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
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,
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 Consort 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 ancinet Times of lawless Sway,
When Nations groaning lay,
Despairing all, and all forlorn,
Then was the Great ALCIDED 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 Julius 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.
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