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THE

POEMS OF SWIFT.

POLITICAL POETRY.

PARODY

ON THE RECORDER OF BLESSINGTON'S ADDRESS TO QUEEN ANNE.

Mr. William Crowe, Recorder of Blessington's Address to her Majesty, as copied from the London Gazette.

To the Queen's most Excellent Majesty,

The humble Address of the Sovereign, Recorder, Burgesses, and Freemen, of the Borough of Blessington.

May it please your Majesty,

THOUGH We stand almost last on the roll of boroughs of this your majesty's kingdom of Ireland, and therefore, in good manners to our elder brothers, press but late among the joyful crowd about your royal throne: yet we beg leave to assure your majesty, that we come behind none in our good affection to your sacred person and government; insomuch, that the late surprising accounts from Germany have filled us with a joy not inferior to any of our fellow-subjects.

We heard with transport that the English warmed the field to that degree, that thirty squadrons, part of the vanquished enemy, were forced to fly to water, not able to stand their fire, and drank their last draught in the Danube, for the waste they had before committed on its injured

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banks, thereby putting an end to their master's long-boasted victories a glorious push indeed, and worthy a general of the Queen of England. And we are not a little pleased, to find several gentlemen in considerable posts of your majesty's army, who drew their first breath in this country, sharing in the good fortune of those who so effectually put in execution the command of your gallant, enterprizing general, whose twin-battles have, with his own title of Marlborough, given immortality to the otherwise perishing names of Schellenberg and Hogstete: actions that speak him born under stars as propitious to England as that he now wears, on both which he has so often reflected lustre, as to have now abundantly repaid the glory they once lent him. Nor can we but congratulate with a joy proportioned to the success of your majesty's fleet, our last campaign at sea, since by it we observe the French obliged to steer their wonted course for security, to their ports; and Gibraltar, the Spaniards' ancient defence, bravely stormed, possessed, and maintained by your majesty's subjects.

May the supplies for reducing the exorbitant power of France be such, as may soon turn your wreaths of laurel into branches of olive: that, after the toils of a just and honourable war, carried on by a confederacy of which your majesty is most truly, as of the faith, styled Defender, we may live to enjoy, under your majesty's auspicious government, the blessings of a profound and lasting peace; a peace beyond the power of him to violate, who, but for his own unreasonable conveniency, destructive always of his neighbours, never yet kept any. And, to complete our happiness, may your majesty again prove to your own family, what you have been so eminently to the true church, a nursing mother. So wish, and so pray, may it please your majesty, your majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, and devoted humble servants.

This Address was presented January 17, 1704-5.

MR. WILLIAM CROWE'S ADDRESS TO HER MAJESTY,

TURNED INTO METRE.

FROM a town that consists of a church and a

steeple,

With three or four houses, and as many people, There went an Address in great form and good order, Composed, as 'tis said, by Will Crowe, their Re

corder.

And thus it began to an excellent tune:

Forgive us, good madam, that we did not as soon

As the rest of the cities and towns of this nation

Wish your majesty joy on this glorious occasion. Not that we're less hearty or loyal than others, But having a great many sisters and brothers, Our borough in riches and years far exceeding, We let them speak first, to show our good breeding. We have heard with much transport and great

satisfaction

Of the victory obtain'd in the late famous action, When the field was so warm'd, that it soon grew too

hot

[pot,

For the French and Bavarians, who had all gone to
But that they thought best in great haste to retire,
And leap into the water for fear of the fire.
But says the good river, Ye fools, plague con-
found ye,

Do ye think to swim through me, and that I'll not drown ye?

Who have ravish'd, and murder'd, and play'd such damn'd pranks,

And trod down the grass on my much-injured banks? Then, swelling with anger and rage to the brink, He gave the poor Monsieur his last draught of drink. So it plainly appears they were very well bang'd, And that some may be drown'd, who deserved to be hang'd.

Great Marlbro' well push'd: 'twas well push'd indeed:

Oh,
how we adore you, because you succeed!
And now I may say it, I hope without blushing,
That you have got twins, by your violent pushing;
Twin battles I mean, that will ne'er be forgotten,
But live and be talk'd of, when we're dead and rotten.
Let other nice lords sculk at home from the wars,
Prank'd and adorn'd with garters and stars,
Which but twinkle like those in a cold frosty night;
While to yours you are adding such lustre and light,
That if you proceed, I'm sure very soon

up

"Twill be brighter and larger than the sun or the

moon:

A blazing star, I foretell, 'twill prove to the Gaul, That portends of his empire the ruin and fall.

Now God bless your majesty, and our Lord Murrough,1

And send him in safety and health to his borough.

1 Murrough (or Morrough) Boyle, the first Viscount Blessington, who died in April, 1718.-Scott.

JACK FRENCHMAN'S LAMENTATION.'

AN EXCELLENT NEW SONG.

To the Tune of "I'll tell thee, Dick," &c.

YE Commons and Peers,

Pray lend me your ears,
I'll sing you a song, (if I can,)

How Lewis le Grand

Was put to a stand,

By the arms of our gracious Queen Anne.

How his army so great,

Had a total defeat,

And close by the river Dender:

Where his grandchildren twain,

For fear of being slain,

Gallop'd off with the Popish Pretender.

To a steeple on high,

The battle to spy,

Up mounted these clever young men ;2

This ballad, upon the battle of Oudenarde, was very popular, and the tune is often referred to as that of "Ye Commons and Peers."---Scott.

2 In the Dutch accounts of the battle of Oudenarde, it is said that the Dukes of Burgundy and Berry, with the Chevalier de St. George, viewed the action at a distance from the top of a steeple, and fled, when the fate of the day turned against the French. Vendosme commanded the French upon that occasion.---Scott.

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