great britain
To A Gentleman On His Voyage To Great Britain For The Recovery Of His Health
While others chant of gay Elysian scenes,
Of balmy zephyrs, and of flow’ry plains,
My song more happy speaks a greater name,
Feels higher motives and a nobler flame.
For thee, O R—–, the muse attunes her strings,
And mounts sublime above inferior things.
I sing not now of green embow’ring woods,
I sing not now the daughters of the floods,
I sing not of the storms o’er ocean driv’n,
And how they howl’d along the waste of heav’n.
But I to R—– would paint the British shore,
And vast Atlantic, not untry’d before:
Thy life impair’d commands thee to arise,
Leave these bleak regions and inclement skies,
Where chilling winds return the winter past,
And nature shudders at the furious blast.
O thou stupendous, earth-enclosing main
Exert thy wonders to the world again!
If ere thy pow’r prolong’d the fleeting breath,
Turn’d back the shafts, and mock’d the gates of death,
If ere thine air dispens’d an healing pow’r,
Or snatch’d the victim from the fatal hour,
This equal case demands thine equal care,
And equal wonders may this patient share.
But unavailing, frantic is the dream
To hope thine aid without the aid of him
Who gave thee birth and taught thee where to flow,
And in thy waves his various blessings show.
May R—– return to view his native shore
Replete with vigour not his own before,
Then shall we see with pleasure and surprise,
And own thy work, great Ruler of the skies!
– Phillis Wheatley
1st May – On This Day In History
Born:
1852 Calamity Jane (American frontiers woman)
Died:
1994 Ayrton Senna (Brazilian F1 driver dies in a crash)
On This Day:
1707 England, Wales and Scotland join to form the United Kingdom Of Great Britain
Have a good Sunday, 1st May
1st January – On This Day In History
Born:
1735 Paul Revere (American patriot)
Died:
1953 Hank Williams (singer and songwriter)
On This Day:
1701 Union between Great Britain and Ireland is formalised, bringing about The United Kingdom
Have a prosperous and happy 2016!
15th August – On This Day In History
Born:
1769 Napoleon Bonaparte (Emperor of France 1804 – 1813, 1814 – 1815)
Died:
1983 Anthony Costello (actor)
On This Day:
1947 India gains independence from Great Britain (but remains a dominion until 1950)
Have a good Saturday, 15th August