Of airy choristers a numerous train So glorious did our Charles return. The' officious Muses came along, A gay, harmonious quire, like angels, ever young: The Muse, that mourns him now, his happy triumph sung. E'en they could thrive in his auspicious reign, Of purest and well-winnow'd grain, As Britain never knew before. Though little was their hire, and light their gain, Like birds of Paradise, that liv'd on morning dew. Live blest above, almost invok❜d below, Our patron once, our guardian-angel now. Who didst, by wise delays, divert our fate, In Death's most hideous form, Not quitting thy supreme command, Thou heldst the rudder with a steady hand, The bark that all our blessings brought, [fraught. Oh frail estate of human things, And slippery hopes below! Now to our cost your emptiness we know; (For 'tis a lesson dearly bought) Assurance here is never to be sought. The best and best belov'd of kings, And best deserving to be so, When scarce he had escap'd the fatal blow Death did his promis'd hopes destroy : So saints, by supernatural power set free, For twelve long years of exile borne. Twice twelve we number'd since his blest return: So strictly wert thou just to pay, Even to the driblet of a day, Yet still we murmur, and complain The quails and manna should no longer rain: Those miracles 'twas needless to renew; The chosen flock has now the Promis'd land in view. A warlike prince ascends the regal state, A prince long exercis'd by Fate: Long may he keep, though he obtains it late! Heroes in Heaven's peculiar mould are cast; They, and their poets, are not form'd in haste : [the last. Heaven can strike out, like sparkles, at a blow; But, ere a prince is to perfection brought, With toil and sweat, With hardening cold, and forming heat, Before 'twas tried and found a masterpiece. View then a monarch ripen'd for a throne! O'er infancy he swiftly ran; The future god, at first, was more than man: Ev'n o'er his cradle lay in wait, And there he grappled first with Fate: In his young hands the hissing snakes he prest; Thus, by degrees, he rose to Jove's imperial seat; Betimes the Furies did their snakes provide, His father's rebels, and his brother's foes; As after Numa's peaceful reign 'Tis rous'd, and with a new-strung nerve the spear already shakes. No neighing of the warrior-steeds, No drum, or louder trumpet, needs To' inspire the coward, warm the cold; His voice, his sole appearance, makes them bold. foe. Long may they fear this awful prince, In all the changes of his doubtful state, His valour can triumph o'er land and main: With broken oaths his fame he will not stain, With conquest basely bought, and with inglorious gain. For once, O Heaven! unfold thy adamantine Book, And let his wondering senate see, If not thy firm immutable decree, At least the second page of strong contingency, Such as consists with wills originally free: Let them with glad amazement look On what their happiness may be; Let them not still be obstinately blind, To starve the royal virtues of his mind. Faith is a Christian's and a subject's test; In orderly array, a martial, manly train. A conquering navy proudly spread; The' asserted Ocean rears his reverend head, The faces of the main. |