Classic Poem

While Gallia 's Canton'd Troops inglorious rest,
With frequent Flight, and fruitless Toil opprest;
O Britain! thy great Chief his Ease denies,
Patient of Labour and inclement Skies,
He with new Ardour to new Conquest flies.
Here fresh Materials for the Loom prepare,
And weave a cold, white Winter-Piece of War:
Ev'n then a Bloom of spreading Glory show,
And verdant Laurels forc'd from Beds of Snow.

Confed'rate Pow'rs of Flandria, Gallia, Spain ,
A num'rous Army destin'd to sustain
Th' invading Foe, did Ganda 's Walls maintain.
Much in their Lines, and in the River's Tide,
Much in their Chiefs and Numbers, they confide;
But trusted more to Frosts and Ice, than Arms,
To guard their City from the Foes Alarms;
They hop'd that Tempests, arm'd with Snow and Sleet,
Winds that from Hyperborean Mountains beat,
With furious Wings the bleak untrodden Plain,
And crystal Desarts of the frozen Main,
And all th' embattled Meteors would conspire,
To charge and force the Briton to retire:
In vain — Ev'n then, the Hero undismay'd,
Advanc'd his Ensigns, and his Wrath display'd;
Against perfidious Ghent his Batt'ry rear'd,
And Winter Thunder for her Walls prepar'd,
The Gallick Generals saw, and Marlbro 's Arms rever'd.
To pay due Honour to their Royal Head
Burgundia 's Lord, they in his Foot-steps tread;
Of Gallia 's Blood Effusion to decline,
Yield without Combat, and the Town resign.

Now Marlbro 's Deeds ring thro' the Belgian Skies,
And swift their Terror propagated flies;
Soon did it reach the list'ning Towns around,
How Bruga 's Turrets trembled at the Sound?
How frighted, how amaz'd the Warriors stood,
Their Sinews slacken'd and congeal'd their Blood?
Show, Artist, how their Cohorts, wing'd with Fear,
Fled from the Foe, e'er yet he did appear.
Thus Churchill sends abroad his conqu'ring Name,
And wounds at Distance by his missive Fame.
So oft, when Storms from Barbary 's Sun-burnt Soil,
Advance impetuous, and the Deep embroil;
The rushing Waves th' Infection swift convey,
And by their Flight distract Hespenia 's Sea,
Which rolls and works beneath a Sky serene,
Disturb'd by Winds unheard, and Clouds unseen.

Then show how Bruga 's Counsellors of State,
And Lords deputed, on the Briton wait,
To make their low Submission, and implore
His Mercy to protect them from his Pow'r.

The Hero's Triumphs equal thus appear,
Crowning alike each Season of the Year.
Ev'n Winter's self, whose frozen, hoary Head
Was ne'er before with martial Honours spread,
For want of Deeds Illustrious, can't complain,
Sharing the Glory of this great Campaign.

An Arch of Triumph in another Piece,
Artist, contrive, like those of Rome and Greece .
What Master-Sculptors form in Base Relieve,
Do thou in bold expressive Figures weave.
Let Horsemen first in long Procession bear
The glorious Trophies high display'd in Air,
Bavaria 's Standards, Emblems of the Fall
Of Neighbour Pow'rs, that aid the faithless Gaul :
False Flandria 's Colours, and Castilia 's Pride,
And with thy Warrior's Blood, vain King, thy Lillies dy'd.
So oft whem Storms from Barbary 's Sun burnt Soil,
Advance impetuous, and the Deep embroil,
The flying Waves th' Infection swift convey,
And with their pannic Dread distract Hesperia 's Sea,
Which rolls and works beneath a Sky serene,
Disturb'd by VVinds unheard, and wrathful Clouds unseen.
Then show how Burga 's Counsellers, of State,
And Lords deputed, on the Briton wait,
To make their low Submission, and implore
His Mercy to protect them from his Pow'r.
The Hero's Triumphs equal thus appear,
Crowning alike each Season of the Year;
Ev'n Winter's self, whose frozen hoary Head
Was ne'er before with Martial Honours spread,
For want of Deeds Illustrious can't complain,
Sharing the Glory of this Great Campaign.
An Arch of Triumph in another Piece,
Artist, contrive, like those of Rome or Greece .
VVhat Master-Sculptors from in Basse Relieve,
Do thou in bold expressive Figures weave.
Let Horsemen first in long Procession bear
Unnumber'd Ensigns, high display'd in Air,
The Glorious Trophys of successful VVar:
Bavaria 's Standards, Emblems of the Fall
Of Neighbour Power's that aid the faithless Gaul ;
False Flandria 's Colours and Castilia 's Pride,
And with thy VVarriors Blood, vain King, thy Lillys dy'd.
Next let the Train that bear the Spoils of France ,
Augment the Triumph, and in Turn advance;
Describe them lab'ring with th' unweildy Prize,
Their tortur'd Sinews, and their starting Eyes:
Let them beneath their rich Oppression bow,
And seem to groan and stagger as they go.
Shew how the Throng with Hands upheld adore
Justice Divine, that has, by ANNA 's Pow'r,
Compel'd the Gaul his Rapine to restore:
That has aveng'd the injur'd Realms around,
Restrain'd licentious Might, and proud Ambition bound.
In a high Car the laurel'd Victor place,
Drawn by the noblest steeds of Belgick Race:
Thro deep applauding Crowds on either side
Sublime, yet unelated, let him ride.
The seraph Chiefs such Moderation shew'd,
When to the Gates of Hell their Host pursu'd
The Rebel powers, and thro th' unlightsom way
Return'd in Triumph to the Coasts of day.
Of various Nations let a confluent Throng
Hang on his Wheels, as slow they roll along:
Let them, like crouding Waves, each other press,
And strain their eager Eyes to see and bless.
Add to the Martial Pomp an endless Train
Of Warrior Slaves that drag the Conqueror's Chain.
Let Lords and Chiefs, impatient of disgrace,
With haughty Grief and melancholy Pace,
With scornful, sullen shame their Fetters wear,
And pant amidst the Croud behind the Hero's Car.
Let high Augusta 's Sons transported meet,
And with loud Joy th' advancing Victor greet;
And let her Speaker, for superior Sense
Renown'd, as well as Charming Eloquence,
A while the Progress of the Triumph stay,
While he Augusta 's Thanks does to the Conqu'ror pay.
Then let the Bards in humble manner stand,
With Distichs, Sonnets, Prologues in their Hand,
In Marlbro's Praise: 'Tis all, alas! we know
That from their dry exhausted Springs can flow.
Let all the Pomp of Decoration grace
The high Pillasters, and the Structure's Face;
Let curious Motto's, Hieroglyphic Art,
And mystic Emblems shine on every Part.
Here Liberty in all her Heav'nly Charms,
With her gay Offspring plenty in her Arms,
With humble Gesture, and a chearful Grace,
May Homage pay, and Marlbro 's Feet embrace;
Who broke her Chains, restor'd her Rights Divine,
And in her native Beautys bid her shine.
There, to extend the Briton 's just Renown,
Show dungeons open'd, prisons broken down,
Fetters and Chains in heaps neglected thrown:
Which late tormented Slaves and Captives wore,
But, O auspious Day! shall wear no more.
Let shouting Throngs of these late rescu'd Slaves,
Frequent as failing Clouds, or rolling VVaves;
With Flow'rs and verdant Branches spread his Road,
And prostrate kiss the Ground their brave deliv'rer trod
Then raise in Piles the Gibbet, Rack and VVheel,
And all the Tortures wrought of Cord or steell;
Plenty of death, and Luxury of Pain,
VVhich Master Tyrants from their fertile Brain,
And curst Projectors of destruction find,
Curious in Torment to afflict Mankind.
Let these congested Engines, set on fire
By Marlbro 's generous Hand, in Flames aspire:
Let them as Fires of publick Joy arise.
VVith their applauded ruin fill the Skys,
To heav'n and Liberty a grateful Sacrifice.
Attempt another noble work, and raise
A lofty Column to the Hero's Praise.
VVhat tho Augusta 's Sons, who still reveal
In Liberty's defence an ardent Zeal,
Studious of Truth and Justice, ne'er adore
Thy Alters, Rome , nor, Gaul , thy lawless Pow'r,
Shou'd, as they ought, a stately Pillar rear,
That may the Victor's weight of Glory bear;
Be this allow'd, do thou thy Task pursue:
For shou'd not all the Arts conspire to shew
To the great Briton 's Deeds the Honours due?
Then with the sculptor and the Architect,
Artist, contend, and the proud Pile erect.
VVith Marlbro 's wondrous story fill the space
Between the Spires, which the high Column grace,
Ascending to the summit from the Base.
Be first his swit and glorious Course exprest,
VVhen he from Belgia 's Regions to the East
Transfer'd the hardy War, did bold advance
To whelm the Danube o'ere the pride of France :
Thro distant Empires to extend the Fame
Of Albion 's Arms, and ANNA 's awful Name.
Immortal Deeds at Schelenbrug display;
The Miracles of Blenheim 's Glorious day,
Down all the Ebb of Time to Men unborn convey.
Next shew the Hero on Ramillia 's plain,
His deathless Laurels, and th' Illustrious Train
Of fam'd Events, which crown'd that Great Campaign.
The Wonders done at Oudenard repeat,
The Briton 's Triumphs, and the Gaul 's defeat;
The matchless Conduct and the hardy Toil,
That wrested from the Foe his darling Lisle ;
The Honour won in passing Scalda 's Flood,
Brussella sav'd, and Ganda 's Tow'rs subdu'd.
The Angle of the Pedestal you'l grace
With Figures proper to adorn each place;
Chuse of the following which shall please you best,
If by the Loom all cannot be exprest,
Chain'd Tyranny expose, delineate well
The odious Features of this Fiend of Hell.
To form a Figure, horrible to Sight,
All Scythia 's Terrors Lybia 's plagues unite,
A dreadful Combination of Affright.
Give to her Eyes a red malignant Glare,
And let the Monster's threefold Head for Hair,
The Ornament of Fiends, long curling Vipers, wear.
Let them enrag'd their crested Necks erect,
And forked Deaths with cloven Tongues eject,
The Poets, who in Arms their Pallas drest,
Had in their Fiction greater Art exprest;
If in her fatal Schield they had display'd
Fierce Tyranny's, and not the Gorgon 's Head.
Give her the surest VVeapons to destroy,
VVhich salvage Beasts, and rav'ning Birds imploy:
The dragon's Teeth, the Alligator's Jaws,
The Eagle's pounces, and the Lion's paws;
Distend her hedious Belly with a Load
Of Limbs devour'd, and Seas of guiltless Blood.
On the next Corner, with ingenious pains,
Show vanquish'd Envy bound with brazen Chains;
Let her lean Face infernal Features wear,
A spleenful Aspect, and a scornful Air:
With its last dregs let a black Jaundice taint
Her hateful Skin, and loathsom Visage paint.
Make her fierce Eyes, like livid Flames of Hell,
Burn bloodshot in their urns, and backward dwell,
Deep in their Caves, like Furys in their Cell.
Let her, with endless self-tormenting Care,
Gnaw her own Heart, and her own Bowels tear:
Show how her Jaws her meagre Limbs devour,
Green Floods of Hemlock, Gall and VVormwood pour
Down her wide Throat, to poison every Vein,
Inflame her Bosom, and distract her Brain.
Show with what Rage the Captive Fury views
The spreading Laurels on the Victor's Brows;
VVhile she, as pale and hideous as despair,
Gnashes her Teeth, and grasps her snaky Hair.
Next on the Base, dissimulation bind,
A mild and courteous, but an odious Fiend;
VVo labours most to win us to believe
Her Vows unfeign'd when most she wou'd deceive.
Give her a plain and unaffected Air,
VVell imitated Truth, and Eyes sincere,
And dropping here and there a faithless Tear.
Express her artful smiles, that hide the Art,
A Friendly manner that ensnares the Heart.
In her Right Hand a Monarch's Scepter place,
And her long Robe of State with Lillys grace;
Torn Treatys interweave, and solemn Leagues
Broke, or eluded by refin'd Intrigues:
She mocks the Faith that once did Princes bind,
As the base Vertue of a Vulgar Mind:
Masks with her sacred Vows deliberate Fraud,
And to attest her Guilt dares invocate her God.
Express Ambition next in Fetters bound,
Sunk from her tow'ring height, and grov'ling on the Ground.
Let thwarted pride sit sullen on her Brow,
And Indignation in her Eyeballs glow.
Let anxious Looks her inward Care attest,
And prove that deep designs are lab'ring in her Breast;
That warring Passions strive within for vent,
Cruel Revenge, and haughty discontent:
Passions, that still the Fury wakeful keep,
As turbulent as VVinds, and restless as the deep.
In some fit place let pleas'd Spactators see
The Marks of blasted pomp, and ruin'd Dignity:
Rich purple Robes polluted, broken Crowns,
Fragments of Scepters, and subverted Thrones;
Sad VVrecks of Pow'r, which on th' Aspiring wait
In troubled Empires, and in Storms of State.
Her adverse Fate reluctant let her bear,
Her Fetters spurn, her Limbs in Anguish tear:
Shew how she raves to find her pomp depress'd,
Her Foes exalted, and her Frinds distress'd;
That she compel'd must Spoils immense restore,
Acquir'd by fraud, or grasp'd by greedy power;
Contract her Fronter, and her Slaves release,
And beg the Conqueror to prescribe a Peace.