Then all the concert sang with such a shout, That I anon awaken'd where I lay, And with a braid I turned me about To see this court, but all were gone away; Then up I lean'd me, halflings in affray, Call'd to my Muse, and for my subject chose To sing the royal THISTLE and the ROSE. FOOTNOTE: [1] Alluding to the Houses of YORK and LANCASTER, which were distinguished by the WHITE and RED ROSE, and united in the person of Queen MARGARET. VERSES ON THE DEATH OF QUEEN CAROLINE. BY MR. SHIPLEY. Oblivion wraps not in her silent shade All human labours. Virtue blooms a flower, That Time's rough hand shall never violate. Still CAROLINE shall live in faithful verse, Sweet nurse of Memory, and in the voice Of grateful Britain. These shall testify How well her calm impartial rule supplied A monarch's absence; these commemorate Her soul contemplative of peaceful Truth And nature, mindful midst the pomp of Courts Of wise retirement, and the silent grove. She stretch'd thro' length'ning shades thy spacious walks, Delightful Richmond, and the terrass rais'd Of regal grandeur, whence the eye discerns Fair Thames with copious waters winding slow Midst pastures, spreading herds, and villages Of aspect neat, and villas wrapt in shades: Fair scene of chearful peace! the lovely sight Frequent she view'd, and bless'd the honour'd reign Of her great Consort, provident and mild. Now wander'd musing thro' the darkening depth Of thickest woods, friendly to solemn thought: Now o'er broad lawns fair opening to the sun. Nor midst her rural plans disdain'd to mix The useful arable, and waving corn With soft turf border'd, and the lowly cot, That half appears, in branching elms obscur'd. Here beauty dwells, assembled from the scenes Of various nature; such as oft inflam'd With rapture Grecian bards, in that fair vale, Thessalian Tempe, or thy favorite soil, Arcadia, erst by awe-struck fancy fill'd With wand'ring forms, the woodland Deities, Light Nymphs and wanton Satyrs, faintly seen Quick glancing thro' the shade at close of eve, Great Pan, and old Silenus. Hither led By solitary grief shall GEORGE recall Th' endearing manners, the soft speech, that flow'd From his lov'd Consort, virtue mix'd with love, Prudence, and mild insinuating sense: But chief her thoughtful breast of counsels deep Capacious, nor unequal to the weight Of Government. Such was the royal mind Of wise ELIZA, name of loveliest sound To British ears, and pattern fair to Kings: Or she who rules the Scepter of the North Illustrious, spreading o'er a barbarous world The light of arts and manners, and with arms Infests th' astonish'd Sultan, hardly now With scatter'd troops resisting; she drives on The heavy war, and shakes th' Imperial Throne Of old Byzantium.