[Editor: A poem by Michael Massey Robinson. Published in the Sydney Gazette, and New South Wales Advertiser, 18 August 1821.]
Ode
For His Majesty’s Birth-Day.
By Mr. Robinson.
Whilst Grecian Legends proudly claim
The Triumph of their HOMER’S Name,
And MANTUA’S Bard, with fadeless Glory,
Crowns the bright Themes of classic Story, —
Surviving Genius fondly twines
Fresh Laurels round their hallow’d Shrines;
And, from the Page of early Lore,
Loves to retrace those Days of Yore,
When the young Arts, by Learning nourish’d,
Burst from their Germs — matur’d — and flourished;
And ATHENS, high, triumphant, and renown’d,
Saw her own Lustre gild the Nations round!
And tho’ succeeding Times displayed,
The Havock barbarous Hordes had made,
That swept with desolating Rage
The Boast of the AUGUSTAN Age;
And hid, in cold oblivious Gloom,
The letter’d Pride of fallen ROME!
Still GENIUS slumber’d in the Waste,
To rise with freshen’d Grace at last:—
To see proud Science her fair Morn restore,
And shed her brightest Ray on ALBION’S Shore!
Then SHAKESPEARE’S Muse, transcendent, hurl’d
Its Magic thro’ a wondering World;
Then MILTON’S bold aspiring Lyre
Glow’d with charm’d Fancy’s hallow’d Fire;
And after Ages own’d, with Taste refin’d,
The boundless Empire of the human Mind!
And, ALBION! Still on thy blest Isle
The Sister Arts supremely smile,
Protect the MUSES’ favorite Seats,
And hover round their green Retreats.
Hence, Fancy’s Charm and Wisdom’s Page
Have rais’d a New Augustan Age;
And BRUNSWICK’S glorious RACE survives to own
A NATION’S TRIUMPH — AND A WORLD’S RENOWN!
To that high Race shall Genius bend,
Hail’d as her PATRON — GUARDIAN — FRIEND!
And blooming Wreaths, round Garlands gay,
Entwine on this auspicious Day.
Oh! could the Muse aspire to raise
To untrac’d Heights her Meed of Praise;
This Morn should waken ev’ry Strain to Pleasure,
And her Lyre vibrate to the glowing Measure:—
And every BRITON, proudly sing,
A PRINCE ador’d — a PATRIOT KING!
Whose bright Career, from opening Youth,
Left the fond Pledge of FILIAL TRUTH;—
That Pledge came pure from Virtue’s Source,
And Honor mark’d its sacred Course;
Nor has a Gem more brilliant ever shone
To grace a MONARCH — or adorn His Throne!
And, ALBION! whilst thy glorious Arms
Have triumph’d ’midst the World’s Alarms;
And, with commanding Awe maintained,
The Fields thy gallant Warriors gain’d;
Whilst suffering Nations round, afar,
Mourn the rude Ravages of War,
On thy calm Shores — thy smiling Plains,
PEACE, in her native Splendour, reigns, —
And laurel’d Trophies wave, in bright Array,
To grace, with festive Smiles, this halcyon Day!
And, whilst AUSTRALIA’S favor’d Isle
Partakes the universal Smile,
And honors the benignant Hand
That nurtur’d first her Infant Land;
Shall not her PATRIOT CHIEF receive
All that fond Gratitude can give;
Whilst every Heart responds to every Lay
That owns His fostering — His Paternal Sway!
Tho’ startled Hope, with anxious Eye,
And trembling Fear, with boding Sigh,
In chilling Sympathies await,
The Fiat of impending Fate. —
When Time, that with relentless Power,
Sweeps the proud Dome and “Cloud-capt Tower;”
Shall steal with sullen Claim at last,
And mark His Reign of Glory past; —
“REMEMBRANCE, LONG, TO PRIVATE WORTH ENDEAR’D,
SHALL HAIL THE FRIEND BELOV’D — THE CHIEF REVER’D!
New South Wales, }
August 12, 1821. }
Source:
Sydney Gazette, and New South Wales Advertiser (Sydney, NSW), 18 August 1821, p. 2
Leave a Reply