TO THE KING.

IN THE FIRST YEAR OF HIS MAJESTY'S REIGN.

MAY all thy years, like this, aufpicious be,

And bring thee crowns, and peace, and victory!
Scarce hadft thou time t' unfheath thy conqu❜ring
It did but glitter, and the rebels fled.
[blade;
Thy fword, the fafeguard of thy brother's throne, 5
Is now as much the bulwark of thy own.

Aw'd by thy fame, the trembling nations fend
Throughout the world to court fo firm a friend;
The guilty fenates that refus'd thy fway
Repent their crime, and haften to obey ;

Tribute they raise, and vows and off'rings bring,
Confefs their frenzy, and confirm their king:
Who with their venom overspread thy foil,
Thofe fcorpions of the state present their oil.

So the world's Saviour, like a mortal drefs'd, 15 Altho' by daily miracles confess'd,

Accus'd of evil doctrine by the Jews,

The giddy crowd their rightful Prince refufe;
But when they faw fuch terror in the skies,
The temple rent, their King in glory rife,
Seiz'd with amaze they own'd their lawful Lord,
And, ftruck with guilt, bow'd, trembled, and ador'd.

20

TO THE KING.

THO' train'd in arms, and learn'd in martial arts,!
Thou chufest not to conquer men, but hearts;
Expecting nations for thy triumphs wait,

But thou preferr'ft the name of Just to Great.
So Jove fufpends his fubject-world to doom,
Which would he please to thunder he 'd confume.
O! could the ghofts of mighty heroes dead
Return on earth, and quit th' Elyftan fhade,
Brutus to James would truft the people's caufe;
Thy juftice is a stronger guard than laws:
Marius and Sylla would refign to thee,
Nor Cæfar and great Pompey rivals be,
Or rivals only who should best obey,
And Cato give his voice for regal fway.

TO THE KING.

HEROES of old, by rapine and by spoil,

ΙΟ

14

In fearch of fame did all the world embroil.
Thus to their gods each then ally'd his name,
This fprang from Jove, and that from Titan came.
With equal valour, and the fame fuccefs,
Dread King! might'st thou the univerfe oppress;
But Chriftian laws constrain thy martial pride;
Peace is thy choice, and piety thy guide:
By thy example kings are taught to fway,
Heroes to fight, and faints may learn to pray.

I

5

From gods defcended, and of race divine, Neftor in council and Ulyffes fhine;

But in a day of battle all would yield

To the fierce mafter of the feven-fold fhield.
Their very deities were grac'd no more;
Mars had the courage, Jove the thunder bore;
But all perfections meet in James alone,
And Britain's king is all the gods in one.

TO MR. WALLER.

15

18

5

In answer to Mr. Waller's verfes to the Author. WHEN into Lybia the young Grecian came, To talk with Hammon, and confult for fame; When from the facred tripod where he stood The priest, infpir'd, faluted him a god; Scarce fuch a joy that haughty victor knew, Thus own'd by.Heav'n, as I, thus prais'd by you. Whoe'er their names can in thy numbers show Have more than empire, and immortal grow; Ages to come shall fcorn the pow'rs of old, When in thy verfe of greater gods they're told; 10 Our beauteous queen and royal James's name For Jove and Juno shall be plac'd by fame;

Thy Charles for Neptune hall the feas command, And Sacharissa shall for Venus ftand;

Greece fhall no longer boaft, nor haughty Rome, But think from Britain all the gods did come.

16

TO MIRA.

I.

WARN'D and made wife by others' flame,
I fled from whence fúch mischiefs came;
Shunning the fex that kills at fight,
I fought my safety in my flight.

But ah! in vain from fate we fly;
For, firft or laft, as all muft die,
So 't is as much decreed above

That, firft or laft, we all muft love.

III.

My heart, which stood fo long the shock
Of winds and waves, like fome firm rock,
By one bright spark from Mira thrown,
Is into flame, like powder, blown.

No warning of th' approaching flame,
Swiftly like fudden death it came:
Like travellers by lightning kill'd,
I burnt the moment I beheld.

IL

In whom so many charms are plac'd,
Is with a mind as nobly grac'd;

5

The cafe, fo fhining to behold,

Is fill'd with richest gems and gold.

To what my eyes admir'd before
I add a thousand graces more,
And Fancy blows into a flame

The fpark that from her beauty came.

IV.

The object thus improv'd by thought,
By my own image I am caught:
Pygmalion fo, with faţal art,

Polish'd the form that ftung his heart.

TO MIRA.

I.

WHEN wilt thou break, my stubborn heart!
O Death! how flow to take my part!
Whatever I purfue denies;

Death, Death itself, like Mira flies.

II.

Love and Defpair, like twins, poffeft
At the fame fatal birth my breast:
No hope could be; her fcorn was all
That to my deftin'd lot could fall.

III.

I thought, alas! that Love could dwell
But in warm climes, where no fnow fell;
Like plants that kindly heat require
To be maintain'd by conftant fire.