Читать книгу The Perplex'd Lovers - Susanna Centlivre - Страница 4

Table of Contents

One Night with various Thoughts I musing lay,

Reflecting on the Business of the Day;

At length these Words got Passage from my Breast,

And thus the Sadness of my Soul express'd:

Oh! when will Faction leave my Native-Shore, And Britons labour to be Slaves no more? When shall true Merit meet with due Regard, And Friends to France, be England's Foes declar'd? That once perform'd, my Nation wou'd have Peace, And all our Troubles and Distractions cease. While thus I argu'd, Sleep did gently steal, And in soft Slumbers all my Senses seal. Straight I on Albion's chalky Cliffs was laid, From whence I Neptune's spacious Realms survey'd; When lo! a Dolphin hasted to the Shore, His Back a Triton of Distinction bore, Who chose for his Support a Mountain Wave, And from a Coral Trump, he three loud Signals gave. Alarm'd Britannia came the Cause to learn, From whence the Courier, and of what Concern: To whom the Triton bow'd his Head, to show How much all Nations to Britannia owe. Then straight prepar'd his Embassy to tell, While joyous Waves with Expectation swell. From Neptune, Lord of all the wealthy Main, I come, great Eugene's Entry to proclaim: His out-stretch'd Sails the Winds with Pleasure fill, And ev'ry saucy Storm's commanded to be still. The Nereids all around his Vessel play, While Shoals of Tritons guard his liquid Way. Advance, Britannia, to receive this Chief; The Tyrant's Scourge, and the Opprest's Relief: A nobler Weight thy Seas cou'd never boast, Since they the great, the Glorious William lost: Such dauntless Courage, such a Free-born Mind Alone are fit to succour Human-kind. Thus spoke the Triton from his tow'ring Wave, And this Command the pleas'd Britannia gave: To great Augusta quick let Fame repair, And speak the Loud Eugene's Arrival there. On Thames' fair Banks I quick as Thought was thrown, Where Fam'd Augusta's stately Piles are shown: Here I beheld a lovely Silvan Scene, Nature renew'd, and ev'ry Bough was green: Here tuneful Birds their choicest Notes prepare, And Aromatick Scents fill'd all the ambient Air; When a bright Form expanded on the Wing, Did to my Sense Surprize and Wonder bring. Her Golden Tresses by the Wind were borne, And num'rous Eyes did every Part adorn: A Scarlet Robe she had, all spangled o'er, A 'broider'd Cestus round her Waist she wore, And in her Hand a Golden Trumpet bore: She litt, methought, yet seem'd to grow so high, Her Head aspir'd to reach the distant Sky. Straight with her Breath she blew a gladsome Sound, And Echo joyfully the Notes rebound. Augusta heard, and rais'd her awful Head, While Thamesis forsook his owzy Bed: To welcome Fame they both appear'd in View, And from her Looks propitious Omens drew. Smiling she stood, and with a chearful Voice Cry'd, Hail old Thame, Augusta now rejoice, Great Eugene comes, your Banners straight display, From every Turret solemnize this Day. To Minds like his—you all your Safeties owe, From Souls enlarg'd your choicest Blessings flow. Eugene and Marlbro', Names to Europe dear, True Heroes born, and Brothers of the War, Their innate Worth immortal Life shall give, And make their Fame in spight of Envy, live, And even the sharp, and Iron Teeth of Time (That must destroy these Lofty Piles of thine) Shall make their Actions much the brighter show, For those Immortal as their Souls shall grow. Haste, Britons, haste, your choicest Youth prepare To meet and entertain this God of War; From him, and Marlbro', let your Soldiers take Such bright Examples as true Heroes make: Be brave like them, like them discharge their Trust, To ANNE be loyal, to their Country just; So shall their Acts strike Envy's Censure dumb, And thus Britannia rival ancient Rome. So spoke the Goddess, and withdrew from Sight, Hiding her fluid Form in Folds of Light. Augusta hasted to display her Pride, And Thame his Joys express'd with double Tide. Now was each Street with Expectation fill'd, When I a Train of Britons Pride beheld; For Fancy here again had chang'd the Scene, And ANNA's Court appear'd, to welcome great Eugene. Foremost in Worth did graceful Marlbro' stand, Whose wondrous Conduct sav'd the British Land, And Europe's Ballance fix'd in ANNA's Hand. Spight of his Foes, he's still to Eugene dear, Who knows his Soul, knows every Virtue there, Knows Loyalty and Courage fill his Breast, And sees his Mind, with Truth, and Prudence drest. Again his Fame shall glitter like a Star, When England's foes like Meteors disappear; But now behold the lovely Eugene here. And with him comes the Genius of our Isle, Methinks I see her on the Heroes smile, And hear her say, Go on Brave Pair, subdue The Tyrant only can be crush'd by you. Then Savoy's Hero singly thus addrest, Hail valiant Prince, far more than Monarch blest; He wants no Crown, who reigns in every Breast. Thy Presence here my drooping Nation warms, While Belgia owes her Being to thy Arms. The barbarous Turk thy conqu'ring Name reveres, And more thy Sword, than Mahomet's Curse, he fears. By thee, his chosen Troops were put to Flight, Or cut to Pieces in their Sultan's Sight. By thee was Savoy's Duke retriev'd from Fate, His Foes by thee were beat, by thee he holds his State. Hail, matchless Youth of the Soissonian Line, Whose Actions bright, as Roman Consuls shine: Not more, the Macedonian Chief renown'd, Nor he, who through the Alps a Passage found. The Gallick Tyrant dreads thy vengeful Hand, And sees his ill-got Trophies tott'ring stand; Tho' freed from Marlbro', still his Fears remain, Still Anjou trembles on the Throne of Spain; And if I ought foresee, the Bourbon Race Shall (forc'd by thee) to Austria's House give place. Thus Britain's Genius—while the list'ning Crowd Exprest their Joys in Acclamations loud: Shook with the Sound, Sleep loosen'd all his Ties, And left me waking in a pleas'd Surprize.