No drum, or louder trumpet, needs
  To inspire the coward, warm the cold—­
  His voice, his sole appearance makes them bold. 
  Gaul and Batavia dread the impending blow;
  Too well the vigour of that arm they know;
  They lick the dust, and crouch beneath their fatal foe. 
  Long may they fear this awful prince,
  And not provoke his lingering sword;
  Peace is their only sure defence,
  Their best security his word: 
  In all the changes of his doubtful state,
  His truth, like Heaven’s, was kept inviolate,
  For him to promise is to make it fate. 
  His valour can triumph o’er land and main;
  With broken oaths his fame he will not stain;
  With conquest basely bought, and with inglorious gain.

  XVIII.

  For once, O Heaven! unfold thy adamantine book;
  And let his wondering senate see,
  If not thy firm immutable decree,
  At least the second page of strong contingency;
  Such as consists with wills originally free: 
    Let them with glad amazement look
    On what their happiness may be: 
  Let them not still be obstinately blind,
  Still to divert the good thou hast design’d,
  Or with malignant penury,
  To starve the royal virtues of his mind. 
  Faith is a Christian’s and a subject’s test,
  O give them to believe, and they are surely blest! 
    They do; and with a distant view I see
    The amended vows of English loyalty. 
  And all beyond that object, there appears
  The long retinue of a prosperous reign,
  A series of successful years,
  In orderly array, a martial, manly train. 
  Behold even the remoter shores,
  A conquering navy proudly spread;
  The British cannon formidably roars,
  While starting from his oozy bed,
  The asserted Ocean rears his reverend head;
  To view and recognise his ancient lord again: 
  And with a willing hand, restores
  The fasces of the main.

* * * * *

FOOTNOTES: 

[Footnote 90:  ‘An eagre:’  a tide swelling above another tide—­observed
on the River Trent.]

[Footnote 91:  ‘Short and Hobbes:’  two physicians who attended on the
king.]

[Footnote 92:  ‘King:’  King David.]

[Footnote 93:  ‘The prophet:’  Elijah.]

* * * * *

VENI CREATOR SPIRITUS, PARAPHRASED.

CREATOR SPIRIT, by whose aid
The world’s foundations first were laid,
Come, visit every pious mind;
Come, pour thy joys on human kind;
From sin and sorrow set us free,
And make thy temples worthy thee.

    O source of uncreated light,
  The Father’s promised Paraclete! 
  Thrice holy fount, thrice holy fire,
  Our hearts with heavenly love inspire;
  Come, and thy sacred unction bring
  To sanctify us, while we sing!