A paraphrase upon the canticles and some select hymns of the New and Old Testament, with other occasional compositions in English verse. By Samuel Woodford |
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 | A paraphrase upon the canticles |  |
ODE.
To the Right Reverend Father in God JOHN, late Lord Bishop of Chester, upon his Promotion thither.
I.
Fair Seminary of the Flourishing Arts,Great Wadhams bounteous Legacy,
The last result of Heav'n-born Charity,
Who mounting thither from these Frozen parts,
Design'd Thee with an high intent,
To be both Hers, and Thy own Pious Founders Monument,
Thee, WADHAM, first of all I sing,
Where in soft Verse I learnt the early Skill,
(Ah! that one so well Disciplin'd should rehearse so ill,
And have for all Thy care no better Strains to bring!)
Thee, sacred Colledg, who dost rise,
Like a new Sion, to the North
Of th' Muses City, with Thy Wings stretcht forth,
And in their Kingdom hast her Royalties,
(OXFORD, the brightest City' and Kingdom, which the Muses have)
Small as thou art, but wondrous brave,
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And send abroad Thy Fathers through our Land,
Thee, I, tho far unworthy, Greet,
And at Thy Gates, as does a Son befit,
To lead him to his Stall with Songs, Thy late great Guardian meet.
II.
With Thee, my Song, in Thee this happy Man,Whilst only Thine, a bold Attempt began,
Whose Fame Posterity shall ne're let die,
But thence it self instructed how to live,
Due Honours to the first Discoverer give,
And Consecrate his Name to Vast Eternity.
A bold Attempt it was, worthy this Age,
And Him, whom Heaven did with the thought Inspire,
(Yet which this Age can ne're enough Admire,
How full so e're of Art, and Learned Rage,)
In Natures search alone, and bravely to engage.
At Home he sought, but there
Only some Traces of her Footsteps were.
For tho with Him she long Inhabited,
And lay in his Retreats secure,
Seen but of few, once urg'd, could not endure
A public Scrutiny, and at the News away she fled.
He follow'd close, and lodg'd her in the Town;
LONDON, that was so big, and populous grown,
She hop'd, or there to hide, or there to pass unknown,
And midst the Multitude,
The Noise, the Hurry, and the Crowd,
As safely breath, as in a Solitude.
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III.
But all in vain, He quickly found Her out,And having Summond to his Aid,
The Wise, the Learned, and the Stout,
(All noted Champions, and in Wars assaid)
What was before a search to Arms Decision brought.
Levies on both Hands listed were,
And Nature, then Attaqu't, began to fear;
But like a Conqueror, and ne're known to yield,
To be Obey'd, and not Compell'd,
Led up her Self her Troops into the Field.
A mighty Host they made, Encamped wide,
And with their Wings toucht Heav'n on either side.
'Gainst which a little Party, reinforc'd
By Reason, and Experience,
Approved Arms, for Battery, and Defence,
Both often Try'd, and not alone Discours'd,
Came boldly forth, and did Defiance bid;
But in the others shouts were drownd, and in the other Numbers hid
IV.
And now both Sides had joyn'd the Fight,One to maintain, t'other their Conquests to extend;
When, (look!) between the Camps, a glorious sight,
The British Gardian-Angel cloath'd in Light,
Did on an Azure Cloud descend,
And to the baleful Quarrel with his Presence put an end.
He came, but not ith' Shape he takes above,
For that 's a Form too subtile, and too great,
With its excessive Lustre Mortal Eyes did threat,
And in his Fellow Spirits dreadful Wonder move,
But like the Warriers to whom he was sent,
And suiting th' Embassy, on which he went,
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In Rings of Polisht Jet, so shon his Hair,
A Colour that in Heav'n is rare,
But yet in Heav'n admir'd, for such the Almighty Son does wear.
Over his glittering Arm was thrown,
A Military Crim'som Vest;
Close by his Brest his Sword hung down,
And did in his Embroidered Scabard rest.
His Left Hand held a Silver Shield,
Charg'd with three Leopards, in a Canton of the Field.
Two shiny Talbots in his Right he led,
Such as are in the Heav'nly Forrests bred,
And o're his Godlike Head,
An Eagle her extended Wings auspiciously did spread.
V.
“Give o're, He said, give o're your Rage,“A better Fortune both your Arms attends;
“Nor let it be reported, ith' next Age,
“That furious Zeal, and unknown Ends,
“In Civil Wars destroy'd the best and dearest Friends!
“For such you are, and by the High Decree,
“Shall with united force those Trophies raise,
“Over Mankinds common Enemy,
“Proud Ignorance, and blind Credulity,
“As shall gain both deserved Praise,
“And fetch from Worlds as yet unknown for both Immortal Bays.
“You NATURE, and 'tis Gods Command, not mine,
“To these shall all your Store submit;
“Whose Industry, with Skill shall joyn,
“To search, Improve, and Husband it.
“Together Reconcil'd you shall abide,
“My CHARLES shall of his Goodness so provide,
“Who will your FOUNDER, and your PATRON be,
“Call you the ROYAL, and his own SOCIETY:
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“With you his rich Hereditary Coat divide,
(“As on this Shield:) If any Doubt arise
“In your Inquests, Lo! Heav'ns and my Supplies,
“These TALBOTS scent, that EAGLES Wings, and Eyes.
VI.
But whither Muse, Ah! whither wilt thou rove?Already thou hast stray'd enough,
And in thy wild unruly Flight,
Forgot thy Reverend Prelate quite,
And lost of thy first Theam the sight.
He's gone, but if thou haste dost make,
And haste thou oughtst, for my sake, and thine own,
And in his Learned Train make one,
His Learned Train, thou quickly mayst o'retake:
And e're he Chester reach, so slow,
So heavily his Wheels do go,
(Yet not from His, but Friends delay,
Who wish him there, but yet with them would have him stay)
Be ready with the Ancient Dee,
(Dee in praise will joyn with Thee)
His Entrance to attend, and Installation see.
VII.
Hail! Sacred Stream, Prophetic Flood,Who couldst of Old the Fates of Nations tell;
The Fates of Nations now Thou skill'st as well,
As when Thy Channel leaving Thou didst bode
Their Misery, 'or their Happiness e're either fell.
For this 'twas that thou gotst the Name
Of Dee the Holy, and Divine,
And amongst Rivers of the loudest Fame,
As rich in Wonders, and illustriously dost Shine.
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And with Genial Honours Crown'd,
Or for their pleasant Banks, or Waters pride,
And little Mysteries, which they're said to hide,
All but the Starry Thames, above
Eridan falsly call'd, their Places yield:
And in the Oceans boundless Field,
Where every Night they meet, in a long Row behind thee move.
Worthy thou art, thrice worthy of my Song;
And worthy Thee, in all Thy Glory,
The Man we both admire, of both expected long,
My Numbers to advance, and to revive Thy Story.
VIII.
Till He was Thine, something there was did want,To render Thee compleat:
The Colony Rome on thy Banks did Plant,
Made Thee not half so great,
Nor is it self so famous for Agricola's, as his Seat.
His happy River, whose vast Spring
Of Real Goodness, and of Learned Arts the best,
A new increase shall to Thy Waters bring;
Joyning with which they ne're shall rest,
Till they those Triumphs end, which EDGAR on thee did begin.
“Well row'd my Braves, the British Monarch cry'd,
As at the Helm Victoriously He stood,
His Tributary Kings on either side,
(Eight Tributary Kings at th' Oar then ply'd)
Tugging to waft him down the Flood.
Tiber did never Day so glorious see,
Nor could Augustus, in such State,
After his Alexandrian Victory,
Enter Romes Triumphal Gate;
He the Effigies had to show
But of one Queen, and her tane, when Dead too.
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All in their Robes, on him to wait,
And all with Crowns upon their Heads his Barge to row.
L'Envoy.
At Chester, Song, Thou wilt beholdThe Wonders, which Thou here hast told;
But let not all Thy Time be spent,
In a search too inquisitive;
Find out the Rev'rend Father there, to whom thou'rt sent,
And humbly at his Knees receive
That Blessing, which return'd thou mayst thy Master give!
So shalt Thou into Credit grow,
And have from him that Honour, Verse on others must bestow
| A paraphrase upon the canticles | |