Page:The Works of Alexander Pope (1717).djvu/341

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Twice taught the Rhine beneath his laws to roll,And stretch'd his empire to the frozen pole;Or long before, with early valour strove,In youthful arms t'assert the cause of Jove.And thou, great heir of all thy father's fame,Encrease of glory to the Latian name;Oh bless thy Rome with an eternal reign,Nor let desiring worlds intreat in vain!What tho' the stars contract their heav'nly space,And crowd their shining ranks to yield thee place:Tho' all the skies, ambitious of thy sway,Conspire to court thee from our world away;Tho' Phœbus longs to mix his rays with thine,And in thy glories more serenely shine;Tho' Jove himself no less content would be,To part his throne and share his heav'n with thee;Yet stay, great Cæsar! and vouchsafe to reignO'er the wide earth, and o'er the watry main,Resign to Jove his empire of the skies,And people heav'n with Roman Deities.

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