RECITATIVE.

But who is He, that treads the uncertain gloom, That comes the last, nor shares the general doom?

AIR AND QUARTETT.

Vain now each mighty name,'
Thro' ages long descended;

Each banner's storied fame,
Which conquest once attended:

RECITATIVE.

From height to height the Alpine eagle flown,
Screams, as he finds no wild remain his own.

RECITATIVE.

With sullen march recede

The Russian's wasted train;
The high, indignant Swede
The oppressor braves in vain;
In dim eclipse the Crescent's glories fade;
And the far Indian sees the approaching shade:
Where, mid the clouds of war,

Where now,

the fortune of the Austrian star? The high-born maid, in bridal garlands shown, Leads up the last sad pomp that speaks a world o'erthrown.

CHORUS.

-The shout is heard on high

Britannia! hark-they fly-they fly
Hark-fallen is the foe, and thine the victory.
On Alexandria's plains glad sounds arise,
Vimeira loud replies;

The conquerors of the world are conquered now.
Rise, bind the laurels ou thy brow,

Britannia rise!-'tis thine-'tis thine,

To roll the thunders of the blazing line,

And bid the ruin wide the scattered foe pursue;
And thine to rush amain,

Along the embattled plain,

Pour o'er the opposing ranks, and sweep them from the

view.

RECITATIVE AND AIR.

On Talavera's height,

And 'mid Barrosa's fight,

High beat each English heart with triumph warm;
And England's genius o'er the battle's storm

Rose proud, and showed her Edward's laurelled form,
While near was seen the sable warrior-son,

Crowned, as on Poictier's day, with wreaths from Cressy

won.

AIR.

O Gloster! pleased to thee while Granta bends,
And gives her sceptre to thy faithful hand;
Oh think, while round the baleful storm extends,
Why yet thy Native Land,

Why yet the loved, the beauteous Isle,
In peace can rest, in virtue smile-

RECITATIVE.

'Mid states in flames and ruins hurled,
Why England yet survives the world!

AIR.

From hardy sports, from manly schools,
From Truth's pure lore in Learning's bower,
From equal Law alike that rules

The people's will, the monarch's power;
From Piety, whose soul sincere

Fears God, and knows no other fear;
From Loyalty, whose high disdain
Turns from the fawning, faithless train ;

From deeds the Historian's records show,
Valour's renown, and Freedom's glow,
"Tis hence that springs the unconquered fire,
That bids to Glory's heights aspire.

AIR.

O Gloster! hence the sage's aim,
The scholar's toil, the statesman's fame,
The flaming sword, still ready found

To guard the paradise around

Here in their last retreat are seen

The peaceful Arts, the classic Muse; And heavenly Wisdom, here her light serene, Her holy calm, can still diffuse.

AIR AND CHORUS.

No common cause, no vulgar sway,
Now Gloster, claim thy generous zeal,
In England's bliss is Europe's stay,
And England's hope in Granta's weal.

AIR.

Thee have the marshalled hosts of France
Seen on their firmest ranks advance;
Thine was the soldier's fearless glow,

And thine the skill that watched around;
Shamed and repulsed the conscious foe
The laurel gave, 'tho' Fortune frowned:
And England heard, with loud acclaim,
The promise of thy youthful fame:

DUET.

The modest virtues on thy steps attend,
To thee the sons of grief and pain
For pity turn, nor turn in vain;

The hapless African has called thee friend-
Oh ever thou the generous cause defend!

CHORUS.

Pursue thy course!-an honest fame is thine-
And Granta still shall bless the day,
Granta that ever loved a Brunswick's name,
The honoured day, that saw her thus consign
To thee the ensigns of her sway;

Thee, guardian of her laws, her rights, her fame,
Son of her matron lore, Prince of her Monarch's line.

LINES,

Addressed to the Queen of Prussia, on her Birth-Day.

WHILE titled suppliants throng the glittering scene
To hail the day that gave the world a Queen,
Will regal beauty deign to lend au ear,
Nor scorn a bard uncourtly and sincere ?—
Who sees, undazzled, sceptered pomp displayed,
Yet bows to worth that shames all borrowed aid;
To worth that shines untarnished on a throne,
In fair LOUISA's bright example shown!
O, formed alike to grace the courtly scene,
Or smile the sweetest on the village-green,
To charm alike the heart, the eye, the car,
And claim the palm, though all around were fair ;—
Amid the varied incense of the day,

Accept the tribute of an honest lay;

Nor deem the praise it bears, though warm it flows,
An eulogy that Flattery's breath bestows:-
For know, while such desert shall grace the theme,
That Praise for Truth is but another name.

Berlin, March 10, 1801.

B. BERESFord.

MAHOMET:

A Prize Poem,

RECÍTED IN THE THEATRE OXFORD, IN THE YEAR 1808.

ARGUMENT.

SUBJECT proposed.-Mahomet's triumphant return to MeccaApostrophe to the Caaba-legends connected with it.The Prophet's feelings on reviewing the cave of Hera-the poem now reverts to the first idea and developement of his imposture, of which that cave had been the scene-obstacles to his early success-his courage under them-his flight from Mecca, and concealment in the cave of Thor-return to his present situation-he resolves to propagate his religion by the sword his address to his soldiers, including a description of the Mahometan paradise and hell-its effect upon them-the conquest of Arabia-Mahomet, tired of war, resigns himself to pleasure-the loveliness of marriage superior to the delights of the Haram-Mahomet's death does not check the progress of his religion-the fall of Byzantium--the arms and doctrines of the Moslems overrun Palestine Africa-India.-Conclusion.

Or him the Impostor, who, in Mecca's fane,
Reared the dark throne of Falsehood's impious reign;
Bade vanquished Faith confess his Prophet-nod,
And bathed in blood the altars of his God;
Of him my Song would tell nor ye the theme,
Nymphs of Castalia! scorn, by your fair stream
Though yet unheard; for not more vast his sway,
Who to Hydaspes urged his victor way;
From West to East his rapid thunders hurled,
And, still unsated, asked another world.

Hushed is the war, the torn and trampled slain
Tell that the fight was fierce on Beder's * plain;

* The scene of Mahomet's first great battle.