THE Anniversary Ode FOR THE Fourth of DECEMBER, 1697. HIS Majesty's Birth-Day. Another for NEW-YEAR'S-DAY, 1697/8. Both Set to Musick, and Perform'd At KENSINGTON.
The Words by N. TATE Servant to His MAJESTY.
LONDON: Printed for Richard Baldwin near the Oxford-Arms in Warwick-Lane. MDCXCVIII.
TO THE READER.
THE Glorious Occasion upon which these Odes were written, viz. His Majesty's Birth-Day, and the New Year, accompanied with the Consummation of an Honourable PEACE, requir'd the utmost Liberties of Poetry; but I was Confin'd (for the Present) to such Measures and Compass as the Musical Performance would admit; upon which Consideration the Reader's favourÂable allowance is requested, by
His Humble Servant, N. T.
THE ODE UPON His Majesty's Birth-Day.
Set to Musick by Dr. STAGGINS.
SUmmon to the chearful Plain
The Graces and the Muses Train.
They come, they come, in pompous Throng,
And, as in State they march along,
This is the Burthen of their Song:
Chorus.
Virtue is at last Regarded,
And the Hero's Toils Rewarded.
Hark how the Neighb'ring Nations round
To
Britain's Eccho'd Mirth resound!
And various Languages employ
To speak the Universal Joy.
Let Winter Smile, the Fields be Gay,
Woods and Vales in Confort Sing,
Flowing Tides their Tribute bring
To Welcome
Peace and
Caesar's Day.
The Trumpet's Sound and Cannon's Roar,
No longer are the Voice of War;
Yet both shall speak, and both be heard as far
In
Triumph now as in
Alarms before.
In ancient Times of lawless Sway,
When Nations groaning lay,
Despairing all, and all Forlorn,
Then was the Great
ALCIDES Born.
Such was
Europe's late Distress,
When for the Suffering World's Repose,
With equal Courage and Success,
Our Second
HERCULES arose.
O Favour'd both of Earth and Heav'n!
To Thee, and only Thee, 'tis giv'n
Rome's first
Caesars to out-do;
Our
Iulius and
Augustus too.
War's dismal Scene is chang'd to Peace,
Yet shall not his
Herculean Labours cease:
Nobler Wars he now will wage,
Against Infernal Pow'rs engage,
And quell the
Hydra-Vices of the Age.
Grand CHORUS.
So Glorious a Task does a
Hero require,
Whom
Valour and
Virtue alike do Inspire:
'Tis a Triumph reserv'd for the
Just and the
Brave,
Who Fights to give
Freedom, and Conquers to
Save.
FINIS.
THE ODE FOR NEW-YEAR'S-DAY, 1697/8.
Set to Musick by Dr. BLOW.
MUsick now thy Charms display,
Let all thy Tuneful Sons appear,
To Entertain the Genial Day,
And kindly Treat the
Infant-Year.
Young as 'tis, it brings along
Blessings on its tender Wing;
Blessings to requite your Song;
Blessings that forestal the SPRING.
Chorus.
The promis'd Year is now arriv'd,
That has the Golden Age reviv'd.
The Prize our daring Warrior sought,
Is now compleatly gain'd;
Not poorly Begg'd, nor dearly Bought,
But Nobly, in the Field, obtain'd.
PEACE her self could boast no Charms
To draw our Hero from Alarms,
From glorious Danger — till she came
In Honour's recommending Name,
And all the splendid Pomp of Fame.
BELLONA else had still been heard,
Thundring through the listed Plain;
EUROPE still, with restless Pain,
Had for her fearless Champion fear'd.
Harrass'd Nations, now at Rest,
Eccho to each other's Joy,
Their Breath in grateful Songs employ,
For him who has their Griefs Redrest.
Chorus.] What then should Happy
Brittain do?
Blest with the Gift and Giver too.
On Warlike Enterprizes bent
To Foreign Fields the Hero went;
The Dreadful Part He there perform'd
Of Battels Fought, and Cities Storm'd:
But now the Drum and Trumpet Cease,
And wish'd Success his Sword has Sheath'd,
To Us returns, with Olive wreath'd,
To practice here the Milder Arts of PEACE.
Grand CHORUS.
Happy, Happy, past Expressing,
Britain, if thou know'st thy Blessing;
Home-bred Discord ne'er Alarm Thee,
Other Mischief cannot Harm Thee.
Happy, if thou know'st thy Blessing.
Happy, Happy, past Expressing.
FINIS.