Let Mr. Dapperwit consider, What is that long story of the cuckoldom to me? At the earnest desire of Monimia's lover, who declares himself very penitent, he is recorded in my paper by the name of the faithful Castalio. The petition of Charles Cocksure, which the petitioner styles very reasonable,' rejected. The memorial of Philander, which he desires may be dispatched out of hand, postponed. I desire S. R. not to repeat the expression' under the sun,' so often in his next letter. The letter of P. S., who desires either to have it printed entire, or committed to the flames; not to be printed entire. N° 620. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1714. Hic vir, hic est, tibi quem promitti sæpiùs audis. Behold the promis'd chief! VIRG. Æn. vi. 791. HAVING lately presented my reader with a copy of verses full of the false sublime, I shall here communicate to him an excellent specimen of the true: though it hath not been yet published, the judicious 'reader will readily discern it to be the work of a master; and if he hath read that noble poem on the prospect of peace, he will not be at a loss to guess at the author. THE ROYAL PROGRESS. 'WHEN Brunswick first appear'd, each honest heart, In golden chains the kings of India led, Or rent the turban from the sultan's head. With nymphs and tritons, wafts him o'er the main ; And fills th' infernal region with alarms; While the mind nauseates what she can't believe. Their charms, if charms they have, the truth supplies, 'By longing nations for the throne design'd, And call'd to guard the rights of human kind; With secret grief his godlike soul repines, And Britain's crown with joyless lustre shines, While pray'rs and tears his destin'd progress stay, And crowds of mourners choke their sovereign's way. Not so he march'd when hostile squadrons stood In scenes of death, and fir'd his generous blood; When his hot courser paw'd th' Hungarian plain, And adverse legions stood the shock in vain. His frontiers past, the Belgian bounds he views, And cross the level fields his march pursues. Here pleas'd the land of freedom to survey, He greatly scorns the thirst of boundless sway. O'er the thin soil, with silent joy, he spies Transplanted woods and borrow'd verdure rise; Where ev'ry meadow, won with toil and blood From haughty tyrants and the raging flood, With fruits and flowers the careful hind supplies, And clothes the marshes in a rich disguise. Such wealth for frugal hands doth Heaven decree, And such thy gifts, celestial Liberty! Through stately towns, and many a fertile plain, The pomp advances to the neighbouring main. Whole nations crowd around with joyful cries, And view the hero with insatiate eyes. 'In Haga's towers he waits till eastern gales Takes in the blended interest of mankind, The world's great patriot. Calm thy anxious breast; Henceforth thy kingdoms shall remain confin'd By rocks and streams, the mounds which Heav'n design'd;' 'But see, to Britain's isle the squadrons stand, Ten thousand vessels, from ten thousand shores, 'Still is it thine; tho' now the cheerful crew 'As in the flood he sails, from either side A lowing herd each fertile pasture fils, 'The sun now rolling down the western way, In one vast shout he seeks the crowded strand, 'Welcome, great stranger! to our longing eyes, Oh! king desir'd, adopted Albion cries. For thee the East breath'd out a prosp'rous breeze, Bright were the suns, and gently swell'd the seas. Thy presence did each doubtful heart compose, And factions wonder'd that they once were foes; That joyful day they lost each hostile name, The same their aspect, and their voice the same. 'So two fair twins, whose features were design'd At one soft moment in the mother's mind, Shew each the other with reflected grace, And the same beauties bloom in either face; The puzzled strangers which is which inquire; Delusion grateful to the smiling sire. From that fair hill, where hoary sages boast A floating forest! From the distant strand 1 So haply thro' the heav'n's wide pathless ways A comet draws a long-extended blaze; From east to west burns through th' ethereal frame, And half heav'n's convex glitters with the flame. Flamstead House. 'Now to the regal towers securely brought, He plans Britannia's glories in his thought, Resumes the delegated power he gave, Rewards the faithful, and restores the brave. Whom shall the Muse from out the shining throng Select, to heighten and adorn her song? Thee, Halifax. To thy capacious mind, O man approv'd, is Britain's wealth consign'd. Her coin (while Nassau fought) debas'd and rude, By thee in beauty and in truth renew'd, An arduous work! again thy charge we see, And thy own care once more returns to thee. O! form'd in every scene to awe and please, Mix wit with pomp, and dignity with ease: Tho' called to shine aloft, thou wilt not scorn To smile on arts thyself did once adorn : For this thy name succeeding time shall praise, And envy less thy garter than thy bays. 'The Muse, if fir'd with thy enliv'ning beams, Perhaps shall aim at more exalted themes; Record our monarch in a nobler strain, And sing the op'ning wonders of his reign; Bright Carolina's heavenly beauties trace, Her valiant consort, and his blooming race. A train of kings their fruitful love supplies, A glorious scene to Albion's ravish'd eyes; Who sees by Brunswick's hand her sceptre sway'd, And through his line from age to age convey'd.' |