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Poem
January 9, 1761
The New Hampshire Gazette
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
An elegy mourning the death of King George, praising his virtues, benevolence, military achievements, and global influence, from a Boston perspective, emphasizing his role in saving the colonies and bringing peace.
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OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
BOSTON.
AN ELEGY On the Death of His late MAJESTY, of blessed Memory
And is this all, one poor unfinish'd Lay,
A World in Anguish, to a King can pay ?
GEORGE is an Angel! hear the general Groan !
See startled Albion stiff'ned into Stone!
The Tears his Virtues par'd, in Floods are shed,
Embalm his Mem'ry and preserve the Dead.
Shall Albion only all her Grief confine
And was thy Monarch Albion only thine ?
Wide as the Thunders roar, or Billows roll,
He dealt the num'rous Bounties of his Soul ;
Far as Peruvian Mines his Virtues beam,
And e'en in Ind' outblaze their native Gem :
E'en here, where tawny Furies lately rav'd,
GEORGE ray'd his Goodness. & his Goodness sav'd ;
He heard our Plaints, his Bosom heav'd a Sigh,
We felt half God's, the Objects of his Eye :
Thus the pale Lustre of the shadowy Bow,
Full-fraught with Blessings spread it's ample Show ;
O'er the new World the arching Wonder bends,
And shows Salvation. and Mankind are Friends.
To th' proud Grandeur, all presuming Power!
Behold the dreadful Havock of an Hour ;
E'en so much Virtue must to Fate resign,
-And England's Glory, was but half divine:
Not that his Armies o'er the World preside.
Not that his Thunders rule the lavish Tide :
Not that his Arm & wide Destruction brought.
And distant'd Armies, who like Heroes fought ;
When at the Rage begun, whole Hosts despair,
For lo their dreaded Ruin--GEORGE was there!
Not that Rebellion owns her lawful Lord,
The Converts of his Mercy, or his Sword :
Not that o'er Gaul his rapid Arms prevail,
Confederate Nations at his Name grow pale :
Not that his Heart opprest with humane Woes,
To beggar'd Gallia tends refus'd Repose :
Not that the lengthen'd Blessing liv'd to find,
New Worlds to name Him first of all Mankind :
His little Albion nervous, rich and free,
Her boundless Commerce stretch'd from Sea to Sea :
Opprest with Conquest, nought but Peace in view,
That Peace his Claim, there's nothing to subdue :
These royal Shade ! may solemnize the Gloom,
Adorn thy Verse, and decorate thy Tomb ;
A second Praise but O the latent Springs,
The Heart felt Goodness that ennobles Kings;
The Soul with scarce a Crime to be forgiven,
Allied to Gods, and of a piece with Heaven :
' Tis these have crush'd our Hopes, forbid his Stay,
He claim'd a brighter Crown, and wing'd away-
AN ELEGY On the Death of His late MAJESTY, of blessed Memory
And is this all, one poor unfinish'd Lay,
A World in Anguish, to a King can pay ?
GEORGE is an Angel! hear the general Groan !
See startled Albion stiff'ned into Stone!
The Tears his Virtues par'd, in Floods are shed,
Embalm his Mem'ry and preserve the Dead.
Shall Albion only all her Grief confine
And was thy Monarch Albion only thine ?
Wide as the Thunders roar, or Billows roll,
He dealt the num'rous Bounties of his Soul ;
Far as Peruvian Mines his Virtues beam,
And e'en in Ind' outblaze their native Gem :
E'en here, where tawny Furies lately rav'd,
GEORGE ray'd his Goodness. & his Goodness sav'd ;
He heard our Plaints, his Bosom heav'd a Sigh,
We felt half God's, the Objects of his Eye :
Thus the pale Lustre of the shadowy Bow,
Full-fraught with Blessings spread it's ample Show ;
O'er the new World the arching Wonder bends,
And shows Salvation. and Mankind are Friends.
To th' proud Grandeur, all presuming Power!
Behold the dreadful Havock of an Hour ;
E'en so much Virtue must to Fate resign,
-And England's Glory, was but half divine:
Not that his Armies o'er the World preside.
Not that his Thunders rule the lavish Tide :
Not that his Arm & wide Destruction brought.
And distant'd Armies, who like Heroes fought ;
When at the Rage begun, whole Hosts despair,
For lo their dreaded Ruin--GEORGE was there!
Not that Rebellion owns her lawful Lord,
The Converts of his Mercy, or his Sword :
Not that o'er Gaul his rapid Arms prevail,
Confederate Nations at his Name grow pale :
Not that his Heart opprest with humane Woes,
To beggar'd Gallia tends refus'd Repose :
Not that the lengthen'd Blessing liv'd to find,
New Worlds to name Him first of all Mankind :
His little Albion nervous, rich and free,
Her boundless Commerce stretch'd from Sea to Sea :
Opprest with Conquest, nought but Peace in view,
That Peace his Claim, there's nothing to subdue :
These royal Shade ! may solemnize the Gloom,
Adorn thy Verse, and decorate thy Tomb ;
A second Praise but O the latent Springs,
The Heart felt Goodness that ennobles Kings;
The Soul with scarce a Crime to be forgiven,
Allied to Gods, and of a piece with Heaven :
' Tis these have crush'd our Hopes, forbid his Stay,
He claim'd a brighter Crown, and wing'd away-
What sub-type of article is it?
Elegy
What themes does it cover?
Death Mourning
Patriotism
Political
What keywords are associated?
Elegy King George
Death Monarch
British Virtues
Colonial Salvation
Albion Grief
Royal Mercy
Poem Details
Title
An Elegy On The Death Of His Late Majesty, Of Blessed Memory
Subject
On The Death Of King George
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
George Is An Angel! Hear The General Groan !
See Startled Albion Stiff'ned Into Stone!
E'en Here, Where Tawny Furies Lately Rav'd,
George Ray'd His Goodness. & His Goodness Sav'd ;
He Claim'd A Brighter Crown, And Wing'd Away