A POEM UPON His Highness the Prince of Orange's Expedition into England.
Nunc gratae siquando Mihi, nunc ludite Musae.
I Never thought to see the well got Fame,
Could my Plaindealing-Muse provoke to Praise;
Or that a Man's Deserts should place His Name
Above the reach of Flattery to raise:
[2]
And yet His Character most beauteous shows,
Writ by the most severe Philosophers,
And naked Truth by his Assistance grows
Now first, a Subject high enough for Verse.
[3]
What the best Fawning Poets of the Age,
Falsly ascrib'd to others, is his Due:
Too soon they did their Flattery engage,
Had it been kept till now, it had been true.
[4]
You that would Heroes write, and yet write Sense,
Judiciously observe this Great Good Man:
He'll teach you more and juster Excellence,
Then past Examples, or Invention Can.
[5]
(Though Painters from Licentious Fancy take
Monsters and Bulky Gyants at command;
Yet when a perfect Beauty they would make,
They copy the best Works of Nature's Hand)
[6]
He'll show you mighty Power little us'd,
Yet Vast Affairs by his Direction move;
Holland with name of Liberty abus'd,
While Rul'd by Him with most Tyrannick Love.
[7]
Riches well spent in Great and Virtuous Deeds;
A Life from Pride and Luxury more free
Than Rigid Anchorets Affected Weeds,
Or all the Sons of Rome sworn Poverty.
[8]
Religious Wisdom's pare diffusive Beams,
That like the Sun shine most for others Good:
Worth joyn'd with such Humility, it seems
The only thing by Him not understood.
[9]
Justice as sure and equal as the Grave,
His Character, this side alone is blind:
Men He so well discerns, one would believe
He could their Thoughts by Intuition find.
[10]
Mercy so great, so much without a Cause,
It almost looks like want of Memory;
And did He not submit it to the Laws,
By consequence would turn to Cruelty.
[11]
Graecian and Roman Grandeur in Him meet,
He scorns Barbarian Asiatick State:
Chuses to be so, rather than look Great,
Virtue within, than Princes at His Gate.
[12]
Cool Courage never heard before 'tis seen,
As his deep Councils first in Fact appear;
So wond'rous Swift has our Deliv'rance been,
We scarce had time to Hope, nor Rome to Fear.
[13]
With Curses as She came our Land to load,
She saw the Riches and the Promis'd Pay;
But not so soon as the dull Ass
The same that lent the Lyon his Tail, to help him out of the pit. See the Fable.
She rodeThe Mighty Guardian Angel in the way.
[14]
The sullen Beast stood still, nor valu'd
High Comission Court. turning out of Commission, Liberty of Conscience, Indictments, &c.
Blows,But Bravely he resolv'd to do no more:
Both saw and spoke the Danger at his Nose,
The Brute ne're show'd his Parts so much before.
[15]
What the lewd Councels of State-spoiling Knaves,
The Industry of self-destroying Fools,
United Kings, Priests-Heads, and Hands of Slaves,
With all inferiour necessary Tools.
[16]
What Breach of Laws and Faith, a well-tim'd Plot,
(That base Pretence for useful Cruelty,)
Rebellion sent for, the wish'd
The D. of M.
Victim got,A Gown that taught, or Sword forc'd Slavery.
[17]
What all these (help'd by self-betraying Fears,
And grown resistless by our strong Despair,)
Had scarcely form'd in many tedious Years,
How soon He broke and scatter'd into Air?
[18]
When noxious Insects cover'd all our Land,
And the [...] Palace least of all was free,
A [...]g Wind arose at his Command,
That wept them in, or else beyond the Sea.
[19]
Religion lists her long dejected Head,
Kill'd Laws revive, and Love deposeth Fear:
So when all Nature's in appearance dead,
The Sun recalls the Beauties of the Year.
[20]
Minding no Ends, but God and Nature's Cause,
Calm, and Resolv'd, He utmost hazard runs;
But Triumph hates and Popular Applause,
And more the Honour than the danger shuns.
[21]
Though Fortune Crown his Actions with Success,
To Us, not him are all her Favours shown;
In vain does she attempt the Man to bless;
Who makes all other Wrongs so much his own.
[22]
His Altars all unjustly-wretched choose,
To his vast Goodness as the Ocean Flow,
Where Floods of Tears and Miseries they loose,
Remember not the past, nor Future know.
[23]
He owns, and all his publick Acts evince,
Empires true ends by him are understood,
Not the Wild Lust and Pleasure of the Prince;
But pure Religion and the Peoples good.
[24]
Spain his Old Enemy does now confess,
To him she ill-deserved safety ows;
Sings unfeign'd Praises for his Arms Success,
And Zealous for the Reformation grows.
[25]
Now France that Scourge of God has taught the Age,
Our Hero it's true Interest to know,
He checks the haughty Monsieur's swelling Rage;
Just hither and no farther shalt thou go.
[26]
In vain did wisest Belgian States-men try,
Without Him to support their tott'ring States;
That Deed was Praelude to a Work more high,
Now the same Artist's hand all Europe waits.
[27]
The two great Rival Navies by him join'd,
Their Canvas Wings the Globe shall spread around;
Heap Wealth from ev'ry Tributary Wind,
Awe the whole Earth, make widest Seas their SOUND.
[28]
Our British Lyons, now they Him obey,
Once more shall stalk through France with Furious state:
While led with Hopes to share the noble Prey,
Hungry Imperial Eagles on 'em wait.
[29]
Who don't confess him KING, although he hath
Such Works, such Proofs of destin'd Empire seen;
To strength of Education owes His Faith,
Had He seen Christ, h'ad not a Christian been.
[30]
What shall we do, or how shall we contrive,
To Him but Common Gratitude to shew?
When, though we both our selves and Kingdoms give,
That and much more's our Interest to do.
[31]
His Vertue is its own and best Reward,
So helps the weak Attempts of grateful Minds;
As when Man's willing, but the Task's too hard,
He supernatural Assistance finds.
LONDON, Printed for G. C. and Published by R. Baldwin, near the Black Bull in the Old Baily, 168 [...].