ODE THE SECOND.

IN WHICH IS

THE SAILOR'S PRAYER BEFORE ENGAGEMENT.

I.

So form'd the bolt, ordain'd to break
Gaul's haughty plan, and Bourbon shake;
If Britain's crimes fupport not Britain's foes,
And edge their fwords: O Pow'r Divine !
If bleft by Thee the bold defign,

Embattled hofts a single arm o'erthrows.

II.

Ye warlike dead, who fell of old
In Britain's cause, by fame enroll'd
In deathless annal! deathless deeds inspire;
From oozy beds, for Britain's fake,
Awake, illuftrious chiefs! awake;

And kindle in

your fons paternal fire.

III.

The day commiffion'd from Above,
Our worth to weigh, our hearts to prove,

If war's full fhock too feeble to sustain ;
Or firm to stand its final blow,

When vital streams of blood fhall flow,
And turn to crimson the discolour'd main;

IV.

That day's arriv'd, that fatal hour!

"Hear us, O hear, Almighty Pow'r! "Our guide in counsel, and our strength in fight! "Now war's important die is thrown, "If left the day to man alone,

"How blind is wisdom, and how weak is might!

V.

"Let proftrate hearts, and awful fear,

And deep remorfe, and fighs fincere "For Britain's guilt, the wrath divine appease ; "A wrath, more formidable far

"Than angry nature's wasteful war, "The whirl of tempefts, and the roar of feas.

VI.

"From out the deep, to Thee we cry,
"To Thee, at nature's helm on high!

"Steer Thou our conduct, dread OMNIPOTENCE!
"To Thee for fuccour we refort;

Thy favour is our only port ;

"Our only rock of fafety, thy defence.

VII.

"O Thou, to whom the lions roar, "And, not unheard, thy boon implore! Thy throne our bursts of cannon loud invoke: "Thou canst arreft the flying ball;

"Or fend it back, and bid it fall

On thofe, from whofe proud deck the thunder broke.

3

VIII. "Britain,

VIII,

"Britain, in vain, extends her care

"To climes remote, for aids in war ; "Still farther muft it ftretch to crush the foe; "There's one alliance, one alone,

"Can crown her arms, or fix her throne; "And that alliance is not found below.

IX.

"ALLY SUPREME! we turn to Thee;
"We learn obedience from the sea;

"With feas, and winds, henceforth, thy laws fulfil;
« "Tis Thine our blood to freeze, or warm;
"To rouze, or hush, the martial storm;
"And turn the tide of conqueft, at thy will.

X.

"Tis Thine to beam fublime renown,

"Or quench the glories of a crown;

<< "Tis Thine to doom, 'tis Thine from death to free; "To turn afide his levell'd dart,

"Or pluck it from the bleeding heart:"There we caft anchor, we confide in THEE.

XI.

"THOU, who hast taught the north to roar,
"And ftreaming + lights nocturnal pour

"Of frightful afpect! when proud foes invade,
"Their blafted pride with dread to seize,
"Bid Britain's flags, as meteors, blaze;

"And GEORGE depute to thunder in thy ftead.

*Ruffia.

† Aurora Borealis.
XII. "The

XII.

"The right alone is bold, and ftrong; "Black, hovering clouds appall the wrong "With dread of vengeance: Nature's awful Sire! "Lefs than one moment fhouldft Thou frown, "Where is puissance, and renown?

"Thrones tremble, empires fink, or worlds expire.

XIII.

"Let GEORGE the just chaftife the vain: "THOU, who doft curb the rebel main, "To mount the fhore when boiling billows rave! "Bid GEORGE repel a bolder tide, "The boundless fwell of Gallic pride; « And check ambition's overwhelming wave.

XIV.

"And when (all milder means withstood) "Ambition, tam'd by lofs of blood, "Regains her reason; then, on angels wings, "Let peace defcend, and fhouting greet,

"With peals of joy, Britannia's fleet,

"How richly freighted! It, triumphant, brings
"The poife of kingdoms, and the fate of kings."

BUSIRIS,

BUS IR IS,

KING OF EGYPT.

A

TRAGEDY.

ACTED AT THЕ

THEATRE-ROYAL IN DRURY-LANE.

1 7 19.

O trifte planè acerbumque funus ! O morte ipfa mortis tempus indignius! Jam deftinata erat egregio juveni, jam electus nuptiarum dies; quod gaudium, quo mærore mutatum eft? PLIN. Epift.