Mankind was first created an essay; INSTRUCTIONS TO A PAINTER, FOR THE DRAWING OF THE POSTURE AND PROGRESS OF HIS MAJESTY'S FORCES AT SEA, UNDER THE COMMAND OF HIS HIGHNESS-ROYAL; TOGETHER WITH THE BATTLE AND VICTORY OBTAINED OVER THE DUTCH, JUNE S, 1665. FIRST draw the sea, that portion which between His bright sword now a dearer interest draws, Let thy bold pencil hope and courage spread Through the whole navy, by that hero led: Make all appear where such a Prince is by, Resolv'd to conquer, or resolv'd to die. With his extraction and his glorious mind, Make the proud sails swell more than with the wind: Preventing cannon, make his louder fame Check the Batavians, and their fury tame. So hungry wolves, though greedy of their prey, Stop when they find a lion in their way. Make him bestride the ocean, and mankind Ask his consent to use the sea and wind. While his tall ships in the barr'd Channel stand, He grasps the Indies in his armed hand. Paint an East-wind, and make it blow away The' excuse of Holland for their navy's stay: Make them look pale, and, the bold Prince to shun, Through the cold north and rocky regions run. To find the coast where morning first appears, By the dark pole the wary Belgian steers; Confessing now, he dreads the English more Than all the dangers of a frozen shore; While from our arms, security to find, They fly so far, they leave the day behind. Describe their fleet abandoning the sea, And all their merchants left a wealthy prey : Our first success in war make Bacchus crown, And half the vintage of the year our own. The Dutch their wine, and all their brandy lose, Disarm'd of that from which their courage grows; While the glad English, to relieve their toil, In healths to their great leader drink the spoil. His high command to Afric's coast extend, And make the Moors before the English bend : Those barbarous pirates willingly receive Conditions such as we are pleas'd to give. Deserted by the Dutch, let nations know We can our own and their great business do ; False friends chastise, and common foes restrain, Which worse than tempests did infest the main.› Within those Streights make Holland's Smyrna fleet With a small squadron of the English meet; Like falcons these, those like a numerous flock Of fowl, which scatter to avoid the shock. There paint Confusion in a various shape; Some sink, some yield; and, flying, some escape. Europe and Africa, from either shore, Spectators are, and hear our cannon roar; While the divided world in this agree, Men that fight so deserve to rule the sea. But, nearer home, thy pencil use once more, And place our navy by the Holland shore: The world they compass'd while they fought with Those greedy mariners, out of whose way [Spain, At home, preserv'd from rocks and tempests, lie, The' illustrious Duchess, and her glorious train, Meanwhile, like bees, when stormy winter's gone, To check their pride, our fleet half-victuall'd goes, Enough to serve us till we reach our foes; Who now appear so numerous and bold, The action worthy of our arms we hold. A greater force than that which here we find Ne'er press'd the ocean, nor employ'd the wind. Restrain'd a while by the unwelcome night, The' impatient English scarce attend the light. But now the morning, (Heav'n severely clear!) To the fierce work indulgent does appear; And Phoebus lifts above the waves his light, That he might see, and thus record, the fight. As when loud winds from different quarters rush, Vast clouds encountering one another crush; With swelling sails so, from their several coasts, Join the Batavian and the British hosts.... 1 Venus. For a less prize, with less concern and rage, [threw. And arms had wrought; yet there no bullets flew, It miss'd the Duke, but his great heart it griev'd: |