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ODE: IN HONOUR OF THE NUPTIALS OF THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES.

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ODE In Honour of The NUPTIALS of Their Royal Highneſses The PRINCE And PRINCESS of WALES Written and Composed BY Mr Dibdin.

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LONDON Printed by the Author & Sold at his Warehouse [...] in Strand oppoſite the Adelphi

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TO HER GRACIOUS MAJESTY, THE QUEEN OF GREAT-BRITAIN, As an humble Mite towards the univerſal Admiration of the DOMESTIC VIRTUES OF THAT Most exemplary of Wives and Mothers, THIS ODE IS INSCRIBED, WITH THE PROFOUNDEST DEFERENCE AND RESPECT BY Her Majeſty's faithful Subject, And devoted Servant, C. DIBDIN.

PREFACE.

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THE following poem is not more an effuſion of loyalty, than it is a public congratulation. The relative happineſs likely to reſult from the union it celebrates, is ſeriouſly and ſolemnly intereſting to every Britiſh ſubject; ſince the equivocal tenure of regal power in other countries, muſt naturally render every additional link to the chain of public ſecurity here, an object of conſiderable magnitude; and, as hereditary right is the ſtrongeſt ſupport of the conſtitution, and the faireſt ornament of the crown, as experience has given us proof upon proof how dangerous to this nation is a doubtful right, every honeſt man muſt of courſe bleſs an event likely to enſure the Engliſh throne to the preſent family.

As to the poem itſelf, it may perhaps be neceſſary to ſay ſomething in explanation of it; for I am willing to acknowledge, that warmth and fancy ſeldom permit me to conform to mere rule; and that, in general, I have better ſucceeded when my hand has obeyed my conception, than when cold correctneſs has ſhrouded my ideas in a regular arrangement of words.

I call it an ode, as the moſt unexceptionable deſcription I can give it. It is not, however, an ode ſtrictly ſpeaking; for I do not clog myſelf with the dull regularity of making my STROPHE turn to the left, my ANTISTROPHE to the right, or my EPODE ſing before the altar. It is not lyric, except in the beſt ſenſe of the acceptation, that of being written for muſic. Of the dithyrambic, it certainly poſſeſſes the rapture, but not the phrenzy. It is not Pindaric, for though it has flights in plenty, it aims at no ſublimity but that which is the offspring of ſimplicity.

In ſome reſpects it reſembles the epithalamium, but not in all; for that ſpecies of panegyric, generally taken, is purchaſed praiſe, performed in the preſence of the bride and bridegroom, circumſtances that will not be attributed to me or to my poem; for all the world ſhould not buy my commendation; and the work itſelf will ſufficiently vouch for me that there is too much of the heart in it to ſavour of ſolicitation.

Its irregularities, however, are its advantages, for they furniſh a bolder ſcope to the imagination, and give additional force and effect to the moſt enchanting of all mediums that ever conveyed pleaſure to the heart. In a word, I have gone for ſtrength without heavineſs, praiſe without adulation, figure without diſtortion; I [ii] have endeavoured to be playful, not ludicrous; bold, not daring; eaſy, not quaint. But the moſt prominent feature in the picture is rapture; to which, perhaps, I may have given a latitude ſomewhat bordering on that extravagance which, on ordinary occaſions, literally taken, might be called hyperbole; but which, upon the preſent occaſion, applied figuratively, is appropriate and in place.

I think I ſhall be allowed ſome credit for the conſtruction of the poem. There is a novelty in commanding the attendance of the muſes and their miſſion to the celeſtials, and the groupe bending from Olympus to behold the landing of the princeſs, would not make an unworthy figure upon canvaſs. The ſalutation of Britannia is intereſting, and her leading the bride in nuptial pomp to the temple of Hymen, ſurrounded by an admiring populace, is ſtill more ſo. Nor can Engliſhmen hear unmoved that prophecy of Fame at the concluſion, which I, for one, wiſh with all my ſoul may be literally verified.

As to the muſic itſelf, it is compoſed, not conſtructed; written to the heart, not to the head; I have made melody my outline; and, through the wide range of that field of fancy, I have endeavoured to excite feeling, create intereſt, and convey pleaſure. As to the harmony, no more now, than upon other occaſions, have I any thing abſtruſe; for, though I have plenty of modulation, yet I have taken every poſſible care cautiouſly to avoid an obtruſion of diſcord into the temple of Hymen.

In ſhort, I have written as I felt. I am rejoiced at this event, becauſe I am an Engliſhman; becauſe the true ſecurity of Engliſh freedom, that my father taught me to venerate, that I liberally enjoy, and that will conſtitute the beſt happineſs of my children, will be promoted by it. Therefore, be my ode Lyric, Dithyrambic, or Pindaric; a mixture of all, or a likeneſs of none, it is honeſt and ſincere, and comes warm from the heart. Thus, though I only ſhall have manifeſted my admiration of thoſe who are more immediately concerned, and my gratitude to the public, who are collaterally intereſted, my labour will not have been in vain, for I ſhall have gratified an ardent zeal, and added one ſhout, though but a feeble one, to the willing and merited acclamations of a loyal and happy people.

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[ii]
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[]ODE: IN HONOUR OF THE NUPTIALS OF THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES.

RECITATIVE, ACCOMPANIED.

DESCEND, and conſecrate, ye ſacred Nine,
The nuptial rites of GEORGE and CAROLINE:
Nor courted, nor invok'd, but wing your way,
Yourſelves inſpired, my mighty theme to obey!
And firſt, ſweet Polyhimnia, muſe of ſound,
Verb'rate thy lyre; and, while thou ſpread'ſt around,
Trembling Aether ſweetly filling,
Thy rapturous airs ſo ſoft, ſo thrilling,
[8]
Poſſeſs me, rule each ſenſe at thy control;
Strain following ſtrain,
Again, and yet again:
Come, with thy melody entrance my longing ſoul.

AIR,

In gliding meaſure charm to thee
The playful nymph Terpſichore,
With eaſe, and grace, and look aſkance:
Her panting boſom burning,
As, twining, twiſting, turning,
In winning guiſe, ſhe leads the mazy dance.
Now ſoft and ſoothing be thy ſtrain,
To eaſe the fond Erato's pain,
Whiſper, that in her realm, no more
Falſe, fickle love ſhall ſhe deplore;
Bid her behold, with glad ſurpriſe,
Her miſtreſs in Love's tender arts,
[9]
A princeſs comes, to bleſs our iſle,
Whoſe form ſhall captivate all eyes,
And whoſe example fix all hearts.
Bid her the trembling tear to dry,
To diſſipate the deep-heav'd ſigh,
To ſmooth her low'ring brow, and ſmile.
And join, accompany'd by thee,
The playful nymph Terpſichore,
With eaſe, and grace, and look aſkance;
Her panting boſom burning,
As twiſting, twining, turning,
In winning guiſe, ſhe leads the mazy dance.

RECITATIVE, ACCOMPANIED.

Now change the ſtrain, and to thy ſpell
Mighty Calliope compel—
Diſplaying ample hiſtory's page—
Bid her Urania bring; a virgin, and a ſage:
[10]Who, ſkill'd in Science' wond'rous lore,
Can ſuns, and worlds, and heavens explore:
And—a triumvirate to fill—
Bid Clio, her celeſtial ſkill,
To aid the glorious purpoſe, join.
And, while the trumpet's ſilver notes proclaim
So great, ſo mighty, ſo auguſt a name;
Bid them tranſmit to fame
Thoſe truths divine,
That ſpeak the glory of the Brunſwick line.
But hark! upon the ear what ruſtic ſtrain
Cleaves the free air? 'Tis gay Euterpe's train,
That ſylvan, faun, and hamadriade, lead,
With horn, and flageolet, and oaten reed!

AIR.

And firſt the horn, whoſe mellow ſound,
Wakes Echo in the hollow rocks,
[11]To inſpire the fleet, ſagacious hound
Where to un-earth the ſubtle fox.
The flageolet ſhall imitate
The feathered ſongſter, by his mate,
Sequeſtered in the conſcious grove,
Impervious to all eyes but Love.
And now, as the lorn nightingale
Mourns, ſadly, in the penſive vale,
Day's labour at an end,
Ruſtics the winding dance ſhall lead,
To the cadence of Euterpe's reed,
And mirth with ſadneſs blend.

AIR.

And thou, Melpomene, appear,
Whoſe woes find no relief,
Whoſe mind's beſt joy's the ſocial tear,
Whoſe luxury is grief:
[12]
Behold her!—dim each ſorrowing eye—
But let the torrent flow!
Be hallow'd that ſweet ſympathy
That mourns for others' woe.

AIR.

Nor thou, Thalia, gay and trim,
Skulk, where behind thy maſk thou'rt peeping,
Come forth, with frolic Wit and Whim,
Rouſe ſluggard Dullneſs, as he's ſleeping.
With honeſt gibe, and moral jeer,
And humour, Honour's cauſe adorning;
Come, diſſipate thy ſiſter's tear,
As cheers the ſun an April morning.
Say, as her grief thou bid'ſt her dry,
Each paſſion's virtue in its ſeaſon,
That, as 'tis folly loud to cry,
So, laughing loud is ſometimes reaſon.

RECITATIVE, ACCOMPANIED.

[13]
Begone! diſperſe like air!
To blue Olympus fly!
There,
Placed on high,
As the celeſtials, in their roſeate bowers,
Play with the Smiles, and count the dancing Hours,
Strike the loud ſpheres!
Your voices raiſe,
And charm their captured ears
Proclaiming Caroline's unequall'd praiſe.
Her wiſdom bid Minerva fear;
Bid her, who young Endymion embraced,
Bluſh, and reſign the name of chaſte;
Tell lovely Venus and the dimpl'd Graces
To yield to truth, and own,
All ſweet, all beautiful, as are their faces.
Her face perfection boaſts alone.
All, all, while ſitting in celeſtial ſtate,
That which they cannot equal, bid them wonder at:
[14]And, as your mandate they attend,
And from the ſilver clouds aſtoniſh'd bend,
Bid them behold, with a benignant ſmile,
The rapture that pervades Great Britain's happy iſle.

MARCH.

Fir'd with my theme, thus gave I Nature law;
Will'd at a wiſh, and what I fancied ſaw.

AIR.

I ſaw the gods, in troops attending,
Well pleas'd, from high Olympus bending!
While playful Neriedes gaily gave
The ſplendid yatch to Neptune's wave:
I heard old Jove by Styx declare
He ne'er ſaw mortal half ſo fair;
[15]While Juno own'd he'd ne'er known ſtrife,
Could ſhe, like her, have prov'd a wife;
Minerva ſaid, proud to extol her,
She'd always been her apteſt ſcholar;
Again her mirror and again
Venus regarded, but in vain;
Then rubb'd the ſurface, 'twas not right,
At laſt ſhe broke it out of ſpight.
One call'd for nectar, "Go and ſip,"
Cry'd Hebe, "Nectar from her lip;"
Mars, proudly, ſaid, he ſaw a race
Of future heroes in her face;
While rough-hewn Neptune, ſmiling, ſwore
Ne'er had his billows borne before
A lovelier Venus to a happier ſhore.

RECITATIVE, ACCOMPANIED.

And truly Neptune ſwore; ſcarce ſmil'd the fair,
To thank old Ocean for his anxious care,
[16]But troops of bards burſt forth in one fond lay—
For light is light, and day we ſtill call day—
And, as the obvious truth fell from each tongue,
By each proud heart inſpir'd, they felt and ſung.

AIR.

Hail lovely wonder, honour's meed,
Rule every heart that virtue prizes,
Eclipſe each fair, as ſtars recede,
When from old Ocean Venus riſes.
Haſte, Haſte, with ſacred love and truth,
Grace ſmiling Hymen's bleſt communion;
Haſte and reward the only youth
Whoſe virtues merit ſuch an union.
II.
See pictur'd in her face her mind,
Beauty and goodneſs ne'er aſunder;
[17]While Envy, now, no longer blind,
Grows kindneſs, and ſubſides to wonder!
Roſes bloom beneath her feet,
Cupids for a ſmile implore her,
While Zephyr ſteals a kiſs ſo ſweet,
It perfumes all the way before her.

RECITATIVE, ACCOMPANIED.

Mute Admiration, that had huſh'd the crowd,
Yielded to acclamations warm and loud;
For lo! a ſight that ever ſhall impart
Strong, ſtrong emotions to each Britiſh heart!
Scarce had the Princeſs, on the peopled ſtrand,
Admired the beauty of fair Freedom's land,
When, in majeſtic grandeur, ſtood revealed,
Bright as her creſt, refulgent as her ſhield,
BRITANNIA!—with a tender zeal impreſs'd,
As tutelary guardian of her lovely gueſt:
[18]And oh! ineffable was the angelic ſmile
That bid the glorious ſtranger welcome to her iſle.
Nor ended there
Thoſe ſhouts that rent the air;
But as diſtinctions, honours, on the way,
Still courted ſome ſolicitous delay,
Their longing eyes purſu'd the ſplendid train,
Nor loſt them till they reach'd fair Hymen's fane,
Whom they addreſs'd in fervent prayer.

AIR.

Sacred Hymen, on this night,
Thy torch with fire celeſtial light;
And, in thy ſmiling crown of flowers,
Symbol this pair's delicious hours.
Let Flora's roſe the wreath adorn,
Deprived of each intruding thorn;
[19]Let the fond heliotrope be there;
And Venus' myrtle freſh and fair:
Mars, for his laurel, next invoke,
And blend it with the civic oak;
So Bliſs, Fame, Conſtancy, ſhall prove
Their lot beſtowed by thee and Love.

RECITATIVE ACCOMPANIED.

Here let me pauſe, ye powers, or let me claim.
Than inſpiration, ſome ſuperior name;
Give me to ſpeak the force of every grace,
Perfection e'er beſtowed on form or face,
With all the gifts concentred in the mind,
When gods their eſſence blend with human-kind;
So my ſtrong zeal ſhall diſappoint deſpair,
So ſhall I ſing the worth of this illuſtrious pair.

AIR.

[20]
So ſhall I paint, in conflict tender,
As fear and joy alternate ſtrove,
That form that bid her heart ſurrender,
While burning bluſhes ſpoke her love.
Not Sol, that Belvidere delighted,
Nor yet Alcides of Farneſe;
A form more perfect, that united
Superior ſtrength, with nobler eaſe.
II.
So ſhall I paint that manly beauty,
That worth, to truth and virtue dear,
That mildneſs, honour, goodneſs, duty,
All hearts admire, all minds revere.
Theſe, as his portrait faintly charmed her,
Won her conſent to be a wife;
[21]Now Love's promethean ardour warmed her,
And breathed the picture into life.

RECITATIVE, ACCOMPANIED.

Nor ſhall my glowing mind its ardour ceaſe,
Till, as I paint their happineſs increaſe,
In willing numbers, no leſs warm than true,
I lay futurity to open view:
And, while a people join in loud acclaim,
Tell to the univerſe the prophecy of Fame.

AIR.

Long on this iſle, the ſolar ray,
Benignant eye of favouring Heaven,
Shall beam, to conſecrate the day,
That ſaw a Brunſwick to a Brunſwick given.
[22]Swell every voice, beat every heart,
All in the general bliſs bear part;
While the loud trumpet's notes proclaim
Fate's fiat, by the mouth of Fame.
"In other ſtates, while rule and power
"That ſtrut the pageant of an hour,
"Treaſon deſtroys, and time abſorbs,
"Like circling planets in their orbs:
"Here ſhall a happy people's joys
"Revolve in one juſt equipoiſe,
"While time and virtue ſhall endure,
"Their honour ſafe, their rights ſecure.
"Confirmed to this bleſt race alone,
"England's hereditary throne."
THE END.
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Citation Suggestion for this Object
TextGrid Repository (2020). TEI. 3396 Ode in honour of the nuptials of Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales written and composed by Mr Dibdin. University of Oxford Text Archive. . https://hdl.handle.net/21.T11991/0000-001A-5DCE-5