Achilles thus was formed with every grace,
And Nireus shone but in the second place;
420
Thus the great father of almighty Rome
(Divinely flushed with an immortal bloom,
That Cytherea’s fragrant breath bestowed)
In all the charms of his bright mother glowed. 
The royal youth by Marlborough’s presence charmed,
Taught by his counsels, by his actions warmed,
On Landau with redoubled fury falls,
Discharges all his thunder on its walls,
O’er mines and caves of death provokes the fight,
And learns to conquer in the hero’s sight.
430
The British chief, for mighty toils renowned,
Increased in titles, and with conquests crowned,
To Belgian coasts his tedious march renews,
And the long windings of the Rhine pursues,
Clearing its borders from usurping foes,
And blessed by rescued nations as he goes. 
Treves fears no more, freed from its dire alarms;
And Traerbach feels the terror of his arms,
Seated on rocks her proud foundations shake,
While Marlborough presses to the bold attack,
440
Plants all his batteries, bids his cannon roar,
And shows how Landau might have fallen before. 
Scared at his near approach, great Louis fears
Vengeance reserved for his declining years,
Forgets his thirst of universal sway,
And scarce can teach his subjects to obey;
His arms he finds on vain attempts employed,
The ambitious projects for his race destroyed,
The work of ages sunk in one campaign,
And lives of millions sacrificed in vain.
450
Such are the effects of Anna’s royal cares: 
By her, Britannia, great in foreign wars,
Ranges through nations, wheresoo’er disjoined,
Without the wonted aid of sea and wind. 
By her the unfettered Ister’s states are free,
And taste the sweets of English liberty: 
But who can tell the joys of those that lie
Beneath the constant influence of her eye! 
Whilst in diffusive showers her bounties fall,
Like heaven’s indulgence, and descend on all,
460
Secure the happy, succour the distressed,
Make every subject glad, and a whole people blessed. 
Thus would I fain Britannia’s wars rehearse,
In the smooth records of a faithful verse;
That, if such numbers can o’er time prevail,
May tell posterity the wondrous tale. 
When actions, unadorned, are faint and weak,
Cities and countries must be taught to speak;
Gods may descend in factions from the skies,
And rivers from their oozy beds arise;
470
Fiction may deck the truth with spurious rays,
And round the hero cast a borrowed blaze. 
Marlborough’s exploits appear divinely bright,
And proudly shine in their own native light;
Raised of themselves, their genuine charms they boast,
And those who paint them truest praise them most.

COWLEY’S EPITAPH ON HIMSELF.

TRANSLATED BY MR ADDISON.