University of Virginia Library


249

THE MERLIN.

5. ODE.

Whence Nisus, whence,
Is this the fate of kings,
For arme on Scepter,
To be arm'd with wings?
Poore speckled bird, see how aspiring may
Degrade the high, and their estate betray.
Once Fortune made
Nisus her fauorite,
And rer'd his throne
To such vnbounded height,
That forreine states admir'd what he possest,
Till slie ambition nestled in his breast
Till then how blest,
And after see how base
His greatnesse fell,
When rest of Princely grace;
Those many fleering Parasites he gain'd,
In his successe, not one in want remain'd
Chesses he weares
Now on his downie feete,

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Where once guilt spurs,
With store of pearle set
Adorn'd his nimble heeles, and hooded now,
His beuer wants: this can ambition do.
Vp still he mounts,
And must a pleasure bring,
That once was king,
To meaner then a king;
Where he, who once had Falkners at command,
Is faine to picke his meate from Falkners hand.
Imperious fate,
What canst not thou effect,
When thou perceiues
In man a dis-respect
Vnto thy honour, which we instanc'd sed,
In no one Nisus better then in thee!
But stow bird stow,
See now the game's a foote,
And white-maild Nisus,
He is flying to't;
Scepter, Crowne, Throne & all that Princely were
Be now reduc'd to feathers in the ayre.