Men-Miracles :: :: University of Virginia Library

To build upon the merit of thy Death,
And raise thy Fame from thy expiring Breath,
Were to steale Glories from thy Life and tell,
The World, that Grenvil only did dye well.
Bur all thy Dayes were faire, the same Sun rose,
The Lustre of thy Dawning, and thy Clos.
Thus to her Urne th' Arabian Wonder flyes,
She lives in Perfumes, and in Perfumes dyes.

E're stormes, and tumults (Names undreaded here)
Could in their Bloome and Infancy appeare,
He in the stocke and treasure of his minde
Had heapes of Courage, and just heate combin'd.
Where like the thrifty Ant he kept in store
Enough for Spring, but for a Winter more.
In Peace he did direct his thoughts on Warres,
And learn't in silence how to combat Jarres.
And though the Times look't Smooth, and would allow
No tracke of Frowne or Wrincle in their Brow:
Yet his quicke sight perceiv'd the Age would low'r,
And while the Day was faire, fore-saw the Show'r.

At this the Prudent Augur did provide
Where to endure the storme, not where to hide.

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And sought to shun the Danger now drawne nigh,
Not by Concealement but by Victory.
As valiant Seamen if the Vessell knocke
Rather sayle o're it, then avoid the Rocke.

And thus Resolv'd, he saw on either hand,
The Causes, and their bold Abettors stand.
The Kingdomes Law is the pretence of each,
Which these by Law preserve, these by its breach,
The Subjects Liberty each side mainetaines,
These say it consists in freedome, these in Chaines,
These love the decent Church, but these not passe
To dresse our Matron by the Geneva Glasse?
These still enshrine their God, but these adore
Him most at some Arauna's Threshing flore.
Each part defends their King a severall way,
By true Subjection these, by Treasons they.
But our Spectator soone unmask't the sin,
And saw all Serpent through that specious skin,
And midst their best Pretext did still despaire,
In any dresse to see their Moore looke faire.
And though the Number waigh'd ith' Popular Scale,
As light things floate still with the Tyde and Gale,
He with the solid mixt, and did conclude,
Justice makes Parties great, not Multitude,
And with this constant principle possest,
He did alone expose his single breast,

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Against an Armies force, and bleeding lay,
The great Restorer o'th' Declining Day.

Thus slaine thy Valiant Ancestor did lye,
When his one barke a Navy durst defie,
When now encompass'd round, he Victor stood.
And bath'd his Pinnace in his conquering Blood.
Till all his Purple current dry'd and spent,
He fell, and left the Waves his Monument.
Where shall next famous Greenevils Ashes stand?
Thy Grandsire fills the Seas and Thou the Land.