London: or, the progress of commerce. A poem. By Mr. Glover.

The ARGUMENT.

The following poem represents Commerce as the child of Neptune, and born on the coast of Libya in an island, celebrated in fabulous antiquity for its fruitfulness and plenty during the first uncultivated ages, whence the new divinity is supposed to convey these blessings round the world. Her birth is attended by many of the Gods, who endow her with their several gifts: among the rest Apollo appoints her to be the inventress of letters; Sir Isaac Newton's opinion being here alluded to, that merchandize gave rise to this wonderful discovery. Commerce is then described as making her first appear|ance to the world among the Phoenicians, the earliest people, who exercis'd an extensive trade. From thence she proceeds to visit other parts of the globe, and endea|vours to erect her principal empire at Carthage, situated in Libya, the country assign'd for her nativity. Upon the destruction of that city she again removes from place to place; but at length, allured by the vigour and singular resolution of the Dutch in throwing off the Spanish yoke, she takes up her residence with that inde|fatigable people. Lastly, by the good laws, which have been made from time to time for the encouragement of trade among us, especially by the act of navigation, which has transferred a great part of the Dutch traf|fick to ourselves, she is suppos'd on our invitation to choose England for her chief abode, more particularly London, our principal emporium, as well as capital

city. And upon this occasion an enquiry is made, how it has come to pass, that, notwithstanding the great wealth and power attending Commerce, the course of trade should so often have shifted its seat; and the means, conceived most effectual to fix this wanderer here, are pointed out.

LONDON: OR, The Progress of Commerce.

YE northern blasts, and 1 1.1 Eurus, wont to sweep With rudest pinions o'er the furrow'd waves, Awhile suspend your violence, and waft From sandy 2 1.2 Weser and the broad-mouth'd Elb My freighted vessels to the destin'd shore,Line 5 Safe o'er th' unruffled main; let ev'ry thought, Which may disquiet, and alarm my breast, Be absent now; that, dispossess'd of care, And free from every tumult of the mind, With each disturbing passion hush'd to peace,Line 10 I may pour all my spirit on the theme, Which opens now before me, and demands The loftiest strain. The eagle, when he tow'rs

Beyond the clouds, the fleecy robes of heav'n, Disdains all objects but the golden sun,Line 15 Full on th' effulgent orb directs his eye, And sails exulting through the blaze of day; So, while her wing attempts the boldest flight, Rejecting each inferior theme of praise, Thee, ornament of Europe, Albion's pride,Line 20 Fair seat of wealth and freedom, thee my Muse Shall celebrate, O LONDON: thee she hails, Thou lov'd abode of Commerce, last retreat, Whence she contemplates with a tranquil mind Her various wandrings from the fated hour,Line 25 That she abandon'd her maternal clime; Neptunian Commerce, whom Phoenicé bore, Illustrious nymph, that nam'd the fertile plains, Along the sounding main extended far, Which flow'ry Carmel with its sweets perfumes,Line 30 And with its cedars Libanus o'ershades: Her from the bottom of the watry world, As once she stood, in radiant beauties grac'd, To mark the heaving tide, the piercing eye Of Neptune view'd enamour'd: from the deepLine 35 The God ascending rushes to the beach, And clasps th' affrighted virgin. From that day

Soon as the paly regent of the night Nine times her monthly progress had renew'd Through heav'n's illumin'd vault, Phoenicé, ledLine 40 By shame, once more the sea-worn margin sought, There pac'd with painful steps the barren sands, A solitary mourner, and, the surge, Which gently roll'd beside her, now no more With placid eyes beholding, thus exclaim'd.Line 45

YE fragrant shrubs, and cedars' lofty shade, Which crown my native hills, ye spreading palms, That rise majestic on these fruitful meads, With you, who gave the lost Phoenicé birth, And you, who bear th' endearing name of friends,Line 50 Once faithful partners of my chaster hours, Farewel! To thee, perfidious God, I come, Bent down with pain and anguish on thy sands, I come thy suppliant; death is all, I crave; Bid thy devouring waves inwrap my head;Line 55 And to the bottom whelm my cares and shame!

SHE ceas'd, when sudden from th' unclosing deep A crystal car emerg'd, with glitt'ring shells, Call'd from their oozy beds by Tethys' train, Line 60

And blushing coral deck'd, whose ruddy glowLine 60 Mix'd with the watry lustre of the pearl. A smiling band of sea-born nymphs attend, Who from the shore with gentle hands convey The fear-subdu'd Phoenicé, and along The lucid chariot place. As there with dreadLine 65 All mute, and struggling with her painful throes She lay, the winds by Neptune's high command Were silent round her; not a Zephyr dar'd To wanton o'er the cedar's branching top, Nor on the plain the stately palm was seenLine 70 To wave its graceful verdure; o'er the main No undulation broke the smooth expanse, But all was hush'd and motionless around, All but the lightly-sliding car, impell'd Along the level azure by the strengthLine 75 Of active Tritons, rivalling in speed The rapid meteor, whose sulphureous train Glides o'er the brow of darkness, and appears The livid ruins of a falling star.

BENEATH the Lybian skies a blissful isle,Line 80 By 3 1.3 Triton's floods encircled, Nysa lay.

Here youthful Nature wanton'd in delights, And here the guardians of the bounteous horn, While it was now the infancy of time, Nor yet th' uncultivated globe had learn'dLine 85 To smile, 4 1.4 Eucarpé, 5 1.5 Dapsiléa dwelt, With all the nymphs, whose secret care had nurs'd The eldest Bacchus. From the flow'ry shore A turf-clad valley opens, and along Its verdure mild the willing feet allures;Line 90 While on its sloping sides ascends the pride Of hoary groves, high-arching o'er the vale With day-rejecting gloom. The solemn shade Half round a spacious lawn at length expands, 6 1.6Clos'd by a tow'ring cliff, whose forehead glowsLine 95 With azure, purple, and ten thousand dyes, From its resplendent fragments beaming round; Nor less irradiate colours from beneath On ev'ry side an ample grot reflects, As down the perforated rock the sunLine 100 Pours his meridian blaze; rever'd abode Of Nysa's nymphs, with ev'ry plant attir'd, That wears undying green, refresh'd with rills

From ever-living fountains, and enrich'd With all Pomona's bloom: unfading flow'rsLine 105 Glow on the mead, and spicy shrubs perfume With inexhausted sweets the cooling gale, Which breathes incessant there; while ev'ry bird Of tuneful note his gay or plaintive song Blends with the warble of meandring streams,Line 110 Which o'er their pebbled channels murm'ring lave The fruit-invested hills, that rise around. The gentle Nereids to this calm recess Phoenicé bear; nor Dapsiléa bland, Nor good Eucarpé, studious to obeyLine 115 Great Neptune's will, their hospitable care Refuse; nor long Lucina is invok'd. Soon as the wondrous infant sprung to day, Earth rock'd around; with all their nodding woods, And streams reverting to their troubled source,Line 120 The mountains shook; while Lybia's neighb'ring God, Mysterious Ammon from his hollow cell With deep-resounding accent thus to heav'n, To earth, and sea the mighty birth proclaim'd.

A NEW-BORN pow'r behold! whom fate hath call'd The Gods' imperfect labour to complete,Line 126

This wide creation. She in lonely sands Shall bid the tow'r-encircled city rise, The barren sea shall people, and the wilds Of dreary nature shall with plenty cloath;Line 130 She shall enlighten man's unletter'd race, And with endearing intercourse unite Remotest nations, scorch'd by sultry suns, Or freezing near the snow-encrusted pole: Where'er the joyous vine disdains to grow,Line 135 The fruitful olive, or the golden ear; Her hand divine with interposing aid To ev'ry climate shall the gifts supply Of Ceres, Bacchus, and 7 1.7 th'Athenian maid: The graces, joys, emoluments of lifeLine 140 From her exhaustless bounty all shall flow.

THE heav'nly prophet ceas'd. Olympus heard. Streight from their star-bespangled thrones descend On blooming Nysa a celestial band The ocean's lord to honour in his child;Line 145 When o'er his offspring smiling thus began The trident-ruler. Commerce be thy name:

To thee I give the empire of the main. From where the morning breathes its eastern gale, To th' undiscover'd limits of the west,Line 150 From chilling Boreas to extremest South Thy sire's obsequious billows shall extend Thy universal reign. Minerva next With wisdom bless'd her, Mercury with art, 8 1.8The Lemnian God with industry, and lastLine 155 Majestic Phoebus, o'er the infant long In contemplation pausing, thus declar'd From his enraptur'd lip his matchless boon.

THEE with divine invention I endow, That secret wonder, goddess, to disclose,Line 160 By which the wise, the virtuous, and the brave, The heav'n-taught poet, and exploring sage Shall pass recorded to the verge of time.

HER years of childhood now were number'd o'er, When to her mother's natal soil repair'dLine 165 The new divinity, whose parting step Her sacred nurses follow'd, ever now To her alone inseparably join'd;

Then first deserting their Nyseïan Shore To spread their hoarded blessings round the world;Line 170 Who with them bore the inexhausted horn Of ever-smiling plenty. Thus adorn'd, Attended thus, great Goddess, thou beganst Thy all-enlivening progress o'er the globe Then rude and joyless, destin'd to repairLine 175 The various ills, which earliest ages ru'd From one, like thee, distinguish'd by the gifts Of heav'n, Pandora, whose pernicious hand From the dire vase releas'd th' imprison'd woes.

THOU, gracious Commerce, from his cheerless caves In horrid rocks, and solitary woods,Line 181 The helpless wand'rer man forlorn and wild Didst charm to sweet society; didst cast The deep foundations, where the future pride Of mightiest cities rose; and o'er the mainLine 185 Before the wond'ring Nereids didst present The surge-dividing keel, and stately mast, Whose canvass wings, distending with the gale, The bold Phoenician through Alcides' straits To northern Albion's tin-embowel'd fields,Line 190 And oft beneath the sea-obscuring brow

Of cloud-envelop'd Teneriff convey'd. Next in sagacious thought th' ethereal plains Thou trodst, exploring each propitious star The danger-braving mariner to guide;Line 195 Then all the latent and mysterious pow'rs Of number didst unravel; last to crown Thy bounties, Goddess, thy unrival'd toils For man, still urging thy inventive mind, Thou gav'st him 9 1.9 letters; there imparting all,Line 200 Which lifts th' ennobled spirit near to heav'n, Laws, learning, wisdom, nature's works reveal'd By godlike sages, all Minerva's arts, Apollo's music, and th' eternal voice Of Virtue, sounding from th' historic roll,Line 205 The philosophic page, and poet's song.

NOW solitude and silence from the shores Retreat on pathless mountains to reside, Barbarity is polish'd, infant arts Bloom in the desart, and benignant peaceLine 210 With hospitality begin to sooth Unsocial rapine, and the thirst of blood;

As, from his tumid urn when Nilus spreads His genial tides abroad, the favour'd soil, That joins his fruitful border, first imbibesLine 215 The kindly stream; anon the bounteous God His waves extends, embracing Aegypt round, Dwells on the teeming champain, and endows The sleeping grain with vigour to attire In one bright harvest all the Pharian plains:Line 220 Thus, when Pygmalion from Phoenician Tyre Had banish'd freedom, with disdainful steps Indignant Commerce, turning from the walls, Herself had rais'd, her welcome sway enlarg'd Among the nations, spreading round the globeLine 225 The fruits of all its climes; 10 1.10 Cecropian oil, The Thracian vintage, and Panchaian gums, Arabia's spices, and the golden grain, Which old Osiris to his Aegypt gave, And Ceres to 11 1.11 Sicania. Thou didst raiseLine 230 Th' Ionian name, O Commerce, thou the domes Of sumptuous Corinth, and the ample round Of Syracuse didst people.—All the wealth Now thou assemblest from Iberia's mines, Line 235

And golden-channel'd Tagus, all the spoilsLine 235 From fair 12 1.12 Trinacria wasted, all the pow'rs Of conquer'd Afric's tributary realms To six thy empire on the Lybian verge, Thy native tract; the nymphs of Nysa hail Thy glad return, and echoing joy resoundsLine 240 O'er Triton's sacred waters, but in vain: The irreversible decrees of heav'n To far more northern regions had ordain'd Thy lasting seat; in vain th' imperial port Receives the gather'd riches of the world;Line 245 In vain whole climates bow beneath its rule; Behold the toil of centuries to Rome Its glories yields, and mould'ring leaves no trace Of its deep-rooted greatness: thou with tears From thy extinguish'd Carthage didst retire,Line 250 And these thy perish'd honours long deplore. What though rich 13 1.13 Gades, what though polish'd Rhodes, With Alexandria, Aegypt's splendid mart, The learn'd 14 1.14 Massylians, and 15 1.15 Ligurian tow'rs, What though the potent Hanseatic league,Line 255

And Venice, mistress of the Grecian isles, With all th' Aegean floods, awhile might sooth The sad remembrance; what though, led through climes And seas unknown, with thee th' advent'rous sons Of 16 1.16 Tagus pass'd the stormy cape, which bravesLine 260 The huge Atlantic; what though Antwerp grew Beneath thy smiles, and thou propitious there Didst show'r thy blessings with unsparing hands: Still on thy grief-indented heart impress'd The great Amilcar's valour, still the deedsLine 265 Of Asdrubal and Mago, still the loss Of thy unequal'd Annibal remain'd: Till from the sandy mouths of echoing Rhine, And sounding margin of the Scheld and Maese, With sudden roar the angry voice of warLine 270 Alarm'd thy languor; wonder turn'd thy eye, Lo! in bright arms a bold militia stood, Arrang'd for battle: from afar thou saw'st The snowy ridge of Apennine, the fields Of wide Calabria, and Pyrene's hills,Line 275 The Guadiana, and the Duro's banks, And rapid Ebro gath'ring all their pow'rs To crush this daring populace. The pride

Of fiercest kings with more inflam'd revenge Ne'er menac'd freedom; nor since dauntless Greece, And Rome's stern offspring none hath e'er surpass'dLine 281 The bold 17 1.17 Batavian in his glorious toil For liberty, or death. At once the thought Of long-lamented Carthage flies thy breast, And ardent, Goddess, thou dost speed to saveLine 285 The gen'rous people. Not the vernal show'rs, Distilling copious from the morning clouds, Descend more kindly on the tender flow'r, New-born and op'ning on the lap of spring, Than on this rising state thy cheering smile,Line 290 And animating presence; while on Spain, Prophetic thus, thy indignation broke.

INSATIATE race! the shame of polish'd lands! Disgrace of Europe! for inhuman deeds And insolence renown'd! what demon ledLine 295 Thee first to plough the undiscover'd surge, Which lav'd an hidden world? whose malice taught Thee first to taint with rapine, and with rage, With more than savage thirst of blood the arts, By me for gentlest intercourse ordain'd,Line 300

For mutual aids, and hospitable ties From shore to shore? Or, that pernicious hour, Was Heav'n disgusted with its wondrous works, That to thy fell exterminating hand Th' immense Peruvian empire it resign'd,Line 305 And all, which lordly 18 1.18 Montezeuma sway'd? And com'st thou, strengthen'd with the shining stores Of that gold-teeming hemisphere, to waste The smiling fields of Europe, and extend Thy bloody shackles o'er these happy seatsLine 310 Of liberty? Presumptuous nation, learn, From this dire period shall thy glories fade, Thy slaughter'd youth shall fatten Belgium's sands, And Victory against her Albion's cliffs Shall see the blood-empurpled ocean dashLine 315 Thy weltring hosts, and stain the chalky shore: Ev'n those, whom now thy impious pride would bind In servile chains, hereafter shall support Thy weaken'd throne; when Heav'n's afflicting hand Of all thy pow'r despoils thee, when aloneLine 320 Of all, which e'er hath signaliz'd thy name, Thy insolence and cruelty remain.

THUS with her clouded visage, wrapt in frowns, The Goddess threaten'd, and the daring train Of her untam'd militia, torn with wounds,Line 325 Despising fortune, from repeated foils More fierce, and braving famine's keenest rage, At length through deluges of blood she led To envied greatness; ev'n while clam'rous Mars With loudest clangor bade his trumpet shakeLine 330 The Belgian champain, she their standard rear'd On tributary Java, and the shores Of huge Borneo; thou, Sumatra, heard'st Her naval thunder, Ceylon's trembling sons Their fragrant stores of cinnamon resign'd,Line 335 And odour-breathing Ternate and Tidore Their spicy groves: and O whatever coast The Belgians trace, where'er their pow'r is spread, To hoary Zembla, or to Indian suns, Still thither be extended thy renown,Line 340 O WILLIAM, pride of Orange, and ador'd Thy virtues, which disdaining life, or wealth, Or empire, whether in thy dawn of youth, Thy glorious noon of manhood, or the night, Line 345

19 1.19The fatal night of death, no other careLine 345 Besides the public own'd: and dear to fame Be thou, harmonious 20 1.20 Douza; ev'ry muse Your laurel strow around this hero's urn, Whom fond Minerva grac'd with all her arts, Alike in letters and in arms to shine,Line 350 A dauntless warriour, and a learned bard. Him Spain's surrounding host for slaughter mark'd, With massacre yet reeking from the streets Of blood-stain'd Harlem; he on Leyden's tow'rs With famine his companion, wan, subdu'dLine 355 In outward form, with patient virtue stood Superior to despair; the heav'nly Nine His suff'ring soul with great examples cheer'd Of memorable bards, by Mars adorn'd With wreaths of fame, 21 1.21 Oeagrus' tuneful son,Line 360 Who with melodious praise to noblest deeds Charm'd the Iölchian heroes, and himself Their danger shar'd, 22 1.22 Tyrtaeus, who reviv'd

With animating verse the Spartan hopes, Brave 23 1.23 Aeschylus and 24 1.24 Sophocles, around Whose sacred brows the tragic ivy twin'd,Line 365 Mix'd with the warrior's laurel; all surpass'd By Douza's valour: and the gen'rous toil, His and his country's labours soon receiv'd Their high reward, when fav'ring Commerce rais'd Th' invincible Batavians, till, rever'dLine 370 Among the mightiest, on the brightest roll Of Fame they shone, by splendid wealth and pow'r Grac'd and supported; thus a genial soil Diffusing vigour through the infant oak, Affords it strength to flourish, till at lastLine 375 Its lofty head, in verdant honours clad, It rears amidst the proudest of the grove.

YET here th' eternal Fates thy last retreat Deny, a mightier nation they prepare For thy reception, sufferers alikeLine 380 By th' unremitted insolence of pow'r From reign to reign, nor less than Belgium known For bold contention oft on crimson fields,

In free-tongu'd senates oft with nervous laws To circumscribe, or conqu'ring to deposeLine 385 Their sceptred tyrants: Albion sea-embrac'd, The joy of Freedom, dread of treach'rous kings, The destin'd mistress of the subject main, And arbitress of Europe, now demands Thy presence, Goddess. It was now the time,Line 390 Ere yet perfidious Cromwel dar'd profane The sacred senate, and with impious feet Tread on the pow'rs of magistrates and laws, While ev'ry arm was chill'd with cold amaze, Nor one in all that dauntless train was foundLine 395 To pierce the ruffian's heart; and now thy name Was heard in thunder through th' affrighted shores Of pale Iberia, of submissive Gaul, And Tagus, trembling to his utmost source, O ever faithful, vigilant, and brave,Line 400 Thou bold asserter of Britannia's fame, Unconquerable BLAKE: propitious heav'n At this great aera, and 25 1.25 the sage decree Of Albion's senate, perfecting at once, What by 26 1.26 Eliza was so well begun,Line 405

So deeply founded, to this favour'd shore The Goddess drew, where grateful she bestow'd Th' unbounded empire of her father's floods, And chose thee, London, for her chief abode, Pleas'd with the silver Thames, its gentle stream,Line 410 And smiling banks, its joy-diffusing hills, Which, clad with splendour, and with beauty grac'd, O'erlook his lucid bosom; pleas'd with thee, Thou nurse of arts, and thy industrious race; Pleas'd with their candid manners, with their freeLine 415 Sagacious converse, to enquiry led, And zeal for knowledge; hence the opening mind Resigns its errours, and unseals the eye Of blind opinion; merit hence is heard Amidst its blushes, dawning arts arise,Line 420 The gloomy clouds, which ignorance or fear Spread o'er the paths of virtue, are dispell'd, Servility retires, and ev'ry heart With public cares is warm'd; thy merchants hence, Illustrious city, thou dost raise to fame:Line 425 How many names of glory may'st thou trace From earliest annals down to BARNARD's times! And, O! if like that eloquence divine, Which forth for Commerce, for Britannia's rights, Line 430

And her insulted majesty he pour'd,Line 430 These humble measures flow'd, then too thy walls Might undisgrac'd resound thy poet's name, Who now all fearful to thy praise attunes His lyre, and pays his grateful Song to thee, Thy votary, O Commerce! Gracious pow'r!Line 435 Continue still to hear my vows, and bless My honourable industry, which courts No other smile but thine; for thou alone Can'st wealth bestow with independence crown'd: Nor yet exclude contemplative repose,Line 440 But to my dwelling grant the solemn calm Of learned leisure, never to reject The visitation of the tuneful maids, Who seldom deign to leave their sacred haunts, And grace a mortal mansion; thou divideLine 445 With them my labours; pleasure I resign, And, all devoted to my midnight lamp, Ev'n now, when Albion o'er the foamy breast Of groaning Tethys spreads its threat'ning fleets, I grasp the sounding shell, prepar'd to singLine 450 That hero's valour, who shall best confound His injur'd country's foes: ev'n now I feel Celestial fires descending on my breast,

Which prompt thy daring suppliant to explore, Why, though deriv'd from Neptune, though rever'dLine 455 Among the nations, by the Gods endow'd, Thou never yet from eldest times hast found One permanent abode, why, oft expell'd Thy favour'd seats, from clime to clime hast borne Thy wand'ring steps, why LONDON late hath seenLine 460 (Thy lov'd, thy last retreat) desponding care O'ercloud thy brow: O listen, while the Muse, Th' immortal progeny of Jove, unfolds The fatal cause. What Time in Nysa's cave Th' ethereal train in honour to thy sireLine 465 Show'r'd on thy birth their blended gifts, the pow'r Of war was absent; hence, unbless'd by Mars, Thy sons relinquish'd arms, on other arts Intent, and still to mercenary hands The sword entrusting, vainly deem'd, that wealthLine 470 Could purchase lasting safety, and protect Unwarlike freedom; hence the Alps in vain Were pass'd, their long-impenetrable snows And dreary torrents; swoln with Roman dead, Astonish'd 27 1.27 Trebia overflow'd its banksLine 475

In vain, and deep-dy'd Trasimenus roll'd Its crimson waters; Cannae's signal day The fame alone of great Amilcar's son Enlarg'd, while still undisciplin'd, dismay'd, Her head commercial Carthage bow'd at lastLine 480 To military Rome: th' unalter'd will Of heav'n in ev'ry climate hath ordain'd, And ev'ry age, that empire shall attend The sword, and steel shall ever conquer gold. Then from thy suff'rings learn; th' auspicious hourLine 485 Now smiles; our wary magistrates have arm'd Our hands; thou, Goddess, animate our breasts To cast inglorious indolence aside, That once again, in bright battalions rang'd, Our thousands and ten thousands may be seenLine 490 Their country's only rampart, and the dread Of wild ambition. Mark the Swedish hind; He, on his native soil should danger lour, Soon from the entrails of the dusky mine Would rise to arms; and other fields and chiefsLine 495 With 28 1.28 Helsingburg and Steinboch soon would share

The admiration of the northern world: Helvetia's hills behold, th' aërial seat Of long-supported Liberty, who thence, Securely resting on her faithful shield,Line 500 The warrior's corselet flaming on her breast, Looks down with scorn on spacious realms, which groan In servitude around her, and, her sword With dauntless skill high-brandishing, defies The Austrian eagle, and imperious Gaul:Line 505 And O could those ill-fated shades arise, Whose valiant ranks along th' ensanguin'd dust Of 29 1.29 Newbury lay crouded, they could tell, How their long-matchless cavalry, so oft O'er hills of slain by ardent RUPERT led,Line 510 Whose dreaded standard victory had wav'd, Till then triumphant, there with noblest blood From their gor'd squadrons dy'd the restive spear Of London's firm militia, and resign'd Line 515

The well-disputed field: then, Goddess, say,Line 515 Shall we be now more timid, when behold, The blackning storm now gathers round our heads, And England's angry genius sounds to arms? For thee, remember, is the banner spread, The naval tow'r to vindicate thy rightsLine 520 Will sweep the curling foam, the thund'ring bomb Will roar, and startle in their deepest grots Old Nereus' daughters, with combustion stor'd For thee our dire volcano's of the main, Impregnated with horrour, soon will pourLine 525 Their flaming ruin round each hostile fleet; Thou then, great Goddess, summon all thy pow'rs, Arm all thy sons, thy vassals, ev'ry heart Inflame: and you, ye fear-disclaiming race, Ye mariners of Britain, chosen trainLine 530 Of Liberty and Commerce, now no more Secrete your gen'rous valour; hear the call Of injur'd Albion; to her foes present Those daring bosoms, which alike disdain The death-disploding cannon, and the rageLine 535 Of warring tempests, mingling in their strife The seas and clouds: though long, in silence hush'd, Hath slept the British thunder; though the pride

Of weak Iberia hath forgot the roar; Soon shall her ancient terrours be recall'd,Line 540 When your victorious shouts affright her shores: None now ignobly will your warmth restrain, Nor hazard more indignant valour's curse, Their country's wrath, and Time's eternal scorn; Then bid the furies of Bellona wake,Line 545 And silver-mantled Peace with welcome steps Anon shall visit your triumphant isle. And that perpetual safety may possess Our joyous fields, thou, genius, who presid'st O'er this illustrious city, teach her sonsLine 550 To wield the noble instruments of war; And let the great example soon extend Through ev'ry province, till Britannia sees Her docile millions fill the martial plain. Then, whatsoe'er our terrours now suggestLine 555 Of desolation and th' invading sword, Though with his massy trident Neptune heav'd A new-born isthmus from the British deep, And to its parent continent rejoin'd Our chalky shore; though Mahomet could leagueLine 560 His pow'rful crescent with the hostile Gaul, And that new Cyrus of the conquer'd east,

Who now in trembling vassalage unites The Ganges and Euphrates, could advance With his auxiliar host; our warlike youth▪Line 565 With 30 1.30 equal numbers, and with keener zeal For children, parents, friends, for England fir'd, Her fertile glebe, her wealthy towns, her laws, Her liberty, her honour, should sustain The dreadful onset, and resistless breakLine 570 Th' immense array: thus ev'n the lightest thought E'er to invade Britannia's calm repose Must die the moment, that auspicious Mars Her sons shall bless with discipline and arms; That exil'd race, in superstition nurs'd,Line 575 The servile pupils of tyrannic Rome, With distant gaze despairing shall behold The guarded splendors of Britannia's crown; Still from their abdicated sway estrang'd, With all th' attendance on despotic thrones,Line 580 Priests, ignorance, and bonds; with watchful step Gigantic Terrour, striding round our coast, Shall shake his gorgon aegis, and the hearts

Of proudest kings appal; to other shores Our angry fleets, when insolence and wrongsLine 585 To arms awaken our vindictive pow'r, Shall bear the hideous waste of ruthless war; But liberty, security, and fame Shall dwell for ever on our chosen plains.

FINIS

Notes

• 1 1.1

  The east wind.
• 2 1.2

  Bremen is situated on the Weser, and Hamburgh on the Elb.
• 3 1.3

  Triton, a river and lake of ancient Lybia.
• 4 1.4

  Fruitfulness.
• 5 1.5

  Plenty.
• 6 1.6

  This whole description of the rock and grotto is taken from Diod. Si|culus, lib. 3. pag. 202.
• 7 1.7

  Minerva, the tutelary Goddess of the Athenians, to whom she gave the olive.
• 8 1.8

  Vulcan, the tutelary deity of Lemnos.
• 9 1.9

  Here the opinion of Sir Isaac Newton is follow'd, that letters were first invented amongst the trading parts of the world.
• 10 1.10

  Athenian. Athens was call'd Cecropia from Cecrops its first king.
• 11 1.11

  Sicily.
• 12 1.12

  Another name of Sicily, which was frequently ravag'd by the Cartha|ginians.
• 13 1.13

  Cadiz.
• 14 1.14

  Marseilles, a Grecian colony, the most civiliz'd, as well as the greatest trading city of ancient Gaul.
• 15 1.15

  Genoua.
• 16 1.16

  The Portuguese discover'd the cape of Good Hope in 1487.
• 17 1.17

  The Dutch.
• 18 1.18

  Montezeuma emperor of Mexico.
• 19 1.19

  He was assassinated at Delf. His dying words were, Lord have mercy upon this people. See Grot. de Bell. Belg.
• 20 1.20

  Janus Douza, a famous poet, and the most learned man of his time. He commanded in Leyden, when it was so obstinately besieg'd by the Spa|niards in 1570. See Meursii Athen. Bat.
• 21 1.21

  Orpheus, one of the Argonauts, who set sail from Iölcos, a town in Thessalia.
• 22 1.22

  When the Spartans were greatly distress'd in the Messenian war, they applied to the Athenians for a general, who sent them the poet Tyrtaeus.
• 23 1.23

  Aeschylus, one of the most ancient tragic poets, who signaliz'd himself in the battles of Marathon and Salamis.
• 24 1.24

  Sophocles commanded his countrymen the Athenians in several expe|ditions.
• 25 1.25

  The act of navigation.
• 26 1.26

  Queen Elizabeth was the first of our princes, who gave any consider|able encouragement to trade.
• 27 1.27

  Trebia, Trasimenus lacus, and Cannae, famous for the victories gain'd by Annibal over the Romans.
• 28 1.28

  Helsingburg, a small town in Schonen, celebrated for the victory, which Count Steinboch gain'd over the Danes with an army, for the most part com|posed of Swedish peasants, who had never seen an enemy before; it is re|markable, that the defeated troops were as complete a body of regular forces, as any in all Europe.
• 29 1.29

  The London train'd bands, and auxiliary regiments (of whose inexpe|rience of danger, or any kind of service, beyond the easy practice of their postures in the artillery garden, men had till then too cheap an estimation) behav'd themselves to wonder; and were, in truth, the preservation of that army that day. For they stood as a bulwark and rampire to defend the rest; and when their wings of horse were scatter'd and dispers'd, kept their ground so steadily, that though prince Rupert himself led up the choice horse to charge them, and endur'd their storm of small shot, he could make no im|pression on their stand of pikes; but was forc'd to wheel about. Clarend. ••ook 7. pag. 347.
• 30 1.30

  If the computation, which allots near two millions of fighting men to this kingdom, may be relied on; it is not easy to conceive, how the united force of the whole world could assemble together, and subsist in an enemy's country greater numbers, than they would find opposed to them here.