Classic Poem

Fancy, an airy form, of turn, too gay ,
Acts not a PART , in this distressful play:
Yet, to your aid she comes, in each new scheme,
And, thus, invokes a pow'r, that suits the theme.

G ENIUS of Liberty ! this night attend;
Hear , from thy silent shades, and, rous'd, ascend .
When Caesar bleeds , 'tis thine, to fear disgrace ;
Or justify a death , that stains thy race:
Genius of Liberty ! thy fame defend:
Genious of Liberty ! thrice call'd, attend .

F ROM a long sleep of twice nine hundred years,
Smiling, behold! the summon'd pow'r appears !
Pleas'd , to congratulate, by heav'n's command,
Lengths of new greatness , for this free-born land,

I N G REECE , and R OME , friends to the muse's art,
The scene sustain'd my pow'r , and breath'd my heart:
'Till POORER passions , dark'ning many an age,
Erring , defac'd the state , and sham'd the stage:
Then spleen , and vengeance , mis-assum'd my name,
And mercy fell, and malice rose to fame!

All things were chang'd, religion was pretence ,
Law was oppression ; reason, violence:
Jocky'd, by sharpers, honesty distrest,
Politely laugh'd at! grew the great man's jest .
Valour was lost, in state-craft — solid sense ,
In sound ; — and modesty , in impudence .
Then genius SUNK , and dullness ravish'd praise,
And laureat brows UNDIGNIFY'D the bays .

Foe to such tasteless times, I shun'd to rise,
For Freedom cannot live , where virtue dies .
Here, tempted , gladly, I obey the call,
And breathe my Roman spirit o'er you, all.

Henceforth, be Britain BLESS'D ; from L ICENCE , free ,
Let her deserve , and hold fast Liberty :
Let her brave sons disdain their sons to SELL ,
And taste of freedom , thirst of bribes expel;
Let her, abroad, command , at home, obey ;
And love of glory be her statesmen's PAY ,
Let her, no longer, languishing, and lost,
Feed musick's indolence, at meaning's cost:
Let manly reason , pantomime o'erturn;
Let Shakespear triumph, and let opera BURN .
Such is the charmful change , I rise, to bring;
What more remains — two of my sons shall sing .