Classic Poem

When flourish'd Athens with the Grecian reign,
And liv'd her heroes, an illustrious train!
When by her arms each neighb'ring state was sway'd
And kings an homage to her warriors paid;
E'en then those chiefs, with rev'rent awe ador'd
The fane of Pallas more than Mars's sword;
(And Latium's lords, who all the world subdu'd,
Low'r'd their proud fasces to the learn'd and good ;)
And with less glory in the rolls of fame,
Shines ev'ry hero's than each sage's name.
Hail blest Ilissus! in whose sacred shade,
The muses warbled and the graces stray'd;
There the deep Stagirite his pupils taught,
And Plato lay intranc'd in heav'nly thought.

This joyful day, in miniature hath shew'd,
Scenes that enraptur'd Athens would have view'd;
Science triumphant! and a land refin'd,
Where once rude ign'rance sway'd th' untutor'd mind;
Of uncouth forms no more the dark retreat,
Transform'd to virtue's and the muse's seat.
Welcome! thrice welcome, ye who grace our dome,
To Wisdom's Schools so throng'd the sons of Rome ;
To fire their youth, and nurse their rising taste!
So the wise Greeks the fair Lyceum grac'd,

Come, then, my friends, your notes mellifluous pour,
And the soft soul of harmony explore;
With melting strains the happy day prolong,
What more enchanting than the charms of song?

P ALEMON .

Joyous we join thee in the choral lay,
To add new transports to this blissful day;
To trace the muses to their hallow'd spring,
Catch the sweet sounds, and as they fire us, sing.
The pleasing theme, Philander, shall be thine,
To wake the raptures of th' immortal Nine;
Say, in thy breast what sprightly thoughts arise,
Illume thy face, and kindle in thine eyes?

Philander .

Not with more pleasure o'er the fragrant lawn
Sports the fleet hare, or bounds the exulting fawn,
When to black storms succeeds the solar ray,
And gilds each beauty of the smiling day,
Than my heart gladdens at the dawn of peace ,
As wrath subsides, and war 's loud tumults cease.
George gave the word — and bade mankind repose —
Contending Monarchs blush'd that they were foes.
Old warriors now with rage shall glow no more,
But reap the fields their valour won before.
Such is the subject which my soul enjoy'd,
In my eyes sparkled, and my thought employ'd.

H ORATIO .

Auspicious theme! for which shall be display'd
Th' richest chaplets of th' Aonian shade.
How bright the scene! unfullied days arise,
And golden prospects rush before my eyes!
Hail smiling goddess in whose placid mein,
Celestial bliss with every grace is seen;
O'er thy smooth brow no rugged helmet frowns,
An olive wreath thy shining temple crowns.
Far shalt thou banish barb'rous strife and woe,
With purple vengeance to the realms below.

P ALEMON .

Stern chiefs no more their crimson'd blade, shall wield,
Nor deadly thunders bellow o'er the field;
Satiate of war, the battle breathing steed
Peaceful shall range the grove and verdant mead;
No drum shall animate the soldier's breast,
Nor piercing fife arouse him from his rest;
The trump shrill sounding, and the clang of arms,
Shall shake the plain no more with dire alarms.

Philander .

The useless rampart shall its strength resign,
And o'er the bastion spread the curling vine;
Th' aspiring ivy round old tow'rs shall stray,
And in the trenches harmless flocks shall play;
The crystal streams shall flow without a stain,
The groves bloom spotless, and each flow'ry plain;
Countries oppress'd by war's destructive rage,
Again revive to bless a milder age;
In the same fields where groves of lances rose,
The furrow'd grain shall golden ranks compose,

H ORATIO .

Oh haste fair peace! begin thy pleasing reign;
Come, with each lovely virtue in thy train;
Then pure Religion's precepts shall prevail,
Impartial justice poize her balanc'd scale;
Bright liberty shall wanton in the breeze,
Innoxious pleasure, philosophic ease,
Heart-cheering mirth, and plenty ever gay,
With rosy joy shall tend thy gentle sway!

P ALEMON .

Haste then, O haste, thy soft'ning pow'r renew,
Bless ev'ry clime, the old world and the new!
In friendly league, unite each distant shore,
And bid mankind with anger burn no more.
Commerce shall then expand without control,
Where coasts extend, or farthest oceans roll;
These spacious realms their treasures shall unfold,
And Albion's shores shall blaze with Indian gold.

Philander .

Hail! happy Britain , in a Sovereign blest,
Who deems in Kings a virtuous name the best;
Guardian of right and sacred liberty,
Rome 's glorious Numa shall be seen in thee;
Beneath thy smile fair Science shall increase,
And form one reign of Learning and of Peace .
E'en we who now attempt the muse's shell,
Great George 's kind munificence can tell,
Tho' far remov'd from his illustrious throne,
Yet have these walls his regal bounty known.
Thus universal shines the god of day,
Each land enlight'ning with his genial ray.

H ORATIO .

Enough, my friends! — ye sweeter numbers flow;
And let the deep ton'd swelling organ blow;
Ye tuneful quire, your dulcet warblings join,
And sooth th' attentive soul with harmony divine.