Ode on the Duke of C[umberlan]d's happy Return to in 1757
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Ode on ye D. of C—d's happy Return
to in 1757
Forbes
On the D--- of C--------d's happy Return to England, in 1757.
Steuart
Ode on the Duke of Cumberland's happy return to England in 1757
Paton
Lines on the Duke of Cumberland
Pages
Forbes
Vol. 8, 1794—1796Paton
Vol. 3, 161—163Credits
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editor
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date
At least, this is the date Forbes puts to his transcription.
original medium
remediation
in Forbes
Transcription
On the D—Duke of C-d’sCumberland’s
happy Return to England, in 1757.
1.
Ye British Bards! why thus asleep?
Awake, as in yethe Days of Yore!
And landed safe on Britain’s Shore!
Wake ynthen! &and your united Voices raise
To sing yethe Hero’s Triumphs &and his Praise!
2.
O! could I touch ytthat timeful Lyre,
Whose most melodious Birth-day Odes
So oft have rank’dranked great William’s Sire
With Heroes &and with Demi-Gods!
Then would I sing, in like harmonious Lays,
The glorious William’s Triumphs &and his praise!
3.
I’d sing how valiantly he fought
Where by his puissant Arm, ‘tisit is thought,
Some thousands of yethe French were Slain!
Where, all at once, he learn’dlearned yethe Art of War!
At yethe ExpenceExpense of one poor harmless Scar!
4.
Next wou’dwould I sing his martial Skill
And Conduct shewnshown at Fontennoy!
Which so much GallickGaelic Blood did spill!
Nor wou’dwould forget yethe Column raised there
By yethe poetic Pen of great Voltaire!
5.
But Oh! what Muse cou’dcould next rehearse
His warlike Deeds beyond the Forth!
What Poet could set forth in Verse
His generous Actions in yethe North!
His Clemency! qchwhich made more Hearts to yield,
Than all he conquer’dconquered on CulloddenCulloden-field!
6.
How good &and great it was to see
The wounded freed of all their pain!
The many Prisoners set free!
The decent Burials of the Slain!
The Army wtwith yrtheir Leader so combin’dcombined
To bless &and save both Man &and Womankind!
7.
‘TisIt is not indeed for ev’ryevery Quill
To celebrate these Deeds so bright!
Ev’nEven Homer, were he living still,
Wou’dWould puzzled be to paint them right;
To tell, how deep recorded they will stand
In Fame’s great Book, &and Caledonia’s Land!
8.
Nor wou’dwould it be an easy Matter
His other Victories to trace!
At Vall how much he got the better,
Tho’Though forc’dforced, in end, to leave yethe Place!
For there, four thousdthousand British only fell,
Whilst fifteen thousdthousand French were sent to Hell!
9.
But still a noble Scene remains,
For, tho’though at Hastenbeck defeated,
It wou’dwould require the loftiest Strains
To tell how he to Stade retreated!
How yrethere he bubbled yethe French Politicians!
And Shew’dShowed himself yethe Flower of State-Physicians!
10.
At his, most glorious Convention;
Yet Richlieu, ev’ryevery time he dines,
Will drink his Health wtwith pure Intention!
And ev’ryevery Pen ytthat truly tells the Story,
Will say, This Treaty crown’dcrowned his former Glory!
11.
Ye British Senators! make haste,
And vote him some more thousdsthousands yearly!
Ye Londoners! prepare a Feast,
And treat him whom yethe love so dearly!
Ye Britons all! exert your utmost Spirit!
And give him yethe Reward his glorious Actions
merit!
17571 Copy
Citation
Forbes, Robert. “On the D--- of C--------d's happy Return to England, in 1757.” The Lyon in Mourning,
vol. 8,
Adv.MS.32.6.23, fol. 101v–102v. The Lyon in Mourning Project,
edited by Leith Davis, https://lyoninmourning.dhil.lib.sfu.ca/
Appendix
Line drawing