The Shield of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

 The Shield of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 

 A Poem By PW Dwyer 4to Pp 24 2s 6d Ginger 1803 

ARISE my Muse and touch the tuneful Lyre, 

With strains entrancing ev'ry sense inspire, 

My soul, enrapture, as expands the Theme, 

To glow with the subject the Verse should seem. 

Britannia sporting on the waving Main, 

Along the surface floats her Robe's grand Train, 

The Graces wait upon her person fine, 

And sea Nymphs follow in a state divine.

As from the skies great Neptune views her charms, 

Quick beats his Heart, and with fond wishes warms, 

Ye Gods, says He, observe that noble Fair, 

With her, in Beauty, Venus can't compare. 

To calm the Billows of the raging Deep,

Through Ether down my Car must fleetly sweep, 

The Tempests rude, on her shall cease to blow, 

To their dark Dens, the howling Tribe must go.

His Coursers prancing, eagar for the Way

Way Snort for the Reins, grow restive at delay, 

When the known signal from the Lash they hear, 

Heav'ns high Barrier with a bound they clear, 

Vast trackless Regions, soon, they leave behind, 

Then on Ocean breathe ambrosial Wind.  

To the roaring seas, their sovereign presents 

The Trident dreadful to their foaming Breasts,

With awe profound the roaring Waves sink low, 

Their passions hush and on they smoothly flow.

Britannia now with pure delight he views, 

Responsive Rays from her bright orbs diffuse 

Around his Heart, the pleasing pangs of Love, 

That long detain'd him from the realms above.

Mars seeing Neptune on the briny plains, 

A willing Captive in Britannia's chains, 

High Jove invokes to grant the pair divine, 

An offspring worthy o'er the World to shine.

The King of Gods robed with radiant Beams, 

Sits on the Throne, where Day eternal gleams, 

And thus decrees, from them a Son shall spring, 

Whose mighty Deeds, the Universe will sing.     

His course to Ocean Hymen gladly bends, 

And from the Skies with rapid flight descends, 

Th exalted Lovers ardent for the Bands, 

He gently binds with his auspicious Hands. 

The charming Bride, in Bloom, excels the rose, 

Two Globes entrancing her sweet Bosom shows, 

His Head between them Neptune softly press'd, 

In Bliss celestial both then sunk to rest.

From this Union as in Heaven ordain'd, 

The Hero sprang, whom Gods to War have train'd, 

On him in Battle, Mars and Neptune smile, 

And chear their Darling Nelson of the Nile.*

(*-The Right Honourable Viscount Nelson Duke of Bronte & c & c )

When Gaul's grand Fleet away for Egypt bore, 

To Land her Troops upon its northern Shore,

Nelson pursues it, with deep, swelling sails, 

And near that Coast, the hostile squadron hails. 

 

From either Ships, the dreadful Cannons roar, 

On their broad Decks, run streams of human Gore, 

Rising Courage, the Valiant Men inspires, 

His Brother slain, each Heart for Vengeance fires. 

Bacchus seeing the dread confusion rise. 

Through the boundless Air. fast as lightning flies. 

From his Quiver. an Arrow flaming drew. 

The bearded Javelin at brave Nelson threw. 

A God protects him as it towards him fled,

He only felt it slightly touch his Head. 

For Mars himself near the Conqueror stands, 

The coming Dart with force superior hands.  

'Gainst L'orient* the Weapon thund'ring hurls, 

A Vast Volcano to the Heav'ns she curls: 

This awful scene impos'd some moments pause, 

Kind Nature shudder'd at the mournful cause.

(*-The French Admiral's Ship blown up at the ever memorable Battle of the Nile)  

High Jove with pity Views the horrid sight, 

And still the Heroes raging for the fight, 

A Council of the Gods directly calls, 

In haste they crow'd along the starry Halls, 

Before him then, in silence graves appear, 

Attentive all his sov'reign Will to hear. 

The Thunderer speaks, ye powers divine, 

Shall we the mortal race to War resign, 

Near Afric's Coast in a Contention dire,

The Gauls and Britons shew their burning Ire,

Beneath their Vessels, flows a scarlet flood, 

Richly colour'd with their yet reeking Blood: 

Among the Sons of Earth such strife now reigns, 

As soon would desolate her wide Domains.  

Must Gauls, says Bacchus, who rear the Dear Vine, 

And pour on our Altars the gen'rous Wine, 

To Britons the knee with submission bend, 

Can not our power, these Heroes defend, 

From them Neptune's Son shall not bear the sway, 

Here in a passion was strutting away:

When Neptune replied, ever on the Main, 

Shall our dearest Nelson, new honors gain, 

Vict'ry is wreathing the Caronet green, 

That on his head waving soon will be seen.

Loud grew the debate when Apollo arose, 

Advised the immortals themselves to compose,  

Let not human Quarrels this high sphere affect, 

These in their bud,could by you have been check'd. 

Meantime on Sea, the Leaders nobly Vye, 

Through Air in Showers Bullets madly fly, 

The british Thunder shakes the mighty deep, 

And French in Thousands sends to endless sleep. 

The Sword o'er Europe those could surely wield, 

Had the bold Britons ne'er forced them to yield, 

To these with their Courage still on the flow, 

The Heroic Gauls their Colours strike low, 

Deep shaded with Laurel brave Nelson appears, 

Fame with his Valour, fair Albion chears. 

The Danes he has taught his Name to respect,

When Britain's just Laws, they wish'd to reject, 

Soon he convinced them, 'twas vain to oppose, 

The Courage divine that in his Breast glows. 

To Copenhagen, he gave a salute, 

That they to the Gods, alone, could impute, 

Their Ships and their Forts in Confusion blaze, 

While on Neptune's Son, with wonder they gaze. 

St Vincent,* a Name to us ever dear, 

The Spaniards, has made his prowess to fear, 

+His Cannon tremendous humbled their pride, 

And their mangled Bodies, strew d on the Tide.

This scene round their Hearts diffus'd a deep gloom, 

With terror the View the fast gorging Tomb, 

They strike to bold Jervis++ who their fleet files, 

Under his Banner's to visit our Isles.  

(*- The Right Honourable Earl St Vincent first Lord of the Admiralty & c 

+-In the famous Battle Fought of Cape St. Vincent where our Noble Admiral with fifteen Sail of the Line either took or destroyed 22 of the Spanish Line

++-1 The Right Honourable the Earl of St Vincent who was then Sir John Jervis ) 

Brave Duncan & the Hero of Camperdown, 

Where he has gained never fading renown, 

To Holland that Battle gave such a blow. 

As long she must feel with the deepest woe.

Nobly De Winter the Contest maintains, 

And our dreadful fire with spirit sustains, 

Until he perceives his Decks clear'd away, 

Then to the Britons, he gives up the Day.  

O'er the wide Ocean these Heroes will ride, 

Justice their Motto, true honour their Guide, 

The Ensigns of Britain unconquer'd they'll wave ,

Where e'er the salt Billows shores hostile lave. 

Now Father Neptune most graciously Eye 

Thy pendants Britannia on the Seas fly, 

Nereids dance round them, in order so rare, 

Gaul shrugs her shoulders, recoils from the glare.

(&-The Right Honourable Viscount Duncan & c The Battle of Camperdown

 c -The Battle of Camperdown ) 

The Campaign in Egypt, all Nations know, 

Thy Gen'rals has shewn can vanguish our Foe, 

There Abercromby* for his Country bled, 

But not until Victry laureled his Head: 

The Vet'rans of France lay dead on the plain, 

And Rivers of Gore ran straight to the Main, 

His spirit though gone, his Memory will stay, 

Long as the Sun will illumine the Day. 

The Triumphant Army, then is led on, 

To bloody Battles, by brave Hutchinson,+

Their conquering Arms, no strength could oppose, 

As danger increased their courage arose.  

(*- Sir Ralph Abercromby the brave and experienced Commander who Fought in the Battle of Alexandria after receiving a mortal Wound, until through loss of Blood he was falling from his Horse.

+-The Right Honourable Lord Hutchinson, who Valiantly supported the Honor of his Country, after the example shewn him by the immortal Abercromby,)