The works of Sr William Davenant ... Consisting of Those which were formerly Printed, and Those which he design'd for the Press: Now published Out of the Authors Originall Copies |
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To his Excellency the Lord General Monck.
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 | The works of Sr William Davenant |  |
255
To his Excellency the Lord General Monck.
Our fiery Sects scorn'd your triumphant night,
When only Bonfires lent the City light.
More proudly they like Nero did designe,
The City's flame should make the Country shine:
And all those Bells which rung in your applause,
They would have melted to maintain the Cause.
Alas! How little you in Action seem,
When by their great intent we measure them?
You the Fanatick party would correct;
They rifle all rich Christians as a Sect.
To Bonfires, you their rouling Pulpits turn;
But they, instead of Tubs, would Churches burn.
When only Bonfires lent the City light.
More proudly they like Nero did designe,
The City's flame should make the Country shine:
And all those Bells which rung in your applause,
They would have melted to maintain the Cause.
Alas! How little you in Action seem,
When by their great intent we measure them?
You the Fanatick party would correct;
They rifle all rich Christians as a Sect.
To Bonfires, you their rouling Pulpits turn;
But they, instead of Tubs, would Churches burn.
How weak are you, who to advance your cause,
Call in the firm support of Church and Lawes?
Their Independant strength boldly upbraides
The old discretion of such formal Aides,
You court the City, and the Nation too,
They bravely meant to ravish whom you woo.
Their daring Chiefs, a War did undertake,
Follow'd by those, who still their Chiefs forsake.
By such as only would consult and sway,
But you chose those who fight and can obey.
By their advantages you gain'd the field,
And what they judg'd your weakness made them yield.
Call in the firm support of Church and Lawes?
Their Independant strength boldly upbraides
The old discretion of such formal Aides,
You court the City, and the Nation too,
They bravely meant to ravish whom you woo.
Their daring Chiefs, a War did undertake,
Follow'd by those, who still their Chiefs forsake.
By such as only would consult and sway,
But you chose those who fight and can obey.
By their advantages you gain'd the field,
And what they judg'd your weakness made them yield.
As in destructive War, so you no less,
Transcend them in the growing Arts of Peace.
You can converse, and in a dialect,
Where no strange dress makes us the truth suspect;
Where plainess graceful is, and free from blame,
As truths fair Nakedness is free from shame.
They write the style of Spirits, you of Men;
Yet are their Swords less powerful then your Pen.
Transcend them in the growing Arts of Peace.
You can converse, and in a dialect,
Where no strange dress makes us the truth suspect;
Where plainess graceful is, and free from blame,
As truths fair Nakedness is free from shame.
They write the style of Spirits, you of Men;
Yet are their Swords less powerful then your Pen.
Auspicious Leader! None shall equal thee,
Who mak'st our Nation and our Language free.
The first they fetter, not with publick Lawes,
But with their Wills, peculiar as their Cause.
Our Language with such Scripture-phrase restrain,
As makes the borrow'd holiness prophane.
And such strange crimes attempt that whilst they lack
All precedents for Plea, they wrest and rack
The good old Prophets, till they falsly draw,
From ill translated Hebrew English Law.
Who mak'st our Nation and our Language free.
The first they fetter, not with publick Lawes,
But with their Wills, peculiar as their Cause.
Our Language with such Scripture-phrase restrain,
As makes the borrow'd holiness prophane.
And such strange crimes attempt that whilst they lack
All precedents for Plea, they wrest and rack
The good old Prophets, till they falsly draw,
From ill translated Hebrew English Law.
How soon, how boldly, and how safely too,
Have you dispatch't what not an age could do?
Yet greater work ensues, such as will try
How far three Realms may on your strength rely.
Nor can our Hope need Anchors where we find
A sudden Courage and delib'rate mind.
In doubtful Battails we may trust your Sword,
And in suspected Factions take your word.
Have you dispatch't what not an age could do?
Yet greater work ensues, such as will try
How far three Realms may on your strength rely.
Nor can our Hope need Anchors where we find
A sudden Courage and delib'rate mind.
256
And in suspected Factions take your word.
| The works of Sr William Davenant | |