Loe, freed from trouble, and intestine rage,
Doth boast yet to restore the golden age.
Thus doth thy father (generous prince) prepare
A way for thee to gaine immortall fame,
And layes the grounds of greatnesse with such care,
That thou may'st build great works upon the same;
Then since thou art to have a field so faire,
Whereas thou once may'st eternize thy name,
Begin (while as a greater light thine smothers)
And learne to rule thy selfe, ere thou rul'st others.
For still true magnanimity, we finde,
Doth harbour early in a generous brest;
To match Miltiades, whose glory shin'd,
Themistocles (a childe) was rob'd of rest;
Yet strive to be a monarch of thy minde,
For as to dare great things, all else detest,
A generous emulation spurres the sprite,
Ambition doth abuse the courage quite.
Whil'st of illustrious lives thou look'st the story,
Abhorre those tyrants which still swimm'd in bloud,
And follow those who (to their endlesse glory)
High in their subjects' love by vertue stood;
O! be like him who on a time was sorie,
Because that whil'st he chanc'd to do no good,
There but one day had happened to expire:
He was the world's delight, the Heaven's desire.
But as by mildnesse some great states do gaine,
By lenity some lose that which they have,
England's sixth Henry could not live and raigne,
But (being simple) did huge foils receive:
Brave Scipio's army mutini'd in Spayne,
Be, to the vilest vice, the basest slave,
The bodie's plague, soul's death, and honour's grave?
That beastly monster who retyr'd a part,
Amongst his concubines began to spinne,
Took with the habite too a woman's heart,
And ended that which Ninus did begin;
Faint-hearted Xerxes who did gifts impart,
To them who could devise new wayes to sinne :
Though back'd with worlds of men, straight took the
And had not courage but to see them fight. [flight,
Thus doth soft pleasure but abase the minde,
And making one to servile thoughts descend,
Doth make the body weake, the judgement blinde,
An hatefull life, an ignominious end:
Where those who did this raging tyrant binde,
With vertue's chains, their triumphs to attend,
Have by that meanes a greater glory gain'd,
Then all the victories which they attain'd.
The valorous Persian who not once but gaz'd
On faire Panthea's face to ease his toyls,
His glory, by that continency, rais'd
More than by Babylon's and Lydia's spoyls;
The Macedonian monarch was more prais'd,
Than for triumphing ore so many soils,
That of his greatest foe (though beauteous seene)
He chastly entertain'd the captiv'd queene.
Thus have still-gaz'd-at monarchs much adoe,
Who (all the world's disorders to redresse)
Should shine like to the Sunne, the which still, loe,
The more it mounts aloft, doth seeme the lesse,
They should with confidence go freely to,
And (by his meeknesse bold) their charge did leave: And (trusting to their worth) their will expresse:
O! to the state it brings great profit oft,
To be sometimes severe, and never soft.
To guide his coursers warely through the skie,
Earst Phoebus did his Phaeton require,
Since from the midle way if swarving by,
The Heavens would burne, or th' Earth would
So doth 'twixt two extreames each vertue lye,
To which the purest sprits ought to aspire,
He lives most sure who no extreame doth touch,
Nought would too little be, nor yet too much.
Some kings, whom all men did in hatred hold,
With avaritious thoughts whose breasts were torne,
Too basely given to feast their eyes with gold,
Us'd ill, and abject meanes, which brave minds
Such whil'st they onely seek (no vice controul'd)
How they may best their treasuries adorne,
Are (though like Croesus rich) whil'st wealth them
Yet still as poore as Irus in their mindes. [blinds,
And some againe as foolish fancies move,
Who praise prepost'rous fondly do pursue,
Not liberall, no, but prodigall do prove;
Then whil'st their treasures they exhausted view,
With subsidies do lose their subjects' love;
And spoyle whole realmes, though but t'enrich a few:
Whil'st with authority their pride they cloake,
Who ought to dye by smoke for selling smoke.
But O! the prince most loath'd in every land,
Is one (all given to lust) who hardly can
Free from some great mishap a long time stand;
For all the world his deeds with hatred scan;
Should he who hath the honour to command
The noblest creature (great God's image) man,
Not likeFrench Lewis th'Eleventh who did maintaine,
That who could not dissemble, could not raigne.
But still to guard their state the strongest barre,
And surest refuge in each dangerous storme,
Is to be found a gallant man of warre,
With heart that dare attempt, hands to performe,
Not that they venter should their state too farre,
And to each souldier's-course their course conforme.
The skilfull pylots at the rudder sit:
Let others use their strength, and them their wit.
In Mars his mysteries to gaine renowne,
It gives kings glory, and assures their place,
It breeds them a respect amongst their owne,
And makes their neighbours feare to lose their grace;
Still all those should, who love to keep their crowne,
In peace prepare for warre, in warre for peace:
For as all feare a prince who dare attempt,
The want of courage brings one in contempt.
And, royall off-spring, who may'st high aspire,
As one to whom thy birth high hopes assign'd,
This well becomes the courage of thy syre,
Who traines thee up according to thy kinde;
He, though the world his prosp'rous raigne admire,
In which his subjects such a comfort finde,
Hath (if the bloudy art mov'd to imbrace)
That wit then to make warre, which now keeps peace.
And O! how this (deare prince) the people charmes,
Who flock about thee oft in ravish'd bands,
To see thee yong, yet manage so thine armes,
Have a mercuriall mince, and martiall hands,
This exercise thy tender courage warmes ;
And still true greatnesse but by vertue stands:
Agesilaus said, no king could be
More great, unlesse more vertuous, than he.
And though that all of thee great things expect,
Thou, as too little, mak'st their hopes asham'd;
As he who on Olympus did detect,
The famous Theban's foot, his body fram'd,
By thy beginnings so we may collect,
How great thy worth by time may be proclaim'd:
For who thy actions doth remarke, may see,
That there be many Cæsars within thee.
Though every state by long experience findes,
That greatest blessings prosp'ring peace imparts,
As which all subjects to good order bindes,
Yet breeds this isle, still populous in all parts,
Such vigorous bodies, and such restlesse mindes,
That they disdaine to use mechanick arts:
And, being haughty, cannot live in rest,
Yea such, when idle, are a dangerous pest.
A prudent, Roman told, in some few houres,
To Rome's estate what danger did redound,
Then, when they raz'd the Carthaginian towres,
By which while as they stood, still meanes were
With others' harmes to exercise their pow'rs,
The want whereof, their greatnesse did confound;
For, when no more with forraine foes imbroil'd,
Straight, by intestine warres, the state was spoyl'd.
No, since this soile which with great sprits abounds,
Can hardly nurce her nurcelings all in peace,
Then let us keep her bosome free from wounds,
And spend our fury in some forraine place:
There is no wall can limit now our bounds,
But all the world will need walls in short space;
To keep our troups from seizing on new thrones ;
The marble ohayre must passe the ocean once.
What fury ore my judgement doth prevaile?
Me thinkes I see all th' earth glance with our armes,
And groning Neptune charg'd with many a sayle;
I heare the thundring trumpet sound th' alarmes,
Whilst all the neighbouring nations doe looke pale,
Such sudden feare each panting heart disarmes,
To see those martiall mindes together gone,
The lyon and the leopard in one.
I (Henry) hope with this mine eyes to feed, Whilst ere thou wear'st a crown, thou wear'st a shield;
And when thou (making thousands once to bleed,
That dare behold thy count'nance, and not yeeld)
Stirr'st through the bloudy dust a foaming steed,
An interested witnesse in the field
I may amongst those bands thy grace attend,
And be thy Homer when the warres do end.
But stay, where fly'st thou (Muse) so farre astray?
And whilst affection doth thy course command,
Dar'st thus above thy reach attempt a way
To court the heire of Albion's war-like land,
Who gotten hath his generous thoughts to sway,
A royall gift out of a royall hand;
And hath before his eyes that type of worth,
Yet ore thy father, loe, (such is thy fate)
Thou hast this vantage which may profit thee,
An orphan'd infant, setled in his seat,
He greater then himselfe could never see,
Where thou may'st learne by him the art of state,
And by another what thy selfe should'st be,
Whilst that which he had onely but heard told,
In all his course thou practis'd may'st behold.
And this advantage long may'st thou retain,
By which, to make thee blest, the Heavens conspire;
And labour of his worth to make thy gaine,
To whose perfections thou may'st once aspire,
When as thou show'st thy selfe, whilst thou do'st
A sonne held worthy of so great a syre; [raigne,
And with his scepters, and the people's hearts,
Do'st still inherit his heroicke parts.
With Ammon's king, griev'd Iabesh did agree,
If not reliev'd, their right eyes lost, to live;
From this disgrace Saul fights to make them free,
And God to him the victory doth give: [see;
Those, who their king (with successe crown'd) did
Them who him first had scorn'd, to kill did strive:
The people's errour, Samuel makes them know,
Then what he was, what all should be, doth show.
MVSE, sound true valour, all perfection's parts,
The force of friendship, and th' effects of faith,
To kindle courage in those generous hearts,
Which strive by vertue to triumph ore death,
Whilst honour's height the wage of worth imparts,
What hence is hop'd, or whilst we here draw breath:
Loe, found, not fain'd, how men accomplish'd prove:
Both prais❜d below, and glorifi'd above.
O thou, from whom all what we praise doth streame,
Lift up my soule, my sprite with power inspire;
That straying wits, who fayn'd ideas dreame,
May magnanimity in men admire,
Who sought thy glory, not affecting fame,
And yet what courage courts did all acquire;
The truth not wrong'd, to please Lord pardon me,
In method, time, and circumstances free.
Sterne Ammon's armes when Iabesh was enclos'd,
In her defenders did such feare infuse,
That breached walles (all naked) were expos'd,
As weake, else worse, the owners to accuse;
Who on defence no further then repos'd,
But last, for hope, a wretched helpe did use,
That starre of state, that pole which guides the To fawne on foes, and seeke (they thus appeas'd)
What safety those who sought their ruine, pleas'd
"Oft when men scorn'd, God did regard our grones,
And from great troubles did us free before,
Who pow rfull, just, aud mercifull at once,
Peace to his people when he would restore,
As reeds, crush'd scepters, breaking brittle thornes,
And by meane meanes to be admir'd the more,
What man not mock'd at Midian's scornfull flight?-
How oft did one against a number fight?
"Then (sir) it seemes that who guards Iacob's seed,
To honour you doth this occasion move,
That at this time you (eminent) may breed,
In strangers terrour, in your people love,
For if this battell (as we hope) succeed,
It your election highly would approve :
And that conceit which at the first one gaines,
It fix'd for ever in the minde remaines.
"Since come to urge great haste, I must be short,
That soone their hopes may grow, or else be spent,
Whom if you now doe by your power support,
You free from danger, and your owue prevent,
Else in worse time, us'd after in like sort,
Your owne next fear'd, you must our losse repent.
'And courage, which, now free, might praise procure,
Necessity when forc'd, will quite obscure.'
"Thinke that you heare our citizens in vaine,
With wasted words a tyrant's rigour ply;
The dead to envy forc'd, whilst they remaine
Of victors vile the bitter taunts to try,
The face's beauty once, but then the staine,
On bloudy cheekes whilst ugly eyes doe lye;
Thinke Nahas scorning them, and bragging you,
And that one moment lost, breeds danger now.”
The man then dumb, griefe did againe engage,
By speaking passions further to prevaile;
The common woe nought could at first asswage,
Till anger's strength made pittie's weakenesse faile:
Kindelona than smoak'd griefe,and flam'd forth rage.
But yet for haste to venge, staid not to waile:
He wish'd for wings to flye, where Ammon stay'd,
Yet first attended what his father said.
"That God," said Saul, "whom none enough can praise,
His troupes when vex'd, still by some one protects;
And me (of many least) at last doth raise
To fight those battels which his will directs;
Oft (that he thus the world may more amaze)
Weake instruments worke wonderfull effects:
That, due to him, none may usurpe one thought,
Nor from his glory derogate in ought.
"All my ambition is to serve this state;
For which effect, forc'd from my low repose,
The Lord was pleas'd (not my desires) of late,
This charge on me (as all know) to impose;
Aud by effects, God grant I may prove great,
Not, but in show, as pompous Ethnickes glose;
That God, this state who made me to embrace,
May grace his choice, and fit me for the place.
"I all your troubles travell to appease,
And place my treasure onely in your hearts:
Farre be delight from me, and what may please,
Whilst in this kingdome any city smarts;
And I could wish I might (if for your ease)
To watch over all, even part myselfe in parts:
This kingdome now it must my body prove, And I the soule by which it all should move.
"But lest that words time (due to deeds) should wast,
Goe, get you backe, and unto labesh tell,
That, ere the time which they design'd be past,
I shall be there, that tyrant to expell;"
Then whilst they wondred, as quite chang'd at last,
Saul did them all, yea, and himselfe excell:
A kingly courage kindled had his minde,
And from his face, majesticke greatnesse shin'd.
He whom they had despis'd, as base before, Of the least tribes least family, but borne, Who sought stray'd beasts, heard of his father's store, [scorn; Whom with disdaine they (when first rais'd) did Afraid to be with him familiar more,
A reverend awe had proud contempt out-worne:
And trompes did him attend (all well appeas'd)
Imperiously appointing what he pleas'd.
Two oxen then he did in pieces share,
Which he through Israell did with terrour send,
And vow'd solemnly, who did not repaire,
Where Saul and Samuel did their forces bend,
That as those beasts had been dismembred there,
They, like from him (when victor) might attend;
But in their hearts God such obedience wrought,
That all to doe his will, were quickly brought.
O what huge troupes their native homes did leave!
Of populous Israell, there did armed stand,
Three hundred thousand; thirty Iuda gave,
When by God bless'd, so fertile was that land:
Yet they by this did no high hopes conceive,
Though swarming forth in number as the sand:
As who oft spy'd, confirm'd by the effects,
The God of batte's victory directs.
No mercenary mindes base gaine did move,
(As whom when sold, a price to perill drives)
Bright zeale, true honour, and their countrie's love,
Did to all dangers consecrate their lives:
None needed them to presse, but to approve,
Arm'd for their altars, children, goods, and wives,
When forc'd to fight for liberty and lands,
Each one (a captaine) all his power commands.
When open force had banish'd private feares,
All were (though sad) bent what they lov'd to quite,
Babes' flatt'ring smiles, wives' wounding sighes and
All eyes' attendance, Ionathan procur'd,
Whose march majesticke highly was extoll'd,
Not arrogant, no, no, but yet assur'd,
It some men's folly, others' feares controld:
His looke imperious, forc'd, yet milde, allur❜d
The proud to bow, the humble to be bold:
What fit, reforming, marking every place;
His gallant carriage all the rest did grace.
Clouds made the world (all light below expell'd)
A driry lodging for a drowsie lord,
Yet still (as big with light) Heaven's bosome swell'd,
And for one great, did many small afford;
In shadowes wrapt, a silent horrour held
All sorts of guests with which the Earth was stor❜d:
The world seem'd dumb, where nought save breath
did move,
As, what seem'd dead, it still alive would prove.
Yet all the hoast to nature did refuse
That tribute due by every mortal's eye,
Of matters high whilst haughty thoughts did muse,
Sleep's leaden bands straight travell did unty;
Heaven in their mindes such vigour did infuse,
They (as it selfe) the type of death did flye:
"To doe great things, when generous minds devise,
Paine pleasure gives, things difficult entice."
But (clouds dispers'd) the ayre more pure appear'd,
Light blushing (as late rais'd) the depths did leave,
Whilst flaming shields some trembling glances
clear'd,
[reave, What night had reft from them, th' eyes back did And sprites (though dull) a naturall musicke chear'd, Which many divers sounds consorted gave: [springs, Thus light from darknesse, day from night forth Type of that chaos first whence flow'd all things.
Ere that day's journey Phoebus had begun,
The armies neere were drawn unto an end;
And those return'd, who first before had runne,
To try abroad that which they might attend:
They told how they (by the occasion wonne)
To Ammon's tents did resolutely tend,
Whose silence seem'd them (in suspense) to call,
Some watch'd neere labesh, clsewhere none at all,
They by faint flashes of exhausted fires,
There spyde a camp, as if from danger farre,
Well serv'd with all to which rich peace aspires,
As if for pleasure com'd, to sport with warre,
They softly lay (as at adorn'd retires)
Where (all commodious) nought their rest might
Mars onely seem'd to court his mistresse there,
Charg'd with superfluous, of things needfull, bare.
"Here sleep press'd him, there wine had buried one,
(Death kissed so as straight imbrac'd to be) [gone,
Boords still were charg'd,whence guests had faine, not
Cups crown'd with wine triumph'd, as victors, free,
Late musick's conducts bruis'd (when touch'd) did
Games' relicts left, were of all sorts to see; [grone,
Thus souldiers seem'd, voluptuous tokens trac'd,
Not in a campe, but at some wedding plac'd.
"Two in one tent (whilst we without did hold)
As tyr'd of sleep, the time with words did wast,
The truth I hope, (though not so meant when told)
Said, of their toyles, this night would be the last.
Then, that this day the Hebrews render would,
And at their feet themselves (scorn'd captives) cast:
Th' one long'd to laugh, when spying them halfe blinde,
His mate to kill, as more to ruth inclin❜d.
"No doubt we might (if willing) where we went,
Have soon kill'd some, and hardly kept hands pure,
But would not so your enterprise prevent,
By making them suspect who lay secure ;
Our thoughts for private praise were not so bent,
A publike danger fondly to procure;" [true)'
Then (brought from thence to prove their speeches
A helmet one, a sword the other shew.
Thus what they learn'd, each circumstance declar'd,
In every breast a thirst of battell bred,
With Abner and his sonne, Saul equall shar'd,
The glistring squadrons which no danger dread,
Of which both resolute, and well prepar'd,
Each one a hundred and ten thousand led:
The chiefes then met, who straight to fight did crave,
Saul needlesse spurres thus to franke courage gave.
"Whilst all events (as doubtfull) ballanc'd be,
The souldiers'mindes their earnest emperour cheares;
But what I should give you, ye give to me,
Whose resolution at an height appeares;
A courage, yea, a confidence I see,
Through lookes which lightning every count'nance
cleares:
So that I should (if bent to move you more)
Cast water in the sea, sand on the shore.
'" And O! what wonder though ye all be bold,
Your ancestors' victorious steps to trace,
Which oft triumph'd ore mighty states of old,
Whilst God the glory, they did purchase peace?
Heaven's register, by sacred pennes enrold
Their worth eternall, which each age must grace:
Who high exploits securely might effect,
When God himselfe as captaine did direct.
"With God at peace, what can appall that band, Whom so to help (when need requires such ayd) Seas part, rocks rend, food rains, walls fall, flouds stand,
One may chase thousands, thousands quake dismay'd, [mand, Whose hearts when God, men may the rest comAs bound, delivered, yet by none betray'd:. The wonder-worker's power more plaine to make, Whilst one moe captives kept, then ten could take?
"A prey made sure ye onely go to seise,
(As spyes report) which may even dead be thought,
Since spoyl'd by pleasure, buried in their ease,
To grace our labours not come here, but brought;
This hoast of ours the Lord of hoasts doth please,
Whose help, I doubt not, but ye all have sought:
Loe, Samuel here, and Saul; let this content,
A prophet, and a prince, by God both sent.
"But though not difficult this conquest seemes,
Great is the glory which doth it attend;
From bragg'd disgrace our brethren it redeemes,
Which (if not worse) would toward us extend,
And then by it the world that state esteemes,
Which oft ye urg'd, and have procur'd in th' end:
For, as this first, with fame now credit gaines,
Your course disprov'd, or still approv'd, remaines.
"Nor speake I this, as who of ought do doubt,
Since rather reines then spurres your courage needs,
Be providently brave, not rash, though stout,
Let your commander's words direct your deeds,
And thinke ye see me still to marke about,
Whose gallant carriage greatest glory breeds:
No valour thus in va ne shall be set forth,
One shall both witnesse and reward your worth.
"But why do I our victory delay,
And force your fury idlie thus to burne?
Go, go, wound, kill, take, spoyle, and leade away,
That straight in triumph we may all returne;
I see in flouds of bloud dead bodies stray,
I heare you shout for joy, for griefe them mourne:
And whil'st scorn'd ransomes have your hands not
All sacrifice at last, as first ye pray'd." [stai'd,
Then godly Samuel fortifi'd them more,
By sprituall pow'r, then all their weapons else,
He pray'd with faith, and did with zeale adore,
Which, more then offrings, wrath for sinne expels,
Then, all religious rites perform'd before,
Which might draw help from Heaven, stay harm
from Hell's,
He by his blessing more confirm'd their mindes,
Then all could do, though joyn'd from Thule to Iudes.
This mighty army did it selfe divide,
And by three wayes all forward went one way,
The dust, which in a cloud them seem'd to hide,
Even it, by covering, did them first betray;
When carelesse Ammon numbrous Israel spy'd,
Though dull amazement mindes a space did stay,
All with confusion sundry things advis'd, [pris'd."
"Rise, runne, haste, arme, ranke, march, we are sur-
Three armies view'd, each from a severall part,
Come not, and Iabesh as they did expect,
Who promis'd had (to sooth them so with art)
That they that day would further hopes neglect,
And this with terrour toss'd the strongest heart;
None knew what way their forces to direct;
The world conjur'd, seem'd al! against them arm'd,
Whil'st glistring squadrons from each corner swarm'd.
Yet with great haste, what might be, was perform'd,
And nothing requisite was left undone;
The first confusion bravely was reform'd,
And the tumultuous bands all setled soone;
Then haughty Nahas, who extreamely storm'd,
Though griefe, and rage, his accents did mistoone;
He, to his troups, ere enemies could them reach,
With desp'rate courage did roare forth this speech.
"Hath dastard Iabesh thos with us disguis'd?
Or must their shame be witness'd by those bands?
Then, let us prove (though by our foes despis'd)
As seas in power, since they, in number, sands,
So shall they finde (though thinking us surpris'd)
That they in ours, we fall not in their hands:
They now to fight are all together brought,
Whom else when sever'd, we with toyle had sought.
"We must be great, or not be, in short space, For, though so sought, no safety flight attends, But what base breast can such vile thoughts imbrace? 'Shame, even then death, a step more low descends;' Losse now not onely threatens us'd disgrace, But what to labesh ye, to you portends:
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