ON THE PEACE OF AIX LA CHAPELLE, MDCCXLVIII. Richard Hurd Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BG UK
Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T116245 1135 K093079.002 Pearch, G. A collection of poems in four volumes. By several hands. Vol. II. [The second edition]. London printed for G. Pearch 1770 pp. 295-297. 4v. ; 8⁰.

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ON THE PEACE OF AIX LA CHAPELLE , MDCCXLVIII . BY MR. HURD . BE still my fears , suggest no false alarms ; The Poet's rapture and the lyric fire Are vain : enough that inclination warms ; No foreign influence needs the willing Muse inspire . The willing Muse , adventurous in her flight , To thee , lov'd Peace , shall raise the untaught strain ; Her thy fair triumphs and thy arts delight , Thy festive branch she bears and joins thy social train . High on some wave worn cliff she views serene , Safe on the deep , the freighted navies ride ; Old Ocean joys to see the peaceful scene , And bids his billows roll with an exulting tide . Or , where Augusta's turrets cleave the skies , She loves to mix with Art's inventive band , Sees Industry in forms unnumber'd rise , To scatter blessings wide , and civilize the land ; Or flies , with transport , to her native plain , Sees corn-clad fields , fresh lawns , and pastures fair , Sees Plenty vindicate her ancient reign , And pour forth all her charms to crown the various year . But chief the Muse to Academic groves Her kindred train and best-lov'd arts invite ; Thro' Cam's o'ershadowing bowers intranc'd she roves , Whence sacred Science streams , and Genius spreads his light . " Here will I rest , she cry'd ; my laurel here " Eternal blooms ; here hangs my golden lyre , " Which erst my Spenser tun'd to shepherd's ear , " And lostiest Milton smote with genuine epic fire . " And O ! if aught my fond presages shew , " On these lov'd bowers while Peace her influence sheds , " Some hand again shall snatch it from the bough , " Wake each high-sounding string , and charm the echoing glades . " Then shall be sung the glorious deeds of war , " How Virtue strove , where envious Fortune fail'd : " Expecting Fame the conflict view'd from far , " And Britain's valour crown'd , tho' Gallia's host prevail'd . " Yet then , even then [ th' indignant verse shall tell ] " A surer vengeance rose to whelm the foe ; " When hell-born Faction issu'd from her cell , " And on her impious head drew half the destin'd blow . " But , hark ! the loud triumphant strains declare , " How Britain's majesty unrivall'd rose , " When all the glories of the naval war " Beam'd round her conquering flag , and circled Anson's brows . " Till thus the Power by Freedom's sons obey'd : " Let blood-stain'd glory swell the tyrant's breast ; " Be mine Compassion's healing wing to spread , " To sheath the wasting sword , and give the nations rest : " Then ( as the Muse inraptur'd shall display ) " War's impious roar , and Faction's murmurs cease ; " His gracious eye sheds lustre on the day , " And lends the quickening beam to chear the arts of Peace . "