Dreads war from utmost Thule. Uncontrol'd
The British navy through the ocean vast
Shall wave her double cross, t' extremeft climes
Terrific, and return with odorous fpoils
Of Araby well fraught, or Indus' wealth,
Pearl, and barbaric gold: Meanwhile the fwains
Shall unmolested reap what plenty strows
From well-stor'd horn, rich grain, and timely fruits.
The elder year, Pomona, pleas'd, shall deck
With ruby-tinctur'd births, whofe liquid ftore
Abundant, flowing in well-blended streams,
The natives shall applaud; while glad they talk
Of baleful ills, caus'd by Bellona's wrath
In other realms; where'er the British spread
Triumphant banners, or their fame has reach'd
Diffufive, to the utmost bounds of this
Wide universe, Silurian cyder borne

Shall please all tastes, and triumph o'er the vine.

Ode ad Henricum St. John, Armig' 1706

An Ode to Henry St. John, Efquire, 1706

3

9

THE

POEMS

OF

MR. EDMUND SMITH.

A

S foon as it was made known that your Lordship was not displeased with this Play, my friends began to value themselves upon the intereft they had taken in its fuccefs; I was touched with a vanity I had not before been acquainted with, and began to dream of nothing less than the immortality of my Work.

And I had fufficiently fhewn this vanity in inscribing this Play to your Lordship, did I only confider you as one to whom so many admirable pieces, to whom the praises of Italy, and the best Latin poem fince the Æneid, that on the peace of Ryfwick, are confecrated. But it had been intolerable prefumption to have addreffed it to you, my Lord, who are the niceft judge of poetry, were you not also the greatest encourager of it; to you who excel all the prefent age as a poet, did you not furpafs all the preceding ones as a patron.