,052[A  ]| Nor yet, did Golden Fires the Sun adorn,
041:04,053[A  ]| Or borrowed Lustre silver Cynthia's Horn.
041:04,054[A  ]| Nor yet, had Time Commission to$9$ begin,
041:04,055[A  ]| Or Fate the many-twisted Web to$9$ spin;
041:04,056[A  ]| When all the Heavenly Host assembled came
041:04,057[A  ]| To$9$ view the World yet resting on$4$ its Frame;
041:04,058[A  ]| Eager they press, to$9$ see the Sire dismiss
041:04,059[A  ]| And roll the Globe along the vast Abyss.
041:04,060[A  ]| When deep revolving Thoughts the God retain,
041:04,061[A  ]| Which$6#1$ for$4$ a Space suspend the promised Scene,
041:04,062[A  ]| Once more his Eyes on$4$ Time intentive look,
041:04,063[A  ]| Again, inspect Fate's universal Book.
041:04,064[A  ]| Abroad the wondrous Volume he displays,
041:04,065[A  ]| And present views the Deeds of future Days.
041:04,066[A  ]| A beauteous Scene adorns the foremost Page,
041:04,067[A  ]| Where Nature's Bloom presents the Golden Age.
041:04,068[A  ]| The Golden Leaf to$4$ Silver soon resigns,
041:04,069[A  ]| And fair the Sheet, but yet more faintly shines.
041:04,070[A  ]| Of baser Brass, the next denotes the Times,
041:04,071[A  ]| An impious Page deformed with deadly Crimes.
041:04,072[A  ]| The Fourth yet wears a worse and browner Face,
041:04,073[A  ]| And adds to$4$ Gloomy Days an Iron Race.
041:04,074[A  ]| He turns the Book, and every Age reviews,
041:04,075[A  ]| Then all the Kingly Line his Eye pursues:
041:04,076[A  ]| The First of Men, and Lords of Earth designed,
041:04,077[A  ]| Who$6#1$ under him should govern Human-kind.
041:04,078[A  ]| Of future Heroes, there, the Lives he reads,
041:04,079[A  ]| In$4$ search of Glory spent, and Godlike Deeds;
041:04,080[A  ]| Who$6#1$ Empires found, and goodly Cities build,
041:04,081[A  ]| And savage Men compel to$9$ leave the Field.
041:04,082[A  ]| All this he saw, and all he saw approved;
041:04,083[A  ]| When Lo! but thence a Narrow Space removed,
041:04,084[A  ]| And hungry Time has all the Scene defaced,
041:04,085[A  ]| The Kings destroyed, and laid the Kingdoms waste:
041:04,086[A  ]| Together all in$4$ Common Ruins lie,
041:04,087[A  ]| And but anon and even the Ruins die.
041:04,088[A  ]| The Almighty, inly touched, Compassion found,
041:04,089[A  ]| To$9$ see Great Actions in$4$ Oblivion drowned;
041:04,090[A  ]| And forward searched the Roll, to$9$ find if Fate
041:04,091[A  ]| Had no$2$ Reserve to$9$ spare the Good and Great.
041:04,092[A  ]| Bright in$4$ his View the Trojan Heroes shine,
041:04,093[A  ]| And Ilian Structures raised by$4$ Hands Divine;
041:04,094[A  ]| But Ilium soon in$4$ Native Dust is laid,
041:04,095[A  ]| And all her boasted Pile a Ruin made:
041:04,096[A  ]| Nor Great Aeneas can her Fall withstand,
041:04,097[A  ]| But flies, to$9$ save his Gods, to$4$ foreign Land.
041:04,098[A  ]| The Roman Race succeed the Dardan State,
041:04,099[A  ]| And first and second Caesar God-like Great.
041:04,100[A  ]| Still on$5$ to$4$ after-days his Eyes descend,
041:04,101[A  ]| And rising Heroes still the Search attend.
041:04,102[A  ]| Proceeding thus, he many Empires passed;
041:04,103[A  ]| When fair Britannia fixed his Sight at last.
041:04,104[A  ]| Above the Waves she lifts her Silver Head,
041:04,105[A  ]| And looks a Venus born from Ocean's Bed.
041:04,106[A  ]| For$4$ rolling Years, her happy Fortunes smile,
041:04,107[A  ]| And Fates propitious bless the beauteous Isle;
041:04,108[A  ]| To$4$ Worlds remote, she wide extends her Reign,
041:04,109[A  ]| And wields the Trident of the Stormy Main.
041:04,110[A  ]| Thus on$4$ the Base of Empire firm she stands,
041:04,111[A  ]| While bright Eliza rules the willing Lands.
041:04,112[A  ]| But soon a lowering Sky comes on$5$ apace,
041:04,113[A  ]| And Fate reversed shows an ill-omened Face.
041:04,114[A  ]| The Void of Heaven a gloomy Horror fills,
041:04,115[A  ]| And Cloudy Veils involve her shining Hills;
041:04,116[A  ]| Of Greatness passed no$2$ Footsteps she retains,
041:04,117[A  ]| Sunk in$4$ a Series of Inglorious Reigns.
041:04,118[A  ]| She feels the Change, and deep regrets the Shame
041:04,119[A  ]| Of Honours lost, and her diminished Name:
041:04,120[A  ]| Conscious, she seeks from Day to$9$ shroud her Head,
041:04,121[A  ]| And glad would shrink beneath her Oozy Bed.
041:04,122[A  ]| Thus far, the Sacred Leaves Britannia's Woes
041:04,123[A  ]| In$4$ shady Draughts and dusky Lines disclose.
041:04,124[A  ]| The ensuing Scene revolves a Martial Age,
041:04,125[A  ]| And ardent Colours gild the glowing Page.
041:04,126[A  ]| Behold! of radiant Light an Orb arise,
041:04,127[A  ]| Which$6#1$ kindling Day, restores the darkened Skies;
041:04,128[A  ]| And see! on$4$ Seas the beamy Ball descends,
041:04,129[A  ]| And now its Course to$4$ fair Britannia bends:
041:04,130[A  ]| Along the foamy Main the Billows bear
041:04,131[A  ]| The floating Fire, and waft the shining Sphere.
041:04,132[A  ]| Hail, happy Omen! Hail, auspicious Sight!
041:04,133[A  ]| Thou glorious Guide to$4$ yet a greater Light.
041:04,134[A  ]| For$3$ see! a Prince, whom dazzling Arms array,  
041:04,135[A  ]| Pursuing closely, ploughs the watery Way,  
041:04,136[A  ]| Tracing the Glory through the flaming Sea.  
041:04,137[A  ]| Britannia, rise; awake, O Fairest Isle,
041:04,138[A  ]| From Iron Sleep; again thy Fortunes smile.
041:04,139[A  ]| Once more look up$5$, the Mighty Man behold,
041:04,140[A  ]| Whose Reign renews the former Age of Gold.
041:04,141[A  ]| The Fates at length the blissful Web have spun,
041:04,142[A  ]| And bid it round in$4$ endless Circles run.
041:04,143[A  ]| Again, shall distant Lands confess thy Sway,
041:04,144[A  ]| Again, the watery World thy Rule Obey;
041:04,145[A  ]| Again, thy Martial Sons shall thirst for$4$ Fame,
041:04,146[A  ]| And win in$4$ foreign Fields a deathless Name;
041:04,147[A  ]| For$4$ William's Genius every Soul inspires,
041:04,148[A  ]| And warms the frozen Youth with warlike Fires.
041:04,149[A  ]| Already, see, the Hostile Troops retreat,
041:04,150[A  ]| And seem forewarned of their impending Fate.
041:04,151[A  ]| Already routed Foes his Fury feel,
041:04,152[A  ]| And fly the Force of his unerring Steel.
041:04,153[A  ]| The haughty Gaul, who$6#1$ well till now, might boast
041:04,154[A  ]| A matchless Sword and unresisted Host,
041:04,155[A  ]| At his foreseen Approach the Field forsakes;
041:04,156[A  ]| His Cities tremble, and his Empire shakes.
041:04,157[A  ]| His towering Ensigns long had awed the Plain,
041:04,158[A  ]| And Fleets audaciously usurped the Main;
041:04,159[A  ]| A gathering Storm he seemed, which$6#1$ from afar
041:04,160[A  ]| Teemed with a Deluge of destructive War.
041:04,161[A  ]| Till William's stronger Genius soared above,
041:04,162[A  ]| And down the Skies the daring Tempest drove.
041:04,163[A  ]| So$3$ from the radiant Sun retires the Night,
041:04,164[A  ]| And western Clouds shot through with orient Light.
041:04,165[A  ]| So$3$ when the assuming God, whom Storms obey,
041:04,166[A  ]| To$4$ all the warring Winds at once gives way,
041:04,167[A  ]| The frantic Brethren ravage all around,
041:04,168[A  ]| And Rocks, and Woods, and Shores their Rage resound;
041:04,169[A  ]| Incumbent over the Main, at length they sweep
041:04,170[A  ]| The liquid Plains, and raise the peaceful Deep:
041:04,171[A  ]| But when superior Neptune leaves his Bed,
041:04,172[A  ]| His Trident shakes, and shows his awful Head;
041:04,173[A  ]| The madding Winds are hushed, the Tempests cease,
041:04,174[A  ]| And every rolling Surge resides in$4$ Peace.
041:04,175[A  ]| And now the Sacred Leaf a Landscape wears,
041:04,176[A  ]| Where, Heaven serene, and Air unmoved appears.
041:04,177[A  ]| The Rose and Lily paint the verdant Plains,
041:04,178[A  ]| And Palm and Olive shade the Sylvan Scenes.
041:04,179[A  ]| The peaceful Thames beneath his Banks abides,
041:04,180[A  ]| And soft, and still, the Silver Surface glides.
041:04,181[A  ]| The Zephyrs fan the Fields, the whispering Breeze
041:04,182[A  ]| With fragrant Breath remurmurs through the Trees.
041:04,183[A  ]| The warbling Birds applauding new-born Light,
041:04,184[A  ]| In$4$ wanton Measures wing their airy Flight.
041:04,185[A  ]| Above the Floods the finny Race repair,
041:04,186[A  ]| And bound aloft, and bask in$4$ upper Air;
041:04,187[A  ]| They gild their scaly Backs in$4$ Phoebus Beams,
041:04,188[A  ]| And scorn to$9$ skim the Level of the Streams.
041:04,189[A  ]| Whole Nature wears a Gay and Joyous Face,
041:04,190[A  ]| And blooms and ripens with the Fruits of Peace.
041:04,191[A  ]| No$2$ more the labouring Hind regrets his Toil,
041:04,192[A  ]| But cheerfully Manures the grateful Soil;
041:04,193[A  ]| Secure the Glebe a plenteous Crop will$1$ yield,
041:04,194[A  ]| And golden Ceres grace the waving Field.
041:04,195[A  ]| The adventurous Man, who$6#1$ durst the Deep explore,
041:04,196[A  ]| Oppose the Winds, and tempt the shelfy Shore,
041:04,197[A  ]| Beneath his Roof now tastes unbroken Rest,
041:04,198[A  ]| Enough with Native Wealth and Plenty blest.
041:04,199[A  ]| No$2$ more the forward Youth pursues Alarms,
041:04,200[A  ]| Nor leaves the Sacred Arts for$4$ stubborn Arms.
041:04,201[A  ]| No$2$ more the Mothers from their Hopes are torn,
041:04,202[A  ]| Nor weeping Maids the promised Lover mourn.
041:04,203[A  ]| No$2$ more the Widows Shrieks and Orphans Cries,
041:04,204[A  ]| Torment the patient Air and pierce the Skies.
041:04,205[A  ]| But peaceful Joys the prosperous Times afford,
041:04,206[A  ]| And banished Virtue is again restored.
041:04,207[A  ]| And he whose Arms alone sustained the Toil,
041:04,208[A  ]| And propped the nodding Frame of Britain's Isle;
041:04,209[A  ]| By$4$ whose illustrious Deeds, her Leaders fired,
041:04,210[A  ]| Have Honours lost retrieved, and new acquired,
041:04,211[A  ]| With equal Sway will$1$ Virtue's Laws maintain,
041:04,212[A  ]| And Good, as Great, in$4$ awful Peace shall reign;
041:04,213[A  ]| For$3$ his Example still the Rule shall give,
041:04,214[A  ]| And those it taught to$9$ Conquer, teach to$9$ Live.
041:04,215[A  ]| Proceeding on$5$, the Father still unfolds
041:04,216[A  ]| Succeeding Leaves, and brighter still beholds;
041:04,217[A  ]| The latest seen the fairest seems to$9$ shine,
041:04,218[A  ]| Yet sudden does to$4$ one more fair resign.
041:04,219[A  ]| The Eternal paused ~~ 
041:04,220[A  ]| Nor would Britannia's Fate beyond explore;
041:04,221[A  ]| Enough he saw besides the coming Store.
041:04,222[A  ]| Enough the Hero had already done,
041:04,223[A  ]| And round the wide Extent of Glory run:
041:04,224[A  ]| Nor further now the shining Path pursues,
041:04,225[A  ]| But like$4$ the Sun the same bright Race renews.
041:04,226[A  ]| And shall remorseless Fates on$4$ him have Power!
041:04,227[A  ]| Or Time unequally such Worth devour!
041:04,228[A  ]| Then, wherefore shall the Brave for$4$ Fame contest?
041:04,229[A  ]| Why is this Man distinguished from the Rest?
041:04,230[A  ]| Whose soaring Genius now sublime aspires,
041:04,231[A  ]| And deathless Fame the due Reward requires.
041:04,232[A  ]| Approving Heaven the exalted Virtue views,
041:04,233[A  ]| Nor can the Claim which$6#1$ it approves refuse.
041:04,234[A  ]| The Great Creator soon the Grant resolves,
041:04,235[A  ]| And in$4$ his mighty Mind the Means revolves.
041:04,236[A  ]| He thought; Nor doubted once, again to$9$ choose,
041:04,237[A  ]| But spake the Word, and made the immortal Muse.
041:04,238[A  ]| Never did his Power produce so$5#1$ bright a Child,
041:04,239[A  ]| On$4$ whose Creation Infant Nature smiled.
041:04,240[A  ]| Perfect at first, a finished Form she wears,
041:04,241[A  ]| And Youth perpetual in$4$ her Face appears.
041:04,242[A  ]| The assembled Gods who$6#1$ long expecting staid, 
041:04,243[A  ]| With new Delight gaze on$4$ the lovely Maid, 
041:04,244[A  ]| And think the wished-for World was well delayed. 
041:04,245[A  ]| Nor did the Sire himself his Joy disguise,
041:04,246[A  ]| But steadfast viewed, and fixed, and fed his Eyes.
041:04,247[A  ]| Intent a Space, at length he Silence broke,
041:04,248[A  ]| And thus the God the Heavenly Fair bespoke.
041:04,249[B  ]| To$4$ thee, Immortal Maid, from this blessed Hour,
041:04,250[B  ]| Over Time and Fame, I give unbounded Power.
041:04,251[B  ]| Thou, from Oblivion shalt the Hero save;
041:04,252[B  ]| Shalt raise, revive, immortalise the Brave.
041:04,253[B  ]| To$4$ thee, the Dardan Prince shall owe his Fame;
041:04,254[B  ]| To$4$ thee, the Caesars their eternal Name.
041:04,255[B  ]| Eliza sung by$4$ thee, with Fate shall strive,
041:04,256[B  ]| And long as Time, in$4$ Sacred Verse survive.
041:04,257[B  ]| And yet O Muse, remains the noblest Theme;
041:04,258[B  ]| The first of Men, Mature for$4$ Endless Fame,
041:04,259[B  ]| Thy future Songs shall grace, and all thy Lays,
041:04,260[B  ]| Thenceforth, alone shall wait on$4$ William's Praise.
041:04,261[B  ]| On$4$ his Heroic Deeds thy Verse shall rise;
041:04,262[B  ]| Thou shalt diffuse the Fires that$6#1$ he supplies.
041:04,263[B  ]| Through him thy Songs shall more sublime aspire;
041:04,264[B  ]| And he, through them, shall deathless Fame acquire:
041:04,265[B  ]| Nor Time, nor Fate his Glory shall oppose,
041:04,266[B  ]| Or blast the Monuments the Muse bestows.
041:04,267[A  ]| This said; no$2$ more remained. The Ethereal Host,
041:04,268[A  ]| Again impatient Crowd the Crystal Coast.
041:04,269[A  ]| The Father, now, within his spacious Hands,
041:04,270[A  ]| Encompassed all the mingled Mass of Seas and Lands;
041:04,271[A  ]| And having heaved aloft the ponderous Sphere,
041:04,272[A  ]| He Launched the World to$9$ float in$4$ ambient Air.