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HONOUR'S INVITATION,

OR,

A CALL TO THE CAMP.

Wherein the Triumphant Genius of Great-Britain, by a Poetical Alarm, awakens
the Youth of the three Nations, to generous Attempts, for the
Glory of their Country.

Written by a Young Gentleman of Quality now in the Service.
Dignos laude viros musa vetabit mori.

[From a Folio Edition, printed at London, by H. B. 1675.]

RED by fond mother's too indulgent care,

BRE

My vainer life spun out its thirtieth year :
Charm'd with the pois'nous sweets of barren ease,
And all the luxuries of wanton peace;

To duel rampant Miss on a soft bed,

Hector the watch, or break a drawer's head,
To drown a younger brother in a look,
Kick a poor lacquey, or berogue a cook,
Top a small crew of tenants that dare stir
In no language, but, please your Worship, Sir,
To chace the stag, and now and then pursue
The tim'rous hare, were all the wars I knew ;
When drunk o'er night with gen'rous Burgundy,
I thought (as gallants use) to sleep all Sunday:
But scarce could Morpheus' leaden plummets close
My eye, and lock my senses in repose,
When, lo! a rev'rend spectrum did appear,
Surprising me with equal joy and fear;
It seem'd a personage of noblest race,
A manly presence and majestick face,

An azure mantle flowing round his waist,

And his strong hands with Neptune's trident grac'd;
Three crowns he bore, and under them his brow
Circled with laurels fresh, pluck'd from the bough.
I gaz'd a while, till it approach'd more near,
And thus (with voice like thunder) pierc'd my ear:
"Wilt thou, degen'rous youth! ignobly blot
"The trophies, which thy ancestors have got?
"Prove them the sires of a spurious race?
"O'erturn their statues, and their tombs deface?
"Forfeit those honours, which they left to thee,
"By sleeping in a senseless lethargy?

"Now, when cach noble soul, greedy of fame,
"Feels his breast glowing with a gen'rous flame
"When scenes of blood on neighb'ring shores appear,
"And furious Mars sways all our hemisphere;

The king of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

"Wilt thou alone, stupidly drown'd, prefer
"Sordid delights to th' glory of the war?
"Decline that road of honour which displays
"To ev'ry daring hand a wreath of bays,
"And in a wretched sloth consume thy days?
"Can the poor yelpings of a deep-mouth'd hound
"Vie musick with the warlike trumpet's sound?
"Or faint applauses of a horse-race won
"(When sprightly Sorrel out-flew nimble Dun)
"Equal those acclamations that are sent
"In vollies to the echoing firmament?
"Which ev'ry victor justly calls his own?

}

"For kingdoms conquer'd, and proud States o'er-thrown? "Shall troops of heroes from all parts resort, That quit. the softer pleasures of the court? "Charge Death in th' face, and forward still aspire "Through midst of dangers swift as Heaven's fire? Shall the drum's rattling summons nimbly bring Crouds of the vulgar in, to serve their king? That laugh at hardships, and dare bravely die, If fate require 't, to purchase victory? "And their example never move thy spirit, "Nor emulat'on of the others' merit?

What drowsy opium has possess'd thy brain, "Dull Soul! that all these joggings are in vain? "For shame, at last awake, lest it be said, "Your courage does not slumber, but is dead; From before paltry beauties raise your siege, "Who think by faint resistance to oblige: "Nor let the kinder ladies tempting charms "Confine you still to their enfeebling arms:

When fate, turn'd prodigal, freely affords "The destinies of nations to your swords; "Let mighty cities be your mistresses, "Whose dowry brings the spoils of provinces. "Level their prouder walls, and let it be "A doubt hereafter to posterity,

"When only shatter'd monuments they view,

"Whether Jove's thunder hath been there, or you;

"These are atchievements fitting to be done,

66

By each dares call himself stout England's son. "As a brave courser, standing on the sand

"Of some swelling sca-channel, views a land

66

Smiling with sweets upon the distant side,

"Garnish'd in nature's best embroider'd pride,

"Larded with springs, and fring'd with curled woods, "Impatient bounces into th' cap'ring floods; "Big with a nobler fury than that stream

"Of shallow violence he meets in them;

"Thence, arm'd with scorn and courage, plows a way
"Through the imposthum'd billows of the sea;
"And makes the grumbling surges slaves to oar,
"And waft him safely to the further shore,
"Where landed in the sovereign disdain,
"He turning back surveys the foaming main;
Whilst the subjected waters, flowing, reel,
"Ambitious yet to kiss their conqu'ror's heel,
"At such a gen'rous rate should'st thou engage,
"In the grand expedition of our age;
"Thy active soul in gallant fury hurl'd
"To club with all the worthies of the world.
"Then rouze at last from this lethargick dream,
"And let heroick actions be thy theme.
"No more to base effeminate follies yield,
86 Thy country's Genius calls thee to the field!"

No sooner these last accents had I heard,
But straight the glor'ous vision disappear'd;
And round about, methoughts, a glitt'ring ray
Was spread, creating in my soul new day.
As Cæsar once on banks of Rubicon
Stood shivering and scarce durst venture on,
Till lucky Dæmon by a signal chance

Beckon'd him o'er, and made his troops advance;
So I, confirm'd by this good omen, found

Those mists exhal'd which had my courage drown'd. '
Ah! glor'ous art of war, I cry'd! from whence
All honour and all pow'r did first commence,
By which the grandeur of each state doth grow,
And unto which nations their safety owe,
Henceforth my Mistress thou alone shalt be
And all my strength I consecrate to thee.
Hence then, you gay diversions of the town,
Your bubbling vanities I must disown.
Morning-long-sleeps adieu! Let sordid ease
Silken buffoons and painted peacocks please;
Whose lab'ring souls, being stifled with excess,
Scarce keep from stench their rotten carcases;
Whilst I, 'midst blood, and sweat, and toils of war,
Through storms, cold, hunger, and many a scar,
Pursue my fate, resolved thus to have

An honour'd life, or else a noble grave.

June 21, 1673.

Printed by Jovce Gold, Shoe-lane, London.

FINIS.

With Allowance.

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