An Elegy on the much lamented Death of His Royal Highneſs, William, Duke of Cumberland, who died suddenly on Thursday, October 31, 1765, at his Houſe on Groſvner-Square, in the 46th Year of his Age.
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Britannia mourn! What diſmal News we hear!
How fatal is the Tale to Britiſh Ear!
Great Cumberland grim Death has ſnacth'd away;
A Debt to Nature which all Princes pay.
O Death! why could thy Dart ſo cruel be,
That it could ſtrike no other Man but He?
A Prince, by England, moſt rever'd, and lov'd;
His Royal Conduct was by All approv'd.
In mournful Strain to him our Voice we'll raise,
And Fame's loud Trumpet ſhall his Actions praiſe.
Even in his Youth, how affable, how kind,
How ſhining were his Sentiments of Mind!
A generous Friend, both to Rich and Poor,
No one went empty-handed from his Door;
Before he arrived unto his Twentieth Year,
His Praiſes were reſounded Far and Near;
Taught Principles of Truth, his growing Fame,
Did ſoon acquire him a moſt glorious Name.
His Royal Father, ſeeing that his Son,
In warlike Feats, by None would be outdone;
He put the General's Staff into his Hand,
And of his Forces gave him chief Command;
A General brave, a Soldier's conſtant Friend,
By them is now lamented in his End.
Theſe humble Lines their Sorrows cannot ſhow,
The Veteran Soliders Eyes with Tears overflow;
The Cry goes round, 'Our Glorious William's dead;
And from his Body his dear Soul is fled;
A braver General never took the field,
For to his Enemies he ne'er would yield.
In Germany's fair plains, there Fame be ſought;
And, like a Lion, with French Forces fought;
And tho' oe'r-power'd, by Numbers, every Day
HE never to the Enemy gave way;
But ſtill with Honour to Great Britan's Cauſe,
He did defend it's Liberty and Laws;
A Scourge to France, and Enemy to Spain,
Unto this dying Breath he did remain;
The Pope and Popery he would cry down,
And fought the Battles of the British Crown;
The Cauſe of Proteſtants he did defend,
His Ear he always to Complaints would lend;
In Germany, when he commanded there,
He always of their Intereſt took great care.
When the Pretender into Scotland came,
How then did glorious William raiſe his Name;
He made their Caledonian Forces fly,
And gain'd a Fame that ſure will never die;
The Rebel Clan were ne'er ſo trimm'd before,
Where Thouſand Scots lay weltering in their Gore;
Culloden's Plains with Highland Blood did flow,
'Twas there our Hero did them overthrow;
And what our Britiſh Generals took in Hand,
T'was full compleated by great Cumberland.
He diſconcerted all the Rebels Schemes
And made them ſoon forget their Golden Dreams;
Made Charley, and his Crew, to fly away,
And won the Vict'ry that important Day;
A Day moſt glorious, in Great Britan's Cauſe,
Which did protect this Country, and her Laws;
His glorious Name in Britain e'er will ſhine,
From earthly Stage he's gone to one divine.
FINIS.
