The Poetical Works of the Right Hon. George Granville, Lord Lansdowne/3
MISCELLANIES.
SPOKEN BY THE AUTHOR,
Being then not twelve years of age,
TO HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUCHESS OT YORK,
At Trinity-College in Cambridge.
When, join’d in one, the good, the fair, the great,
Deſcend to view the Muſes’ humble ſeat,
Tho’ in mean lines they their vaſt joys declare,
Yet for ſincerity and truth they dare
With your own Taſſo’s mighty ſelf compare.5
Then, bright and merciful as Heav’n, receive
From them ſuch praiſes as to Heav’n they give;
Their praiſes for that gentle influence
Which thoſe auſpicious lights, your eyes, diſpenſe;
Thoſe radiant eyes, whoſe irreſiſtleſs flame10
Strikes Envy dumb, and keeps Sedition tame:
They can to gazing multitudes give law,
Convert the factious, and the rebel awe:
They conquer for the Duke; where’er you tread
Millions of proſelytes behind are led:15
Thro’ crowds of new-made converts ſtill you go,
Pleas’d and triumphant at the glorious ſhow.
Happy that prince who has in yon obtain’d
A greater conqueſt than his arms e’er gain’d:
With all war’s rage he may abroad o’ercome,20
But love ’s a gentler victory at home:
Securely here he on that face relies,
Lays by his arms, and conquers with your eyes,
And all the glorious actions of his life
Thinks well rewarded, bleſs’d with ſuch a wife.25