When suddenly one wintry night

When suddenly one wintry night, Throughout the land with ’lectric flight, The news sped far and wide, Old England ’rose with sterling joy, And hail’d the princely infant boy!— The offspring of our pride.

For whilst on Britain’s favour’d soil, Ten thousand round had ceas’d from toil, Kind nature rack’d her frame: But Time, the god of hope and fear, Deign’d not, in love, to linger there; Relief was wrought and came!

And Providence, so wondrous kind, Thus sooth’d a mother’s anguish’d mind— The parent of our hope: Whose children’s transient joys, or cares, She most affectionately shares With gentle sovereign scope.

Thanks! thanks! a myriad hearts entreat; Look upwards and with zeal repeat This universal song,— Grant to the mother, God, so good, Thy daily gifts of choicest food; And pour amid the throng,

On her Thy unction of sweet peace; Thy wisdom and Thy care increase, And save her from the foe That robb’d us of a cherish’d name. Let health and charity inflame:— Command it to be so,

“’Tis done!” Praise, and with might implore The righteous God, His gifts to store For the sweet infant prince;— To gird with strength and love combined; T’endow him with a generous mind: And let a people hence-

Forth render eagerly their arms, If that false god—Delusion charms Or enemies incite To dare invade the British Isles, Our valour, hope, our tears and smiles, Shall guard them in the fight!

But may the warlike dream be this: “A son receive a mother’s kiss,— A father’s fondness prove,— The only weapons to engage; The only conflict to assuage; The only god—pure Love.”