Selected quad for the lemma: nature_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A37005
|
A pindarick poem upon the fleet written by Mr. D'urfey.
|
D'Urfey, Thomas, 1653-1723.
|
1692
(1692)
|
Wing D2761; ESTC R26680
|
7,155
|
17
|
done His late admir'd Oration Withheld his smothering griefs but now Sighs taking vent his bosom large did grow With sorrows that he could no longer tame Which from his swelling breast at last thus broke into a flame XV. Great King of boundless floods to whom was given Not only the great Empire of the Sea But as a more peculiar Lott from Heaven A Wisdom large as thy Imperial sway Tho happy Albion in thy favour blest Above all Nations may Exalt her head A secret Pang torments my breast To see how spiritless and dead The Natives are that throng her chalky shore And how unlike their brood of Heroes heretofore Glory was once the subject of their Arms But now for Interest each faction swarms And Honour which each noble bosome sway'd For Gold is barter'd and become a Trade Nay even Religion grows sophisticate And base dissenting schism of late With errours jarring set 'em all at strife They Preach up t'other but they love this life Even the most Reverend of the sacred Mystery The weakest eyes may plainly see Not proof against the luscious bait of tempting dignity Why since their Soul and Flocks should be their care Should worldly accidents their bosomes share And sordid Lucre take possession there At least whilst sacred Providence Allows a proper competence Why should their obstinate and stubborn will Occasion to their Country so much ill As in their Cause to make vile fewds increase And they themselves renounce the Type of Apostolick peace XVI In Court too 't is the same Few there by Virtue purchase Fame But he that best can over-reach best plays the Courtiers game The Politician tires his brains But for his own peculiar gains His Countries Cause might sink lost be the state Had he not some by-ends of being great Or should we search the Lawyers honesty In knavish Courts of Common-Pleas or couzning Chancery You 'd find Integrity appear The worst of all the Causes there Rich Mammons business shall not go amiss But poor Phillemon sues in forma pauperis And tho his worth be great shall seldom draw To aid him the compassion of the Law In Love too we the same defects behold Hearts now are bought and sold The Man of sense alas in vain does Wooe Dull Ignorance with Gold can Vertue far outdo Be Merit ne're so great or Passion ne're so true Cinthia still chooses wealthiest Men Th' ill fated fair one never looks within Ne're asks how worthy but how great What qualities but what Estate And tho of gifts of fortune she 's possest Enough to make some man of merit blest Who would in grateful service waste his life T' oblige so generous a Wife And happiness that way secure Which the Rich Husbands Gold can ne're assure Yet land and titles bear the sway Cinthia does Avarice obey And in her eye how poorly does appear A thousand Vertues when compar'd t' a thousand pounds a year XVII In all degrees of frail Humanity There must great Errors be But ah my aged sight in tears is lost To think that Albion bears the most The quality of every strange offence So much enrages Providence That Mercy after Crimes so base Seems Imposition upon heavenly Grace Observe what Jarrs the bane of all content Amongst themselves her Sons foment Discord that ushers doubts and fears Is all the harmony she hears And hated broyls 'twixt friend and friend Brings each successive day to its sad end Curst Bigottry began the Play Then Revolution chang'd the scene And brought a happy freedom in Till stubborn Pride turn'd it a tragick way And prov'd the humour of each Native there Just like the nature of the Clime and Air. For as the Weather instantly Can change from hot to cold from moist to dry So they from Rebels can turn Loyal men Set up a King and prove his Right And for him Vote and for him Fight And at the least disgust can Rebels turn agen XVIII Mean time whilst schisms possess our frantick brains His ends the Gallick tyrant gains He the rich Prize away does bear For which we one another tear What can this Mighty Navy do If only opulent in shew If Treason sculking lyes within And they forget the Name of English Men A scene of Glory they may idly boast But see with shame their Country lost I' th' contrary if Loyal Vertue warms Their Valiant hearts and they dare use their Arms If they the difference can see 'Twixt free-born right and slavery The French may well repent their Insolence once more And never hope t' adorn their brows with Lawrels from our shore XIX Thus spoke the Reverend Father to whom strait The awful God reply'd Well has thy tongue describ'd poor Albion's state And Cause of Gallick Pride But now in great Nassaws Illustrious Reign The Martial Genius does return again Her Sons no longer Lazy Peace esteem The souls of Edward and great Henry live in him Henry and William fated are the same There 's a Prophetick force even in the Name Which does Mysteriously shew The latter like the first shall Conquer too time lately was when sloth and ease The Poyson to their English Blood And curst destroyer of their good Worse than the Plague was their disease But now their Fortune rises to a nobler height Under great William prosperously they fight Bigotted Rulers their disgrace still brings The dull and tame Ne're reach to fame A Martial Race thrive best with Martial Kings So as in Numa's sluggish Reign Forgetful Rome dissolv'd in ease The valiant Ancus did her fame regain And War succeeded drowsie Peace Their brave new Monarch a fresh game began And boldly led the Latins on Glory renew'd the haughty Gauls did bow So arm'd with strong fidelity Their troops on shore and power at Sea Courage that shall in fight renew And my auspicious blessing too As powerful Rome did then shall mighty Albion now XX. Thus ending with an air divinely great The Deity rose up and blest the Fleet At which the Sea-Gods from the shore The blessing twice repeating or'e With shouts confirm'd and th' Chariot strait prepare For now the soultry Air Began t' offend th' scaly Fry And Naereids gasping fret for fear their Fins should dry Their Monarch plunging through the Sea Down to his Palace drives a long mysterious way Through watry Provinces where Nature lyes ' Mongst undiscover'd Rarities Oceanus too on his Sea Pacer plac'd To his low home made haste Who whilst th' attending Train each to his Mansion dives Full forty thousand Fathom deep the Sire at last arrives FINIS