A while forget the scenes of woe, Forbid a while the tears to flow, The pitying sigh to rise. Turn from the ax the thought away; 'Tis Charles that bids us crown the day, And end the night in joys. 2. So when bleak clouds and beating rain With storms the face of Nature stain, And all in gloom appears. If Phœbus deign a short-liv'd smile, The face of Nature charms a while, A while the prospect cheers. 3. Come then, and while we largely pour Libations to the genial hour, That gave our hero birth; Let us invite the tuneful nine To sing a theme, like them, divine, To paint our hero's worth. 4. How on his tender infant years, The cheerful hand of Heav'n appears To watch its chosen care. Estrang'd to ev'ry foe to truth Virtuous affliction nurs'd his youth. Instructive tho' severe. 5. [Sidenote: _fol._ 394.] No sinful court its poison lent With early bane his mind to taint, And blast his young renown. His father's virtues fir'd his heart. His father's sufferings truths impart. That form'd him for a throne. 6. How at an age when pleasure charms, Allures the stripling to her arms, He plann'd the great design: T' assert his injur'd father's cause, Restore his suffering country's laws, And prove his right divine. 7. How when on Scotia's beach he stood The wond'ring throng around him crowd To bend th' obedient knee. Then thinking on their country chain'd, They wept such worth so long detain'd By Heav'n's severe decree. 8. Where'er he mov'd, in sweet amaze, All ranks with transport on him gaze, Ev'n grief forgets to pine. The wisest sage, the chastest fair, Applaud his sense and praise his air Thus form'd with grace divine. 9. [Sidenote: _fol._ 395.] How great in all the soldier's art, With judgment calm, with fire of heart, He bade the battle glow: Yet greater on the conquer'd plain He felt each wounded captive's pain, More like a friend than foe. 10. By good unmov'd, in ill resign'd, No change of fortune chang'd his mind, Tenacious of his aim. In vain the gales propitious blew, Affliction's darts as vainly flew, His soul was still the same. 11. Check'd in his glory's full career, He felt no weak desponding fear Amid distresses great. By ev'ry want and danger prest, No care possest his manly breast, But for his country's fate. 12.