A SPOUSAL HYMN . ADDRESSED TO HIS MAJESTY ON HIS MARRIAGE . BY JAMES SCOTT Author of Heaven , a vision . See vol. 2 : , M. A. FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE , CAMBRIDGE . AS , when diffus'd in solemn trance Her dear delight the Latmian shepherd lay , Fond Cynthia came with lightning-glance , And o'er his bosom stream'd her virgin ray : So come , O gentle Muse , if e'er aright I paid my vows , if e'er implor'd One scanty beam of thy celestial light ; Proof to the muckworm miser's golden hoard , Nor envious of the statesman's fair renown , The warrior's death-bought wreath , and monarch's thorny crown . Come , Guardian of my natal hour , That bad'st me chuse the still sequester'd grove , The pathless mead , and woodbine bower , Where placid Cares , and pensive Pleasures rove ; Where oft by moon-light's silent , solemn glade , Pale Passion musing loves to stray , And hand in hand , by Melancholy led , In thoughtful loneness wears herself away ; O come , in all thy radiant charms confest , And fire with glowing zeal my fond , devoted breast ! I ask not flowrets fresh and gay , From Pindus cull'd to please the vainly great ; No silken strain , no tinsel lay , To cloke some public Knave from public hate : No , Virgin , no — Fair Freedom's vestal flame Pervades my soul ; for Her I twine The votive wreath , for Her thy hallow'd name Invoke , O make thy choicest treasures mine ; Breathe Inspiration thro' each glowing line , Thy genuine form impress , and stamp the work divine ! Then shalt thou , George , the song approve , O British-born ! O Freedom's sacred heir ! O thou , whom all the Graces love , Religion's boast , and Virtue's darling care ! Fain would the Muse attempt thy various praise , But ah , in vain ! — thro' Theocr . foreign . Ida's bowers With dubious foot th' astonish'd woodman strays ; Where shall his work begin ? — Ye sylvan Powers Direct the blow ; here oaks aspiring rise , There , Monarchs of the grove , tall cedars prop the skies . Say , shall the Muse thy patriot Sire Recall to view ? Tell how with conscious state She saw the god-like Prince retire To glorious exile , like Timoleon great ? Glad heard the voice , " Avaunt , ye wretched Train , " Shall I my Country's cause betray ? " Betray my soul , my God , for sordid gain ? " Perish the thought ! — Ye Slaves of gold away ! — " In venal courts tho' base corruption reigns , " Know Liberty shall breathe thro' Kew's indignant plains . " He spoke , and lo ! the reptile crew Struck dumb with wonder fled ! — Hail , sacred source , Whence George his patriot morals drew : Prosper , ye heavenly Powers , their genial course ! O bid them branch into a thousand rills , A thousand streams ! — Where-e'er they flow , Whether all glist'ring down the loftier hills , Or thro' the still , and humbler vales below , Let Health pursue , no noxious weeds be found , But flowers immortal rise fresh-breathing sweets around ! Prophetic wish ! — See Discord flies , With all her rebel rout , her hell-born train ! See Faction falls , and Party dies , They die fell serpents , in his dawning reign : Thus sure presage of many a glorious deed , Blest omen of immortal fame , The Son of Jove , when near his infant head Devouring snakes in poisonous volumes came , Grasp'd in his brawny arms the scaly foes , Smil'd on the danger past , and sunk to soft repose . And now again , with careful hand , Her goodly plants fair Science joys to rear ; And now again all blooming stand The beauteous Progeny of Art ; they fear No killing frosts , no thick unkindly dews , Such as from Belgian plains arise ; The genial clouds their pearly drops diffuse , And shower increase of sweetness from the skies ; The youthful Sun , in his meridian throne , Beams with indulgent ray his fostering influence down . Hail , favour'd Isle ! blest seat of Fame ! For conquering arms , and peerless arts renown'd ! Hail , mighty George ! thy darling name Oft shall the Muse with honest joy refound : Not that abstemious , prudent , just , and wise , Thy every deed fair Virtue guides ; Nor that thy thoughts with holy ardor rise From Earth's low base , where Vice and Passion bides , To Heaven's bright mansions , there their sweets dispense , Grateful as hallow'd fumes from breathing frankincense . Ay me so great , so bold a flight Beseems not shepherd-swain , in lowly Mead Far from Preferment's giddy height Condemn'd , alas , an hireling flock to feed ! Yet will I sing how thy discerning eye The boisterous sea of life surveys , Where toiling fore the Sons of Merit lie , Till call'd by thee their weary heads they raise : What minute Drop , but cherish'd by thy care A costly Pearl becomes of matchless Beauty rare ? Charm then your pipes , ye shepherd swains , And bid the hills , and dales the Song repeat , Your Patron , your Augustus reigns ! — But hark , with undulation soft , and sweet , What melting music steals upon the ear ! Am I deceiv'd , or doth a Choir Of winged Cupids fan the buxom air Till Silence smiles ; while from their silver lyre Harmonious numbers flow , whose dulcet breath Would recreate a soul beneath the pangs of death ? I did not err , a Choir of Loves Sublime in air attune th' enchanting lay ; They leave Idalia's blooming groves , And Cypria's myrtle shades , where jocund stray The Graces , Smiles , and Hours , where Nature's care Profusely kind allures the sight , And wraps the sense in bliss : ye Virgins fair Of Britain's Isle , sweet daughters of delight , Receive the cherub throng , to you they fly With welcome tidings fraught , blest harbingers of Joy . Lo ! lo she comes from th' Albine shore , Your maiden Queen , adorn'd with peerless charms : Like Phoebe , when by Taurus hoar Enamour'd Alpheus strove with eager arms To grasp the Fair : ah , fond and hapless boy ! Ah , cruel wayward Dame ! — in vain He breath'd his amorous soul , for all too coy Swift as the Roe she sought the distant plain ; Left him to pour in tears his plaintive theme , Till chang'd by love and grief he melted to a stream . See where from Ocean's pearly bed , Whose huddling waters pass unwilling by , She comes with easy modest tread , 'Midst echoing crowds , and rapturous shouts of joy : 'Twas thus , the life-resembling The famous Picture of Venus by Apelles . tablet shews , In youth and beauty fresh and gay The Paphian Goddess from the waves arose , While dolphins gamboll'd thro' the watry way , Old Neptune smil'd , the sea-green sisters sung , And all the rooks around with Iö Triumph rung . But ah , what Daedal hand can trace The glowing beauties of her air and mien ; The lively sweetness of her face , And eyes where wisdom's azure beams are seen ? Her bosom fraught with honour's maiden treasure , Unblemish'd faith , mild modesty , Eternal love , unsoil'd by baser pleasure , And constant truth , and spotless chastity , Where thoughts , that angels might admire , are bred , And flames of holy zeal , by pure Religion fed ? Hail , Virgin , hail , divinely blest , By Heaven endow'd with all that's good and great ! O Flower of Virtue , in whose breast , Imperial Reason dwells in royal state ! There , there she sits as Queen on ivory throne , The vassal Passions round her stand , In suppliant guise her rightful power they own , And hear her still small voice , her soft command : Far from the pure and unpolluted shrine Each base affection flies , each haggard nurse of sin . Leave then , ye Sisters , leave the The river Cephisus in Baeotia , on whose banks the Graces were thought to reside . Pind . Olym . 14th . Spring Whose hallow'd waters flow thro' Minyas' land ; Conduct to Britain's blooming King This all-accomplish'd work of Nature's hand : 'Tis yours , imperial Nymphs , whate'er is sweet , And fair and splendid to bestow ; On you attend Wealth , Wisdom , Beauty , Wit ; Nor seated on Olympus' laughing brow Will choirs celestial move till you advance , Nor share th' ambrosial feast , nor lead the sprightly dance . And thou , O Queen of soft desires , Whose radiant smiles dispel the gloom of care , And kindling friendship's purest fires , Chase from the soul Suspicion , Doubt , and Fear , Those griesly forms : O come , bewitching Power , Come gently , o'er the bridal bed In genial dews thy choicest pleasures shower ; Such as in Arcady's voluptuous shade Jupiter . Lycaeus felt , when stretch'd on Maia's breast An image of himself th' enraptur'd God imprest . Nor thou , Lucina chaste and fair , Nor thou , sweet Genius of the nuptial bower , Be absent ; on the royal Pair Profuse of joy your kindly blessings pour ! O haste , ye Guardians of the sacred rites , Whose aid prolific power supplies , So shall Britannia bless their pure delights , When future Georges , future Charlottes rise ; By whom reflected distant times shall find The Mother's matchless Grace , the Father's virtuous Mind .