“The last best energy of noble mind*; "Revere thy father's shade; like him disdain "The tame, the timid, temporizing train, "Awake to seif, to social interest blind: "Young as thou art, occasion calls; "Thy country's scale or mounts or falls "As thou and thy compatriots strive; "Scarce is the fatal moment past "That trembling ALBION deem'd her last: "O! knit the union firm, and bid an empire live! VII. "Proceed, and vindicate fair Freedom's claim; "Give life, give strength, give substance to her name: “The native rights of man with Fraud contest ; "Yes, snatch them from Corruption's baleful power, "Who dares, in day's broad eye, those rights devour, "While prelates bow, and bless the harpy feast. "If foil'd at first, resume thy course, "Rise strengthen'd with ANTEAN force; "So shall thy toil in conquest end. "Let others court the tinsel things "That hang upon the simile of kings, "Be thine the muse's wreath; be thou the people's friend." {* In allusion to a fine apd well-known passage in MILTON's Lycidas. "Sole energy of many a lordly mind: "Revere the shade of BUTE, subservient still "To the high dictates of the Royal will; "Awake to self, to social interest blind. "Young as thou art, occasion calls; Prerogative or mounts or falls "As thou and thy compatriots * strive: "Scarce is the fatal moment past "Which Secret Influence deem'd her last; "O! save th' expiring fiend, and bid her empire live! VIL. "Proceed!-Uphold Prerogative's high claim, "Give life, give strength, give substance to her name! "The rights divine of Kings with Whigs contest; "Save them from Freedom's bold encroaching hand, "Who dares, in day's broad eye, those rights withstand, "And be by Bishops thy endeavours bless'd!" If foil'd at first, resume thy course, Whilst I, though writing worse and worse, Thy glorious efforts will record; Let others seek by other ways, The public's unavailing praise, Be mine the BUTT OF SACK-be thou the TREASURY'S LORD! Messrs. JENKINSON, ROBINSON, DUNDAS, &c. &e. THE STATESMEN: AN ECLOGUE. LANSDOWNE. WHILE on the Treasury-bench you, PITT, recline, PITT. O LANSDOWNE! 't was a more than mortal pow'r THE STATESMEN.] It will be unnecessary to inform the classical reader, that this Eclogue evidently commences as an imitation of the 1st of Virgil the Author, however, with a boldness perfectly characteristic of the personages he was to represent, has in the progress of his work carefully avoided every thing like a too close adherence to his original design. Line 8.-A banish'd man, &c.] Vide the noble Marquis's celebrated Speech, on the no less celebrated IRISH PROPOSITIONS. When TEMPLE deign'd the dread decree to bring, 15 20 Though back'd by SCOTT, by BARWELL, PALK, and all The sable squadron scowling from BEngal; Not the bold Chieftain of the tribe of PHIPPS, Whose head is scarce less handsome than his ship's; Not bare-breech'd GRAHAM, nor bare-witted Rose, 25 LANSDOWNE. Think not these sighs denote one thought unkind; 30 Line 14. And stammer'd out the FIRMAUN, &C.] When a language happens to be deficient in a word to express a particular idea, it has been ever customary to borrow one from some good-natured neighbour, who may happen to be more liberally furnished. Our Author, unfortunately, could find no nation nearer than TURKEY, that was able to supply him with an expression perfectly apposite to the sentiment intended to be here conveyed. Line 25.-Not bare-breech'd GRAHAM.] His Lordship, some time since, brought in a bill to relieve his countrymen from those habiliments which in ENGLAND are deemed a necessary appendage to decorum, but among our more northern brethren are considered as a degrading shackle upon natural liberty. Perhaps, as the noble Lord was then on the point of marriage, he might intend this offering of his epima spolia as an elegant compliment to HYMEN. For well I wot, on that unhappy day, 35 Dire change! DUNDAS's cheek with blushes glow'd, In vain the porter-BAMBER could not eat; 45 PITT. In early youth, misled by Honour's rules, 50 Line 51.-But Reverend JENKY.] Our Author here, in some measure deviating from his usual perspicuity, has left us in doubt whether the term Reverend is applied to the years or to the profession of the gentleman intended to be complimented. His long experience in the secrets of the CRITICAL REVIEW and BUCKINGHAM HOUSE would well justify the former supposition; yet his early admission into DEACON'S ORDERS will equally support the latter: our readers, therefore, must decide, while we can only sincerely exult in His Majesty's enjoyment of a man |