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Literary
May 21, 1778
The Newport Gazette
Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
Ode for the New Year 1778 by William Whitehead, set to music by Dr. Boyce, performed before the British royal family in St. James's Council Chamber. The poem invokes divine power to reconcile Britain with its rebel foes, ending war's discord through forgiveness and peace.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
The following Ode, written by Wm. Whitehead, Esq; Poet Laureat, and Set to music by Dr. Boyce, was performed before their Majesties and the Royal Family, in the Council Chamber, St. James's Jan. 1.
ODE for the NEW-YEAR, January 1, 1778.
WHEN rival nations, great in arms,
Great in pow'r, in glory great,
Fill the world with war's alarms,
And breathe a temporary hate
The hostile storms but rage a while,
And the tir'd contest ends.
But ah! how hard to reconcile
The foes who once were friends!
Each hasty word, each look unkind.
Each distant hint, that seems to mean
A something lurking in the mind,
Which almost longs to lurk unseen,
Each shadow of a shade offends
To embitter'd foes who once were friends!
That Pow'r alone who fram'd the soul,
And bade the springs of passions play,
Can all their jarring strings control,
And form on discord concord's sway.
'Tis He alone, whose breath of love
Did o'er the world of waters move,
Whose touch the mountains bends;
Whose word from darkness call'd forth light,
'Tis He alone can re-unite
The foes who once were friends.
To Him, O Britain! bow the knee!
His awful, his august decree,
Ye rebel tribes, adore!
Forgive at once, and be forgiv'n,
Ope' in each breast a little heav'n,
And discord is no more.
ODE for the NEW-YEAR, January 1, 1778.
WHEN rival nations, great in arms,
Great in pow'r, in glory great,
Fill the world with war's alarms,
And breathe a temporary hate
The hostile storms but rage a while,
And the tir'd contest ends.
But ah! how hard to reconcile
The foes who once were friends!
Each hasty word, each look unkind.
Each distant hint, that seems to mean
A something lurking in the mind,
Which almost longs to lurk unseen,
Each shadow of a shade offends
To embitter'd foes who once were friends!
That Pow'r alone who fram'd the soul,
And bade the springs of passions play,
Can all their jarring strings control,
And form on discord concord's sway.
'Tis He alone, whose breath of love
Did o'er the world of waters move,
Whose touch the mountains bends;
Whose word from darkness call'd forth light,
'Tis He alone can re-unite
The foes who once were friends.
To Him, O Britain! bow the knee!
His awful, his august decree,
Ye rebel tribes, adore!
Forgive at once, and be forgiv'n,
Ope' in each breast a little heav'n,
And discord is no more.
What sub-type of article is it?
Poem
What themes does it cover?
War Peace
Religious
Political
What keywords are associated?
New Year Ode
Reconciliation
Britain
Divine Intervention
War Peace
Royal Performance
What entities or persons were involved?
Wm. Whitehead, Esq; Poet Laureat
Literary Details
Title
Ode For The New Year, January 1, 1778.
Author
Wm. Whitehead, Esq; Poet Laureat
Subject
Performed Before Their Majesties And The Royal Family, In The Council Chamber, St. James's Jan. 1
Form / Style
Ode Set To Music
Key Lines
When Rival Nations, Great In Arms,
But Ah! How Hard To Reconcile
The Foes Who Once Were Friends!
'Tis He Alone Can Re Unite
The Foes Who Once Were Friends.
To Him, O Britain! Bow The Knee!
His Awful, His August Decree,
Ye Rebel Tribes, Adore!