Love led them on, and faith, who knew them best XV. TO THE LORD GENERAL FAIRFAX. FAIRFAX, whose name in arms through Europe rings, Victory home, though new rebellions raise (For what can war but endless war still breed?) XVI. TO THE LORD GENERAL CROMWELL. To peace and truth thy glorious way hast ploughed, And on the neck of crowned fortune proud Hast reared God's trophies, and his work pursued, While Darwen stream with blood of Scots imbrued, And Dunbar field resounds thy praises loud, And Worcester's laureate wreath. Yet much remainsTM To conquer still; peace hath her victories Lewol.4 No less renowned than war: new foes arise XVI. TO SIR HENRY VANE THE YOUNGER. VANE, young in years, but in sage counsel old, Than whom a better senator ne'er held Whether to settle peace, or to unfold The drift of hollow states hard to be spelled, best upheld Move by her two main nerves, iron and gold, In all her equipage; besides to know Both spiritual power and civil, what each means, What severs each, thou hast learned, which few have done : The bounds of either s sword to thee we owe; Therefore, on thy firm hand religion leans XVII. ON THE LATE MASSACRE IN PIEMONT. AVENGE, O Lord! thy slaughtered saints, whose bones ני Who were thy sheep, and in their ancient fold Slain by the bloody Piemontese that rolled h Mother with infant down the rocks. Their moans The vales redoubled to the hills, and they To Heaven. Their martyred blood and ashes sow O'er all the Italian fields, where still doth sway XIX. ON HIS BLINDNESS.. WHEN I consider how my light is spent Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide; And that one talent which is death to hide, Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent To serve therewith my Maker, and present My true account, lest he returning chide; Doth God exact day-labour, light denied, I fondly ask? But Patience, to prevent That murmur, soon replies, God doth not need Either man's work or his own gifts; who best Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best: his state Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed, And post o'er land and Ocean without rest; They also serve who only stand and wait. XX. TO MR. LAWRENCE. LAWRENCE, of virtuous father virtuous son, He who of those delights can judge, and spare TO CYRIAC SKINNER. > >**** CYRIAC, whose grandsire on the royal bench And what t'the Swede intends, and what the French. To measure life learn thou betimes, and know Toward solid good what leads the nearest For other things mild Heaven a time orde And disapproves that care, though wise in show, That with superfluous burded loads the day, And, when God sends a cheerful hour, refrains. XXII. TO THE SAME. year, CYRIAC, this three years' day these eyes, though clear, Of which all Europe talks from side to side. This thought might lead me through the world's vain mask Content, though blind, had I no better guide. XXIII. ON HIS DECEASED WIFE. METHOUGHT I saw my late espoused saint And such, as yet once more I trust to have Full sight of her in Heaven without restraint, Came vested all in white, pure as her mind: Her face was veiled, yet to my fancied sight So cle Sweetness, goodness, in her person shined as in no face with more delight. But oh! as to embrace me she inclined, I waked, she fled, and day brought back my night. |