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ODE ON THE DUKE OF YORK'S SECOND DEPARTURE FROM ENGLAND

AS REAR ADMIRAL. WRITTEN ABOARD THE

ROYAL GEORGE.

AGAIN the royal streamers play!

To glory Edward hastes away;
Adieu, ye happy silvan bowers,

Where pleasure's sprightly throng await!
Ye domes, where regal grandeur towers
In purple ornaments of state!

Ye scenes where virtue's sacred strain
Bids the tragic muse complain!
Where satire treads the comic stage,
Το Scourge and mend а venal age;
Where music pours the soft, melodious lay,
And melting symphonies congenial play!
Ye silken sons of ease, who dwell

In flowery vales of peace, farewell !

In vain the goddess of the myrtle grove
Her charms ineffable displays;

In vain she calls to happier realms of love,

Which Spring's unfading bloom arrays:
In vain her living roses blow,

And ever-vernal pleasures grow;
The gentle sports of youth no more
Allure him to the peaceful shore:
Arcadian ease no longer charms,

For war and fame alone can please.
His throbbing bosom beats to arms,

To war the hero moves, thro' storms and wintry seas.

CHORUS.

The gentle sports of youth no more
Allure him to the peaceful shore,

For war and fame alone can please;
To war the hero moves, thro' storms and wintry seas.

Though danger's hostile train appears

To thwart the course that honour steers;
Unmoved he leads the rugged way,
Despising peril and dismay :

His country calls; to guard her laws,
Lo! every joy the gallant youth resigns;
The avenging naval sword he draws,

And o'er the waves conducts her martial lines: Hark! his sprightly clarions play;

Follow where he leads the way!

The piercing fife, the sounding drum,
Tell the deeps their master's come.

CHORUS.

Hark! his sprightly clarions play,

y!

Follow where he leads the way

The piercing fife, the sounding drum,
Tell the deeps their master's come.

Thus Alcmena's warlike son

The thorny course of virtue run, When, taught by her unerring voice, He made the glorious choice: Severe, indeed, the attempt he knew, Youth's genial ardours to subdue : For pleasure, Venus' lovely form assumed; Her glowing charms, divinely bright, In all the pride of beauty bloom'd, And struck his ravish'd sight.

Transfix'd, amazed,

Alcides gazed:

Enchanting grace

Adorn'd her face,

And all his changing looks confest
The alternate passions in his breast :

Her swelling bosom half reveal'd,

Her eyes that kindling raptures fir'd,
A thousand tender pains instill'd,

A thousand flatt'ring thoughts inspired:
Persuasion's sweetest language hung
In melting accent on her tongue :
Deep in his heart, the winning tale
Infused a magic power;

She prest him to the rosy vale,

And show'd the Elysian bower : Her hand, that trembling ardours move, Conducts him blushing to the blest alcove : Ah! see, o'erpower'd by beauty's charms, And won by love's resistless arms, The captive yields to nature's soft alarms!

CHORUS.

Ah! see, o'erpower'd by beauty's charms,
And won by love's resistless arms,

The captive yields to nature's soft alarms!

Assist, ye guardian powers above!
From ruin save the son of Jove!
By heavenly mandate virtue came,
And check'd the fatal flame:
Swift as the quivering needle wheels,
Whose point the magnet's influence feels,

Inspired with awe,

He, turning, saw
The nymph divine

Transcendent shine;

And, while he view'd the godlike maid,
His heart a sacred impulse sway'd:

His eyes with ardent motion roll,

And love, regret, and hope, divide his soul. But soon her words his pain destroy, And all the numbers of his heart,

Return'd by her celestial art, Now swell'd to strains of nobler joy. Instructed thus by virtue's lore, His happy steps the realms explore Where guilt and error are no more: The clouds that veil'd his intellectual ray, Before his breath dispelling, melt away : Broke loose from pleasure's glittering chain, He scorn'd her soft inglorious reign: Convinced, resolved, to virtue then he turn'd, And in his breast paternal glory burn'd.

CHORUS.

Broke loose from pleasure's glittering chain, He scorn'd her soft inglorious reign: