Verses on the Union

The Gaul, intent on universal sway,Sees his own subjects with constraint obey,And they who most his rising beams ador'd,Weep in their chains, and wish another lord:But, if the Muse not uninspir'd presage, 5Justice shall triumph o'er oppressive rage;His pow'r shall be reclaim'd to rightful laws,And all, like Savoy, shall desert his cause.So when to distant vales an eagle steers,His fierceness not disarm'd by length of years, 10From his stretch'd wing he sees the feathers flyWhich bore him to his empire of the sky.Unlike, great Queen! thy steps to deathless fame;O best, O greatest, of thy royal name!Thy Briton's, fam'd for arts, in battle brave, 15Have nothing now to censure or to crave;Ev'n Vice and factions Zeal are held in awe,Thy court a temple, and thy life a law.When, edg'd with terrors, by thy vengeful handThe sword is drawn to gore a guilty land, 20Thy mercy cures the wound thy justice gave,For 't is thy lov'd prerogative to save;And Victory, to grace thy triumph, bringsPalms in her hand, with healing in her wings.But as mild heav'n on Eden's op'ning gems 25Bestow'd the balmiest dews and brightest beams;So, whilst remotest climes thy influence share,Britain's the darling object of thy care:By thy wise councils and resistless mightAbroad we conquer, and at home unite. 30Before thou bidd'st the distant battles cease,Thy piety cements domestic peace;Impatient of delay to fix the state,Thy dove brings olive ere the waves abate.Hail, happy Sister-lands! for ever prove 35Rivals alone in loyalty and love;Kindled from heav'n, be your auspicious flameAs lasting and as bright as Anna's fame!And thou, fair northern Nymphs! partake our toil;With us divide the danger and the spoil: 40When thy brave sons, the friends of Mars, avow'd,In steel around our Albion standards crowd,What wonders in the war shall now be shownBy her, who single shook the Gallic throne!The day draws nigh in which the warrior-queenShall wave her Union-crosses o'er the Seine: 46Rouz'd with heroic warmth unfelt before,Her Lions with redoubled fury roar;And urging on to fame, with joy beholdThe woody walks in which they rang'd of old. 50O Louis! long the terror of thy armsHas aw'd the Continent with dire alarms,Exulting in thy pride, with hope to seeEmpires and states derive their pow'r from thee;From Britain's equal hand the scale to wrest, 55And reign without a rival o'er the West:But now the laurels, by thy rapine tornFrom Belgian groves, in early triumphs borne,Wither'd and leafless in thy winter stand,Expos'd a prey to ev'ry hostile hand, 60By strange extremes of destiny decreedTo flourish and to fall with equal speed.So the young gourd around the prophet's headWith swift increase her fragrant honours spread;Beneath the growing shade secure he sate, 65To see the tow'rs of Ninus bow to Fate;But, curs'd by Heav'n, the greens began to fade,And, sickening, sudden as they rose decay'd. 68