How powerful are chafte vows! the wind and tide
You brib'd to combat on the English side.
Thus to your much-lov'd lord you did convey
An unknown fuccour, fent the nearest way.
New vigour to his wearied arms you brought,
(So Mofes was upheld while Ifrael fought)
While, from afar, we heard the cannon play,
Like diftant thunder on a fhiny day.

For abfent friends we were afham'd to fear,
When we confider'd what you ventur❜d there.
Ships, men, and arms, our country might restore,
But fuch a leader could fupply no more.

With generous thoughts of conqueft he did burn,
Yet fought not more to vanquish than return.
Fortune and victory he did purfue,

To bring them as his flaves to wait on you.
Thus beauty ravish'd the rewards of fame,
And the fair triumph'd when the brave o'ercame.
Then, as you meant to spread another way
By land your conquefts, far as his by fea,
Leaving our fouthern clime, you march'd along
The ftubborn North, ten thousand Cupids ftrong.
Like commons the nobility refort,

In crowding heaps, to fill your moving court:
To welcome your approach the vulgar run,

Like fome new envoy from the diftant fun,
And country beauties by their lovers go,
Bleffing themselves, and wondering at the show.
So when the new-born Phoenix firft is feen,
Her feather'd fubjects all adore their queen,
And while fhe makes her progrefs through the Eaft,
From every grove her numerous train's increaft:
Each Poet of the air her glory fings,

And round him the pleas'd audience clap their wings.

ANNUS

ANNUS MIRABILIS:

THE

YEAR of WONDERS,

1666.

AN HISTORICAL POEM.

染染染

D 3

TO THE

METROPOLIS of GREAT-BRITAIN,

The most Renowned and late Flourishing

CITY of LONDON,

In its REPRESENTATIVES The LORD-MAYOR and Court of ADDERMEN, the SHERIFFS, and COMMONCOUNCIL of it.

A

S perhaps I am the first whoever presented a work of this nature to the metropolis of any nation; fo it is likewife confonant to juftice, that he who was to give the first example of fuch a dedication fhould begin it with that city, which has fet a pattern to all others of true loyalty, invincible courage, and unfhaken conftancy. Other cities have been praised for the fame virtues, but I am much deceived if any have fo dearly purchased their reputation; their fame has been won them by cheaper trials than an expenfive, though neceffary war, a confuming peftilence, and a more confuming fire. To fubmit yourfelves with that humility to the judgments of heaven, and at the fame time to raise yourselves with that vigour above all human enemies; to be combated at once from above, and from below, to be ftruck down. and to triumph: I know not whether fuch trials have been ever paralleled in any nation: the refolution and fucceffes of them never can be. Never had prince or people more mutual reason to love each other, if fuffering for each other can endear affection. You have come together a pair

of matchlefs lovers, through many difficulties; he, through a long exile, various traverses of fortune, and the interpofition of many rivals, who violentlyravifhed and with-held you from him: and certainly you have had your fhare in fufferings. But Providence has caft upon you want of trade, that you might appear bountiful to your country's neceffities; and the rest of your afflictions are not more the effects of God's difpleasure (frequent examples of them having been in the reign of the moft excellent princes) than occafions for the manifefting of your chriftian and civil virtues. To you therefore this Year of Wonders is juftly dedicated, because you have made it fo. You, who are to ftand a wonder to all years and ages; and, who have built yourselves an immortal monument on your own ruins. You are now a Phoenix in her afhes, and, as far as humanity can approach, a great emblem of the fuffering Deity: but heaven never made fo much piety and virtue to leave it miferable. I have heard, indeed, of fome virtuous perfons who have ended unfortunately, but never of any virtuous nation: Providence is engaged too deeply, when the cause becomes fo general; and I cannot imagine it has refolved the ruin of that people at home, which it has bleffed abroad with fuch fucceffes. I am therefore to conclude, that your fufferings are at an end; and that one part of my poem has not been more an hiftory of your deftruc tion, than the other a prophecy of your restoration. The accomplishment of which happiness, as it is the wifh of all true Englifhmen, fo is it by none more paffionately desired, than by,

The greateft of your admirers,

and most humble of your fervants,

JOHN DRYDEN,

An