Twas this produc'd the joy that hurry'd o'er Such swarms of English to the neighb'ring shore, 215 To fetch that prize by which Batavia made So rich amends for our impoverish'd trade. Oh had you seen from Scheveline's barren shore, (Crowded with troops, and barren now no more)
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 low'r'd sails deny'd. The wav'ring streamers, flags, and standards out, The merry seamen's rude but cheerful shout; 225 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 London meets The princely York, himself alone a freight; The Swiftsuregroans beneath great Glo'ster's weight, Secure as when the halcyon breeds, with these, 235 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' voyage bless'd Which in his right had 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 strait'ned 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 shew, 255 Your heav'nly parentage and earthly too; By that same mildness which your father's crown
Before did ravish, shall secure your own.
Not tied 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-fuffering, Goodness, Mercy, in his name. Your pow'r to justice doth submit your cause, 265 Your goodness only is above the laws;
Whose rigid letter, while pronounc'd by you, Is softer made: so winds that tempests brew, When through Arabian groves they take their flight, Made wanton with rich odours, lose their spite: 270 And as those lees, that trouble it, refine The agitated soul of generous 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, 275 Who, in their haste to welcome you to land, Chok'd up the beech 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; 280 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; 285 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.
Forc'd into exile from his rightful throne, He made all countries, where he came, his own;
And viewing monarch's secret arts of sway,
A royal factor for his kingdoms lay.
Thus banish'd David spent abroad his time,
When to be God's anointed was his crime; And when restor'd made his proud neighbours rue Those choice remarks he from his travels drew.
Nor is he only by afflictions shown To conquer others' realms, but rule his own; Recov'ring hardly what he lost before, His right endears it much, his purchase more. Inur'd to suffer ere he came to reign, No rash procedure will his actions stain : To bus'ness ripen'd by digestive thought, His future rule is into method brought: As they who first proportion understand, With easy practice reach a master's hand. Well might the ancient poets then confer On Night the honour'd name of Counsellor.
Since, struck with rays of prosp'rous fortune blind,
We light alone in dark afflictions find.
In such adversities to sceptres train'd,
The name of Great his famous grandsire gain'd: Who yet a king alone in name and right,
With hunger, cold, and angry Jove did fight;
Shock'd by a covenanting league's vast pow'rs,
As holy and as catholic as ours;
Till Fortune's fruitless spite had made it known, Her blows not shook, but rivetted his throne.
Some lazy ages, lost in sleep and ease;
No action leave to busy chronicles: Such, whose supine felicity but makes In story chasms, in epochas mistakes;
O'er whom Time gently shakes his wings of down,
Till with his silent sickle they are mown.
Such is not Charles' too, too active age, Which, govern'd by the wild distemper'd rage Of some black star infecting all the skies,
Made him, at his own cost, like Adam, wise.
Tremble, ye Nations, who, secure before,
Laugh'd at those arms that 'gainst ourselves we bore; Rous'd by the lash of his own stubborn tail,
Our lion now will foreign foes assail. With alga who the sacred altar strows? To all the sea-gods Charles an off'ring owes: A bull to thee, Portunus, shall be slain, A lamb to you, ye Tempests of the main : For those loud storms, that did against him roar, Have cast his shipwreck'd vessel on the shore. Yet as wise artists mix their colours so, That by degrees they from each other go; Black steals unheeded from the neighb'ring white, Without offending the well-cozen'd sight; So on us stole our blessed change, while we Th' effect did feel, but scarce the manner see,
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