And now with her in that fequefter'd plain 825 The knight a while conftraining to abide, Thofe fculptur'd chiefs did fhew, and their great lives explain. 828 OF THE ORDER OF THE GARTER +. A DRAMATICK POEM. "Lectos ex omnibus Oris "Evehis; et meritum, non quæ cunabula quæris, "Et qualis, none unde fatus: fub tefte benigno Diamatis Perfonae. Edward III. King of England,&c. Philippa, Queen of England, &c. Spirits. Edvard, Prince of Wales. Jahn, King of France, c. CLAUD, Genius ofEngland. Bards. Druids. Heralds, Attendants, &'c. SCENE, Windfor Park, with a Profpect of the Cafle. Flourifb of aerial Mufick at a distance, after which the following Verfes are fung in the air by Spirits, while the Genius of England defcends. FIRST SPIRIT. HITHER, all ye heav'nly Pow'rs! + The Order of the Garter was inftituted on St. George's day the 23d of April 1350. King John came into England in 1357. I have taken the advantage of the licence ufually allowed to poets of departing a little from chronology, and have poftponed for a few years the Inftitution of this Order for the fake of rendering that folemnity more auguft by introdu From the fields for ever gay, From th' Elyfiums of the fky, CHORUS OF SPIRITS. Fly, and thro' the limpid air Which to his terreftrial throne 2 SPIRIT. Hither, all ye heav'nly Pow'rs! From your empyreal bow'rs, Chicfly ye whofe brows divine Crown'd with ftarry circlets shine, 5 10 15 20 cing King John of France, who though a prifoner was treated both by Edward and his fon the Prince of Wales with all the regard due to the quality and virtue of fo great a prince. To alleviate his captivity Edward entertained him and the other French prifoners with diverfions of various kinds, among which a tournament he held at Windfor on the 23d of April, to fo lemnize the feaft of St. George, the patron of The Order of the Garter, held the chief place, and was, as Rapin tell us, the moft sumptuous and magnificent that had ever been feen in England. The Duke of Brabant, with feveral other fovereign princes, and an infinite number of knights of all nations, were prefent, and fplendidly entertained. Who in various labours try'd, Once Britannia's ftrength and pride, Now in everlasting reft Share the glories of the bleft! Peers and Nobles of the sky! Spirits immortal! hither fly. CHORUS OF SPIRITS. Fly, and thro' the limpid air 25 Which to his terreftrial throne Wafts Britannia's Genius down. 30 3 SPIRIT. Hither too, ye Tuneful throng! Maflers of enchanting song, Sacred Bards! whose rapt'rous strains Sooth the toiling hero's pains, Sooth the patriot's gen'rous cares, 35 Sweetly thro' their ravish'd ears 40 45 CHORUS OF SPIRITS. Fly, and charm the limpid air While the foftly-fliding car To his fea-encircled throne Wafts Britannia's Genius down. 30 Chorus of Bards defcends, dreffed in long flowing sky-coloured robes fpangled with flars, with garlands of oaken boughs upon their heads, and golden harps in their hands, made like the Welch or old British harp. Before they appear they fing the chorus, and afterwards as they descend the following fongs, at the laf fianza of which the chariot of the Genius appears, and defcends gradually all the while that and the grand chorus is finging. I BARD. Ye fouthern Gales! that ever fly 55 In frolick April's vernal train, Who as ye fkim along the fky Dip your light pinions in the main, Then shake them fraught with genial show'rs 60 |