An Ode - Humbly Inscribed To The Queen, On The Glorious Success Of Her Majesty's Arms Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABACDEDEFG HIHIJKJKLL MNMNOPOPQQ JRJRSKSKJJ JTJUSDSDVW JJJJXYXYNN PJPJNUNWII ZOZOJA2JUPB2 JUJC2D2PD2PJJ NE2NE2F2G2F2G2JJ H2H2H2H2JJJJI2J2 WA2WA2K2PL2PM2M2 H2H2H2H2JTJUH2H2 H2JH2JNJNJJ2J2 H2JH2JN2JN2JO2O2 UJUJB2JPJJJ JJJJP2Q2P2R2H2H2 ZH2S2H2H2JH2JJJ H2I2H2I2JT2JT2JJ U2JU2JUJUJJJ H2UH2UM2JM2PP JH2JH2JH2JH2NN YJYJI2H2I2H2V2P2 W2H2W2H2X2H2X2H2JJ P2PV2PJH2JH2UU JOJOSUSUUU H2Y2H2Y2G2H2Z2H2SS JH2JH2UJUJYY JJJJPUPUJJ JPJPJUJUPP JUJUUH2UH2H2H2 H2JH2JUJUJPP H2A3H2H2JJJJJJ H2H2H2H2JPJPPP K2H2L2H2SJSJH2H2

When great Augustus govern'd ancient Rome	A
And sent his conquering bands to foreign wars	B
Abroad when dreaded and beloved at home	A
He saw his fame increasing with his years	C
Horace great bard so fate ordain'd arose	D
And bold as were his countryman in fight	E
Snatch'd their fair actions from degrading prose	D
And set their battles in eternal light	E
High as their trumpets tune his lyre he strung	F
And with his prince's arms he moralized his song	G
	-
When bright Eliza ruled Britannia's state	H
Widely distributing her high commands	I
And boldly wise and fortunately great	H
Freed the glad nations from tyrannic bands	I
An equal genius was in Spenser found	J
To the high theme he match'd his noble lays	K
He travelled England o'er on fairy ground	J
In mystic notes to sing his monarch's praise	K
Reciting wondrous truths in pleasing dreams	L
He deck'd Eliza's head with Gloriana's beams	L
	-
But greatest Anna while thy arms pursue	M
Paths of renown and climb ascents of fame	N
Which nor Augustus nor Eliza knew	M
What poet shall be found to sing thy name	N
What numbers shall record what tongue shall say	O
Thy wars on land thy triumphs on the main	P
O fairest model of imperial sway	O
What equal pen shall write thy wondrous reign	P
Who shall attempts and feats of arms rehearse	Q
Nor yet by story told nor parallel'd by verse	Q
	-
Me all too mean for such a task I weet	J
Yet if the sovereign Lady designs to smile	R
I'll follow Horace with impetuous heat	J
And clothe the verse in Spenser's native style	R
By these examples rightly taught to sing	S
And smit with pleasure of my country's praise	K
Stretching the plumes of an uncommon wing	S
High as Olympus I my flight will raise	K
And latest times shall in my numbers read	J
Anna's immortal fame and Marlborough's hardy deed	J
	-
As the strong eagle in the silent wood	J
Mindless of warlike rage and hostile care	T
Plays round the rocky cliff or crystal flood	J
Till by Jove's high behests call'd out to war	U
And charged with thunder of his angry king	S
His bosom with the vengeful message glows	D
Upward the noble bird directs his wing	S
And towering round his master's earth born foes	D
Swift he collects his fatal stock of ire	V
Lifts his fierce talon high and darts the forked fire	W
	-
Sedate and calm thus victor Marlborough sate	J
Shaded with laurels in his native land	J
Till Anna calls him from his soft retreat	J
And gives her second thunder to his hand	J
Then leaving sweet repose and gentle ease	X
With ardent speed he seeks the distant foe	Y
Marching o'er hills and vales o'er rocks and seas	X
He meditates and strikes the wondrous blow	Y
Our thought flies slower than our General's fame	N
Grasps he the bolt we ask when he has hurl'd the flame	N
	-
When fierce Bavar on Judoign's spacious plain	P
Did from afar the British chief behold	J
Betwixt despair and rage and hope and pain	P
Something within his warring bosom roll'd	J
He views that favourite of indulgent Fame	N
Whom whilom he had met on Ister's shore	U
Too well alas the man he knows the same	N
Whose prowess there repell'd the Boyan power	W
And sent them trembling thro' the frighted lands	I
Swift as the whirlwind drives Arabia's scatter'd sands	I
	-
His former losses he forgets to grieve	Z
Absolves his fate with a kinder ray	O
It now would shine and only give him leave	Z
To balance the account of Blenheim's day	O
So the fell lion in the lonely glade	J
His side still smarting with the hunter's spear	A2
Though deeply wounded no way yet dismay'd	J
Roars terrible and meditates new war	U
In sullen fury traverses the plain	P
To find the venturous foe and battle him again	B2
	-
Misguided prince no longer urge thy fate	J
Nor tempt the hero to unequal war	U
Famed in misfortune and in ruin great	J
Confess the force of Malbro's stronger star	C2
Those laurel groves the merits of thy youth	D2
Which thou from Mahomet didst greatly gain	P
While bold assertor of resistless truth	D2
Thy sword did godlike Liberty maintain	P
Must from thy brow their falling honours shed	J
And their transplanted wreaths must deck a worthier head	J
	-
Yet cease the ways of Providence to blame	N
And human faults with human grief confess	E2
'Tis thou art changed while Heaven is still the same	N
From thy ill counsels date thy ill success	E2
Impartial Justice holds her equal scales	F2
Till stronger virtue does the weight incline	G2
If over thee thy glorious foe prevails	F2
He now defends the cause that once was thine	G2
Righteous the war the champion shall subdue	J
For Jove's great handmaid Power must Jove's decrees pursue	J
	-
Hark the dire trumpets sound their shrill alarms	H2
Auverqueque branch'd from the renown'd Nassaus	H2
Hoary in war and bent beneath his arms	H2
His glorious sword with dauntless courage draws	H2
When anxious Britain mourn'd her parting lord	J
And all of William that was mortal died	J
The faithful hero had received his sword	J
From his expiring master's much loved side	J
Oft from its fatal ire has Louis flown	I2
Where'er great William led or Maese and Sambre run	J2
	-
But brandish'd high in an ill omen'd hour	W
To thee proud Gaul behold thy justest fear	A2
The master sword disposer of thy power	W
'Tis that which Caesar gave the British peer	A2
He took the gift Nor ever will I sheath	K2
This steel so Anna's high behests ordain	P
The General said unless by glorious death	L2
Absolved till conquest has confirm'd your reign	P
Returns like these our mistress bids us make	M2
When from a foreign prince a gift her Britons take	M2
	-
And now fierce Gallia rushes on her foes	H2
Her force augmented by the Boyan bands	H2
So Volga's stream increased by mountain snows	H2
Rolls with new fury down through Russia's lands	H2
Like two great rocks against the raging tide	J
If Virtue's force with Nature's we compare	T
Unmoved the two united chiefs abide	J
Sustain the impulse and receive the war	U
Round their firm sides in vain the tempest beats	H2
And still the foaming wave with lessen'd power retreats	H2
	-
The rage dispersed the glorious pair advance	H2
With mingled anger and collected might	J
To turn the war and tell aggressing France	H2
How Britain's sons and Britain's friends can fight	J
On conquest fix'd and covetous of fame	N
Behold them rushing through the Gallic host	J
Through standing corn so runs the sudden flame	N
Or eastern winds along Sicilia's coast	J
They deal their terrors to the adverse nation	J2
Pale Death attends their arms and ghastly Desolation	J2
	-
But while with fiercest ire Bellona glows	H2
And Europe rather hopes than fears her fate	J
While Britain presses her afflicted foes	H2
What horror damps the strong and quells the great	J
Whence look the soldier's cheeks dismay'd and pale	N2
Erst ever dreadful know they now to dread	J
The hostile troops I ween almost prevail	N2
And the pursuers only not recede	J
Alas their lessen'd rage proclaims their grief	O2
For anxious lo they crowd around their falling chief	O2
	-
I thank thee Fate exclaims the fierce Bavar	U
Let Boya's trumpet graceful Io's sound	J
I saw him fall their thunderbolt of war	U
Ever to Vengeance sacred be the ground	J
Vain wish short joy the hero mounts again	B2
In greater glory and with fuller light	J
The evening star so falls into the main	P
To rise at morn more prevalently bright	J
He rises safe but near too near his side	J
A good man's grievous loss a faithful servant died	J
	-
Propitious Mars the battle is regain'd'	J
The foe with lessen'd wrath disputes the field	J
The Briton fights by favoring gods sustain'd	J
Freedom must live and lawless power must yield	J
Vain now the tales which fabling poets tell	P2
That wavering Conquest still desires to rove	Q2
In Marlbro's camp the goddess knows to dwell	P2
Long as the hero's life remains her love	R2
Again France flies again the Duke pursues	H2
And on Ramilia's plains he Blenheim's fame renews	H2
	-
Great thanks O Captain great in arms receive	Z
From thy triumphant country's public voice	H2
Thy country greater thanks can only give	S2
To Anne to her who made those arms her choice	H2
Recording Schellenberg's and Blenheim's toils	H2
We dreaded lest thou should'st those toils repeat	J
We view'd the palace charged with Gallic spoils	H2
And in those spoils we thought thy praise complete	J
For never Greek we deem'd nor Roman knight	J
In characters like these did e'er his acts indite	J
	-
Yet mindless still of ease thy virtue flies	H2
A pitch to old and modern times unknown	I2
Those goodly deeds which we so highly prize	H2
Imperfect seem great Chief to thee alone	I2
Those heights where William's virtue might have staid	J
And on the subject world look'd safely down	T2
By Marlbro's pass'd the props and steps were made	J
Sublimer yet to raise his Queen's renown	T2
Still gaining more still slighting what he gain'd	J
Nought done the hero deem'd while ought undone remain'd	J
	-
When swift wing'd Rumour told the mighty Gaul	U2
How lessen'd from the field Bavar was fled	J
He wept the swiftness of the champion's fall	U2
And thus the royal treaty breaker said	J
And lives he yet the great the lost Bavar	U
Ruin to Gallia in the name of friend	J
Tell me how far has Fortune been severe	U
Has the foe's glory of our grief an end	J
Remains there of the fifty thousand lost	J
To save our threaten'd realm or guard our shatter'd coast	J
	-
To the close rock the frighted raven flies	H2
Soon as the rising eagle cuts the air	U
The shaggy wolf unseen and trembling lies	H2
When the hoarse roar proclaims the lion near	U
Ill starr'd did we our forts and lines forsake	M2
To dare our British foes to open fight	J
Our conquest we by stategem should make	M2
'Tis ours by craft and by surprise to gain	P
'Tis theirs to meet in arms and battle in the plain	P
	-
The ancient father of this hostile brood	J
Their boasted Brute undaunted snatch'd his gods	H2
From burning Troy and Xanthus red with blood	J
And fix'd on silver Thames his dire abodes	H2
And this be Trynovante he said the seat	J
By Heaven ordain'd my sons your lasting place	H2
Superior here to all the bolts of fate	J
Live mindful of the author of your race	H2
Whom neither Greece nor war nor want nor flame	N
Nor great Pelides' arm nor Juno's rage could tame	N
	-
Their Tudors hence and Stuart's offspring flow	Y
Hence Edward dreadful with his sable shield	J
Talbot to Gallia's power eternal foe	Y
And Seymour famed in council or in field	J
Hence Nevel great to settle or dethrone	I2
And Drake and Ca'ndish terrors of the sea	H2
Hence Butler's sons o'er land and ocean known	I2
Herbert's and Churchill's warring progeny	H2
Hence the long roll which Gallia should conceal	V2
For oh who vanquish'd loves the victor's fame to tell	P2
	-
Envy'd Britannia sturdy as the oak	W2
Which on her mountain top she proudly bears	H2
Eludes the axe and sproutes against the stroke	W2
Strong from her wounds and greater by her wars	H2
And as those teeth which Cadmus sow'd in earth	X2
Produced new youth and furnish'd fresh supplies	H2
So with young vigour and succeeding birth	X2
Her losses more than recompensed arise	H2
And every age she with a race is crown'd	J
For letters more polite in battles more renown'd	J
	-
Obstinate power whom nothing can repel	P2
Not the fierce Saxon nor the cruel Dane	P
Nor deep impression of the Norman steel	V2
Nor Europe's force amass'd by envious Spain	P
Nor France on universal sway intent	J
Oft breaking leagues and oft renewing wars	H2
Nor frequent bane of weaken'd government	J
Their own intestine feuds and mutual jars	H2
Those feuds and jars in which I trusted more	U
Than in my troops and fleets and all the Gallic power	U
	-
To fruitful Rheims or fair Lutetia's gate	J
What tidings shall the messenger convey	O
Shall the loud herald our success relate	J
Or mitred priest appoint the solemn day	O
Alas my praises they no more must sing	S
They to my statue now must bow no more	U
Broken repulsed is their immortal king	S
Fall'n fall'n for ever is the Gallic power	U
The woman chief is master of the war	U
Earth she has freed by arms and vanquish'd Heaven by prayer	U
	-
While thus the ruin'd foe's despair commends	H2
Thy council and thy deed victorious queen	Y2
What shall thy subjects say and what thy friends	H2
How shall thy triumphs in our joy be seen	Y2
Oh deign to let the eldest of the nine	G2
Recite Britannia great and Gallia free	H2
Oh with her sister Sculpture let her join	Z2
To raise great Anne the monument to thee	H2
To thee of all our good the sacred spring	S
To thee our dearest dread to thee our softer king	S
	-
Let Europe saved the column high erect	J
Than Trojan's higher or than Antonine's	H2
Where sembling art may carve the fair effect	J
And full achievement of thy great designs	H2
In a calm heaven and a serener air	U
Sublime the queen shall on the summit stand	J
From danger far as far removed from fear	U
And pointing down to earth her dread command	J
All winds all storms that threaten human wo	Y
Shall sink beneath her feet and spread their rage below	Y
	-
There fleets shall strive by winds and waters tost	J
Till the young Austrian on Iberia's strand	J
Great as AEneas on the Latian coast	J
Shall fix his foot And this be this the land	J
Great Jove where I for ever will remain	P
The empire's other hope shall say and here	U
Vanquish'd intomb'd I'll lie or crown'd I'll reign	P
O Virtue to thy British Mother dear	U
Like the famed Trojan suffer and abide	J
For Anne is thine I ween as Venus was his guide	J
	-
There in eternal characters engraved	J
Vigo and Gibraltar and Barcelone	P
Their force destroy'd their privileges saved	J
Shall Anna's terrors and her mercies own	P
Spain from the usurper Bourbon's arms retrieved	J
Shall with new life and grateful joy appear	U
Numbering the wonders which that youth achieved	J
Whom Anna clad in arms and sent to war	U
Whom Anna sent to claim Iberia's throne	P
And made him more than king in calling him her son	P
	-
There Isther pleased by Blenheim's glorious field	J
Rolling shall bid his eastern waves declare	U
Germania saved by Britain's ample shield	J
And bleeding Gaul afflicted by her spear	U
Shall bid them mention Marlbro' on that shore	U
Leading his islanders renown'd in arms	H2
Through climes where never British chief before	U
Or pitch'd his camp or sounded his alarms	H2
Shall bid them bless the queen who made his streams	H2
Glorious as those of Boyne and safe as those of Thames	H2
	-
Brabantia clad with fields and crown'd with towers	H2
With decent joy shall her deliverer meet	J
Shall own thy arms great queen and bless thy powers	H2
Laying the keys beneath thy subject's feet	J
Flandria by plenty made the home of war	U
Shall weep her crime and bow to Charles restored	J
With double vows shall bless thy happy care	U
In having drawn and having sheathed the sword	J
From these their sister provinces shall know	P
How Anne supports a friend and how forgives a foe	P
	-
Bright swords and crested helms and pointed spears	H2
In artful piles around the work shall lie	A3
And shields indented deep in ancient wars	H2
Blazon'd with signs of Gallic heraldry	H2
And standards with distinguish'd honours bright	J
Marks of high power and national command	J
Which Valois' sons and Bourbon's bore in fight	J
Or gave to Foix' or Montmorancy's hand	J
Great spoils which Gallia must to Britain yield	J
From Cressy's battle saved to grace Ramilia's field	J
	-
And as fine art the spaces may dispose	H2
The knowing thought and curious eye shall see	H2
Thy emblem gracious queen the British rose	H2
Type of sweet rule and gentle majesty	H2
The northern thistle whom no hostile hand	J
Unhurt too rudely may provoke I ween	P
Hibernia's harp device of her command	J
And parent of her mirth shall there be seen	P
Thy vanquish'd lilies France decay'd and torn	P
Shall with disorder'd pomp the lasting work adorn	P
	-
Beneath great queen oh very far beneath	K2
Next to the ground and on the humble base	H2
To save herself from darkness and from death	L2
That muse desires the last the lowest place	H2
Who though unmeet yet touch'd the trembling string	S
For the fair fame of Anne and Albion's land	J
Who durst of war and martial fury sing	S
And when thy will and when thy subject's hand	J
Had quell'd those wars and bid that fury cease	H2
Hangs up her grateful harp to conquest and to peace	H2

Matthew Prior

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