Part 5

[28] Suworow affectoit beaucoup de simplicité et de rudesse. On le voyoit quelquefois ôter sa chemise au milieu des Cosaques, et la fain chauffer, en disant que c’étoit _pour tuer ses poux_. Vie de Catherine II. tome ii. p. 373.

[29] The number of men slaughtered by this hero was at the rate of more than thirty a week, reckoning from the day of his birth to the age of 69 years, according to the account given in the history of his campaigns, by Frederic Anthing.

ON FIELD-MARSHAL SUWOROW. A DIALOGUE.

_A._ This Hero, though delighting much in blood, Was yet a tender-hearted creature.—_B._ Good.

_A._ Without remorse he slaughter’d Turk and Pole, But still his nerves were very weak.—_B._ Poor soul!

_A._ And he became a prey to grief, for why, His master frown’d upon him.—_B._ O fie! fie!

_A._ Unkindness did his gentle heartstrings crack, And so the Hero came to an end.—_B._ Good lack!

_A._ That one so valiant and so meek, is’t fit he Should go at last to the devil?—_B._ What a pity!

ON F. W. THE KING OF PRUSSIA’S INEFFECTUAL ATTEMPT ON WARSAW.

When Frederic, when the Usurper turn’d With baffled arms and insolence abash’d, From fearless Warsaw’s radiant walls, (For, crested with the Sons of Liberty, Then stood they fearless and secure,) No less than was that mount in Israel once, Where Angels rode in fiery guard Around the Prophet[30]. Ever such defence Be made for freedom, and usurpers Abated and confounded in their pride, As Frederic now! He, when he turn’d, Thus gave mad utterance to his spleeny mood:— This royal merchandise of war That wont to bring towns, cities, provinces, To kings for profit, is become A losing trade, or only serves to enrich My shrewder neighbours, they who fight In quarrels not their own, and wisely sell The lives, unprofitable else, Of their obedient multitude: but I, Cursed be the hour I did so, I Who had the wealthiest of the world my dupe, England, to pay me lavish hire For service ne’er perform’d, must needs, O fool! To this most perilous venture run On mine own credit: therefore am I made A very bankrupt; all my hopes Of victory, dominion, fortune, fame, All ruin’d, and my royal word, My promises and threats alike held vile As the vain Brunswick’s menaces, Horrible once, now laugh’d at and despised. For who now fears me, or believes?— But let me from this ruinous assault, With what is left me, safe retire, And I will yet regain the credulous ear Of Her, whose unexhausted wealth Exceeds all measure but her easy faith, Good England:——O that I were now In England, with my royal Brother there, Giving a false alarm in jest To Weymouth town, and Buckinghamshire Captains[31].

[30] “And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an Host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, fear not; for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw: and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.”—2 Kings, ch. vi. v. 15, &c.

[31] About the commencement of the war in 1793, the late king used to visit Weymouth for some weeks of the summer, when the Buckinghamshire militia attended his majesty as a guard of honour. It was during one of these visits that this military occurrence is reported to have taken place.

POLITICAL ADVICE TO THE MEMBERS OF THE FRENCH CONVENTION. A DIALOGUE.

“Messieurs of the Convention, Gentlemen! “Hav’n’t ye rebell’d against your sovereign?”—“Stuff.” “Deposed him?”—“Nonsense.” “Murder’d him?”—“What then?” “Usurp’d his place and kingdom?”—“Like enough!”

“Hav’n’t ye bullied Princes far and near, “Encroach’d upon your neighbours, ’gainst all Law? “Without Religion, Honour, Faith, or Fear, “Sworn and forsworn yourselves?”—“O, ça ira.”

“Nay, Gentlemen, I speak not to upbraid: “Rather, I’d say, you seem to need a spur: “Hav’n’t ye still some object of your dread, “Some innocent young Prince, your prisoner?

“Poison him—stab him—put him out o’ th’ way— “Is that so monstrous?—Nay, you have a pattern: “Do as I bid you, then stand up, and say, “We are now upon a par with Royal Kattern.”

WRITTEN WHEN BUONAPARTE WAS ALTERING THE GOVERNMENTS OF GERMANY.

The Madman thought that he did climb Over the wall which bounds the universe; And there he saw how father Time Out of old Moons was busy cutting Stars.

Thus o’er our globe Napoleon, As if old Time had lent him scythe and wings, Speeds and destroys, and for his fun From waning Emperors cuts out little Kings.

SUGGESTED BY READING DRYDEN’S BRITANNIA REDIVIVA,

_A Poem on the Prince, born on the 10th of June, 1688._

When James the Second took his second spouse, The royal couple (as their Church allows) T’ obtain a son and heir devoutly pray’d, And call’d on many a popish saint for aid; By costly gifts and vows they sued to gain Th’ inestimable boon, nor sued in vain: A son was given; and as the story ran, Their saints convey’d the blessing in a warming-pan.

And now th’ expected babe, howe’er it came, Was theirs; but living yet without a name. Why to this Child of prayer, this boon of Heaven, A name appropriate was not sooner given; What moved the royal sire to make delay, In such a case, ’tis difficult to say.

Dryden suggests—go, read him if you doubt it, There was some brawl among the Saints about it. Good gracious folks, they could not yet agree; Each eager that the name his own should be: He thinks some wanted—but I dare not, I, Repeat what follows of the irreverend lie. Yet since I have curtail’d that Flatterer’s fable, I’ll piece it with another as I am able, And tell you the result of this celestial squabble.

There stood an ancient One among the herd, Who took no part, nor utter’d yet a word; He seem’d not much acquainted with the rest; His port was manly, simple was his vest, And veil’d his head: but now he silence broke, And thus in slow and sober tones he spoke.

“The Babe, your present care, shall have a name That all his life will follow him with shame. Both He, and whomsoe’er he shall engender, Will be deem’d spurious, and be call’d Pretender.”

His words the saintly synod fill’d with rage, Nor felt they reverence for his rank or age; But with ungovernable fury big, Call’d him Apostate, Protestant, and Whig. Calm and composed, their cries awhile he bore, Nor deign’d to make defence, nor utter’d more, But, casting off his veil, naked he stood, And TRUTH’s resplendent form abash’d they view’d.

SUCCESSION.

After a bad oft comes a worse; Evil on evil, curse on curse: So James to Charles succeeds, who fitter? Of a French Popish mother’s litter This was the next and favourite whelp; He with Judge Jefferies’s help, A fell-fang’d lurcher, hot for blood, The gallant Algernon pursued; Hamper’d him basely in a Coop, Then ran him down, and cried whoo-whoop! But though so fierce to treat this man ill, His Jesuits used him like a spaniel; Rated him soundly, or carest, As served their ends and purpose best, Which not long after to his cost He felt, his crown and kingdom lost. Ev’n then these Masters gave not o’er, But taught him lessons as before; How he might render Heaven his debtor, And earn another crown and better: Told him, ’twas highly meritorious To exalt the Pope, and kill old Glorious: That what he did t’avenge his Father, He might do for himself, and rather. So with his Priests and his Assassins, By machinations, plots, compassings, He struggled long against hard odds To advance the Devil’s cause and God’s. Hopeless at last, his means all spent, He died a Murderer and a Saint.

EPIGRAM.

Ille Crucem sceleris pretium tulit, Hic Diadema.

Good people of England, ’tis fit you should note What you get, or may suffer, for bribing a vote; And for an example we’ll bring to your view An Irish Lord and a Baronet Jew; The Jew and my Lord in a similar case— One pays a great fine, t’other holds a great place: My Lord is bedeck’d with a Ribbon and Garter, The Jew is in Jail for two years, lack a quarter. And now we’ll compare, if you please to allow us, The Jew in his Jail, with my Lord in the House: The Jew is surrounded by Felons and Debtors, And my Lord by some folks who are little their betters.

ON THE INCREASE OF HUMAN LIFE.

Fate deals out human life by seven-year spaces: Time was you would be thought in her good graces With nine of these; when David lived ’twas ten; If more She gave, ’twas only now and then, A few cold years of winter, and the last, Tho’ charged with toil and sorrow, quickly past. But in our age more bounteous Fate appears, And often grants a dozen-fold seven years; Nay, be but still and temperate like the Quakers, Perhaps she’ll make your dozen up a baker’s.

ODE TO THE KING OF FRANCE. 1823.

What moves thee, Louis, to forego The quiet of thy peaceful reign? Why challenge a reluctant foe, Rushing to war, war unprovoked, again? Examine well thine own estate, And check thy hostile march before it be too late.

When first thou wert an exile from thy home, Unbroken was thy strength, thy health not wasted; But couldst thou now endure to roam, When both thy health and strength thou hast outlasted? With peace and plenty to thy throne restored, Perchance thou deem’st thyself adored: Thou seest around thee subjects bending low; But should misfortune now return, Be sure thou soon shalt know Thyself their hate, and all thy race their scorn.

Where are thy men-at-arms, they, once who moved So lively at the warlike trumpet’s call? And where their chiefs, thy mareschals all, Heroes in many a glorious battle proved?— In stern repose each warrior lies. As flowers that all the darksome night Close themselves up, until the day-star rise, Then ope, and turn, as worshipping his light: So these, in sullen slumber now reclined, May soon awake, when thou shalt find Their worship and their service turn’d and gone, Toward their own day-star, the young Napoleon.

And darest thou, presumptuous, now demand That Heaven shall speed thy mad career To spoil an unoffending land? And darest thou hope that Heaven will hear? Believe it not:—but for thyself beware; And learn to moderate thy prayer: Pray that kind Heaven will condescend To grant thee rest and safety till thine end; And for the consummation of thy lot, That old St. Denys will allow thee room To sleep uncensured and forgot, Among thy fathers in a silent tomb.

VERSES SPOKEN IN THE THEATRE, OXFORD, AT THE INSTALLATION OF THE CHANCELLOR, LORD GRENVILLE, JULY 10, 1810, BY HENRY CROWE, A COMMONER OF WADHAM COLLEGE.

Still through the realms of Europe far around Echoes the martial trump, the Battle’s sound: There many a nation, now subdued and broke, In sullen silence wears the Tyrant’s yoke: There the fierce Victor waves his sword, and there Stalks amid ruin, and the waste of war: And, where he bids the din of arms to cease, He calls the silent desolation—peace.

Yet what his prize of glory? What the gain Of his wide conquest, of his thousands slain?— His guilty seat on thrones subverted stands; His trophies are the spoil of injured lands: For his dark brow no comely wreath is twined, But iron[32] crowns and blood-stain’d laurels bind.

Far other objects here around us rise, The monuments of nobler victories. This splendid dome, yon goodly piles behold, This favour’d ground adorning, which of old Our first great Chief, a patriot Hero, chose “For Learning’s triumph o’er her barbarous foes[33]:” These are her honourable trophies; here No spoils of plunder’d provinces appear. Our hallow’d fanes, our lofty spires, were built By pure and bounteous hands unsoil’d with guilt. Pure also was the source: the bounty springs From holy Prelates, from religious Kings; Who in the peaceful walks of life pursued Their godlike occupation, doing good; And taught us, careless of a transient fame, Like them to seek a worthier meed, and claim Th’ immortal recompense that Heaven decrees For charitable toils, and generous works of peace.

Is there, who nurtured in this happy seat, Still loves the Mansion, Learning’s choice retreat?— Who yet these groves will honour, where his youth Was early train’d to Virtue and to Truth;— Who liberal arts and useful Science wooes, And by the Muse beloved, protects the Muse; Whose patient labour and unabated zeal Pursues that nobles tend, his Country’s Weal;— Watchful, and resolute in her defence With counsel sage, and manly eloquence?— For Him fair Fame her clearest voice shall raise Till her high trumpet labours in his praise. He ’bove the Conqueror’s name shall be renown’d, Him Glory still shall follow, and around Laurels unstain’d, unfading palms, shall spread, Such as are now prepared for GRENVILLE’S honour’d head.

[32] The iron crown of Italy.

[33] Johnson’s Prologue, spoken at the opening of Drury-Lane, 1747.

AD MUSAS.

Dulce sub Autumnum, venienti frigore, mane Lacte novo relevare sitim; dulce oscula Nisæ Præripere, in fœno cum semisupina recenti Dormit, nuda sinu; sub vespere dulce vagari Quà vigil effundit liquidam Philomela querelam: At mihi dulcis amor Musarum ante omnia: vos O Pierides, vestro, precor, aspirate poetæ.

Ηως Εργων ἡγητειρα, βιου προπολε θνητοισιν. Or. Hym.

Roscida purpureos induta Aurora colores Ingreditur cœlo jam reseratque diem; Victoresque agitans currus nigra agmina Noctis Turbat, et ætherio dissipat astra polo. Eja, agite O Pueri, clarum prævertite Solem, Nec pigeat molles deseruisse toros. Igniferos etenim quicunque, aspexerit ortus, Ille levis facti præmia magna feret: Qualia non tulerit populi Moderator Eoi, Darius memori nobilitatus equo; Cui jubar exoriens primo vidisse suorum Persarum quondam regna superba dedit. Illi namque novo firmabit membra vigore, Lætaque componet lumina diva Salus. Tum validæ crescent generoso in pectore vires Stabit et ingenuo plurimus ore decor. Illum, seu tendit pellucida propter Ichini Flumina, sive jugum per, Catharina, tuum, Naiades excipient venientem ultroque juvabunt, Dum ciet ad prædam subsequiturque canes. Omnis ager suaves Illi spirabit odores, Illi dulce melos concinet omne nemus. Ille (licebit enim) Musas siquando vocârit, Inveniet faciles in sua vota Deas: Phœbo et gratus erit; neque Phœbus amicior ulli est Quam sua qui primo numina mane colit.

JEPTHÆ VOTUM.

Jam Voti reus infausti de Marte redibat JEPTHA; procul dulces emicuere Lares. Non litui sonus auditur, nec classica spirant; Corde dolens mutas Dux præit ipse manus. Ecce egressa foras venientem Nata salutat! Terruit aversum vox bene nota patrem; Filia! tene mori! (vocem primo abstulit angor,) Vota miser feci non revocanda Deo. At Virgo, pietas cui pectora confirmavit, Immota aspiciens retulit ore patrem; O Pater, O belli sævis defuncte periclis, Jeptha, vel in nòstro funere victor, Ave! Debita solve Deo, me, me in tua vota paratam, Filia non dubito pro Genitore mori.

PALMYRA.

Has moles murorum, has, O Palmyra! columnas Gens magna et fortes incoluere viri, Te dominam, metuere urbes, to cœrula ponti, Eöique tibi dona tulere Duces. Jam non ulla tuas hominum vox personat arces, Vastâ, urbe in medià, strage Ruina sedet. Sæpe etiam, nullo ventorum turbine pulsa, Immani subitò saxa fragore ruunt. Circum infinitus se pandit campus arenæ, Sibilat ambusto Dipsas anhela solo. In domibus sævi stabulant impunè Leones, Informesque Apri, noctivagæque Tigres. Obscænæ strident per putrida fana volucres, Et Stygius circum Bubo cubile struit. Humana instabili versantur cardine fata: En, Roma in Gothicum quanta caduca rogum! Invida det Fortuna diem, quo mens pia flebit Heu! mersam exitio te, Rhedycina, pari.

AD HYACINTHUM. 1791.

Quis primo te mense, quis impulit, O Hyacinthe, Ut tepidum Floræ desereres gremium?— Num forte audisti Volucrem, quæ, nuntia Veris Nunc vespertinum concinit ore melos?— Num Zephyri molles dulcique Favonius aura Lene susurrantes surgere te faciunt? Ah! ne te lædat Boreas! neu cana pruina Incidat in collum purpureumque caput! En (quod ego possum) hâc vitreâ te casside dono, Quæ gelido noctis tempore tegmen erit. Acceptum tibi enim refero, quod Thestilis hortum Non dedignetur visere sæpe meum. Tum pulchros laudat flores et laudat odorem; Et Dominus partem et tu quoque laudis habes. Ergo ferens puros in te fundam ipse liquores, Si mox defuerit fertilis imber aquæ. O multùm salve mihi, Floscule, semper amate; Et cito cum venias gratior ipse Rosis.

ROMULUS.

SCRIPTUS 1803.

Rex ille Romæ Conditor, Remi frater, Unde unde natus, in latrociniis certe Nutritus, aptos possideret ut cives, Suisque moribus simillimum cœtum, Id nobile aperuit viris receptaclum Quod nuncupant Asylon, hoc volens nempé Ut seminario sibi novæ gentis Sentinam haberet urbium propinquarum.

Huc undique ingens ut confluxerat turba, Statim parabat quos honoribus summis Augeret ex his, imperîque consortes Haberet, homines maxime fide claros, Virtutibusque præ sociis adornatos. Ergo, coactis civibus, legit centum Qui consulant populo velut pater proli, Vocatque Patres, plurimisque eos rebus Ornat, facitque Concilium Sacrosanctum.

His constitutis, laude floruit multa Multos per annos, victor omnium late; Stupro, rapinis, cædibusque agens vitam, Et cuncta miscens; conniventibus Divis, Ea quippe magni vindicant sibi Heroes, Victoriarum jure parta tanquam sint, Aut, merita propter, atque facta præclare, In præmiorum parte habenda, sed parva.

Verum Iste tandem morte plectitur digna, Serasque dat Senatui suo pœnas: Credo quod impius hisce Patribus sanctis Cœpit videri, aut forte iniquior paulo Quam ferre sane didicerant Senes justi. Decrevit itaque Concilium sacrosanctum, “Patres viderent ne quid hinc caperent damni Ipsi,” suoque supplicium Duci poscunt.

At vero, ut ista in fabula mulier quondam Ex fele facta, pristinos tenuit mores, Sic hi recurrunt proprium ad ingenium quisque Notas per artes ut struant viro mortem, Pretiumque mortis immortalitatem dent.

Ergo, advocata concione, Rex Romæ Cum sustineret grande nescio quod munus, Et rite staret medius in globo Patrum, Ecce inter inclytos Sicarios quidam, Princeps Senatus, confodit latus ferro; A tergo adortus, dexter artifex cædis, Et cui nefas fuit, aut piaculum quemquam Jugulare, ni mactâsset simplici plaga. Spoliat jacentem Prædo nobilis Regem, Antehac Asyli, nunc at Curiæ lumen, Lingua manuque præter cæteros audax. Jam proximi adsunt mos quibus fuit raptim Surrepta pecora dissecare secreto: Hi mortuum dispertiunt minutatim, Celeriter, ut solebant quum timendum esset Ne turpiter prehenderentur in furto. Hæc terminata pars; operique succedit, Quæ dissipandum curet clanculum corpus, Exercita olim callida manus fraude, Nec artis expers qua crumena tollatur Haud sentienti furis improbam dextram: Atqui profecto illius agminis Patres Tanto fuerunt numero quantum adæquare Concisa frustillatim membra vix possent, Ut quisque Laticlavius suam partem Haberet auferendam sub toga furtim.

Ast interim tumultu fremere vesano, Et concitari suspicata fraudem Plebs: Regem reposcunt, nec abiisse adhuc credunt Sublime raptum turbine, hoc licet Patres Uno ore prædicent miraculum cuncti. Productus ergo Testis est, gravisque auctor Mendacii, prioris qui notam vitæ Pensare sanctitate visus est summa: Perjurioso facta est sic fides tandem, Sic Romulus datur Deus Indiges cœlo.

Ecquando erit quum talis exitus vitæ Tibi parari possit, O decus nostri Et gloria ævi! solus omne qui belli Pacisque jus tibi arrogas, per Europen Late tyrannus, Buonaparte, Gallorum Patiens vocarier Consul, Dominus cum sis? O magne Corse, tempus jam satis longum Heros fuisti, quin fias abhinc Divus.

HELENA INSULA.

Avia Nereidum peragro loca, saxaque vasto Circumfusa mari, sævis objecta procellis Undique, et Australi sub sidere dissita longè.

Insula parva quidem est, latuitque incognita quondam, Donec Ulyssipolis navale Tagique fluenta Linquentes Nautæ, post dira pericula ponti Vix tandem incolumes tenuerunt: tum, quia festo Visa die est Helenes, Helenæ de nomine Terram Dixerunt; nunc est productum nomen, Helēna.

Insula parva quidem, et nullos habitura colonos, Ni procul a terris aliis, penitusque remota, Opportuna foret lassis succurrere nautis, Et requiem præbere brevem; namque omnia circum Aspera sunt, nulloque hominum subigenda labore, Sed tetra aspectu, et nigrantibus horrida saxis. Utque Giganteo certamine credere fas est Montesque scopulosque, quibus conscendere cœlum Tentabant, Jovis irati sub fulmine et igne Disjectos, jacuisse atrâ informique ruina; Sic etiam hæc convulsa adeo confusaque Tellus Stat, veluti ostendens dirupti rudera mundi.

Hæc Terræ est facies, Pelagi neque mitior ora, Vix uno portu modicis adeunda carinis: Cætera, præcisis saxis circumundique cincta, Navibus accessum negat, exitiumque minatur.

At quamvis sit triste solum, sit inhospita circum Ora maris, tamen omnino contemnere nolis; Quippe coercendis Captivis non magis aptus Est locus, aut toto custodia tutior orbe. Non tali regione fuit, neque carcere septus Ille, Tomitano qui flebilis Exul in agro Fœmineas misera fundebat voce querelas: Nec tam munito latebrosa Siberia claustro Constringit Sontes, qui, propter crimina missi Exilium in durum, per devia lustra ferarum Errantes victum quærunt, multoque labore Sollicitam tolerant vitam, quamvis ibi circum Sepserit acris Hyems altæ nivis aggere terram, Captivosque premat glaciali indagine cinctos.

Et certè nullo nec tempore nec regione Vir talis tantusque severo carcere vixit Inclusus, qualem nunc insula claudit Helēna; Carcer captivo, et Captivus carcere dignus.

Illic Cyrneii Proles vesana parentis Felix Prædo jacet, Bonaparte, haud utile mundo Editus exemplum, terras tot posse sub uno Esse viro. Cyrni fines, latebrasque suorum Deseruit, fatale malum, fulmenque quod omnes Percuteret pariter populos, et sidus iniquum Gentibus, et monstrum non aversabile votis. Quinctiam Oceano classes inferre parabat; Isset in occasus, mundi devexa secutus, Ambissetque polos: victrixque Britannia solùm Hunc potuit finem vesano ponere Regi.

Ergo nunc tempus lætos agitare triumphos, Tristia quandoquidem cessarunt bella per orbem; Et, bello cessante, redit Pax optima terris, Et secura Quies, jamtandem Pace reducta, Salvaque Libertas, domito occlusoque Tyranno.

In this Poem ten lines together (a few words excepted) are taken from an eminent Latin classic; which the writer mentions to avoid the imputation of plagiarism, but presumes not to point them out to the learned reader.

ON CAPT. SIR M. MURRAY, WOUNDED AT THE WESTMINSTER ELECTION.