Batrachomuomachia: or, the Battle of the Frogs and Mice/To the Lady —

by Henry Price

To

The LADY ———

From fawning Crouds, and Noise and Strife,
To rural Ease, and private Life,
You, Madam, with the Spring remove;
And who can blame what you approve?
Gay as the Season of the Year
Does the delightful ^[1]Place appear;
And Art and Nature jointly meet
To make it, as it is, compleat.
Here drawn at length by Kneller's Hands
The Majesty of Britain stands.
In that Apartment, drest for War,
Terribly shines the fierce Bavar.
Aloft, by Thornhill's wondrous Skill,
On fabled Ida's fruitful Hill,
The Phrygian Shepherd fits to keep
His dear Oenone's harmless Sheep.
Imperial Juno from above,
And chaste Minerva, born of Jove,
With wanton Beauty's softer Queen
Descend and tread the flow'ry Green.
Each wou'd the glitt'ring Apple claim;
And unrestrain'd by Fear or Shame
Swift to the Youth they speed their Way,
And ev'ry hidden Charm display.
He hears the Promises they make;
But soon for Love and Hellen's Sake
The glden Prize to Venus gives,
And in his Father's Palace lives.
Not long———to Greece the Hero flies,
And meets the Fair with lustful Eyes:
She listens to the blooming Boy,
And with him seeks his boasted Troy.
Here breathing Statues, graceful, stand
And praise the Workman's forming Hand:
There taller Trees, triumphant, rise
In beauteous Order to the Skies,
And spread, with annual Verdure crown'd,
Their venerable Shades around.
Hither the ^[2]Chief (whose deathless Name
Shall live in Verse, and grow in Fame)
From publick View in Peace retir'd,
Nor popular Applause desir'd.
Taught by his righteous Sword to yield,
The daring Spaniard left the Field;
And Gallic Lewis shook with Fear,
Whene'er his conqu'ring Troops drew near.
But now no more with hostile Blood
He drowns the Plain, or swells the Flood;
Deep in the Dust the Warrior lies;
For ever lost to mortal Eyes!

Watch then the Tomb, and o'er it weep,
In which his awful Ashes sleep;
And teach your Children to admire,
And emulate their martial Fire.

1. Charborough, in Dorset-shire.
2. The late General Earle.