Windsor Castle IN A MONUMENT To our Late Sovereign K. CHARLES II. Of ever Blessed Memory A POEM By THO. OTWAY Dum Iuga Montis Aper fluvios dum Piscis amabit Dúmque Thymo pascentur Apes dum Rore Cicadae Semper Honos Noménque tuum Laudésque manebunt Si canimus Sylvas Sylvae sint Consule dignae London Printed for Charles Brome at the Gun at the West-end of St. Paul's 1685. TO THE IMMORTAL FAME OF Our Late Dread Sovereign K. CHARLES II. Of ever Blessed Memory AND TO THE SACRED MAJESTY OF The Most August and Mighty Prince JAMES II. Now by the Grace of God KING of ENGLAND SCOTLAND FRANCE and IRELAND Defender of the Faith c. This following POEM is in all Humility dedicated By His ever devoted and obedient Subject and Servant THO. OTWAY Windsor Castle IN A MONUMENT TO K. CHARLES II. A POEM THough Poets Immortality may give And Troy does still in Homer's numbers live How dare I touch thy Praise Thou glorious Frame Which must be Deathless as thy Raiser's Name But that I wanting Fame am sure of Thine To eternize this humble Song of mine At least the Mem'ry of that More than man From whose vast Mind thy Glories first began Shall even my mean and worthless Verse commend For Wonders always did his Name attend Though now alas in the sad Grave he lies Yet shall his Praise for ever live and Laurels from it rise Great were the Tolls attending the Command Of an ungratefull and a stiff-neck'd Land Which grown too wanton 'cause 't was over blest Wou'd never give its Nursing Father rest But having spoil'd the Edge of ill-forg'd Law By Rods and Axes had been kept in Awe But that his gracious Hands the Sceptre held In all the Arts of Mildly guiding skill'd Who saw those Engines which unhing'd us move Griev'd at our Follies with a Father's Love Knew the vile ways we did't afflict him take And watch'd what haste we did to Ruine make Yet when upon its brink we seem'd to stand Lent to our Succour a Forgiving hand Though now alas in the sad Grave he lies Yet shall his Praise for ever live and Laurels thence arise Mercy 's indeed the Attribute of Heav'n For Gods have Pow'r to keep the balance ev'n Which if Kings loose how can they govern well Mercy shou'd pardon but the Sword compell Compassion's else a Kingdom 's greatest harm Its Warmth engenders Rebels till they swarm And round the Throne themselves in Tumults spread To heave the Crown from a long Suff'rer'd Head By Example this that God-like King once knew And after by Experience found too true Under Philistian Lords we long had mourn'd When he our great Deliverer return'd But thence the Deluge of our Tears did cease The Royal Dove shew'd us such marks of Peace And when this Land in Bloud he might have laid Brought Balsam from the Wounds our selves had made Though now alas in the sad Grave he lies Yet shall his Praise for ever live and Laurels from it rise Then Matrons bless'd him as he pass'd along And Triumph echo'd through th' enfranchis'd throng On his each Hand his Royal Brothers shone Like two Supporters of Great Britain's Throne The first for Deeds of Arms renown'd as far As Fame e'er flew to tell great Tales of War Of Nature gen'rous and of stedfast Mind To Flat'ry deaf but ne'er to Merit blind Reserv'd in Pleasures but in Dangers bold Youthfull in Actions and in Conduct old True to his Friends as watchfull o'er his Foes And a just Value upon each bestows Slow to condemn nor partial to commend The brave Man's Patron and the wrong'd Man's Friend Now justly seated on th' Imperial Throne In which high Sphere no brighter Star e'er shone Vertue 's great Pattern and Rebellion's Dread Long may he live to bruise that Serpent's Head Till all his Foes their just Confusion meet And growle and pine beneath his mighty Feet The second for Debates in Councils fit Of steddy Judgment and deep piercing Wit To all the noblest Heights of Learning bred Both Men and Books with Curious Search had read Fathom'd the ancient Policies of Greece And having form'd from all one curious Piece Learn't thence what Springs best move and guide a State And could with ease direct the heavy Weight But our then angry Fate great Glo'ster seiz'd And never since seem'd perfectly appeas'd For oh What pity People bless'd as we With Plenty Peace and noble Liberty Should so much of our old Disease retain To make us surfeit into Slaves again Slaves to those Tyrant Lords whose Yoke we bore And serv'd so base a Bondage to before Yet 't was our Curse that Blessings flow'd too fast Or we had Appetites too course to taste Fond Israelites our Manna to refuse And Egypt's loathsome Flesh-pots murm'ring chuse Great Charles saw this yet hush'd his rising Breast Though much the Lion in his Bosome prest But he for Sway seem'd so by Nature made That his own Passions knew him and obey'd Master of them he soften'd his Command The Sword of Rule scarce threatn'd in his Hand Stern Majesty upon his Brow might sit But Smiles still playing round it made it sweet So finely mix'd had Nature dar'd t' afford One least Perfection more h 'ad been ador'd Mercifull just good natur'd lib'ral brave Witty a Pleasure's Friend yet not her Slave The paths of Life by noblest methods trod Of mortal mould but in his Mind a God Though now alas in the sad Grave he lies Yet shall his Praise for ever live and Laurels from it rise In this great Mind long he his Cares revolv'd And long it was e'er the great Mind resolv'd Till Weariness at last his Thoughts compos'd Peace was the Choice and their Debates were clos'd But oh Through all this Isle where it seems most design'd Nothing so hard as wish'd-for Peace to find The Elements due Order here maintain And pay their Tribute in of Warmth and Rain Cool Shades and Streams rich fertile Lands abound And Nature's bounty flows the seasons round But we a wretched race of Men thus blest Of so much Happiness if known possest Mistaking every noblest Use of Life Left beauteous Quiet that kind tender Wife For the unwholesome brawling Harlot Strife The Man in Power by wild Ambition led Envy'd all Honours on another's Head And to supplant some Rival by his Pride Embroil'd that State his Wisedom ought to guide The Priests who humble Temp'rance should profess Sought silken Robes and fat voluptuous Ease So with small Labours in the Vineyard shown Forsook God's harvest to improve their own That dark Aenigma yet unriddled Law Instead of doing Right and giving Awe Kept open Lists and at the noisy Bar Four times a year proclaim'd a Civil War Where daily Kinsman Father Son and Brother Might damn their Souls to ruine one another Hence Cavils rose 'gainst Heav'ns and Caesar's Cause From false Religions and corrupted Laws Till so at last Rebellion's Base was laid And God
had birth Or by the Theban Founder they 'd been rais'd And in his pow'rfull Numbers should be prais'd Such Strength without does ev'ry where abound Within such Glory and such Splendour's found As man's united skill had there combin'd T' express what one great Genius had design'd Thus when the happy World Augustus sway'd Knowledge was cherish'd and Improvement made Learning and Arts his Empire did adorn Nor did there one neglected Vertue mourn But at his Call from farthest Nations came While the Immortal Muses gave him Fame Though when her far stretch'd Empire flourish'd most Rome never yet a Work like this could boast No Caesar e'er like Charles his Pomp exprâ—ss'd Nor ever were his Nations half so blest Though now alas in the sad Grave he lies Yet shall his Praise for ever live and Laurels from it rise Here as all Nature's Wealth to Court him prest Seem'd to attend him Plenty Peace and Rest. Through all the lofty Roofs describ'd we finde The Toils and Triumphs of his Godlike mind A Theam that might the Noblest Fancy warm And onely fit for his who did performe The Walls adorn'd with richest woven Gold Equal to what in Temples shin'd of old Grac'd well the Lustre of his Royal Ease Whose Empire reach'd throughout the wealthy Seas Ease which he wisely chose when raging Arms Kept neighb'ring Nations waking with Alar'ms For when Wars troubl'd her soft Fountains there She swell'd her Streams and flow'd in faster here With her came Plenty till our Isle seem'd blest As Canaan's Shore where Israel's Sons found rest Therefore when Cruel Spoilers who have hurl'd Waste and Confusion through the wretched World To after times leave a great hated Name The Praise of Peace shall wait on Charles's Fame His Countrey 's Father through whose tender Care Like a lull'd Babe she slept and knew no Fear Who when sh'offended oft would hide his Eyes Nor see because it griev'd him to chastize But if Submission brought her to his Feet With what true Joy the Penitent he 'd meet How would his Love still with his Justice strive How Parent-like how fondly he 'd forgive But now alas in the sad Grave he lies Yet shall his Praise for ever live and Laurels from it rise Since after all those Toils through which he strove By ev'ry Art of most endearing Love For his Reward he had his Britain found The Awe and Envy of the Nations round Muse then speak more what Wonders thou didst find Worthy thy Song and his Celestial Mind Tell now what Emulation may inspire And warm each British Heart with War-like Fire Call all thy Sisters of the Sacred Hill And by the Painter's Pencill guide my Quill Describe that lofty monumental Hall Where England's Triumphs grace the shining Wall When she led captive Kings from conquer'd Gaul Here when the Sons of Fame their Leader meet And at their Feasts in pompous order sit When the glad sparkling Bowle inspires the Board And high rais'd Thoughts great Tales of War afford Here as a Lesson may their Eyes behold What their victorious Fathers did of old When their proud Neighbours of the Gallick shore Trembled to hear the English Lion Roar Here may they see how good old Edward sate And did his Glorious Son's Arrival wait When from the Fields of vanquish'd France he came Follow'd by Spoils and usher'd in by Fame In Golden Chains he their Quell'd Monatch led Oh for such Laurels on another Head Unsoil'd with Sloth nor yet o'er cloy'd with Peace We had not then learn'd the loose Arts of Ease In our own Climes our vig'rous Youth were nurst And with no foreign Educations curst Their Northern Mettle was preserv'd with Care Not sent for soft'ning into hotter Air. Nor did they ' as now from fruitless Travels come With Follies Vices and Diseases home But in full Purity of Health and Mind Kept up the Noble Vertues of their Kind Had not false Senates to those Ills dispos'd Which long had England's Happiness oppos'd With stubborn Faction and rebellious Pride All Means to such a noble End deny'd To Britain Charles this Glory had restor'd And those revolted Nations own'd their Lord But now alas in the sad Grave he lies Yet shall his Praise for ever live and Laurels from it rise And now survey what 's open'd to our view Bow down all Heads and pay Devotion due The Temple by this Hero Built behold Adorn'd with Carvings and o'erlaid with Gold Whose radiant Roof such Glory does display We think we see the Heaven to which we Pray So well the Artist's hand has there delin'd The mercifull Redemption of Mankind The bright Ascension of the Son of God When back through yielding Skies to Heav'n he rode With Lightning round his Head and Tunder where he trod Thus when to Charles as Solomon was given Wisedom the greatest gift of Bounteous Heaven A house like his he built and Temple rais'd Where his Creatour might be fitly prais'd With Riches too and Honours was he Crown'd Nor whilst he liv'd was there one like him found Therefore what once to Israel's Lord was said When Sheba's Queen his glorious Court survey'd To Charles's Fame for ever shall remain Who did as wondrous things who did as greatly Reign `` Happy were they who could before him stand `` And saw the Wisedom of his dread Command For Heav'n resolv'd that much above the rest Of other Nations Britain should be Blest Found him when Banisht from his Sacred Right Try'd his Great Soul and in it took delight Then to his Throne in Triumph did him bring Where never Rul'd a Wiser Juster King But now alas in the sad Grave he lyes Yet shall his Praise for ever live and Laurels from it rise Thus far the Painter's Hand did guide the Muse Now let her lead nor will he sure refuse Two kindred Arts they are so near ally'd They oft have by each other been supply'd Therefore Great Man when next thy Thoughts encline To works of Fame let this be the Design As thou couldst best Great Charles his Glory show Shew how he fell and whence the fatal blow In a large Scene may give Beholders Awe The meeting of a num'rous Senate draw Over their Heads a black distemper'd sky And through the Air let grinning Furies fly Charg'd with Commissions of Infernal date To raise fell discord and intestine hate From their foul Heads let them by handfulls tear The ugliest Snakes and best lov'd Fav'rites there Then whirle them spouting venome as they fall 'Mongst the assembled numbers of the Hall There into murm'ring Bosoms let them go Till their Infection to Confusion grow Till such bold Tumults and Disorders rise ned Skyes As when the Impious Sons of Earth assail'd the threat But then let Mighty Charles at distance stand His Crown upon his Head and Sceptre in his Hand To send abroad his Word or with a Frown Repell and dash th' Aspiring Rebels down Unable to behold his dreaded Ray Let them
or King no longer were obey'd But that good Angel whose surmounting Power Waited Great Charles in each emergent hour Against whose Caro Hell vainly did decree Nor faster could design than That foresee Guarding the Crown upon his Sacred Brow From all its blackest Arts was with him now Assur'd him Peace must be for him design'd For he was born to give it all mankind By Patience Mercies large and many Toils In his own Realms to calm intestine Broils Thence ev'ry root of Discord to remove And plant us new with Unity and Love Then stretch his healing Hands to neighbouring Shores Where Slaughter rages and wild Rapine roars To cool their Ferments with the Charmes of Peace Who so their Madness and their Rage might cease Grow all embracing what such Friendship brings Like us the People and like Him their Kings But now alas in the sad Grave he lies Yet shall his Praise for ever live and Laurels from it rise For this Assurance pious Thanks he paid Then in his Mind the beauteous Modell laid Of that Majestick Pile where oft his Care A while forgot he might for Ease repair A Seat for sweet Retirement Health and Love Britain's Olympus where like awfull Iove He pleas'd could sit and his Regards bestow On the vain busie swarming World below E'en I the meanest of those humble Swains Who sang his Praises through the fertile Plains Once in a happy hour was thither led Curious to see what Fame so far had spread There Tell my Muse what wonders thou didst find Worthy thy Song and his Gelestial Mind 'T was at that joyfull hallow'd Day 's return On which that Man of Miracles was born At whose great Birth appear'd a noon-day Star Which Prodigy foretold yet many more Did strange Escapes from dreadfull Fate declare Nor shin'd but for one greater King before Though now alas in the sad Grave he lies Yet shall his Praise for ever live and Laurels from it rise For this great Day were equal Joys prepar'd The Voice of Triumph on the Hills was heard Redoubl'd Shoutings wak'd the Echo's round And chearfull Bowls with loyal Vows were crown'd But above all within those losty Towers Where Glorious Charles then spent his happy hours Joy wore a solemn though a smiling Face 'T was gay but yet Majestick as the Place Tell then my Muse what Wonders thou didst find Worthy thy Song and his Celestial Mind Within a Gate of strength whose ancient Frame Has out-worn Time and the Records of Fame A Reverend Dome there stands where twice each day Assembling Prophets their Devotions pay In Prayers and Hymns to Heaven's Eternal King The Cornet Flute and Shawme assisting as they sing Here Israel's mystick Statutes they recount From the first Tables of the Holy Mount To the blest Gospel of that Glorious Lord Whose pretious Death Salvation has restor'd Here speak my Muse what Wonders thou didst find Worthy thy Song and his Celestial Mind Within this Dome a shining Chapel 's rais'd Too Noble to be well describ'd or prais'd Before the Door fix'd in an Awe profound I stood and gaz'd with pleasing Wonder round When one approach'd who bore much sober Grace Order and Ceremony in his Face A threatning Rod did his dread Right-hand poize A badge of Rule and Terrour o'er the Boys His Left a Massy bunch of Keys did sway Ready to open all to all that pay This Courteous Squire observing how amaz'd My Eyes betray'd me as they wildly gaz'd Thus gently spoke Those Banners rais'd on high Betoken noble Vows of Chivalry Which here their Hero's with Religion make When they the Ensigns of this Order take Then in due method made me understand What Honour fam'd St. George had done our Land What Toils he vanquish'd with what Monsters strove Whos 's Champion's since for Vertue Truth and Love Hang here their Trophies while their gen'rous Arms Keep Wrong supprest and Innocence from Harms At this m' Amazement yet did greater grow For I had been told all Vertue was but Show That oft bold Villany had best Success As if its Use were more nor Merit less But here I saw how it rewarded shin'd Tell on my Muse what Wonders thou didst find Worthy thy Song and Charles his mighty Mind I turn'd around my Eyes and Lo a Cell Where melancholy Ruine seem'd to dwell The Door unhing'd without or Bolt or Ward Seem'd as what lodg'd within found small regard Like some old Den scarce visited by Day Where dark Oblivion lurk't and watch't for Prey Here in a Heap of confus'd Waste I found Neglected Hatchments tumbled on the ground The Spoils of Time and Triumph of that Fate Which equally on all Mankind does wait The Hero levell'd in his humble Grave With other men was now nor great nor brave While here his Trophies like their Master lay To Darkness Worms and Rottenness a Prey Urg'd by such Thoughts as guide the truly Great Perhaps his Fate he did in Battel meet Fell in his Prince's and his Countrey 's Cause But what his Recompence A short Applause Which he ne'er hears his Memory may grace Till soon forgot another takes his Place And happy that Man's Chance who falls in time E'er yet his Vertue be become his Crime E'er his abus'd Desert be call'd his Pride Or Fools and Villains on his Ruine ride But truly blest is he whose Soul can bear The Wrongs of Fate nor think them worth his Care Whose Mind no Disappointment here can shake Who a true Estimate of Life does make Knows 't is uncertain frail and will have end So to that Prospect still his Thoughts does bend Who though his Right a stronger Power invade Though Fate oppress and no man give him Aid Cheer'd with th' Assurance that he there shall find Rest from all Toils and no Remorse of mind Can Fortune's Smiles despise her Frowns out-brave For who 's a Prince or Beggar in the Grave But if Immortal any thing remain Rejoice my Muse and strive that End to gain Thou kind Dissolver of encroaching Care And Ease of e'ery bitter Weight I bear Keep from my Soul Repining while I sing The Praise and Honour of this Glorious King And farther tell what Wonders thou didst find Worthy thy Song and his Celestial Mind Beyond the Dome a Lofty Tower appears Beauteous in Strength the Work of long past years Old as his noble Stem who there bears sway And like his Loyalty without Decay This goodly ancient Frame looks as it stood The mother Pile and all the rest her brood So carefull Watch seems piously to keep While underneath her Wings the Mighty sleep And they may rest since Norfolk there commands Safe in his faithfull Heart and valiant Hands But now appears the Beautous Seat of Peace Large of extent and fit for goodly Ease Where Noble Order strikes the greedy Sight With Wonder as it fills it with Delight The massy Walls seem as the Womb of Earth Shrunk when such mighty Quarries thence