OBSEQUIES OFFER'D UP To the Dear and never-dying Memorie of the Honorable SR PAUL PINDAR KT.
HEnce all unhallowed Orgies; let no tongue
Presume to chant the Epicedium
Of our renowned PINDAR, less hee bee
The Grecian PINDAR, or as great as Hee.
Nought but the Sock or Buskin can becom
Such Tragick Rites; or Personate thy Tomb
Admired PINDAR! whose Heroîck Hers
Admit's no Paralel with a slow-pac't vers.
The Quire is too too narrow, and th'whole Nine
Too few, to warble Anthems at this Shrine,
Though they could out-weep NIOBE, and sing
Sorrows as fluent as their Thespian Spring.
But why do I thus, to inhance Thy prais,
Mingle my Cypress with thy spreading Baies?
Since Thy Encomium needeth here no more
Then Gold in Peru, or a Map on Shore.
Let those that track the Mysteries, and the Truth
Of PRINCEly-Embassies, define His Youth,
Spurr'd on with heat of Honor through the whole
Circle, from th' Artick to th' Antartick Pole;
Whose Travel this advantage had to bring
Riches to's Countrie, Honor to his KING.
Nor could the Heresie of that CLIME Impair
His Pious Soul; the influence of that Aër,
Whose venom hath kill'd thousands, hurt him not,
I'th midst of Sodom who remain'd a LOT.
Let those who 're grounded in the Grand debates
Of Kingdom's Rights, and Interests of States
Revolv his Counsels; so maturely wise,
They alwaies Conquer'd where They did Advize.
Solid, but not Severe; who could unite
Candor with Prudence, Prudence with delight-
Most Rich, yet Humble in the richest sens;
His Minde was moderate, though his Means Immens.
Liberal, but not Profuse; Hee could express
The difference 'twixt true Bountie and Excess.
Courteous, without exception, or self-ends:
Kinde to the Stranger, Ample to his Friends:
Pious to admiration, and Free
Beyond all President, to each degree
That Crav'd his Alms; who was the Poor's Supplie,
Crutch to the Cripple, and the Blinde-man's Eie.
But who can write his Storie? 'twas so Ample,
It might serv both our mirrour and example.
So Heavenly was each Action, and so Just
Poiz'd in the Scale of TRUTH, that scarce one dust
Or atome did fall scantie, or surmount
In the Examen of his life's account.
No wordly cares could discompose, or cross
His thoughts with sens of lucre or of loss.
No shocks of Fate or Fortune could controul
Or storm the Bulwark of his fase-built Soul.
No threats could fright his Loial Temper; Hee
when half the Land Apostatiz'd, stood free
In his Resolvs; abhorring to divide
Himself, or shift his Tenets with the Tide.
Hee sought not in those troubled streams to swim
Nor courted Honor, which so courted Him.
PEACE was his Aim, and End; who liv'd, and di'd
Lull'd in a Calm, when all the Earth beside
Reel'd with those storms of WAR, whose Shocks have hurl'd
Realms from their Center, and unhing'd the world.
But why do I Epitomize a Theme
In this small Schedule, which deserv's a Ream?
'Way then with Elegies; which can't add more
Life to His Honors, then they had before.
Nor need wee ransack the Corinthian Mine,
Or rob the Parian Quarries, to enshrine
His Memorie, since thy Structure great St PAUL
(Indebted to great PINDAR'S Bountie) shall
Perpetuate His Name, and in her Womb
And sacred Entrails Rear Him such a Tomb
As shall out vie proud Memphis, and surpass
Those Mausolean Obelisks of Brass.
Great TIME shall tell the rest; and quote His glorie
From her own Register; the wel-pen'd Storie
And Legend of whose Actions shall strike Dumb
The Present, and amuse the Age to Com.
P. F.