Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, FOR NEW YEAR'S DAY 1698, by NAHUM TATE


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

FOR NEW YEAR'S DAY 1698, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Music now thy charms display
Last Line: Happy, happy, past expressing.
Subject(s): Great Britain - Wars With France; Heroism; Holidays; New Year; Peace; Soldiers; War; Heroes; Heroines


Music now thy charms display,
Let all thy tuneful sons appear,
To entertain the genial day,
And kindly treat the infant-year.

Young as 'tis, it brings along
Blessings on its tender wing;
Blessings to require your song;
Blessings that forestall the spring.

Chorus
The promis'd year is now arriv'd,
That has the golden age reviv'd.

The prize our daring warrior sought
Is now completely gain'd;
Not poorly begg'd, nor dearly bought,
But nobly, in the field, obtain'd.

Peace herself could boast no charms
To draw our hero from alarms,
From glorious danger—till she came
In honour's recommending name,
And all the splendid pomp of fame.

Bellona else had still been heard,
Thundering through the listed plain;
Europe still, with restless pain,
Had for her fearless champion fear'd.

Harrass'd nations, now at rest,
Echo to each other's joy,
Their breath in grateful songs employ,
For him who has their griefs redrest.

Chorus
What then should happy Britain do?
Blest with the gift and giver too.

On warlike enterprizes bent
To foreign fields the hero went;
The dreadful part he there perform'd
Of battles fought, and cities storm'd:
But now the drum and trumpet cease,
And wish'd success his sword has sheath'd,
To us returns, with olive wreath'd,
To practice here the milder arts of peace.

Grand chorus
Happy, happy, past expressing,
Britain, if thou know'st thy blessing;
Home-bred discord ne'er alarm thee,
Other mischief cannot harm thee.
Happy, if thou know'st thy blessing.
Happy, happy, past expressing.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


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