Qass. 
 Book. 
 
 n f 
 
POEM 
 
 It 
 
 Prefented 
 
 To his Excellency 
 
 WILLIAM BURNET Efq; 
 
 On His Arrival at Soston. 
 
 Fallitur, egregio qitifquis fitb Pnncepe credit 
 Servitium : imnquam libcrtas gratioj' cxtat 
 Quam /lib Rege pio Claud. 
 
Fifty copies reprinted from the edition of 1728. 
 
 The only copy of this poem in America, so far as the writer 
 has been able to ascertain, is in the Bo>ton Public Library, 
 where it was acquired a few years ago. The British Museum 
 also has a copy. The author is unknown. It is quite infer- 
 ior to the verses of Mather Byles on the same occasion, 
 and its publication lacks the Governor's sanction, which was 
 given to the former. Both poems are printed in similar type, 
 and probably were from the same press. The rarity of this 
 pulilication has induced the present reprint, which is ap- 
 proximately in fac simile of the original. 
 
 William Nelson. 
 
 Paterson, N. J., July i, 1897. 
 
 -? 
 
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(0 
 
 To His Excellencv 
 
 Governour Bit 7^ net. 
 
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 A'' 
 
 „^ OilNCE now each Breast with pleasing Transport 
 !I> k-/ And loud Applauses rise in spreading Peals, (swells, 
 J, As the great Heir of rev'rend Saru/u's Light, 
 j; With opep.ing Smiles, salutes our longing Sight; 
 ^ Fain would my Muse, amidst this Blaze of Joy, 
 In ecchoing Airs her gladsome Lyre employ, 
 With tuneful Accents breath her lowly Lays, 
 And sound her rising Hopes, in dutious Praise. 
 
 AS e're the Sun unfolds his glaring Beams, 
 
 He dawns in eastern Skies with I'osey Gleams, 
 
 While the glad Pilgrim spies the Infant Light, 
 
 Glow in his Eye, and gain upon his Sight, 
 
 'Till all inrich'd with Rays, and glitt'ring Gold, 
 
 The waking World his blazing Face behold ; 
 
 So from a distant Seat, the Voice of Fame, 
 
 Thro' all our Land, did BURNET's Pow'r proclaim : 
 
 In silver Sounds his Praises swell the Air, 
 
 Spread through the Towns, and sooth each listning Ear ; 
 
 'Till restless Thousands wish'd the Light would rise, 
 
 To flush new Glories round our brightning skies. 
 
 AND 
 
(2) 
 
 AND now, O joyful News ! the Hour awakes, 
 
 And paints a cheerful Crimson in our Cheeks, 
 
 As Sol draws near to his Meridian Throne, 
 
 Does BURNET's bright Procession tow'rds the Town : 
 
 Then with what Swarms, the spangled Streets are strow'd? 
 
 What clustring Throngs the loftier Stations crowd? 
 
 Here armed Bands with Martial Brightness glow. 
 
 There Female Eyes, like trembling Saphires, show. 
 
 Here, on the Tops of sumptuous Domes, some wait, 
 
 To see their rising Ruler ride in State. 
 
 And fain our Eyes would seize the distant Wheels, 
 
 When the glad Signal wraps the smoaking* Hills: 
 
 While dusty Volumes speak th' approaching Crowd, 
 
 Eager we trace the Triumph down the Road, 
 
 'Till the gay Town receives the splendid Train, 
 
 And BURNET's Presence, glitt'ring, crowns the Scene. 
 
 Not the fair Galaxie, with mingling Lights 
 
 VVhich gild the gleamy Skies in cloudless Nights, 
 
 Not annual Shows, nor all our Hist'ry's say, 
 
 Can match the Pomp and Splendor of this Day. 
 
 WHILE His Commission shows our Sovereign's Will, 
 
 (The Stamp of Heav'n engrav'd on GEORGE'S Seal) 
 
 With Joy our Cannon burst in bellowing Sound, 
 
 To spread the pleasing News the Country round ; 
 
 Trumpets, 
 
 *nie Dust occasioned by Ills Excellency's Attendants was seen to rise at t?ie Dis- 
 ta)ice of Six or Seven Miles from the Town. 
 
(3) 
 
 Trumpets, and Shouts, with Drums united Roul, 
 To vig'rous Pleasures lift the Havish'd Soul : 
 With fierce Delight our Hearts exulting beat, 
 When, 'midst the Senate, B C/RJVET takes His Seat. 
 
 ALL hail, Illustrious Chief! in whom combine, 
 
 A lofty Genius, and Majestick Mcin : 
 
 Whose manly Sweetness, mixt with courtly Grace, 
 
 Invites to rev'rend Love and free Access. 
 
 What the tall Cedar shows to ditf'rent Woods 
 
 Is BUR net's comely Stature 'mongstthe Gods. 
 
 But who can tell the Compass of his Soul, 
 
 Where rip'ning Schemes, and Worlds of Science roll? 
 
 How, like Leviathan in yielding Seas, 
 
 His Mind thro' Truths meand'rous Mazes plays? 
 
 Myst'rys, for Ages wrapt in sacred Shade, 
 
 With op'ning Gleams, his lab'ring Pen display'd. 
 
 What shining Secrets still his Tlioughts conceal, 
 
 Shall dawning Years, and future Muses tell. 
 
 His Rays shall stream thro' ev'ry Hemisphere, 
 
 'Till distant Sages long to see our Star : 
 
 'Till this blest Land, tho' dark in barb'rous Times, 
 
 Shall vie, for Light and Fame, with Easter Climes. 
 
 Fair Province ! Thou, would BURNET but inspire, 
 To ardent Praise, should raise my kindling Fire. 
 Thy growing Fame, thro' wondring Countrys sent. 
 Speaks Thee the Flow'r of all the Continent. 
 
 Nature 
 
(4) 
 
 Nature to Thee, her lavish Stores divides ; 
 
 Here Justice rules, and prosp'rous Peace resides. 
 
 Our Charter here, inforc'd with guardian Laws, 
 
 Around our Rights, its kind Protection draws. 
 
 Fair Liberty, that beauteous Exile, here 
 
 Dares in the tempting Charms of Wealth appear. 
 
 Religion, here, her heavenly Form displays, 
 
 And shines serenely bright, with native Rays. 
 
 Here Learning sits enthron'd, whose Spreading Light, 
 
 And beamy Smiles, relieve the Searcher's Sight. 
 
 Here the young Muse for high Parnassus strains, 
 
 And bold with broider'd Plumes the Summit gains; 
 
 Where Phoebus reigns, and deathless Laurels shows, 
 
 Inwove with starry Gems, for BURNET's Brows. 
 
 THESE are the Blessings, wondrous Chief! we bring, 
 
 To rise and bloom beneath your genial Wing. 
 
 For These, our dauntless Sires unvveary'd stood. 
 
 These, the rich Price of painful Toils, and Blood. 
 
 To your kind Care we leave, with hopeful Eyes, 
 
 Our Churches, Learning, Laws and Liberties ; 
 
 When lowring Clouds, these sacred Rights invade, 
 
 Your Lustre soon can pierce the thickning shade ; 
 
 Reveal an op'ning Refuge for th' Oppress'd, 
 
 As Z> C/R NjB T pitying hears our injur'd Lands Request. 
 
 GLITTER 
 
(5) 
 
 GLITTER, great Light! and quickning Warmth dis- 
 
 'Till Arts, grown ripe, shall hoast your Influence; (pence, 
 
 'Till branching Trade, which now too languid seems. 
 
 Shall feel fresh Force from your propitious Beams : 
 
 'Till timerous Vice, disrob'd, shall fly your Frown, 
 
 And Vertue rais'd, triumphant wear the Crown. 
 
 Thus while diff\isive Goodness guides your Sway, 
 
 We'll boldly claim the Freedom to obey, 
 
 And strive with Heav'n to stretch your precious Life, 
 
 To the last Lensrth allow'd our destin'd Strife. 
 
 THEN, in the Bloom of Fame, and ripe with Grace, 
 While guardian Seraphs line thy Way to Bliss; 
 While bleeding Bards expire in tuneful Sighs, 
 And flow'ry Wreaths from Cypress Branches rise. 
 Then may thy wid'ning Soul, array'd with Light, 
 Thro' flaming Squadrons wing Its raptrous Flight; 
 Caslestial Gates unfold their radiant Leaves, 
 To Scenes, nor Eye beholds, nor Alind conceives. 
 Where, 'midst th' immortal God's superiour Seats, 
 YoLir Crown all gilt with Glory, dazling, wait§. 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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