The tame, war-trading Belgian fled, While in his caufe the Briton bled: The Gaul flood wond'ring at his own fuccefs; Oft did his hardieft bands their wonted fears confefs, Struck with difmay, and meditating flight; While the brave foe ftill urg'd th' unequal fight, While WILLIAM, with his Father's ardour fir'd, Through all th' undaunted hoft the generous flame infpir'd! V. But heavier far the weight of fhame That funk Britannia's naval fame: In vain she spreads her once-victorious fails; Avoids the long impending blow; Improves the kind escape, and triumphs in his flight. VI. The monstrous age, which ftill increafing years debafe, Which teems with unknown crimes, and genders new disgrace, Firft, unrestrained by honour, faith, or fhame, Confounding every facred name, The hallow'd nuptial bed with lawless luft profan'd: The dire corruption held its course Through the whole canker'd race, and tainted all the land. VII. The VII. The rip'ning maid is vers'd in every dangerous art, In wanton mask to lead the way, To move the pliant limbs, to roll the luring eye; In empty noife and vain expence ; To celebrate with flaunting air The midnight revels of the fair; Studious of ev'ry praise, but virtue, truth, and fenfe. VIII. Thus leffon'd in intrigue her early thought improves, Soon the gay nymph in Cyprus' train shall rove Or haply jealous of the voice of fame, Mask'd in the matron's fober name, The kind, convenient husband's care beguile : Bears unabash'd her front; and glories in her crime. IX. Hither from city and from court The votaries of love refort; B 3 The The rich, the great, the gay, and the fevere; The patriot, loud in virtue's cause ; Regardless of his faith, his country, or his name, Nor reckons at how dear a rate He purchases disease, and servitude, and shame. X. Not from fuch daftard fires, to every virtue loft, Who fwept th' unnumber'd hosts away, Their vainly-vaunted fleets fubdu'd, And spread the mighty wreck o'er all the vanquifh'd main XI. No;-'twas a generous race, by worth tranfmiffive known ; Form'd by th' united parents care, 'The fons, tho' bold, were wife; the daughters chafte, tho' fair. XII. How XII. How Time, all-wafting, ev'n the worst impairs, Our fires, more vicious ev'n than theirs, To spawn a bafer brood of monfter-breeding fons. WH The happy gardens of Adonis lay : There Time, well pleas'd to wonne, a youth beseems. Ne yet his wings were fledg'd, ne locks were grey; Round him in sweet accord the Seasons play With fruits and bloffoms meint, in goodly gree; And dancing hand in hand rejoice the lea. Sick gardens now no mortal wight can see, Ne mote they in my simple verse descriven be. II. The temper'd clime full many a tree affords ; And warble fongs more fweet than fhepherd's flute, Here Panacea, here Nepenthe grew, IV. Not fhe, I ween, the wanton queen of love, This fated, fullen, apt for bickerment; That hungry, eager, fit for derring-does. That flies before, with fcorching flames ybrent; This foll'wing douts thofe flames with peevish discontent. V. Celestial |