Classic Poem

A POEM.

Occasioned by the departure of

THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF ORANGE .

Written in the year 1734.

Mild rose the Morn; the face of Nature bright
Wore one extensive smile of calm and light;
Wide o'er the land did hov'ring silence reign,
Wide o'er the blue diffusion of the main;
When, lo! before me, on the southern shore,
Stood forth the pow'r whom Albion's sons adore,
Bless'd Liberty! whose charge is Albion's isle, —
Whom Reason gives to bloom, and Truth to smile;
Gives Peace to gladden, shelt'ring Law to spread,
Learning to lift aloft her laurell'd head;
Rich Industry to view, with pleasing eyes,
Het fleets, her cities, and her harvests rise.
In curious emblems ev'ry art exprest
Glow'd from the loom, and brighten'd on his vest;
Science in various lights attention won,
Wav'd on his robe, and glitter'd in the sun.
" My words, " he cry'd, " my words observance claim;
" Resound, ye Muses! and receive them, Fame!
" Here was my station when o'er ocean wide
" The great Third William stretch'd his naval pride:
" I with my sacred influence swell'd his soul,
" Th' enslav'd to free, th' enslaver to control.
" In vain did waves disperse and winds detain;
" He came, he sav'd; in his was seen my reign,
" How just, how great, the plan his soul design'd
" To humble tyrants, and secure mankind!
" Next Marlb'rough in his steps successful trod;
" This godlike plann'd, that finish'd like a god;
" And while Oppression fled to realms unknown,
" Europe was free, and Britain glorious shone,
" Where Nassau's race extensive growth display'd,
" There Freedom ever found a shelt'ring shade,
" Still Heav'n is kind. — See! from the princely root
" Millions to bless the branch auspicious shoot.
" He lives, he flourishes, his honours spread,
" Fair virtues blooming on his youthful head:
" Nurse him, ye heav'nly Dews! ye sunny Rays!
" Into firm health, fair fame, and length of days. "
He paus'd; and casting o'er the deep his eye,
Where the last billow swells into the sky,
Where, in gay vision, round th' horizon's line
The moving clouds with various beauty shine,
As drooping from their bosom, ting'd with gold,
Shoots forth a sail, amusive to behold;
Lo! while its light the glowing wave returns,
Broad like a sun the bark approaching burns:
Near, and more near, great Nassau soon he spy'd,
And beauteous Anna! Britain's eldest pride!
Thus spoke the Genius as advanc'd the sail —
" Hail, blooming Hero! high-born Princess! hail;
" Thy charms thy mother's love of truth display,
" Her light of virtue, and her beauty's ray;
" Her dignity, which, copying the divine,
" Soften'd thro' condescension, learns to shine:
" Greatness of thought, with prudence for its guide,
" Knowledge from nature and from art supply'd,
" To-noblest objects pointed various ways,
" Pointed by Judgement's clear unerring rays. "
What manly virtues in her mind excel!
Yet on her heart what what tender passions dwell!
For, ah! what pangs did late her peace destroy,
To part with thee, so wont to give her joy!
How heav'd her breast! how sadden'd was her mien!
All in the mother then was lost the queen:
The swelling tear then dimm'd her parting view,
The struggling sigh stopp'd short her last adieu:
Ev'n now thy fancy'd perils fill her mind,
The secret rock, rough wave, and rising wind,
The shoal so treach'rous near the tempting land,
Th' ingulfing whirlpool, and the swallowing sand;
These fancy'd perils all, by day, by night,
In thoughts alarm her, and in dreams affright!
For thee her heart unceasing love declares,
In doubts, in hopes, in wishes, and in pray'rs!
Her pray'rs are heard — For me, 'tis thine to brave
The sand, the shoal, rock, whirlpool, wind, and wave:
Kind safety waits to wart thee gently o'er,
And Joy to greet thee on the Belgic shore.
May future times, when their fond praise would tell
How most their fav'rite characters excel,
How bless'd! how great! — then may their songs declare
So great! so bless'd! such Anne and Nassau were.