Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, FOR NEW YEAR'S DAY 1703, by NAHUM TATE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

FOR NEW YEAR'S DAY 1703, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Hark, how the muses call aloud
Last Line: England's protecting george, and guardian of the main.
Subject(s): Courts & Courtiers; Great Britain - Wars With France; Happiness; Holidays; New Year; Peace; Queen Anne's Lace; Joy; Delight


Hark, how the Muses call aloud,
To welcome Father Janus home;
With double honour proud,
Double triumphs now allow'd,
For mighty blessings past, and greater yet to come.

They call, and bid the spring appear,
With wreaths of never-fading flow'rs,
Gather'd from Elysian bow'rs,
Ever fragrant, ever gay,
To crown the new auspicious day,
The smiling promise of a joyful year.

Chorus
Come Goddess of the spring, appear
With wreaths of ever smiling flow'rs,
Gather'd from Elysian bow'rs,
To crown the day that crowns the year.

Like you (the Goddess thus replies)
This young auspicious day I prize,
But one more blest is drawing near;
Till then, my infant-sweets must sleep,
And I my fragrant glories keep
For Anna's royal day; 'tis that which crowns the year.

Sound the loudest trumpet, fame,
The joyful jubilee proclaim,
Through Europe's sighing plains,
And nations long opprest;
Tell 'em Britain's Anna reigns,
Britannia's Anna reigns, and Europe shall have rest.

War's angry voice be heard no more,
For joy alone the cannon roar;
For bloody bays, with gilded palm
Thy cradle infant-year be dress'd,
Thy cheerful days all halcyon calm;
Calm as Anna's sacred breast.

Thus let thy happy minutes glide,
In joy's uninterrupted tide;
And thy blest season, like the past,
A bright example give
To after-years; while time shall last,
While time shall last, and Anna's glory live.

Fame and fortune ever smile
On Britain's queen and Britain's isle:
Plenty springing through the plain;
Traffic floating on the main:
Peace at home; and, all abroad;
Oppressors quell'd; and tyrants aw'd.

With thousand thousand blessings more,
For sov'reign virtue kept in store,
To signalize the glorious reign:

Grand chorus
All that you can happy call,
On Anna and her royal consort fall,
The prince of early fame,
Illustrious as his name
England's protecting George, and guardian of the main.





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