Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO HER MAJESTY CAROLINE ON HER ACCESSION TO THE THRONE, by THOMAS WARTON THE ELDER



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO HER MAJESTY CAROLINE ON HER ACCESSION TO THE THRONE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: An english muse shall close the solemn scene
Last Line: And rocks, and clouds, and trees, in little landskips rise.
Subject(s): Colonialism; Courts & Courtiers; Creative Ability; Great Britain; Love; Praise; Inspiration; Creativity


AN English Muse shall close the solemn Scene,
Duteous to celebrate An English Queen;
For such is She, who by Affection reigns,
And holds our willing Hearts in easy Chains;
Whom partial Wales Their Patroness would call,
Tho' to All equal, tho' rever'd by All.
Who makes the Mitred Prelacy her Care,
To learned Wake (as late to Smalridge) dear:
Yet shines, on ev'ry meanest Subject, bright,
Chearfully bounteous—Like (GOD's Gift) The Light.

THEE Holy Truth, THEE decent Zeal supports,
Humble in Greatness, and devout in Courts;
Whose faithful Heart not Roman Arts could gain,
And CÆSAR offer'd Half the Globe in vain.

No such Refusal could Elisa boast
When gay Alanzon on her wond'ring Coast
His Lillies spread:——Irresolute she turn'd,
(Not as when Mulciber Minerva scorn'd)
Then said (or seem'd to say) with faint Disguise,
I view all Princes with untempted Eyes.
Far more Sincere, more Pious to refuse,
More Prudent You, more Elegant to chuse!

O doubly bless'd! who, with Great George's Heir,
Heav'n's richest Gifts, Earth's choicest Joys may prove,
Whilst (amiable in Majesty) You share
One Hope, one Faith, one Happiness, one Love.

Janus well-pleas'd will turn his younger Face
To view the future Glories of your Race;
Britannia happy, in each God-like Son,
And Daughters ruling Nations, not our Own;
Extensive Good! which You, with gen'rous Care,
For This, for other Lands, and distant Days prepare:
Hence, glorious on Thy Self reflected shine
The dawning Virtues of Thy Num'rous Line,
By Thy Example form'd, taught by Thy Skill divine.
All Factions hence—(for All thy Worth confess)
The Queen, the Mother, and the Christian bless.

O CAROLINE! for ev'ry Grace renown'd,
With Wit, with Judgment, and with Beauty crown'd,
Deign to accept This Tribute of my Praise,
Tho' rude of Stile, and artless be the Lays:
Our youthful Bards, on Isis' Banks retir'd,
Unseen in Courts, by Swains alone admir'd,
(Such once was Addison—whom You inspir'd.
As yet but hear how Foreign Muses please,
With Spanish Grandeur, or with Tuscan Ease;
But, when the Living Languages they know,
(A Gift, which we to Royal Bounty owe)
Each rising Genius shall more boldly foar,
Sweetly disclosing Charms unknown before;
Our Athens then, more various in Her Songs,
Like Fame, will praise Thee with a Hundred Tongues.

So the rough Agates, in their native Mine,
Or lay conceal'd, or only faintly shine,
'Till some kind Hand, distinguishing their Worth,
Calls all their Multitude of Beauties forth;
Then Nature's mimic Gems (improv'd by Art) surprize,
And Rocks, and Clouds, and Trees, in little Landskips rise.





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