| Citation |
NYG(B.736.007
10-17 Feb 1736:31 (357[=537)
London. The following Ode on his Majesty's Birth-Day,
composed by Colley Cibber, Esq; Poet Laureat, and set to
musick; by Dr. Green, Master of his Majesty's Band of
Musick, was performed in the old Council Chamber at St.
James's, before his Majesty and the rest of the Royal
Family.
Recitative.
Monarch of musick, verse, and day,
With harmony awake the morn,
Sacred age breaks, to Caesar born;
So let her brow, thy splended ray;
With brighter smiles adorn.
Chorus
To distant Rhine and Po,
Ye happier swains,
In grateful strains,
Resound the joys of Britain free,
What joys can shouts of conquest know,
Like songs of peace and liberty!
Recitative
Great George, to peace inclin'd
Fulfills the will of heaven;
To rule and save mankind,
The pow'r of Kings was giv'n.
Air
Let wild ambition sound alarms,
And take in fields her full delight,
The God-like hero never arms;
Unless to do the injured right.
. . .[12 lines]
Recitative
In nature's infant state, when providence,
The first of monarchs made for man's defence,
Had George then lived, wise heav'n had then ordain'd
That George, of chosen Kings, the first had reign'd.
. . .[6 lines]
Air
Great George, with the welfare of Britain at heart
With liberty makes his ambition take part,
The pride of his power to let us enjoy,
What monarchs despotick inglorious destroy.
. . .[8 lines]
Recitative
Fruitless, in milder climes, the genial sun,
On ravag'd rural industry had shone;
Spoil'd, or untill'd, the glebe neglected lies,
Whilst British grain the waste of war supplies.
Air
How great, then, how sublime, the soul,
That can it, martial flame controul;
That dares the pride of peace prefer
To all the ruthless wreaths of war;
. . . [8 lines]
Chorus
To distant Rhine and Po,
Ye happier swains,
In grateful strains
Resound the joys of Britain free,
What joys can shouts of conquest know,
Like songs of peace and liberty.
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