Whatever then was his defire,
His cannons did command in fire:
Now he himself for pity prays,
His love in timorous fighs he breathes,
While all his spoils, and glorious wreaths
Of laurel, at her feet the vanquish'd warrior lays.
Great prince! by that fubmiffion you'll gain more
Than e'er your haughty courage won before;
Herc on your knees a greater trophy gain,
Than that you brought from Lunsden's famous plain;
Where, when your brother, fired with success,
Too daringly upon the foe did prefs,
And was a captive made, then you alone
Did with your fingle arm support the throne :
Your gen'rous breaft, with fury boiling o'er,
Like lightning through their scatter'd troops you flew,
And from th' amazed foe the royal prize in triumph bore.
You have your ancestors in this one act out-done,
Though their fuccefsful arms did this whole ifle o'er-run.
They, to revenge a ravish'd lady, came,
You, to enjoy one fpotlefs as your fame :
Before them, as they march'd, the country fled,
And back behind them threw
Their curfes as they flew ;
On the bleak fhore, expecting you, they stand,
And with glad fhouts conduct to land:
Through gaping crowds you 're forc'd to prefs your way, While virgins figh, the young men fhout, and old ones
And with this beauteous lady you may gain
(This lady, that alone
Of greater value is than any throne)
Without that rapine, guilt, and hate,
By a calm and even fate,
That empire, which they did fo fhort a while maintain.
Occafioned by a Poftfcript of Penn's Letter.
OT all the threats or favour of a crown,
A prince's whifper, or a tyrant's frown,
Can awe the fpirit, or allure the mind,
Of him, who to strict honour is inclin’d.
Though all the pomp and pleasure that does wait
On public places, and affairs of state,
Should fondly court him to be base and great;
With even paffions, and with fettled face,
He would remove the harlot's falfe embrace.
Though all the ftorms and tempefts should arife,
That church-magicians in their cells advice,
And from their fettled bafis nations tear,
He would unmov'd the mighty ruin bear;
Secure in innocence contemn them all,
And decently array'd in honours fall.
For this, brave Shrewsbury and Lumley's name
Shall ftand the foremost in the lift of fame;
Who firft with fteady minds the current broke,
And to the fuppliant monarch boldly spoke ;
"Great Sir, renown'd for conftancy, how just "Have we obey'd the crown, and serv'd our trust, "Efpous'd your cause and intereft in diftrefs, "Yourself muft witness, and our foes confefs ! "Permit us then ill-fortune to accufe,
"That you at last unhappy councils use, “And ask the only thing we must refuse. "Our lives and fortunes freely we 'll expofe, "Honour alone we cannot, must not lofe; "Honour, that fpark of the celestial fire, "That above nature makes mankind afpire; "Enobles the rude paffions of our frame "With thirst of glory, and defire of fame; "The richest treasure of a generous breast, "That gives the stamp and standard to the rest. "Wit, ftrength, and courage, are wild dangerous force, "Unless this foftens and directs their courfe;
"And would you rob us of the nobleft part?
Accept a facrifice without a heart?
"'Tis much beneath the greatness of a throne,
"To take the cafket when the jewel 's gone;
"Debauch our principles, corrupt our race,
"And teach the nobles to be falfe and bafe;
"What confidence can you in them repose,
"Who, ere they ferve you, all their value lofe
"Who once enflave their confcience to their luit,,
"Have loft their reins, and can no more be just..
"Of honour, men at firft like women nice,,
"Raise maiden fcruplés at unpractis'd vice ;,
"Their modeft nature curbs the struggling flame,
"And ftifles what they wish to act, with shame:
"But once this fence thrown down, when they perceive
"That they may taste forbidden fruit and live;
"They ftop not here their courfe, but fafely in,
"Grow ftrong, luxuriant, and bold in fin;
"True to no principles, prefs forward ftill,
"And only bound by appetite their will:
"Now fawn and flatter, while this tide prevails,
"But shift with every veering blast their fails.
"Mark thofe that meanly truckle to your power,
"They once deferted, and chang'd fides before,
"And would to-morrow Mahomet adore.
"On higher fprings true men of honour move,
"Free is their fervice, and unbought their love :
"When danger calls, and honour leads the way,
"With joy they follow, and with pride obey :
"When the rebellious foe came rolling on,
"And fhook with gathering multitudes the throne,
"Where were the minions then? What arm, what force,
"Could they oppose to stop the torrent's course?
"Then Pembroke, then the nobles firmly stood,
"Free of their lives, and lavish of their blood;
"But, when your orders to mean ends decline,
"With the fame conftancy they all resign.”
Thus fpake the youth, who open'd first the way,
And was the Phosph'rus to the dawning day;
Follow'd by a more glorious fplendid host,
Than any age, or any realm can boast :
So great their fame, fo numerous their train,
To name were endless, and to praise in vain ;
But Herbert and great Oxford merit more;
Bold is their flight, and more fublime they foar;
So high their virtue as yet wants a name,
Exceeding wonder, and furpaffing fame:
Rife, glorious church, erect thy radiant head;
The ftorm is past, th' impending tempest fled;
Had Fate decreed thy ruin or difgrace,
It had not given fuch fons fo brave a race;
When for deftruction heaven a realm defigns,
The fymptoms first appear in flavish minds.
These men would prop a finking nation's weight,
Stop falling vengeance, and reverse ev'n fate.
Let other nations boast their fruitful foil,
Their fragrant fpices, their rich wine and oil;
In breathing colours, and in living paint,
Let them excel; their mastery we grant.
But to inftruct the mind, to arm the foul
With virtue which no dangers can control;
Exalt the thought, a fpeedy courage lend,
That horror cannot fhake, or pleasure bend;
These are the English arts, these we profess,
To be the fame in mifery and fuccefs;
To teach oppreffors law, affift the good,
Relieve the wretched, and fubdue the proud.
Such are our fouls: but what doth worth avail
When kings commit to hungry priests the scale?
All merit 's light when they difpofe the weight,
Who either would embroil or rule the ftate;
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