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13 Swift and resistless through the land he past,

Like that bold Greek who did the East subdue, And made to battles such heroic haste,

As if on wings of victory he flew.

14 He fought secure of fortune as of fame :

Still by new maps the island might be shown,
Of conquests, which he strew'd where'er he came,
Thick as the galaxy with stars is sown.

15 His palms, though under weights they did not stand, Still thrived; no winter could his laurels fade : Heaven in his portrait show'd a workman's hand, And drew it perfect, yet without a shade.

16 Peace was the prize of all his toil and care, Which war had banish'd, and did now restore : Bologna's walls thus mounted in the air,

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To seat themselves more surely than before.

17 Her safety rescued Ireland to him owes ;

And treacherous Scotland, to no interest true,
Yet blest that fate which did his arms dispose
Her land to civilize, as to subdue.

18 Nor was he like those stars which only shine,
When to pale mariners they stormsportend:
He had his calmer influence, and his mien
Did love and majesty together blend.

1 Bold Greek:' Alexander the Great.-2 Palms' were thought to grow best under pressure. a Bologna's walls,' &c.: alluding to a Popish story about the wall of Bologna, on which was an image of the Virgin, being blowu up, and falling exactly into its place again.

19 "Tis true, his countenance did imprint an awe; And naturally all souls to his did bow,

As wands1 of divination downward draw,

And point to beds where sovereign gold doth grow.

20 When past all offerings to Feretrian Jove,

He Mars deposed, and arms to gowns made yield; Successful councils did him soon approve

As fit for close intrigues, as open field.

21 To suppliant Holland he vouchsafed a peace, Our once bold rival of the British main, Now tamely glad her unjust claim to cease,

And buy our friendship with her idol, gain.

22 Fame of the asserted sea through Europe blown,
Made France and Spain ambitious of his love;
Each knew that side must conquer he would own;
And for him fiercely, as for empire, strove.

23 No sooner was the Frenchman's cause 2 embraced,
Than the light Monsieur the grave Don outweigh'd;
His fortune turn'd the scale where'er 'twas cast,
Though Indian mines were in the other laid.

24 When absent, yet we conquer'd in his right : For though some meaner artist's skill were shown In mingling colours or in placing light,

Yet still the fair designment was his own.

25 For from all tempers he could service draw; The worth of each, with its alloy, he knew;

'Wands:' see the Antiquary.'- Frenchman's cause:' the treaty of alliance which Cromwell entered into with France against the Spaniards.

And, as the confidant of Nature, saw

How she complexions did divide and brew.

26 Or he their single virtues did survey,

By intuition, in his own large breast;
Where all the rich ideas of them lay,

That were the rule and measure to the rest.

27 When such heroic virtue Heaven sets out, The stars, like commons, sullenly obey; Because it drains them when it comes about,

And therefore is a tax they seldom pay.

28 From this high spring our foreign conquests flow,
Which yet more glorious triumphs do portend;
Since their commencement to his arms they owe,
If springs as high as fountains may ascend.

29 He made us freemen of the Continent,1

Whom Nature did like captives treat before;
To nobler preys the English lion sent,

And taught him first in Belgian walks to roar.

30 That old unquestion'd pirate of the land,

Proud Rome, with dread the fate of Dunkirk heard; And trembling wish'd behind more Alps to stand, Although an Alexander 2 were her guard.

31 By his command we boldly cross'd the line,
And bravely fought where southern stars arise
We traced the far-fetch'd gold unto the mine,
And that which bribed our fathers made our prize.

เ Freemen of the Continent:' by the taking of Dunkirk. der: Alexander VII., at this time Pope.

2 Alexan

32 Such was our prince; yet own'd a soul above The highest acts it could produce to show: Thus poor mechanic arts in public move,

Whilst the deep secrets beyond practice go.

33 Nor died he when his ebbing fame went less,
But when fresh laurels courted him to live:
He seem❜d but to prevent some new success,
As if above what triumphs earth could give.

34 His latest victories still thickest came,

As near the centre motion doth increase;
Till he, press'd down by his own weighty name,
Did, like the vestal,1 under spoils decease.

35 But first the ocean as a tribute sent

The giant prince of all her watery herd;
And the Isle, when her protecting genius went,
Upon his obsequies loud sighs 2 conferr❜d.

36 No civil broils have since his death arose,
But faction now by habit does obey;

And wars have that respect for his repose,
As winds for halcyons, when they breed at sea.

37 His ashes in a peaceful urn 3 shall rest;

His name a great example stands, to show
How strangely high endeavours may be blest,
Where piety and valour jointly go.

1 'Vestal:' Tarpeia. 2 Loud sighs: the tempest which occurred at Cromwell's death. Peaceful urn:' Dryden no true prophet-Cromwell's bones having been dragged out of the royal vault, and exposed on the gibbet in 1660.

ASTRÆEA REDUX.

A POEM ON THE HAPPY RESTORATION AND RETURN OF HIS SACRED MAJESTY CHARLES II., 1660.

"Jam redit et virgo, redeunt Saturnia regna."-VIRG.

"The last great age, foretold by sacred rhymes,
Renews its finish'd course; Saturnian times
Roll round again."

Now with a general peace the world was blest,
While ours, a world divided from the rest,
A dreadful quiet felt, and worser far
Than arms, a sullen interval of war:

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Thus when black clouds draw down the labouring skies,
Ere yet abroad the winged thunder flies,
An horrid stillness first invades the ear,
And in that silence we the tempest fear.
The ambitious Swede,1 like restless billows tost,
On this hand gaining what on that he lost,
Though in his life he blood and ruin breathed,
To his now guideless kingdom peace bequeath'd.
And Heaven, that seem'd regardless of our fate,
For France and Spain did miracles create;
Such mortal quarrels to compose in peace,
As nature bred, and interest did increase.
We sigh'd to hear the fair Iberian bride 2
Must grow a lily to the lily's side;

While our cross stars denied us Charles' bed,

Whom our first flames and virgin love did wed.

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1 Ambitious Swede:' Charles X., named also Gustavus, nephew to the great Gustavus Adolphus. trothed to Louis XIV.

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.2 Iberian bride: the Infanta of Spain was be

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