Citation |
RNYG.780.068
11 Mar 1780:32,33 (360)
ODE FOR THE NEW-YEAR, 1780.
Recitative
Old Time flew panting by, in full career,
and turn'd his glass to mark the dawning year.
The festive board was met, the Loyal Band
To Church and King devote each heart each hand
To raufy [?] their vow the bowl goes round,
While songs of triumph to the skies resound.
Air--"Rule Britannia."
I.
When rival nations first descried,
Emerging from the boundie's main,
This land, by tyrants yet untried,
On high was sung this loss of strain.
Rise, Britannia, beaming far,
Rise, bright freedom's morning star!
. . . [9 more verses of 6 lines each]
If the gentle reader, of tenacious memory, should imagine
that he has seen this song before; I beg leave to assure
him, that in my opinion, what he saw was only a premature,
abortive production. If he replies, that the present editing
is not better than the former, I must give up the point. No
harm is done, only --"Much Ado about Nothing."
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