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Poetical Essays for JANUARY, 1731. No. I.
ODE for New-Years-Day by C. Cibber, Esq;
Recitativo.Once more the ever circling SunThro' the cœlestial signs has run,Again old Time inverts his glass,And bids the annual Season pass:5The youthful Spring shall call for birth,And glad with op'ning flow'rs the Earth:Fair Summer lead with Sheaves the Field,And golden Fruit shall Autumn yield,Each to the Winter’s want their store shall bring,10'Till warmer genial Suns recall the Spring.
Air.Ye grateful Britons bless the Year, That kindly yields increase,While plenty that might feed a War, Enjoys the guard of peace,15Your plenty to the Skies you owe, Peace is your Monarch’s care;Thus bounteous Jove and George below Divided empire share.
Recitativo.Britannia pleas’d, looks round her realms to see20Your various causes of Felicity!(To glorious War, a glorious peace succeeds;For most we triumph when the Farmer feeds)Then truly are we great when truth suppliesOur Blood, our Treasures drain’d by victories.Turn happy Briton, to the throne your Eyes, 26 And in the royal offspring see,How amply bounteous providence supplies The source of your felicity.
Air.Behold in ev'ry Face imperial Graces shineAll native to the Race of George and Caroline:31In each young Hero we admireThe blooming virtue of his sire;In each maturing fair we find,Maternal charms of softer kind.
Recitativo.35In vain thro' ages past has Phœbus roll'd,E're such a sight blest Albion could beholdThrice happy Mortals, if your state you knew,Where can the Globe so blest a nation shew?All that of you indulgent Heav'n requires,40Is loyal Hearts, to reach your own Desires.Let Faction then her self born views lay down,And Hearts united, thus address the Throne.
Air. Hail! Royal Cesar, hail! Like this may ev'ry annual Sun45 Add brighter Glories to thy Crown, 'Till Suns themselves shall fail.
Recitativo.May Heav'n thy peaceful Reign prolong,Nor let to thy great Empires wrong,Foreign or native Foes prevail. Hail, &c.
See p. 10, 11.
ODE humbly inscribed to the Poet Laureat, taken from Lon. Evening Post Jan. 7. as there said by Step. Duck, Esq.
Semel in anno ridet Apollo.
Recitativo.Accept, O Cibber, the adven'’rous lay,Which, to your honour, dares both sing and say:To you great Prince of Comedy and Song,The Tributes o' inferior Pens belong;You, who by royal favour wear the Bays,And grateful eternize our Monarch’s Praise.
Air. Let us sing to the King, All about the circling Year; Sing a floreat to the laureat, Ev'ry Season brings good cheer, Grateful Britons, thank the bard, Who by Peace does plenty guard, Such as hungry War does need, War, that does on plenty feed.
Recitativo.Phœbus with joy looks Britain round to see,The happy state of his lov’d Poetry,To Eusdes, Cibber gloriously succeeds;Wit triumphs most, when bard like farmer feeds.Then truly are we great, when he can shewThe way his own out-doings to out-do.Cast, envious Poets, on his Verse your Eyes, Behold the offspring of his brain.How his rich Genius constantly supplies The source of his poetick vein!
Air.Thro'out the whole what matchless Graces shine;Paraphonalia sparkles in each Line; Native to Cibber, we admire The style and fancy, wit and fire, In each maturing Word we find Something soft for thought design’d.
Recitativo.Complain not Sol, of fruitless ages past,Think your self blest in such a Son at last!Thrice happy Poets, if you knew your state;Britain alone can boast a Laureat.For if, like him, to Grandeur you aspire,By his Example reach your own desire.Let criticks then their self born views lay down;And Bards in chorus thus sing round the town.
Air. Hail! Matchless Colley, hail!Like this may ev'ry New Year’s DayAdd fresher Honour to the Bay, 'Till Bay itself shall fail.
Recitativo.May Heaven preserve thy Genius clear,For Christmas comes but once a Year. Give the Poet then some Ale. Ale, &c.
