THE IMPARTIAL: AN ADDRESS, without FLATTERY.
[5]ARE theſe the Marks, then, of our promis'd Shame!
Or did Detraction ſteal the Patriot's Name?
Weak, if we were, how roſe we, now, ſo ſtrong?
Or whence, if pow'rful, were we ſcorn'd, ſo long?
Burn, ſooty Slander, burn, thy blotted Scroll:
Greatneſs is Greatneſs, ſpite of Faction's Soul.
[6]
I GAZE, aſtoniſh'd Kingdom, o'er thy Face,
And each weigh'd Wonder to its Fountain trace.
Glory flows in, where Infamy was ſpread:
And long-loſt Triumph lifts her tow'ry Head.
Warm, o'er the icy North, thy influent Awe
Bids hoſtile Leagues diſſolve, in friendly Thaw.
Up Rhine's long Stream Britannic Thunders winde,
And Alpine Mountains ſhake—and States, behind.
Auſtria's plum'd Eagle, beak'd and wing'd once more,
Sees baffled Bourbon driv'n, from Shore to Shore.
Sea-ſhook Auſonia, red with warring Hoſts,
Starts, from her Adrian, to her Tyrrhene, Coaſts.
Ev'n Rome's imperious Mitre learns to bow!
And Spain's THALESTRIS is, but, Woman, now!
WHENCE this amazing Change?—'twas, late, all, Fear:
No warring God, invok'd, inclin'd his Ear.
Tyrants, combin'd, found Freedom's Rights betray'd:
Faith, faſt-expiring, ſaw the Falſe invade,
[7] Commerce cajol'd, Reluctance brib'd, Rage tame:
Ev'n Empire trod on—yet, untouch'd by Shame!
Then, was the Criſis; then, Fate's Hand appear'd:
Then might the World be deaf—for, Britain heard.
Wave-worſhip'd Britain! One, to All, oppos'd!
By Friends deſerted, and by Foes inclos'd,
Fills the World's Eye; diſpels the Doubter's Care;
Bids the Bold tremble, and the Backward dare:
High, to the Nations, points their Guardian's Throne,
And acts, and arbitrates, and ſhines, alone.
AND have ſuch Fires inflam'd a patient Reign?
Immortal Heav'n! and muſt we, ſtill, complain?
Still, muſt we rail, and blacken, and ſuſpect?
At once, curb Vigilance, and goad Neglect?
Deep let my Soul deteſt th' adheſive Pride,
That, changing Sentiment, unchanges Side:
True, to Contempt of Truth, repents within—
Yet, ſcreens Conviction; and ſtrains hard, to ſin.
[8]
SHAME on this Craft, to ſcare!—this Toil, to ſeem!
O Heart, indignant, fly th'unmanly Scheme:
Bluſh, for thy paſt Injuſtice; ſhrink no more;
But wake—and wonder, thou wert dark, before!
Learn, from whoſe Hand th'unlook'd-for Effluence came:
And, in the Teeth of Inſult, ſound his Name.
WHAT, tho' ſome Friend thou lov'ſt had narrower Sight?
Truth knows no Parties; and involves, like Light.
Shadows and Names fright Cowards—but the Strong
Ne'er call That Lightneſs, which is Scorn of Wrong.
Dare to be juſt: 'tis all that Brav'ry means▪
He ſtoops too baſely, who to Flatt'ry leans:
But, whome pale Prejudice has taught his Part,
Born, for a Slave, wears Fetters, on his Heart;
Sees, undiſcerning; feels, without his Touch;
Judges, too little—and decides too much.
[9]
POETS have nobler Souls: Fame's Paths, they ſhow:
They glow themſelves—and teach the World, to glow.
Satire's whole Pow'r their own—yet, Praiſe, they chuſe:
Ev'n of unconſcious Kings, who ſlight the Muſe.
Proud of neglected Force, each Heav'n-touch'd Mind,
Open, to Reaſon, is, to Int'reſt, blind:
Self all un-thought of, can, for others, think:
Swim, till the State rides ſafe—then, ſmile, and ſink;
Lift, ev'n the Worth that hates him; love it ſhown;
And, for his Country's Joys, exclude his own,
This is to think, like Muſes; act, like MAN:
This, Princes OUGHT to feel—and Poets CAN.
YE, once miſguided! is Retraction vain?
Truſt the Brave injur'd: nor perſiſt, to ſtain.
Why ſhould Suſpicion Penitence outlive?
None doubt Forgiveneſs, but who ne'er forgive.
HEAV'N has been wrong'd: yet, ſtill, goes on to bleſs.
For, Sins of Blindneſs err, beneath Diſtreſs.
So wrong'd, ſo pard'ning, Cart'ret heeds no Foe;
But ſaves—unangry at, the Rage below.
[10]
OFF with theſe ſhackly Quoils, of twine'd Intrigue;
Theſe Nets for Liberty, theſe Links of League.
Trite, venal, Cants! which Envy's Arts can teach
To cenſure ev'ry Pow'r, we fail to reach.
No gen'rous Heart, miſdrawn to devious Beat,
When Truth's new Luſtre ſhines, diſclaims its Heat.
Charm'd, and ſurpris'd, I hug my Country's Fame;
Compar'd, O Heav'n! with Years, of length'ning Shame.
YE Sons, who love Her, weigh the threat'ning Swell,
Of Spain, France, Faction, Calumny, and Hell!
Weigh, with what Speed, repell'd from Mound to Mound,
Subſiding Danger ſought her bidden Bound!
Hail the white Cliffs of Albion, held, ſerene,
While round her, redd'ning, rolls the bloody Scene.
I hail it, All:—and hail th' acknowledg'd CAUSE!
Hail the Mind's Reach, that gives Earth's Uproar LAWS!
Safe, mid ſurrounding Menace, guards Mankind!
Guides ev'ry Council! buſies ev'ry Wind!
[11] Shakes the World's Shakers! hears, for Land and Main,
And binds fell Tyrants, while they bite their Chain.
YE Muſe-made Mentors! rais'd, on Fancy's Wings,
To think for Heroes, and to reign for Kings;
When cou'd your Sons, of Time's feign'd Births, do more?
For, ne'er, true Story reach'd theſe Heights, before.
FAV'RITES have, oft, in many a troubled State,
Poiz'd the King's Love, againſt the People's Hate;
Oft, the firm Leader, in ſome Patriot Scheme,
Has, with bold Steerage, ſtemm'd the Royal Stream:
And, ſometimes, too,—yet rare, too rare, that Praiſe!
The Safe at home, abroad have gather'd Bays.
But NONE, till Cart'ret roſe, e'er hop'd to ſee
One maſt'ring Genius graſp th' UNWILLING THREE!
Prince half confiding—People All unjuſt—
Abroad All Diſcord, and at home, Diſtruſt—
[12] Propp'd on Himſelf, like the World's Weight, he lay;
And, thro' Contention's Impulſe, ſhape'd his Way;
Heard the claſh'd Elements—deſpis'd their Brawl—
Roll'd on, ſelf-centred—and inorb'd 'em, All!
FINIS.