'Infants in vain their trembling arms expand; Lisping for life they fall, beneath the murd'rer's hand! Ill-fated regions! doom'd a helpless prey, Where'er th' Invader bent his blood-track'd way, * Alluding to the Subscription, in this Country, for the relief of the Portuguese, suffering from the atrocities committed by the French armies. + Since these lines were written, this gallant, but ill-fated, Another comes! whom hostile regions bore! -O! thou, whose heart is dead to ev'ry tie Now, when, compell'd thy fiend-like rage to fly, Seek shelter from a Brother's tyranny! But ah! behold how chang'd the smiling scene; What threat'ning clouds of sorrow intervene ! Treads on your steps, and marks your path with ill: Monarch has quitted our shores. His object in so doing has not perhaps been ascertained: but, whithersoever he goes, the wishes of England and of Englishmen will be with him. On, brave Prince; "I pede fausto!" For lo! where comes a dread prophetick band, Denouncing death to this once happy Land! Farewell to all which ENGLAND once could claim: ENGLAND herself must fall! Too sure the blow; For W -N, WE, CT, tell us so!!! Alas! so soon, ye patriot worthies, say, Must all our Island's boasted strength decay? -Forbid it Heav'n! Nor let fair ENGLAND's peace Be blasted by such enemies as these! Dear native Land! where countless blessings shine, Where ev'ry peasant bends at Freedom's shrine, Reck not the clamour of this crafty few, This serpent-tongued, this self-nam'd patriot crew: To rant of ENGLAND's woes, and ENGLAND's fall; Or let them, if so worthless in their eyes, Quit the blest spot they know not how to prize! Do thou, my Country, scorn their proffer'd cares; Thy fate is held in higher hands than their's. And may that Pow'r which ev'ry act ordains, That GOD who Heav'n and Sea and Earth sustains, And shield thy warriors 'mid the battle's roar. * There are many worthy persons, who, though very little concerned for the true liberty of their country, have however the utmost respect for what is by several mistaken for it; I mean licentiousness, or a free power of abusing the King, the Ministry, and every thing great, noble, and solemn. FIELDING. To view thy conquering banners wide unfurl'd, Thy commerce spread throughout th' admiring world; To see thy corn and wine and oil increase; To sooth and heal affliction's rankling smart, And bend to VIRTUE's hallow'd shrine at home.. |