Tho' Europe's envious realms unite

To crush her, in unequal fight,

Her Genius, deeply ftung with generous shame,
On this exulting rock array'd in flame

Equals her ancient feats, and vindicates her name.

How fiercely British valor pours

The deluge of deftroying fire,

Which o'er that watery Babel roars,

Bidding the baffled- hoft retire,

And leave their fall'n, to yield their breath

In different pangs of double death!

Ye shall not perish: no! ye hapless brave,

Reckless of peril, thro' the fiery wave

See! British mercy fteers, each proftrate foe to fave.

Ye gallant Chiefs, whofe deeds proclaim

The genuine hero's feeling foul,

Elliot, and Curtis, with whofe name

Honor enrich'd his radiant roll,

Bleft is your fate; nor bleft alone,

That rescued foes your virtues own,

That Britain triumphs in your filial worth:
Bleft in the period of your glory's birth,

When art can bid it live to decorate the earth!

Alas!

Alas! what deeds, where virtue reign'd,
Have in oblivious darkness died,

When Painting, by the Goths enchain'd,
No life-fecuring tints supplied!

Of all thy powers, enchanting art!
Thou deemeft this the dearest part,

To guard the rights of valor, and afford
Surviving luftre to the hero's fword:

For this, heroic Greece thy martial charms ador❜d.

Rival of Greece, in arms, in arts,

Tho' deem'd in her declining days,
Britain yet boafts unnumber'd hearts,

Who keenly pant for public praise :
Her battles yet are firmly fought

By Chiefs with Spartan courage fraught:
Her Painters with Athenian zeal unite

To trace the glories of the profp'rous fight,

And gild th' embattled scene with art's immortal light.

Tho' many a hand may well portray

The rufhing war's infuriate fhock,

Proud Calpe bids thee, WRIGHT! difplay
The terrors of her blazing rock:

The

The burning bulks of baffled Spain,

From thee the claims, nor claims in vain,
Thou mighty mafter of the mimic flame,
Whose matchless pencil, with peculiar aim,'
Has form'd of lafting fire the basis of thy fame.

Juft in thy praise, thy country's voice
Loudly afferts thy fignal power :

In this reward may'st thou rejoice,

In modeft labour's filent hour,

Far from those feats, where envious leagues,
And dark cabals, and base intrigues

Exclude meek Merit from his proper home ;
Where Art, whom Royalty forbade to roam,
Against thy talents clos'd her self-dishonor'd dome.
When partial pride, and mean neglect,
The nerves of injur'd Genius gall,
What kindly spells of keen effect
His energy of heart recall?
Perchance there is no fpell fo ftrong
As Friendship's fympathetic fong:
By fancy link'd in a fraternal band,
Artift and Bard in fweet alliance ftand;

They fuffer equal wounds, and mutual aid demand.

VOL. I.

L

Go,

Go, then, to flighted worth devote Thy willing verse, my fearless Muse! Haply thy free and friendly note

Some joyous ardor may infuse

In fibres, that severely smart

From potent Envy's poison'd dart :

Thro' WRIGHT's warm breaft bid tides of vigor roil, Guard him from meek Depreffion's chill controul, And roufe him to exert each finew of his foul !

炎

ODE

O DE

то тн Е

COUNTESS DE GENLIS.

1784.

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