FAREWEI., great Charles, monarch
The best good man that ever fill'd a throne;
Whom Nature as her highest pattern wrought,
And mix'd both sexes virtues in one draught;
Wisdom for councils, bravery in war,
With all the mild good-nature of the fair.
The woman's sweetnefs, temper'd manly wit,
And loving power, did crown'd with meekness fit;
His awful perfon reverence engag'd,
With mild address and tenderness affwag'd:
Thus the almighty gracious King above,
Does both command our fear, and win our love.
With wonders born, by miracles preferv'd,
A heavenly Host the infant's cradle serv'd:
And men his healing empire's omen read,
When fun with stars, and day with night agreed,
His youth for valorous patience was renown'd;
Like David, persecuted first, then crown'd:
Lov'd in all courts, admir'd where'er he came,
At once our nation's glory, and its shame:
They bleft the ifle where fuch great spirits dwell,
Abhorr'd the men, that could fuch worth expel.
To fpare our lives, he meekly did defeat
Those Sauls, whom wand'ring afses made so great;
Waiting till heaven's election should be shown,
And the Almighty should his unction own.
And own he did his powerful arm display'd;
And Israel, the belov'd of God, obey'd ;
Call'd by his people's tears, he came, he eas'd
The groaning nation, the black storms appeas'd,
Did greater blessings, than he took, afford;
England itself was more, than he, restor'd.
Unhappy Albion, by strange ills oppress'd,
In various fevers tost, could find no reft;
Quite fpent and weary'd, to his arms she fled,
And rested on his shoulders her fair bending head.
In conquests mild, he came from exile kind;
No climes, no provocations, chang'd his mind;
No malice shew'd, no hate, revenge, or pride,
But rul'd as meekly, as his father dy'd;
Eas'd us from endless wars, made discords ceafe,
Reftor'd to quiet, and maintain'd in peace.
A mighty feries of new time began,
And rolling years in joyful circles ran.
Then wealth the city, business fill'd the port,
To mirth our tumults turn'd, our wars to sport :
Then learning flourish'd, blooming arts did fpring,
And the glad Muses prun'd their drooping wing:
Then did our flying towers improvement know,
Who now command as far as winds can blow;
With canvass wings round all the globe they fly,
And, built by Charles's art, all storms defy;
To every coaft with ready fails are hurl'd,
Fill us with wealth, and with our fame the world;
From whose distractions seas do us divide;
Their riches here in floating castles ride.
We reap the fwarthy Indian's sweat and toil;
Their fruit, without the mischiefs of their foil.
Here in cool fhades their gold and pearls receive,
Free from the heat which does their luftre give.
In Persian filks, eat Eastern spice; fecure
From burning fluxes, and their calenture :
Under our vines, upon the peaceful shore,
We fee all Europe toast, hear tempests roar :
Rapine, fword, wars, and famine, rage abroad,
While Charles their hoft, like Jove from Ida, aw'd;
Us from our foes, and from ourselves did shield,
Our towns from tumults, and from arms the field;
For when bold Faction goodness could disdain,
Unwillingly he us'd a straiter rein :
In the still gentle voice he lov'd to speak,
But could with thunder harden'd rebels break.
Yet though they wak'd the laws, his tender mind
Was undisturb'd, in wrath severely kind;
Tempting his power, and urging to assume;
Thus Jove in love did Semele confume.
As the stout oak, when round his trunk the vine
Does in soft wreaths and amorous foldings twine,
Easy and flight appears; the winds from far
Summon their noisy forces to the war:
But though so gentle seems his outward form,
His hidden strenth out-braves the loudest storm :
Firmer he stands, and boldly keeps the field,
Shewing stout minds, when unprovok'd, are mild.
So when the good man made the crowd presume,
He shew'd himself, and did the king assume :
For goodness in excess may be a fin,
Justice must tame, whom mercy cannot win.
Thus winter fixes the unstable sea,
And teaches restless water constancy,
Which under the warm influence of bright days,
The fickle motion of each blast obeys.
To bridle factions, stop rebellion's course,
By easy methods, vanquish without force;
Relieve the good, bold stubborn foes fubdue,
Mildness in wrath, meekness in anger shew,
Were arts great Charles's prudence only knew.
To fright the bad, thus awful thunder rolls,
While the bright bow secures the faithful fouls.
Such is thy glory, Charles, thy lasting name,
Brighter than our proud neighbour's guilty fame;
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