Court Odes: Wake Britain, ’tis high time to wake
 Selected item (#2034) = Wake Britain, ’tis high time to wake
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incipit (first line(s), normalized): Wake Britain, ’tis high time to wake
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the item's genre (general): ode
the item's genre (specific): New Year
the institution/place or purpose 
for which the work was first destined:		 English court
the work's year (or focal date, if known): 1702
author of the text: Nahum Tate
composer of the music: John Eccles
Number of texts stored: 1  
  • Selected text (below): #131 / Source: US-CAh, EC65.T1878.702o.
    special title: ‘An Ode upon the Assembling of the New Parliament.’
 Selected text (#131) / Source: US-CAh, EC65.T1878.702o.  
 Attributes of the selected text 
source for this text
(short title, or library & shelfmark):		 US-CAh, EC65.T1878.702o.
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special title (if any): An Ode upon the Assembling of the New Parliament.
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AN / ODE / UPON THE ASSEMBLING / OF THE / New Parliament / SUNG before His MAJESTY on / New-Years-Day. 1702

The Words by Mr. Tate, Poet-Laureat to His Majesty.

WAKE Briatin, ’tis high Time to Wake,
When mighty Rivals, FAME and FATE,
Upon This Great CONJUNCTURE Wait,
Hope and Fortune All at Stake ;
Therefore Britain, therefore Wake,
If not for Fame, for Safety’s sake !
’Tis now that Fame and Fate prepare
Their Last Efforts to make,
For Publick Safety or Despair ;

Chor. Therefore, Britain, therefore Wake,
For Glory’s and for Safety’s sake !

Behold the Dragon, GALLICK Pow’r
With wide Extended Wings,
Baleful Eyes and Brandisht Stings,
Watching his expected Hour,
States and Empires to Devour.

Think what Ruin must ensue,
When Lawless Gallick POW’R is striving,
Lawless Gallick FRAUD Contriving,
Free-born Nations to subdue !

Chor. Yet ne’er can Tyrnat Force prevail,
Or Tyrannick Frauds avail,
Would Britain to her Self be True !

Of Glorious Lyberty Possest,
And with a GUARDIAN-MONARCH Blest,
Halcyon-Days would soon Renew ;
Our Hopes be Crown’d, our Griefs Redrest,
Could Albion but from FACTION Rest,
And to her Self be True.
O shall th’ ALCIDES of our Age,
Hydra-Dangers still Engage,
Still Herculean Toils Endure,
From Pow’rful and Perfidious Foes
Britannia’s Quiet to Secure,
And She Neglect her Own Repose ?

Appear, Imperial Dame, Appear,
Advance with double Pomp to meet
A New Auspicious YEAR,
And more Auspicious SENATE Greet.

Chor. Appear, in all thy Pomp, appear,
With double Tryumph meet,
And Double Welcome greet
Thy New Auspicious SENATE and the Year.

Hail August ASSEMBLY, hail !
Fortune’s Doubtful Ballance stands,
Poiz’d in your Deciding Hands,
’Tis You, Great PATRIOTS, You must turn the Scale.

O therefore now your Aspects join !
Let now your Friendly Rayes Combine
The drooping World to Chear ;
So shall your Influnence, with Success,
This and Future Ages Bless,
And YOU, Renown’d in Glory’s Sphere,
Like Stars for ever Shine!

GRAND CHORUS.
While Britain’s Great Monarch and Senate Unite
For Religion Law Safety Fame Freedom and Right,
With Success may the Glorious Assembly be Crown’d,
And this Happy Year thro’ all Ages Renown’d.

FINIS.
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