Page:Pastorals Epistles Odes (1748).djvu/81

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EPISTLES.
67
To the Right Honourable Charles Lord Halifax, one of the Lords Justices appointed by His Majesty.
1714.
PATRON of verse, O Halifax, attend,
The muse's fav'rite, and the poet's friend!
Approaching joys my ravish'd thoughts inspire:
I feel the transport; and my soul's on fire! 4

Again Britannia rears her awful head:
Her fears, transplanted, to her foes are fled.
Again her standard she displays to view;
And all its faded lillies bloom anew. 8
Here beauteous Liberty salutes the fight,
Still pale, nor yet recover'd of her fright,
Whilst here Religion, smiling to the skies,
Her thanks expresses with up-lifted eyes. 12

But who advances next, with chearful grace,
Joy in her eye, and plenty in her face?

A