ODE VII.
[Loe, where Hee comes! the Monarch of the Earth]
1
Loe, where Hee comes! the Monarch of the Earth,
In Royall Scarlet Clad;
Such obiects make me Sad;
Is this a Time for Glorie, or for Mirth?
2
With azure wings, and golden Diadem,
A thousand vassalls waite
Vpon his goodlie State;
And giddilie, the Rout, his Shadowes hemme!
3
Who this Should be, the Iudging Reader knowes;
Ah, sadlie I dare say,
Hee did attend, this Day,
Vpon the Monster, if he bend his browes.
4
For in the front of his Retinue Stands
Bold Ignorance, the first;
And Ostentation nurst
By the same brest, and swathed in the same bands.
5
These misinforme the gaping Multitude,
And Chatter out his Praise
To them, a thousand waies;
What Scepters he has won, what Lands Subdued.
6
For doubtles, great Hee is; though greater farre
Hee be, in their report,
Who limitt out his Court,
To the wide Gire of Heaven's still-moveing Carre.
7
Let not their golden Sonnets Credit gaine,
In your Iudicious Eyes;
He has, in shamefull wise,
Bene baffled oft, and may be soe againe.
8
A Shepheard's Boy, who heard him proudlie boast,
Bearded the Monster late;
(And triumpt in his Fate)
Whose lookes, erewhile, had Cowed a mightie Hoast.
9
Yet Still he lives; for he can never Dye,
Till Time and motion Cease;
Till then, he shall increase,
In all the Glories of his Tirrannie.
10
A thousand, thousand Times, Hee has bene foyled;
And where he most doth raigne,
Hee formerlie was slaine,
By weaker hands, of a small Infant Child.
11
This, this is hee, of whom old Poets sung;
Who, more then once, was slaine,
And still revived againe;
Nor could Hee dye, vpon his Mother flung.
12
There is an Art taught, where true Arts are taught;
(For 'tis not strength alone
Prevailes against his bone)
Will foyle him soone, and bring his strength to naught.
13
Then be not danted, my amazéd Soule;
The Giant, (were Hee more
Then his owne vants) were poore,
To Cope with Boyes, instructed in this Schoole.
14
Thither will I betake me, and there trye
What Sleights will most prevaile,
To make his Footing faile;
Till I be perfect in the Misterye.
15
Then Muster vp, Collossus, to affright
Stupid and retchles Men;
Who know nor how nor when
Nor why, they yeild their exercise, thy might.
16
And I will Sing away my common Cares,
With everie Sand of Time;
Where Rapture shall Sublime
My new-borne Soule in an immortall verse.
