Mars on the gods did then his aid bestow,

And now in godlike William storms with equal force be

low.

IX.

Still they proceed, with firm unshaken pace,
And hardy breafts oppos'd to Danger's face,
With daring feet, on springing mines they tread
Of secret fulphur, in dire ambush laid.

Still they proceed; though all beneath, the labouring earth
Trembles to give the dread irruptions birth.
Through this, through more, through all they go,
Mounting at laft amidst the vanquish'd foe.
See, how they climb, and fcale the fteepy walls!
See, how the Britons rife! fee the retiring Gauls!
Now from the fort, behold the yielding flag is spread,
And William's banner on the breach display'd,

X.

Hark, the triumphant fhouts from every voice!
The skies with acclamations ring!

Hark, how around, the hills rejoice,
And rocks reflected Ios fing!

Hautboys and fifes and trumpets join'd,

Heroic harmony prepare,

And charm to filence every wind,

And glad the late-tormented air.
Far is the found of martial music spread,

Echoing through all the Gallic host,

Whofe numerous troops the dreadful storm survey'd :
But they, with wonder or with awe dismay'd,

Unmov'd beheld the fortrefs loft.

William,

William, their numerous troops with terror fill'd,
Such wondrous charms can godlike valour show!
Not the wing'd Perfeus, with petrific shield

Of Gorgon's head, to more amazement charm'd his foe.
Nor, when on foaring horfe he flew, to aid

And fave from monfter's rage the beauteous maid; Or more heroic was the deed;

Or fhe to furer chains decreed,

Than was Namur, till now by William freed.
XI.

Defcend, my Mufc, from thy too-daring height,
Defcend to earth, and eafe thy wide-ftretch'd wing;
For
weary art thou grown of this unwonted flight,
And doft with pain of triumphs fing.

More fit for thee, refume thy rural reeds;

For war let more harmonious harps be strung: Sing thou of love, and leave great William's deeds To him who fung the Boyne; or him to whom he fung.

THE BIRTH OF THE MUSE.

To the Right Honourable

CHARLES LORD HALIFA X.

"Dignum laude virum Mufa vetat mori."

DESCEND, celeftial Mufe! thy fon inspire
Of thee to fing; infufe thy holy fire.

Belov'd of gods and men, thyfelf disclose;
Say, from what fource thy heavenly power arose,
Which, from unnumber'd years delivering down
The deeds of heroes deathlefs in renown,

Extends their life and fame to ages yet unknown.
Time and the Mufe fet forth with equal pace;
At once the rival started to the race:

And both at once the deftin'd course shall end,
Or both to all eternity contend.

One to preserve what t' other cannot fave,
And refcue virtue rifing from the grave.

To thee, O Montague, these strains are fung,

HOR.

}

}

For thee my voice is tun'd, and fpeaking lyre is ftrung;
For every grace of every Muse is thine
In thee their various fires united fhine,
Darling of Phoebus and the tuneful Nine!
To thee alone I dare my fong commend,
Whofe nature can forgive, and power defend,
And fhew by turns the patron and the friend.

}

Begin, my Mufe, from Jove derive thy fong,
Thy fong of right does first to Jove belong :
For thou thyself art of celestial feed,

Nor dare a fire inferior boast the breed.

When firft the frame of this vaft ball was made,
And Jove with joy the finish'd work survey’d;
Viciffitude of things, of men and states,

Their rife and fall were deftin'd by the Fates.
Then Time had firft a name; by firm decrce
Appointed lord of all futurity,

Within whofe ample bofom fates repose
Caufes of things, and fecret feeds inclofe,
Which, ripening there, fhall one day gain a birth,
And force a paffage through the teeming earth.
To him they give to rule the spacious light,
And bound the yet unparted day and night;
To wing the hours that whirl the rolling sphere,
To fhift the feafons, and conduct the year,
Duration of dominion and of power
To him prefcribe, and fix each fated hour.
This mighty rule to Time the Fates ordain,
But yet to hard conditions bind his reign;
For every beauteous birth he brings to light,
(How good foe'er and grateful in his fight,)
He muft again to native earth restore,

And all his race with iron teeth devour.
Nor good nor great fhall 'fcape his hungry maw,
But bleeding Nature prove the rigid law.

Not yet the loofen'd earth aloft was flung,
Or pois'd amid the fkies in balançe hung;

Nor yet did golden fires the fun adorn,
Or borrow'd luftre filver Cynthia's horn;
Nor yet
had Time commiffion to begin,
Or fate the many twisted web to fpin;
When all the heavenly hoft affembled came
To view the world yet refting on its frame;
Eager they prefs, to fee the fire difimifs,
And roll the globe along the vast abyfs.

When deep revolving thoughts the god retain,
Which for a space fufpend the promis'd scene,
Once more his eyes on Time intentive look,
Again infpect Fate's univerfal book.
Abroad the wondrous volume he displays,
And prefent views the deeds of future days.

A beauteous fcene adorns the foremost page,
Where Nature's bloom prefents the golden age.
The golden leaf to filver foon refigns,

And fair the sheet, but yet more faintly, fhines.
Of bafer brafs, the next denotes the times.
An impious page deform'd with deadly crimes.
The fourth yet wears a worfe and browner face,
And adds to gloomy days an iron race.

He turns the book, and every age reviews,
Then all the kingly line his eye pursues:
The firft of men, and lords of earth defign'd,
Who under him fhould govern human-kind.
Of future heroes, there, the lives he reads,
In fearch of glory spent, and godlike deeds;
Who empires found, and goodly cities build,
And favage men compel to leave the field.

All