That the least grain of it, If fully fpread and beat, Would many leaves and mighty volumes hold. IV. Before thy name was publish'd, and whilst yet Whilft yet the happy bud Was not quite feen or understood, It then fure signs of future greatness shew'd : Then thy domestic worth Did tell the world what it would be, When a full spring should call it forth : As bodies in the dark and night Have the fame colours, the fame red and white, As in the open day and light; The fun doth only fhew That they are bright, not make them fo. So whilft but private walls did know What we to fuch a mighty mind fhould owe, Though in a lefs and more contracted sphere, Though then thine was not fo enlarg’d a flood; V. 'Tis true thou was not born unto a crown, Thy fceptre's not thy father's, but thy own: Thy Thy purple was not made at once in haste, It took the deepest princely dye at last. And private thoughts took up thy private years: On meaner things with equal mien. That foul which fhould fo many fceptres fway, To whom so many kingdoms should obey, From family, and single man, way: Of husband and of father nurs'd, And from thofe lefs beginnings past, VI. But when thy country (then almost enthrall'd) When England did thy arms intreat, Was a true vein of earth, and run with blood: Fill'd every place, and every ear; When the great storms and difmal night Did all the land affright; 'Twas time for thee to bring forth all our light. Thou Thou left'ft thy more delightful peace, VII. Thy country wounded was, and fick, before Thou didst not draw the fword, and fo As if thy country shou'd Be the inheritance of Mars and blood: That peace might land again upon the shore, The husbandmen no steel shall know, With a destructive red, 'Twas but till thou our fun didst in full light appear. VIII. When Ajax dy'd, the purple blood, That from his gaping wound had flow'd, Had on it wrote his epitaph: Which thou by fate of times wert led Unwillingly to fhed, Letters and learning rofe, and arts renew'd: And like the Romans, whate'er thou Though they at first may feem To carry all away with an enraged stream; Or the better parts annoy : But all the filth and mud to scour, And leave behind another slime, To give a birth to a more happy power. IX. In fields unconquer'd, and fo well Thou didst in battles and in arms excel; That fteely arms themselves might be Worn out in war as foon as thee; Success fo close upon thy troops did wait, As if thou first hadft conquer'd fate; As larly by reafon of that obligation and zeal with which I am bound to dedicate myself to your fervice: for having been a long time the object of your care and indulgence towards the advantage of my studies and fortune, having been moulded as it were by your own hands, and formed under your government, not to entitle you to any thing which my meanness produces, would not only be injustice, but facrilege: fo that if there be any thing here tolerably said, which deferves pardon, it is yours, Sir, as well as he, who is, Your most devoted, and obliged fervant, THO. SPRAT. |