And as devouter Turks first warn their souls
To part before they taste forbidden bowls,
So these, when their black crimes they went about,
First timely charm'd their useless conscience out. 190
Religion's name against if was made;
The shadow serv'd the substance to invade ;
Like zealous missions, they did care pretend
Of souls in shew, but made the gold their end.
Th' incensed pow'rs beheld with scorn from high
An heav'n so far distant from the sky,
Which durst, with horses' hoofs that beat the ground,
And martial brass, belie the thunder's sound;
'Twas hence at length just Vengeance thought it fit
To speed their ruin by their impious wit.
Thus Sforza, curs'd with a too fertile brain,
Lost by his wiles the pow'r his wit did gain.
Henceforth their fougue must spend at lesser rate
Than in its flames to wrap a nation's fate.
Suffer'd to live, they are like Helots set,
A virtuous shame within us to beget:
For by example most we sinn'd before,
And glass-like clearness mix'd with frailty bore.
But since reform'd by what we did amiss,
We by our suff'rings learnt to prize our bliss.
Like early lovers, whose unpractis'd hearts
Were long the May-game of malicious arts,
When once they find their jealousies were vain,
With double heat renew their fires again.
'Twas this produc'd the joy that hurry'd o'er
Such swarms of English to the neighb'ring shore,
To fetch that prize by which Batavia made
So rich amends for our impoverish'd trade.
Oh! had you seen from Schevelin's barren shore
(Crowded with troops, and barren now no more) 220
Afflicted Holland to his farewell bring
True sorrow, Holland to regret a king!
While waiting him his royal fleet did ride,
And willing winds to their lower'd sails deny'd.
The wav'ring streamers, flags, and standards out,
The merry seamens' rude but cheerful shout;
And last the cannons' voice that shook the skies,
And as it fares in sudden ecstasies,
At once bereft us both of ears and eyes.
The Naseby now no longer England's shame,
But better to be lost in Charles' name,
(Like some unequal bride in nobler sheets)
Receives her lord, the joyful Londom meets
The princely York, himself alone a freight;
The Swiftsure groans beneath great Go'ster's weight.
Secure as when the halcyon breeds, with these
He that was born to drown might cross the seas.
Heav'n could not own a Providence, and take
The wealth three nations ventur'd at a stake.
The same indulgence Charles's voyage bless'd,
Which in his right hand miracles confess'd.
The winds, that never moderation knew,
Afraid to blow too much, too faintly blew ;
Or out of breath with joy could not enlarge
Their straiten'd lungs, or conscious of their charge.
The British Amphytrite, smooth and clear,
In richer azure never did appear,
Proud her returning Prince to entertain
With the submitted fasces of the main.
AND welcome now, great Monarch! to your own; Behold th' approaching cliffs of Albion:
It is no longer motion cheats your view;
As you meet it the land approacheth you.
The land returns, and in the white it wears,
The marks of penitence and sorrow bears.
But you, whose goodness your descent doth show,
Your heav'nly parentage and earthly too;
By that same mildness which your father's crown
Before did ravish shall secure your own.
Not ty'd to rules of policy, you find
Revenge less sweet than a forgiving mind.
Thus, when th' Almighty would to Moses give
A sight of all he could behold and live,
A voice before his entry did proclaim
"Long suffering, Goodness, Mercy," in his name, Your pow'r to justice duth submit your cause, Your goodness only is above the laws,
Whose rigid letter, while pronounc'd by you,
'Is softer made: so winds that tempests brew,
When thro' Arabian groves they take their flight,
Made wanton with rich odours, lose their spite:
And as those lees that trouble it refine
The agitated soul of gen'rous wine;
So tears of joy for your returning spilt,
Work out and expiate our former guilt.
Methinks I see those crowds on Dover's strand,
Who in their haste to welcome you to land
Chok'd up the beach with their still-growing store,
And made a wilder torrent on the shore;
While, spurr'd with eager thoughts of past delight,
Those who had seen you court a second sight;
Preventing still your steps, and making haste
To meet you often wheresoe'er you past.
How shall I speak of that triumphant day,
When you renew'd th' expiring pomp of May!
(A month that owns an int'rest in your name;
You and the flow'rs are its peculiar claim.)
That star that at your birth shone out so bright,
It stain'd the duller sun's meridian light,
Did once again its potent fires renew,
Guiding our eyes to find and worship you.
And now Time's whiter series is begun,
Which in soft centuries shall smoothly run:
Those clouds that overcast your morn shall fly
Dispell'd to farthest corners of the sky.
Our nation with united int'rest bless'd,
Not now content to poise shall sway the rest. Abroad your empire shall no limits know, But like the sea in boundless circles flow. Your much-lov'd fleet shall with a wide command Besiege the petty-monarchs of the land; And as old Time his offspring swallow'd down, Our ocean in its depths all seas shall drown. Their wealthy trade from pirates' rapine free, Our merchants shall no more advent'rers be, Nor in the farthest East those dangers fear, Which humble Holland must dissemble here. Spain to your gift alone her Indies owes; For what the pow'rful takes not he bestows: And France, that did an exile's presence fear, May justly apprehend you still too near. At home the hateful names of party cease, And factious souls are weary'd into peace. The discontented now are only they
Whose crimes before did your just cause betray:
Of those your edicts some reclaim from sin,
But most your life and bless'd example win.
Oh happy Prince! whom Heav'n hath taught the way,
By paying vows, to have more vows to pay!
Oh happy age! oh times like those alone,
By fate reserv'd for great Augustus' throne!
When the joint growth of arms and arts foreshew
The world a Monarch, and that monarch You.
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