LYRIC With speedy terror thin' the feebler her [spoil And made rude havock and irreg'lar Amongst the vulgar bands that own'd the name Of NI ahomet. The wild Arabians fled In swift affrightathsasand differentways Thro' brakes and thorns, and climb'd the craggy mountains Bellowing: yet hasty fate o'ertoek the cry, [deer. And Polish hunters dare the timorous Thus the dire prospect distant filed my soul With awe: till the last relics of the war The thin Edonians, flying had disetos'd The ghastly plain : I took a nearer view, Unseemly to the sight, nor to the smell Grateful. What loads of mangled flesh and limbs (A dismal carnage!) bath'd in reeking gore Ding life Lay weltering on the ground; while flit - Convuls'd the nerves still shivering, nor had lost [lies All taste of pain ! Here an old Thracian Deform'd with years, and scars, and groans aloud Torn with fresh wounds; but inward I vitals firm Forbid the soul's remove,, and chain it down By the hard laws of nature, to sustain Long torment: his wild eye-balls roll: his teeth Gnashing with anguish, chide ho linger -' ing fate, Emblazoned armour spoke his high com- mand Amongst the neighbouring dead; they round their Lord Lay prostrate ; some is flight ignobly slain, [turn'd Some to the skies their faces upwards Still brave, and proud to die so near their prince. , 1 mov'd not far, and lo, at manly length [man blood Two beauteous youths of richest Ott' - .Extended on the field: in friendship joined For fate divides them: hardy warriors both Both faithful; drown'd in show'rs of darts they fell ' Each with his shield spread o'er his lever'sheart,.. In vain: for on those orbs of friendly brass [too deep Stood groves of javelins ; some, alas, Were planted there, and thro' their lovely bosoms Made painful avenues for cruel death. O my dear native lend, forgive the tear I dropt on their wan cheeks, when strong compassion Forc'd from my melting eyes the briny dew, And paid a sacrifice to hostile virtue. Dania, forgive the sigh that wish'd the souls POEMS. 277 Of those fair infidels some humble place Among the blest. " Sleep, sleep, y hapless pair, Gently, I cry'd, worthy of better fate, And better faith." Hard by the general lay Of Saracen descent a grisly form Breathless, yet pride sat pale upon his front In disappointment, with a surly. brow Louring iu death,andvext ; his rigidjaws Foaming with blood bite hard the Polish spear. [reads in that dead visage my remembrance Rash. Caracas: In vainthe boastingslave Promis'd and sooth'd the sultan threat - ning fierce With royal suppers andtrinmphant fare, Spread wide beneath Warsovian silk and gold ; See on the naked ground all cold he lies Beneath the damp wide cov'ring-of the air [confounds Forgetful of his word. How heaven Insulting hopes! with what an awful smile [the reins Laughs at the proud, that loosen all To their unbounded wishes, and leadson Their blind ambition to a shameful end ! But whither am I borne? This thought of arms Fires mein vain to sing to senseless bulls What generous horse should hear. Break off, my song, My barbarous muse be still: Immortal deeds Must notbe thus profan'd in rusticverse: The martial trumpet, and the :fallowing age, . [the fight And growing fame, shall loud rehearse In sounds of glory., Lo the evening-star Shines o'er thewestern hill : may oxen, come, The-Well-known star invites the labourer home. To Mr. HENRY BENDISH. August 29, 1705. Dear Sir, " THE following song was yours when first composed: The muse then des- cribed the general fate ofmankind, that is, to be ill -match d : and now she re- joices that you have escaped the com- mon mischief, and that your soul has found its own mate. Let this Ode then congratulate you both. Grow mutually in more complete likeness and love: Persevere and be happy. " I persuade myself you accept from the press what the pen more privately inscribed to you long ago ; and I'm in no pain lest you should take offence at the fabulous dress of this Poem : Nor would weaker minds be scandalised at it, if they wouldgive themselves leaveto re- flecthowmanydivinetruthsarespokenby the holy writers in visions and images, S3
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