ADVERTISEMENT.

HE intent of the following Volumes

TH

is to preserve to the Public those poetical performances, which feemed to merit a longer remembrance than what would probably be fecured to them by the MANNER wherein they were originally published. This defign was first fuggefted to the Editor, as it was afterwards conducted, by the opinions of fome Gentlemen, whofe names it would do him the highest honour to mention. He defires in this place also to make his acknowledgments to the Authors of several pieces inferted in these Volumes, which were never before in print; and which, he is perfuaded, would be thought to add credit to the most judicious collection of this kind in our language. He hath nothing farther to premise, but that the Reader must not expect to be pleased VOL. I.

A

with

with every particular poem which is here prefented to him. It is impoffible to furnish out an entertainment of this nature, where every part fhall be relifhed by every gueft: it will be fufficient if nothing is fet before him but what has been approved by those of the most acknowledged taste.

A

Fronde fuper MITRAM, et fælici comptus oliva. VIRG.

C

Ontending kings, and fields of death, too long

Have been the subject of the British fong.

Who hath not read of fam'd Ramilia's plain,

Bavaria's fall, and Danube choak'd with flain?
Exhausted themes! A gentler note I raise,

And fing returning Peace in fofter lays.

Their fury quell'd, and martial rage allay'd,
I wait our heroes in the fylvan shade:
Disbanding hofts are imag'd to my mind,

And warring pow'rs in friendly leagues combin'd;
While ease and pleasure make the nations smile,
And heav'n and ANNA blefs Britannia's ifle.

Well fends our Queen her mitred BRISTOL forth,
For early counfels fam'd, and long-try'd worth,
Who, thirty rolling years, had oft with-held
The Suede and Saxon from the dusty field;
Compleatly form'd, to heal the Christian wounds,
To name the kings, and give each kingdom bounds;
The face of ravag'd nature to repair,

By leagues to foften earth, and heav'n by pray❜r;
To gain by love, where rage and flaughter fail,
And make the crofier o'er the fword - all.

So when great Mofes, with JEHOVAH's wand,
Had fcatter'd plagues o'er ftubborn Pharaoh's land,
Now spread an hoft of locufts round the shore,
Now turn'd Nile's fatt'ning ftreams to putrid gore;
Plenty and gladness mark'd the priest of God,
And fudden almonds fhot from Aaron's rod.

O thou, from whom these bounteous bleffings flow,
To whom, as chief, the hopes of peace we owe,
(For next to thee, the man whom kings contend
To ftile companion, and to make their friend,
Great Strafford, rich in every courtly grace,
With joyful pride accepts the fecond place.)

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