jSo the false spider, when her nets are spread,

O famous leader of the Belgian fleet, Deep ambush'd in her silent den does lie :

Thy monument inscrib'd such praise shall wa, And feels far off the trembling of her thread, As Varro timely flying once did meet,

Whose filmy cord should bind the struggling fly. Because he did not of his Rome despair. Then if at last she find him fast beset,

Behold that navy, which a while before She issues forth, and runs along her loom :

Provok'd the tardy English close to fight; She joys to touch the captive in her net,

Now draw their beaten vessels close to shore, And drags the little wretch in triumph home. As larks lie dar'd to shun the hobby's flight The Belgians hop'd that, with disorder'd haste, Whoe'er would English monuments survey,

Our deep-cut keels upon the sands might run : In other records may our courage know: Or if with caution leisurely were past, (one. But let them hide the story of this day,

Their numerous gross might charge us one by Whose fame was blemish'd by too base a fue. But with a fore-wind pushing them above, Or if too busily they will inquire

And swelling tide that heav'd them from below, Into a victory, which we disdain ;
O'er the blind flats our warlike squadrons move, Then let them know the Belgians did retire

And with spread sails to welcome battle go. Before the patron saint of injur'd Spain.
It seem'd as there the British Neptune stood, Repenting England this revengeful day
With all his hosts of waters at command,

To Philip's manes did an offering bring: Beneath them to submit th' officious flood;

England, which first, by leading them astray, And with his trident shov'd them off the sand. Hatch'd up rebellion to destroy her king. To the pale foes they suddenly draw near,

Our fathers bent their baneful industry, And summon them to unexpected fight :

To check a monarchy that slowly grew; They start like murderers when ghosts appear, But did not France or Holland's fate foresee,

And draw their curtains in the dead of night. Whose rising power to swift dominion flex. Now van to van the foremost squadrons meet, In Fortune's empire blindly thus we go, The midmost battles hastening up behind,

And wander after pathless Destiny; Who view far off the storm of falling sleet,

Whose dark resorts since Prudence cannot know, And hear their thunder rattling in the wind. In vain it would provide for what shall be.

At length the adverse admirals appear :

The two bold champions of each country's right : Their eyes describe the lists as they come near,

And draw the lines of death before they fight.

The distance judg'd for shot of every size,

The linstocs touch, the ponderous ball expires : The vigorous seaman every port-hole plies,

And adds his heart to every gun he fires! Fierce was the fight on the proud Belgians' side,

For honour, which they seldom sought before : But now they by their own vain boasts were ty'd,

And forc'd at least in show to prize it more.

But whate'er English to the blessed shall go,

And the fourth Harry or first Orange meet;
Find him disowning of a Bourbon foe,

And him detesting a Batavian fleet.
Now on their coasts our conquering navy rides,

Waylays their merchants, and their land bests;
Each day new wealth without their care provides;

They lie asleep with prizes in their nets.
So close behind some promontory lie

The huge leviathans t'attend their prey ;
And give no chace, but swallow in the fry, (way.

Which through their gaping jaws mistake the
Nor was this all : in ports and roads remote,

Destructive fires among whole fleets we send;
Triumphant flames upon the water float,
And out-bound ships at home their voyage

end. Those various squadrons variously design'd,

Each vessel freighted with a several load,
Each squadron waiting for a several wind,

All find but one, to burn them in the road.

But sharp remembrance on the English part,

And shame of being match'd by such a foe, Rouze conscious virtue up in every heart,

And seeming to be stronger makes them so.

Nor long the Belgians could that feet sustain,

Which did two generals' fates, and Cæsar's bear : Each several ship a victory did gain,

As Rupert or as Albemarle were there.

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Our greedy seamen rummage every hold, And now no longer letted of his prey,

Smile on the booty of each wealthier chest, He leaps up at it with enrag'd desire : And, as the priests who with their gods make bold, O'erlooks the neighbours with a wide survey,

Take what they like, and sacrifice the rest. And nods at every house his threatening fire. But ah! how insincere are all our joys! (no stay: The ghosts of traitors from the bridge descend,

Which, sent from Heaven, like lightning make With bold fanatic spectres to rejoice : Their palling taste the journey's length destroys, About the fire into a dance they bend,

Or grief sent post o'ertakes them on the way. And sing their sabbath notes with feeble voice. Swell’d with our late successes on the foe,

Our guardian angel saw them where they sate Which France and Holland wanted power to cross,

Above the palace of our slumbering king : We urge an unseen fate to lay us low,

He sigh’d, abandoning his charge to Fate, And feed their envious eyes with English loss. And drooping, oft look'd back upon the wing. Each element his dread command obeys,

At length the crackling noise and dreadful blaze Who makes or ruins with a smile or frown; Call’d up some waking lover to the sight; Who, as by one he did our nation raise,

And long it was ere he the rest could raise, So now he with another pulls us down.

Whose heavy eyelids yet were full of night. 1 Yet, London, empress of the northern clime, The next to danger, hot pursued by Fate, By an high fate thou greatly didst expire;

Half-cloth’d, half-naked, hastily retire : . Great as the world's, which, at the death of Time And frighted mothers strike their breasts too late, Must fall, and rise a nobler frame by Fire.

For helpless infants left amidst the fire. As when some dire usurper Heaven provides, Their cries soon waken all the dwellers near ;

To scourge his country with a lawless sway; Now murmuring noises rise in every street :
His birth, perhaps, some petty village hides, The more remote run stumbling with their fear,
And sets his cradle out of Fortune's way:

And in the dark men justle as they meet.
Till, fully ripe, his swelling fate breaks out, So weary bees in little cells repose ;
And hurries him to mighty mischiefs on :

But if night-robbers lift the well-stor'd hive, His prince, surpris'd at first, no ill could doubt, An humming through their waxen city grows,

And wants the power to meet it when 'tis known. And out upon each other's wings they drive. Such was the rise of this prodigious Fire,

Now streets grow throng'd and busy as by day : Which in mean buildings first obscurely bred, Some run for buckets to the hallow'd quire : From thence did soon to open streets aspire,

Some cut the pipes, and some the engines play; And straight to palaces and temples spread. And some more bold mount ladders to the fire. The diligence of trades and noiseful gain, In vain : for from the east a Belgian wind And luxury more late, asleep were laid :

His hostile breath through the dry rafters sent; All was the Night's; and in her silent reign The flames impell'd soon left their foes behind, No sound the rest of Nature did invade.

And forward with a wanton fury went.

In this deep quiet, from what source unknown,

Those seeds of Fire their fatal birth disclose; And first few scattering sparks about were blown,

Big with the flames that to our ruin rose. Then in some close-pent room it crept along,

And, smouldering as it went, in silence fed ; Till th' infant monster, with devouring strong,

Walk'd boldly upright with exalted head. Now like some rich or mighty murderer,

Too great for prison, which he breaks with gold; Who fresher for new mischiefs does appear,

And dares the world to tax him with the old :

A key of fire ran all along the shore,

And lighten'd all the river with a blaze:
The waken'd tides began again to roar,

And wondering fish in shining waters gaze.
Old father Thames rais'd up his reverend head,

But fear'd the fate of Simois would return : Deep in his ooze he sought his sedgy bed,

And shrunk his waters back into his urn.
The Fire, meantime, walks in a broader gross ;

To either hand his wings he opens wide :
He wades the streets, and straight he reaches cross,

And plays his longing flames on th' other side.

So scapes th' insulting Fire his narrow jail,

And makes small outlets into open air : There the fierce winds his tender force assail,

And beat him downward to his first repair.

At first they warm, then scorch, and then they take ;

Now with long necks from side to side they feed;
At length grown strong their mother Fire forsake,

And a new colony of Flames succeed.
To every nobler portion of the town

The curling billows roll their restless tide :
In parties now they straggle up and down,

As armies unoppos’d for prey divide.

The winds, like crafty courtezans, withheld

His flames from burning, but to blow them more: And every fresh attempt he is repell’d

With faint denials weaker than before.

One mighty squadron with a side-wind sped, | The rich grow suppliant, and the poor grow pres

Through narrow lanes his cumber'd fire does haste, Those offer mighty gain, and these ask more : By powerful charms of gold and silver led, So void of pity is thi' ignoble crowd,

The Lombard bankers and the 'Change to waste. When others' ruin may increase their store. Another backward to the Tower would go, As those who live by shores with joy behold

And slowly eats his way against the wind : Some wealthy vessel split or stranded nigti, But the main body of the marching foe

And from the rocks leap down for shipwreck'd going Against th' imperial palace is design'd.

And seek the tempests which the others fly: Now day appears, and with the day the king, So these but wait the owners' last despair,

Whose early care had robb’d him of his rest : And what's permitted to the flames invade ; Far off the cracks of falling houses ring,

Ev’n from their jaws they hungry morsels tear, And shrieks of subjects pierce his tender breast. And on their backs the spoils of Vulcan lade. Near as he draws, thick harbingers of smoke The days were all in this lost labour spent ; With gloomy pillars cover all the place ;

And when the weary king gave place to night, Whose little intervals of night are broke

His beams he to his royal brother lent,
By sparks, that drive against his sacred face. And so shone still in his reflective light.
More than his guards his sorrows made him known, Night came, but without darkness or repose,

And pious tears which down his cheeks did shower: A dismal picture of the general doom;
The wretched in his grief forgot their own;

Where souls distracted when the trumpet blows, So much the pity of a king has power.

And half unready with their bodies come. He wept the flames of what he lov'd so well, Those who have homes, when home they do repet, And what so well had merited his love :

To a last lodging call their wandering friends : For never prince in grace did more excel,

Their short uneasy sleeps are broke with care, Or royal city more in duty strove.

To look how near their own destruction tends Nor with an idle care did he behold:

Those who have none, sit round where once it was Subjects may grieve, but monarchs must redress; And with full eyes each wonted room require: He cheers the fearful, and commends the bold, Haunting the yet warm ashes of the place,

And makes despairers hope for good success. As murder'd men walk where they did expire. Himself directs what first is to be done,

Some stir up coals and watch the vestal fire, And orders all the succours which they bring : Others in vain from sight of ruin run; The helpful and the good about him run,

And while through burning labyrinths they retire, And form an army worthy such a king.

With loathing eyes repeat what they would shius. He sees the dire contagion spread so fast,

The most in fields like herded beasts lie down, That where it seizes all relief is vain :

To dews obnoxious on the grassy floor ; And therefore must unwillingly lay waste

And while their babes in sleep their sorrows drone, That country, which would else the foe maintain. Sad parents watch the remnants of their store. The powder blows up all before the Fire :

While by the motion of the flames they guess Tl' amazed Flames stand gather'd on a heap; What streets are burning now, and what are near, And from the precipice's brink retire,

An infant waking to the paps would press, Afraid to venture on so large a leap.

And meets, instead of milk, a falling tear. Thus fighting Fires awhile themselves consume, No thought can ease them but their sovereign's care,

But straight, like Turks, forc'd on to win or die, Whose praise th' afflicted as their comfort sing: They first lay tender bridges of their fume,

Ev’n those, whom want might drive to just despair, And o'er the breach in unctuous vapours fly. Think life a blessing under such a king.

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Part stay for passage, till a gust of wind

Ships o'er their forces in a shining sheet :
Part creeping under ground their journey blind,

And climbing from below their fellows meet.

Thus to some desert plain, or old wood side,

Dire night-hags come from far to dance their round; And o'er broad rivers on their fiends they ride,

Or sweep in clouds above the blasted ground. No help avails : for, hydra-like, the Fire

Lifts up his hundred heads to aim his way : And scarce the wealthy can one half retire,

Before he rushes in to share the prey.

Meantime he sadly suffers in their grief,

Outweeps an hermit, and outprays a saint: All the long night he studies their relief,

How they may be supply'd and he may want. “ O God,” said he, “ thou patron of my days,

Guide of my youth in exile and distress!
Who me unfriended brought'st, by wondrous ways

The kingdom of my fathers to possess :
“ Be thou my judge, with what unweary'd care

I since have labour'd for my people's good; To bind the bruises of a civil war,

And stop the issues of their wasting blood.

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Thou who hast taught me to forgive the ill, And now four days the Sun had seen our woes : And recompense as friends the good misled; Four nights the Moon beheld th' incessant fire: mercy be a precept of thy will,

It seem'd as if the stars more sickly rose, Return that mercy on thy servant's head.

And further from the feverish North retire. Or if my heedless youth has stepp'd astray, In th' empyrean Heaven, the bless'd abode, Too soon forgetful of thy gracious hand;

The thrones and the dominions prostrate lie, n me alone thy just displeasure lay,

Not daring to behold their angry God; But take thy judgments from this mourning land. And an hush'd silence damps the tuneful sky. We all have sinn'd, and thou hast laid us low, At length th' Almighty cast a pitying eye, As humble earth from whence at first we came : And mercy softly touch'd his melting breast : ke flying shades before the clouds we show, He saw the town's one-half in rubbish lie, And shrink like parchment in consuming flame. And eager flames drive on to storm the rest. O let it be enough what thou hast done ; (street, An hollow crystal pyramid he takes, When spotted Deaths ran arm'd through every In firmamental waters dipt above : ith poison'd darts which not the good could shun, of it a broad extinguisher he makes, The speedy could outfly, or valiant meet.

And hoods the flames that to their quarry drove. The living few, and frequent funerals then, The vanquish'd Fires withdraw from every place, Proclaim'd thy wrath on this forsaken place Or full with feeding sink into a sleep : nd now those few who are return'd again,

Each household genius shows again his face, Thy searching judgments to their dwellings trace. And from the hearths the little Lares creep. O pass not, Lord, an absolute decree,

Our king this more than natural change beholds ; Or bind thy sentence unconditional :

With sober joy his heart and eyes abound ut in thy sentence our remorse foresee,

To the All-good his lifted hands he folds, And in that foresight this thy doom recall.

And thanks him low on his redeemed ground. Thy threatenings, Lord, as thine thou may'st re- As when sharp frosts had long constrain'd the earth, voke:

A kindly thaw unlocks it with cold rain ; But if immutable and fix'd they stand,

And first the tender blade peeps up to birth (grain : ontinue still thyself to give the stroke,

And straight the green fields laugh with promis’al And let not foreign foes oppress thy land.”

I

By such degrees the spreading gladness grew a' Eternal heard, and from the heavenly quire In every heart which fear had froze before : Chose out the cherub with the flaming sword; The standing streets with so much joy they view, and bade him swiftly drive th' approaching Fire That with less grief the perish'd they deplore. From where our naval magazines were storid

The father of the people open'd wide ne blessed minister his wings display'd,

His stores, and all the poor with plenty fed : And like a shooting star he cleft the night : Thus God's anointed God's own place supply'd, e charg'd the flames, and those that disobey'd And fill'd the empty with his daily bread. He lash'd to duty with his sword of light.

This royal bounty brought its own reward, ne fugitive Flames, chastis'd, went forth to prey And in their minds so deep did print the sense; On pious structures, by our fathers rear'd; That if their ruins sadly they regard, - which to Heaven they did affect the way,

"Tis but with fear the sight might drive him thence. Ere faith in churchmen without works was heard.

But so may he live long, that town to sway, ne wanting orphans saw, with watery eyes,

Which by his auspice they will nobler make, Their founders' charity in dust laid low;

As he will hatch their ashes by his stay, ad sent to God their ever-answer'd cries,

And not their humble ruins now forsake. For he protects the poor, who made them so.

They have not lost their loyalty by fire; or could thy fabric, Paul's, defend thee long, Nor is their courage or their wealth so low, Though thou wert sacred to thy Maker's praise: That from his wars they poorly would retire, nough made immortal by a poet's song;

Or beg the pity of a vanquish'd foe. And poets' songs the Theban walls could raise.

Not with more constancy the Jews, of old ne daring Aames peep'd in, and saw from far By Cyrus from rewarded exile sent, The awful beauties of the sacred quire:

Their royal city did in dust behold, at, since it was profan'd by civil war,

Or with more vigour to rebuild it went. Heav'n thought it fit to have it purg'd by fire.

The utmost malice of the stars is past, {town, ow down the narrow streets it swiftly came,

And two dire comets, which have scourg'd the And widely opening did on both sides prey: In their own plague and fire have breath'd the last, his benefit we sadly owe the flame,

Or dimly in their sinking sockets frown. If only ruin must enlarge our way.

CHORUS

Now frequent trines the happier lights among,
And high raised Jove from his dark prison freed,

ALEXANDER'S FEAST:
Those weights took off that on his planet hung,

OR, THE POWER OF MUSIC. Will gloriously the new-laid work succeed.

An Ode in Honour of St. Cecilia's Day. Methinks already from this chymic Aame,

'Twas at the royal feast for Persia won I see a city of more precious mold :

By Philip's warlike son : Rich as the town which gives the Indies name,

Aloft in awful state With silver pav'd, and all divine with gold.

The godlike hero sate

On his imperial throne : Already labouring with a mighty fate,

His valiant peers were plac'd around; She shakes the rubbish from her mounting brow, Their brows with roses and with myrtles bound: And seems to have renew'd her charter's date,

(So should desert in arms be crown'd) Which Heaven will to the death of Time allow. The lovely Thais, by his side,

Sate, like a blooming eastern bride, More great than human now, and more august, In flower of youth and beauty's pride. Now deify'd she from her fires does rise :

Happy, happy, happy pair ! Her widening streets on new foundations trust,

None but the brave, And opening into larger parts she flies.

None but the brave,

None but the brave deserves the fair.
Before she like some shepherdess did show,

Who sat to bathe her by a river's side ;
Not answering to her fame, but rude and low,

Happy, happy, happy pair !

None but the brave, Nor taught the beauteous arts of modern pride.

None but the brave,
Now like a maiden queen she will behold,

None but the brave deserves the fair.
From her high turrets, hourly suitors come:
The East with incense, and the West with gold,

Timotheus, plac'd on high
Will stand like suppliants to receive her doom.

Amid the tuneful quire,

With flying fingers touch'd the lyre : The silver Thames, her own domestic flood,

The trembling notes ascend the sky, Shall bear her vessels like a sweeping train ;

And heavenly joys inspire. And often wind, as of his mistress proud,

The song began from Jove, With longing eyes to meet her face again.

Who left his blissful seats above,

(Such is the power of mighty love. ) The wealthy Tagus, and the wealthier Rhine, A dragon's fiery form bely'd the god The glory of their towns no more shall boast,

Sublime on radiant spires he rode,
When he to fair Olympia press d:

:
And Seyne, that would with Belgian rivers join,
Shall find her lustre stain'd, and traffic lost.

And while he sought her snowy breast : Then, round her slender waist he curl’dwert

! The venturous merchant, who design'd more far,

And stamp'd an image of himself, a sovereign do And touches on our hospitable shore,

The listening crowd admire the lofty sound, Charm'd with the splendour of this northern star,

A present deity, they shout around: Shall here unlade him and depart no more.

A present deity the vaulted roofs rebound:

With ravish'd ears Our powerful navy shall no longer meet,

The monarch hears, The wealth of France or Holland to invade ;

Assumes the god, The beauty of this town without a fleet,

Affects to nod, From all the world shall vindicate her trade.

And seems to shake the spheres.

CHORUS

1

And while this fam'd emporium we prepare,

The British ocean shall such triumphs boast, That those, who now disdain our trade to share,

Shall rob like pirates on our wealthy coast.

Already we have conquer'd half the war,

And the less dangerous part is left behind: Our trouble now is but to make them dare,

And not so great to vanquish as to find.

Thus to the eastern wealth through storms we go,

But now, the Cape once doubled, fear no more ; A constant trade-wind will securely blow,

And gently lay us on the spicy shore.

With ravish'd ears
The monarch hears,
Assumes the god,

Affects to nod,
And seems to shake the spheres.
The praise of Bacchus then, the sweet musician sur.
Of Bacchus ever fair and ever young:

The jolly god in triumph comes;
Sound the trumpets ; beat the drums;

Flush'd with a purple grace

He shows his honest face;
Now give the hautboys breath: he comes, he comes

Bacchus, ever fair and young,

Drinking joys did first ordain ;
Bacchus' blessings are a treasure,
Drinking is the soldier's pleasure :

Rich the treasure,

Sweet the pleasure ;
Sweet is pleasure after pain.

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