The poems of George Daniel ... From the original mss. in the British Museum: Hitherto unprinted. Edited, with introduction, notes, and illustrations, portrait, &c. By the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart: In four volumes |
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 | The poems of George Daniel |  |
To the honour of Sr: M: L: Commrd: in Ch': at the Releife of P'.
Where Common Soules are startled, (and the LowChannels in Sordid Cowards dare not flow,
But everie Drop lyes throbbing at the heart,
And Strikes a Palsey thorough everie part)
There, the heroicke Spirrit, vntroubled, moves,
And Danger (as the worthiest obiect) loves.
Each Common Action has its Common Praise;
But onlie great Designes are fit to raise
Immortall Trophies to Adorne a Name,
And Crowne Desert, in the full breath of Fame.
Soe may this Action stand, where (not alone
Successe was doubted, in opinion,
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A certaine Ruine; and (though instant need
Presse the designe) are cold, and cannot Spye
A seeming Face of Probabilitye,
In the Attempt. Here Magnanimitie
Lookes on the Act, in the Necessitie
Of a distresséd Freind; not led in Heat
Of Frenzye, nor inspired with the Feat
To other Ends then Noble. Some, surmize
Iudgment scarce warranted the Enterprize:
Oh, Pardon me; for men of Honour breath
A purer Ayre; and somewhat neare to faith,
Moves to their vndertakings; something hid
Lyes to encourage vertue.—What once bid
The mightie Cæsar, in all Exigents
Persist? What Reason had his Confidence?
Some great Instinct (which Cowards will not know)
Qvickens and gvideth Vertue. Hee dare doe
What the dull frighted Pilote dares not thinke:
Thou Carriest Cæsar! Cæsar cannot Sinke;
Be bold in Cæsar's Fortune; who Reserved
To better Fate, has bene till now preserved;
And if the gviding Influence here faile
Him to protect, it is enough, to fall
With Cæsar, in his Fate.—Each noble brest
Has this inhærent Fire. What Hee exprest
Vertue still pleads; and fortune oft Attends
A Resolution pitch't on noble Ends.
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And Sacrifized to Ruine, in the Thought
Of Some (who were Freinds to the Enterprize,)
The Action prospers;—Boast not victories
Too Loud, vncertaine Fame! Truth only tell
The honour of the Action; which may well
Erect a Piramid.—But Blood & Slaughter scarce
Support ye Name of honour. Hee Appears
Lesse glorious in the Crimson of that Day,
(Where Hee, his Numbers treebled, beat away;
Where many Deaths of Enemies, and All
The Spoile of Armes, to Him (as victor) fall),
Then in the hearts of liveing Men. Soe farre
Humanitie enforces, beyond warre,
In the Sterne Rape of Power. Live, mightie Soule,
To perfect many Such, whilst I enroll
In a darke verse thy Fame; till (by thy Sword
The Age reduc'd) I may bequeath a word,
Fit to enforme Posteritie what Name
Wee owe our Peace to; when the better Flame
Of Poesie (now Shaded) may by thee
Again b' inspir'd to Truth and Libertie.
Till when, my Numbers doe noe further spread;
I will not Write what others may not Reade.
| The poems of George Daniel | |