sung the Roman Bard all human things Of dearest value hang on slender strings O see the then sole hope and in design Of Heaven our joy supported by a line Which for that instant was Heaven's care above The chain that 's fixed to the Throne of Iove On which the fabrick of our World depends One Link dissolv'd the whole Creation ends Of His Majesties receiving the News of the Duke of Buckingham's Death So earnest with thy God can no new care No sense of danger interrupt thy Prayer The sacred Wrestler till a blessing given Quits not his hold but halting conquers Heav'n Nor was the stream of thy Devotion stopp'd When from the Body such a Limb was lopp'd As to thy present state was no less maim Though thy wise choice has since repair'd the same Bold Homer durst not so great virtue feign In his best pattern of Patroclus slain With such amazement as weak Mothers use And frantick gesture he receives the news Yet fell his Darling by th' impartial chance Of war impos'd by Royal Hector's Launce Thine in full peace and by a vulgar hand Torn from thy bosom left his high command The famous Painter could allow no place For private sorrow in a Princes face Yet that his piece might not exceed belief He cast a Veil upon supposed grief 'T was want of such a President as this Made the old Heathen frame their Gods amiss Their Phaebus should not act a fonder part For their fair Boy than he did for his Heart Nor blame for Hyacinthus fate his own That kept from him wish'd death hadst thou been known He that with thine shall weigh good David's deeds Shall find his Passion not his Love exceeds He curst the Mountains where his brave friend dy'd But let false Ziba with his Heir divide Where thy immortal Love to thy best Friends Like that of Heaven upon their Seed descends Such huge extreams inhabit thy great mind God-like unmov'd and yet like Woman kind Which of the ancient Poets had not brought Our Charles His Pedigree from Heaven and taught How some bright dame comprest by mighty Iove Produc'd this mixt Divinity and Love To the Queen occasioned upon sight of Her Majesties Picture WEll fare the hand which to our humble sight Presents that Beauty which the dazling Light Of Royal spendor hides from weaker eyes And all access save by this Art denies Here only we have Courage to behold This Beam of Glory here we dare unfold In numbers thus the wonders we conceive The gracious Image seeming to give leave Propitious stands vouchsasing to be seen And by our Muse saluted Mighty Queen In whom th'extreams of Power and Beauty move The Queen of Britain and the Queen of Love As the bright Sun to which we owe no sight Of equal Glory to your Beauties light Is wisely plac'd in so sublime a seat T' extend his light and moderate his heat So happy 't is you move in such a sphear As your high Majesty with awful fear In humane Breasts might qualify that Fire Which kindled by those Eyes had flamed higher Than when the scorched World like hazard run By the approach of the ill guided Sun No other Nymphs have Title to men's Hearts But as their Meaness larger hope imparts Your Beauty more the fondest Lover moves With Admiration than his private loves With Admiration for a pitch so high save sacred Charles his never Love durst fly Heaven that preferr'd a Scepter to your hand Favour'd our freedom more than your command Beauty had crown'd you and you must have been The whole Worlds Mistriss other than a Queen All had been Rival's and you might have spar'd ' Or kill'd and tyranniz'd without a Guard No power atchiev'd either by Arms or Birth Equals love's Empire both in Heaven and Earth Such eyes as yours on Iove himself have thrown As bright and fierce a lightning as his own Witness our Iove prevented by their flame In his swift passage to th' Hesperian Dame When like a Lion finding in his way To some intended spoil a fairer prey The Royal youth pursuing the report Of Beauty found it in the Gallique Court There publique care with private passion fought A doubtful combate in his noble thought Should he confess his greatness and his love And the free Faith of your great Brother prove With his Achates breaking through the cloud Of that disguise which did their Graces shroud And mixing with those gallants at the Ball Dance with the Ladies and out-shine them all Or on his journey o're the Mountains ride So when the fair Leucothoe he espy'd To check his steeds impatient Phaebus earn'd Though all the world was in his course concern'd What may hereafter her Meridian do Whose dawning beauty warm'd his bosome so Not so divine a flame since deathless gods Forbore to visit the defil'd abodes Of men in any mortal breast did burn Nor shall till Piety and they return Vpon His Majesties repairing of Pauls THat shipwrackt vessel which th'Apostle bore Scarce suffer'd more upon Melitas shore Than did his Temple in the Sea of Time Our Nations Glory and our Nations crime When the first Monarch of this happy Isle Mov'd with the ruine of so brave a pile This work of cost and piety begun To be accomplish'd by his glorious Son VVho all that came within the ample thought Of his wise Sire has to perfection brought He like Amphion makes those Quarries leap Into fair figures from a confus'd heap For in his Art of Regiment is found A power like that of Harmony in sound Those antique Minstrels sure were Charles-like Kings Cities their Lutes and Subjects Hearts their Strings On which with so divine a hand they strook Consent of motion from their breath they took So all our minds with his conspire to grace The Gentiles great Apostle and deface Those State-obscuring sheds that like a Chain Seem'd to confine and fetter him again VVhich the glad Saint shakes off at his command As once the Viper from his sacred hand So joys the aged Oak when we divide The creeping Ivy from his injur'd side Ambition rather would affect the fame Of some new structure to have born her name Two distant Virtues in one act we find The Modesty and Greatness of his mind Which not content to be above the rage And injury of all-impairing age In its own worth secure doth higher climb And things half swallow'd from the jaws of Time Reduce an earnest of his grand design To frame no new Church but the Old refine Which Spouse-like may W th comely grace command More than by force of argument or hand For doubtful reason few can apprehend And War brings ruin where it should amend But Beauty with a bloodless conquest finds A welcome Soveraignty in rudest minds Not ought which Sheba's wondring Queen beheld Amongst the works of Solomon excell'd His ships and building emblems of a Heart Large both in Magnanimity and Art While the propitious Heavens this work attend Long wanted
turn my dazelled sight To behold their milder light But as hard 't is to destroy That high Flame as to enjoy Which how easily I may do Heaven as easily scal'd does know Amoret as sweet and good As the most delicious Food Which but tasted does impart Life and gladness to the Heart Sacharissa's beautie's Wine Which to madness doth incline Such a Liquor as no Brain That is Mortal can sustain Scarce can I to Heaven excuse The Devotion which I use Unto that adored Dame For 't is not unlike the same VVhich I thither ought to send So that if it could take end 'T would to Heaven it self be due To succeed her and not you VVho already have of me All that 's not Idolatry VVhich though not so fierce a Flame Is longer like to be the same Then smile on me and I will prove Wonder is shorter liv'd than Love On the Head of a Stag. SO we some antique Hero's strength Learn by his Launces weight and length As these vast beams express the beast VVhose shady brows alive they drest Such Game while yet the world was new The mighty Nimrod did pursue VVhat Huntsman of our feeble Race Or Dogs dare such a Monster chase Resembling with each blow he strikes The charge of a whole Troop of Pikes O fertile Head which every year Could such a crop of wonder bear The teeming earth did never bring So soon so hard so hugh a thing Which might it never have been cast Each years growth added to the last These lofty Branches had supply'd The Earths bold Son 's prodigious Pride Heaven with these Engines had been scal'd When Mountains heap'd on Mountains fail'd To a Lady in a Garden SEes not my Love how Time resumes The Glory which he lent these Flow'rs Though none should taste of their perfumes Yet must they live but some few hours Time what we forbear devours Had Hellen or th' Egyptian Queen Been nere so thrifty of their Graces Those Beauties must at length have been The spoil of Age which finds out faces In the most retired places Should some malignant Planet bring A barren drought or ceaseless Show'r Upon the Autumn or the Spring And spare us neither Fruit nor Flow'r Winter would not stay an hour Could the resolve of Loves neglect Preserve you from the violation Of coming years then more respect Were due to so Divine a fashion Nor would I indulge my passion The Misers Speech in a Masque BAlls of this Mettal slack'd Atlanta's pace And on the Amorous Youth bestow'd the Race Venus the Nymphs mind measuring by her own Whom the rich spoils of Cities overthrown Had prostrated to Mars could well advise Th' adventurous Lover how to gain the prize Nor less may Iupiter to Gold ascribe For when he turn'd himself into a Bribe Who can blame Danae or the brazen Tow'r That they with-stood not that Almighty show'r Never till then did Love make Iove put on A Form more bright and Nobler than his own Nor were it just would he resume that shape That slack Devotion should his Thunder scape 'T was not Revenge for griev'd Apollo's wrong Those Asses ears on Mida's Temples hung But fond Repentance of his happy wish Because his Meat grew Mettal like his Dish Would Bacchus bless me so I 'de constant hold Unto my wish and dye Creating Gold On the Friendship betwixt two Ladies TEll me Lovely loving Pair Why so kind and so severe Why so careless of our care Only to your selves so dear By this cunning change of hearts You the power of Love controul While the Boys deluded Darts Can arrive at neither soul. For in vain to either Breast Still beguiled Love does come Where he finds a forreign Guest Neither of your hearts at home Debtors thus with like design When they never mean to pay That they may the Law decline To some friend make all away Not the silver Doves that flie Yoakt in Citharea's Car Not the wings that lift so high And convey her Son so far Are so Lovely Sweet and Fair Or do more ennoble Love Are so choicely matcht a pair Or with more consent do move Of her Chamber THey taste of death that do at Heaven arrive But we this Paradise approach alive Instead of Death the dart of Love does strike And renders all within these walls alike The high in Titles and the Shepheard here Forgets his Greatness and forgets his Fear All stand amaz'd and gazing on the fair Loose thought of what themselves or others are Ambition loose and have no other scope Save Carlislâ—s favour to imploy their hope The Thracian could though all those tales were true The bold Greeks tell no greater wonders do Before his feet so Sheep and Lions lay Fearless and wrathless while they heard him play The Gay the Wise the Gallant and the Grave Subdu'd alike all but one passion have No worthy mind but finds in hers there is Something proportion'd to the rule of his Whilst she with cheerful but impartial grace Born for no one but to delight the race Of men like Phoebus so divides her light And warms us that she stoops not from her height Of Loving at first sight NOt caring to observe the Wind Or the new Sea explore â—natcht from my self how far behind Already I behold the shoar â—ay not a thousand dangers sleep 〈◊〉 the smooth bosome of this deep â—o 't is so Rockless and so Clear â—hat the rich bottom does appear â—av'd all with pretious things not torn â—â—om shipwrackt vessels but there born â—weetness Truth and every Grace â—hich time and use are wont to teach 〈◊〉 eye may in a moment reach â—nd read distinctly in her face Someother Nymph with Colours faint And pensil slow may Cupid paint And a weak heart in time destroy She has a stamp and prints the Boy Can with a single look inflame The coldest Breast the rudest tame The Self Banished IT is not that I love you less Than when before your feet I lay But to prevent the sad encrease Of hopeless Love I keep away In vain alas for every thing Which I have known belong to you Your Form does to my Fancy bring And makes my old wounds bleed anew Who in the Spring from the new Sun Already has a Fever got Too late begins those shafts to shun Which Phoebus through his veins has shot Too late he would the pain asswage And to thick shadows does retire About with him he bears the rage And in his tainted bloud the Fire But vow'd I have and never must Your banisht servant trouble you For if I break you may mistrust The vow I made to love you too SONG GO lovely Rose Tell her that wastes her time and me That now she knows When I resemble her to thee How sweet and fair she seems to be Tell her that 's young And shuns to have her Graces spy'd That hadst thou sprung In Desarts where no men abide Thou must have uncommended dy'd Small is the worth Of
what his bold hand would do On my Lady Isabella playing on the Lute SUch moving sounds from such a careless touch So unconcern'd her self and we so much What Art is this that with so little pains Transports us thus and oâ—r our spirit reigns The trembling strings about her fingers crow'd And tell their Joy for every kiss aloud Small force there needs to make them tremble so Touch't by that hand who would not tremble too Here Loves takes stand and while she charms the ear Empties his quiver on the listning Deer Musick â—o softens and disarms the mind That not an Arrow does resistance find Thus the fair Tyrant celebrates the prize And acts her self the triumph of her eyes So Nero once with Harp in hand survey'd His flaming Rome and as it burnt he play'd To a Lady singing a Song of his Composing CHloris your self you so excel When you vouchsafe to breath my thought That like a spirit with this spell Of my own teaching I am caught That Eagles fate and mine are one Which on the shaft that made him die Espy'd a feather of his own Wherewith he wont to soar so high Had Eccho with so sweet a grace Narcissus's loud complaints return'd Not for reflexion of his face But of his voice the Boy had burn'd Of the marriage of the Dwarfs DEsign or chance makes other wive But Nature did this Match contrive Eve might as well have Adam fled As she deny'd her little Bed To him for whom Heaven seem'd to frame And measure out this only Dame Thrice happy is that humble pair Beneath the level of all care Over whose heads those Arrows flie Of sad distrust and Jealousie Secured in as high extream As if the world held none but them To him the fairest Nymphs do show Like moving Mountains topt with snow And every Man a Polyphâ—me Does to his Galatea seem None may presume her faith to prove He profers Death that profers Love Ah Chloris that kind nature thus From all the world had server'd us Creating for our selves us two As Love has me for only you Loves farewel TReading the path to Nobler ends A long farewel to Love I gave Resolv'd my Country and my Friends All that remain'd of me should have And this Resolve no mortal Dame None but those eyes could have o'rthrown The Nymph I dare not need not name So high so like her self alone Thus the tall Oak which now aspires Above the fear of private Fires Grown and design'd for nobler use Not to make warm but build the houâ—e Though from our meaner flames secure Must that which falls from Heaven indure From a Child Madam AS in some Climes the warmer Sun Makes it full Summer e're the Spring 's begun ' And with ripe fruit the bending boughs can load Before our Violets dare look abroad So measure not by any common use The early Love your brighter eyes produce When lately your fair hand in womens weed Wrap't my glad head I wish't me so indeed That hâ—sty time might never make me grow Out of those favours you afford me now That I might ever such indulgence sind And you not blush or think your self too kind Who now I fear while I these joys express Begin to think how you may make them less The sound of Love makes your soft heart afraid And guard it self though but a Child invade And innocently at your white brest throw A Dart as white a Ball of new faln snow On a Girdle THat which her â—lender waste confin'd Shall now my joyful Temples bind No Monarch but would give his Crown His Arms might do what this has done It was my Heaven's extreamest Sphear The Pale which held that lovely Dear My Joy my Grief my Hope my Love Did all within this Circle move A narrow compass and yet there Dwelt all that 's good and all that 's fair Give me but what this Riban bound Take all the rest the Sun goes round The Apology of Sleep For not approaching the Lady who can do any thing but sleep when she pleaseth MY charge it is those breaches to repair Which nature takes from sorrow toil and care Rest to the Limbs and quiet I confer On troubled minds but nought can add to her Whom Heaven and her transcendent thoughts have plac'd Above those ills which wretched Mortals taste Bright as the deathless gods and happy She From all that may infringe delight is free Love at her Royal Feet his quiver lays And not his Mother with more haste obeys Such real pleasures such true joys suspence What Dream can I present to recompense Should I with lightning fill her awful hand And make the Clouds seem all at her command Or place her in Olympus top a guest Among th'immortals who with Nectar feast That power would seem that entertainment short Of the true splendor of her present Court Where all the Joys and all the Glories are Of three great Kingdoms sever'd from the care I that of â—umes and humid vapours made Ascending do the seat of sense invade No Cloud in so serene a Mansion find To over-cast her ever-shining mind Which holds resemblance with those spotless Skies Where flowing Nilus want of Rain supplies That Christal Heaven where Phoebus never shrouds His golden beams nor wraps his Face in Clouds But what so hard which numbers cannot force So stoops the Moon and Rivers change their course The bold Maeonian made me dare to steep Ioves dreadful Temples in the dew of sleep And since the Muses do invoke my power I shall no more decline that Sacred Bower Where Gloriana thâ—ir great Mistriss lies But gently taming those victorious Eyes Charm all her senses till the joyful Sun Without a Rival half his course has run Who while my hand that fairer light confines May boast himself the brightest thing that shines At Pens-hurst WHile in the Park I sing the listning Deer Attend my passion and forget to fear When to the Beeches I report my flame They bow their Heads as if they felt the same To Gods appealing when I reach their bowrs With loud complaints they answer me in showrs To thee a wild and cruel Soul is given More deaf than Trees and prouder than the Heav'n Loves â—oe profest why dost thou falsly â—eign Thy self a Sidney from which Noble strain He sprung that could so far exalt the name Of Love and warm our Nation with his Flame That all we can of Love or high desire Seems but the smoak of am'rous Sidneys fire Nor call her Mother who so well do's prove One breast may hold both Chastity and Love Never can she that so exceeds the Spring In Joy and Bounty be suppos'd to bring One so destructive to no humane stock We owe this fierce unkindness but the Rock That cloven Rock produc'd thee by whose side Nature to recompence the fatal pride Of such stern Beauty plac'd those healing springs Which not more help than that destruction brings Thy heart no ruder than the rugged
D'avenant upon his Two firâ—â— Books of Gondibert written in â—rance THus the wiâ—e Nightingale that leaves her hoâ—â— Her native Wood when storms and winter 〈◊〉 Pursuing constantly the chearful Spring To forein Groves does her old Musick bring The 〈…〉 unstrung At 〈◊〉 upon the Willows hung Yours sounds aloud and tells us you excell No less in Couâ—â—ge than in Singing well Whilst unconcern'd you let your Countrey know They have impoverished themselveâ— not you Who with the Muses help can mock those Fates Which threaten Kingdoms and disorder States So Ovid when from Câ—sar 's rage he fleâ— The Roman Muse to Pontus with him led Where he so sung that we through pities Glass See Nero milder than Augustus was Hereafter such in thy behalf shall be Th'indulgent Censure of Posterity To banish those who with such art can sing â—â—a rude crime which its own curse does bring â—ges to come shall ne'r know how they fought Nor how to Love their present Youth be taught This to thy self Now to thy matchless Book Wherein those few that can with Judgment look May find old Love in pure fresh Language told Like new stampt-Coin made out of Angel-gold Such truth in Love as th'antique world did know In such a stile 〈◊〉 Courts may boast of now Which no bold tales of Gods or Monsters swell But humane Passions such as with us dwell Man is thy â—heme his Vertue or his Rage Drawn to the Life in each elaborate Page Mars nor Beâ—ona are not named here But such a Gondibert as both might fear Venus had here and Hebe been out-shin'd By the bright Birtha and thy Rhodalind Such is thy happy skill and such the odds Betwixt thy Worthies and the Grecian gods Whose Deities in vain had here come down Where moâ—â— al Beauty wears the Soveraign Crown Such as of flesh compos'd by flesh and blood Though not resisted may be understood To my worthy Friend Mr. Wase the Translator of Gratius THus by the Musick we may know When Noble Wits a Hunting go Through Groves that on Parnassus grow The Muses all the Chase adorn My Friend on Pegasus is born And young Apollo winds the Horn. Having old Gratius in the wind No pack of Critiques e're could find Or he know more of his own mind Here Huntsmen with delight may read How to chuse Dogs for scent or speed And how to change or mend the breed What Arms to use or Nets to frame Wild Beasts to combat or to tame With all the Mysteries of that game But worthy Friend the face of War In antient times does differ â—ar From what our fiery battles are Nor is it like since powder known That man so â—ruel to his own Should spare the race of Beasts alone No quarter now but with the Gun Men wait in Trees from Sun to Sun And all is in a moment done And therefore we expect your next Should be no Comment but a Text To tell how modern Beasts are vext Thus would I further yet engage Your gentle Muse to court the age With somewhat of your proper rage Since none does more to 〈◊〉 owe Or in more Languages can show Those Arts which you so early know To the King upon His Majesties happy Return THe rising Sun complies with our weak sight First gilds the clouds then shews his globe of light At such a distance from our eyes as though He knew what harm his hasty Beams would do But your full MAIESTY at once breaks forth In the Meridian of Your Reign Your Worth Your Youth and all the splendor of Your State Wrapt up till now in clouds of adverse Fate With such a floud of light invade our eyes And our spread hearts with so great joy surprize That if Your Grace incline that we should live You must not SIR too hastily forgive Our guilt preserves us from th' excess of joy Which scatters 〈◊〉 and would life destroy All are obnoxious and this faulty Land Like fâ—inting Hester does before you stand Watching your Scepter the revolted Sea Trembles to think she did your Foes obey Great Britâ—â—iâ— Like blind Rolipheme of late In a wild râ—ge became the scorn and hate Of her proud Neighbors who began to think She with the weight of her own force would sink But You are come and all their hopes are vain This Giant Isle has got her Eye again Now she might spare the Ocean and oppose Your conduct to the fiercest of her Foes Naked the Graces guarded you from all Dangers abroad and now your Thunder shall Princes that saw you different Passions prove For now they dread the Object of their love Nor without envy can behold His height Whose Conversation was their late delight So Semele contented with the rape Of Iove disguised in a mortal shape When she beheld his hands with lightning fill'd and his bright rayes was with amazement kill'd And though it be our sorrow and our crime To have accepted life so long a time Without You here yet does this absence gain No small advantage to Your present Reign For having view'd the persons and the things The Councils State and Strength of Europe's Kings You know your work Ambition to restrain And set them bounds as Heav'n does to the Main We have you now with ruling wisdom fraught Not such as Books but such as Practice taught So the lâ—st Sun while least by us enjoy'd Is the whole night for our concern imploy'd He ripens Spices Fruit and precious Gums Which from remotest Regions hither comes This seat of Yours from th' other world remov'd Had Archimede's known he might have prov'd His Engines force fixt here your power and skill Make the world's motion wait upon your will Much suffering Monarch the first English born That has the Crown of these three Nations worn How has your patience with the barbarous rage Of Your own Soil contended half an age Till Your try'd Vertue and Your sacred Word At last preventing Your unwilling Sword Armies and Fleets which kept You out so long Own'd their great Sovereign and redrest His wronâ— When straight the People by no force compell'd Nor longer from their inclination held Break forth at once like Powder let on fire And with a Noble rage their KING require So th'injur'd Sea which from her wonted course To gain some Acres Avarice did force If the new Banks neglected once decay No longer will from her old Channel â—tay Raging the late-got Land the overâ—â—ows And all that 's built upon 't to ruine goes Oâ—â—enders now the chiefeâ—â— do begin To strive for Grace and expiate their 〈◊〉 All Winds blow fair that did the World imbroil Your Vipers Treacle yield and 〈…〉 If then such praise the Macedonian got â—or having rudely cut the Gordian knot What Glory 's due to him that could divide â—uch ravell'd int'rests has the knot unty'd And without stroke so smooth a passage made Where craft and malice such impeachments laid But while we praise You You ascribe it all To his high
Band of all Society is broke What use of Oaths of Promise or of Test Where Men regard no God but Interest What endless War would jealous Nations tear â—f none above did witness what they swear Sad Fate of Unbelievers and yet just Among themselves to find so little trust Were Scripture silent Nature would proclaim Without a God our falshood and our shame To know our Thoughts the Object of his Eyes Is the first step towards being good or wise For thô with Judgment we on things reflect Our Will determines not our Intellect Slaves to their Passion Reason men employ Only to compass what they would enjoy His fear to guard us from our selves we need And sacred Writ our Reason do's exceed For the Heaven shows the Glory of the Lord Yet something shines more Glorious in his Word His mercy this which all his work excels His tender kindness and compassion tells While we inform'd by that Celestial Book Into the Bowels of our Maker look Love there reveal'd which never shall have end Nor had beginning shall our Song commend Describe it self and warm us 〈◊〉 that flame Which first from Heav'n to make us Happy came CANTO II. THE fear of Hell or aiming to be Blest Savours too much of private Interest This mov'd not Moses nor the zealous Paul Who for their Friends abandon'd Soul and all A greater yet from Heav'n to Hell descends To save and make his Enemies his Friends What line of Praise can fathom such a Love Which reacht the lowest bottom from above The Royal Prophet that extended Grace From Heav'n to earth measur'd but half that space The Law was regnant and confin'd his thoughâ— â—ell was not conquer'd when that Poet 〈◊〉 Heav'n was â—earce heard of until be came down To make the Region where Love triumphs known That early Love of Creatures yet unmade To â—â—ame the World th' Almighty did perswade For Love it was that first created Light Mov'd on the Waters chaâ—'d away the Night From the rude Chaos and bestow'd new Grace On things dispos'd of to their proper place Some to rest here and some to shine above Earth Sea and Heav'n were all th' Effects of Love And Love would be reâ—urn'd but there was none That to themselves or others yet were known The World a Palace was without a Guest Till one appears that must excel she rest One like the Author whose Capacious mind Might by the Glorious Work the Maker find Might measure Heaven and give each Star a name With Art and Courage the rough 〈…〉 Over the Globe with swelling Sails might go And that 't is round by his experience know Make strongest Beasts obedient to his Will And serve his use the fertile Earth to Till When by his Word God had accomplisht all Man to Create he did a Council call Imploy'd his Hand to give the Dust he took A graceful Figure and Majestick Look With his own Breath convey'd into his Breast Life and a Soul fit to command the rest Worthy alone to Celebrate his Name For such a Gift and tell from whence it came Birds sing his Praises in a wilder Note But not with lasting numbers and with thought Man's great Prerogative But above all His Grace abounds in his new Favorites fall If he Create it is a World he makes â—f he be ang'ry the Creation shakes From his just wrath our guilty Parents fled He curs't the Earth but bruis'd the Serpent's head Amidst the Storm his Bounty did exceed In the rich promise of the Virgins seed Thô Justice death as satisfaction craves Love finds a way to pluck us from our Graves CANTO III. NOT willing Terror should his Image move He gives a Pattern of Eternal Love His Son descends to treat a Peace with those Which were and must have ever been his Foes Poor he became and left his Glorious Seat To make us humble and to make us great His business here was happiness to give To those whose Malice could not let him live Legions of Angels which he might have us'd For us resolv'd to perish he refus'd While they stood ready to prevent his Loss Love took him up and nail'd him to the Cross Immortal Love which in his Bowels reign'd That we might be by such a Love constrain'd To make return of Love upon this Pole Our Duty does and our Religion rowle To Love is to believe to hope to know 'T is an Essay a taste of Heav'n below He to proud Potentates would not be known Of those that lov'd him he was hid from none Till Love appear we live in anxious doubt But Smoke will vanish when that Flame breaks out This is the Fire that would consume our Dross Reâ—ine and make us richer by the Loss Could we forbear Dispute and practise Love We should agree as Angels do above Where Love presides not Vice alone does find No Entrance there but Vertues stay behind Both Faith and Hope and all the meaner train Of moral Vertues at the door remain Love only enters as a Native there For born in Heav'n it do's but sojourn here He that alone would wise and mighty be Commands that others Love as well as he Love as he Lov'd how can we soar so high He can add wings when he commands to flie Nor should we be with this Command dismay'd He that Example gives will give his Aid For he took flesh that where his Precepts fail His Practice as a Pattern may prevail His Love at once and Dread instructs our thought As Man he suffer'd and as God he taught Will for the Deed he takes we may with ease Obedient be for if we Love we please Weak thô we are to Love is no hard task And Love for Love is all that Heav'n do's ask Love that would all men just and temperate make Kind to themselves and others for his sake 'T is with our Minds as with a fertile ground Wanting this Love they must with Weeds abound Unruly Passions whose effects are worse Than Thorns and Thistles springing from the curse CANTO IV. TO Glory Man or Misery is born Of his proud Foe the Envy or the Scorn Wretched he is or happy in Extreme Base in himself but great in Heav'ns esteem With Love of all created things the best Without it more pernicious than the rest For greedy Wolves ungâ—arded Sheep devour But while their hunger lasts and then give or'e Man 's boundless Avarice his want exceeds And on his Neighbors round about him feeds His Pride and vain Ambition are so vast That Delugeâ—like they lay whole Nations wast Debauches and Excess thô with less noise As great a portion of Mankind destroys The Beasts and Monsters Hercules opprest Might in that Age some Provinces infest These more deâ—â—ructive Monsters are the Bane Of ev'ry Age and in all Nations reign But soon would vanish if the World were blest With Sacred Love by which they are represt Impendent death and guilt that threatens Hell Are dreadful guests which here with Mortals
dwâ—llâ— And a 〈◊〉 Conscience mingling with their Joy Thoughts of Despair do's their whole Life annoy But Love appearing all those Terrors flie We live contented and contented die They in whose breast this sacred Love has place Death as a passage to their Joy embrace Clouds and thick Vapors which obscure the day The Suns victorious Beams may chase away Those which our Life corrupt and darken Love The Nobler Star must from the Soul remove Spots are observ'd in that which bounds the year This brighter Sun moves in a boundless Sphere Of Heav'n the Joy the Glory and the Light Shines among Angels and admits no Night CANTO V. THis Iron Age so fraudulent and bold Toucht with this Love would be an Age of Gold Not as they feign'd that Oaks should Honey drop Or Land neglected bear an unsown Crop Love would make all things easy safe and cheap None for himself would either sow or reap Our ready Help and mutual Love would yield A nobler Harvest than the richest Field Famine and Dearth confin'd to certain parts Extended are by barrenness of Hearts Some pine for want where others surfeit now But then we should the use of Plenty know Love would betwixt the Rich and Needy stand And spread Heav'ns bounty with an equal hand At once the Givers and Receivers bless Encrease their Joy and make their Sufferings less Who for himself no Miracle would make Dispens'd with Nature for the Peoples sake He that long Fasting would no wonder show Made Loaves and Fishes as they eat them grow Of all his Power which boundless was above Here he us'd none but to express his Love And such a Love would make our Joy exceed Not when our own but other mouths we feed Laws would be useless which rude Nature awe Love changing Nature would prevent the Law Tygers and Lyons into Dens we thrust But milder Creatures with their freedom trust Devils are chain'd and tremble but the Spouse No force but Love nor Bond but Bounty knows Men whom we now so 〈◊〉 and dang'rous see Would Guardian Angels to each other be Such wonders can this mighty Love perform Vultures to Doves Wolves into Lambs transform Love what Isaiah prophecy'd can do Exalt the Vallies lay the Mountains low Humblethe Lofty the Dejected raise Smooth and make strait our rough and crooked ways Love strong as Death and like it levels all With that possest the great in Title fall Themselves esteem but equal to the least Whom Heav'n with that high Character has blest This Love the Centre of our Union can Alone bestow complete Repose on Man Tame his wild Appetite make inward Peace And Foreign strife among the Nations cease No Martial Trumpet should disturb our rest Nor Princes Arm thô to subdue the East Where for the Tomb â—â—o many Hero's taught By those that guided their Devotion faught Thrice Happy we could we like Ardor have To gain his Love as they to win his Grave Love as he Lov'd a Love so unconfin'd With Arms extended would embrace Mankind Self-Love would cease or be dilated when We should behold as many Selfs as Men All of one Family in Blood ally'd His precious Blood that for our Ransom dy'd CANTO VI. THô the Creation so divinely taught Prints such a lively Image in our thought That the first spark of new Created light From Chaos struck affects our present sight Yet the first Christians did esteem more blest The day of Rising than the day of Rest That ev'ry week might new occasion give To make his Triumph in their memory live Then let our Muse compose a Sacred Charm To keep his Blood among us ever warm And singing as the Blessed do above With our last breath dilate this â—lame of Love But on so vast a Subject who can find Words that may reach th' Idea's of his mind Our Language fails or if it could supply What Mortal Thought can raise it self so high Despairing here we might abandon Art And only hope to have it in our heart But though we find this Sacred Task too hard Yet the Design th'endeavor brings Reward The Contemplation does suspend our Woe And makes a Truce with all the Ills we know As Saul's afflicted Spirit from the sound Of David's Harp a present Solace found So on this Theam while we our Muse engage No Wounds are felt of Fortune or of Age On Divine Love to meditate is Peace And makes all care of meaner things to cease Amaz'd at once and comforted to find A boundless Pow'r so infinitely kind The Soul contending to that Light to flie From her dark Cell we practise how to die Imploying thus the Poet 's winged Art To reach this Love and grave it in our heart Joy so complete so solid and severe Would leave no place for meaner Pleasures there Pale they would look as Stars that must be gone When from the East the Rising Sun comes on Floriferis ut Apes in saltibus omnia libant sic nos Scripturae depascimur aurea dicta Anrea perpetuâ semper dignissima vitâ Nam Divinus Amor cum coepit vociferari Diffugiunt Animi Terrores Lucr. Exul eram requiesque mihi non Fama petita est Mens intenta suis ne foret usque malis Namque ubi mota calent Sacrâ mea Pectora Musâ Altior humano Spiritus ille malo est De Trist. OF Divine Poesie TWO CANTOS Occasioned upon sight of the 53d Chapter of Isaiah turn'd into Verse by Mrs. Wharton CANTO I. POets we prize when in their Verse we find Some great employment of a worthy mind Angels have been inquisitive to know The Secret which this Oracle does show What was to come Isaiah did declare Which she describes as if she had been there Had seen the Wounds which to the Reader 's view She draws so lively that they Bleed a new As Ivy thrives which on the Oak takes hold So with the Prophets may her lines grow old If they should die who can the World forgive Such pious Lines When wanton Sapho's live Who with his Breath his Image did inspire Expects it should foment a Nobler fire Not Love which Brutes as well as Men may know But Love like his to whom that Breath we owe. Verse so design'd on that high Subject wrote Is the Perfection of an ardent Thought The Smoke which we from burning Incense raise When we complete the Sacrifice of Praise In boundless Verse the Fancy soars too high For any Object but the Deity What Mortal can with Heav'n pretend to share In the Superlatives of Wise and Fair A meaner Subject when with these we grace A Giants habit on a Dwarf we place Sacred should be the Product of our Muse Like that sweet Oil above all private use On pain of Death forbidden to be made But when it should be on the Altar laid Verse shows a rich inestimable Vein When dropt from Heav'n 't is thither sent again Of Bounty 't is that he admits our Praise Which does
Prodigy The water consecrate for Sacrisice Appears all black to her amazed eyeâ— The Wine to putrid Bloud converted flows Which from her none not her own sister knows Besides there stood as sacred to her Lord A marble Temple which she much ador'd With snowy Fleeces and fresh Garlands crown'd Hence every night proceeds a dreadful sound Her Husband 's voice invites her to his Tomb And dismal Owls presage the ills to come Besides the Prophesies of Wizards old Increast her terror and her fall forâ—told Scorn'd and deserted to her self she seems And finds Aeneas cruel in her dreams So to mad Pentheus double Thebes appears And Furies howl in his distempered ears Orestes so with like distraction toft Is made to flie his Mothers angry ghost Now grief and fury at their height arrive Death she decreâ—s and thus does it contrive Her grieved Sister with a chearful grace Hope well-dislembled shining in her face She thus deceives Dear Sister let us prove The Cure I have invented for my Love Beyond the Land of Aethiâ—pia lies The place where Atlas does support the Shies Hence came an old Magician that did keep Th' Hesperian Fruit and made the Dragon sleeps Her potent Charms do troubled Souls relieve And where she lists makes calmest minds to grieve The course of Rivers or of Heaven can stop And call Trees down from th' airy Mountains 〈◊〉 Witness ye Gods and thou my deatest part How loth I am to tempt this guilty Art Erect a Pile and on it let us place That Bed where I my ruine did embrace With all the reliques of our impious Guest Arms Spoils and Prâ—sents let the Pilâ— be 〈◊〉 The knowing-woman thus prescribes that we May 〈◊〉 the Man out of our 〈◊〉 Thus speaks the Queen but hides the fatal end For which she doth those sacred 〈◊〉 pretend Nor worse effects of Grief her Sister thought Would 〈…〉 murder wronghs Therefore obeys 〈◊〉 and now 〈◊〉 high The 〈◊〉 Oaks 〈…〉 Hung all with wreaths and 〈◊〉 garlands round So by her Self was her own 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Upon the top the Trojan's Image lies And his sharp Sword where with anon the dies They by the Altar stand while with loose hair The Magick Propheress begins her Prayer On Chao's Eâ—ebus and all the Gods Which in the infernal shades have their abodes She loudly calls besprinkling all the Room With drops suppoâ—'d from Lâ—thes Lake to come She seeks the 〈◊〉 which on the forehead grows Of new-foal'd Colâ—â— and heâ—bs by moon-light mows A Cake of Leaven in her pions hands Holds the devoted Queen and barefoot stands One tender Foot was bare the other 〈◊〉 Her Robe ungiâ—â— invoking every God And every Power if any be above Which takes 〈…〉 Love Now was the tiâ—e when weary Mortals steep Theâ—â— careful Temples in the dew of sleep On Seas on Earth and all that in them dwell A death like quiet and deep silence fell But not on Dido whose untamed mind Refus'd to be by sacred night confin'd A double passion in her breast does move Love and fierce anger for neglected Love Thus she afficts her Soul What shall I do With Fate inverted shall I humbly wooe And some proud Prince in wild Numidiâ— born Pray to accept me and forget my scorn Or shall I with th' ungrateful Trojan go Quit all my State and wait upon my Foe Is not enough by sad experience known The perjur'd Race of false Lâ—oinedon With my Sidoniâ—â—i shall I give them chace Bands hardly forâ—ed from their native place No dye and let this Sword thy fury tame Nought but thy bloud can quenâ—h this guilty flame Ah Sister vanquisht with my passion thou Betrayd'st me first dispensing with my vow Had I been constant to Sycbaeus still And single-liv'd I had not known this ill Such thoughts torment the Queens inraged breast While the Dardaniâ—n does securely rest In his tall ship for sudden flight prepar'd To whom once more the Son of Iove appearâ—d Thus seems to speak the youthful Deity Voice Hair and Colour all like Mercury Fair 〈◊〉 Canst thou indulge thy sleep Nor better guard in such great danger keep Mad by neglect to lose so fair a wind If here thy ships the purple 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thou shalt behold this hostile Harbor shine With a new Fleet and Fire to ruine thine She meditates Revenge resolv'd to dye Weigh Anchor quickly and her Fury flie This said the God in shades of Night retir'd Amaz'd Aeneas with the warning fir'd Shakes off dull sleep and rouzing up his men Behold the Gods command our flight agen Fall to your Oars and all your Canvas spread What God soe're that thus vouchsaf'st to lead We follow gladly and thy Will obey Assist us still smoothing our happy way And make the rest propitious With that word He cuts the Cable with his shining Sword Through all the Navy doth like Ardor reign They quit the Shore and rush into the Main Plac't on their banks the lusty Trojans sweep Neptune's smooth face and cleave the yielding deeps Of a War with Spain and a Fight at Sea Now for some Ages had the pride of Spain Made the Sun shine on half the world in vain While she bid War to all that durst supply The place of those her cruelty made dye Of Nature's bounty men forbore to taste And the best portion of the Earth lay waste From the new world her silver and her gold Came like a Tempest to confound the old Feeding with these the brib'd Elector's hopes Alone she gave us Emperors and Popes With these accomplishing her vast designs Enrope was shaken with her Indian Mines When Britain looking with a just disdain Upon this gilded Majesty of Spain And knowing well that Empire must decline Whose chief support and sinews are of coin Our Nations solid vertue did oppose To the rich troublers of the worlds repose And now some Months incamping on the Main Our Naval Army had besieged Spain They that the whole world's Monarchy design'd Are to their Ports by our bold Fleet confin'd From whence our Red-cross they triumphant see Riding without a Rival on the Sea Others may use the Ocean as their Road Only the English make it their aboad Whose ready Sails with every wind can flie And make a Cov'nant with th' unconstant Skie Our Oaks secure as if they there took root We tread on billows with a steady foot Mean while the Spaniards in America Near to the Line the Sun approaching saw And hop'd their European Coasts to sind Clear'd from our ships by the Autumnal wind Their huge capacious Gallions stuft with Plate The lab'ring winds drive slowly towards their â—ate Before St. Lucar they their Guns discharge To tell their joy or to invite a Barge This heard some Ships of ours though out of view And swift as Eagles to the Quarry â—lew So heedless Lambs which for their Mothers bleat Wake hungry Lions and become their meat Arriv'd they soon begin that Tragique play And with their smoaky Cannons banish day Night
what they indite New credit give to ancient Light Amongst these few our Author brings His well-known Pedigree from Kings This Book the Image of his Mind Will make his Name not hard to find I wish the Throng of Great and Good Made it less eas'ly understood To Mr. Henry Lawes who had then newly set a Song of mine in the Year 1635. VErse makes Heroick Vertue live But you can Life to Verses give As when in open Air we blow The Breath though strain'd sounds flat and low But if a Trumpet take the blast It lifts it high and makes it last So in your Ayrs our Numbers drest Make a shrill sally from the Brest Of Nymphs who singing what we pen'd Our passions to themselves commend While Love victorious with thy Art Governs at once their Voice and Heart You by the help of Tune and Time Can make that Song which was but Rime Noy pleading no man doubts the Cause Or questions Verses set by LAWS As a Church-window thick with Paint Le ts in a light but dim and faint So others with Division hide The light of Sence the Poets pride But you alone may truly boast That not a Syllable is lost The Writers and the Setter's skill At once the ravisht Ears do fill Let those which only warble long And Gargle in their Throats a Song Content themselves with VT RE MI Let Words and Sence be set by thee Vpon Her Majesties New Buildings at Somerset-House GReat Queen that does our Island bless With Princes and with Palaces Treated so ill chac'd from your Throne Returning you adorn the Town And with a brave Revenge do show Their Glory went and came with you While Peace from hence and you were gone Your houses in that Storm o'rethrown Those wounds which Civil Rage did give â—t once you Pardon and Relieve Constant to England in your Love As Birds are to their wonted Grove Though by rude hands their Nests are spoil'd There the next Spring again they build Accusing some malignant Star Not Britain for that fatal War Your Kindness banishes your Fear Resolv'd to fix for ever here But what new Mine this work supplies Can such a Pile from Ruine rise This like the first Creation shows As if at your Command it rose Frugality and Bounty too Those differing Virtues meet in you From a confin'd well-manag'd Store You both employ and feed the Poor Let Foreign 〈…〉 boast The rude 〈…〉 Pride and Cost Of 〈…〉 to which They Contribute nothing but the Pay This by the Queen her self design'd Gives us a pattern of her mind The State and Order does proclaim The Genius of that Royal Dame Each part with just proportion grac'd And all to such advantage plac'd That the fair View her Window yields The Town the River and the Fields Entring Beneath us we descry And wonder how we came so high She needs no weary steps ascend All seems before her feet to bend And here as She was born She lies High without taking pains to rise On the Picture of a fair Youth taken after he was dead AS gather'd Flowers whilst their wounds are new Look gay and fresh as on the stalk they grew Torn from the root that nourist them a while Not taking notice of their Fate they smile And in the hand which rudely pluckt them show Fairer than those that to their Autumn grow So Love and Beauty still that Visage grace Death cannot fright them from their wonted place Alive the hand of crooked Age had marr'd Those lovely Features which cold death has spar'd No wonder then The rest is lost Epigram upon the Golden Medal OUR Guard upon the Royal side On the Reverse Our Beauty's pride Here we discern the Frown and Smile The Force and Glory of Our Isle In the rich Medal both so like Immortals stand it seems Antique Carv'd by some Master when the bold Greeks made their Iove descend in Gold And Danae wond'ring at that showr Which falling storm'd her brazen Tow'r Britannia there the Fort in vain Had batter'd been with Golden Rain Thunder it self had fail'd to pass Vertue 's a stronger Guard than Brass Of a Tree cut in Paper FAir Hand that can on Virgin-paper write Yet from the stain of Ink preserve it white Whose travel o're that Silver Field does show Like track of Leveretts in morning Snow Love's Image thus in purest minds is wrought Without a spot or blemish to the thought Strange that your Fingers should the Pencil foil Without the help of Colours or of Oil For though a Painter Boughs and Leaves can make 'T is you alone can make them bend and shake Whose Breath salutes your new created Grove Like Southern winds and makes it gently move Orpheus could make the Forest dance but you Can make the Motion and the Forest too To a Lady from whom he received the foregoing Copy which for many years had been lost NOthing lies hid from radiant Eyes All they subdue become their Spies Secrets as choicest Jewels are Presented to oblige the Fair No wonder then that a lost thought Should there be found where Souls are caught The Picture of fair Venus That For which men say The Goddess sate Was lost till Lilly from your Look Again that Glorious Image took If Vertue 's self were lost we might From your fair Mind new Copies write All things but one you can restore The Heart you get returns no more The Night-piece or a Picture drawn in the dark DArkness which fairest Nymphs disarms Defends us ill from Mira's Charms Mira can lay her Beauty by Take no advantage of the Eye Quit all that Lilly's Art can take And yet a thousand Captives make Her Speech is grac't with sweeter Sound Than in another's Song is found And all her well-plac'd words are Darts Which need no Light to reach our Hearts As the bright Stars and milky way Show'd by the Night are hid by Day So we in that accomplisht Mind Helpt by the Night new Graces find Which by the splendor of her view Dazled before we never knew While we converse with her we mark No want of Day nor think it dark Her shining Image is a light Fixt in our hearts and conquers Night Like Jewels to advantage set Her Beauty by the shade does get There Blushes Frowns and cold Disdain All that our Passion might restrain Is hid and our Indulgent mind Presents the fair Idea kind Yet friended by the Night we dare Only in whispers tell our Care He that on her his bold hand lays With Cupid's pointed Arrows plays They with a touch they are so keen Wound us unshot and She unseen All near approaches threaten Death We may be shipwrackt by her Breath Love favour'd once with that sweet Gale Doubles his Haste and fills his Sail Till he arrive where she must prove The Haven or the Rock of Love So we th' Arabian Coast do know At distance when the Spices blow By the rich Odour taught to steer Though neither Day nor
of the Gods appear Such as of old wife Bards employ'd to make Unpolisht Men their wild Retreats forsake Law giving Heroes fam'd for taming Brutes And raising Cities with their charming Lutes For rudest minds with Harmony were caught And civil Life was by the Muses taught So wandring Bees would perish in the Air Did not a sound proportion'd to their Ear Appease their Rage invite them to the Hive Unite their Force and teach them how to thrive To rob the Flowers and to forbear the Spoil Preserv'd in Winter by their Summers Toil They give us Food which may with Nectar vie And Wax that do's the absent Sun supply Epitaph on Sir George Speke UNder this Stone lies Vertue Youth Unblemisht Probity and Truth Just unto all Relations known A worthy Patriot Pious Son Whom Neib ouring Towns so often sent To give their Sence in Parliament With Lives and Fortunes trusting one Who so discreetly us'd his own Sober he was Wise Temperate Contented with an Old Estate Which no soul A varice did increase Nor Wanton Luxury make less While yet but Young his Father dy'd And left him to an happy Guide Not Lemuel's Mother with more care Did counsel or instruct her Heir Or teach with more success her Son The Vices of the Time to shun An Heiress she while yet alive All that was her's to him did give And he just Gratitude did show To one that had oblig'd him so Nothing too much for her he thought By whom he was so bred and taught So early made that path to tread Which did his Youth to Honour lead His short Life did a Pâ—ttern give How Neighbors Husbands Friends should live The Vertue of a private Life Exceed the glorious Noise and Strife Of Battels won in thâ—se we find The solid Inâ—rest of Mankind Approv'd by all and lov'd so well Tho' Young like Fruâ— that ripe he fell Of Her Majesty on New-years Day 1683. WHat Revolutions in the World have been How are we chang'd since first we saw the Queen She like the Sun do's still the same appear Bright as She was at her Arrival here Time has Commission Mortals to impair But things Celestial is oblig'd to spare May ev'ry New-year find her still the same In Health and Beauty as She hither came When Lords and Commons with united Voice Th' Infanta nam'd approv'd the Royal Choice First of our Queens whom not the King alone But the whole Nation lifted to the Throne With like Consent and like Desert was crown'd The Glorious Prince that do's the Turk confound Victorious both his Conduct wins the day And her Example chaces Vice away Thô louder Fame attend the Martial Rage 'T is greater Glory to Reform the Age. A Presage of the Ruine of the Turkish Empire Presented to His Majesty on His Birth-Day SInce IAMES the Second grac'd the British Throne Truce well observ'd has been infring'd by none Christians to him their present Union ow And late Success against the Common Foe While Neighb'ring Princes loath't to urge their Fate Court his Assistance and suspend their Hate So angry Bulls the Combat do forbear When from the Wood a Lyon do's appear This happy day Peace to our Island sent As now he gives it to the Continent â— Prince more fit for such a Glorious task Than England's King from Heav'n we cannot ask â—e Great and Good proportion'd to the Work Their ill-drawn Swords shall turn against the Turk Such Kings like Stars with influence unconfin'd â—â—ine with Aspect propitious to Mankind â—avour the Innocent repress the Bold â—ndwhile they flourish make an Age of Gold Bred in the Camp fam'd for his Valor young At Sea successful vigorous and strong His Fleet His Army and His mighty Mind Esteem and Revrence through the World do find A Prince with such advantages as these Where He persuades not may command a Peace Britain declaring for the juster side The most Ambitious will forget their Pride They that complain will their endeavors cease Advis'd by Him incline to present Peace Join to the Turks destruction and then bring All their Pretences to so just a King If the successful Troublers of Mankind With Laurel crown'd so great Applause do find Shall the vext World less Honour yield to those That stop their Progress and their Rage oppose Next to that Pow'r which do's the Ocean â—w Is to set Bounds and give Ambition Law The British Monarch shall the Glory have That famous Greece remains no longer Slave That source of Art and cultivated Thought Which they to Rome and Romans hither brought The banisht Muses shall no longer mourn But may with Liberty to Greece return Thô Slaves like Birds that sing not in a Cage They lost their Genius and Poetick Rage Homers again and Pindaâ—s may be found And his great Actions with their numbers crown'd The Turk's vast Empire do's united stand Christians divided under the Command Of jarring Princes would be soon undone Did not this Hero make their Int'rest one Peace to embrace ruine the Common Foe Exalt the Cross and lay the Croissant low Thus may the Gospel to the rising Sun Be spread and flourish where it first begun And this great day so justly honour'd here Known to the East and celebrated there Haec Ego longaevus cecini tibi mâ—xime Regum Ausus ipse mâ—nu juvenum tentare laborem Virgil. OF Divine Love 6. CANTO'S ASserting the Authority of the Scripture in which this Love is reveal'd The Preferâ—nce and Love of God to Man in the Creation The same Love more amply declared in our Redemption How necessary this Love is to reform Mankind and how excellent in it self Shâ—wing hâ—w happy the World would be if this Love were universâ—lly embrac'd Of preserving this Love in our memory and how useful the Contemplation thereof is CANTO I. THe Grecian Muse has all their Gods surviv'd Nor Iove at us nor Phoebus is arriv'd Frail Deities which first the Poets made And then invok'd to give their Fancies aid Yet if they still divert us with their Rage What may be hop'd for in a better Age When not from Helicon's imagin'd Spring But sacred Writ we borrow what we Sing This with the Fabrick of the World begun Elder than Light and shall out-last the Sun Before this Oracle like Dagon all The false Pretenders Delphos Hammon fall Long since despis'd and silent they afford Honour and Triumph to th' Eternal Word As late Philosophy our Globe has grac'd And rowling Earth among the Planets plac'd So has this Book intitl'd us to Heav'n And Rules to guide us to that Mansion givâ—n Tells the conditions how our Peace was made And is our Pledge for the great Author's aid His Power in Nature's ampler Book we find But the less Volume do's express his mind This Light unknown bold Epicurus taught That his blest Gods vouchsafe us not a thought But unconcern'd let all below them slide As Fortune do's or humane Wisdom guide Religion thus remov'd the sacred Yoke And
Stars appear Of English Verse POets may boast as safely-Vain Their work shall with the world remain Both bound together live or die The Verses and the Prophecy But who can hope his Lines should long Last in a daily-changing Tongue While they are new Envy prevails And as that dies our Language fails When Architects have done their part The Matter may betray their Art Time if we use ill-chosen Stone Soon brings a well-built Palace down Poets that lasting Marble seek Must carve in Latine or in Greek We write in Sand our Language grows And like the Tide our work o'reflows Chaucer his Sense can only boast The glory of his Numbers lost Years have defac'd his matchless strain And yet he did not sing in vain The Beauties which adorn'd that Age The shining Subjects of his Rage Hoping they should Immortal prove Rewarded with success his Love This was the generous Poet's scope And all an English Pen can hope To make the Fair approve his Flame That can so far extend their Fame Verse thus design'd has no ill Fate If it arrive but at the Date Of fading Beauty if it prove But as long-liv'd as present Love Sung by Mrs. Knight to Her Majesty on Her Birth-day THis happy day two Lights are seen A Glorious Saint a Matchless Queen Both nam'd alike both Crown'd appear The Saint above th' Infanta here May all those years which Catherine The Martyr did for Heav'n resign Be added to the Line Of Your blest Life amongst us here For all the pains that She did feel And all the Torments of Her Wheel May You as many Pleasures share May Heaven it self content With Catherine the Saint Without appearing old An hundred times may You With Eyes as bright as now This welcome Day behold To his Worthy Friend Sir Thomas Higgons upon his Translation of the Venetian Triumph THE winged Lion's not so fierce in â—ight As Liber's hand presents him to our Sight Nor would his Pencil make him half so fierce Or roar so loud as Businello's Verse But your Translation does all three excell The Fight the Piece and lofty Businel As their small Gallies may not hold compare With our tall Ships whose Sails employ more Air So does th' Italian to your Genius vaile Mov'd with a fuller and a nobler Gale Thus while your Muse spreads the Venetian story You make all Europe emulate her Glory You make them blush weak Venice should defenâ— The cause of Heaven while they for words contend Shed Christian Blood and populous Cities raze Because the'yre taught to use some different Phraze 〈◊〉 list'ning to your Charms we could our Jars Compose and on the Turk discharge these Wars Our British Arms the sacred Tomb might wrest From Pagan hands and Triumph o're the 〈◊〉 And then you might our own high Deeds recite And with great Tasso celebrate the Fight Epitaph HEre lies Charles Candish let the Marble Stone That hides his Ashes make his Virtue known â—eauty and Valor did his short Life grace â—he Grief and Glory of his Noble Race â—arly abroad he did the World survey â—s if He knew he had not long to stay Saw what Great Alexâ—nder in the East And mighty Julius conquer'd in the West Then with a Mind as great as theirs he came To find at home occasion for his Fame Where dark Confusion did the Nations hide And where the Juster was the weâ—ker side Two Loyal Brothers took their Sovereign's part Imploy'd their Wealth their Courage and their Art The Elder did whole Regiments afford The Younger brought his Conduct and his Sword Born to Command a Leader he begon And on the Rebels lasting Honour won The Horse instructed by their General 's worth Still made the King victories in the North Where Candish fought the Royalists prevail'd Neither his Courage nor his Judgment fail'd The Current of his Victories found no stop Till Cromwel came his Parties chiefest prop Equal success had set these Champions high And both resolved to Conquer or to Die Vertue with Rage Fury with Valor â—â—rove But that must fall which is decreed Above Cromwel with odds of Number and of Fate Remov'd this Bulwark of the Church and State Which the sad Issue of the War declar'd And made his Task to ruine both less hard So when the Bank neglected is o'rethrown The boundles Torrent doth the Countrey drown Thus fell the Young the Lovely and the Brave Strow Bays and Flowera on his honoured Grave Of Her Royal Highness Mother to the Prince of Orange and of Her Portraict written by the late Dutchess of York while She lived with Her HEroick Nymph in Tempests the Support In Peace the Glory of the British Court Into whose Arms the Church the State and all That precious is or Sacred here did fall Ages to come that shall your Bounty hear Will think you Mistriss of the Indies were Thô streighter Bounds your Fortune did consine In your large Heart was found a wealthy Mine Like the bles't Oil the Widow's lasting Feast Your Treasure as you pour'd it out increas't While some your Beauty some your Bounty sing Your native Isle do's with your Praises ring But above all a Nymph of your own Train Gives us your Character in such a strain As none but She who in that Court did dwell Could know such Worth or Worth describe so well So while we Mortals here at Heav'n do guess And more our Weakness than the Place express Some Angel a Domestick there comes down And tells the Wonders he hath seen and known To the Dutchess of Orleans when She was taking Leave of the Court at Dover THat Sun of Beauty did among us rise England first saw the Light of your fair Eyes In English too your early Wit was shown Favour that Language which was then your own When though a Child through Guards you made your way What Fleet or Army could an Angel stay Thrice happy Britain If she could retain Whom she first bred within her ambient Main Our late-burnt London in Apparel new Shook off her Ashes to have treated you But we must see our Glory snatcht away And with warm Tears increase the guilty Seâ— No Wind can favour us how e're it blows We must be wreckt and our dear Treasure lose Sighs will not let us half our Sorrows tell Fair Lovely Great and best of Nymphs Farewell Written on a Card that Her Majesty tore at Ombra THE Cards you â—are in Value rise So do the Wounded by your Eyes Who to Celestial things aspire Are by that Passion rais'd the higher To the Dutchess when he presented this Book to Her Royal Highness Madam I Here present you with the Rage And with the Beauties of a former Age Wishing you may with as great Pleasure view This as we take in Gazing upon you Thus we writ then your brighter Eyes inspire Anobler Flame and raise our â—â—nius higher While we your Wit and early Knowledge fear To our Productions we become severe Your matchless Beauty gives our Fancy