Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, FOR THE KING'S BIRTHDAY 1718, by NICHOLAS ROWE


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

FOR THE KING'S BIRTHDAY 1718, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Oh touch the string, celestial muse, and say
Last Line: And britain's festival be thine.
Subject(s): Birthdays; Europe; George I, King Of England (1660-1727); Great Britain - Relations With France; Triplets; United Nations


Oh touch the string, celestial Muse, and say,
Why are peculiar times and seasons blest?
Is it in fate, that one distinguish'd day
Should with more hallow'd purple paint the east?

Look on life and nature's race!
How the careless minutes pass,
How they wear a common face:
One is what another was!
Till the happy hero's worth
Bid the festival stand forth;
Till the golden light he crown,
Till he mark it for his own.

How had this glorious morning been forgot,
Unthought of as the things that never were;
Had not our greatest Caesar been its lot,
And call'd it from amongst the vulgar year!

Now, Nature, be gay
In the pride of thy May,
To court let thy graces repair;
Let Flora bestow
The crown from her brow,
For our brighter Britannia to wear.

Through every language of thy peopled earth,
Far as the sea's or Caesar's influence goes,
Let thankful nations celebrate his birth,
And bless the author of the world's repose.

Let Volga tumbling in cascades,
And Po that glides through poplar shades,
And Tagus bright in sands of gold,
And Arethusa, rivers old,
Their great deliverer sing.
Not, Danube, thou whose winding flood
So long has blush'd with Turkish blood,
To Caesar shall refuse a strain,
Since now thy streams without a stain
Run crystal as their spring.

Chorus
To mighty George, that heals thy wounds,
That names thy kings and marks thy bounds,
The joyful voice, O Europe, raise:
In the great mediator's praise
Let all thy various tongues combine,
And Britain's festival be thine.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net