Prison-Pietie or, Meditations Divine and Moral. Digested into Poetical Heads, On Mixt and Various Subjects. Whereunto is added A Panegyrick to The Right Reverend, and most Nobly descended, Henry, Lord Bishop of London. By Samuel Speed, Prisoner in Ludgate, London |
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On Magnanimity. |
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On Magnanimity.
Cæsar spoke proudly when he boldly said,In midst a storm, Pilot, be not afraid;
The angry Surges know not what they do;
Thou carriest Cæsar and his fortunes too.
The Cannibals, as History doth tell,
Are for their courage thought invincible;
Rather than seem to fear, remissly flie,
Or sue for life, they bravely choose to die.
In Alexander's last and fatal fight,
He shew'd his Courage was his chief delight,
By boasting 'twas his glory and his pride,
At once the Power of Persia to divide.
Mahomet the Persian Sultan overthrown,
His Passion was to such a fury grown,
He in revenge (perhaps more mad than wise)
Caus'd his chief Captains ten to loose their eyes,
So to prevent their overthrow agen;
And threatned female habits for his men.
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It was a shame for any man to fly
In time of danger: but a cursed fate,
Lacedemonians should deliberate.
And Socrates, Criton's advice did slight,
When by him wish'd to make a private flight.
Salisbury's noble Earl, whenas he found
The Sultans Army had inclos'd him round,
And he advis'd to fly, answer'd in scorn,
Heavens forbid I should for that be born;
Or any of my Father's Blood or Race
Should fear a Sarasin for force or face.
Much less then should a Christian fear, whose eye
Should fix on Christ, who did for Christians die.
Bravely resolv'd it was of blessed Paul
After Conversion, his aspiring fall,
I ready am not only to proclaim,
But to be bound, and die for Jesus Name.
Who sails with Christ fears neither Rock nor Sand;
Christians through storms must reach the promis'd Land.
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