Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, FOR THE NEW YEAR 1791, by HENRY JAMES PYE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

FOR THE NEW YEAR 1791, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: When from the bosom of the mine
Last Line: Unbought by scenes of woe, and undefil'd with blood.
Subject(s): Explorers; French Revolution (1789); Holidays; New Year; Pitt, William, The Younger (1759-1806); Seashore; Trade; Exploring; Discovery; Discoverers; Beach; Coast; Shore


When from the bosom of the mine
The magnet first to light was thrown,
Fair Commerce hail'd the gift divine,
And, smiling, claim'd it for her own.
'My bark (she said) this gem shall guide,
Thro' paths of ocean yet untried,
While as my daring sons explore
Each rude inhospitable shore,
'Mid desert sands and ruthless skies,
New seats of industry shall rise.
And culture wide extend its genial reign,
Free as the ambient gale, and boundless as the main.'

But Tyranny soon learn'd to seize,
The art improving Science taught,
The white sail courts the distant breeze,
With horror and destruction fraught;
From the tall mast fell war unfurl'd
His banners to a new-found world;
Oppression, arm'd with giant pride,
And bigot Fury by her side;
Dire Desolation bath'd in blood,
Pale Avrice, and her harpy brood,
To each affrighted shore in thunder spoke,
And bow'd the wretched race to Slav'ry's iron yoke.

Not such the gentler views that urge
Britannia's sons to dare the surge;
Not such the gifts her Drake, her Raleigh bore
To the wild inmates of th' Atlantic shore,
Teaching each drear wood's pathless scene
The glories of their virgin queen.
Nor such her later chiefs, who try,
Impell'd by soft humanity,
The boist'rous wave, the rugged coast,
The burning zone, the polar frost,
That climes remote, and regions yet unknown,
May share a George's sway, and bless his patriot throne.

Warm Fancy, kindling with delight,
Anticipates the lapse of age,
And as she throws her eagle's flight
O'er time's yet undiscover'd page,
Vast continents, now dark with shade,
She sees in Verdure's robe array'd,
Sees o'er each island's fertile steep
That frequent studs the southern deep,
His fleecy charge the shepherd lead,
The harvest wave, the vintage bleed:
Sees Commerce, springs of guiltless wealth explore,
Where frowns the western world on Asia's neighbouring shore.

But, lo! across the blackening skies,
What swarthy demon wings his flight?
At once the transient landscape flies,
The splendid vision sets in night.
And see Britannia's awful form,
With breast undaunted, brave the storm:
Awful, as when her angry tide
O'erwhelm'd the wreck'd Armada's pride.
Awful, as when the avenging blow
Suspending o'er a prostrate foe,
She snatch'd in vict'ry's moment, prompt to save,
Iberia's sinking sons from Calpe's glowing wave.

Ere yet the tempest's mingled sound
Burst dreadful o'er the nations round,
What angel shape, in beaming radiance dight,
Pours through the severing clouds celestial light!
'Tis Peace—before her seraph eye
The fiends of devastation fly.
Auspicious, round our monarch's brow
She twines her olive's sacred bough;
This victory, she cries, is mine,
Not torn from war's terrific shrine!
Mine the pure trophies of the wise and good,
Unbought by scenes of woe, and undefil'd with blood.





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