An Elegiack Memoriall of the Right Honourable Generall DEANE, &c.
Aetatis suae 42.
BE dumb ye Muses who speaks rightly Him
Needs the high Accents of a Seraphim,
A Cherubs quill, & so perhaps his Verse
May not prophane (though it approach) his Herse.
The Antient and the Moderne Hero's seeme,
Compar'd to ours, a poor low barren Theme:
Poets and flatt'rers rais'd them to the skies,
And who were scarce good men made Deities.
Like China-dishes hid an age in mold,
By great-grand children Gods and Saints inroll'd.
They from mens fancies after death did grow:
This was a Saint on Earth, a Star below.
The Ethnick, Roman, Calenders are crost,
What they pretend t'have found we'r sure w'have lost
Their actions after death still greater grew
By lying legends; His, in the worlds view,
Stand high above the Paraphrase of men,
And need no flattering, feare no envious pen.
Hence then Detractors, for (if understood)
The ill of him was better then your good.
An humble soul hid in a sterne aspect
The perfect'st friendship in suppos'd neglect.
A learned head without the boast of books,
A devout heart without affected looks.
His great profession did in practice lye,
Religion lockt up in sincerity.
Nature and Grace did two extreams unite,
To make a blessed sincere hypocrite.
This present Age had never knowne his worth,
Had not high Providence produc'd him forth,
To stop the flouds of Greatnesse, and chastise,
The insolence of swelling Monarchies:
And by his acts the purblin'd world convince,
Who chaine Nobility unto the Prince.
A Princely soul he had, though Countrey-borne,
That greatnesse could chastise, teach, use, and scorne.
He in himselfe drew the Epitome
Of a compleat well-govern'd Monarchie.
Where reason ruling did the Scepter sway,
To which the rest did willingly obey;
If his Affections 'gan rebellious grow,
Religion quickly forced them to bow;
Whil'st in his dealings following Justice lawes,
By exercise her noble habit drawes,
Till at the length her Champion he is made,
And her defence converts into his Trade.
Then long ten years he posteth to and fro
To help th'oppressed and suppresse the foe:
For whom three Gen'rals had a high respect,
For Councel wise, and valour to effect:
Till, England clear'd, he curbs the Brittish broiles,
Then into Ireland sailes (Herculean toiles!)
The Irish men, or rather Roman Frogs,
He makes for safety leap into their Bogs.
But he must leave them there, a greater cause
Commands his presence (maugre Neptunes Lawes)
The swelling Seas and crossing tides can't part
Brave Deane from him for whom he kept his heart.
Let others chase the Pirates, he on shore
Must serve his Generall till Wars give o're:
Who having quite subdu'd the numerous Scots
Their Government unto his Deane allots;
Where he atchieves another Victory
Over their hearts by honest gallantry;
Whilst wise men judged it a propitious doom
Unto their land so to be overcome.
For now his greatest bus'nesse seems to be
To keep their factious selves in unity;
He at their instance climbes the rugged hills
And darksome Groves that Caledonia fills;
Whil'st the fell Natives stand aloof and gaze,
From craggy Rocks, in a profound amaze,
To see the Hors-men march in places where
They never saw ought but the wildest Deer:
And in affright their Chiefes come falling downe,
And vow they'l ne're more plunder Field nor Town.
His march was a quick journey, his retreat
A pleasant walk with little bloud or sweat.
And now may he in pleasure rest a while
With his dear consort, and the time beguile.
In Dalkeith turrets or her shady groves
Whil'st to her Lute she sweetly sings their Loves.
But this soft Musick thundring Cannons marre,
Which send quick tidings of approaching Warre.
And is a Duty or a Danger neere
On Land or Sea, and Noble Deane not there?
Away he shoots like to a Star that brings
The tidings of the fall of States and Kings:
A Star in motion, brightnesse, influence,
He doth not lead the Dutch, but drive them hence;
Twice beats them, first from Ours, then to their Wals,
Which done, alasse our Star to Heaven fals.
And it was time, so saw great Providence;
'Twas time to call this Heavenly spark from hence:
His growing lustre might have dimm'd us all;
His value did percipitate his fall:
For had he held his Course some few more years
The world (with me) had turn'd Idolaters.
Sic fatur Lachrymans. [...] Th: Tw:
LONDON: Printed by M. S. for Tho: Jenner at the South-Entrance of the Royall Exchange. 1653.