35/9 
 
 
 Jerningham 
 
 Stone henge
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 FREDERIC THOMAS BLANCHARD 
 ENDOWMENT FUND 
 
 ■j!|e3 'U04)|30(s 3^^ 
 HlONia lilHdWVd
 
 STONE HENGE. 
 
 (h 
 
 POEM, 
 
 INSCRIBED TO 
 
 EDWARD JERNINGHAM, Esq. 
 
 LONDON: 
 PRINTED FOR J. ROBSON, NEW-BOND-STREET. 
 
 M D C C X C I I , 
 
 '" . V^
 
 \
 
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 IT was at the injiance of the Gentleman to 
 whom the following piece is injcribed, that it is nowpub- 
 lijlied; but the whole of the infer iption^ as it applies 
 to himfelf or the Baronet his brother^ zvas unfeen by 
 him until its prefentation at the tribunal of the pub- 
 he. Nor has the general fibjcEl pajfed any other re- 
 viezL\ excepting one Gentleman befuh\ 
 
 865309
 
 STONE HENGE. 
 
 ^k_yOME thou, to nature juft, by truth defigird, 
 Who add"ft the grace that ornaments the mind; 
 Whom the hail nymphs and veftals woes pourtray'd, 
 Virtue too thoughtlefs cloifter'd or betray'd; 
 Pathetic drawn, without a trait auftere ; 
 This drops the penlive, that the contrite tear, 
 On lays where virtue beams a ray divine. 
 While gentle pity breathes through every line. 
 Now thine to bid th'ennobling paffions rife, 
 And with kind pathos point them to their fliies. 
 What tho' thy fong the living virtues raife. 
 Aid me to pierce the fhade of ancient days : 
 
 B The
 
 [ ^ ] 
 
 The ereas loft, alTift. me to regain ; 
 Thou, wrapt in fong amidft the f)'lvan reign ; 
 Where late the wafte, with dreary vifage frown'd, 
 Where capt'ring beauty now afferts the ground. 
 Where groves, glades, lawns, her fovereign fmiles obey, 
 Yet for her reign their willing homage pay 
 To Jerningham *, who bade thofe beeches rife, 
 Stretch out their living arms and fan the fkies. 
 There morn's firft minftrels in their fhades convene. 
 There lift their rapturous anthem o'er the fcene ; 
 There eve's plum'd poet glads the ftarry fphere, 
 'Till night her poppies drops entranc'd to hear, 
 Leave their congenial fong, come aid my lays; 
 And pierce with me the fhade of ancient days. 
 O come, and wrapt o'er fleeting time, difclofe 
 How, and from whom, th' unperifh'd dome arofe. 
 Place the rough heroes round their lafting fane, 
 Whofe date the antique sage hath sought in vain ; 
 
 * Sir William Jerningham, of Coftefey, in Norfolk, 
 
 Which
 
 C 3 ] 
 Which braves the wreck of time and fwift decay, 
 That fv/eeps the laboufd domes of man away. 
 Time, that from brafs doth chara6lers efface, 
 And drops the cloud-hid turret to its bafe, 
 Throws the fymetric temple to the ground, 
 Its fcite forgot, nor marble columns found: 
 Its proud, its votive tablets long decay'd, 
 With a6ls of gods and heroes there difplay'd ; 
 Perifli'd thofe gods, with their imputed line 
 Of demi-gods, enfculptur'd round their fhrine. 
 Even fcience would a prouder claim affume, 
 How vain ! to plan, to rear the immortal dome ; 
 While this rude pile hath countlefs ages flood, 
 The fap of time, and ftemm'd oblivion's flood; 
 Till wild conje6ture fancied powers has brought, 
 To trace where fcience feels its vanquifh'd thought 
 That powers unfeen had fix'd th'unweildy dome. 
 Or the earth heav'd it fafhion'd from her womb. 
 Or Merlin's felf, or greater fage unknown. 
 Had call'd his fiends, and built the magic throne* 
 
 Even
 
 C 4 ] 
 Ex'en modern art, ^vhich every science owns, 
 
 Confounded fcans the ungovernable ftones ; 
 
 Knows not if nature form"d, or art had made. 
 
 But quits the ponderous theme enwrapt in fliade. 
 
 Myfterious circles ! from your glcom'd recefs, 
 
 The prieft, perchance, the implicit train might blefs ; 
 
 For furious Odin might obteft the Ikies, 
 
 And blefs a hecatomb for facrifice. 
 
 Obfequious chiefs devote their herds to bleed, 
 
 Their gods immortal feaft, the promis'd meed; 
 
 Or, foe to blood, fome Druid bade them fpare 
 
 The iiazincr hind and confcious bird of air : 
 
 From thefe to thofe the foul tranfmitted goes, 
 
 And an immortal change the fpirit knows. 
 
 While from this fane, juft opening to the Ikies, 
 
 Their myftic rites and hid oblations rife, 
 
 Still by what powers rais'd remains unfhewn ; 
 
 Nature's auguft retreats are better known. 
 
 Rocks from a flender bafe flupendous rife, 
 
 Pierce the grey dawn, and mingle with the fkies. 
 
 Caves,
 
 C 5 ] 
 Caves, that like ancient domes fublime afcend, 
 
 Whofe length'ning lliafts from awful roofs depend. 
 
 'Midft fretted arches gothic fpires protrude, 
 
 There chantincr echos ftill the multitude. 
 
 Or fubterranean palace darts iurprize ; 
 
 As flaming tapers throw the minerals dyes, 
 
 Voluted columns fnatch the vivid light. 
 
 And ftreaming radiance fafcinates the fight. 
 
 Here, here, great nature, from an obvious throne, 
 
 Afferts a majefty confefs'd her own. 
 
 While baffled fcience can no powers defcry, 
 
 No line, no figures, Euclid's lore fupply, 
 
 To fhew what rais'd this quarry from the ground. 
 
 Or mortal art that fwell'd the huge compound. 
 
 Yet, rudely great, from human art it fprung, 
 
 Thefe founded rocks, with mortic'd rocks o'erhung. 
 
 Yes; thofe can folve who faw the maniac train. 
 
 Saw raging throngs, impell'd by frantic brain, 
 
 Augufla's lawlefs crowds*, who fierce affail'd 
 
 Her iron domes, and o'er thofe domes prevail'd. 
 
 * Rioters in London 1780. 
 
 C Nor
 
 C 6 ] 
 Nor walls oppos'd, nor chain, nor bolt controurd 
 The mad'ning fury, ftrength'ning as it roll'd. 
 If rage tumultuous can fuch pov>'ers obtain, 
 What maj^ not wannth from fanction'd virtue gain ? 
 \Miere public acls the patriot voice requires, 
 And fann'd the flame which emulation fires. 
 Union of hands, with band to band conjoin'd, 
 Prompt to one aft the univerfal mind. 
 Even patriot rapture nerves the liftlefs frame, 
 In nations leagu'd with violence for fame; 
 Whofe fervid effort can a puipofe gain, 
 Which cool indu6live reafon cleem'd as vain. 
 Even thofe brave Britons, tho' in time o'ercome, 
 Who foil'd the force of Caefar and of Rome, 
 Who rufh'd impetuous on their flrong array, 
 And flruck the unconquerd legions with difmay, 
 Might in a nation confummate at length, 
 "What mocks our graphic fkill and fhackled ftrength ; 
 Might in a nation all its tribes convene. 
 With hallow'd rites to fanftify the fcene. 
 
 While
 
 C 7 ] 
 While thus I mufe, my fancy wings its flight, 
 
 Led by a ray which flioots the realm of night, 
 
 To refcue from the oblivion of her reign 
 
 The long loft race, that trod this facred plain. 
 
 A living hoft the abftrafted thoughts fupply, 
 
 And peopled fcenes are prefent to my eye. 
 
 At the dawn's verge, fee, gath'ring nations blend. 
 
 As waves o'er waves at vifions length extend! 
 
 Difparting now, the countlefs train appears, 
 
 And their ftrong hails in murmurs meet my ears. 
 
 Confpicuous now, I fee the varied train, 
 
 The group'd procelTion length'ning o'er the plain. 
 
 Hark ! in their front the attuning minftrels play, 
 
 Commixt with Bards who troll the memory 'd lay. 
 
 In fong canorous tell the warriors deed. 
 
 The anceftors of fons they now precede. 
 
 Lo, there thofe fons with tawny wolve-fkins bound. 
 
 With thongs from hides of bulls encompafs'd round. 
 
 The temper'd fkin of feals a helmet fpreads, 
 
 The raven's plumage nodding o'er their heads. 
 
 Each
 
 [ 8 ] 
 
 Each tribe its Chief an eagle's plume allows, 
 
 The hoiliie pounce projecling o'er his brows. 
 
 With fpears reversed and daggers llieath'd they come, 
 
 And file their filent fquadrons round the dome. 
 
 Sufpended now. the adulatory ftrain, 
 
 While flow approach the Druids awful train ; 
 
 In long depending veft that fweeps the ground, 
 
 From facred flocks their earlieft fleeces wound. 
 
 Shorn in the due, the planetar)^ hour, 
 
 W^hen moons propitious flione with fovereign pow'r. 
 
 A hallow'd fong the minftrel band record, 
 
 Now paus'd the voice, now intermits the chord, 
 
 Now the fmote vafe repeats its founding blows, 
 
 And the full chorus its loud clarion throws. 
 
 To Heav'n wath violence they fend the la)-, 
 
 And chant the Druids po^^^er that all obey. 
 
 Reverent with refted fpears the warriors greet. 
 
 And fpread their wolf-flea'd mantles for their feet ; 
 
 The glare of fire foft temper'd in their eyes, 
 
 And the fierce features loft in fober dies ; 
 
 The
 
 C 9 ] 
 The wifli foregone, that afk'd th' enfanguin'd plain, 
 
 Now blest to confecrate the Druids' reign. 
 
 To thefe fucceed the facerdotal band, 
 
 With each a foodful charger borne in hand : 
 
 The milk of ewes, when churn'd and when comprest, 
 
 And cheering muft from woodland fruits exprefl: ; 
 
 The facharine juice, of foreft-hives the fpoil, 
 
 And native pulfe, and grain unrais'd by toil ; 
 
 With fruits fpontaneous, now but rarely found, 
 
 Since earth hath felt the frequent culturing wound. 
 
 Diftinguifli'd orders yet precede their rear, 
 
 Chofe from their tribes to celebrate the year. 
 
 The painted males of many a varied hue, 
 
 Specific of their tribe and genius too. 
 
 Conforted follow families conjoin'd; 
 
 Their focial wives with fruitage boughs entwin'd ; 
 
 Inwreath'd with purple thyme frefh rofes glow, 
 
 The fragrant chaplet of the virgin's brow. 
 
 Hark ! the burft anthem fwells its notes around. 
 
 And ftruftur'd rocks grow vocal with the found. 
 
 D For
 
 [ lO ] 
 
 For now the Druids feek their inmost place, 
 Recefs revefd, forbid but to their race. 
 Before the reft the regal Pontiff bore 
 '1 he golden bill, deriv'd from heav'n of \'ore; 
 The exulting people mark the boon divine. 
 And in full praife the adoring nations join; 
 Their loud acclaim now fhakes the welkin round. 
 And cloud- loft hills reverb'rate back the found. 
 To their high prieft a reverent train fucceed, 
 With facred mifletoe for rights decreed ; 
 The hallo w'd parafites from oaks they drew, 
 Cut by th' empyreal bill now borne to view. 
 The druid fifters rais'd the facred mound, 
 Their mantling coifs with holy fillets bound. 
 Each in her dexter hand an oak-branch rears, 
 Whofe vifcid leaves the etherial honey bears ; 
 Or boles of trees, when bleft, with fruit to rife. 
 Should Heav n propitious hearken from the ftvies.. 
 The Pontiff fovereign now that fcite afcends. 
 
 Where no unhallow'd glance its vifion bends ; 
 
 A fan6lion"d
 
 A fan6lIon'd few their miniftiy fupply, 
 
 Save thefe, unfeen by every mortal eye. 
 
 Fain would I raife the impenetrable veil, 
 
 And bruit thofe myfteries which the (hades conceal : 
 
 Thofe myftic rites not Druids dare unfold, 
 
 Enwrap'd from light and never must be told. 
 
 Enough — I fee the long proceflions end, 
 
 And through the exterior temple deep'ning blend. 
 
 The most rever'd approach the facred dome. 
 
 Yet ftill behind leave honourable room. 
 
 Order to order their due place obtain, 
 
 'Till the laft circle verges on the plain. 
 
 There minftrels, bards, and choiristers furround, 
 
 Not yet to bid the fong emphatically found. 
 
 Now to their fides the unbreath'd pipes are hung, 
 
 No lay yet prompt, and every harp unftrung ; 
 
 The filent warriors in battalia drawn, 
 
 Nor waves an enfign to the peopled lawn. 
 
 Mark ! hufh as death the obfequious people wait, 
 
 To learn the future bleflings of their ftate. 
 
 Lo, 
 
 .y
 
 [ 1^ ] 
 
 Lo, from the facred front the chief defcends, 
 
 And with his conclave thro' the temple bends. 
 
 A monumental flone its circus holds, 
 
 Whofe front the far provincial plain unfolds. 
 
 Thither he moves, while ftreamers wave in air, 
 
 To bid the throng in order'd ranks repair. 
 
 Thefe in deep crefcent wait the dread addrefs, 
 
 A facred terror all their minds imprefs. 
 
 Mark, how they Heav ns great oracle revere, 
 
 Half proftrate bend, and tremble while they hear ! 
 
 " Friends ! Britons ! fubjefts of this ancient ftate ! 
 " Hear Heaven's beheft, with reverence of your fate ! 
 
 " The late atonement which your hands fupplied ; 
 " Regains that boon your truant deeds denied. 
 " Our God ador'd, now condefcends to give 
 " Rules for your condu6l, and in him we live. 
 " Firft, ftri6l obfervance of my priefts is due, 
 " What Heav'n reveals to them, is taught to you; 
 " Our fo\'ereign rule, which yet extended runs 
 " To you from wives, from fervants, and from fons, 
 
 " Obedience,
 
 C 13 ] 
 
 " Obedience, is the bafis of our ftate, 
 
 " And who depart from that, incur our hate. 
 
 " And after death their fpirits reillefs roam 
 
 «• In birds, or beaft of prey, that know no home ; 
 
 '•' While future eafe awaits the obedient mind, 
 
 " In herds, or flocks, they fancluary fmd. 
 
 " And fuch afylum, what your fathers know 
 
 " From you, your fons in reverence fhall beiiow. 
 
 " Watch well our ftate, nor let the flranger's art 
 
 " Bewray your thoughts, nor fteal upon the heart. 
 
 " No alien deign in mixture to embrace, 
 
 " But your pure blood tranfmit from race to race. 
 
 " Warriors ! revere that race, from whence you fprung, 
 
 " Whofe living names the raptur'd bards have fung. 
 
 " On you, as once on them, our ftate depends — 
 
 " To die, transfers the life which never ends ; 
 
 " Alive to fame, you meet the dart of death, 
 
 " Nor heave with painful throes a feverifh breath ; 
 
 " Our country's glory boiling in your breaft, 
 
 " And rapt in patriot fervour drop to reft. 
 
 E « But
 
 [ M ] 
 
 " But peace is ours ; its prefent joys improve, 
 
 '• Devote to feftive, to paternal love. 
 
 " Beyond our circus be your prowefs Ihewn, 
 
 " There raife our nation's glory and your own. 
 
 " Your fquadrons form, the ferabling \var to wage, 
 
 " And without bloodfhed bid the battle rage. 
 
 " That fliould the fpies from other ftates be near, 
 
 " They fix their future fafety in their fear. 
 
 " My friends ! my children ! now your games renew : 
 
 " The joy is mine that fhall be felt by you. 
 
 " The teeming year fliall its bell fruits bellow ; 
 
 " Then gratitude fhall point to whom you owe ; 
 
 " The power ador d to us your weal configns ; 
 
 " Receive my blelling, which each Druid joins ;" 
 
 Silent they bow'd, no murmurs reach'd my ear. 
 
 Yet ftill I lift'ned, for I feem'd to hear. 
 
 Then acclamations fhook the Heaven's around, 
 
 And frighted echo bellov/'d at the found. 
 
 The foaring bird of heav'n forgot his flight, 
 
 And earth receiv'd him inftant from his height. 
 
 The
 
 [ 15 ] 
 The choral clamour fmote the inmost land, 
 
 And the rocks rang impending o'er the ftrand. 
 
 Fraternal chiefs for warlike fcenes divide, 
 
 With each an order'd battle by his fide. 
 
 Their painted ranks a recent fplendour fhews, 
 
 And from their waifl a checquer'd veftment flows. 
 
 The fhielding target on the flioulder flung, 
 
 And by its fide the quiver'd arrows hung. 
 
 One hand a bow of woodland eugh fufpends, 
 
 And on the opponent fide a blade depends. 
 
 Chiefs on the flanks protrude the length'ning fpear. 
 
 And the prime chieftains on their cars appear, 
 
 Thofe cars, erft fcyth'd, had mown the battle down, 
 
 What time an alien hoft had met their frown. 
 
 But now the dancing plumies and gorgeous frame 
 
 The chief denote, and province whence he came. 
 
 - Proudly the chiefs their fteady feet fuffain, 
 
 And fhake the lance with menace to the plain. 
 
 Hark ! Bards and Minftrels now record the fame 
 
 Of ance{l.ors renown'd, from whence they came ; 
 
 Unconquefd
 
 C 16 ] 
 
 Unconquerd chieftains of primeval days, 
 Honour's firfl fons, and heirs of deathlefs praife ! 
 From depth of caves they fhaggy monfters drew, 
 Or fped the dart that fiercer giants flew ; 
 Or rufh'd refifiiefs where the battle bled ; 
 Viclorv ftill foliow'd as their chariots led. 
 Yet while they fung their peerlefs fathers gone, 
 They gloz'd their virtues living in the fon. 
 The chorus wide refound the flatt'ring lays, 
 Honour's firft fons, and heirs of deathlefs praife ! 
 Hark ! the bows twang, the whizzing fliafts refound. 
 Loud as a whirlwind rufhing o'er the ground. 
 See, o'er each front the arching arrows fly. 
 And meeting fhadows veil the beaming flvy. 
 Unbrac'd the bow, from flight fucc ceding flight, 
 They poife the fliield, and claim the clofer fight. 
 Sound the fmote chords, the horns obfleperous blow, 
 And with grafp'd fword they march to meet the foe. 
 Here, there, the pikes their length'ning aid combine, 
 To guard their own and break the opponent line. 
 
 Squadrons
 
 C 17 J 
 Squadrons of cars their intervals contain, 
 
 Where horfes fpurn impatient of the rein ; 
 
 Lefs'ned the fpace, and van defying van, 
 
 Shield rais'd to fhield, and man oppos'd to man. 
 
 With guarded fwords the bucklers loud refound, 
 
 Or reach their aim, tho' innocent to wound. 
 
 Sudden by fignal now a line's withdrawn, 
 
 And flies promifcuous o'er the founding lawn. 
 
 Alert their chiefs the flying bands reftrain, 
 
 And form anew upon the fmoking plain. 
 
 Inftant prepar'd the confli6l to renew. 
 
 And check the apparent vi6tors who purHie. 
 
 Thefe, too impetuous preffing on the flight, 
 
 In broke array renew the unequal light. 
 
 Straight pikes and cars in force confederate join, 
 
 By turns repell'd, and breaking thro' the line. 
 
 See, other pikes and other chariots clofe, 
 
 Order feems loft, and all immingled foes. 
 
 See, frantic fteeds no foothing can allay, 
 
 With foaming rage they bear the car away. 
 
 F No
 
 [ 18 ] 
 No curb they feel, each threat'ning call repelld, 
 They throw their chieftains on the embattled field. 
 See, more experienced chiefs their fteeds reftrain, 
 And guide the chariots o'er the thundering plain. 
 By turns receive the attack, b)- turns purfue, 
 And make their horfes rage fubfervient to their view. 
 Now front, noAV wheel, recede, and then advance^ 
 With fteadfaft ^aze to fend the miffile lance. 
 Turn the fierce courfers in their ftrong career, 
 The javelin lift, or aim the deathful fpear. 
 Inftant to earth now falient on their feet, 
 Then with a flying vault refume their feat. 
 In attitude the mortal dart to throw, 
 Still fhielded from the imaginary foe. 
 Lo ! now in cohorts, fee, the chariots join, 
 And ruih with fury down the armed line. 
 Alternate praife the rival fquadrons crown'd. 
 And echoing fhouts of triumph roll'd around. 
 Faft as the fhadows flee their courfers fweep, 
 
 like chafing billows foaming o'er the deep ; 
 
 Or
 
 C >9 ] 
 Or as the torrent roars with downward force, 
 
 Or fallving clouds, tempelluous in their courfe. 
 
 With roUing thunder, while the light'nings glance 
 
 Gleams from their fliield, and flioots along the lance. 
 
 Fail ruflies to my fcite the dread career, 
 
 I w'lih. to fly, but gaze appall"d with fear. 
 
 Nor can the trembling vifion more pourtray ; 
 
 For all the embattled fcenery flies away ; 
 
 The pomp of long-loft ages all withdrawn, 
 
 And but their Temple crowns the naked lawn : 
 
 Its vifionary nations from it fled. 
 
 And thofe fond fcenes delirious fancy fired. 
 
 Lo ! S arum's fpiery fane attra6ls my eyes, 
 
 And Berk's blue hills in contadl with the fkies. 
 
 Winton's and Dorfet's downs in clouds are feen. 
 
 And obvious glebes that float with living green. 
 
 While yonder tra6l the whilom afpeft bears. 
 
 It bore, perchance, milenniums of years ; 
 
 When countlefs generations roam'd its fpace, 
 
 The vanquifh'd myriads of the human race* 
 
 Whom
 
 C 20 ] 
 
 Whom like yon clouds, now ting"d with beams of light, 
 
 Flew on their hour, and vanifli'd from the fight. 
 
 Ages like clouds fliail catch the tranfient ray, 
 
 Be bright and fade, and drop from fight away. 
 
 Tho' men, tho' ages lapfe, as wave to wave. 
 
 Swell, found, and proudly roll, 'till fwallow'd in a grave ; 
 
 Shall from the abyfs, thro' pure alembics, flow 
 
 A vital effence from the mafs below. 
 
 The foul of man, ordain'd by heavn to rife 
 
 Thro' truth, thro' love, thro' virtue, to the fkies. 
 
 The good man's anchor'd hope ; nor fliall give way 
 
 When fame's no more, and clos'd the final day. 
 
 Naught of my waking vifion now remains, 
 But thefe heav'd catacombs that fwell the plains. 
 There flumber thofe, O Henge, who rais'd thy brow, 
 To look difdain on arts we boaft to know. 
 
 FINIS.
 
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