Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ODE TO THE KING, SELECTION, by EDWARD YOUNG (1683-1765)


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ODE TO THE KING, SELECTION, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Old ocean's praise
Last Line: When such resemblance shines in kings!
Subject(s): Courts & Courtiers; George Ii, King Of England (1683-1760)


OLD Ocean's praise
Demands my lays;
A truly British theme I sing;
A theme so great,
I dare compete,
And join with Ocean, Ocean's King ...

The naval crown
Is all his own!
Our fleet, if war, or commerce, call,
His will performs
Through waves and storms
And rides in triumph round the ball.

No former race,
With strong embrace,
This theme to ravish durst aspire;
With virgin charms
My soul it warms,
And melts melodious on my lyre. ...

On yonder height
What golden light
Triumphant shines? and shines alone?
Unrivall'd blaze!
The nations gaze!
'Tis not the sun; 'tis Britain's throne.

Our monarch, there,
Rear'd high in air,
Should tempests rise, disdains to bend,
Like British oak,
Derides the stroke;
His blooming honours far extend!

Beneath them lies,
With lifted eyes,
Fair Albion, like an amorous maid;
While interest wings
Bold foreign kings
To fly, like eagles, to his shade.

At his proud foot
The sea, pour'd out,
Immortal nourishment supplies;
Thence wealth and state,
And power and fate,
Which Europe reads in GEORGE'S eyes.

From what we view,
We take the clue,
Which leads from great to greater things:
Men doubt no more,
But gods adore,
When such resemblance shines in kings!





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