POETRY. mr 



ODE for his Majesty's Birtii-Day, 1804. Bij the Same. 



I. 



AS the blest Guardian of the British Isles, 

 Immortal Liberty, triumphant stood, 

 And view'd her gallant sons, with favouring smiles, 



Undaunted heroes of the lield or flood; 

 From Inverary's rocky shores, 

 Where loud the Hyperborean billow roars, 

 To where the surges of the Atlantic wave 

 Around Cornubia's Western borders rave. 

 While Erin's valiant %varriors glow 

 With kindred fire to crush the injurious foe, 

 From her bright lance the flamf.s of Vengeance stream. 

 And in her eagle eye shines Glory's radiant beam. 



II. 



Why sink those smiles in Sorrow's sigh ? 

 Why Sorrow's tears suffuse that eye ' 

 Alas ! M hile weeping Britain sees 

 The baleful fiends of pale Disease 

 Malignant hovering near her throne, 

 And threat a Monarch all her own — 

 IVo more from Anglia's fertile land, 

 No more from Caledonia's strand. 

 From Erin's breezy hills no more 

 The panting legions crowd the shore; 

 The buoyant barks, the vaunting host 

 That swarm on Gallia's hostile coast, 

 The anxious thought no longer share, 

 Lost in a nearer, dearer care. 

 And Britain breathes alone for Geok.c;e's life her prayer. 



IIL 



Her prayer is heard — Th' Almighty Power, 



Potent to punish or to save, 

 Bids Health resume again her happier hour; — 



And, as across the misty wave 

 The fresh'ning breezes sweep the clouds away 

 That hid awhile tho gold(!u orb of day. 

 So from H) geia':) bahny breath 

 Fly the drear shadow's of Disease and Death — 

 Again the manly breast beats high, 

 And Hames again the indignant eye. 

 While, from the cottage to the throne. 

 This generous sentiment alone 



Vo'.. XLVI. 3 !^I Lives 



