Heaven would no longer truft its pledge; but thus Was there no milder way but the fmall-pox, So many spots, like næves on Venus' foil, One jewel fet off with fo many a foil; Blifters with pride fwell'd, which through's flefh did fprout Like rofe-buds, ftuck i'th' lily-fkin about. Each little pimple had a tear in it, To wail the fault its rifing did commit: Which, rebel-like, with it's own lord at ftrife, No comet need foretel his change drew on, O! had he dy'd of old, how great a strife Had been, who from his death fhould draw their life? Learn'd, virtuous, pious, great; and have by this Muft all thefe aged fires in one funeral Expire? all die in one fo young, fo fmall? Muft Must then old three-legg'd grey-beards with their gout, Or to hang antiquaries rooms withal! But thou, O virgin-widow, left alone, An issue, which t'eternity fhall last, Monument is his spouse's marble breast. HEROIC STANZAS on the Death of OLIVER CROMWELL, written after his Funeral. I. ND now 'tis time; for their officious hafte, AN Who would before have borne him to the sky, Like eager Romans, ere all rites were past, Though our best notes are treafon to his fame, Join'd with the loud applaufe of public voice Since heaven, what praife 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: IV. Yet 'tis our duty, and our intereft too, Such monuments as we can build to raife; Left all the world prevent what we should do, And claim a title in him by their praife. V. How fhall I then begin, or where conclude, For in a round what order can be fhew'd, VI. His grandeur he deriv'd from heaven alone; VII. No borrow'd bays his temples did adorn, VIII. Fortune, that eafy mistress to the young, He private mark'd the fault of others' sway, And fet as fea-marks for himself to fhun : Not like rafh monarchs, who their youth betray By acts their age too late would with undone. X. And yet dominion was not his defign; We owe that bleffing, not to him, but heaven, Which to fair acts unfought rewards did join ; Rewards, that lefs to him than us were given.* XI. Our former chiefs, like fticklers of the war, XII. War, our confumption, was their gainful trade: To staunch the blood by breathing of the vein. Swift and refiftlefs through the land he past, Like that bold Greek who did the East subdue, And made to battles fuch heroic haste, As if on wings of victory he flew. He fought fecure of fortune as of fame : Still by new maps the island might be fhewn, His palms, though under weights they did not stand, Peace was the prize of all his toil and care, Which war had banish'd, and did now restore: To feat themselves more furely than before. Her safety rescu'd Ireland to him owes; And treacherous Scotland to no intereft true, Yet bleft that fate which did his arms dispose Her land to civilize, as to fubdue. Nor |