Court Odes: Spring, where are thy flowery treasures?


 Selected item (#2020) = Spring, where are thy flowery treasures?
 Attributes of this item 
incipit (first line(s), normalized): Spring, where are thy flowery treasures?
version (if more than one exists):
the item's genre (general): ode
the item's genre (specific): Birthday, William III
the institution/place or purpose 
for which the work was first destined:
English court
the work's year (or focal date, if known): 1694
author of the text: Nahum Tate
composer of the music: Nicholas Staggins
Number of texts stored: 1  
  • Selected text (below): #117 / Source: The Gentleman’s Journal, November, 1694
 Selected text (#117) / Source: The Gentleman’s Journal, November, 1694  
 Attributes of the selected text 
source for this text
(short title, or library & shelfmark):
The Gentleman’s Journal
location in the source?
(i.e. which vol., pp. or fols):
November, 1694
type of source: newspaper/periodical
the source online (if available):
modern edition of this text:
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version (if more than one exists):
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Transcription:          
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An ODE upon his Majesty’s Birth-day, / By N. Tate Esq. Set to Musick by Dr. Staggins.

Spring, where are thy flowry Treasures?
Where the Summer-Joys retreated?
CAESAR’s Festival repeated,
Shou’d renew your blooming Pleasures.
To attend this happy Morn,
Nature should her self adorn.

Tho’ the gaudy Spring be dead,
And the Joys of Summer fled;
Winter has of Ivy store,
Such as great Alcides wore:
Ivy and Lawrel, Ever gay,
Their Verdure keep for CEASAR’s Day.

Our Hero’s warmth can sure inspire
Coldest Orbs with vital Fire:
Can absent Phoebus task perform,
And spight of Winter, Frost and Storm,
Create a joyfull Quire.

Aloud the Joyfull Muses call,
Come to celebrate this Festival.
From a Hero, for Valour and Vertue renown’d,
Let Envy retire,
While the Graces conspire,
With Lawrel and Myrtle his Brows to surround.

All in one Harmonious Strain;
Dale and Mountain,
Grove and Fountain,
Welcome CAESAR’s birth and Reign.

Britain on CAESAR’s Day should smile;
From Shore to Shore resound with Mirth,
Like Delos at Apollo’s Birth
That eas’d her grief, and fix’d her floating Isle.
In Rome had such a CAESAR sway’d.
Brutus and Cato had obey’d,
’Tis danger gives a Warrior Fame;
Conquest by Bribes, or Stealth obtain’d,
Honour’s true Sons have still disdain’d:
Adventures crown’d brave Jason’s Name,
And Hercules by Toils o’ercame.

But see! The happy season springs,
That Joyfull Peace to Europe brings:
Vast arrears of Bliss that may
O’er-recompence the long delay,
And our Alcides Toils repay.

Peaceful Arts shall then renew;
Smiling Ages long ensue.
To Britain’s Royal Pair,
(Her Guardian Angel’s Care)
No less Success, no less Rewards are due.

Grand CHORUS

When Laws are supported, and Monarchs are mild,
Empire and Freedom are then reconcil’d.


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