Du Bartas His Divine Weekes And Workes with A Compleate Collectio[n] of all the other most delight-full Workes: Translated and written by yt famous Philomusus: Iosvah Sylvester |
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1059
A HYMN OF St. LEWIS (The Ninth of that Name) King of France.
Of all the Kings, admired over All,
Whose Prudence swaid This Crown Imperiall,
Whose Prowess most our Lillies Bounds inlarg'd,
Whose Iustice best their Charge in Peace discharg'd,
Whom most the Raies of glorious Greatnes crownd,
Who brightest shin'd, Who was the most Renownd,
Most magnified for Manly Conquering
Within the World the World: was th'Holy King,
From whose chast loins, from out whose loyall Bloud
Th'Heroick Stems of Royall Bovrbons bud;
Famous St. Levvis; Good Kings President,
Who for his Christ, and for his Cross, him spent:
Who by his Valour so renown'd his Name,
That all the Earth hath trembled at the same:
And Who, to free, from captive Fury fell,
The Fields where yerst Our Captain conquer'd Hell
(Courageous Zeal setting his Soule on fire)
Led armed France against the Asians ire.
Whose Prudence swaid This Crown Imperiall,
Whose Prowess most our Lillies Bounds inlarg'd,
Whose Iustice best their Charge in Peace discharg'd,
Whom most the Raies of glorious Greatnes crownd,
Who brightest shin'd, Who was the most Renownd,
Most magnified for Manly Conquering
Within the World the World: was th'Holy King,
From whose chast loins, from out whose loyall Bloud
Th'Heroick Stems of Royall Bovrbons bud;
Famous St. Levvis; Good Kings President,
Who for his Christ, and for his Cross, him spent:
Who by his Valour so renown'd his Name,
That all the Earth hath trembled at the same:
And Who, to free, from captive Fury fell,
The Fields where yerst Our Captain conquer'd Hell
(Courageous Zeal setting his Soule on fire)
Led armed France against the Asians ire.
When I his Vertues read, and Acts so great,
Which Him so high among the Saints have set;
And heer belowe so lasting glory wan,
I judge them scarce Works of a meerly Man;
But, of an Angell in Mans shape bedight,
To shew the World the Way of Vertue right;
Amaz'd to see, among so many Sins
As (fatally) the Court breeds and begins,
Among so many Pleasures, whose sweet Baits
Intrap the wariest with their wily Sleights;
A King to curb him so in Powr supream,
To watch him Self so with such care extream,
As not to taste Delight (of any kinde)
Which Reason bars a brave and noble Minde:
But, so vpright in Vertve's track to tread,
That even in Earth a Heav'nly Life hee led.
Which Him so high among the Saints have set;
And heer belowe so lasting glory wan,
I judge them scarce Works of a meerly Man;
But, of an Angell in Mans shape bedight,
To shew the World the Way of Vertue right;
Amaz'd to see, among so many Sins
As (fatally) the Court breeds and begins,
Among so many Pleasures, whose sweet Baits
Intrap the wariest with their wily Sleights;
A King to curb him so in Powr supream,
To watch him Self so with such care extream,
As not to taste Delight (of any kinde)
Which Reason bars a brave and noble Minde:
But, so vpright in Vertve's track to tread,
That even in Earth a Heav'nly Life hee led.
For, never was there more accomplisht King,
Whose royall heart had more replenishing
Of Princely Vertues, fit for Powerfull hand;
Or to bee wisht in Mindes of High Command.
Nay; would the Heav'ns, their Treasures all producing,
All Gifts of Body and of Minde conducing,
Mould for Mankinde a Prince or Potentate
Worthy to govern th'Vniversal State;
They could not give the World (and Wee, much less,
Wish) One more worthy; with more due Address
To take into his Royall hand the Helm,
In stormfull Times so apt to over-whelm.
So much the Star, which rules in Birth of Kings,
When Hee was destin'd to These Managings,
Milde and propitious, in His heart connext,
First, fear of God , and love of Ivstice next:
Vertves, whose habit Happinesse doth nourish:
Makes Common-wealth flowe, and The Church to flourish:
Serves best for Base to each illustrious State:
Gives mightiest Kings calm Crowns, and fortunate:
Causeth their Subjects fear them lovingly:
Keeps Them, in Dangers, ever danger-free.
For, the Almighty printing in their Face
Milde-Maiesty, sweet-Terror, dreadfull-Grace,
And heaping Hap vpon them every-where;
The Good fear for them; Them, the Evill fear.
Whose royall heart had more replenishing
1060
Or to bee wisht in Mindes of High Command.
Nay; would the Heav'ns, their Treasures all producing,
All Gifts of Body and of Minde conducing,
Mould for Mankinde a Prince or Potentate
Worthy to govern th'Vniversal State;
They could not give the World (and Wee, much less,
Wish) One more worthy; with more due Address
To take into his Royall hand the Helm,
In stormfull Times so apt to over-whelm.
So much the Star, which rules in Birth of Kings,
When Hee was destin'd to These Managings,
Milde and propitious, in His heart connext,
First, fear of God , and love of Ivstice next:
Vertves, whose habit Happinesse doth nourish:
Makes Common-wealth flowe, and The Church to flourish:
Serves best for Base to each illustrious State:
Gives mightiest Kings calm Crowns, and fortunate:
Causeth their Subjects fear them lovingly:
Keeps Them, in Dangers, ever danger-free.
For, the Almighty printing in their Face
Milde-Maiesty, sweet-Terror, dreadfull-Grace,
And heaping Hap vpon them every-where;
The Good fear for them; Them, the Evill fear.
How many brave Marks left his noble Minde
Of th'Happiness These Vertues bring Mankinde;
When, full of Constancy, hee durst maintain,
That, raigning for Him, Who made him to raign,
These sacred Twins, nigh from the World dis-pell'd,
As in their Temple, in His Bosom dwell'd,
Guided his Person, govern'd his Affairs,
Counsell'd his Counsells, qualifi'd his Cares,
Steerd all his Course through all his Voiage heer,
As men their Ships by Card and Compass steer.
Of th'Happiness These Vertues bring Mankinde;
When, full of Constancy, hee durst maintain,
That, raigning for Him, Who made him to raign,
These sacred Twins, nigh from the World dis-pell'd,
As in their Temple, in His Bosom dwell'd,
Guided his Person, govern'd his Affairs,
Counsell'd his Counsells, qualifi'd his Cares,
Steerd all his Course through all his Voiage heer,
As men their Ships by Card and Compass steer.
These making him with rarest spirits compeer,
In holy pride, Hee even despised heer
The Kings, that, puft with glory of a Throne,
Commanded All, except themselves alone.
By th'one, hee happied his owne Soule with Rest:
By th'other also, hee his People blest.
By th'one, becomming to him Self severe,
Hee rul'd him Self, kept his owne Power in fear:
By th'other, giving free Course to the Law,
Hee kept his Subjects in; and, happy, saw
Through all his Kingdom Peace and Plenty flowr
In basest Grange, as well as golden Bowr.
In holy pride, Hee even despised heer
The Kings, that, puft with glory of a Throne,
Commanded All, except themselves alone.
By th'one, hee happied his owne Soule with Rest:
By th'other also, hee his People blest.
By th'one, becomming to him Self severe,
Hee rul'd him Self, kept his owne Power in fear:
By th'other, giving free Course to the Law,
Hee kept his Subjects in; and, happy, saw
Through all his Kingdom Peace and Plenty flowr
In basest Grange, as well as golden Bowr.
But twelve times Sol through the twelve Signes had gon,
When Heav'ns assign'd him to his Fathers Throne;
And to the hands of his Man-Childehood left
The glorious Burthen of This Sceptres heft:
When Heav'ns assign'd him to his Fathers Throne;
1061
The glorious Burthen of This Sceptres heft:
But, as in th'Orchards at Monceaux or Blois,
The Gardners Care over som Graftlings choise,
The second year of their adoption there,
Makes them as good and goodly fruits to bear,
As Trees whose Trunk and branched Top bewraies
Their Months as many as the Other's daies;
Through the Heav'ns favour, and Earths fruitfulness,
Shewing that God their young first-fruits doth bless:
His forward Vertue in his Pupillage
Brought forth th'effects of a mans perfect age;
Disproving quite his feeble signes of youth,
And proving him invincible (in truth)
Against vain Pleasures, all their Baits condemning:
Against all Perils, Death it Self contemning:
Against all Passions, ever them resisting:
Against all Crosses, constant ay persisting.
The Gardners Care over som Graftlings choise,
The second year of their adoption there,
Makes them as good and goodly fruits to bear,
As Trees whose Trunk and branched Top bewraies
Their Months as many as the Other's daies;
Through the Heav'ns favour, and Earths fruitfulness,
Shewing that God their young first-fruits doth bless:
His forward Vertue in his Pupillage
Brought forth th'effects of a mans perfect age;
Disproving quite his feeble signes of youth,
And proving him invincible (in truth)
Against vain Pleasures, all their Baits condemning:
Against all Perils, Death it Self contemning:
Against all Passions, ever them resisting:
Against all Crosses, constant ay persisting.
For, look how lowe, his heart in humble Aw
Hee bow'd to God, and bended to the Law;
As high hee mounts it, in Praise-worthy Pride,
Above the World, Fortune, and All (beside)
Whose Vanity, with false gloss gilded o'r,
Fond Mortals most desire, admire, adore:
Desiring, onely, with that holy Mary
(For his degree) That One thing necessary:
Admiring solely th'holy Works, wherein
Th'Almighty Worker's wondrous hand is seen:
Adoring none but th'Everlasting One;
Him loving best; fearing but Him alone.
Then, bearing ay This Oracle imprest
Within the Centre of his royall brest,
That, A sincere and true-Religious King,
Feared of All, needs fear at all no-Thing;
Where Hee, whose Soule hath not This Fear in-laid,
Of none is feared, but of All affraid.
Hee bow'd to God, and bended to the Law;
As high hee mounts it, in Praise-worthy Pride,
Above the World, Fortune, and All (beside)
Whose Vanity, with false gloss gilded o'r,
Fond Mortals most desire, admire, adore:
Desiring, onely, with that holy Mary
(For his degree) That One thing necessary:
Admiring solely th'holy Works, wherein
Th'Almighty Worker's wondrous hand is seen:
Adoring none but th'Everlasting One;
Him loving best; fearing but Him alone.
Then, bearing ay This Oracle imprest
Within the Centre of his royall brest,
That, A sincere and true-Religious King,
Feared of All, needs fear at all no-Thing;
Where Hee, whose Soule hath not This Fear in-laid,
Of none is feared, but of All affraid.
Arm'd with This Brest-plate, as with stronger Arms
Then Those (of old) blest with inchanting Charms,
Hee brav'd all Perills that his Prowess met:
And His calm Spirit, amid a Storm so great
As would have cast Youth in a swoun insensible,
Shew'd Resolution of a heart invincible;
Appearing such, indeed, as Painters fain
Great Hercules, when, Iuno's fell disdain
Pursuing him, hee Monsters quail'd and kill'd;
A Man in Courage, though in Age a Childe.
Then Those (of old) blest with inchanting Charms,
Hee brav'd all Perills that his Prowess met:
And His calm Spirit, amid a Storm so great
As would have cast Youth in a swoun insensible,
Shew'd Resolution of a heart invincible;
Appearing such, indeed, as Painters fain
Great Hercules, when, Iuno's fell disdain
Pursuing him, hee Monsters quail'd and kill'd;
A Man in Courage, though in Age a Childe.
Which well hee proov'd to those Rebellious Peers,
Who, making light of his then-tender yeers,
And measuring his in-side by his age,
Troubled his State with storms of Civill Rage:
Armed against him many a Tower and Town,
Aimed by Ambush to surprise his Crown.
When Hee, to heal, by necessary Ill,
This Ill, before th'Impostume over-fill,
With Sword in hand their first Assault prevents;
And, as His Subjects, bravely them convents,
To come and cast them arm-less at his feet;
Or else, as Foes, his armed Force to meet:
From Him, their true Liege (if true French they bee)
Arm'd in the Field, to take This Offer free,
Revenge, or Pardon, of their past Mis-deeds,
And all the Mischief which the same succeeds.
The one, his Power should press them to, perforce;
Th'other, their Duties, vrged with Remorse:
If their blinde Fury did the one contemn,
Th'other should pour Death and Disgrace on them.
Who, making light of his then-tender yeers,
1062
Troubled his State with storms of Civill Rage:
Armed against him many a Tower and Town,
Aimed by Ambush to surprise his Crown.
When Hee, to heal, by necessary Ill,
This Ill, before th'Impostume over-fill,
With Sword in hand their first Assault prevents;
And, as His Subjects, bravely them convents,
To come and cast them arm-less at his feet;
Or else, as Foes, his armed Force to meet:
From Him, their true Liege (if true French they bee)
Arm'd in the Field, to take This Offer free,
Revenge, or Pardon, of their past Mis-deeds,
And all the Mischief which the same succeeds.
The one, his Power should press them to, perforce;
Th'other, their Duties, vrged with Remorse:
If their blinde Fury did the one contemn,
Th'other should pour Death and Disgrace on them.
O! how the words of a brave Prince prevail!
This daring Speech did so their Courage quail,
That though the cold Ice of a prudent Fear
Did not forth-with put-out their frenzy there;
Yet did it daily from thence-forth decline,
And all their Flame turn'd but to Fume, in fine.
Yea, Those, whose fury dream't a Diadem,
Their Side abandon; and, dis-banding them,
Reject their vain Hopes; and, in season, fly
To the Kings Mercy for their Remedy.
Others, more dreading Rigor of the Law,
Vnder protection of the English draw:
Guilding their Guilt with frivolous pretences,
Arming their weak Cause with as weak defences;
Till, but increasing their dis-honour by't,
Wanting as well good Fortune as good Right,
They'r also fain to beg his Bounty royall,
Ill worthy Them, so obstinate-Disloyall.
This daring Speech did so their Courage quail,
That though the cold Ice of a prudent Fear
Did not forth-with put-out their frenzy there;
Yet did it daily from thence-forth decline,
And all their Flame turn'd but to Fume, in fine.
Yea, Those, whose fury dream't a Diadem,
Their Side abandon; and, dis-banding them,
Reject their vain Hopes; and, in season, fly
To the Kings Mercy for their Remedy.
Others, more dreading Rigor of the Law,
Vnder protection of the English draw:
Guilding their Guilt with frivolous pretences,
Arming their weak Cause with as weak defences;
Till, but increasing their dis-honour by't,
Wanting as well good Fortune as good Right,
They'r also fain to beg his Bounty royall,
Ill worthy Them, so obstinate-Disloyall.
What proofs of Prowess, what contempt of danger,
Exprest this Prince vpon the envious Stranger,
On crystall Charant, in Zantognian Coast,
When false la-March, backt with a forrain Host,
Mustred against him, from so many parts,
So many Groves of Lances, Pikes and Darts?
Exprest this Prince vpon the envious Stranger,
On crystall Charant, in Zantognian Coast,
When false la-March, backt with a forrain Host,
Mustred against him, from so many parts,
So many Groves of Lances, Pikes and Darts?
There France and England, fully bent to fight,
Had both their Armies in their Order pight;
From Either side mount winged Clouds amain;
On Either side they pour their Showrs again:
While silver Charant, to have barr'd their Teen,
Her swelling shoulders did oppose between.
Had both their Armies in their Order pight;
From Either side mount winged Clouds amain;
On Either side they pour their Showrs again:
While silver Charant, to have barr'd their Teen,
Her swelling shoulders did oppose between.
1063
This River makes the Reed-crownd Banks to kiss,
By th'arched favour of a Bridge there is:
Whose gain or loss (besides the honour) boads,
Or bars, the Prize of Victory, by ods:
The English, friended by a Fort at hand,
Which proudly did the neighbour Plains command,
Had won this Passage, and were passing on
Cheerly to end their Victory begun:
When Lewis, rushing to the Bridge, the first,
Repels the Fo, and puts him to the worst;
With Dead and Wounded all the place hee paves,
And, than Horatius, braver him behaves:
Re-heartens His: re-haleth from the Fo
Fair Victory, ready with Them to go:
Standing alone, as a firm rock, afront,
Almost alone, to bear the Battells brunt;
As th'onely mark of many thousand Darts
At Him alone still aimed from all parts:
Till at the last, by his example prest,
Hee winning all, his Army won the rest;
When, if his Courage shin'd in Conquering,
More did his Mildeness in the Managing.
By th'arched favour of a Bridge there is:
Whose gain or loss (besides the honour) boads,
Or bars, the Prize of Victory, by ods:
The English, friended by a Fort at hand,
Which proudly did the neighbour Plains command,
Had won this Passage, and were passing on
Cheerly to end their Victory begun:
When Lewis, rushing to the Bridge, the first,
Repels the Fo, and puts him to the worst;
With Dead and Wounded all the place hee paves,
And, than Horatius, braver him behaves:
Re-heartens His: re-haleth from the Fo
Fair Victory, ready with Them to go:
Standing alone, as a firm rock, afront,
Almost alone, to bear the Battells brunt;
As th'onely mark of many thousand Darts
At Him alone still aimed from all parts:
Till at the last, by his example prest,
Hee winning all, his Army won the rest;
When, if his Courage shin'd in Conquering,
More did his Mildeness in the Managing.
Who can recount, and yet who would conceal,
Th'illustrious Vertues, whose industrious zeal
O'r all the World his honours blazed yerst,
After these mists, these first clouds, were disperst,
And scatter'd all by the bright-shining Raies
Of this new Sun, in Summer of his daies,
When (Europe's Vmpire) making Peace with Men,
Hee War proclaim'd against their Vices then?
Th'illustrious Vertues, whose industrious zeal
O'r all the World his honours blazed yerst,
After these mists, these first clouds, were disperst,
And scatter'd all by the bright-shining Raies
Of this new Sun, in Summer of his daies,
When (Europe's Vmpire) making Peace with Men,
Hee War proclaim'd against their Vices then?
The glorious VVorks his Royall Vertues did,
Cannot, without impiety, be hid;
Although, without diminishing their Worth,
My Muse (alas!) can neuer set them forth:
For, of all Vertues sacred Tracts (least rife)
His Life's a Picture, limned to the life,
And such a Pattern, as to match again,
The VVish is vertuous, but the Hope is vain:
Sith, the more wondrous 'tis, and VVorthy Table
To imitate, 'tis more inimitable.
So that, His Worth, weening to-life to limne,
I ouer-reach, in stead of reaching Him:
And, like bad Singers (as too-bold, too-blame)
Sounding His Praise, rather My Selfe I shame.
Cannot, without impiety, be hid;
Although, without diminishing their Worth,
My Muse (alas!) can neuer set them forth:
For, of all Vertues sacred Tracts (least rife)
His Life's a Picture, limned to the life,
And such a Pattern, as to match again,
The VVish is vertuous, but the Hope is vain:
Sith, the more wondrous 'tis, and VVorthy Table
To imitate, 'tis more inimitable.
So that, His Worth, weening to-life to limne,
I ouer-reach, in stead of reaching Him:
And, like bad Singers (as too-bold, too-blame)
Sounding His Praise, rather My Selfe I shame.
In heav'nly Annals are his Acts inrold:
His Royall Gests are yet in Asia told:
In Affrike, yet his Valour is renownd:
Through Europe euer shall his Uertues sound;
And every-where Ninth
Levvis (Great in Fame)
Seems, not a Man's, but very Vertve's Name.
His Royall Gests are yet in Asia told:
In Affrike, yet his Valour is renownd:
Through Europe euer shall his Uertues sound;
1064
Seems, not a Man's, but very Vertve's Name.
Never did Faith, Honour, Vprightnes, raign,
With Constancy, in Soule of Soverain
More pious-given, more fearing-God, more Foe
To Idol-Rites (Religion's overthrowe);
Nor more desirous Vertue to prefer,
To propagate Christ's Kingdom every-where;
To root-out Vice, to raze Idolatry,
And raise the Tropheis of Trvth's Victory.
With Constancy, in Soule of Soverain
More pious-given, more fearing-God, more Foe
To Idol-Rites (Religion's overthrowe);
Nor more desirous Vertue to prefer,
To propagate Christ's Kingdom every-where;
To root-out Vice, to raze Idolatry,
And raise the Tropheis of Trvth's Victory.
Burning with this Desire (his best Delight)
In Affrick, twice, Hee Crossed Standards pight,
Expos'd his Life vnto the chance of War;
By Sea and Land adventur'd oft, and far:
Where, seeking Death, at last, Hee Durance fand
Within a faith-less, love-less, law-less, Land;
Where Hee, as Gain, and as to raign, did take,
To serve and suffer for his Saviours sake.
In Affrick, twice, Hee Crossed Standards pight,
Expos'd his Life vnto the chance of War;
By Sea and Land adventur'd oft, and far:
Where, seeking Death, at last, Hee Durance fand
Within a faith-less, love-less, law-less, Land;
Where Hee, as Gain, and as to raign, did take,
To serve and suffer for his Saviours sake.
But, all the Battells, won and lost, to sing,
Abroad atchieved by this Valiant King:
The Sack of Damiete, and the bloody Spoil
Of Sarazens, both on the Shores of Nile,
And of the Sea, thrice strewed (as it were)
With Carcases of Pagans slaughtred there:
The Siege of Cairo, when brave Victory
Mourn'd all in Black for His Captivity:
The sacred Terror and Majestike Grace,
Which (from above) shin'd in his Eies and Face,
When two Turk-Traitors (with their swords, in grain
Dy'd with the blood of their late Souldan slain)
Comming to kill him, felt, with strange remorse,
Their fury feebled by a secret force;
From murderous fists letting their weapons fall
When they beheld his face majesticall.
His Lybian journey, when to Carthage tho
This Champion seem'd another Scipio:
Th'honour hee won at Tunis, where hee crownd
His Life and Fortunes, evermore renown'd.
Abroad atchieved by this Valiant King:
The Sack of Damiete, and the bloody Spoil
Of Sarazens, both on the Shores of Nile,
And of the Sea, thrice strewed (as it were)
With Carcases of Pagans slaughtred there:
The Siege of Cairo, when brave Victory
Mourn'd all in Black for His Captivity:
The sacred Terror and Majestike Grace,
Which (from above) shin'd in his Eies and Face,
When two Turk-Traitors (with their swords, in grain
Dy'd with the blood of their late Souldan slain)
Comming to kill him, felt, with strange remorse,
Their fury feebled by a secret force;
From murderous fists letting their weapons fall
When they beheld his face majesticall.
His Lybian journey, when to Carthage tho
This Champion seem'd another Scipio:
Th'honour hee won at Tunis, where hee crownd
His Life and Fortunes, evermore renown'd.
In brief, to vndertake to tell at large
All his Exploits, were a more waighty Charge
Then can the powres of my weak Soul support:
And such a Web to weave in worthy sort,
Behoves the hand of a more happy Wit,
Both warp and woof with golden Threds to fit.
I therefore, quitting th'hopefull Arrogance
Sprung from ignoring of our Ignorance,
Shall think My Labour crown'd sufficient,
If this my speaking Pencil, Phœbus lent
To colour Verses, can but duly lim
Least-glittering Raies that shin'd with Praise in Him.
All his Exploits, were a more waighty Charge
Then can the powres of my weak Soul support:
And such a Web to weave in worthy sort,
Behoves the hand of a more happy Wit,
Both warp and woof with golden Threds to fit.
I therefore, quitting th'hopefull Arrogance
Sprung from ignoring of our Ignorance,
Shall think My Labour crown'd sufficient,
If this my speaking Pencil, Phœbus lent
1065
Least-glittering Raies that shin'd with Praise in Him.
Leaving therefore His Wars discourse to Those
Whose buskind Muse Bellona's march out-goes,
Whose Numbers thunder, and whose stile distills
Fresh Drops of Death from their Heroick Quills,
In lofty strains, as gravely, bravely-bold:
I'll lowely sound his Laurels less extold,
Which Hee (at Peace) won in his War with Vices,
And happy Toil in holy Exercises.
For, as I cannot His high Prowes express;
Much-less can I with silent Slothfulness,
Vnder Oblivion's rusty keies conceal
The wondrous Care, the right religious Zeal,
Which from his Youth ay in his heart had burn'd,
To see The seen House of the Lord adorn'd:
For, in this Vertue, none hath neer Him com
Of all the Kings have raign'd in Christendom.
Not, for, Wee owe to Him the Monuments
Which with his blood Our Saviour's Patience
Bath'd in his Passion, and whose Sight, as yet,
Shakes godly Soules in glad-sad sacred Fit:
But, for (abhorring Shepheards bad and blinde)
A studious Care boild in his zealous Minde,
Yea, burn'd his Soules soule with a hot desire,
That, in the Church-Ship, none to Charge aspire,
But, skilfull, faithfull, carefull, Mariners,
Able and apt for all Affairs of Hers;
Whose holy Labours, in courageous sort,
Maugre all Storms, may steer into the Port.
Whose buskind Muse Bellona's march out-goes,
Whose Numbers thunder, and whose stile distills
Fresh Drops of Death from their Heroick Quills,
In lofty strains, as gravely, bravely-bold:
I'll lowely sound his Laurels less extold,
Which Hee (at Peace) won in his War with Vices,
And happy Toil in holy Exercises.
For, as I cannot His high Prowes express;
Much-less can I with silent Slothfulness,
Vnder Oblivion's rusty keies conceal
The wondrous Care, the right religious Zeal,
Which from his Youth ay in his heart had burn'd,
To see The seen House of the Lord adorn'd:
For, in this Vertue, none hath neer Him com
Of all the Kings have raign'd in Christendom.
Not, for, Wee owe to Him the Monuments
Which with his blood Our Saviour's Patience
Bath'd in his Passion, and whose Sight, as yet,
Shakes godly Soules in glad-sad sacred Fit:
But, for (abhorring Shepheards bad and blinde)
A studious Care boild in his zealous Minde,
Yea, burn'd his Soules soule with a hot desire,
That, in the Church-Ship, none to Charge aspire,
But, skilfull, faithfull, carefull, Mariners,
Able and apt for all Affairs of Hers;
Whose holy Labours, in courageous sort,
Maugre all Storms, may steer into the Port.
Deuoured of this Zeal, and dreading ay
Lest Hee be charged at the later Day
By th'onely Iudge, with Vice and Ignorance
Of those Hee chose, through all the folds of France,
To Feed the Flocks vnder his Power alli'd:
When's royall office bound him to provide,
With wondrous Care did hee their lives explore,
Who-ever had commended them before:
And never gave hee the supream Degrees,
Th'Ecclesiastick sacred Dignities,
But vnto Those whose Life and Learning too
Were Eminent, both to direct and doo;
To feed, as Shepheards; as a Watch, to ward;
To heal the Sick, Sound from the Wolf to guard;
And, carefull Stewards, in due time to break
The Bread of Life both to the strong and weak:
Not Those whose Eyes deep vail'd with Ignorance;
Or Knowledge stain'd with Sinnes Exorbitance,
Made like th'old woodden Mercuries, erect
In publike Waies, the Passage to direct,
Who with their finger the Right Path did point,
But, with their foot could never move a joynt.
Lest Hee be charged at the later Day
By th'onely Iudge, with Vice and Ignorance
Of those Hee chose, through all the folds of France,
To Feed the Flocks vnder his Power alli'd:
When's royall office bound him to provide,
With wondrous Care did hee their lives explore,
Who-ever had commended them before:
And never gave hee the supream Degrees,
Th'Ecclesiastick sacred Dignities,
But vnto Those whose Life and Learning too
Were Eminent, both to direct and doo;
To feed, as Shepheards; as a Watch, to ward;
To heal the Sick, Sound from the Wolf to guard;
And, carefull Stewards, in due time to break
The Bread of Life both to the strong and weak:
Not Those whose Eyes deep vail'd with Ignorance;
Or Knowledge stain'd with Sinnes Exorbitance,
1066
In publike Waies, the Passage to direct,
Who with their finger the Right Path did point,
But, with their foot could never move a joynt.
How, how, should Those, for Guide and Lanthorn serve
To th'Ignorance of People prone to swerve;
Whose Ignorance, devoid of Learnings Light,
Cannot discern from crooked Waies the right?
Or, How can Those, foul, Sin-sick Soules recure
(Whom Patterns more then Precepts would allure)
Whose Eloquence, whose Excellence of Wit,
Marres their Well-saying by Ill-doing it;
While, what they Preach, in Practice they deny,
And by their Deeds give their owne Words the Ly.
To th'Ignorance of People prone to swerve;
Whose Ignorance, devoid of Learnings Light,
Cannot discern from crooked Waies the right?
Or, How can Those, foul, Sin-sick Soules recure
(Whom Patterns more then Precepts would allure)
Whose Eloquence, whose Excellence of Wit,
Marres their Well-saying by Ill-doing it;
While, what they Preach, in Practice they deny,
And by their Deeds give their owne Words the Ly.
Neither the Learned, of true Vertue void;
Neither the Vertuous, without Learning's aid;
Can, in the Flock of Christ's Redeemed dear,
Bear th'holy Sheep-hooks sacred Burthen heer,
VVith that Success which should be wisht by Them
That seek the glory of Ierusalem.
Learning and Vertue must together match,
Those sacred Flocks duly to Weeld and Watch:
In vain's their Pain, who doo not lead, but drive,
Preaching like Shepheards, while like Wolves they live;
Said this good Prince: and that same very Thought
Which from his heart this holy Speech had brought,
Brought forth th'effect: Hee did so thirst to see
Religion flourish; and, through th'Industry
Of Labourers, divinely Willd and Skilld,
God's holy Vineyard, truly, duly tilld.
Neither the Vertuous, without Learning's aid;
Can, in the Flock of Christ's Redeemed dear,
Bear th'holy Sheep-hooks sacred Burthen heer,
VVith that Success which should be wisht by Them
That seek the glory of Ierusalem.
Learning and Vertue must together match,
Those sacred Flocks duly to Weeld and Watch:
In vain's their Pain, who doo not lead, but drive,
Preaching like Shepheards, while like Wolves they live;
Said this good Prince: and that same very Thought
Which from his heart this holy Speech had brought,
Brought forth th'effect: Hee did so thirst to see
Religion flourish; and, through th'Industry
Of Labourers, divinely Willd and Skilld,
God's holy Vineyard, truly, duly tilld.
Nor was His Care lesse, nor, much lesse, His Zeal
Of Lawes support (Props of the Publike-Weal)
So strict hee was, and so precise in Choice
Of Those (not waighd but by their Merits poiz)
Whom, arming with his Sword, as Delegates,
Hee sent amid the Rank of Magistrates,
Garnisht with Vertues, grac't with Learning, fit
On bright Astræas sacred Thrones to sit.
Of Lawes support (Props of the Publike-Weal)
So strict hee was, and so precise in Choice
Of Those (not waighd but by their Merits poiz)
Whom, arming with his Sword, as Delegates,
Hee sent amid the Rank of Magistrates,
Garnisht with Vertues, grac't with Learning, fit
On bright Astræas sacred Thrones to sit.
His Predecessors, winking at the Crimes,
Or else constrain'd with Mischief of their Times
(All given to Gain, greedy of Gold) had made
Of Offices a miserable Trade:
Never regarding, that they set (withall)
Both Innocence, Honour, and Right, to-sale:
Sold, to th'insatiate, Licence (as they please)
To pill the People, vnder shewes of Ease;
And let the Knave, with his full Purse, prevent
The knowne long Merit of the Excellent.
Or else constrain'd with Mischief of their Times
(All given to Gain, greedy of Gold) had made
Of Offices a miserable Trade:
Never regarding, that they set (withall)
Both Innocence, Honour, and Right, to-sale:
Sold, to th'insatiate, Licence (as they please)
To pill the People, vnder shewes of Ease;
And let the Knave, with his full Purse, prevent
The knowne long Merit of the Excellent.
1067
Hee, seeing This Abuse to ope the Gate
To all Iniustice, to confound a State:
The Guilty quit, the Innocent condemn'd;
Wrong countenançt, Right rated, or contemn'd;
And onely Favour (vnder fained Gown)
O'r-ruling Iudgements, Equity put-down:
Iustice, in Courts vsing her Balance bright,
To waigh the Parties Money, not their Right:
Bold Ignorance, in Dignities supream,
Soiling their sacred Chairs with Wrongs extream;
Selling too-shame-less, too-vnconscionable,
What Shee, vnworthy, bought vnreasonable:
Seeing, in brief, his Realms neer Ieopardy:
The strength of Lawes turn'd to meer Robbery:
Apparant Thefts, with Warrant vnder-handed,
Not onely not condemned, but commanded:
Soon as his Valour, quelling all his Foen,
Had set him quiet on his Fathers Throne,
Hee banisht quite This sad Confusions Cause,
This fatal Death of Letters, and of Lawes;
According to our Saviour's blest Example,
Who, angry, chas't the Chapmen forth his Temple.
To all Iniustice, to confound a State:
The Guilty quit, the Innocent condemn'd;
Wrong countenançt, Right rated, or contemn'd;
And onely Favour (vnder fained Gown)
O'r-ruling Iudgements, Equity put-down:
Iustice, in Courts vsing her Balance bright,
To waigh the Parties Money, not their Right:
Bold Ignorance, in Dignities supream,
Soiling their sacred Chairs with Wrongs extream;
Selling too-shame-less, too-vnconscionable,
What Shee, vnworthy, bought vnreasonable:
Seeing, in brief, his Realms neer Ieopardy:
The strength of Lawes turn'd to meer Robbery:
Apparant Thefts, with Warrant vnder-handed,
Not onely not condemned, but commanded:
Soon as his Valour, quelling all his Foen,
Had set him quiet on his Fathers Throne,
Hee banisht quite This sad Confusions Cause,
This fatal Death of Letters, and of Lawes;
According to our Saviour's blest Example,
Who, angry, chas't the Chapmen forth his Temple.
Then, where hee met a well-disposed Wit,
Whose Knowledge and whose Cariage, matching fit,
Gave him good hope, that, beeing (free) preferd,
Hee would bee th'Orphans and the Widows Guard;
The Poor's Protector, in their Right to stand;
No ey for Favour; and for Bribes, no hand;
No Awe of Threats, and for Intreats no Ear;
Laying aside, Love, Hatred, Hope, and Fear,
When hee shall sit as Oracle, to doom;
Where Man is vnto Man, as in God's Room:
Him would this Noble Prince freely create
A Chancelour, a Iudge, a Magistrate,
A Dean, a Bishop; without busie Suit
Of bribed Minions basely to pursue't.
Whose Knowledge and whose Cariage, matching fit,
Gave him good hope, that, beeing (free) preferd,
Hee would bee th'Orphans and the Widows Guard;
The Poor's Protector, in their Right to stand;
No ey for Favour; and for Bribes, no hand;
No Awe of Threats, and for Intreats no Ear;
Laying aside, Love, Hatred, Hope, and Fear,
When hee shall sit as Oracle, to doom;
Where Man is vnto Man, as in God's Room:
Him would this Noble Prince freely create
A Chancelour, a Iudge, a Magistrate,
A Dean, a Bishop; without busie Suit
Of bribed Minions basely to pursue't.
O ever-wished, never-hoped, Daies,
Which Gold's-contempt so gilt with golden Raies,
How calm you past! How was the People blest,
Vnder the Lawes of such a Princes Hest!
And O! How worthy Hee, in spite of Time,
To bee renowned over every Clime!
Through whom Integrity reviv'd again,
And Sentences, ceasing to pass for Gain
(As now, God wot, too-many witnes can)
Were God's owne Sentence in the Mouth of Man.
Which Gold's-contempt so gilt with golden Raies,
How calm you past! How was the People blest,
Vnder the Lawes of such a Princes Hest!
And O! How worthy Hee, in spite of Time,
To bee renowned over every Clime!
Through whom Integrity reviv'd again,
And Sentences, ceasing to pass for Gain
(As now, God wot, too-many witnes can)
Were God's owne Sentence in the Mouth of Man.
For, neither spar'd Hee Rigor nor Reward,
Where Hee had hope, by gentle hand or hard,
To conquer Vice, and that same servile Vein,
Which loves not Goodnes, but for Goods and Gain;
And with a heart whose Gold-Thirst never sat is,
Will never till the Field of Vertve, gratis.
Where Hee had hope, by gentle hand or hard,
1068
Which loves not Goodnes, but for Goods and Gain;
And with a heart whose Gold-Thirst never sat is,
Will never till the Field of Vertve, gratis.
Knowing therefore, that in a Season vitious,
Wee sooner finde a Pyrrhus, then Fabricius;
And wisely fearing, lest the fear of Want,
Or love of Wealth, should worldly mindes supplant,
And make them pass their duties bounds perchance,
Whom hee to place of Honour should advance:
To keep their Port, with People venerable;
To bear their Charge of needfull Train and Table;
Hee arm'd their Vertue against Poverty
(The secret Foe to sound Integrity)
With ample Stipends, able to repell
The law-less Lawes of those Two Tyrants fell,
Whose Iron Scepter too-too-often forces
Right honest Natures to dis-honest Courses.
And then, if Favour, Feud, or Avarice,
To grosse Iniustice did their hands intice,
Hee punisht ay their Trespass with such Rigor,
That Lawes, recovering then their ancient Vigor,
Seem'd That severe Example to revive,
Which in the Skin of Father flaid alive
(For wrong Decrees) his Sonne succeeding thrust;
A bloody Doom; yet, for Iniustice, just:
That after;-Iudges, by their Iudge-skin Chair,
From Bribes and Brokeage might bee warned fair.
Wee sooner finde a Pyrrhus, then Fabricius;
And wisely fearing, lest the fear of Want,
Or love of Wealth, should worldly mindes supplant,
And make them pass their duties bounds perchance,
Whom hee to place of Honour should advance:
To keep their Port, with People venerable;
To bear their Charge of needfull Train and Table;
Hee arm'd their Vertue against Poverty
(The secret Foe to sound Integrity)
With ample Stipends, able to repell
The law-less Lawes of those Two Tyrants fell,
Whose Iron Scepter too-too-often forces
Right honest Natures to dis-honest Courses.
And then, if Favour, Feud, or Avarice,
To grosse Iniustice did their hands intice,
Hee punisht ay their Trespass with such Rigor,
That Lawes, recovering then their ancient Vigor,
Seem'd That severe Example to revive,
Which in the Skin of Father flaid alive
(For wrong Decrees) his Sonne succeeding thrust;
A bloody Doom; yet, for Iniustice, just:
That after;-Iudges, by their Iudge-skin Chair,
From Bribes and Brokeage might bee warned fair.
Above all Crimes, his hearts just Iealousie
Abhorred most Murder and Blasphemy:
Nor ever did the First escape with life;
Vnless by Proofs it were apparant rife,
That, Self-defending, 't was vnwilling done;
Forç't, deadly Stroak, by deadly Stroak, to shun:
Th'other was punisht where hee sinned, just:
A red-hot Iron through his Tongue was thrust;
To teach Blasphemous Mouthes no more to blame
That holy, high, vn-vtterable Name,
Ador'd in Heav'n and Earth, and every-where;
Which, even the Angels speak not, but with fear.
Abhorred most Murder and Blasphemy:
Nor ever did the First escape with life;
Vnless by Proofs it were apparant rife,
That, Self-defending, 't was vnwilling done;
Forç't, deadly Stroak, by deadly Stroak, to shun:
Th'other was punisht where hee sinned, just:
A red-hot Iron through his Tongue was thrust;
To teach Blasphemous Mouthes no more to blame
That holy, high, vn-vtterable Name,
Ador'd in Heav'n and Earth, and every-where;
Which, even the Angels speak not, but with fear.
O! how hee hated Those light, lothsom, Places,
Where Venus sells her to all lewd Embraces!
The Shepheard, finding, vnder Stacks or Stones,
A Nest of Hornets, or a Swarm of Drones,
Or Knot of Vipers, is not bent more fierce
Their Cels to spoil, Themselues dispatch, disperse,
Then Hee was eger, and against Them bent
Seuerest Lawes, with sharpest punishment;
Clensing with Fire those foule Augéan Stalls,
And, to the ground, razing their filthy VValls;
Lacing with lashes their vn-pittied Skin,
VVhom Lust or Lucre had bestow'd therein.
Him-Selfe, so chaste of Body, and of Minde
(If Fame say true: who seldom soothes behinde)
That neuer Hee (Rare in a Princes Life!)
Knew other Venus, then his Queene and Wife.
Where Venus sells her to all lewd Embraces!
The Shepheard, finding, vnder Stacks or Stones,
A Nest of Hornets, or a Swarm of Drones,
Or Knot of Vipers, is not bent more fierce
Their Cels to spoil, Themselues dispatch, disperse,
Then Hee was eger, and against Them bent
Seuerest Lawes, with sharpest punishment;
1069
And, to the ground, razing their filthy VValls;
Lacing with lashes their vn-pittied Skin,
VVhom Lust or Lucre had bestow'd therein.
Him-Selfe, so chaste of Body, and of Minde
(If Fame say true: who seldom soothes behinde)
That neuer Hee (Rare in a Princes Life!)
Knew other Venus, then his Queene and Wife.
What Prince was euer, to the silly Poore,
More tender-harted, either helpfull more?
A many Kings haue, by high Feats in VVarr,
Renownd their Names and spred their Glories farr:
By wholesome Lawes Licentious Rage represt:
By many Proofs their Prudence well exprest:
By all the parts of Policie and Prowes,
Won all the Honors earthly State allowes:
But, few vouchsafe to stoope their stately eyes
To th'humble Poore that on the dunghill lyes:
And little think, that, in those Little ones,
Christ, Christ Him-selfe vnto their Greatnes grones;
Beggs at their Feer, in raggs, and hunger-driuen;
And promiseth, for Bread to giue Them Heav'n.
More tender-harted, either helpfull more?
A many Kings haue, by high Feats in VVarr,
Renownd their Names and spred their Glories farr:
By wholesome Lawes Licentious Rage represt:
By many Proofs their Prudence well exprest:
By all the parts of Policie and Prowes,
Won all the Honors earthly State allowes:
But, few vouchsafe to stoope their stately eyes
To th'humble Poore that on the dunghill lyes:
And little think, that, in those Little ones,
Christ, Christ Him-selfe vnto their Greatnes grones;
Beggs at their Feer, in raggs, and hunger-driuen;
And promiseth, for Bread to giue Them Heav'n.
O hearts of Adamant! This pittious King
From Your fell Natures was far differing.
For, oftentimes from his high Throne descending,
To sowe and reap the Fruits on Alms attending,
All, all that could from ordinary rate
In Royall Charge of Kingdom, House, and State,
Be safely spar'd, with honorable Thrift,
From such a heart and hand so apt to Gift;
Would He bestowe in building sacred Cells,
For th'Aged, Poore, Sick, Sight-lesse (Helpless els)!
In ayding Widowes, whom the bliss of Bearing
Made wretched, wanting for their Childrens Rearing:
Redeeming Captiues, raising Doweries
For honest Maydens apt for Mariages,
(Whose Banes (vnaskt) still Pouertie forbad)
Passing their Flower in Feares and Languors sad:
In breeding Orphans, and in feeding Those
Whose bashfull Silence, biting-in their Woes,
Smoother'd the Sighes within their swelling brest,
Which from their Mouthes meer Hunger often prest.
In briefe, in pouring on all Poore, no lesse
Streams of Reliefe, then Fortune of Distresse;
Approuing plain, that, in most Pomp of State,
Him Selfe a Man he aye did meditate.
From Your fell Natures was far differing.
For, oftentimes from his high Throne descending,
To sowe and reap the Fruits on Alms attending,
All, all that could from ordinary rate
In Royall Charge of Kingdom, House, and State,
Be safely spar'd, with honorable Thrift,
From such a heart and hand so apt to Gift;
Would He bestowe in building sacred Cells,
For th'Aged, Poore, Sick, Sight-lesse (Helpless els)!
In ayding Widowes, whom the bliss of Bearing
Made wretched, wanting for their Childrens Rearing:
Redeeming Captiues, raising Doweries
For honest Maydens apt for Mariages,
(Whose Banes (vnaskt) still Pouertie forbad)
Passing their Flower in Feares and Languors sad:
In breeding Orphans, and in feeding Those
Whose bashfull Silence, biting-in their Woes,
Smoother'd the Sighes within their swelling brest,
Which from their Mouthes meer Hunger often prest.
In briefe, in pouring on all Poore, no lesse
Streams of Reliefe, then Fortune of Distresse;
Approuing plain, that, in most Pomp of State,
Him Selfe a Man he aye did meditate.
His People He so lou'd, and their Prosperitie,
That, easing them of former Kings seueritie
In Imposts, Tributes, Taxes, and the rest,
Where-with his Kingdom had been sore opprest:
He wont with Tears to bathe his Cheeks (they say)
When vrging Cause compelled him to lay
On his poore Subiects any new Excise,
Neuer so needfull, iust, or light to prize:
Which yet his Pittie rarely did permit;
And onely when Bellons (pressing it)
Against out Lillies some such Storm had blown,
As hath too-often Empires ouerthrown.
For, for the Charge of needfull Dignitie,
And royall State beseeming Maiestie,
Hee neuer sought from other Source to drain,
Then th'euer-Springs of his owne iust Demain;
Detesting th'vse of other Potentates,
Who, but to gild their Pride in pompous States,
Pilld all their Subiects with extreame Excesse,
And then consuming it in Showes and Feasts,
And scorning those whom they had eaten-vp
(With-out Compassion) in a golden Cup
Caroused deep their wretched Peoples blood,
Whom God had giuen Them to protect, in good.
That, easing them of former Kings seueritie
1070
Where-with his Kingdom had been sore opprest:
He wont with Tears to bathe his Cheeks (they say)
When vrging Cause compelled him to lay
On his poore Subiects any new Excise,
Neuer so needfull, iust, or light to prize:
Which yet his Pittie rarely did permit;
And onely when Bellons (pressing it)
Against out Lillies some such Storm had blown,
As hath too-often Empires ouerthrown.
For, for the Charge of needfull Dignitie,
And royall State beseeming Maiestie,
Hee neuer sought from other Source to drain,
Then th'euer-Springs of his owne iust Demain;
Detesting th'vse of other Potentates,
Who, but to gild their Pride in pompous States,
Pilld all their Subiects with extreame Excesse,
And then consuming it in Showes and Feasts,
And scorning those whom they had eaten-vp
(With-out Compassion) in a golden Cup
Caroused deep their wretched Peoples blood,
Whom God had giuen Them to protect, in good.
What Lawes-Obliuion, what Contempt of God
(Thus, this good Prince, Them, shril and sharply chod)
Deaffens your Eares against so many a Plaint!
Inhumane soules, who, toucht with bloody Taint,
Ill Shepheards, shear not but euen flay your Fold,
To turn the Skins to Cassakins of Gold;
Thinke You, the Heav'ns, which hate all Tyrannie,
Will wink at Yours, and let you scape so, free?
No, no: they'll ruine Your vnrighteous Power;
And, causing soon Your Subiects rise in Stower,
The Iust Reuenger, who all Realms transfers,
Of mightiest Kings shall make you School-masters:
Shall break your proud Tax-puffed Scepters so,
That, for th'abuse, you shall the vse forgo:
Or shall so curse the cruell Policies
Your Minions finde to feed your Vanities,
That in Your hands your Gold shal melt away,
And still the more you pill, the more you may:
(Like Dropsie-sicke, the more they drink, the dryer)
The more you shall deuour, the more desire:
New Erisichthons, through insatiate heat,
Forced in fine your Selues to teare and eate:
Branding with Shame of Marks so mercie-less,
So impious Pride of hearts so Pitie-less,
Who burd'ning Subiects more then beare they can,
Hold neither God for God; nor Man for Man.
(Thus, this good Prince, Them, shril and sharply chod)
Deaffens your Eares against so many a Plaint!
Inhumane soules, who, toucht with bloody Taint,
Ill Shepheards, shear not but euen flay your Fold,
To turn the Skins to Cassakins of Gold;
Thinke You, the Heav'ns, which hate all Tyrannie,
Will wink at Yours, and let you scape so, free?
No, no: they'll ruine Your vnrighteous Power;
And, causing soon Your Subiects rise in Stower,
The Iust Reuenger, who all Realms transfers,
Of mightiest Kings shall make you School-masters:
Shall break your proud Tax-puffed Scepters so,
That, for th'abuse, you shall the vse forgo:
Or shall so curse the cruell Policies
Your Minions finde to feed your Vanities,
That in Your hands your Gold shal melt away,
And still the more you pill, the more you may:
(Like Dropsie-sicke, the more they drink, the dryer)
The more you shall deuour, the more desire:
New Erisichthons, through insatiate heat,
Forced in fine your Selues to teare and eate:
Branding with Shame of Marks so mercie-less,
So impious Pride of hearts so Pitie-less,
Who burd'ning Subiects more then beare they can,
Hold neither God for God; nor Man for Man.
But, wither run I, on so harsh a string,
Out of my Tune; to tell how This good King
Reprou'd bad Princes of his Time, for pressing
Their People cause-less with vncessant Sessing!
Let's re-assume our Song, our proper Theam:
Let's passe-by Vice: and rather couering them,
Then Them recounting in eternall Story,
Let vs returne to sing of Vertues Glory.
1071
Reprou'd bad Princes of his Time, for pressing
Their People cause-less with vncessant Sessing!
Let's re-assume our Song, our proper Theam:
Let's passe-by Vice: and rather couering them,
Then Them recounting in eternall Story,
Let vs returne to sing of Vertues Glory.
How happy is the Prince, who squaring right
By sacred Lawes the limits of his Might,
Ioyes in Well-dooing, and as Iust as Wise,
Thinks not himselfe to raign; saue Noblewise,
When He his People, heeds, and hearing aye
Their iust Complaints, doth in due time repay
What euery Monarch (with deuotion) vowes
To God and Men, when first his royall Browes
(Vnder so many solemne Mysteries,
With hopefull Subiects wishfull, ioyfull Cryes)
Put-on the glad-sad sacred Diadem,
Which instantly from thence-forth puts on Him
That Robe of Power, which those doth much mis-suit
Who haue not on rare Vertues richest Suit.
By sacred Lawes the limits of his Might,
Ioyes in Well-dooing, and as Iust as Wise,
Thinks not himselfe to raign; saue Noblewise,
When He his People, heeds, and hearing aye
Their iust Complaints, doth in due time repay
What euery Monarch (with deuotion) vowes
To God and Men, when first his royall Browes
(Vnder so many solemne Mysteries,
With hopefull Subiects wishfull, ioyfull Cryes)
Put-on the glad-sad sacred Diadem,
Which instantly from thence-forth puts on Him
That Robe of Power, which those doth much mis-suit
Who haue not on rare Vertues richest Suit.
Among such Kings, who ay, as Right directs,
Measure their Greatnes by their Good-effects;
Not by their Fortunes, or their Force of hand;
Or many Nations vnder their Command;
Was that illustrious Prince to whom we pay
Heroïk Duties in this Hymnik Lay.
For, while, at home, he happy Peace inioyd,
Hee neuer suffer'd day to vanish voyd
Of giuing Audience, and extending free
Fruits of his Iustice vnto each Degree;
Grieuing in minde, grudging at those, as lost,
Less worthy spent, although vnwilling most;
Perswaded sure, that with what eye or eare
His Peoples Case a Prince doth heed and heare;
With like, the Lord, in his extreame Affaires,
Will looke on Him, and listen to his Pray'rs:
That that same pompous, glittering glorious Slauery,
Improperly calld Royall (for the Brauery)
In proper speech (by due Experience scand)
'T's an Onerous-Honor, a Confin'd Command:
That Kings were made for Subiects; and not they,
Not They for Kings: that though both Land & Sea
Adore their Greatnes (Lawes Support alone)
Yet, Princes Eares are not indeed their Owne;
But their owne Peoples that doe humbly liue
Vnder th'obedience of the Lawes They giue:
That, to be briefe, of mightiest Kings that are,
Labour's the Glory, and their Greatnes Care.
Measure their Greatnes by their Good-effects;
Not by their Fortunes, or their Force of hand;
Or many Nations vnder their Command;
Was that illustrious Prince to whom we pay
Heroïk Duties in this Hymnik Lay.
For, while, at home, he happy Peace inioyd,
Hee neuer suffer'd day to vanish voyd
Of giuing Audience, and extending free
Fruits of his Iustice vnto each Degree;
Grieuing in minde, grudging at those, as lost,
Less worthy spent, although vnwilling most;
Perswaded sure, that with what eye or eare
His Peoples Case a Prince doth heed and heare;
With like, the Lord, in his extreame Affaires,
Will looke on Him, and listen to his Pray'rs:
That that same pompous, glittering glorious Slauery,
Improperly calld Royall (for the Brauery)
In proper speech (by due Experience scand)
'T's an Onerous-Honor, a Confin'd Command:
That Kings were made for Subiects; and not they,
Not They for Kings: that though both Land & Sea
Adore their Greatnes (Lawes Support alone)
Yet, Princes Eares are not indeed their Owne;
But their owne Peoples that doe humbly liue
Vnder th'obedience of the Lawes They giue:
That, to be briefe, of mightiest Kings that are,
Labour's the Glory, and their Greatnes Care.
1072
Such sound Instructions, from his Cradle vs'd,
His vertuous Mother wisely had infus'd;
Which in his Princely brest digesting milde,
A Man, he practiz'd what he learnd, a Childe:
Ready to heare the meanest that complaine;
Preferring wisely such a sacred paine
Before the pleasure of the choicest Sport
Could be deuis'd in Countrey or in Court:
Whence in his People such Affection spreads,
They bless his Birth-day, and the ground he treads;
Call him their Father, and with Vowes amain
Frequent the Altars for his long-long Raign:
As if that Wish (the Sum of their Desire)
Contained All all Prayers could require,
Or vs'd to beg of Heav'ns eternall Bountie,
In asking Peace, Riches, Religion, Plentie,
And all the Blessings which Astræa's hand
Can plant or poure vpon a happy Land.
His vertuous Mother wisely had infus'd;
Which in his Princely brest digesting milde,
A Man, he practiz'd what he learnd, a Childe:
Ready to heare the meanest that complaine;
Preferring wisely such a sacred paine
Before the pleasure of the choicest Sport
Could be deuis'd in Countrey or in Court:
Whence in his People such Affection spreads,
They bless his Birth-day, and the ground he treads;
Call him their Father, and with Vowes amain
Frequent the Altars for his long-long Raign:
As if that Wish (the Sum of their Desire)
Contained All all Prayers could require,
Or vs'd to beg of Heav'ns eternall Bountie,
In asking Peace, Riches, Religion, Plentie,
And all the Blessings which Astræa's hand
Can plant or poure vpon a happy Land.
What Tracts of Art, What Tropes of Eloquences
Can liuely represent to modern Princes,
(So as euen Envies Selfe shall nought controule)
That Self-seuere Integritie of Soule,
Whose humble, patient, constant Temperance,
Hath no Successor as yet had in France,
Nor yet els-where: How-euer euery State
Can yet admire it, none can imitate.
Can liuely represent to modern Princes,
(So as euen Envies Selfe shall nought controule)
That Self-seuere Integritie of Soule,
Whose humble, patient, constant Temperance,
Hath no Successor as yet had in France,
Nor yet els-where: How-euer euery State
Can yet admire it, none can imitate.
Evrope (where euer Vice and Vertue most
Haue striuen for Empire, best and worst to boast)
Hath whilom seen Kings treading in the Path
Of notedst Tyrants, who with Threatfull Wrath,
And all the Terrors, which Mans Cruell Rage,
To fright Mankinde had found in former age,
Restraind their Subiects from their Deaths Conspiring:
Who, so, less-daring, had the more desiring.
But, This right generous Prince, still walking fit,
Within the Path which Tyrants neuer hit,
Onely restraind all Publique Insolence,
By th'euen-born Reanes of his own Innocence.
Giuing so little hold to Mal-contents,
Taking, at sharp Reproofs, so small Offence,
That by effect his Royall Soule did showe,
That in the same no liuelier Flame did glowe,
Then a Desire, so Temperate to frame-him,
That all might bouldly, none might iustly, blame him.
Haue striuen for Empire, best and worst to boast)
Hath whilom seen Kings treading in the Path
Of notedst Tyrants, who with Threatfull Wrath,
And all the Terrors, which Mans Cruell Rage,
To fright Mankinde had found in former age,
Restraind their Subiects from their Deaths Conspiring:
Who, so, less-daring, had the more desiring.
But, This right generous Prince, still walking fit,
Within the Path which Tyrants neuer hit,
Onely restraind all Publique Insolence,
By th'euen-born Reanes of his own Innocence.
Giuing so little hold to Mal-contents,
Taking, at sharp Reproofs, so small Offence,
That by effect his Royall Soule did showe,
That in the same no liuelier Flame did glowe,
Then a Desire, so Temperate to frame-him,
That all might bouldly, none might iustly, blame him.
Smooth Soothers, poysoning by the Eare the hart,
Pernicious Weeds, who (Ivie-like) subuert,
Distort, destroy the Trees you Climbe vpon;
Still feeding Vice with such Contagion,
That seldom, Soules who with Applause approue
Your praising them, do ought Praise-worthy loue:
Vizards of Homage, Vertues Pestilence,
Right ill-come were You to This Vertuous Prince,
Who, shunning aye Your banefull Whisperings,
As common Poisoners of the publique Springs,
Abhorr'd your presence, and could better brook
A miss-Fault-finder, then a Fawner's look.
So much a Noble Minde, remote from Vice,
Louing true Honor, loatheth Flatteries.
Pernicious Weeds, who (Ivie-like) subuert,
Distort, destroy the Trees you Climbe vpon;
Still feeding Vice with such Contagion,
That seldom, Soules who with Applause approue
Your praising them, do ought Praise-worthy loue:
1073
Right ill-come were You to This Vertuous Prince,
Who, shunning aye Your banefull Whisperings,
As common Poisoners of the publique Springs,
Abhorr'd your presence, and could better brook
A miss-Fault-finder, then a Fawner's look.
So much a Noble Minde, remote from Vice,
Louing true Honor, loatheth Flatteries.
What pleasure took Hee, how extream Delight,
In Histories, where many times hee might
Review himselfe; amaz'd, to read the thïngs
There said of Kings; which none dare say to Kings!
How was he rapt! how sweetly extased,
When that diuine Eternall Will he read,
VVhere, with so liberall, iust, and louing hand,
God shares to His the Heav'nly-Holy-land!
In Histories, where many times hee might
Review himselfe; amaz'd, to read the thïngs
There said of Kings; which none dare say to Kings!
How was he rapt! how sweetly extased,
When that diuine Eternall Will he read,
VVhere, with so liberall, iust, and louing hand,
God shares to His the Heav'nly-Holy-land!
That which is said of Alexander's loue
To Homer's Works (whose graces, all approue)
May well of him, for honoring the Miracles
Of th'Heav'nly Author, speaking in his Oracles:
Which as a precious Treasure, richly cas't
In Gold and Cedar, had he neer him plaç't;
Calling it aye his ioy of Exercises,
The Spur of Vertues and the Curb of Vices.
If happily his Publik Cares lent Leasure,
He spends it not in more contenting pleasure,
Then What so sacred Studie's Fruit imparts
To th'healthy Taste of true God-fearing hearts.
To Homer's Works (whose graces, all approue)
May well of him, for honoring the Miracles
Of th'Heav'nly Author, speaking in his Oracles:
Which as a precious Treasure, richly cas't
In Gold and Cedar, had he neer him plaç't;
Calling it aye his ioy of Exercises,
The Spur of Vertues and the Curb of Vices.
If happily his Publik Cares lent Leasure,
He spends it not in more contenting pleasure,
Then What so sacred Studie's Fruit imparts
To th'healthy Taste of true God-fearing hearts.
And well appeared, by rare, rich Effects
Of Vertues shining ouer all his Acts,
That that diuine Seed (happy sowne the while)
Fell in no Thorny, Stony, Sandy Soile.
For, if that euer Soule did Vice auoid,
If euer heer meer humane Spirit inioyd
Prowes, Pietie, Prudence, and Iustice, mixt,
VVithout the Foil of Follies Drosse betwixt
(From proudest Wrong, the poorest Right defending:
Disdaining Pleasures towards Vice but tending:
Milde to the Meek; to Malapert, austere;
To good men, Bountious; to the bad, Seuere)
'Twas This braue Prince: Whom, They do best resemble,
In Whom These Vertues most of all assemble.
Of Vertues shining ouer all his Acts,
That that diuine Seed (happy sowne the while)
Fell in no Thorny, Stony, Sandy Soile.
For, if that euer Soule did Vice auoid,
If euer heer meer humane Spirit inioyd
Prowes, Pietie, Prudence, and Iustice, mixt,
VVithout the Foil of Follies Drosse betwixt
(From proudest Wrong, the poorest Right defending:
Disdaining Pleasures towards Vice but tending:
Milde to the Meek; to Malapert, austere;
To good men, Bountious; to the bad, Seuere)
'Twas This braue Prince: Whom, They do best resemble,
In Whom These Vertues most of all assemble.
Kings of his Time, raigning in East and West,
Reuéring him for such, his Greatnes blest:
Th'Afflicted Princes chose him for Refuge;
The Strong, for Friend; and Those at Strife, for Iudge,
When they grew weary to dispute their Cause
By th'old sharp Argument Kings Furie drawes,
When, Mars vsurping milde Astræa's room,
In sted of words, their Swords must giue the Doom;
When Iniurie with Iniury repelling,
And strength of Lawes by stronger Lawes refelling
(To back their Own, or Others claim to barr)
They seek their Right in Might; their Peace, in War.
Reuéring him for such, his Greatnes blest:
Th'Afflicted Princes chose him for Refuge;
The Strong, for Friend; and Those at Strife, for Iudge,
When they grew weary to dispute their Cause
By th'old sharp Argument Kings Furie drawes,
1074
In sted of words, their Swords must giue the Doom;
When Iniurie with Iniury repelling,
And strength of Lawes by stronger Lawes refelling
(To back their Own, or Others claim to barr)
They seek their Right in Might; their Peace, in War.
Such vvas Saint
Levvis: and Such vvas, vvel-neer,
Our Own Saint Edvvard (and Eliza deer;
Saue for Her Sex, the Salique Law perchance,
Barrs Her Succession to the Saints of France)
For all prime Vertues of a compleate Prince
To make a Saint-King. And, if euer, Since,
Evrope hath seen or any kingdom know'n
A liuing Shrine of Both These Saints in One
(Though som, Suspect of the smooth Soothing-Crime;
Some-grosse Neglect of This Ingratefull Time,
Too-Envie-prone, permit not So to say.)
It vvill be Said and Sworne another-Day
(When swelling Clowds, that dare Eclipse our Sun,
Shall, by His Rayes dispersed, be vndone;
And He, Himselfe, in his Own splendor shine)
'TwAs our Ivst-Master, learned and diuine.
Our Own Saint Edvvard (and Eliza deer;
Saue for Her Sex, the Salique Law perchance,
Barrs Her Succession to the Saints of France)
For all prime Vertues of a compleate Prince
To make a Saint-King. And, if euer, Since,
Evrope hath seen or any kingdom know'n
A liuing Shrine of Both These Saints in One
(Though som, Suspect of the smooth Soothing-Crime;
Some-grosse Neglect of This Ingratefull Time,
Too-Envie-prone, permit not So to say.)
It vvill be Said and Sworne another-Day
(When swelling Clowds, that dare Eclipse our Sun,
Shall, by His Rayes dispersed, be vndone;
And He, Himselfe, in his Own splendor shine)
'TwAs our Ivst-Master, learned and diuine.
And, if that euer (for the Time to come)
There haue bin Hope of like in Christendom;
There was a Prince, and is a Prince with God,
Whose Name is deer and deer the Dust he trod
(Whose Memory My Teares must euer mix).
On Whom all Eyes, in Whom all Hearts did fix:
Whose Vertues Haruest ripened in his Spring,
Henry vvas made a Saint, before a King,
Leauing his Brother (vvhere His Best re-flowres)
Sole Heire apparant to His Hopes and Ours.
There haue bin Hope of like in Christendom;
There was a Prince, and is a Prince with God,
Whose Name is deer and deer the Dust he trod
(Whose Memory My Teares must euer mix).
On Whom all Eyes, in Whom all Hearts did fix:
Whose Vertues Haruest ripened in his Spring,
Henry vvas made a Saint, before a King,
Leauing his Brother (vvhere His Best re-flowres)
Sole Heire apparant to His Hopes and Ours.
And, if yet, vnder Heav'ns gilt-azure Cope,
There now remaine Another liuing Hope
Of new Saint Levvis, or His like again,
For godly-goodly, gracious, glorious Raign,
With Blisse to Britan, and the Sacred Flock,
Not built on Peter's Rome, but Peter's Rock;
This, This is Hee: My Patrone and my Prince,
Panaretvs; Whose Pupil-Excellence
Boads, to his Age, to make This Poëm seem
No Poëm, but a Prophecie of Him.
There now remaine Another liuing Hope
Of new Saint Levvis, or His like again,
For godly-goodly, gracious, glorious Raign,
With Blisse to Britan, and the Sacred Flock,
Not built on Peter's Rome, but Peter's Rock;
This, This is Hee: My Patrone and my Prince,
Panaretvs; Whose Pupil-Excellence
Boads, to his Age, to make This Poëm seem
No Poëm, but a Prophecie of Him.
For, neuer vvas there Sonne more like to Sire,
In face, or grace, or Ought that Wee admire;
Then is Our Charles, in his yong Vertues Spring,
Like th'happy Non-Age of that Holy King
(Like his Owne Father; like his Onely Brother,
So as Hee seems rather The same, then Other)
For Gracious Gifts, and Natiue Goodnes tilld
By like graue Tutors, in their Function skilld.
In face, or grace, or Ought that Wee admire;
Then is Our Charles, in his yong Vertues Spring,
Like th'happy Non-Age of that Holy King
(Like his Owne Father; like his Onely Brother,
So as Hee seems rather The same, then Other)
For Gracious Gifts, and Natiue Goodnes tilld
By like graue Tutors, in their Function skilld.
1075
O Thou All-Giuer! Fountain of all Good!
Poure daily downe vpon This Hopefull Bud
Thy Deawes of Grace: shine on it from aboue
In mildest Rayes of Mercie and of Loue:
In sted of Suckers, send it Succours still,
To feed the Root, that That the rest may fill
With liuely Verdure of a fruitfull Sap,
To load with Plentie euery Vertuous Lap:
Breathe on it Blessings: leaue no Weed with-out,
Nor VVorme vvith-in it: hedge it round-about
From Boares, and Beasts, domesticall and Stranger;
Both Wylde and Wylie (Where least Dread, most Danger.)
That it may kindly spring, and timely spred,
In bulk and Branch, with leaues that neuer shed:
Vnder vvhose Shade mine Aged Muse may vvarble
Some Monument (out-lasting Brasse and Marble)
In Swan-like notes, to My Mecœnas Honor,
When Hee bestowes some Nest of Rest vpon-her.
Poure daily downe vpon This Hopefull Bud
Thy Deawes of Grace: shine on it from aboue
In mildest Rayes of Mercie and of Loue:
In sted of Suckers, send it Succours still,
To feed the Root, that That the rest may fill
With liuely Verdure of a fruitfull Sap,
To load with Plentie euery Vertuous Lap:
Breathe on it Blessings: leaue no Weed with-out,
Nor VVorme vvith-in it: hedge it round-about
From Boares, and Beasts, domesticall and Stranger;
Both Wylde and Wylie (Where least Dread, most Danger.)
That it may kindly spring, and timely spred,
In bulk and Branch, with leaues that neuer shed:
Vnder vvhose Shade mine Aged Muse may vvarble
Some Monument (out-lasting Brasse and Marble)
In Swan-like notes, to My Mecœnas Honor,
When Hee bestowes some Nest of Rest vpon-her.
Nor may my Vowes ingratefully forget
Our Other Branch (in Other Soile new-set)
Whose tender Leaues shaken with Sighs of Ours,
In sted of Tears, haue dropped Siluer showers
To coole My Thirst, my Cares to cure, or calm,
With timely Vse of Bounties princely Balm.
O Sea of Bounties neuer-dryed Source!
So vvater it vvith-Thy rich Fauors Course,
That, Happy thriuing by her Palatine,
The Royall Issue of Their Rosie-Vine,
From Rhine and Ister, may to Tiber spred;
And, ouer-topping Romes vsurping Head,
From Bramble-Kings recouer Caesars Seat,
With greater Sway then Constantine the Great.
Our Other Branch (in Other Soile new-set)
Whose tender Leaues shaken with Sighs of Ours,
In sted of Tears, haue dropped Siluer showers
To coole My Thirst, my Cares to cure, or calm,
With timely Vse of Bounties princely Balm.
O Sea of Bounties neuer-dryed Source!
So vvater it vvith-Thy rich Fauors Course,
That, Happy thriuing by her Palatine,
The Royall Issue of Their Rosie-Vine,
From Rhine and Ister, may to Tiber spred;
And, ouer-topping Romes vsurping Head,
From Bramble-Kings recouer Caesars Seat,
With greater Sway then Constantine the Great.
Great Arbitrer, vvhose Counsails none can sound;
Who canst all Thrones confirm, and all confound;
Conferring Kingdoms, and transferring them,
How, When, and Where thou vvilt, from Stem to Stem;
Establish, Lord, in Royall Iames his Race,
These Kingdoms Greatnes, and Thy Kingdoms Grace:
Prosper our David, bless his Salomon,
That after Them, vpon Great-Britain's Throne
(Maugre Hells malice, and the Rage of Rome,
Their roaring Bulls, their Charms, their Arms to-come,
Their Powder-Plots, their Pistols, Poysons, Kniues;
And All their Iesuites murdrous Art contriues)
Their Seed may sit; and neuer Other hand
Then Stvarts sway the Sceptre of This Land;
Wise, Great, Good Stvarts, that may shine as cleer
As This Saint Levvis, both in Heav'n and Heer.
Who canst all Thrones confirm, and all confound;
Conferring Kingdoms, and transferring them,
How, When, and Where thou vvilt, from Stem to Stem;
Establish, Lord, in Royall Iames his Race,
These Kingdoms Greatnes, and Thy Kingdoms Grace:
Prosper our David, bless his Salomon,
That after Them, vpon Great-Britain's Throne
(Maugre Hells malice, and the Rage of Rome,
Their roaring Bulls, their Charms, their Arms to-come,
Their Powder-Plots, their Pistols, Poysons, Kniues;
And All their Iesuites murdrous Art contriues)
Their Seed may sit; and neuer Other hand
Then Stvarts sway the Sceptre of This Land;
Wise, Great, Good Stvarts, that may shine as cleer
As This Saint Levvis, both in Heav'n and Heer.
AMEN.
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