220 ODE ON THE DUKE OF YORK'S SECOND DEPARTURE FROM ENGLAND AS REAR ADMIRAL. WRITTEN ABOARD THE ROYAL GEORGE. AGAIN the royal streamers play! To glory Edward hastes away; Where pleasure's sprightly throng await! Ye scenes where virtue's sacred strain In flowery vales of peace, farewell ! In vain the goddess of the myrtle grove In vain she calls to happier realms of love, Which Spring's unfading bloom arrays: And ever-vernal pleasures grow; For war and fame alone can please. To war the hero moves, thro' storms and wintry seas. CHORUS. The gentle sports of youth no more For war and fame alone can please; Though danger's hostile train appears To thwart the course that honour steers; His country calls; to guard her laws, And o'er the waves conducts her martial lines: Hark! his sprightly clarions play; Follow where he leads the way! The piercing fife, the sounding drum, CHORUS. Hark! his sprightly clarions play, y! Follow where he leads the way The piercing fife, the sounding drum, Thus Alcmena's warlike son The thorny course of virtue run, When, taught by her unerring voice, He made the glorious choice: Severe, indeed, the attempt he knew, Youth's genial ardours to subdue : For pleasure, Venus' lovely form assumed; Her glowing charms, divinely bright, In all the pride of beauty bloom'd, And struck his ravish'd sight. Transfix'd, amazed, Alcides gazed: Enchanting grace Adorn'd her face, And all his changing looks confest Her swelling bosom half reveal'd, Her eyes that kindling raptures fir'd, A thousand flatt'ring thoughts inspired: She prest him to the rosy vale, And show'd the Elysian bower : Her hand, that trembling ardours move, Conducts him blushing to the blest alcove : Ah! see, o'erpower'd by beauty's charms, And won by love's resistless arms, The captive yields to nature's soft alarms! CHORUS. Ah! see, o'erpower'd by beauty's charms, The captive yields to nature's soft alarms! Assist, ye guardian powers above! Inspired with awe, He, turning, saw Transcendent shine; And, while he view'd the godlike maid, His eyes with ardent motion roll, And love, regret, and hope, divide his soul. But soon her words his pain destroy, And all the numbers of his heart, Return'd by her celestial art, Now swell'd to strains of nobler joy. Instructed thus by virtue's lore, His happy steps the realms explore Where guilt and error are no more: The clouds that veil'd his intellectual ray, Before his breath dispelling, melt away : Broke loose from pleasure's glittering chain, He scorn'd her soft inglorious reign: Convinced, resolved, to virtue then he turn'd, And in his breast paternal glory burn'd. CHORUS. Broke loose from pleasure's glittering chain, He scorn'd her soft inglorious reign: |