84
Odes.
Thou, Phœbus! saw'st the hero's face, 165
When Mars had breath'd a purple grace,
And mighty fury fill'd his breast:
How like thyself, when to destroy
The Greeks thou didst thy darts employ,
Fierce with thy golden quiver drest! 170
When Mars had breath'd a purple grace,
And mighty fury fill'd his breast:
How like thyself, when to destroy
The Greeks thou didst thy darts employ,
Fierce with thy golden quiver drest! 170
III.
Sudden, whilst, banish'd from his native land,
Red with dishonest wounds, Bavaria mourn'd,
The chief, at Gloriana's high command,
Like a rous'd lion to the Maes return'd;
With vengeful speed the British sword he drew, 175
Unus'd to grieve his host with long delay,
Whilst, wing'd with fear, the force of Gallia flew;
As when the morning-star restores the day
The wand'ring ghosts of twenty thousand slain
Fleet sullen to the shades from Blenheim's mournful plain.
Sudden, whilst, banish'd from his native land,
Red with dishonest wounds, Bavaria mourn'd,
The chief, at Gloriana's high command,
Like a rous'd lion to the Maes return'd;
With vengeful speed the British sword he drew, 175
Unus'd to grieve his host with long delay,
Whilst, wing'd with fear, the force of Gallia flew;
As when the morning-star restores the day
The wand'ring ghosts of twenty thousand slain
Fleet sullen to the shades from Blenheim's mournful plain.
I.
Britannia! wipe thy dusty brow, 181
And put the Bourbon laurels on;
To thee deliver'd nations bow,
And bless the spoils thy wars have won:
For thee Bellona points her spear, 185
And whilst lamenting mothers fear,
On high her signal torch displays;
But when thy sword is sheath'd, again
Obsequious she receives thy chain,
And smooths her violence of face. 190
Britannia! wipe thy dusty brow, 181
And put the Bourbon laurels on;
To thee deliver'd nations bow,
And bless the spoils thy wars have won:
For thee Bellona points her spear, 185
And whilst lamenting mothers fear,
On high her signal torch displays;
But when thy sword is sheath'd, again
Obsequious she receives thy chain,
And smooths her violence of face. 190
