I.
Janus, did ever to thy wond’ring Eyes,
So bright a Scene of Triumph rise?
Did ever Greece or Rome such Laurels wear,
As crown’d the last auspicious Year?
When first at Blenheim ANNE her Ensigns spread,
And Marlbro’ to the Field the shouting Squadrons led,
In vain the Hills and Streams oppose,
In vain the hollow Ground in faithless Hillocks rose.
To the rough Danube’s winding Shore,
His shatter’d Foes the conquering Hero bore.
II.
They see with staring haggard Eyes
The rapid Torrent roll, the foaming Billows rise;
Amaz’d, aghast, they turn, but find
In Marlbro’s Arms, a surer Fate behind.
Now his red Sword aloft impends,
Now on their shrinking Heads descends:
Wild and distracted with their Fears,
They justling plunge amidst the sounding Deeps;
The Flood away the struggling Squadrons sweeps,
And Men, and Arms, and Horses whirling bears.
The frighted Danube to the Sea retreats,
The Danube soon the flying Ocean meets,
Flying the Thunder of great ANNA’s Fleets.
III.
Rooke on the Seas asserts her Sway,
Flames o’er the trembling Ocean play,
And Clouds of Smoak involve the Day.
Affrighted Europe hears the Cannons roar,
And Africk echoes from its distant Shore.
The French, unequal in the Fight,
In Force superior, take their Flight.
Factions in vain the Hero’s Worth decry,
In vain the Vanquish’d triumph, while they fly.
IV.
Now, Janus, with a future View,
The Glories of her Reign survey,
Which shall o’er France her Arms display,
And Kingdoms now her own subdue.
Lewis, for Oppression born,
Lewis in his turn shall mourn,
While his conquer’d happy Swains,
Shall hug their easy wish’d-for Chains.
Others, inslav’d by Victory,
Their Subjects, as their Foes, oppress;
ANNA conquers but to free,
And governs but to bless.
(Edmund Smith)
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Based on Topics: Man Poems, Fear Poems, Success Poems, Future Poems, Heroism Poems, Flying Poems, Boredom PoemsBased on Keywords: smoak, involve, asserts, lewis, d-for, decry, janus, danube, blenheim, impends, justling