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'The first is to desire,

'If you incline,

́ Five hundred lashes for two friends of mine,

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And just as many for a Fry'r;

'The next a litter, and two mules,

The heavy hours of absence to amuse,

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Besides a Muleteer, that I shall chuse,
At my disposal, subject to my rules.'

So said, the culprit knaves appear,
Upon each rascal's pamper'd hide
The stripes are in due form applied,
Which done, she chose,

You may suppose,

Her lover for her Muleteer.

Then with a voice sweet as an angel's song,
While Tancred with attentive ear

In silent rapture stoop'd to hear,
The beauteous Maid the silence broke,

Conviction follow'd as she spoke,

And truth, and soft persuasion, dwelt on her enchanting tongue.

'With grief those scenes unwilling I disclose, 'Whence every error, each misfortune, rose; 'When pleasures, of the lowest, meanest kind, 'Unnerv'd your feeble frame, and checked the progress your mind.

'In vain your people's curses, or their tears,

'Your heart assail'd,

'Two flattering knaves had charm'd your ears, 'And Raymond vainly counsel'd, or as vainly rail'd;

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'He was your father's friend, wise, honest, brave,

'Him you displac'd,

And listening to the malice of a slave,

The Guardian of your Crown was banish'd, and disgrac❜d.

'Me too you lov❜d, and I approv'd the flame
'In hopes my counsels might have weight,
prompt you to redress the state,
' And save from infamy your sinking name.

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'But soon your Confessor, the crafty Priest,
'Rage, hate, and malice, rankling in his breast,
With timorous scruples fill'd your wavering mind;
'In vain each finer feeling strove

To guard your heart, and court it to be kind, 'While haggard superstition triumph'd over love.

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But justice still pursues betimes,

6 E'en now, for she directs the hour,

The Priest, and the vile partners of his pow'r,

'Feel vengeance overtake their crimes.

'The Turks' unnotic'd march, last night's surprize,

"The foe unthought-of thundering at the gate,

6

At length have clear'd your eyes,

Their treacherous negligence is found, is felt too late.

'No more of this unpleasing strain—

6

If thinking, acting like a man,
'Reform'd by slavery's painful chain,

Virtue within your breast resume her reign,

Inspire your thoughts and guide your future plan,

My heart will still be your's: e'en Raymond too 'Still loves his Prince, to him repair,

'Confess your faults, his aid demand,

The gallant veteran waits but your command

6

To spread his conquering banners to the air,

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To sacrifice his life with you,

'Or rescue and relieve his native land.

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'Abdalla claims my promise in three days.
'Think then on me,

'Danger and death attend delays,

Be virtuous, be daring, and be free.'

The Lady's sermon was a little long,
Not but she talk'd both well and wittily,
And then she look'd so prettily,
Her eyes excus'd the freedoms of her tongue.

For when a favourite mistress speaks,

We always think her in the right,
E'en though she talks for days or weeks,
Or in the middle of the night.

To say the truth, her speech was rather rough,
But as she promis'd him her heart,
Upon the whole he took it in good part,
And as he lov'd her, lik'd it well enough.

So thank'd her for the good advice,
And took his leave; and ere he went,
By way of compliment,

Call'd her his guardian angel, his sweet tutor, And kiss'd her fair hand, once, or twice, And swore to be a good boy for the future.

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In short, it was so settled; the third night,
By good luck too 'twas dark as hell,
Tancred with Raymond and a chosen band
Surprise the guards, who in their fright
Make but a shabby stand,

And enter at the gates pell-mell.

Mean time Abdalla, snug in bed,

Finding Almida staid away so long,

Suspecting there was something wrong,

Look'd out; and found his troops were kill'd or gone, Himself a prisoner, and alone,

And Tancred reigning in his stead.

And now the sore-back'd scoundrels in a trice
Came kindly with their counsels, and advice,
Proposing as a pious work
Just to impale

Or stick a hedge-stake through the tail
Of the poor Turk.

Indignant fury flash'd from Tancred's eye-
'Ye vile corruptors of my youth,

'Ye foes to honour, honesty, and truth,

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Hence from my sight, nor offer a reply:

'If the third day

Within the limits of this state

'Disclose your stay,

'Not e'en Almida's self shall save you from your

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fate.

Go, brave Abdalla, to your native shore;— "From sloth, from vice, from infamy, 'Your kind instructions and assistance

'Have haply set me free;

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'Thanks for your visit, pray return no more,
'Let us be always friends, but at a distance.

'And now, my better angel, whose kind care
"The mists of error from my sight dispell'd,
Burst the vile fetters that my reason held,

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Restor❜d fair wisdom's gentle sway,

Guided my steps to her, and pointed out the way;
'Now, while my people's eager voice,
'And Raymond too confirms my choice,
"O come, my heavenly fair!
'Ascend, adorn, and bless my throne;

'Still with that cheering influence preside,
My life, my future conduct, guide,

Inspire my raptur'd heart, and make it virtuous as your own."

ANONYMOUS

Poetical Trifles, 1778

341

The British Grenadiers

OME talk of Alexander, and some of Hercules,

SOME

Of Conon and Lysander, and some Miltiades;

But of all the World's brave Heroes, there's none that can

compare,

With a tow, row, row, row, row, to the British Grenadiers. Chorus. But of all the World's brave Heroes, &c.

None of those ancient Heroes e'er saw a cannon ball,
Or knew the force of Powder to slay their foes with all;
But our brave Boys do know it, and banish all their fears,
With a tow, row, row, row, row, the British Grenadiers.
Chorus. But our brave Boys, &c.

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