HEROIC STANZAS CONSECRATED TO THE MEMORY OF HIS HIGHNESS OLIVER, LATE LORD PROTECTOR OF THIS COMMONWEALTH. WRITTEN AFTER THE CELEBRATING OF HIS FUNERAL. I. AND now 'tis time; for their officious haste, II. Though our best notes are treason to his fame, Join'd with the loud applause of public voice; Since Heaven, what praise we offer to his name, Hath render'd too authentic by its choice: III. Though in his praise no arts can liberal be, Add not to his immortal memory, But do an act of friendship to their own: Note I. IV. Yet 'tis our duty, and our interest too, Such monuments as we can build to raise ; Lest all the world prevent what we should do, And claim a title in him by their praise. V. How shall I then begin, or where conclude, For in a round, what order can be shew'd, VI. His grandeur he derived from heaven alone; No borrow'd bays his temples did adorn, VIII. Fortune, (that easy mistress to the young, IX. He, private, mark'd the faults of others' sway, * Note II. X. And yet dominion was not his design; We owe that blessing, not to him, but heaven, Which to fair acts unsought rewards did join; Rewards, that less to him, than us, were given. XI. Our former chiefs, like sticklers of the war, XII. War, our consumption, was their gainful trade; XIII. Swift and resistless through the land he past, Like that bold Greek, who did the East subdue; And made to battles such heroic haste, As if on wings of victory he flew. XIV. He fought, secure of fortune as of fame, Till by new maps the island might be shown, Of conquest, which he strew'd where'er he came, Thick as the galaxy with stars is sown.‡ XV. His palms, though underweights they did not stand, Still thrived; no winter could his laurels fade: Heaven, in his portrait, shew'd a workman's hand, And drew it perfect, yet without a shade. * Note III. + Note IV. ‡ Note V. || Note VI. XVI. Peace was the prize of all his toil and care, Which war had banish'd, and did now restore : Bolognia's walls thus mounted in the air, To seat theinselves more surely than before.* XVII. Her safety rescued Ireland to him owes ;† And treacherous Scotland, to no interest true, Yet blest that fate which did his arms dispose Her land to civilize, as to subdue. ‡ XVIII. Nor was he like those stars which only shine, XIX. "Tis true, his countenance did imprint an awe, And naturally all souls to his did bow; As wands of divination downward draw, And point to beds where sovereign gold doth grow. XX. When past all offerings to Feretrian Jove,§ * Note VII. + Note VIII. + Note IX. Note X. § To which deity the Romans usually sacrificed before marching to war, according to an ancient institution of Romulus. XXI. To suppliant Holland he vouchsafed a peace, Fame of the asserted sea, through Europe blown, XXIII. No sooner was the Frenchman's cause embraced, Than the light Monsieur the grave Don out weigh'd:+ His fortune turn'd the scale where'er 'twas cast, XXIV. When absent, yet we conquer'd in his right; Yet still the fair designment was his own. XXV. For, from all tempers he could service draw How she complexions did divide and brew. ‡ XXVI. Or he their single virtues did survey, Where all the rich ideas of them lay, That were the rule and measure to the rest. *Note XI. † Note XII. Note XIII. |