CALEDONIA, A POEM, &c.
[1]IN Northern Hights, where Nature ſeldom ſmiles,
Embrac'd with Scas, and
buttreſſ't a round with Iſles,
Where lofty Shores
b regard th' adjacent
Pole,Where Winds inceſſant blow, and Waves inceſſant roll;
Where
Tyrant c Cold in
Glacy Ocean reigns,
And all the Habitable World diſdains,
Defies the diſtant Influence of the Sun,
Firſt
e youngeſt Siſter to the Frozen Zone,
Batter'd by Parent Natures conſtant Frown▪
Adapt to Hardſhips, and cut out for Toil;
The beſt worſt Climate, and the worſt beſt Soil.
A rough, unhewn, uncultivated Spot,
Of old ſo fam'd, and ſo of late forgot.
[2] NEGLECTED SCOTLAND ſhews her awful Brow,
Not always quite ſo near to Heaven as now.
Circled with dreadful Clifts and Barb'rous Shores,
Where the ſtrong Surff with high impetuous Roars,
Invades the Rocks, and theſe their Rage diſdain,
And with redoubling Noiſe they'r hurry'd home again;
The hollow Caverns Mutual Roars return,
And
Baffled Neptune a raging makes the Ocean burn.
The furious Elements in vain contend,
Unmov'd the mighty natural Breaſt-works ſtand.
Their awful Hights in threatning Grandeur ſhine,
Emblems of mightier Hearts of Stone within.
Th' Inſtructing Rocks, Invincible and Strong,
Deſcribe the Race that to theſe Rocks belong,
And bid the quick retreating Waves declare,
And warn the World againſt a Northern War ▪
Tell them the Hopes of Conqueſt muſt be vain;
When Hands of Steel ſhall Rocks of Flint maintain.
b Theſe are
th' eternal Bounds of
Providence, The Oceans Bridle, and the Lands Defence.
The Warts and Wrinkles plac'd on Natures Brow
That her Maternal Care and Conduct ſhow.
The meaneſt parts of Nature have their Uſe,
And ſome to Terror, ſome to Strength conduce:
Nor is their Ornament at all the leſs;
For Beauty's beſt deſcrib'd by Uſefulneſs.
[3] Behind this Rugged Front
a ſecurely lies Bleſt Caledonia, and with Eaſe defies
Her Northern, or her Southern Enemies.
Fixt by Decree, Her Nature's not to fear
Huge Navies there, or Icy Mountains here.
Here Towring Clifts, and there the Beachy Shoal
Defy the
b Raging Monſters of the Pole.
There equally they
c Floating Worlds defy,
Bid them ſtand off and live, advance and die:
The Hardy Wretch that ſees the Hint too late,
Fails not to find his Folly in his Fate.
Behind this Rugged Front ſecurely lies
Old Caledonia, all the Worlds
d Surprize.
Her Native Beauty and her Wealth conceal'd
Waits
e the bleſt Hour when both ſhall be reveal'd.
In Age and Fancy'd Poverty Secure,
And yet She's ever Young, and never Poor.
Here labouring with the Injuries of Time▪
Inclement Air, Inhoſpitable Clime,
[4] Foreign Invaſions and Inteſtine Wars;
Yet all her Native Beauty ſtill appears.
Brittain's
a Left hand, which when ſhe ſhall unite,
As Nature dictates, and the Fates Invite,
And join her younger Siſter on the Right:
How ſhall they Mutual Wealth and Strength convey,
And with Contempt the weaker World Survey!
Till THAT BLEST HOUR, how does her Injur'd Name
Sleep in the Rubbiſh of her Ancient Fame?
Buried in b Slander, by Reproach laid low:
And all the diſtant World believes her ſo:
Then let us firſt ſurvey her Fancy'd Herſe,
She'll find ſome Reſurrection in our Verſe;
Till rouſing from a long declining Fate,
WHOLE BRITTAIN ſhall her Glory reinſtate.
How have
c we plac'd her out of Nature's Eye,
Where Conſtant Colds Few Seeds of Life ſupply?
Where Nature Chill'd ſome deſpicables dwell,
Immur'd with Darkneſs and ally'd to Hell.
No Moderate Bleſſings, no Endowment ſhare,
Nothing that's Pleaſant ſee, nothing delightful hear:
[5] But ſee
the Horrid a Bear march round the Pole,
And feel her Piercing Breath Congeal the Soul.
Their Muſick's Whirl-wind, and the ſhrill Echoing Roar
Of Frozen Seas on the Deſerted Shore.
Legends of Fables fill our partial Heads,
Of Lands where Graſs ne'r grows, or Mortal treads;
Where keeneſt Winds and Storms Inceſſant blow
On Mountains cover'd with Eternal Snow;
Where Nature never blooms, and Sun ne'r ſhines,
But Cold with Cold, and Froſt with Froſt Combines,
What Countrey's this? And whither are we gone?
Bright Caledonia, where will Fable run?
Suffer th' impartial Pen to range thy Shore,
And do thee
c Juſtice, Nature asks no more:
Fitted for Commerce and cut out for Trade;
The Seas the Land, the Land the Seas invade.
The Promontory Clifts with Hights emboſst,
And large deep Bays adorn thy dang'rous Coaſt;
Alternately the Pilot's true Relief,
Theſe warn at Diſtance, thoſe receive him ſafe;
The deep indented Harbours then invite,
Firſt court by day, and then ſecure at night:
The wearied Sailors ſafe and true Receſs,
A full Amends for wild Tempeſtuous Seas.
[6] Nature that well foreknows a Nations Fate,
Thus fitted Caledonia to be great.
Her
a various Aſpects the Deſign explain,
And
b Circumſtances ſhall reſiſt in vain.
Subject no more to ev'ry croſs Event,
She ſhall be Great and Rich, as Nature meant.
View next her Seas, from ancient Terrors nam'd,
For Bug-bear Storms, by Bug-bear Sailors fam'd.
c Phenician Sailors, wiſe in Ignorance,
That dream't of
d THULE, yet afraid t'advance;
[7] Thy lengthen'd Sun with uncooth Joy ſurvey,
And vainly dream'd it led to bright Eternal Day:
Unbleſs'd with Art, yet from thy Ocean fly,
Afraid to live, becauſe afraid to die.
To them thy Wealth and Stores were unreveal'd,
And all beyond thee happily conceal'd.
Had they thy Scally Shoals of Bleſſings known,
They'd long ſince choſe thy Shores, and quite ſorgot their own.
Thine had been India, and thy Golden Seas
Had fill'd their Antique Songs.
But Fear, that Negative of Glory, gave
This Gift appropriat to a Race more brave.
The frighted South-taught Navigators fly,
And mock'd with Fear, their own Succeſs deſtroy.
Unpractis'd in thy watry Wars, they ſhun
Thy ſafer Coaſt, and at a Diſtance run.
Thy Seas, tho vaſt, and in Extent unknown,
In Wealth and Strength
to Thee a ſubſervient grown.
Calm Tides, ſmooth Surface, and a ſhining Brow,
And gentle Gales for Wealth and Commerce blow.
Theſe reconcile the once ſo dreadful Waſte,
And Art and Induſtry ſupply the reſt.
b Hail Science, Natures
ſecond Eye, Begot on Reaſon by Philoſophy,
Mans Telleſcope to all that's Deep and High;
[8] What Infinites doſt thou purſue!
The Tangl'd Skeines of Nature how undo!
Pierce all her darkeſt Clouds, her Knots untye,
And leave her naked to the wandring Eye.
What Guſt of Knowledge blew thee off to Sea?
A deſp'rate Curioſity.
In Mountain-Waves, and raging Wind,
Tell us, what couldſt thou hope to find?
'Tis anſwer'd,—Theſe are Natures Schools,
To teach the Power of Art and Rules:
From hence what vaſt inſtructing things thou'ſt brought;
Beſides the Huge Remains not yet found out.
But of all Knowledge, this was ſure the beſt,
As 'tis the Pole-ſtar to the reſt.
How wing'd with Science, men might trace
The foaming Oceans rougheſt Face;
Plow the vaſt Furrows of th'amazing Deep,
With Eaſe and Safety ſail and ſleep.
No more th' uncertain Northern Tides ſhall fright,
Familiar Dangers leſſen to the Sight;
The Rocks and Sands, the threatning Shore,
Pledges of certain Death before.
Now Roads and Harbours found for help appear,
And ſhow the Follies of our ancient Fear;
Under their Weather Banks we calmly ride
Danger and Safety they divide.
Now they appear the Aids of Providence,
The Sailors Safety, and the Lands Defence.
Bold Science whither wilt thou ſtear,
See how the Tempeſts arm'd with Death, appear;
[9] Read but the threatning Language of the Skies,
How gathering Clouds, with-Child of Thunders riſe;
See Mountains heap'd in ſtrong Rebellion move,
See Oſſa top'd with Pelion, threatning Jove;
See angry Nature rous'd to Civil War,
'Twas Prudence firſt taught Mankind how to fear;
Bold Science, whither wilt thou Steer!
Vain Caution! See the daring Nymph ſets Sail,
What Fear calls Storm, ſhe calls a welcome Gale;
On raging Waves, and Mountain Billows toſt,
She ſees with Joy her Port, with Joy ſhe quits the Coaſt;
The Wind's embrac'd with high expanded Wings
The Sailors ſleep and fly, the Pilot ſings;
Sometimes he mounts ſo high, he turns his Ear,
And liſtens for the Muſick of a Sphere;
Charm'd with the Symphony, he'll Conſort keep,
And Beat true Time, tho' he reviews the Deep.
She's gone, new Worlds ſhe ſeeks, new Worlds ſhe finds,
She rides on Tempeſts, and improves the Winds,
Th' Elemental Terrors ſhe'll deſpiſe,
And Bully Neptune boldly ſhe defies.
See how Mankind by her Experience taught,
Has all to Rule and Method brought;
The
a Practicable Seas to Art ſubmit,
And Wealth and Commerce freely circulate,
[10] With ſteady hand th' experienc'd Pilot Steers,
And laughs in Northern Waves at Southern Fears,
Defies the two and thirty Hoſts of Air,
And ſits compos'd i'th' midſt of Elemental War,
All unconcern'd at Natures Quarrels, he,
To his own Uſe, applies their Enmity.
The Furious Wind, the Water's Rage,
He wiſely joins to his Juſt End, the Voyage:
In this he makes their pointed Rage agree,
And forms their Diſcord into Harmony.
So jarring Parties in a State,
By the Wiſe Conduct of the Crown,
Are manag'd to ſupport the Magiſtrate,
And fix that Power they ſtruggle to pull down.
Knowledge gives Courage, Science makes Men brave;
Folly drives headlong to the Grave:
For Ignorance and Fear make Cowards run
Into thoſe Dangers they'r afraid to ſhun.
Diſcretion only makes Men ſafe and bold,
While Fears the Remedies withhold;
Fear holds the Gates of Reaſon faſt,
Shuts out its help, and ſo the Coxcomb's loſt.
The Pilot now, Conſummate in his Skill,
Made ſafe by Nature, mounts the Watry Hill;
Thro' Paths untrod, and Mazes of the Deep,
He Cuts his Guided Courſe, the rough, the ſteep,
[11] Are all made ſmooth to him, he knows his Way,
He neither fears the Night, nor Courts the Day:
Thro' all the Tempeſts Midnight Rage he ſlies,
Viſits the Bottoms now, anon the Skies.
When up to Heav'n he mounts, the Cheering Sun
Makes glad, and 'tis the ſame when darting down;
To all the Dark abyſs he ſhoots and ſee's,
The Hollow Deeps of Natures Nudities;
Till his Bleſt Port with ſteady Hand he finds:
And thus to Art he reconciles the Winds.
Thus vaniſhes the Horrid and the Wild,
And Nature's now with pleaſant Eyes beheld;
When Boreas mad with northern Vapours raves,
We ſmile, and with Contempt ſurvey the Waves
Art reconciles the Elements, and Trade
Can now with eaſe the Globes Extremes invade.
Eternal circulating Commerce flows,
And ev'ry Nation, ev'ry Nation knows.
Torrid and Frigid ſcale, and joyn the Poles,
And far as Wind can blow, or Water rolls,
Ships ſail, and Men in ſearch of Wealth will trace
All the Meanders of the Univerſe.
The rough, the ſmooth, to men of Art ſubmit;
The Northern Winter Cold, or Southern Heat,
With equal Safety, and with equal Eaſe,
Calm Caſpian Lakes, and Caledonian Seas.
By Natures Aid, and Arts concurring Law,
Dangers are only Helps to draw.
[12] The Thirſts of Honour Generous Minds bewitch,
And Danger tempts the Brave, as Gold the Rich.
'Twas Courage firſt that ventur'd out to Sea,
Young in Experience, as Philoſophy.
Noah himſelf had certainly been drown'd,
Had not his Courage, as his Faith, been ſound.
Hail Caledonia, by vaſt Seas embrac't;
Thoſe Seas for Glory, Wealth and Terror plac't.
Dreadful in Fame, to thee familiar grown,
Suited to no mens Temper like thy own.
The bounteous Ocean
a fraught with native Gold,
Sav'd it for thee;
by its own Curſe, b the Cold.
Had not the Storms and Tempeſts govern'd here,
And fenc'd this long hid Treaſure round with Fear,
Paſt Ages had thy rifled Store decreaſt,
And Foreign Nations all thy Wealth poſſeſt.
Wealth that well ſuits a hardy Race like thine,
That dares through Storms and Death purſue the Mine.
Wealth hid from Cowards, and the fainting Hand,
Scar'd with the Sea's content to ſtarve by Land.
[13] But when thy daring Sons the Wave explore,
The Ocean yields her
a unexhauſted Store:
Thy open Harbours all her Gifts divide,
And Seas of Wealth roll in with ev'ry Tide:
The Golden Shoals thy very Nets purſue,
Laugh at the leſſer Treaſures of Peru;
Prompt thee to change the meanneſs of thy State,
Bids thee, when e're thou wilt, be rich and great.
Tell us ye Sons of Myſt'ry, from what Hand,
What
b ſecret High Command
Gives out the Word that's heard to Natures Deep,
Where all the Scaly Tribes their Councils keep?
Who tells them when the very Month arrives?
And who the ſecret Order gives?
When from the Womb of Wonders far by-North,
The mighty Slymy Hoſts come forth;
The num'rous Legions ſpread the Sea,
The wondring frighted Waves give way;
Forward the Mighty moving Hoſts puſh on,
All guided by a Hand unknown.
[14] Th' Involuntary well directed Fry,
The unknown ſomething readily obey.
No Pilot can with more Exactneſs ſteer,
Not Sun or Moon divides the Year.
Not the revolving Stars their Courſe obey▪
Not Darkneſs can ſucceed the Day,
With a more punctual ſteady Pace,
In Manner, Meaſure, Time and Place;
True to the very Diſtance of the Shore,
They'r never, where they never were before
Where there's but few, there ever was but few,
To ev'ry Circumſtance ſo true.
Such Courſes ſteer, ſuch Orders keep,
Thro' all the wandring Mazes of the Deep;
As if the Ancient Paths they could diſcry,
Or read their Father's Hiſtory:
Then Caledonians lend an humble Ear,
And your own
a ill accepted Bleſſings hear,
From the profound unmeaſur'd Deeps
Where Nature all her Wonders keeps.
Her
b Handmaid Inſtinct, this Bleſt Meſſage gave
To all the Watry Crew beneath the Watry Cave.
[15] Go Numberleſs and ſpread the Finny Sail,
And find Britannia Nature's Darling Iſle;
There ſpread your Scaly Squadrons, and ſubmit,
Your Makers Law Commands, To Every Net.
Be You Their Wealth and plenteouſly ſupply
What Coldeſt Soil and Steril Climes deny.
Be You Their Envy'd Bleſſing, and attend
The willing Prey, to the unduſtrious Hand,
In proper Squadrons all your Troops divide,
And viſit Every Creek, with Every Tide.
Preſent your ſelves to every Hungry Door,
Employ The Diligent, and feed The Poor.
If they reject the Bounties of the Sea
Bid'em Complain b no more of Poverty. Upbraid their ſloth, and then return to me,
The punctual well inſtructed Fiſh obey,
And Scaly Squadrons ſpread the Northern Sea,
Directly point their Courſe, and find the Shore,
As if they'd all been here before.
Their equal Diſtance keep, divide and join,
As if they're taught by Book, or ſteer'd by Line:
[16] Their ſtrong Detachments ſend to every Creek,
In juſt Proportion their own Miſchiefs ſeek.
Seek out the Harbours, ſeek the Indented Shore,
Timploy the Diligent, and feed the Poor.
No other Port they viſit.
Ah! Caledonia, mark the High Command,
And mark the Caution of the Heavenly Hand;
If thou reject the Bounties of the Sea,
No more Complain of Poverty.
Hadſt thou in early time with Wiſdom grac't
Heav'ns Bounty, as in Duty bound, embrac't,
Above the Nations thou hadſt rais'd thy Head,
At Home their Envy, and abroad their Dread,
Thy Wealthy Clime would all the World invite,
They'd Court Thee to Unite.
No more of Barren Hills and Seas complain,
Reproach the Land with Blaſts, with Storms the Main.
Not all the Spicy Banks of
a Ganges Stream,
Not Fruitful Nile ſo oft the Poets Dream,
[17] Not
a Iſles of Pearl, not rich
b Pacifick Seas,
Not the more Fruitful
c Caribbees,Not
d Africks Wealth or
Chilean Stores,
The
Silver e Mountains, or the
Golden Shores,Could ſuch an
f Unexhauſted Treaſure boaſt,
A Treaſure how ſupinely loſt!
What Pains has Scotland taken to be Poor,
That has the Indies at her Door;
That lets her Courſeſt Fate of Choice remain,
And ſees her Maker Bountiful in Vain.
When Caledonians, when will you be wiſe,
And ſearch for certain Wealth in Native Seas?
A Wealth by Heav'n deſign'd for none but You,
A Wealth that does your very Hands purſue,
[18] Upbraids You with Neglect of Your own Right,
And courts Invading Neighbours in your Sight.
When Caledonians, when will You be wiſe?
When from Your Clouded Circumſtances riſe?
Baniſh Invaders, Heav'n's own Gifts enjoy,
This would Your Native Poverty deſtory.
This would reſtore Your Ancient dear bought Name,
This, and Your Valour, would revive Your Fame;
How would Your Navies quickly ſpread the Seas,
And guard that Wealth they help You to poſſeſs?
How would Your Commerce all Your Sons reſtore,
And they'd ſeek Home that ſhun'd that Home before?
With Wealth and People, Happy, Rich and Free,
You'd firſt Improve the Land, and then the Sea;
Be Strong, be Great, be Rich, be Europe's Fear,
Their War, their Wealth, their Trade, their Honours ſhare.
But let's Retreat, Who can the Scene ſurvey,
And View this Wealth the Neighbour Nations Prey;
What Eye, that's Caledonia's Friend, can ſee
Her Sons on Shore, and Strangers ſpread the Sea?
Who can, with Patience, View her People Poor,
And Mines of Wealth ſnatch'd up at ev'ry Door?
The Bounty Heav'n for their Peculiar meant,
Reap't by the Hands to whom 'twas never ſent.
The Ocean plunder'd, the Advantage ſold,
While theſe enjoy the Tempeſts, thoſe the Gold.
[19] Hail Bleſt Conjunction, Brittain's laſt beſt Hour,
Shall Caledonia to her ſelf reſtore;
Aſſert her long neglected Property,
Her Bleſſing, her Inheritance, the Sea.
In hopes of this, let's land and range the Shore,
And view the Nation that the World calls Poor.
Plenty's a doubtful Word miſtook by moſt,
A modern Term for Luxury and Waſte.
So Canaan flow'd. the Lands in Plenty drown'd;
Yet Egypt did in vaſt Increaſe abound.
The World's amus'd with different Forms of Words,
When various Sence the various Thought affords.
Nature's by vaſt Compariſons explain'd,
And all her Contradictions ſo maintain'd.
So Scotlands Barren, Fruitful, Poor and Rich:
Speak Malice, Speak Inſulters, tell us which.
Deſcribe the Globe, run all the Climates o'er,
She's Poor compar'd to Rich, and Rich compar'd to Poor.
In Climates next, let's view her Northern Coaſt,
A fruitful Stile, with Epithets embos't,
The Horrid, Boiſtrous, Barren, and the Cold,
What Fabl'd Monſtrous Stories have been told!
Yet range the Globe, and her Extremes ſurvey,
And ſail
from a Magellan to
Hudſons Bay;Ditto the Jeſt, and when the Truth's but told,
She's Cold compar'd to Hot, and Hot compar'd to Cold.
[20] Nor is there leſs of Injury appears
About her Mountains, or her Mountaineers.
View but the Savage
a Madagaſcar Moors,
b Campeche Indians, or
c Circaſſian Boors,
And when the Characters we ſhall compare,
A Northern Highland-man's a Chriſtian there.
Polite his Manners, and his
d Modern Dreſs,Is Beauty all, when match't with Uglineſs.
PART II.
[21]THe Plan's Deſcrib'd, the Seas and Shores Survey'd;
Let's now the Treaſures of the Land Invade,
Traverſe their Hills, and all their Vales Deſcry,
And ſpread their juſt Deſcription to the Eye.
The Rugged Nation plac'd by Nature here,
Shall in their fancied Poverty appear;
The World ſhall bluſh, when they their Picture ſee,
And Fame grow Proud to Print their Hiſtory.
The Soil no more unjuſt Reproach ſhall bear,
For all they Talk of Barren's ſlander here,
And 'tis, or may be Fruitful ev'ry where.
A hardy Race poſſeſs the ſtormy Strand,
And ſhare the Moderate Bountys of the Land,
Fitted by Nature for the Boiſtrous Clime,
And larger Bleſſings will grow due by time.
The num'rous Off-ſpring patient and ſedate,
With Courage ſpecial to the Climate wait.
When Nigard Nature ſhall their Nation hear,
Shall ſmile, and pay them all the Vaſt Arrear.
A manly ſurlineſs, with Temper mix'd,
Is on their meaneſt Countenances fix'd.
[22] An awful Frown ſits on their threatning Brow,
And yet the Soul's all ſmooth, and Calm below;
Thinking in Temper, rather grave than Gay,
Fitted to govern, able to obey.
Nor are their Spirits very ſoon enflam'd,
And if provok'd, not very ſoon reclaim'd.
Fierce when reſolv'd, and fix'd as Bars of Braſs,
And Conqueſt through their Blood can only paſs.
In ſpight of Coward Cold, the Race is Brave,
In Action Daring, and in Council Grave;
Their haughty Souls in Danger always grow,
No Man durſt lead 'em where they durſt not go.
Sedate in Thought, and ſteady in Reſolve,
Polite in Manners, and as Years Revolve;
Always ſecure their largeſt ſhare of Fame,
And by their Courage keep alive their Name.
The lab'ring Poor dejected and ſuppreſt▪
See not th' approaching Proſpect of their Reſt.
Knowledge of Liberty's their only want,
And loſs of Expectation's their Content.
Too much ſubjected to immoderate Power,
Their Petty Tyrants all their Pains devour.
[23] Th'
a extorting Maſters their juſt hopes Reſtrain,
And
b Diligence
is no where more in vain.The
c Little Chiefs, for what they call their due,
Eat up the Farme and eat the Farmer too;
Suck the Life-Blood, of Tennant and Eſtate,
And needleſs Poverty to both create.
Miſtake their Int'reſt, Nati'nal Ills procure,
And make the Poor be very very poor.
Th unhappy Drudge, yet bears the mighty Load,
With ſtrange unnat'ral Temperance endow'd,
So ſervile, ſo unuſ'd to Liberty;
He ſeems the laſt, that wiſhes to be free,
Prepoſtrous Wonder!
Where will Nature run,
That Men ſhould Struggle to be twice Undone;
[24] Afflictions make Men Stupid, Nature winks,
And Senſe o'relaid, he acts before he thinks;
Subjected Nature fetter'd with Diſtreſs
Dozes, and Bondage does the Soul poſſeſs,
Endeavour Slackneſs, all the Proſpects dy,
And with the Hope, the Love of Liberty.
Yet under all the Hardſhips of their State,
They've ſomething ſeems to claim a ſofter Fate;
Nor does it claim alone, The Grand Portent
Foretells the Bleſſing, and decrees th'Event.
'Tis plainly printed on the Painful Brow,
They ſhall not always be ſuppreſt as now;
Th'approaching Light at Diſtance dawns, the Ray
Darts a Dim Earneſt of the Welcome Day.
When ſleeping Bondage doom'd to laſting Night,
Shall help to make the Chearing Beam more bright.
Th'enlighten'd Crowd ſhall their own Freedom ſee,
For willful Blindneſs only, ſhuts out Liberty;
Bondage is Ignorance, and he that ſees,
Needs no directer Cure for that Diſeaſe.
Knowledge and Liberty go Hand in Hand,
Fools only will obey, when Knaves command;
The Sordid Yoke no longer can be born,
When once he ſees he muſt the Grievance ſcorn;
[25] He that in Blind Dependence now ſubmits,
Will rouſe his Strength, when he ſhall rouſe his Wits;
Nature prevails, and Senſe in Exerciſe
The Chains on Reaſon nat'rally unties.
Thus when new Sight ſhall once but bleſs the Poor,
'Tis theſe will Scotland's Liberty Reſtore;
The ſtrong Conviction no Man can reſiſt,
And Blindneſs ſhall againſt her Will be bleſt;
And now, in all their Miſeries, let's View
What Bleſſings they induſtriouſly purſue;
What juſt Equivalent they can ſupply,
For loſs of Wealth, and loſs of Liberty:
Th' Inſtructed Poor Laborious and Suppreſt;
Yet in their very Miſeries are bleſt;
Cruſh'd with injurious Homage they obey
GOD and their Landlord, but with diff'rent Eye;
And yet to both they pay without Regrett,
To this the Homage, and to that the Debt.
The Negatives of Nature they Endure,
In Virtue Rich, tho in Poſſeſſions Poor,
Knowing in Sacreds, in Religion Nice,
And ignorant in nothing more than Vice:
What Crimes they have, they borrow from Mankind,
Hell's Manufactures here are contraband.
Imported by the help of Foreign Trade,
Clandeſtinely enjoy'd, clandeſtinely conveigh'd.
[26] Unuſual Judgment fills the meaner Heads,
Devotion follows as Inſtruction leads.
Grave in Behaviour, in Diſcourſe ſedate,
And apter to believe than to debate;
And if they can exceed in doing Well,
'Tis in a little little TOO MUCH ZEAL.
In Doctrine ſound, in Diſcipline ſevere,
The Church obtains her True Dominion here.
And yet her foft Coercives yield no Pow'r,
Either to perſecure, or to devour.
Fiercely tenacious of determin'd Truth,
Dreadful to Error, Vigilant of both.
The wild Opinions of a Neighb'ring State,
Find here no Atom-Fancies to create:
The ſtrong fermented Venom hither brought,
Like Iriſh Poiſons, periſh in the Thought;
Here no Enthuſiaſtick Notion grows,
The only Barrenneſs the Nation knows.
A Mitred Jeſt indeed, the Land perplex'd,
Of Pomp and Pride, and Policy ſo mix'd;
The awkward medly left us in Debate,
Whether it did proceed from Church or State,
Begot by Power, and introduc'd by Plot,
With Tyranny came in, with Tyranny went out;
But ill agreeing with preciſer Air,
It ſoon grew yellow, pale and ſickly here.
The People Wiſe, and in Religion Nice,
Could not be gull'd with ſuch a Faint Device.
[27] Some Blood the Monſter drank, but when it try'd
To take a Doſe of Liberty, IT DY'd.
But it their Civil State ſome Praiſe affords,
Much greater are the Trophies of their Swords.
Ages of Blood have brought them up to War
And their ſtrong Legions breath in every Air,
a They taught the very
Swedes themſelves to Fight,
And
ſpight of Dulneſs arm'd the
b Muſcovite;The ſordid Ruſs, to diſcipline they Train
And fain would teach the
c Poles, but that's in vain.Th' untracted Brute in Ignorance too Wiſe,
Learn't only how Experience to deſpiſe.
Nothing keeps Nature cloſs in Jayl like Pride,
Squadrons of Page-like Crimes before her ride,
And Ignorance is always next her ſide.
[28] Where ſhall we all their Ancient Glory trace,
The forward nations court the very Race:
Not Europe ventures to commence a War
But Caledonian Blood demands her Share,
And if 'tis bought or ſold, 'tis always very dear
a Leipfick—a Name in Fames red letter'd Roll
Matchleſs in War, where from the Frozen Pole
b Finland ſent Monſters, Strangers to the Sun,
Bred up to fight, by great Guſtave led on;
And yet by hardy
c naked Scots out-done.
Voracious Tilly juſt made drunk with Blood,
At
d Magdeburgh he rais'd the Crimſon Flood,
Tho gorg'd with Slaughter, yet a Thirſt for more,
Approach't, all Europe trembled at his Power.
In Leipſick Plain the dreadful Scene begun,
On brighter Deeds the Sun himſelf ne're ſhone.
[29] Tilly's firſt Fury
broke the
a Saxon Line,
And cry'd Victoria, all the Troops fall in,
With Blood and Terror glittering Eagles ſhine.
The Scots reſerv'd for Dangers hither flye,
Dangers their Poſt by Nation, taught to dy,
And wing'd with Rage they
b raviſht Victory.Not the unequal Squadrons, not the Day
Half leſt, not ſlaughter'd Saxons in the way,
Not formidable Death, that Jeſt of War,
In whatſoever ſhapes ſhe durſt appear,
Could their intrepid ſtedy Motion ſtay,
Nothing but ſlaughterd Foes and Victory;
c Surrounded, they with doubl'd Fury fight,
And pleaſd with Danger, ſhine in (
d naked white,[30] a Guſtavus ſaw how Fury like they fought,
And better witneſs never Soldiers ſought;
The mighty Hero ſmil'd, with Wonder pleaſ'd,
And ſtill they fought the more, the more he prais'd.
They Crown'd his Head with Lawrell's firſt, and he
To their juſt Valour
b own'd his Victory.
From whence advancing with a juſt Applauſe,
The ruin'd Proteſtants abandon'd Cauſe;
Religion and the Countrey they reſtore,
And grateful Germany commemorates the Hour.
In thirty Months continued fierce Campaign,
From Leipſick Plains, the Neckar, and the Main,
The Rhine, the Danube, and the Lech they croſ't,
No Battle where they fought was ever loſt.
Never was ſuch an Army, ſuch a Head,
Such Men to follow, ſuch a King to Lead:
[31] such Countreys Travers'd, or ſuch Battles won,
Such Conqueſts made, or
a Conqueſts made ſo ſoon.Where ſhall we all their ancient Glories trace?
Let's haſten down to Ramellies a pace;
But ſtop at Phillipsburg, and ask Turenne,
And read their ancient Trophies on the Rhine,
How they did there the Gallick Name advance,
And by their Blood gave Plumes
to b growing FranceFrance, that on Foreign Valour raiſd their Throne,
By other Nations Swords, and not their own,
Strip't of that Help how eaſily they fall,
And faint like Jericho without her Wall.
Recall'd from hence they
c Williams Sword obey,
And beat the
French at
Mons for d want of Pay;[32] Soon as the Caledonian Bands appear,
Not
a Luxemberg himſelf diſdaind to fear;
'Twas on their Valour he had raiſ'd his Fame,
He knew they'd Conquer where ſoe're they came.
He'd ſeen 'em fight when great
b Turenne lay dead,
He'd ſeen them follow where he
c durſt not lead;
He'd ſeen them fight when all the Army fled.
When wiſe
d de Lorge to ſhun his own Defeat,
Under their Valour ſhelter'd his Retreat.
The experienc'd Hero, grave in War and State,
In this as ſober, as in that ſedate.
Adviſd his Maſter, caution'd by his Fear,
To gain the Scots, or elſe decline the War.
Then view 'em under fifteen Years Receſs,
Ranging thro' Europe to avoid the Peace.
[33] Battel and Death they make their chief Delight,
And in all Nations teach the World to fight.
Buda the dreadfull'ſt Siege the World ere ſaw,
What Hero's did the Fame of Danger Draw?
a Leſly th' Old
Croatian Ban appears,
And daring Scots led up the Volunteers.
What Actions paſs't, let only ſuch relate,
Who know how Men reſolv'd to Conquer meet;
Never was Town with ſuch ſtrange Fury fill'd,
Such Deeds Victoria ſeldom has beheld;
Such Storms, ſuch Fury, Fleſh and Blood nere bore,
Nor Town was ever ſo maintain'd hefore;
The deſp'rate Garriſon diſdain to Fear,
With their own ſlaughter'd Bones the Breach repair;
Contemning Mercy, they like Furies fight,
And juſt as faſt as Life declin'd, ſubmit.
What Streams of Blood muſt in ſuch Fights be loſt?
What Fatal Price muſt ſuch a Conqueſt coſt?
Life ſo beſtow'd, is always ſold too dear,
But VALIANT SCOTS, what Buſineſs had you here?
[34] With Noble Blood adorn'd, and blooming Years,
You were not made to ſtorm like Muſqueteers;
Scotland run too much venture in your Blood,
To have your Rate ſo little underſtood;
You had no deſperate Fortunes there to raiſe
Your Names enough, you could not fight for Praiſe:
Then why ſo laviſh, why ſo raſhly brave?
To play away the Lives you ought to ſave;
Scotland has Sons indeed, but none to ſpare,
To furniſh out the Shows and Sports of War;
You are her tendereſt part which touch the whole,
And what lets out your Blood, lets out her Soul.
Pardon the
a Satyrs interrupting here,
She owns, ſhe hates this volunteering War,
When neither King nor Country to retrive,
The injur'd help, or the Oppreſs'd relieve,
Neither to gain Dominion, or to ſave;
Men die for nothing but the Fame of Brave.
So
b Foſter hang'd himſelf with
deep Deſign,Only to ſee himſelf be buried fine.
Hard Fate of Men, that only for a Name,'
Will in their own Deſtruction ſeek their Fame.
[35] That covet Dangers, and ride Poſt to die,
To live in Air, and WALK in Memory;
Vain Fame with high Fermented Vapour hot,
To be remember'd, ſtrives to be forgot.
Wrap'd in his Jeſt, the bubbl'd Heroe dies,
Immortalizd in Mortal Memories,
Fill's up a Ballad, made too great in Rhime,
Is fabl'd into Tale, and dies again by Time.
And this for nothing, but to have it known,
He dy'd an ASS of very great Renown,
A forward Coxcomb, who in haſte to dy,
Fought for he car'd not who, nor car'd not why.
One juſt Excuſe indeed ſome few may give,
That die, becauſe they can't tell how to live:
Theſe ſhall in Pity 'ſcape our Cenſure here,
So Cowards dare not live, and hang themſelves for Fear.
He's truly brave that Fights in Juſt Defence
Of Virtue preſs'd, of injur'd Innocence,
Himſelf, the Laws, his Neighbour, or his Prince;
Dares all the lawful Call's of Fate obey,
No Danger will decline, no Truſt betray;
While he that heal's his Tortures in the War,
Own's he's a Coward, and only fights for Fear:
As for the Sport of Fighting, that's a Jeſt,
They talk of moſt, that underſtand it leaſt.
Buda reduc'd, and Gallantry laid by,
Europe the Sweets of ſhort liv'd Peace enjoy:
[36] Not the Receſs of Arms can cool their Fire,
Quench't in the Act, they burn in the Deſire;
Not Capuan Plenty, not luxuriant Eaſe,
The Man of Action's firſt and worſt Diſeaſe,
Can Taint their Temper, quench their Thirſt of Fame,
Or Ruſt the polliſh'd ſplendor of their Name.
Their Arms may tarniſh, but the Soul's kept bright,
For, ſpight of Practice, they by Nature fight;
Born Soldiers, fitted from the Birth for Fame,
Bodies all Iron, and their Souls all Flame.
The War revives, Bellona ſounds to Arms,
The Scots by Nature raviſh't with her Charms,
From their remoteſt Mountains hear the ſound,
And Troops of Hero's ſpread Hibernian Ground;
With Native Fire and ſenſe of Glory fill'd,
And wing'd with Joy, they ruſh into the Field.
In ev'ry Action that deſerv'd a Name,
They ſhar'd the Hazard, others ſhar'd the Fame;
William with Pleaſure often led 'em on,
They gave, they guarded, and they lov'd his Crown;
Smiling he view'd the Wonders of their Hands.
Happy the Gen'ral Troops like theſe Commands,
The gladded Monarch ſaid,
when at Namure,
Ramſay fell on and mock'd the Gallick Power,
And emulating Nations wondring firſt gave o're.
[37] At Derry, Limrick, Agrim, or the Boyn,
Athlone, Namure, at Steenkirk, or [...]anden;
At all, their Hero's fought, at all they dy'd,
And latent Virtue want of Victory ſupply'd.
William, that Men of Courage lov'd t'obey,
How mourn'd he Douglaſs, Angus, and Mackay?
Too great a Loſs for one unhappy Day.
A Loſs that yielded France the Victory;
A Loſs that none but Scotland could ſupply;
None had ſuch to ſurvive, or ſuch to Dy.
Should we to recent Memory apply,
And trace the Scots in Modern Hiſtory:
The preſent riſing Glory of their Name,
Comes up to all that's ancient in their Fame.
At Schellemberg how could they chooſe but fight,
New Vigour ſwell'd their Nation at the ſight;
The very Spot where
a Hepburn Storm'd before,
And Conquering Scots, Imperial Standards tore.
Where Ramſey, Murray, Rhea, and Hamilton,
Like Lyons fought, the Swedes amaz'd lookt on,
And ſaw th' impregnable Intrenchments won.
[38] And now the Scots in Valour ſtill the ſame,
Worthy the Race, and equal in their Flame,
With the ſame Fury, gain the ſame Applauſe,
The ſame the Courage, and the ſame the Cauſe:
The ſame the Circumſtance, the ſame Succeſs,
That great
a Guſtavus ſaw, great
Marlbro' this. Let future Poets Blenheims Trophies ſing,
And Ramellies to Chime, with Leipſick bring;
There Orkney, Campbell, Hamilton, and Hay,
Shall match the Hero's, and ſhall match the Day.
To Times laſt Period hand their Nations Fame,
And ev'ry Ages Glory ſhall the next Enflame.
PART III.
[39]THeir Forreign Deeds are trac'd, and now we come,
To ſearch the Fund of Fame that's left at Home;
A Thouſand
a Kings the mighty Land poſſeſs,
In Merit greater, tho' in Title leſs.
Kings in Command and in ſuperiour Race,
And Virtue Ripens ſuch for Crowns a pace.
Nobility of Blood, their Actions ſuit,
And Action here indents the Attribute;
Here Families in Lines of Virtue run,
The Father's Merit doubling in the Son.
The growing Honour forms a juſt Encreaſe,
Firſt Crowns in War, and then Rewards in Peace.
Illuſtrious Blood with more illuſtrious Hand,
In proper Channels has been here retain'd:
[40] Th' Antiquity which other Nations boaſt,
Would here turn Modern, and in age be loſt.
Scotland in Senior Glory will contend,
When lame Chronology with Age grows blind.
Here mighty Anceſtors preſerve their Stile,
From long Preſcription, ancient as the Iſle.
Not raiſ'd on Party Favour, Bribes and Fear,
Blood, Tyranny, Oppreſſion, Theft and War;
Not raiſd by ſtrength OF FACE, or ſtrength of Purſe,
A Stock of Money, or a Stock that's worſe;
But from the Youth of Time, their Names remain,
When Vertue only could that Fame obtain.
Back, further back than Story can relate,
When Infant Nations fix'd their Forms of State.
When Tricks of State and Court Intreague unknown,
No mighty Knave could Brother Villain Crown.
From Blood to Blood their Violence purſue,
Firſt ſteal their Honours, then proclaim 'em due.
By Fraud and ſtrong Oppreſſions Crowns obtain,
While thoſe ſupport the Frauds, and theſe the Reign;
Alternate Violences Fame ſupply,
The modern Fund of mean Nobility.
If there be any thing in Birth and Blood,
Or were Antiquity but underſtood;
If the old Trophies of our Fathers Fame,
When thoughts of Virtue burn, would fan the Flame;
[41] Make us their Steps of Dignity purſue,
And Ancient Honours would excite to new.
If any true Nobility remains,
And Virtue could by Blood poſſeſs the Veins.
Then let's no farther ſearch the World in vain,
To Ancient Rome, and loſt Records of Spain;
Nations in Barb'rous Hydra-mixtures rais'd,
And only by their own too partial Flatt'ries prais'd.
Fabii, Cornellii, and the Bruti yield
To Caledonian Tribes the Ancient Field.
Cummin, Duff, Donald, Strathern, Hay, and Keith,
And Names would run Fame's Trumpet out of Breath.
Their old Armorial Honours ſtill retain,
While Rome in modern Lines contends in vain.
Nor has the Country lent her partial Fame,
And from her later Towns beſtow'd the Name,
Not Towns the Names, but Names the Towns Command
And Families take Titles from the Land:
So Douglaſs, Mar and Southerland ſurvive,
And not from Towns, but Provinces derive.
Kingdoms of old, who tho the Claim's laid down,
Yet in th' Antiquity they keep the Crown.
The Blood of Princes in their Race we ſee,
And modern Merit joins to old Nobility.
Bleſt are the Families that great in Blood,
Have thus their trueſt Honour underſtood,
[42] That on the Baſe of Vertue Built their Fame,
And join to
that a leſſer Praiſe their Name,
The only Juſt and truly great Deſign;
For Vertue helps Nobility to ſhine.
Then who ſhall ſearch the long forgotten Roll,
Examine all the Parts, or Sum the whole,
Who ſhall the Impotence of Art ſupply,
Beyond the reach of Books or Heraldry?
b There
Gordon, Lindſay, Crawford, Mar and
Wem [...]s, With Seaton, Ramſey, Cuninghame and Gra'ams,
Forbes, Roſs, Murray, Bruce, Dunbar and Hume,
And Names for whom no Poet can make Room;
Remote in Birth, in Names and Honours known,
The Caledonian Glory through the World have ſhow'n.
Where ſhall the Galick Trophies now appear?
The Ancient Belgae would look modern here.
[43] Not Mommerancy, not the great Naſſau,
Could Anceſtors like theſe, directly draw.
Douglaſs with Native Dignitys adorn'd,
Ancient beyond Record,
Records they ſcorn'd.
The World's the general
a Record of their Houſe,
When Hiſtories are ſilent and abſtruſe.
The Fund of Families is in their Blood,
And the
b Fam'd Scoti on their Shoulders ſtood,
A Race of Princes from their fruitful Stem,
Has been a living Hiſtory to them.
Their Fame that's paſt, foretold their Fame to come,
They'r Dukes abroad before they'r Dukes at home.
[44] The Nation's willing Honours did afford,
And theſe cut out their. Glory by the Sword;
For 'twas the early Fortunes of their Blood,
To have their Worth both Crown'd and underſtood;
Princes by their ſtrong Swords poſſeſt their Crowns,
And grateful France their Ancient Glory owns.
When Men are of true Merit firſt poſſeſt,
Juſtice prevails, the World ſupply's the reſt.
For Characters will always ſuit Mens Deeds,
Honours will follow, when our Vertue leads.
The Mighty Branch that now ſupports the Race,
Ripens the blooming Stock for Fame apace,
With high inſtructing well directed Hand,
Shews him both how t'obey, and how Command,
By Juſt Example guides him to purſue,
And double all their Ancient Deed's with New.
Himſelf with ſteady hand the State directs,
Suppreſſes Factions, Liberty protects,
Scatters the threatning Clouds, prevents the Storms;
And gently al! miſtaken Zeal reforms;
Backward to puniſh bears th' inſulting Street,
Yet makes his Patience and his Juſtice meet:
And when their Pride his Government defies,
PITYS: For 'tis below him to deſpiſe.
[45] Great ANN'S Illuſtrious Scepter 'tis he ſways,
And while he rules, Envy her ſelf obeys;
Malice may ſwell, and wild Diſlike appear,
But all their Spleen ferments into diſpair:
Grovling they ly in Grief and Diſcontent,
Cruſht by the Chariot Wheels of Government.
So Devils chaind, their Hate of Heaven expreſs,
But as their Rage grows great, their Power grows leſs.
Campbells the modern Glory of this Iſle,
Their doubling Fame's encreas't in great Argile;
Born to be great, to Nobleſt Blood ally'd,
He keeps the Honour, and abates the Pride,
For Action fitted, to the Wars inclin'd,
True Caledonian Courage ſwells his Mind;
Fitted his Country's Character to raiſe,
And by great Actions hand along her Praiſe.
Of ancient Stock, and long forgotten Race,
Nature has ſtamp'd their Glories in his Face.
The ſtrong Impreſs of ev'ry manly Line
In Characters of Native Honour ſhine,
An Index of the brighter Soul within.
A Race to Caledonia always dear,
And on whoſe Blood her Liberties appear.
A Race to Honour, and their Countrey true,
They furniſh'd Funds of Old, he heaps up ſtores of New.
[46] Nor ſhall weak prejudice debauch our Pen,
To flatter proſp'rous Fate, and guild the Crimes of Men
But undiſtinguiſh'd Virtue we'll rehearſe,
For partial Praiſes are below our Verſe.
Curſt be that Party-ſpleen that ſhuts Men's Eyes,
From the juſt Merits of their Enemies;
That prepoſſeſs'd by Feud, denies Applauſe,
And dares not praiſe the Man without the Cauſe.
Where Honour claims it, Honour will be juſt,
And where Mens Actions praiſe 'em, all Men muſt.
Gordon, by Family and Fortune's great,
Tho' loſt in Solitude and long Retreat,
Shall riſe in Honour, as He's great in Mind,
Brave as the Roman, as the Chriſtian kind,
A Gen'rous Enemy, a Faithful Friend.
Faction's below him, if he does diſlike,
He always dares to ſhow his Face, and ſtrike;
Treaſon's a Stab ith' dark, that Man that's brave,
May ſhow the En'my, cannot ſhow the Knave.
The Hamiltons of old ally'd to Fame,
Illuſtrious in Blood, and more in Name;
In ancient Wars e're other Lines begun,
Theſe had a length of tow'ring Fortunes run.
[47] Titles from
a France; from
Sweden Wounds and Scars,
And batter'd Bones they bring from Belgick Wars;
Yet fraught with Honour, and rewards of Fame,
Honour revives, and Years increaſe the Flame.
Eight Noble Branches hand their Glory down,
Channels of Blood from Caledonia's Crown,
Each have large ſhares of Merit of their own.
Each in their proper Lines their Houſes raiſe,
By Pers'nal and Hereditary Praiſe;
What Debt of Praiſe are to the Leſly's due?
Who ſhall their Family or Fame purſue?
The Bloody Steps no ſingle Line can trace,
Nor Envy fetch'd from Hell, their Hiſtory deface.
Born Gen'rals, all by Nature fram'd for War,
In ev'ry Battel's Front their Names appear;
The Swede, the Ruſs, and the Hungarians yield,
To them the willing Tribute of the Field;
From Eſſeck Bridge to mighty Aſtracan,
Their Terrors with the Barb'rous Crowds remain.
Graſted to this Old Stock, and to their Fame,
Leven adds Modern Glory to the Ancient Name;
Scotland depends on his experienc'd Hand,
Safe, Not in Armies, but in his Command.
[48] HE, young in Years, yet very old in Arms,
Guards her from Foreign or Domeſtick Harms,
His faithful Aids new vig'rous Life afford,
And boldly draws Hereditary Sword.
Stuart ancient as the Hills from which they ſprung
The Mountains ſtill do to the Name belong;
From hence they branch to ev'ry high Degree:
And Foreign Courts embrace the Progeny.
The riſing Stem with thirſt of Glory fir'd,
Not he to th'Crown, the Crown to him aſpir'd;
His high attracting Fame the Nation drew,
They gave old Crowns, and Fate ſupply'd the new.
Thy Scepter Caledonia in their Hand,
Firſt rais'd the real Glory of the Land;
And ſeven ſucceſſive Branches held the Crown,
Till Britain vail'd, and made the Stuarts her own.
What Blood, what Wars, what ſtrong convulſive Throws,
Britania fill'd with inbred Vapour knows?
How oft the interveening Hand of Blood,
Has their ſucceſſive Happineſs withſtood?
Spread the dark Vail, let's hide the diſmal Scene,
Let others paint the Horrid-draught, our Pen
Shall ſhow the bright, and wiſh the reſt unſeen.
[49] ANN, the remaining Glory of the Race,
With unexampl'd Luſtre fills the place,
Without their failings all their Virtue ſhares,
And Britains bright Imperial Joy prepares.
Bleſt be the Hour, bleſt that auſpicious Reign
When ANN, the Stuarts laſt Glory, ſhall obtain
That Calm both Nations long have wiſh'd in Vain.
When Years of Rapine and Revenge ſhall ceaſe,
And Feuds of Blood be loſt in Floods of Peace;
Reſerv'd for her, reſerv'd to Crown the Line,
Sever'd too long, the liſtning Nations Joyn.
Nature directs, concurring Cauſe invites,
The Nations ſay Amen, and all of courſe Unites.
Then Party Hate and Border Spleen lay'd down,
Our Hearts ſhall firſt unite, and then the Crown;
Britain be one, one End and Intereſt view,
And hand in hand one Happineſs purſue.
A Gallaxy of Worthies now appear,
And ſpread the Caledonian Hemiſphere;
ROXBURGH enjoys the Curſe of all mans Praiſe,
And TWEEDDALE adds trueLuſtre to the ancient HAYS,
Grave and ſedate, he fill'd his Sovereign's Throne,
Maintain'd its Honour, and increaſ'd his own.
Montroſe revives the Ancient Race of Gra'me,
From Time and Injury retrieves the Name,
[50] Lays all his Family Oppreſſions by,
And in his Countrey's Good, lets juſt Reſentment dy;
In Scotlands Secret Council he preſides,
With early Prudence every Action guides,
Sober, not dull, Pious, and not preciſe,
Grave, without Age, without Experience wiſe;
More thinking, more ſedate than he appears,
And older in Underſtanding than in Years.
Glaſgow adorns the Ancient Name of BOYL,
The Name's a conſtant Honour to the Iſle,
A Name Britania always boaſts to hear,
For Learning, Wiſdom, Wealth and Character
Increas'd in England, and increaſing here.
The God of Muſick joins when COLVIL plays,
And all the Muſes dance to HADDINGTONS Eſſays;
The Charms are mutual, piercing and compleat,
This in his Art excells, and that in Wit.
Seafield, and Marr, and Loudoun guide the State,
By Birth and Place, ſtill more by Merit great.
No Malice can their Characters conceal,
But thoſe direct the Sceptre, this the Seal.
The well inſtructed Pilots of the Realm
Who while juſt Queensberry ſteers, aſſiſt the Helm:
[51] With waking Cares they all ſurround the Throne,
Support the Well known burthens of the Crown;
Th' important Drudgery with Pleaſure do,
Their Countrey's Safety, not their own, purſue.
Thro' Storms of Tumult and Diſtraction ſteer,
Not rais'd with Hope, and not ſuppreſt with Fear;
With Calm, but ſteady hand the Factions guide
At once, they yield to, and reſiſt the Tide:
Wiſely they calm the Feuds Weak Heads create,
And heal the wild Diſtempers of the State;
To every tender part their Hands apply,
And to the Miſchiefs ſuit the Remedy;
True Patriot Principles their Minds poſſeſs,
Their Countrey them, and they their Countrey bleſs.
But their juſt Zeal to ANN's Immortal Throne,
Makes every Noble Character their own.
Nothing a Princes Wiſdom more diſplays,
Than choice of Counſellors,
The double Praiſe.
Is always firſt the Monarchs, then their own,
Firſt it illuſtrates, then ſupports the Throne.
But we'll no more purſue the mighty Train,
Whom to deſcribe our Verſe attempts in vain;
The Muſes vail before the Illuſtrious Throng,
Too bright for Verſe, too num'rous for our Song;
[52] Our Anceſtors had merited in vain,
If our new ſteps did not their old maintain:
But as our Modern Virtue ſtands as high,
The preſent Worthies do the paſt ſupply;
A certain Pledge, our Name ſhall never dy.
And now with Juſt regard let's view the Fair,
Beauty can make no Breach of Union here;
Th' Equalities agree on either hand,
The Ladies no equivalent demand;
Nor will their Virtue be exhauſted here,
But ſtill the Sex their juſt Proportions bear:
Bleſt Mixture, equally Devout and Gay,
For Virtue only can both ſmile and pray.
No Scale of calculated Right will ly
Betwixt the Quantity and Quality;
England indeed the larger Roll may claim,
And Engliſh Beauty will preſerve her Name;
But theſe the Merit equally divide,
Have all their Beauty, only want their Pride.
And now to Wonders turn your liſtning Ear,
Viſit the Commonwealth of Learning here;
See how Apollo's Nurs'ry thrives, and how
Wit blooms in ſpight of Climat, Storms and Snow;
The Muſes all laborious and ſevere,
Are Gard'ners bred, and work like Horſes here;
[53] There Seeds of Science carefully they ſow,
Here cultivate the Soil, to make 'em grow,
Plant, Prune, Inocculate, the Seaſons tend,
And ev'ry fruitful Scyon to its Stock they bend.
See here how ev'ry Plant in order thrives,
And ſpight of Clime the tend'reſt Bloſſom lives.
Here Epicks thick, as Groves of Laurel grow,
And ſtrong Heroicks, plac'd in Walks below,
Lyricks and Paſtorals in even Layes,
And Panygericks circled round with Bays,
There Knowledge grows, for Quantity and Kind,
The beſt, and beſt prepar'd t' inſtruct the Mind,
Temper'd with Modeſty,
'tis ſet by
a Zeal
Fitted her raſh Infections to repell.
Next this in conſtant Bloom's a Range of Wit,
And ev'ry day 'tis weeded of Conceit,
Kept thin, intrench'd, and never runs to ſeed,
But ripens gently in its flowry Bed;
For Wit's a Plant ſo apt to grow in haſte,
It ſhakes the Root, and then decays as faſt.
[54] Strong Sciences in pleaſing Order ſtand,
With Borders of Philoſophy on either hand.
Theſe well reward the Lab'rers conſtant Toil,
Are nouriſh'd by, and yet improve the Soil.
But above all the Wonders of the Spot,
A ſimple, Men of Learning oft forgot,
In a ſmall Border very cold and dry,
Here thrives that Tender Trifle, HONESTY;
Neglected Weed! from what ſtrange Climate brought,
How ſeldom found, indeed, how ſeldom ſought?
How do the eaſy World appear content
With ſpurious Kinds,
How very often vent
The Falſe for True, and give their Senſe the lye,
And make their Int'reſt paſs for Honeſty?
Another Plant, but ah! how faint it grows?
Not that 'tis hurt by Climate, Froſt, and Snows;
But as if Nature ſuffer'd ſtrong Decay,
It withers every where, and dies away.
FRIENDSHIP!
The niceſt Plant that ever grew,
Talk'd of by many, underſtood by few.
It's only Help is Honeſty, and where
That thrives, it gets ſome Strength; but's very rare,
By Weeds of Self and Jealouſie ore'run,
'Tis choak'd for want of Air, and ſhaded from the Sun.
[55] But who ſhall now the thriving Plants deſcribe,
The Ever-greens, that quickning June imbile,
And furniſh new Recruits to Levi's Tribe?
Sons of the Prophets at Gamaliel's Feet,
Who extract Learning, then refin't to wit,
By the laborious Lymbeck of the Brain,
Condenſe the Sp'rit, and let the Humid parts remain,
No loytring Sing-ſong Muſes trifle here,
Weaving THIN FANCY into Webs of Air;
But here they Wed the Sciences for Wives,
And beat like Hemp at Bridewell for their Lives:
Th' Enquirers here to Ida's Top aſpire,
Parnaſſus cooleſt Springs, can only quench their Fire.
To Learning's higheſt Pinacles attain,
By ſtrong aſſiduous Travel of the Brain,
Raviſh the Muſes, in their Deeps delight,
And learn with the ſame Fury as they fight;
To curious ſearch, to things, and Books ſo preſt,
The Ancients or the Moderns find no reſt,
Till Univerſal Knowledge fills the Mind,
And all the Soul's from Droſs, and Ignorance refin'd.
Hence they to ev'ry ſtrong Attainment reach,
And what they learn ſo well, as well they teach;
In ev'ry Art, in ev'ry Science grow,
Not proud of knowing, but are proud to know.
[56] Puſh to a Vice the Luſt of doing well,
And in whate're they Practiſe they excell.
Humes and Da'rymples here adorn the Law,
With ſteady Juſtice,
Neither drive nor draw
But with the Head inform'd, and Hand upright,
Give every Cauſe its own impartial Weight,
In every Branch of Learning here they riſe,
Nothing too high they fear, too low deſpiſe,
In every Science, every Juſt Extreme,
Men of Perfection may be found with them.
The Laws in Miſts and Darkneſs they make clear,
And Phyſick thrives in ſpight of wholſome Air,
Pharmacopaea, void of ſimples, Lives,
And Surgery in barren Practice thrives,
Philoſophy meer ſimple Knowledge vents,
Rather by Nature than Experiments.
Muſick in ſpight of Diſcord, charms the Ear,
And Jarring Parties break no Conſort here.
Thus bleſt with Art, enricht with Heads and Hands,
Producing Seas, and more productive Lands;
The Climate ſound, the People prompt and ſtrong;
Why is her Happineſs delay'd ſo long?
Why with ſuch Patience, and ſo long endure,
Diſtempers Prudence could ſo quickly cure?
[57] Why ſtill on Natures Common Bounty live?
And why ſo ſoon content with what She'll give?
For where Contentment makes Endeavour leſs,
'Tis then a Vice, and not a Happineſs.
So the
a fam'd ſluggard ſtarv'd, and reaſon good,
For want of feeding, not for want of Food;
Bear the Reproof, the fruitful Climate's known,
Not Heaven or Nature blame, the Fault's your own;
The Earth Adapt to bear, the Air, the Sea,
All fruitful, all to Plenty ſhow the way;
No Barrenneſs, but in your Induſt'ry.
'Tis Blaſphemy to ſay the Climates curſt,
Nature will ne're be fruitful till ſhe's forc't;
'Twas made her Duty from her firſt Decay,
The ſweating Brow alone, and labouring hand t' obey,
And theſe ſhe never does, nor dares deny.
And yet this Sloth is not their proper Crime,
'Tis due to Poverty, and that to Time.
Hail SLOTH and POVERTY from Stygian Air,
Uſhers to Death, and Handmaids to Deſpair.
Strange Birth, themeer Perfection of a Curſe,
That find Men Mis'rable, and make them worſe,
Of ill connected ſelf ingendring Birth,
Firſt circulate themſelves, and then the Earth;
[58] Infernal Harmony of Cauſes make,
And in true Circles of Diſtreſs they walk,
Vile Sloth and Poverty of Spurious Breed,
Neither from Heaven or Earth, but of themſelves proceed,
Begot in Life, by long degenerate Time,
'Twixt Stagnate Vertue, and Impregnate Crime.
'Twin Monſters neither Seed nor Offſpring kno',
[...] [...]reate, by meer Succeſſion flow.
No proper ſource, but from themſelves they find,
And by ſupine Infuſions reach the Mind.
All Natures Rules by their own Power reject,
And are themſelves the Cauſe, themſelves th' Effect;
Th' alternate Miſery ne're leaves the Door,
But Poverty makes Sloth, and Sloth makes poor,
Unnatural Mixtures form the gendring Pair,
Alternately they both beget and bare.
No Proper Seeds of Life, or living ſhow,
They'r born in Death, and in Conſumptions grow;
Superior Witchcraft forms the diſmal Race,
And Devils unknown below', connect the Face.
The unhappy Wretch, when Hag-rid and poſſeſt,
The Crimes are in his Countenance confeſt.
A ſanguine Pale and drooping brightneſs ſhine,
This always Saturnine, and that ſupine,
Joyn'd hand in hand, they living Death diſplay,
And Life in full perfection of Decay.
[59] No Miſery's ſo great, but they make worſe,
Each others Beeing, and each others Curſe.
They mingle Death with every punct of Time,
And only in Deſtruction are ſublime;
Slow Poiſons which no Antidote can cure,
Lingring in Life and in Deſtruction ſure;
Potent in ſtrength their ſtrong Dominions grow,
Not Men but Nations they can overthrow.
Wake Scotland from thy long Lethargic Dream,
Seem what thou art, and be what thou ſhalt ſeem,
Shake off the Poverty, the ſloth will dy,
Succeſs alone can quicken Induſtry.
No more the bondage of reproach endure,
Or bear thoſe Harms thou canſt ſo quickly cure.
[...] Land Improvement [...] to Trade apply,
They'l plentifully [...] Induſtry.
[...]he barren Muir [...] ſhall weighty ſheaves beſtow,
Th' uncultivated [...] Paſtures ſhow,
The Mountains Flocks and Herds in ſtead of Snow.
Natures a Virgin very Chaſt and coy,
To Court her's nonſence, if ye will enjoy,
She muſt be raviſh't,
When ſhe's forc't ſhe's free,
A perfect Proſtitute to Induſtry;
Freely ſhe opens to th' Induſtrious hand,
And pays them all the Tribute of the Land.
[60] The ſtrong labourious Head ſhe Can't Deny,
She's only Backward where they won't apply.
Here fruitful Hills, and there the Flowry Plain,
Deep undiſcov'rd Funds of wealth contain.
The Silver Veins and vaſt Mettallick ſtore,
Forbid to call her wildeſt Mountains poor.
The Mines of Lead, of Copper, and of Coal,
Enrich the ſeveral parts, thoſe parts the whole.
Nothing remains to make her Wealth compleat,
But that her right Hand and her left may meet.
FINIS.