896 ANNUAL R E GlS T E R, 1804. 



So when the awful thunder roars, 



When round the livid lightnings play, 

 Th' Imperial eagle proudly soars, 



And wings aioft her daring way. 

 And, hark ! with animating note 

 Aloud her strains exulting float, 

 AVhile pointing to th' invet'rate host, 

 Who threat destruction to this envied coast: 

 *' Go forth, my sons — as nobler rights ye claim, 

 *' Than ever fann'd the Grecian patriot's flame, 

 " So let your breasts a fiercer ardour feel, 

 '* Led by your Patriot King, to guard your Country's weal." 



Her voice is heard — from wood, from vale, from down, 

 The thatch-roof 'd village, and the busy town, ' 

 Eager th' indignant country swarms, 

 And pours a people clad in arms, 

 Num'rous as those whom Xerxes led, 

 To crush devoted Freedom's head ; 

 Firm as the band for Freedom's cause who stood, 

 And stain'd Thermopule with Spartan blood; 

 Hear o'er their heads the exulting goddess sing: 

 " These are my favourite sons, and mine their Warrior King!'* 



Thro' Albion's plains, while wide and far 



Swells the tumultuous din of war, 



While from the loom, the forge, the flail, 



From Labour's plough, from Commerce' sail, 



All ranks to martial impulse yield, 



And grasp the spear, and brave the field, 



Do weeds our plains uncultur'd hide? 



Does drooping Commerce quit the tid« ? 



Do languid Art and Industry 



Their useful cares no longer ply ? 



Never did Agriculture's toil 



With richer harvests clothe the soil ;■ 



Ne'er were our barks more amply fraught, 



Ne'er were with happier skill our ores, our fleeces Wrought. 



While the pr jud foe, to swell invasion's host, 

 His bleeding country's countless millions drains. 



And Gallia mourns, through her embattled coast, 

 Unpeopled cities, and unlabour'd plains. 



To guard and to avengd this favour'd land, 



Tho' gleams the sword in ev'ry Briton's hand. 



Still o'er our fields waves Concord's silken wing, 



.Still the Arts flourish, and the Muses sing; 



While moral Truth, and Faith's celestial ray. 

 Adorn, illume, and bless, a George's prosp'rous sway. 



ODE 



