ORGIVE, thou lovely Ifis, lovelier feen
In Phoebus' Eye, than erft the fabled ftream
Of filver Caftaly, and fam'd as that
Which flow'd Minerva's City fast befide,
Ilyffus, nurfe of Science: O forgive,
Kind Parent, if on deeds of loudest fame
1 mufing, now thy gentle Naïads daunt
With battle's din; and teach thy peaceful Shore
To echo founds full warlike: for the Mufe,
Fair handmaid, ever there delights to foar
Where glory calls, undaunted; fhe nor dreads
The valour-breathing Trump, nor the grim front
Of wasteful War: And 'mid the thickest fight
Directs her way, fecure, o'er CRESSY'S plain,
With flaughter delug'd; ftudious to rehearse,
In ftrains ill-fuiting fuch heroic Deeds,
Thy Fame, O Britain! and with laurel Wreaths
(The Meed of mighty conquerors) adorn
Brave EDWARD's youthful brow. An argument
Nor low, nor mean; but fuch as well might fit
Virgilian numbers, or the Bard who fung
Triumphant Greece. The golden-footed Morn
Stept from the chambers of the Eaft, and faw
Both armies in array: Here PHILIP rear'd
His num'rous banners; there, a chofen few,
Encampt the British ftrength: with anxious care
Went EDWARD early forth; and at his fide,
(In youthful grace how amiable !) led
His darling fon, who in Effulgence mild
Shone like the morning ftar. The prudent chief,
With winning Courtefy, from rank to rank
Travers'd:" Go forth, with valour arm'd, he cry'd,
"Such as e'er now thefe Eyes well pleas'd beheld
"Wond'ring, what time with me ye dar'd oppofe,
"Affailing troops, while red with hostile blood,
"Flow'd frighted SEYNE along, and confcious bore
"The bloody tidings to LUTETIA'S Walls.
"Go forth, my gallant Countrymen, and take
"This faithful token of your EDWARD's love,
"A Father's rifing Hope: with glorious deeds,
"O may he emulate the deathless praise
"His Sires, heroic Souls! have gain'd; nor doubt,
"Nothing degenerate, to pursue the paths,
"Where fair Renown, and Thou, my Country, call;
"That men henceforth with filent joy may fee,
"How far the Son excels his Father's fame.
"O THOU, (and here in fuppliant mood he bow'd
"Full low) who weigheft in thy golden fcales
"The fate of Realms, by whofe almighty nod,
"A Nation's Glory rifes, or declines,
"O now, if EDWARD's pray'rs have pow'r to move,
"If BRITAIN's welfare is thy care, O Heaven,
"Look down, not inaufpicious." At his words
Ev'n frozen Cowardice grew warm, and glow'd
With valour not its own to meet in war,
All in dread expectation burnt, all breath'd
Deliberate Courage, and to Heaven prefer'd
A filent Pray'r nor long e'er they beheld
The pride of FRANCE, with diftant Nations leagu❜d,
Their gaudy War far glitt'ring, onward move
In trim array. The Sun with beams direct,
Play'd on their burnish'd arms; beneath their feet,
Earth fhook; nor lefs than with victorious might,
To crush at once BRITANNIA, and impose
Their galling yoke on EDWARD's royal neck,
Imagin'd They. But Heav'n to rapid winds
Scatter'd their airy hopes: tho' martial Trumps
'Gan blow; bright falchions, waving to the Sun,
Gleam'd horrible; and, wing'd with certain death,
Thick fhow'rs of Arrows whiftled thro' the Air,
Dark'ning the face of Day: in closer Fight
Anon they mix, and foe encounter foe
Furious; fierce was the conflict, dire the found
Of clashing Arms, the while with raven-wings
HORROR fat brooding o'er the mingled War.
Mean time the ROYAL PRUDENCE (in defign
If Britain's ftrength might chance in hafty flight,
O'erpower'd, retire, to rush with new Supplies,
And turn the die of battle) from the fray,
Lodg'd on a neighbour Hill apart, and saw,
With anxious joy he saw, where high in Air
Nodded young EDWARD'S gallant Plume: fuch feems
To paffing Sailors on Norwegian hill,
Some lofty pine, that rears its leafy top,
Tow'ring, and wavers gayly to the wind.
Fierce burns the combat, and impartial Death Wide rages: here in ftreams of bloodshed roll'd Horfeman and Steed; there fome, in life's laft gafp Hard ftruggling, with thick fobs, implore, unheard, Some abfent Friend: now falls a beauteous youth, Like a fair flow'r nipt in its earliest bloom, Drooping, and cheats a poor fond parent's hopes. Next one, while haply now his wife among The darling pledges of connubial love (A Wife, alas! no more!) in kind concern, Still Heav'n with vows unceafing loads, ftill chides The ling'ring Hours, that give not to return Her Soul's best half: how fond her hopes! her pray'r How impotent! for he, by EDWARD flain, Now bleeds on CRESSY's field a breathlefs corfe.
As when, embowel'd with fulphureous storm, Yawns wide VESUVIO, and convulfive bursts Its nitrous Jaws, the fteepy flope amain,
A burning cataract, with hideous roar,
Pours down, and smoaks along the vale below
Nor less bold EDWARD, 'mid the thickest fight,
Rush'd here and there impetuous: Him DISMAY
Follow'd, and ROUT, and SLAUGHTER, with dire
HAVOCK
Gorging her blood-swol'n maw. Ah! gallant youth,
Ah! check thy boundless heat, nor tempt thy fate,
Too prodigal of Life! What madness drives?
Where rusheft thou? See'ft not thofe hoftile ranks,
Full bent on fatal purpose, hem thee round?
See'ft not yon ruffian Arm, with deathful Aim,
Now meditates its Stroke, that in mid Air
Hangs e'er it lights? But lo! with winged aid,
The brave NORTHAMPTON Comes, and turns afide,
In lucky hour, the ling'ring blow, e'er yet
It robb'd a Nation of its richeft gem.
At length, fo Heav'n (BRITANNIA's watchful Guard) Ordain'd, the foe retreats. This shameful flight, Brook'd not the val'rous PHILIP, and aloud, "What! shall these thin-rank'd Islanders defeat "The might of Nations, in one army leagu'd "Refiftless? Shall confed'rate Europe fly
"The beardless vifage of a British boy?
"Shame on your daftard Souls!" Nor more he spoke,
Looking indignant haughtiness, and rufh'd
Impatient on. In cowardly delay
Nought linger'd they; but with fresh ardor fir'd,
And Shame's acuter sense, renew'd the fight,
Unfortunately brave: for ftill untir'd,
ENGLAND and EDWARD's arm prevail'd; and dealt
Havock abroad; nor refted, till the night
Shelter'd the vanquish'd in her murky fhade.
Who can relate the Slaughter of that day
Dry-ey'd not only men of low degree,
Then bit the plain, but Senators and Chiefs,
Choice flow'r of Europe, in the duft defil'd
Their glitt❜ring helms. Nor THEE ought then avail'd,
Thou scepter'd warrior (that ere now was wont
To chase the briftly boar, where ALBIS flows
Irriguous thro' BOHEMIA's woody Coafts)
The hoary Reverence of declining life.
Yet O! thou brave old Man (if ought the dead
Such gifts regard) accept the genuine tear
Of hoftile woe; and let a foreign Muse,
Still mindful of the brave, who nobly dare
To purchase Honour, at th' expence of Life,
Scatter green laurels on thy facred Tomb.
Now tow'rds their Camp the British squadrons move Victorious, while to many a jocund measure,
Play'd the fhrill flageolet, and loud tone
Of echoing clarion, and the fofter breath
Of mellow flute, with every chearing found,
In dulcit fymphony. Above the rest,
In graceful dignity, mov'd EDWARD on
Sublime; nor lefs acclaim'd than He, who crufh'd,
In early youth, the Carthaginian Pride,
SCIPIO, the thunderbolt of War. His Name
All hail'd, his Godlike image all admir'd,
And saw how paffing lovely Virtue is
Then, when the fhines in Beauty's garb array'd.
O fay! (for how can mimic fancy paint
What the ne'er felt) Whoe'er ye be, that know
How vaft a bleffing is a Son adorn'd
With each fair talent, each endearing gift,
To make him lovely in the Eyes of Men;
O fay, ye favour'd few, what rapturous joy,
(For Ye have felt) then thrill'd thro' EDWARD's veins,
Then when he flew to clasp in fond Embrace
His Soul's beft darling! on the glorious Youth
His wreaths victorious crown'd, he fed his eye
Unfatisfy'd, and all the Father wept in exftacy.
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