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Poetry of the Anti-Jacobin: Comprising the Celebrated Political and Satirical Poems, of the Rt. Hons. G. Canning, John Hookham Frere, W. Pitt, the Marquis Wellesley, G. Ellis, W. Gifford, the Earl of Carlisle, and Others.

History

Poetry of the Anti-Jacobin: Comprising the Celebrated Political and Satirical Poems, of the Rt. Hons. G. Canning, John Hookham Frere, W. Pitt, the Marquis Wellesley, G. Ellis, W. Gifford, the Earl of Carlisle, and Others.

English poetry; France -- History -- Revolution, 1789-1799 -- Poetry; Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1789-1820

Nor yet can Hope presage th’ auspicious hour,
          When Peace shall check the rage of lawless Power;
          Nor yet th’ insatiate thirst of blood is o’er,
          Nor yet has Rapine ravaged every shore.
          Exhaustless Passion feeds th’ augmented flame,
          And wild Ambition mocks the voice of Shame;
          Revenge, with haggard look and scowling eyes,
          Surveys with horrid joy th’ expected prize;
          Broods o’er each remnant of monarchic sway,
          And dooms to certain death his fancied prey.

            For midst the ruins of each falling state,
          ONE FAVOUR’D NATION braves the general fate—
          One favour’d nation, whose impartial laws
          Of sober Freedom vindicate the cause;
          Her simple manners, midst surrounding crimes,
          Proclaim the genuine worth of ancient times;
          True to herself, unconquerably bold,
          The rights her valour gain’d she dares uphold;
          Still with pure faith her promise dares fulfil,
          Still bows submission to th’ Almighty will.

            Just Heav’n! how Envy kindles at the sight!
          How mad Ambition plans the desperate fight!
          With what new fury Vengeance hastes to pour
          Her tribes of rapine from yon crowded shore!
          Just Heav’n! how fair a victim at the shrine
          Of injured Freedom shall her life resign,
          If e’er, propitious to the vows of hate,
          Unsteady Conquest stamp our mournful fate,
          If e’er proud France usurp our ancient reign,
          And ride triumphant o’er th’ insulted main!

                 ·       ·       ·       ·       ·

            Far hence th’ unmanly thought—the voice of Fame
          Wafts o’er th’ applauding deep her DUNCAN’S name.
          What though the Conqueror of th’ Italian plains
          Deem nothing gain’d, while this fair isle remains;
          Though his young breast with rash presumption glow,
          He braves the vengeance of no vulgar foe:
          Conqueror no more, full soon his laurel’d pride
          Shall perish—whelm’d in Ocean’s angry tide;
          His broken bands shall rue the fatal day,
          And scatter’d fleets proclaim BRITANNIA’S sway.

[Illustration]




                               No. VIII.


                                                           Jan. 1, 1798.

A correspondent has adapted the beautiful poem of the BATTLE OF SABLA,
in “Carlyle’s Specimens of Arabian Poetry,” to the circumstances of the
present moment. We shall always be happy to see the poetry of other
times and nations so successfully engaged in the service of our country,
and of the present order of society.


                              THE CHOICE.
            (FROM THE BATTLE OF SABLA, BY JAAFER BEN ALBA.)

                                     I.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

History

Poetry of the Anti-Jacobin: Comprising the Celebrated Political and Satirical Poems, of the Rt. Hons. G. Canning, John Hookham Frere, W. Pitt, the Marquis Wellesley, G. Ellis, W. Gifford, the Earl of Carlisle, and Others.

English poetry; France -- History -- Revolution, 1789-1799 -- Poetry; Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1789-1820

Nor yet can Hope presage th’ auspicious hour,
          When Peace shall check the rage of lawless Power;
          Nor yet th’ insatiate thirst of blood is o’er,
          Nor yet has Rapine ravaged every shore.
          Exhaustless Passion feeds th’ augmented flame,
          And wild Ambition mocks the voice of Shame;
          Revenge, with haggard look and scowling eyes,
          Surveys with horrid joy th’ expected prize;
          Broods o’er each remnant of monarchic sway,
          And dooms to certain death his fancied prey.

            For midst the ruins of each falling state,
          ONE FAVOUR’D NATION braves the general fate—
          One favour’d nation, whose impartial laws
          Of sober Freedom vindicate the cause;
          Her simple manners, midst surrounding crimes,
          Proclaim the genuine worth of ancient times;
          True to herself, unconquerably bold,
          The rights her valour gain’d she dares uphold;
          Still with pure faith her promise dares fulfil,
          Still bows submission to th’ Almighty will.

            Just Heav’n! how Envy kindles at the sight!
          How mad Ambition plans the desperate fight!
          With what new fury Vengeance hastes to pour
          Her tribes of rapine from yon crowded shore!
          Just Heav’n! how fair a victim at the shrine
          Of injured Freedom shall her life resign,
          If e’er, propitious to the vows of hate,
          Unsteady Conquest stamp our mournful fate,
          If e’er proud France usurp our ancient reign,
          And ride triumphant o’er th’ insulted main!

                 ·       ·       ·       ·       ·

            Far hence th’ unmanly thought—the voice of Fame
          Wafts o’er th’ applauding deep her DUNCAN’S name.
          What though the Conqueror of th’ Italian plains
          Deem nothing gain’d, while this fair isle remains;
          Though his young breast with rash presumption glow,
          He braves the vengeance of no vulgar foe:
          Conqueror no more, full soon his laurel’d pride
          Shall perish—whelm’d in Ocean’s angry tide;
          His broken bands shall rue the fatal day,
          And scatter’d fleets proclaim BRITANNIA’S sway.

[Illustration]




                               No. VIII.


                                                           Jan. 1, 1798.

A correspondent has adapted the beautiful poem of the BATTLE OF SABLA,
in “Carlyle’s Specimens of Arabian Poetry,” to the circumstances of the
present moment. We shall always be happy to see the poetry of other
times and nations so successfully engaged in the service of our country,
and of the present order of society.


                              THE CHOICE.
            (FROM THE BATTLE OF SABLA, BY JAAFER BEN ALBA.)

                                     I.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Poetry of the Anti-Jacobin: Comprising the Celebrated Political and Satirical Poems, of the Rt. Hons. G. Canning, John Hookham Frere, W. Pitt, the Marquis Wellesley, G. Ellis, W. Gifford, the Earl of Carlisle, and Others.

Poetry of the Anti-Jacobin: Comprising the Celebrated Political and Satirical Poems, of the Rt. Hons. G. Canning, John Hookham Frere, W. Pitt, the Marquis Wellesley, G. Ellis, W. Gifford, the Earl of Carlisle, and Others.

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