CAESAR's DREAM, Before his Invasion of BRITAIN. John Langhorne Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
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Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
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Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T124631 1073 K099398.000 Mendez, Moses. A collection of the most esteemed pieces of poetry: that have appeared for several years. With variety of originals, by the late Moses Mendez, Esq; and other contributors to Dodsley's collection. To which this is intended as a supplement. London printed for Richardson and Urquhart 1767 pp. 288-290. [8],320p. ; 8⁰.

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CAESAR's DREAM , Before his Invasion of BRITAIN . BY MR. LANGHORNE . WHEN rough Helvetia's hardy sons obey , And vanquish'd Belgia bows to Caesar's sway ; When , scarce-beheld , embattled nations fall , The fierce Sicambrian , and the faithless Gaul ; Tir'd Freedom leads her savage sons no more , But flies , subdu'd , to Albion's utmost shore . 'Twas then , while stillness grasp'd the sleeping air , And dewy slumbers seal'd the eye of care ; Divine AMBITION to her votary came : Her left hand waving , bore the trump of fame ; Her right a regal sceptre seem'd to hold , With gems far-blazing from the burnish'd gold . And thus , " My Son , " the Queen of Glory said ; " Immortal Caesar , raise thy languid head . " Shall Night's dull chains the man of counsels bind ? " Or MORPHEUS rule the monarch of mankind ? " See worlds unvanquish'd yet await thy sword ! " Barbaric lands , that scorn a Latian lord ! " See yon proud isle , whose mountains meet the sky , " Thy foes encourage , and thy power defy ! " What , tho' by Nature's firmest bars secur'd , " By seas encircled , and with rocks immur'd , " Shall Caesar shrink the greatest toils to brave , " Scale the high rock , or beat the maddening wave ? " She spoke — her words the warrior's breast inflame With rage indignant , and with conscious shame ; Already beat , the swelling floods give way , And the fell genii of the rocks obey . Already shouts of triumph rend the skies , And the thin rear of barbarous nations flies . Quick round their chief his active legions stand , Dwell on his eye , and wait the waving hand . The Hero rose , majestically slow , And look'd attention to the crowds below . ' ROMANS and Friends ! is there who seeks for rest , ' By labours vanquish'd , and with wounds opprest ; ' That respite Caesar shall with pleasure yield , ' Due to the toils of many a well-fought field . ' Is there who shrinks at thought of dangers past , ' The ragged mountain , or the pathless waste — ' While savage hosts , or savage floods oppose , ' Or shivering fancy pines in Alpine snows ? ' Let him retire to Latium's peaceful shore ; ' He once has toil'd , and Caesar asks no more . ' Is there a Roman , whose unskaken breast ' No pains have conquer'd , and no fears deprest ? ' Who , doom'd thro' death's dread ministers to go , ' Dares to chastise the insults of a foe ; ' Let him , his country's glory and her stay , ' With reverence hear her , and with pride obey . ' A form divine , in heavenly splendor bright , ' Whose look threw radiance round the pall of night , ' With calm severity approach'd and said , " Wake thy dull ear , and lift thy languid head . " What ! shall a Roman sink in soft repose , " And tamely see the Britons aid his foes ? " See them secure the rebel Gaul supply ; " Spurn his vain eagles , and his power defy ? " Go ! burst their barriers , obstinately brave ; " Scale the wild rock , and beat the maddening wave . " Here paus'd the chief , but waited no reply , The voice assenting spoke from every eye ; Nor , as the kindness that reproach'd with fear , Were dangers dreadful , or were toils severe .