"For Harry's reign, when flush'd Lancastrian roses "In Harry's reign.-But let me to my song, "Or, good King Harry's reign may seem too long." GEORGE COLMAN, THE YOUNGER. SCARCE BOLINGBROKE lay quietly inurned, E're the succeeding Prince with ardour burn'd To pay obedience to a sire's behest, And keep the nobles from reflective rest. But first with manly promptuess it was said, To stigmatise the life he lately led, Young HENRY bade his former friends draw near, Pointed the better path to honest fame, Those who of late reproved his lawless youth, And served his father with unyielding truth, They They trembling now approach'd the rising sun, Maintain❜d the honor of his master's place, The youthful monarch now to Paris sends, Proposing France and England should be friends, * "He was not only anxious to repair his own misconduct. but also to make amends for those iniquities into which his father had been betrayed. He expressed the deepest sorrow at the fate of the unhappy Richard; performed his funeral obsequies with pomp and solemnity; and cherished all who had been attached to him." Judge Gascoigne. IIUME. That That CATHERINE's* hand with his in wedlock join'd, A league of lasting amity might bind; But then, for dowry, 'tis demanded, France Two million crowns, prompt payment, should advance; With an old debt of near two million more, As King JOHN's ransom, bargained for before. Then Normandy and other lands beside, Were woo'd with much more ardor than the bride. France offers HARRY, and I think no slight, A wife, eight hundred thousand crowns, with right Of Sovereignty in Guienne, and to be Lord * Daughter of Charles VI. of France. † He was, perhaps, the first English Monarch who had ships of his own; two were called the King's Chamber, and the King's Hall; they had purple sails, and were large and beautiful; there were also the Trinitie, the Grace de Dieu, the Holy Ghost, and many more which now be lost. Vide J. P. ANDREWS. That That France would surely beg to be excused, From terms on purpose framed to be refused ; Whether such policy suit ill or well With honest dealing, is not mine to tell, My task but gives in brief the Sovereign's acts, 'Tis your's to make due inference from facts. There is a tale, but founded not in truth, A tun of tennis balls in gibe sent o'er, But all historians of respected name "Now all the youth of England are on fire," Conspire (supposed with MARCH,) to take away The The crown and life of HARRY; Justice keen, At Harfleur now the gallic druins, HARFLEUR Surrenders; HENRY's host And with proud threat the British band surround. HENRY makes offer Harfleur to restore, And to retrace his steps; the French deny; The English Chief has but one project more, Oh, memory of CRECY, come again, And POICTIERS too.-Shades of the slain ne'er scoff, Let your bright blades assist to mend my pen, Or AGINCOURT* will come most tamely off. VOL. I. * Called also, Azincourt. S The |