Oculus Britanniae An Heroi-Panegyrical poem on the University of Oxford. Illustrated with divers beautiful Similes, and useful Digressions [by Nicholas Amhurst] |
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 | Oculus Britanniae |  |
O! prelate, of the church thou burning light,
Through all thy sufferings eminently bright,
In vain ill-fortune strives to make thee less,
Great in thy self, but greater in distress;
Transfus'd into thy soul by power divine,
Laud's active zeal and Wolsey's spirit shine,
Like them pursued by a corrupted age,
And sacrific'd to wild, fanatick rage,
Ordain'd a living martyrdom to feel,
And in exotick climates broach thy zeal;
How in thy praise could I dilate my song!
But fate and rigid laws restrain my tongue.
Through all thy sufferings eminently bright,
In vain ill-fortune strives to make thee less,
Great in thy self, but greater in distress;
Transfus'd into thy soul by power divine,
Laud's active zeal and Wolsey's spirit shine,
Like them pursued by a corrupted age,
And sacrific'd to wild, fanatick rage,
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And in exotick climates broach thy zeal;
How in thy praise could I dilate my song!
But fate and rigid laws restrain my tongue.
| Oculus Britanniae | |