Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Poem
October 21, 1774
The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle
Portsmouth, Greenland, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
An elegy mourning the late king and lamenting the new prince's misguided rule under treacherous Scottish influence, urging him to heed patriots like Junius and embrace truth for the nation's sake.
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
From a late LONDON PAPER.
ELEGY. To the Memory of the late K
PEACE to thy Royal Shade, illustrious King
Sleep, sweetly on, beneath thy blazon'd Tomb
Nor yet be startl'd, though a Tale I sing,
Might call up Spirits from the Stygian Gloom.
How blest were once, the Subjects of thy Sway!
And Blessings still they hop'd from such a Root:
But lo! the flattering Prospect, fades away:
Keen, northern Blasts, have spoil'd the promis'd Fruit.
The darling Idol of the British State,
A native Prince, on whom we counted high,
No sooner mounted on thy vacant Seat,
Then Joy began to smile in ev'ry Eye.
But ah! how dark, are Fate's mysterious Ways!
In Error's mazes, how are Mortals led!
Blasted the Wreaths, and wither'd all the Bays
We fondly wove, to Crown his regal Head!
The partial Minion, fraught with subtle Wiles.
Soon gain'd his Confidence, by hellish Art:
Nor, can the Nation's Cenures, nor her Smiles,
Convince his Judgment or reform his Heart.
Alas, how blind to Fortune, and to Fame,
Must be the PRINCE, who hugs within his Breast
A Foe, that always cavill'd at his Claim.
And strove, the Sceptre, from his Hand. to wrest!
Yet, such there is, (ye Heav'ns forgive the Sight;)
Nor can a JUNIUS wake him from his Dream;
In vain the People pray,---the Patriots write;
He nods supine, o'er Tweed's tainted Stream,
Ill-fated Hour, when on thy tender Youth.
The northern Star, its baneful Influence shed;
Turn'd all thy Footsteps, from the Ways of Truth,--
And mark'd to Vengeance, thy devoted Head!
Can nothing rouze thee? nothing 'wake thy Soul?
O! may some Vision of the Midnight Hour;
Some dying Charles before thy Fancy roll!
And teach the Goodness, equal to thy Power!
Remember, Sire, (or, if thou hast not read,
Turn o'er the sad, but wise historic Page)
There was a People. old their Prince's Head!
And there are Villains born in every Age.---
O! then awake: the Voice of Truth attend!
And though the Novel Sound may grate thine Ear,
Resolve, at last, to be thy Country's Friend;
For all thy Peace and Safety. centers there.
'Tis Heaven that speaks: and, though thou art a K---,
In spite of Fraud, in fawning Flattery's Spight,
Thou soon, or late. shall own the Truths I sing,
For all thy Conduct. must be brought to Light.
And, what a Weight, thy lab'ring Soul will press!
How wilt thou stand, amidst the dark Despair;
When Millions tell thee, all their deep Distres,
Could never pierce thine Adamantine Ear!
In Time, be wise: drive Traitors from thy Breast;
And let the true! the Honest, round thee move:
ELEGY. To the Memory of the late K
PEACE to thy Royal Shade, illustrious King
Sleep, sweetly on, beneath thy blazon'd Tomb
Nor yet be startl'd, though a Tale I sing,
Might call up Spirits from the Stygian Gloom.
How blest were once, the Subjects of thy Sway!
And Blessings still they hop'd from such a Root:
But lo! the flattering Prospect, fades away:
Keen, northern Blasts, have spoil'd the promis'd Fruit.
The darling Idol of the British State,
A native Prince, on whom we counted high,
No sooner mounted on thy vacant Seat,
Then Joy began to smile in ev'ry Eye.
But ah! how dark, are Fate's mysterious Ways!
In Error's mazes, how are Mortals led!
Blasted the Wreaths, and wither'd all the Bays
We fondly wove, to Crown his regal Head!
The partial Minion, fraught with subtle Wiles.
Soon gain'd his Confidence, by hellish Art:
Nor, can the Nation's Cenures, nor her Smiles,
Convince his Judgment or reform his Heart.
Alas, how blind to Fortune, and to Fame,
Must be the PRINCE, who hugs within his Breast
A Foe, that always cavill'd at his Claim.
And strove, the Sceptre, from his Hand. to wrest!
Yet, such there is, (ye Heav'ns forgive the Sight;)
Nor can a JUNIUS wake him from his Dream;
In vain the People pray,---the Patriots write;
He nods supine, o'er Tweed's tainted Stream,
Ill-fated Hour, when on thy tender Youth.
The northern Star, its baneful Influence shed;
Turn'd all thy Footsteps, from the Ways of Truth,--
And mark'd to Vengeance, thy devoted Head!
Can nothing rouze thee? nothing 'wake thy Soul?
O! may some Vision of the Midnight Hour;
Some dying Charles before thy Fancy roll!
And teach the Goodness, equal to thy Power!
Remember, Sire, (or, if thou hast not read,
Turn o'er the sad, but wise historic Page)
There was a People. old their Prince's Head!
And there are Villains born in every Age.---
O! then awake: the Voice of Truth attend!
And though the Novel Sound may grate thine Ear,
Resolve, at last, to be thy Country's Friend;
For all thy Peace and Safety. centers there.
'Tis Heaven that speaks: and, though thou art a K---,
In spite of Fraud, in fawning Flattery's Spight,
Thou soon, or late. shall own the Truths I sing,
For all thy Conduct. must be brought to Light.
And, what a Weight, thy lab'ring Soul will press!
How wilt thou stand, amidst the dark Despair;
When Millions tell thee, all their deep Distres,
Could never pierce thine Adamantine Ear!
In Time, be wise: drive Traitors from thy Breast;
And let the true! the Honest, round thee move:
What sub-type of article is it?
Elegy
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Political
Satire Society
What keywords are associated?
Elegy King
Royal Shade
British State
Junius
Tweed Stream
Northern Blasts
Political Satire
Traitors
Patriotism
Poem Details
Title
Elegy. To The Memory Of The Late K
Subject
To The Memory Of The Late K
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
Peace To Thy Royal Shade, Illustrious King
Sleep, Sweetly On, Beneath Thy Blazon'd Tomb
The Partial Minion, Fraught With Subtle Wiles.
Soon Gain'd His Confidence, By Hellish Art:
Nor Can A Junius Wake Him From His Dream;
In Vain The People Pray, The Patriots Write;
O! Then Awake: The Voice Of Truth Attend!
And Though The Novel Sound May Grate Thine Ear,
In Time, Be Wise: Drive Traitors From Thy Breast;
And Let The True! The Honest, Round Thee Move: