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By nobler actions theirs condemn : "For what has been reproach'd in them,

"Can ne'er be prais'd in you."

XIII.

Thefe fubjects fuit not with the lyre;

Mufe to what height doft thou aspire,

Pretending to rehearse

The thoughts of gods, and god-like kings?
Ccafe, ceafe to leffen lofty things

By mean ignoble verse.

THE GOLDEN AGE RESTORED, 1703.

An Imitation of the FOURTH ECLOGUE of VIRGIL:

Supposed to have been taken from a Sibylline Prophecy.

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Paulo majora canamus."

ICILIAN Muse, begin a loftier flight;

SICILI

Not all in trees and lowly fhrubs delight:
Or if your rural shades you still pursue,
Make your fhades fit for able statesmens view.

The time is come, by ancient Bards foretold,
Reftoring the Saturnian age of gold;
The vile, degenerate, whiggifh offspring ends,
A high-church progeny from heaven defcends.

O learned

O learned Oxford, fpare no facred pains

To nurfe the glorious breed, now thy own Bromley reigns.

And thou great Scarfdale, darling of this land, Doft foremost in that fam'd commiffion ftand; Whofe deep remarks the liftening world admires, Ry whofe aufpicious care old Ranelagh expires. Your mighty genius no strict rules can bind; You punish men for crimes, which you want time to find. Senates fhall now like holy fynods be,

And holy fynods fenate-like agree.

Monmouth and Mostyn here inftru&t the youth,
There Bincks and Kimberley maintain the facred truth.
Powis and Hamlin here, with equal claim,

Through wide Weft-Saxon realms extend their fame;
There Birch and Hooper right divine convey,
Nor treat their bishops in a human way.

Now all our factions, all our fears fhall ceafe,
And Tories rule the promis'd land in peace.
Malice fhall die, and noxious poisons fail,

Harley fhall cease to trick, and Seymour cease to rail:
The lambs fhall with the lions walk unhurt,
And Halifax and Howe meet civilly at court.
Viceroys, like Providence, with distant care,
Shall govern kingdoms where they ne'er appear:
Pacific admirals, to fave the fleet,

Shall fly from conqueft, and shall conqueft meet :
Commanders fhall be prais'd at William's coft,
And honour be retriev'd before 'tis loft.

Brereton and Burnaby the court shall grace,
And Howe fhall not disdain to share a place.
Forgotten Molyneux and Mafon now
Revive and shine again in Fox and Howe.

But as they ftronger grow and mend their strain,
By choice examples of King Charles's reign;
Bold Bellafis and patriot D'Avenant then,
One fhall employ the fword, and one the pen :
Troops fhall be led to plunder, not to fight,
The tool of faction fhall to peace invite,

And foes to union be employ'd the kingdoms to unite.
Yet ftill fome Whigs among the peers are found,
Like brambles flourishing in barren ground.
Somers maliciously employs his care

To make the lords the legislature share.
Burnet declares how French dragooning rofe,
And bishops perfecuting bills oppose:

Till Rochefter's cool temper fhall be fir'd,

And North's and Nottingham's ftrong reafonings be .admir'd.

But when due time their counfels fhall mature, And fresh removes have made the game fecure; When Somerset and Devonshire give place To Wyndham's Bradford, and to Richmond's grace, Both converts great; when justice is refin'd, And corporations garbled to their mind; Then paffive doctrines fhall with glory rife, Before them hated moderation flies,

And anti-chriftian toleration dies.

}

Granville fhall feize the long-expected chair,

Godolphin to fome country feat repair ;
Pembroke from all employments be debarr'd,

And Marlborough, for ancient crimes, receive his just reward.

France, that this happy change fo wifely has begun, Shall blefs the great defign, and bid it smoothly run. Come on, young James's friends, this is the time,

come on ;

Receive juft honours, and furround the throne.
Boldly your loyal principles maintain,

Hedges now rules the ftate, and Rooke the main.

Grimes is at hand the members to reward,

And troops are trufted to your own Gerhard.

The faithful club affembles at the Vine,

And French intrigues are broach'd o'er English wine. Freely the fenate the defign proclaims,

Affronting William, and applauding James.

Good ancient members, with a folemn face,
Propofe that fafety give to order place;

And what they dare not openly diffuade,
Is by expedients ineffectual made.

Ev'n Finch and Mulgrave, whom the court carefs,
Exalt its praifes, but its power deprefs;

And, that impartial justice may be seen,
Confirm to friends what they refus'd the Queen.
Bishops who most advanc'd good James's caufe
In church and ftate, now reap deferv'd applause:
While those who rather made the Tower their choice,
Are ftyl'd unchristian by the nation's voice.

Avow'dly

Avow'dly now St. David's caufe they own,
And James's votes for fimony atone.

Arthbishop Ken fhall from Long-Leat be drawn,
While firm Nonjurors from behind stand crouding for
the lawn.

And thou, great Weymouth, to reward thy charge, Shalt fail to Lambeth in his Grace's barge.

Sec by bafe rebels James the Juft betray'd, See his three realms by vile ufurpers fway'd; Then fee with joy his lawful heir restor❜d, And erring nations own their injur'd lord.

O would kind heaven fo long my life maintain,
Infpiring raptures worthy fuch a reign!

Not Thracian Saint John fhould with me contend,
Nor my fweet lays harmonious Hammond's mend:
Not though young D'Avenant, Saint John should protect,
Or the fhrewd Doctor, Hammond's lines correct.

Nay, fhould Tredenham in St. Mawes compare his fongs to mine,

Tredenham, though St. Mawes were judge, his laurel fhould refign.

Prepare, aufpicious youth, thy friends to meet;
Sir George already has prepar'd the fleet.
Should rival Neptune (who with envious mind
In times of danger ftill this chief confin'd)
Now fend the gout, the hero to disgrace,
Honeft George Churchill may fupply his place,

Rooke.

CON