Divine poems Containing The History of Ionah. Ester. Iob. Sampson. Sions Sonets. Elegies. Written and newly augmented, by Fra: Quarles |
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 | Divine poems |  |
Medita. 4.
The strongest Atteries that knit and tye
The members of a mixed Monarchy,
Are learned Counsels, timely Consultations,
Rip'ned Advice, and sage Deliberations;
And if those Kingdomes be but ill be-blest,
Whose Rule's committed to a young mans brest:
Then such Estates are more unhappy farre,
Whose choicest Counsellors but Children are:
How many Kingdomes blest with high renowne,
(In all things happy else) have plac'd their crowne
Vpon the Temples of a childish head,
Vntill with ruine, King, or State be sped!
What Massacres (begun by factious jarres,
And ended by the spoile of civill warres)
Have made brave Monarchies unfortunate,
And raz'd the glory' of many' a mighty State?
How many hopefull Princes (ill advis'd
By young, & smooth-fac'd Counsell) have despis'd
The sacred Oracles of riper yeares,
Till deare Repentance wash the Land with teares?
Witnesse thou lucklesse, and succeeding Son
Of (Wisdomes Favourite) great Salomon;
How did thy rash, and beardlesse Counsell bring
Thy fortunes subject to a stranger King?
And laying burthens on thy peoples necke,
The weight hung sadly on thy bended backe.
Thou second Richard, (once our Britaine King,
Whose Syr's, and Grandsyr's fame the world did ring)
How was thy gentle nature led aside,
By greene advisements, which thy State did guide,
Vntill the title of thy Crowne did cracke,
And fortunes (as thy Fathers name) were blacke?
The members of a mixed Monarchy,
Are learned Counsels, timely Consultations,
Rip'ned Advice, and sage Deliberations;
And if those Kingdomes be but ill be-blest,
Whose Rule's committed to a young mans brest:
112
Whose choicest Counsellors but Children are:
How many Kingdomes blest with high renowne,
(In all things happy else) have plac'd their crowne
Vpon the Temples of a childish head,
Vntill with ruine, King, or State be sped!
What Massacres (begun by factious jarres,
And ended by the spoile of civill warres)
Have made brave Monarchies unfortunate,
And raz'd the glory' of many' a mighty State?
How many hopefull Princes (ill advis'd
By young, & smooth-fac'd Counsell) have despis'd
The sacred Oracles of riper yeares,
Till deare Repentance wash the Land with teares?
Witnesse thou lucklesse, and succeeding Son
Of (Wisdomes Favourite) great Salomon;
How did thy rash, and beardlesse Counsell bring
Thy fortunes subject to a stranger King?
And laying burthens on thy peoples necke,
The weight hung sadly on thy bended backe.
Thou second Richard, (once our Britaine King,
Whose Syr's, and Grandsyr's fame the world did ring)
How was thy gentle nature led aside,
By greene advisements, which thy State did guide,
Vntill the title of thy Crowne did cracke,
And fortunes (as thy Fathers name) were blacke?
Now glorious Britaine, clap thy hands, and blesse
Thy sacred fortunes; for thy happinesse
(As doth thy Iland) does it selfe divide,
And sequester from all the world beside;
Blest are thy open Gates with joyfull peace,
Blest are thy fruitfull Barnes with sweet increase,
Blest in thy Counsell, whose industrious skill,
Is but to make thy fortunes happy still;
In all things blest, that to a State pertaine;
Thrice happy in my dreaded Soveraigne,
My sacred Sov'raigne, in whose onely brest,
A wise Assembl' of Privy Counsels rest,
Who conquers with his Princely heart as farre
By peace, as Alexander did by Warre,
And with his Olive branch more hearts did boord,
Than daring Cesar did, with Cesars sword:
Long maist thou hold within thy Royall hand,
The peacefull Scepter of our happy Land:
Thy sacred fortunes; for thy happinesse
(As doth thy Iland) does it selfe divide,
And sequester from all the world beside;
Blest are thy open Gates with joyfull peace,
Blest are thy fruitfull Barnes with sweet increase,
Blest in thy Counsell, whose industrious skill,
Is but to make thy fortunes happy still;
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Thrice happy in my dreaded Soveraigne,
My sacred Sov'raigne, in whose onely brest,
A wise Assembl' of Privy Counsels rest,
Who conquers with his Princely heart as farre
By peace, as Alexander did by Warre,
And with his Olive branch more hearts did boord,
Than daring Cesar did, with Cesars sword:
Long maist thou hold within thy Royall hand,
The peacefull Scepter of our happy Land:
Great Iudah's Lyon, and the Flow'r of Iesse.
Preserve thy Lyons, and thy Flowers blesse.
Preserve thy Lyons, and thy Flowers blesse.
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